ARCH MINERAL CORP
S-4, 1997-05-30
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<PAGE>
 
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 30, 1997
                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 333-
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                                ---------------
                                   FORM S-4
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
                                ---------------
                           ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
     DELAWARE                        1211                        43-0921172
 (State or other         (Primary Standard Industrial         (I.R.S. Employer
   jurisdiction           Classification Code Number)       Identification No.) 
 of incorporation                                                             
 or organization)                                                
 
                           CITYPLACE ONE, SUITE 300
                          CREVE COEUR, MISSOURI 63141
                                (314) 994-2700
              (Address, including ZIP code, and telephone number,
       including area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)
 
                                ---------------
                                JEFFRY N. QUINN
                           ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
                           CITYPLACE ONE, SUITE 300
                          CREVE COEUR, MISSOURI 63141
                                (314) 994-2700
           (Name, address, including ZIP code, and telephone number,
                  including area code, of agent for service)
 
                                ---------------
 
                                  COPIES TO:                           
          RONALD D. WEST                              F. RICHARD BERNASEK    
    KIRKPATRICK & LOCKHART LLP                    KELLY, HART & HALLMAN, P.C.
       1500 OLIVER BUILDING                       201 MAIN STREET, SUITE 2500
 PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA 15222-2312                FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76102  
          (412) 355-6500                                (817) 332-2500       
                         
 
  APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE OF THE SECURITIES TO THE
PUBLIC: At the effective time of the Merger described in this registration
statement.
  If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance
with General Instruction G, check the following box.
 
                                ---------------
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>  
<CAPTION> 
===============================================================================================================
                                            AMOUNT           PROPOSED         PROPOSED
        TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF               TO BE       MAXIMUM OFFERING MAXIMUM AGGREGATE      AMOUNT OF
     SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED         REGISTERED(1)   PRICE PER SHARE  OFFERING PRICE(2) REGISTRATION FEE(3)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>               <C>              <C>               <C>
Common Stock, par value $.01 per
 share...............................  19,337,043 shares        --          $447,124,898         $135,493
===============================================================================================================
</TABLE> 
(1) Represents the maximum number of shares issuable to holders of Common
    Stock, par value $.01 per share, of Ashland Coal, Inc. ("Ashland Coal
    Common Stock"), and holders of Class B Preferred Stock and Class C
    Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share, of Ashland Coal, Inc. ("Ashland
    Coal Preferred Stock") pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger
    ("Merger Agreement") described in this registration statement.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee;
    computed in accordance with Rule 457(f) based upon (i) in the case of
    Ashland Coal Common Stock, the average of the high and low sales prices of
    Ashland Coal Common Stock on May 27, 1997 as reported on the New York
    Stock Exchange Composite Transactions Tape and (ii) in the case of Ashland
    Coal Preferred Stock, the respective book values thereof computed as of
    March 31, 1997, and the ratio at which such stock will be converted into
    shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of Arch Mineral
    Corporation (to be renamed Arch Coal, Inc.).
(3) A fee of $88,182 was paid on April 17, 1997 in connection with the filing
    of the preliminary proxy statement relating to the transactions
    contemplated by the Merger Agreement. Pursuant to 457(o) of the General
    Regulations under the Securities Act of 1933, an additional fee of $47,311
    has been paid upon filing of this registration statement.
                                ---------------
  THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING
PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
       CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET PURSUANT TO RULE 404(a) OF REGULATION C AND
     ITEM 501(b) OF REGULATION S-K SETTING FORTH THE LOCATION IN THE PROXY
     STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS OF THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY PART I OF FORM S-4
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             LOCATION IN PROXY
         FORM S-4 ITEM NUMBER AND CAPTION                   STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
         --------------------------------                  ---------------------
 <C> <S>                                        <C>
  A. INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION
  1. Forepart of Registration Statement and
     Outside Front Cover Page of Prospectus
     .........................................  Outside Front Cover Page
  2. Inside Front and Outside Back Cover
     Pages of Prospectus......................  Available Information; Incorporation of
                                                Certain Documents by Reference; Table 
                                                of Contents
  3. Risk Factors, Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
     Charges and Other Information............  Summary; Risk Factors; The Ashland Coal
                                                Meeting; The Merger
  4. Terms of the Transaction.................  Summary; The Merger; The Merger Agreement;
                                                Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information;
                                                Comparison of Stockholder Rights;
                                                Description of Company Capital Stock
  5. Pro Forma Financial Information..........  Summary; Unaudited Pro Forma Financial
                                                Information
  6. Material Contacts with the Company Being
     Acquired.................................  The Merger
  7. Additional Information Required for
     Reoffering by Persons and Parties Deemed
     to be Underwriters.......................  *
  8. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel...  *
  9. Disclosure of Commission Position on
     Indemnification for Securities Act
     Liabilities..............................  *
  B. INFORMATION ABOUT THE REGISTRANT
 10. Information with Respect to S-3
     Registrants..............................  *
 11. Incorporation of Certain Information by
     Reference................................  *
 12. Information with Respect to S-2 or S-3
     Registrants..............................  *
 13. Incorporation of Certain Information by
     Reference................................  *
 14. Information with Respect to Registrants
     Other Than S-2 or S-3 Registrants........  Outside Front Cover Page; Summary; Risk
                                                Factors; Unaudited Pro Forma Financial
                                                Information; Information Concerning the
                                                Company
 C.  INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY BEING
     ACQUIRED
 15. Information with Respect to S-3            
     Companies................................  Outside Front Cover Page; Incorporation of
                                                Certain Documents by Reference; Summary;
                                                Risk Factors; Unaudited Pro Forma Financial
                                                Information
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            LOCATION IN PROXY
         FORM S-4 ITEM NUMBER AND CAPTION                  STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
         --------------------------------                 ---------------------
 <C> <S>                                       <C>
 16. Information with Respect to S-2 or S-3
     Companies................................ *
 17. Information with Respect to Companies
     Other Than S-3 or S-2 Companies.......... *
  D. VOTING AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
 18. Information if Proxies, Consents or
     Authorizations are to be Solicited....... Outside Front Cover Page; Summary; The
                                               Ashland Coal Meeting; The Merger; The
                                               Merger Agreement; Information Concerning
                                               the Company
 19. Information if Proxies, Consents or
     Authorizations are not to be Solicited
     or in an Exchange Offer.................. *
</TABLE>
- --------
* Not applicable or the answer is negative.
<PAGE>
 
 
[LOGO OF ASHLAND COAL, INC.]                                        May 30, 1997

            ASHLAND COAL, INC.     P.O. Box 6300 Huntington, WV 25771-6300
                                   (304) 526-3333
 
Dear Ashland Coal Stockholder:
 
  You are cordially invited to attend a Special Meeting of Stockholders of
Ashland Coal, Inc. to be held on Monday, June 30, 1997, at Ashland Coal's
principal executive offices, 2205 Fifth Street Road, Huntington, West
Virginia, commencing at 9:00 a.m., local time.
 
  At the Special Meeting, you will be asked to approve and adopt an Agreement
and Plan of Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby providing for the
business combination of Ashland Coal, Inc. and Arch Mineral Corporation.
Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, Ashland Coal will become a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Arch Mineral Corporation (which will change its
name to "Arch Coal, Inc." at the effective time of the transaction), each
outstanding share of Ashland Coal Common Stock will be converted into the
right to receive one share of Arch Coal, Inc. Common Stock and each
outstanding share of Ashland Coal Class B Preferred Stock and Class C
Preferred Stock will be converted into the right to receive 20,500 shares of
Arch Coal, Inc. Common Stock.
 
  As of May 28, 1997, Ashland Inc. was the beneficial owner of 7,529,686
shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock and all outstanding shares of Ashland Coal
Class B Preferred Stock, representing in the aggregate approximately 57% of
the voting power of Ashland Coal capital stock, and 51.25% of outstanding Arch
Mineral Common Stock. Because of the equity interest of Ashland Inc. in each
of Ashland Coal and Arch Mineral, Special Committees of the Boards of
Directors of Ashland Coal and Arch Mineral, consisting of members of the
Boards not affiliated with Ashland Inc., were established to consider the
business combination of Ashland Coal and Arch Mineral and to negotiate the
financial terms on which such a transaction might be effected.
 
  The Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Ashland Coal unanimously
recommended to the Ashland Coal Board of Directors that it approve the
Agreement and Plan of Merger, and the full Board considered and unanimously
accepted that recommendation. Both the Special Committee and the full Board of
Directors of Ashland Coal have unanimously determined that the transaction is
in the best interests of Ashland Coal and its stockholders and recommends that
you vote FOR the proposal to approve and adopt the Agreement and Plan of
Merger and the transactions contemplated thereby. Salomon Brothers Inc,
Ashland Coal's financial advisor, has delivered its opinion, dated April 4,
1997, to the Board of Directors to the effect that, based upon and subject to
various considerations set forth in such opinion, as of the date of such
opinion, (i) the consideration to be received by holders of Ashland Coal
Common Stock in the transaction and (ii) the consideration to be received by
holders of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock in the transaction is fair, from a
financial point of view, to the holders of Ashland Coal Common Stock other
than Ashland Inc. The accompanying Proxy Statement/Prospectus more fully
describes the proposal to be considered at the Special Meeting. You are urged
to give it your careful attention.
 
  APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSAL TO APPROVE AND ADOPT THE AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER BY ASHLAND COAL STOCKHOLDERS WILL REQUIRE THE AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF THE
HOLDERS OF AT LEAST 85% OF OUTSTANDING SHARES OF ASHLAND COAL COMMON STOCK AND
PREFERRED STOCK VOTING THEREON, VOTING TOGETHER AS A SINGLE CLASS. IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AT THE SPECIAL MEETING WHETHER OR
NOT YOU ARE PERSONALLY ABLE TO ATTEND. IN ORDER TO INSURE THAT YOU WILL BE
REPRESENTED, WE ASK YOU TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD
PROMPTLY. A POSTAGE-PAID RETURN ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.
 
  You should not send in certificates representing Ashland Coal Common Stock
or Preferred Stock at this time. Following consummation of the transaction,
information will be sent to you regarding the procedure for surrendering your
stock certificates and receiving certificates for the shares of Arch Coal,
Inc. Common Stock issued in exchange for your Ashland Coal shares.
 
                                          Sincerely,
 
                                          William C. Payne
                                          Chairman of the Board,
                                          President and
                                          Chief Executive Officer
<PAGE>
 
                              ASHLAND COAL, INC.
                                 P.O. BOX 6300
                     HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA 25771-6300
 
                               ----------------
 
                   NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                          TO BE HELD ON JUNE 30, 1997
 
  NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special Meeting of Stockholders ("Special
Meeting") of Ashland Coal, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Ashland Coal"), will
be held on June 30, 1997, at the principal executive offices of Ashland Coal,
2205 Fifth Street Road, Huntington, West Virginia, commencing at 9:00 a.m.,
local time, to consider and vote upon the following matters described in the
accompanying Proxy Statement/Prospectus:
 
    1. Approval and adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
  April 4, 1997 (the "Merger Agreement"), among Arch Mineral Corporation, a
  Delaware corporation (the "Company"), AMC Merger Corporation, a Delaware
  corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("Merger Sub"), and
  Ashland Coal, and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the
  merger of Merger Sub with and into Ashland Coal, pursuant to which, among
  other things, Ashland Coal will become a wholly- owned subsidiary of the
  Company and each outstanding share of Ashland Coal Common Stock (other than
  shares owned by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or shares
  held in Ashland Coal's treasury immediately prior to the effective time of
  the Merger as defined in the Merger Agreement) will be converted into the
  right to receive one share of Company Common Stock and each outstanding
  share of Ashland Coal Class B Preferred Stock and Class C Preferred Stock
  (other than shares owned by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company,
  shares held in Ashland Coal's treasury immediately prior to the Effective
  Time of the Merger as defined in the Merger Agreement or shares as to which
  dissenters' rights of appraisal have been exercised and perfected under the
  Delaware General Corporation Law) will be converted into the right to
  receive 20,500 shares of Company Common Stock. A copy of the Merger
  Agreement is attached as Appendix A to the accompanying Proxy
  Statement/Prospectus.
 
    2. The transaction of such other business as may properly come before the
  Special Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.
 
  Only holders of record of Ashland Coal Common Stock, holders of record of
Ashland Coal Class B Preferred Stock and holders of record of Ashland Coal
Class C Preferred Stock at the close of business on June 5, 1997 will be
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Special Meeting and any adjournment
or postponement thereof. A list of such stockholders will be open to
examination by any stockholder at the Special Meeting and for a period of ten
days prior to the date of the Special Meeting during ordinary business hours
at the principal executive offices of Ashland Coal, 2205 Fifth Street Road,
Huntington, West Virginia.
 
  Whether or not you plan to attend the Special Meeting, please complete,
date, sign and return the enclosed proxy card promptly. A return envelope is
enclosed for your convenience and requires no postage for mailing in the
United States.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors,
 
                                          Roy F. Layman
                                          Administrative Vice President and
                                          Secretary
Huntington, West Virginia
May 30, 1997
 
                          YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT
 
       TO VOTE YOUR SHARES, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE AND SIGN THE ENCLOSED
       PROXY CARD AND MAIL IT PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE.
 
<PAGE>
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                                      OF
                              ASHLAND COAL, INC.
 
                                  PROSPECTUS
                                      OF
                           ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
 
  This Proxy Statement/Prospectus is being furnished to holders of Common
Stock, par value $.01 per share ("Ashland Coal Common Stock"), holders of
Class B Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share ("Ashland Coal Class B
Preferred Stock"), and holders of Class C Preferred Stock, par value $100 per
share ("Ashland Coal Class C Preferred Stock" and, together with Ashland Coal
Class B Preferred Stock, "Ashland Coal Preferred Stock"), of Ashland Coal,
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Ashland Coal"), in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of Ashland Coal for use at
the Special Meeting of Ashland Coal stockholders (the "Ashland Coal Meeting")
to be held on June 30, 1997, at Ashland Coal's principal executive offices,
2205 Fifth Street Road, Huntington, West Virginia, commencing at 9:00 a.m.,
local time, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof.
 
  This Proxy Statement/Prospectus also constitutes the prospectus of Arch
Mineral Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), with respect to
up to 19,337,043 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share ("Company
Common Stock"), to be issued in the Merger (as defined herein) in exchange for
outstanding shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred
Stock. Upon consummation of the Merger, the Company will change its name to
"Arch Coal, Inc." Based on the number of outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock, Ashland Coal Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock as of May
28, 1997, the number of shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of outstanding options as of such date and the respective ratios at
which shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock
will be converted into shares of Company Common Stock in the Merger, the
stockholders of the Company and the stockholders of Ashland Coal immediately
prior to the consummation of the Merger will own approximately 52% and 48%,
respectively, and Ashland Inc., the Hunt Entities (as defined herein) and
Carboex International, Ltd., a Bahamian corporation ("Carboex"), will own
beneficially approximately 53%, an aggregate of 25%, and 5%, respectively, of
the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock immediately following
consummation of the Merger.
 
  All information contained in this Proxy Statement/Prospectus relating to the
Company has been supplied by the Company, and all information contained in
this Proxy Statement/Prospectus relating to Ashland Coal has been supplied by
Ashland Coal.
 
  SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 21 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS
THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY ASHLAND COAL STOCKHOLDERS.
 
THE SECURITIES TO BE ISSUED PURSUANT TO THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS HAVE
NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR
ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
 
                               ----------------
 
  This Proxy Statement/Prospectus and accompanying proxy card are first being
mailed to stockholders of Ashland Coal on or about June 2, 1997.
 
         THE DATE OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS IS MAY 30, 1997.
<PAGE>
 
THE ASHLAND COAL MEETING
 
  At the Ashland Coal Meeting, holders of record of Ashland Coal Common Stock
and holders of record of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock as of the close of
business on June 5, 1997 will consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and
adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 4, 1997 (the "Merger
Agreement"), among the Company, AMC Merger Corporation, a Delaware corporation
and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("Merger Sub"), and Ashland Coal,
and the transactions contemplated thereby, pursuant to which, among other
things, Merger Sub will be merged with and into Ashland Coal (the "Merger")
and Ashland Coal will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
 
CONSUMMATION OF THE MERGER
 
  Upon consummation of the Merger, each issued and outstanding share of
Ashland Coal Common Stock (other than shares owned by the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company, or shares held in Ashland Coal's treasury
immediately prior to the effective time of the Merger as defined in the Merger
Agreement (the "Effective Time")) will be converted into the right to receive
one share of Company Common Stock, and each issued and outstanding share of
Ashland Coal Preferred Stock (other than any shares owned by the Company or
any subsidiary of the Company, shares held in Ashland Coal's treasury
immediately prior to the Effective Time, and those shares of Ashland Coal
Preferred Stock ("Dissenting Shares") the holder of which (a "Dissenting
Stockholder") has properly exercised and perfected appraisal rights under the
Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL")), will be converted into the
right to receive 20,500 shares of Company Common Stock.
 
  At the Effective Time, all shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock and Ashland
Coal Preferred Stock will cease to be outstanding and will be canceled and
retired and cease to exist (except as set forth above), and each holder of a
certificate formerly representing shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock or
Ashland Coal Preferred Stock will thereafter cease to have any rights with
respect thereto, except the right to receive shares of Company Common Stock to
be issued in consideration therefor upon the surrender of such certificate,
without interest.
 
  Ashland Coal Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the
"NYSE"), and application has been made to list Company Common Stock on the
NYSE. There is no current trading market for Company Common Stock and no
trading market for Ashland Coal Preferred Stock. The closing price of Ashland
Coal Common Stock (NYSE Symbol: "ACI") as reported on the NYSE Composite
Transactions Tape on May 29, 1997 was $26 3/4 per share. There can be no
assurance as to the market price of Ashland Coal Common Stock at any time
prior to the Merger or as to the market price of Company Common Stock at any
time thereafter. Stockholders are urged to obtain current market quotations.
 
  NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOLICITATION OF PROXIES OR THE OFFERING OF SECURITIES
MADE HEREBY AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, ANY SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST
NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY, ASHLAND COAL OR
ANY OTHER PERSON. THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER
TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, ANY SECURITIES, OR THE
SOLICITATION OF A PROXY, IN ANY JURISDICTION TO OR FROM ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT
IS NOT LAWFUL TO MAKE ANY SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IN SUCH JURISDICTION.
NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS NOR ANY DISTRIBUTION
OF SECURITIES HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CREATE ANY IMPLICATION
THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY OR ASHLAND COAL
SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE INFORMATION HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME
SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.
 
  INFORMATION INCLUDED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROXY
STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS CONTAINS "FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS" WHICH CAN BE
IDENTIFIED BY THE USE OF FORWARD-LOOKING TERMINOLOGY SUCH AS "BELIEVES,"
"CONTEMPLATES," "EXPECTS," "MAY," "WILL," "SHOULD," "WOULD" OR "ANTICIPATES"
OR THE NEGATIVE THEREOF OR OTHER VARIATIONS THEREON OR COMPARABLE TERMINOLOGY,
OR BY DISCUSSIONS OF STRATEGY. NO ASSURANCE CAN BE GIVEN THAT THE FUTURE
RESULTS ENCOMPASSED WITHIN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS WILL BE ACHIEVED.
IMPORTANT FACTORS WITH RESPECT TO SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS, INCLUDING
CERTAIN RISKS AND
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
UNCERTAINTIES, THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO VARY MATERIALLY FROM THE
FUTURE RESULTS ENCOMPASSED WITHIN SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS ARE
DISCUSSED HEREIN UNDER THE CAPTION "RISK FACTORS" AND IN OTHER INFORMATION
INCLUDED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN. OTHER FACTORS COULD ALSO CAUSE
ACTUAL RESULTS TO VARY MATERIALLY FROM THE FUTURE RESULTS COVERED IN SUCH
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS.
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
  Ashland Coal is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). The reports, proxy
statements and other information filed by Ashland Coal with the Commission can
be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549,
and at the Commission's Regional Offices at 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300,
New York, New York 10048, and 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago,
Illinois 60661. Copies of such material also can be obtained at prescribed
rates from the Public Reference Section of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. The Commission maintains a Web site that
contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding registrants that file electronically with the Commission. Such
reports, proxy and information statements and other information may be found
on the Commission's Web site address, http://www.sec.gov. The periodic
reports, proxy statements and other information filed by Ashland Coal with the
Commission may also be inspected at the offices of the NYSE, 20 Broad Street,
New York, New York 10005.
 
  This Proxy Statement/Prospectus is part of a Registration Statement on Form
S-4 (together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the "Registration
Statement") that has been filed by the Company under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the securities to be
issued pursuant to the Merger Agreement. As permitted by the rules and
regulations of the Commission, this Proxy Statement/Prospectus does not
contain all of the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Such
additional information may be obtained from the Commission's principal office
in Washington, D.C. Statements contained in this Proxy Statement/Prospectus or
in any document incorporated by reference in this Proxy Statement/Prospectus
as to the contents of any contract or other document referred to herein or
therein are, where the context indicates, intended to include descriptions of
the material terms thereof, but are not necessarily complete. In each
instance, reference is hereby made to the copy of such contract or other
document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or such other
document and each such statement is qualified in all respects by such
reference.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
  The Annual Report on Form 10-K of Ashland Coal for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1996, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Ashland Coal for the
fiscal quarter ended March 31, 1997 (as amended by Form 10-Q/A-1 dated May 29,
1997) and the Current Report on Form 8-K of Ashland Coal dated April 4, 1997
filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act (File No. 1-9993) are
incorporated by reference in this Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
 
  All documents and reports subsequently filed by Ashland Coal pursuant to
Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
Proxy Statement/Prospectus and prior to the date of the Ashland Coal Meeting
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Proxy
Statement/Prospectus and to be part hereof from the dates of filing of such
documents and reports. Any statement contained herein or in a document
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Proxy Statement/Prospectus
to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed
document which 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 Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
 
  THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE FILED BY
ASHLAND COAL WITH THE COMMISSION WHICH ARE NOT PRESENTED HEREIN OR DELIVERED
HEREWITH. SUCH DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN EXHIBITS
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
TO SUCH DOCUMENTS UNLESS SUCH EXHIBITS ARE SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE) ARE AVAILABLE TO ANY PERSON, INCLUDING ANY BENEFICIAL OWNER, TO
WHOM THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED, UPON WRITTEN OR ORAL
REQUEST, WITHOUT CHARGE, DIRECTED TO DAVID G. TODD, VICE PRESIDENT, EXTERNAL
AFFAIRS, ASHLAND COAL, INC., P.O. BOX 6300, HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA 25771-
6300 (TELEPHONE (304) 526-3755). IN ORDER TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY OF ANY
DOCUMENTS, ANY REQUEST SHOULD BE MADE NO LATER THAN JUNE 23, 1997.
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
Available Information......................................................   3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............................   3
Summary....................................................................   6
Risk Factors...............................................................  21
Market Price and Dividend Data.............................................  27
The Ashland Coal Meeting...................................................  28
  General..................................................................  28
  Matters to be Considered at the
   Meeting.................................................................  28
  Voting at the Meeting; Record Date.......................................  28
  Proxies..................................................................  29
The Merger.................................................................  30
  Background of the Merger.................................................  30
  Company Reasons for the Merger...........................................  37
  Ashland Coal Reasons for the Merger; Recommendation of the Board of
   Directors...............................................................  38
  Opinion of Financial Advisor to the Ashland Coal Board of Directors......  39
  Interests of Certain Persons in the
   Merger..................................................................  44
  Directors and Executive Officers of the Company After the Merger.........  46
  Security Ownership of the Company
   After the Merger........................................................  48
  Ashland Coal Stock Option Plans..........................................  50
  Ashland Coal Dividend Reinvestment Plan..................................  50
  Accounting Treatment.....................................................  50
  Federal Income Tax Consequences..........................................  51
  Regulatory Approvals.....................................................  52
  Resale Restrictions......................................................  52
  Appraisal Rights.........................................................  53
The Merger Agreement.......................................................  56
  The Merger...............................................................  56
  Conversion of Securities.................................................  56
  Representations and Warranties...........................................  57
  Certain Covenants........................................................  57
  Indemnification and Insurance............................................  58
  Ashland Coal Stock Plans.................................................  58
  Conditions...............................................................  58
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                        <C>
  Termination; Expenses....................................................  59
  Amendment and Waiver.....................................................  59
Other Agreements...........................................................  60
  The Voting Agreements....................................................  60
  The Registration Rights Agreement........................................  60
  The Carboex Agreements...................................................  60
  The Stockholders Agreement...............................................  61
  Agreement for Termination of Voting Agreement and Nomination of        
   Directors...............................................................  62
Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information..................................  63
Information Concerning the Company ........................................  68
  General..................................................................  68
  Industry Overview and Competitive                                      
   Factors.................................................................  68
  Coal Reserves............................................................  70
  Mining Operations........................................................  72
  Coal Marketing and Sales.................................................  80
  Other Properties.........................................................  82
  Employees and Labor Relations............................................  82
  Governmental Regulation..................................................  83
  Legal Proceedings........................................................  84
  Selected Financial Information...........................................  86
  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
   of Operations...........................................................  88
Executive Compensation.....................................................  97
The Company Incentive Plan................................................. 100
Comparison of Stockholder Rights........................................... 107
Description of Company Capital Stock....................................... 110
Legal Matters.............................................................. 110
Stockholder Proposals...................................................... 111
Glossary of Selected Terms................................................. 112
Index to Company Financial                                               
 Statements................................................................ 114

APPENDIX A  Agreement and Plan of Merger    
APPENDIX B  Opinion of Salomon Brothers Inc 
APPENDIX C  Section 262 of the Delaware     
            General Corporation Law         
APPENDIX D  Form of Voting Agreement        
APPENDIX E  Forms of Proxy                   
</TABLE>
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
 
 
              [MAP DEPICTING COAL RESERVES AND MINING OPERATIONS]
 
 
                             SUMMARY OPERATING DATA
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      1996   1995 1994 1993 1992
                                                     ------- ---- ---- ---- ----
                                                        (IN MILLIONS OF TONS)
<S>                                                  <C>     <C>  <C>  <C>  <C>
Arch Mineral Corporation:
  Tons sold.........................................    29.4 26.7 27.9 17.6 20.9
  Tons produced.....................................    26.9 25.6 27.4 14.8 20.1
  Proven and probable coal reserves
   (at December 31, 1996)........................... 1,484.1
Ashland Coal, Inc.:
  Tons sold.........................................    21.8 22.5 20.2 16.0 19.1
  Tons produced.....................................    20.5 20.9 19.2 14.2 16.7
  Proven and probable coal reserves
   (at December 31, 1996)...........................   615.0
</TABLE>
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                                    SUMMARY
 
  Following is a summary of certain information contained elsewhere in this
Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Capitalized terms used and not defined in this
summary have the meanings ascribed thereto elsewhere in this Proxy
Statement/Prospectus. See also "Glossary of Selected Terms." Unless otherwise
indicated, all share and per share data regarding the Company have been
adjusted to reflect a 338.0857-for-one split of Company Common Stock effected
on April 4, 1997. Reference is made to, and this summary is qualified in its
entirety by, the more detailed information contained or incorporated by
reference in this Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Appendices hereto.
Stockholders are urged to read this Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the
Appendices hereto in their entireties.
 
THE COMPANIES
 
The Company.............  The Company is engaged, through independent operating
                          subsidiaries, in mining, processing, marketing and
                          transporting bituminous coal in the domestic steam
                          market. Through two wholly-owned subsidiaries, the
                          Company operates 17 surface, underground and auger
                          mines in the Appalachian, Midwestern and Western coal
                          fields from which it produced 26.9 million tons of
                          coal in 1996. At December 31, 1996 the Company
                          controlled approximately one billion tons of proven
                          and probable low-sulfur coal reserves, 865 million
                          tons of which were located in the Appalachian coal
                          fields in the eastern United States. The principal
                          executive offices of the Company are located at
                          CityPlace One, Suite 300, Creve Coeur, Missouri
                          63141, and its telephone number is (314) 994-2700.
                          See "Information Concerning the Company."
 
                          As of May 28, 1997, Ashland Inc. and the Hunt
                          Entities (as defined herein) owned beneficially
                          51.25% and 48.75% of the outstanding shares of
                          Company Common Stock. There is currently no trading
                          market for Company Common Stock. As a result of the
                          Merger, the Company will become subject to the
                          informational requirements of the Exchange Act and,
                          subject to certain restrictions on sales by
                          affiliates of either the Company or Ashland Coal,
                          Company Common Stock will be eligible for sale in the
                          public market. Application has been made to list
                          Company Common Stock on the NYSE.
 
Ashland Coal............  Ashland Coal is engaged in the mining, processing and
                          marketing of low-sulfur bituminous coal primarily in
                          the eastern United States. Its independent operating
                          subsidiaries include Coal-Mac, Inc., Hobet Mining,
                          Inc., Mingo Logan Coal Company and Tri-State
                          Terminals, Inc. Ashland Coal produced 20.5 million
                          tons of coal in 1996 and at December 31, 1996
                          controlled approximately 615 million tons of proven
                          and probable low-sulfur coal reserves in southern
                          West Virginia and eastern Kentucky. The principal
                          executive offices of Ashland Coal are located at 2205
                          Fifth Street Road, Huntington, West Virginia 25701,
                          and its telephone number is (304) 526-3333.
 
THE ASHLAND COAL MEETING
 
Date, Place and Time....  The Ashland Coal Meeting is scheduled to be held on
                          Monday, June 30, 1997, at the principal executive
                          offices of Ashland Coal, 2205 Fifth Street Road,
                          Huntington, West Virginia, commencing at 9:00 a.m.,
                          local time.
 
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 

Record Date; Shares    
 Entitled to Vote.......  Only holders of record of shares of Ashland Coal
                          Common Stock and holders of record of shares of
                          Ashland Coal Preferred Stock at the close of business
                          on June 5, 1997 are entitled to notice of and to vote
                          at the Ashland Coal Meeting. As of May 28, 1997,
                          there were 13,520,952 shares of Ashland Coal Common
                          Stock outstanding, held by 962 holders of record, 150
                          shares of Ashland Coal Class B Preferred Stock
                          outstanding held by Ashland Inc., and 100 shares of
                          Ashland Coal Class C Preferred Stock outstanding held
                          by Carboex. Each share of Ashland Coal Preferred
                          Stock is convertible into Ashland Coal Common Stock
                          at the currently applicable rate of 18,346 shares of
                          Ashland Coal Common Stock for each share of Ashland
                          Coal Preferred Stock. Each holder of record of shares
                          of Ashland Coal Common Stock on the record date is
                          entitled to cast one vote per share on each matter to
                          be acted upon or which may properly come before the
                          Ashland Coal Meeting. Each holder of record of shares
                          of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock on the record date is
                          entitled to cast 18,346 votes per share on each
                          matter to be acted upon or which may properly come
                          before the Ashland Coal Meeting.

Purpose of the          
 Meeting................  The purpose of the Ashland Coal Meeting is to
                          consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and
                          adopt the Merger Agreement and the transactions
                          contemplated thereby, and to consider and vote upon
                          such other matters as may properly be brought before
                          the Ashland Coal Meeting.
 
Vote Required...........  Pursuant to the Restated Certificate of
                          Incorporation, as amended, of Ashland Coal (the
                          "Ashland Coal Certificate"), the approval and
                          adoption by Ashland Coal stockholders of the Merger
                          Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby
                          will require the affirmative vote of the holders of
                          at least 85% of the shares of Ashland Coal Common
                          Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock voting
                          thereon, voting together as a single class. As of May
                          28, 1997, Ashland Inc. was the beneficial owner of
                          7,529,686 shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock and all
                          outstanding shares of Ashland Coal Class B Preferred
                          Stock, representing in the aggregate approximately
                          57% of the voting power of outstanding Ashland Coal
                          Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock. As of
                          such date, Carboex was the beneficial owner of all
                          outstanding shares of Ashland Coal Class C Preferred
                          Stock, representing approximately 10% of the voting
                          power of outstanding Ashland Coal Common Stock and
                          Ashland Coal Preferred Stock. Each of Ashland Inc.
                          and Carboex has entered into an agreement (the
                          "Voting Agreements") with the Company pursuant to
                          which each such Ashland Coal stockholder agreed,
                          among other things, to vote, and at the Company's
                          request to grant to the Company such stockholder's
                          irrevocable proxy to vote, all shares of Ashland Coal
                          Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock owned
                          by such stockholder in favor of approval and adoption
                          of the Merger Agreement and the transactions
                          contemplated thereby. See "Other Agreements--The
                          Voting Agreements." As of May 28, 1997, the directors
                          and executive officers of Ashland Coal and their
                          affiliates (including Ashland Inc. and Carboex) were
                          the beneficial owners of Ashland Coal capital
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
                          stock representing approximately 68% of the voting
                          power of outstanding Ashland Coal Common Stock and
                          Ashland Coal Preferred Stock. See "The Ashland Coal
                          Meeting" and "The Merger--Security Ownership of the
                          Company After the Merger."
 
THE MERGER
 
Risk Factors............  For a discussion of certain risk factors that Ashland
                          Coal stockholders should take into account in
                          determining whether to approve and adopt the Merger
                          Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby,
                          see "Risk Factors."
 
Effects of the Merger...  Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective
                          Time (i) Merger Sub will be merged with and into
                          Ashland Coal, which will be the surviving corporation
                          of the Merger and thereby become a wholly-owned
                          subsidiary of the Company, (ii) each issued and
                          outstanding share of Ashland Coal Common Stock (other
                          than shares owned by the Company or any subsidiary of
                          the Company, or shares held in Ashland Coal's
                          treasury immediately prior to the Effective Time)
                          will be converted into the right to receive one share
                          of Company Common Stock and (iii) each issued and
                          outstanding share of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock
                          (other than shares owned by the Company or any
                          subsidiary of the Company, or shares held in Ashland
                          Coal's treasury immediately prior to the Effective
                          Time, or Dissenting Shares) will be converted into
                          the right to receive 20,500 shares of Company Common
                          Stock.
 
                          On October 4, 1996, the last full trading day prior
                          to the date on which the Company and Ashland Coal
                          issued a press release announcing that a possible
                          merger of their businesses was being discussed, on
                          January 24, 1997, the last full trading day prior to
                          the date on which the Company and Ashland Coal issued
                          a press release announcing that they had agreed in
                          principle on a merger as a result of which the
                          Company's stockholders would receive 52% and Ashland
                          Coal stockholders would receive 48% of the common
                          stock of the combined entity, and on April 4, 1997,
                          the last full trading day prior to the public
                          announcement of the execution of the Merger
                          Agreement, the closing prices per share of Ashland
                          Coal Common Stock as reported on the NYSE Composite
                          Transactions Tape were $25 3/4, $27 5/8 and $25 1/4,
                          respectively. On May 29, 1997, the most recent
                          practicable date prior to the printing of this Proxy
                          Statement/Prospectus, the closing price per share of
                          Ashland Coal Common Stock as reported on the NYSE
                          Composite Transactions Tape was $26 3/4. There is no
                          trading market for Company Common Stock or for
                          Ashland Coal Preferred Stock.
 
                          Based on the number of outstanding shares of Company
                          Common Stock, Ashland Coal Common Stock and Ashland
                          Coal Preferred Stock as of May 28, 1997, the number
                          of shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock issuable upon
                          exercise of outstanding options as of such date and
                          the respective ratios at which shares of Ashland Coal
                          Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock will be
                          converted into shares of Company Common Stock in the
                          Merger, the stockholders of the Company and the
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
                          stockholders of Ashland Coal immediately prior to
                          consummation of the Merger will own approximately 52%
                          and 48%, respectively, of the outstanding shares of
                          Company Common Stock immediately following
                          consummation of the Merger. Of such outstanding
                          shares of Company Common Stock, Ashland Inc. will own
                          beneficially approximately 53%, various trusts for
                          the benefit of descendants of H. L. and Lyda Hunt and
                          various corporations owned by trusts for the benefit
                          of descendants of H. L. and Lyda Hunt (collectively,
                          the "Hunt Entities") will own beneficially an
                          aggregate of approximately 25%, and Carboex will own
                          beneficially approximately 5%.
 
                          As provided in the Merger Agreement, at the Effective
                          Time there shall be substituted for each outstanding
                          option to acquire shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock
                          pursuant to stock-based compensation plans of Ashland
                          Coal a fully vested option issued pursuant to the
                          Arch Coal, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the
                          "Company Incentive Plan") to acquire Company Common
                          Stock, and the Company will reserve for issuance a
                          sufficient number of shares of Company Common Stock
                          for delivery upon exercise of such substitute
                          options. As of May 28, 1997, there were outstanding
                          options to purchase an aggregate of 689,035 shares of
                          Ashland Coal Common Stock at a weighted average
                          exercise price of $23.66 per share.
 
                          Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective
                          Time the Board of Directors of the Company will be
                          comprised of Messrs. John R. Hall (Chairman), James
                          R. Boyd, Robert A. Charpie, Paul W. Chellgren, Thomas
                          L. Feazell, Juan Antonio Ferrando, Robert L. Hintz,
                          Douglas H. Hunt, Steven F. Leer, Thomas Marshall,
                          James L. Parker, J. Marvin Quin and Ronald Eugene
                          Samples. Messrs. Hall, Boyd, Hunt, Leer, Parker and
                          Samples are currently members of the Board of
                          Directors of the Company and Messrs. Charpie,
                          Chellgren, Feazell, Ferrando, Hintz, Marshall and
                          Quin are currently members of the Board of Directors
                          of Ashland Coal. Messrs. Hall, Boyd, Chellgren,
                          Feazell and Quin are current or former executive
                          officers of Ashland Inc. Mr. Hunt is a beneficiary of
                          one of the trusts included among the Hunt Entities
                          and Mr. Parker is a trustee of certain trusts, and an
                          officer and director of a corporation, included among
                          the Hunt Entities. Mr. Ferrando is an executive
                          officer of Carboex. If, prior to the Effective Time,
                          any of Messrs. Hall, Boyd, Chellgren, Feazell and
                          Quin, any of Messrs. Hunt, Parker and Samples, or Mr.
                          Ferrando, should die or otherwise be unable or
                          unwilling to serve as a director of the Company, then
                          a substitute for such person is to be designated by
                          Ashland Inc., certain of the Hunt Entities and
                          Carboex, respectively. If, prior to the Effective
                          Time, any of Messrs. Charpie, Hintz, Leer and
                          Marshall should die or otherwise be unable or
                          unwilling to serve as a director of the Company, then
                          a substitute for such person is to be designated by
                          majority vote of the remainder of the foregoing
                          prospective members of the Board of Directors of the
                          Company. The Company, Ashland Inc. and Carboex have
                          entered into an agreement (the "Stockholders
                          Agreement") pursuant to which the Company has agreed
                          to nominate for election as a director of the Company
                          a person designated by Carboex, and Ashland Inc. has
                          agreed, among other things, to vote its shares of
                          Company Common Stock
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                          in a manner sufficient to cause the election of such
                          nominee, in each case for so long (subject to earlier
                          termination in certain circumstances) as the shares
                          of Company Common Stock owned by Carboex represent at
                          least 63% of the shares of Company Common Stock
                          acquired by Carboex in the Merger. In addition, the
                          Company has agreed for so long as the Hunt Entities
                          have the collective voting power to elect, by
                          cumulative voting, one or more persons to serve on
                          the Board, to nominate for election as directors of
                          the Company the number of persons designated by
                          certain of the Hunt Entities that could be elected to
                          the Board by the Hunt Entities by exercise of such
                          cumulative voting power.
 
                          It is expected that, as of the Effective Time, the
                          following persons will be executive officers of the
                          Company: Steven F. Leer, President and Chief
                          Executive Officer; Kenneth G. Woodring, Executive
                          Vice President--Mining Operations; C. Henry Besten,
                          Jr., Vice President--Strategic Marketing and
                          President--Arch Energy Resources, Inc.; John W.
                          Eaves, Vice President--Marketing; Jeffrey A. Hoops,
                          Vice President--Operations; Patrick A. Kriegshauser,
                          Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial
                          Officer; David B. Peugh, Vice President--Business
                          Development; Jeffry N. Quinn, Senior Vice President--
                          Law & Human Resources, Secretary and General Counsel;
                          and Robert W. Shanks, Vice President--Operations.
                          Currently, Messrs. Leer, Kriegshauser, Peugh, Quinn
                          and Shanks are executive officers of the Company, Mr.
                          Eaves is an officer of the Company, and Messrs.
                          Woodring and Besten are executive officers, and Mr.
                          Hoops is an officer, of Ashland Coal.
 
                          See "Risk Factors--Control of the Company by Certain
                          Stockholders," "Market Price and Dividend Data," "The
                          Merger--Directors and Executive Officers of the
                          Company After the Merger," "The Merger--Security
                          Ownership of the Company After the Merger," "Other
                          Agreements" and "The Company Incentive Plan."
 
Reasons for the           For a discussion of the factors considered by the
 Merger.................  Board of Directors of the Company in reaching its
                          decision with respect to the Merger, the Merger
                          Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby,
                          see "The Merger--Company Reasons for the Merger." For
                          a discussion of the factors considered by the Board
                          of Directors of Ashland Coal in reaching its decision
                          with respect to the Merger, the Merger Agreement and
                          the transactions contemplated thereby, see "The
                          Merger--Ashland Coal Reasons for the Merger;
                          Recommendation of the Board of Directors."
 
Recommendation of the
 Board of Directors.....
                          The Board of Directors of Ashland Coal, by unanimous
                          vote, has determined that the Merger is in the best
                          interests of Ashland Coal and its stockholders, has
                          approved the Merger Agreement and recommends a vote
                          FOR approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and
                          the transactions contemplated thereby by the
                          stockholders of Ashland Coal.
 
Opinion of Financial      Salomon Brothers Inc ("Salomon Brothers") has
 Advisor................  delivered its written opinion, dated April 4, 1997,
                          to the Board of Directors of Ashland Coal to the
                          effect that, based upon and subject to various
                          considerations set forth
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
 
                          in such opinion, as of the date of such opinion, (i)
                          the consideration to be received by holders of
                          Ashland Coal Common Stock in the Merger and (ii) the
                          consideration to be received by holders of Ashland
                          Coal Preferred Stock in the Merger is fair, from a
                          financial point of view, to the holders of Ashland
                          Coal Common Stock other than Ashland Inc. The full
                          text of the opinion of Salomon Brothers, which sets
                          forth assumptions made, general procedures followed,
                          matters considered and limits of review undertaken,
                          is attached to this Proxy Statement/Prospectus as
                          Appendix B and is incorporated herein by reference.
                          Stockholders of Ashland Coal are urged to read
                          Salomon Brothers' opinion carefully and in its
                          entirety. See "The Merger--Opinion of Financial
                          Advisor to the Ashland Coal Board of Directors."
 
Interests of Certain
 Persons in the
 Merger.................
                          In considering the recommendation of Ashland Coal's
                          Board of Directors, Ashland Coal stockholders should
                          be aware that certain members of the Company's
                          management and Board of Directors and certain members
                          of Ashland Coal's management and Board of Directors
                          have certain interests in the Merger that are in
                          addition to the interests of stockholders of Ashland
                          Coal.
 
                          Agreements governing outstanding employee stock
                          options to acquire Ashland Coal Common Stock provide
                          that such options, whether or not then vested, will
                          become vested and exercisable upon a "change of
                          control" of Ashland Coal. The Merger will constitute
                          a "change of control" of Ashland Coal for such
                          purposes. Based on options to acquire Ashland Coal
                          Common Stock outstanding as of May 28, 1997, the
                          Merger would result in the vesting of otherwise
                          unexercisable options to acquire Ashland Coal Common
                          Stock held by executive officers of Ashland Coal as
                          follows: William C. Payne (Chairman, President and
                          Chief Executive Officer)--18,750 shares; Kenneth G.
                          Woodring (Senior Vice President)--9,375 shares; C.
                          Henry Besten, Jr. (Senior Vice President)--6,250
                          shares; Marc R. Solochek (Senior Vice President and
                          Chief Financial Officer)--6,250 shares; Roy F. Layman
                          (Administrative Vice President and Secretary)--5,000
                          shares; and all officers of Ashland Coal as a group
                          (16 persons)--79,500 shares.
 
                          William C. Payne, Chairman and Chief Executive
                          Officer of Ashland Coal, is a party to a letter
                          agreement with Ashland Coal that provides for Mr.
                          Payne to receive certain supplemental retirement
                          benefits. Mr. Payne's retirement at the Effective
                          Time will trigger his entitlement to such
                          supplemental benefits.
 
                          The Company and Ashland Coal have tendered
                          retention/severance agreements to a total of 36
                          executive officers and other employees pursuant to
                          which each such person will receive a severance
                          benefit equal to 24 months of base pay if his or her
                          employment is terminated as a result of the Merger.
 
                          The Company has established an enhanced early
                          retirement program that will provide incentives to
                          eligible salaried employees to elect early or normal
                          retirement. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the
                          Company has
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
 
                          agreed to make the enhanced retirement program
                          available to Ashland Coal salaried employees as of
                          the Effective Time. Certain executive officers of the
                          Company and Ashland Coal would be eligible for
                          benefits under the program.
 
                          Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective
                          Time, certain directors of Ashland Coal will become
                          directors of the Company, and certain officers of
                          Ashland Coal will become officers of the Company.
 
                          The Merger Agreement provides that, from and after
                          the Effective Time, the Company will indemnify and
                          hold harmless each present and former director and
                          officer of Ashland Coal and any of its subsidiaries
                          against any losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses,
                          liabilities or judgments incurred in connection with
                          any claim arising out of matters existing or
                          occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, to the
                          full extent that a corporation is permitted under the
                          DGCL to indemnify its own directors or officers. The
                          Company has also agreed to maintain in effect for a
                          specified period directors' and officers' liability
                          insurance coverage, including coverage with respect
                          to claims arising from acts, omissions or other
                          events which occur prior to or as of the Effective
                          Time and has, pursuant to written agreements to be
                          effective as of the Effective Time, agreed to
                          indemnify the directors and executive officers of
                          Ashland Coal for certain liabilities incurred by them
                          in their capacities as such.
 
                          The Company, Ashland Inc., Carboex and the Hunt
                          Entities have entered into a Registration Rights
                          Agreement pursuant to which, subject to consummation
                          of the Merger, the Company has agreed to register
                          under the Securities Act the sale of shares of
                          Company Common Stock owned by Ashland Inc., Carboex
                          or the Hunt Entities under certain circumstances.
 
                          The Company and Carboex have entered into agreements
                          that, effective as of the Effective Time, will
                          replace certain agreements governing commercial
                          arrangements between Ashland Coal and Carboex.
 
                          Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, the Company
                          has agreed to nominate for election as a director of
                          the Company a person designated by Carboex, and
                          Ashland Inc. has agreed, among other things, to vote
                          its shares of Company Common Stock in a manner
                          sufficient to cause the election of such nominee, in
                          each case for so long (subject to earlier termination
                          in certain circumstances) as shares of Company Common
                          Stock owned by Carboex represent at least 63% of the
                          shares of Company Common Stock acquired by Carboex in
                          the Merger. In addition, the Company has agreed for
                          so long as the Hunt Entities have the collective
                          voting power to elect, by cumulative voting, one or
                          more persons to serve on the Board, to nominate for
                          election as directors of the Company that number of
                          persons designated by certain of the Hunt Entities
                          that could be elected to the Board by the Hunt
                          Entities by exercise of such cumulative voting power.
 
                          See "Risk Factors," "The Merger--Interests of Certain
                          Persons in the Merger," "The Merger--Directors and
                          Executive Officers of the Company," "The Merger--
                          Security Ownership of the Company After
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
 
                          the Merger," "The Merger Agreement--Certain
                          Covenants," "The Merger Agreement--Indemnification
                          and Insurance" and "Other Agreements."
 
Control of the Company
 by Certain
 Stockholders...........
                          Based on the number of outstanding shares of Company
                          Common Stock, Ashland Coal Common Stock and Ashland
                          Coal Preferred Stock as of May 28, 1997, the number
                          of shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock issuable upon
                          exercise of outstanding options as of such date and
                          the respective ratios at which shares of Ashland Coal
                          Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock will be
                          converted into shares of Company Common Stock in the
                          Merger, Ashland Inc., the Hunt Entities collectively
                          and Carboex will own approximately 53%, an aggregate
                          of 25%, and 5%, respectively, of the outstanding
                          shares of Company Common Stock immediately following
                          consummation of the Merger. The Company Certificate
                          will provide for cumulative voting in the election of
                          directors of the Company. See "Comparison of
                          Stockholder Rights." As a result of such provision,
                          and assuming an election of 13 directors and
                          ownership of the percentages of outstanding Company
                          Common Stock referred to above, Ashland Inc. and the
                          Hunt Entities (if the Hunt Entities were to vote
                          their respective shares together) will have the power
                          to elect six and three directors of the Company,
                          respectively. Although certain of the trusts among
                          the Hunt Entities have common trustees, the Hunt
                          Entities do not have any arrangement or understanding
                          to vote their shares of the Company Common Stock
                          together for any purpose. See "The Merger--Security
                          Ownership of the Company After the Merger."
 
                          Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, the Company
                          has agreed to nominate for election as a director of
                          the Company a person designated by Carboex, and
                          Ashland Inc. has agreed to vote its shares of Company
                          Common Stock in a manner sufficient to cause the
                          election of such nominee, in each case for so long
                          (subject to earlier termination in certain
                          circumstances) as shares of Company Common Stock
                          owned by Carboex represent at least 63% of the shares
                          of Company Common Stock acquired by Carboex in the
                          Merger. In addition, the Company, for so long as the
                          Hunt Entities have the collective voting power to
                          elect by cumulative voting one or more persons to
                          serve on the Board, has agreed to nominate for
                          election as directors of the Company that number of
                          persons designated by certain of the Hunt Entities
                          that could be elected to the Board by the Hunt
                          Entities by exercise of such cumulative voting power.
 
                          The Company Certificate will require the affirmative
                          vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of
                          outstanding Company Common Stock voting thereon to
                          approve a merger or consolidation and certain other
                          fundamental actions involving or affecting control of
                          the Company. The Company Bylaws will require the
                          affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the
                          members of the Board of Directors of the Company in
                          order to declare dividends and to authorize certain
                          other actions. As a consequence of the foregoing
                          ownership structure, Ashland Inc., the Hunt Entities
                          and Carboex, acting together, would have the power to
                          direct the affairs of the Company and to control or
                          limit these actions as well. See "Comparison of
                          Stockholder Rights--Supermajority Voting Provisions."
 
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
 
Dividends...............  The Merger Agreement provides that, prior to the
                          Effective Time, Ashland Coal may continue to pay
                          regular cash dividends on shares of Ashland Coal
                          Preferred Stock and regular quarterly cash dividends
                          on shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock at a rate not
                          to exceed $0.115 per share, and that the Company may
                          pay cash dividends on Company Common Stock in an
                          aggregate amount not to exceed 108.33% of the
                          aggregate cash dividends paid during the same period
                          on shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock and Ashland
                          Coal Preferred Stock.
 
                          It is anticipated that the annual rate of cash
                          dividends to be declared on shares of Company Common
                          Stock following the Merger will initially be $0.46
                          per share. There can be no assurance as to the length
                          of time that the level of such dividend, or any other
                          future dividend that may be declared by the Board of
                          Directors of the Company, will be maintained. The
                          declaration and payment by the Company of dividends
                          and the amount thereof will depend upon the Company's
                          results of operations, financial condition, cash
                          requirements, future prospects, limitations imposed
                          by credit agreements or senior securities and other
                          factors deemed relevant by its Board of Directors.
 
                          See "Market Price and Dividend Data."
 
Effective Time of the     It is anticipated that the Merger will become
 Merger.................  effective as promptly as practicable after the
                          requisite Ashland Coal stockholder approval has been
                          obtained and all other conditions to the Merger have
                          been satisfied or waived. See "The Merger Agreement--
                          Conditions."
 
Conditions to the
 Merger; Termination of
 the Merger Agreement...
                          The obligations of the Company and Ashland Coal to
                          consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction
                          of certain conditions, including obtaining requisite
                          Ashland Coal stockholder approval; receipt of all
                          requisite governmental and regulatory approvals,
                          including expiration or termination of any waiting
                          periods applicable to consummation of the Merger
                          under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements
                          Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"); the absence
                          of any injunction prohibiting, or the enactment of
                          any law making illegal, consummation of the Merger;
                          receipt of any material third party consents; the
                          absence of a material adverse change affecting either
                          the Company or Ashland Coal, and the receipt of
                          certain legal opinions.
 
                          The required waiting periods under the HSR Act with
                          respect to the acquisition of Company Common Stock in
                          the Merger by Ashland Inc. and Carboex have been
                          terminated.
 
                          The Merger Agreement is subject to termination at the
                          option of either the Company or Ashland Coal if the
                          Merger is not consummated before September 30, 1997,
                          or prior to such time upon the occurrence of certain
                          events.
 
                          See "The Merger--Certain Federal Income Tax
                          Consequences," "The Merger--Regulatory Approvals,"
                          "The Merger Agreement--Conditions" and "The Merger
                          Agreement--Termination; Expenses."
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
 
 
Exchange of Stock         Upon consummation of the Merger, each holder of a
 Certificates...........  certificate or certificates representing shares of
                          Ashland Coal Common Stock or Ashland Coal Preferred
                          Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Merger,
                          upon the surrender thereof (duly endorsed, if
                          required) to First Chicago Trust Company of New York
                          (the "Exchange Agent"), will be entitled to receive a
                          certificate or certificates representing the number
                          of shares of Company Common Stock into which such
                          shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock or Ashland Coal
                          Preferred Stock will have been automatically
                          converted as a result of the Merger. The Exchange
                          Agent will mail a letter of transmittal with
                          instructions to all holders of record of Ashland Coal
                          Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock as of
                          the Effective Time for use in surrendering their
                          stock certificates in exchange for certificates
                          representing shares of Company Common Stock.
                          CERTIFICATES SHOULD NOT BE SURRENDERED UNTIL THE
                          LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND INSTRUCTIONS ARE RECEIVED.
                          See "The Merger Agreement--Conversion of Securities."
 
Appraisal Rights........  Any holder of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock (i) who
                          signs a demand for appraisal in writing prior to the
                          vote taken at the Ashland Coal Meeting, (ii) whose
                          shares are not voted in favor of the Merger and (iii)
                          who follows certain other procedural requirements,
                          will be entitled to appraisal rights under Section
                          262 of the DGCL. Performance of the Voting Agreements
                          by Ashland Inc. and Carboex will result in the
                          inability of such stockholders to perfect dissenters'
                          appraisal rights with respect to shares of Ashland
                          Coal Preferred Stock owned by them. See "The Merger--
                          Appraisal Rights."
 
Federal Income Tax
 Consequences...........
                          It is intended that the Merger will constitute either
                          a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)
                          of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
                          "Code"), or a non-recognition exchange of stock
                          pursuant to Section 351 of the Code, and that no gain
                          or loss will be recognized by Ashland Coal and no
                          gain or loss will be recognized by Ashland Coal
                          stockholders on the exchange of shares of Ashland
                          Coal Common Stock or Ashland Coal Preferred Stock for
                          Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger
                          Agreement. For a further discussion of certain
                          federal income tax consequences of the Merger, see
                          "The Merger--Federal Income Tax Consequences" and
                          "The Merger Agreement--Conditions."
 
Accounting Treatment....  The Merger will be accounted for as a purchase for
                          accounting and financial reporting purposes. See "The
                          Merger--Accounting Treatment."
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
 
 
Comparison of
 Stockholder Rights.....
                          Upon consummation of the Merger, the stockholders of
                          Ashland Coal will become stockholders of the Company.
                          For a discussion of certain differences between the
                          Ashland Coal Certificate and the Bylaws of Ashland
                          Coal, as amended (the "Ashland Coal Bylaws"), and the
                          Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Arch Coal,
                          Inc. (the "Company Certificate") and the Restated and
                          Amended Bylaws of Arch Coal, Inc. (the "Company
                          Bylaws") to be in effect at the Effective Time, see
                          "Comparison of Stockholder Rights."
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
 
SUMMARY SELECTED HISTORICAL AND UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 Company Summary Selected Financial Data
 
  The following table sets forth summary selected financial and operating data
for the Company as of the dates and for each of the periods indicated. The
summary consolidated financial data for the three months ended March 31, 1997
and 1996 have been derived from unaudited consolidated financial statements
which include, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of
normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the consolidated
results of operations and financial position of the Company for such periods.
The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative
of results to be expected for future periods or for the full fiscal year. The
summary selected financial and operating data should be read in conjunction
with the consolidated financial statements, and notes thereto, of the Company
appearing elsewhere in this Proxy Statement/Prospectus. See "Information
Concerning the Company--Selected Financial Information" and "Index To Company
Financial Statements."
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                 MARCH 31,                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                          ----------------------- ----------------------------------------------
                             1997        1996       1996     1995      1994     1993      1992
                          ----------- ----------- -------- --------  -------- --------  --------
                          (UNAUDITED) (UNAUDITED)        (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                       <C>         <C>         <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>       
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 DATA:
 Total revenues.........   $197,419    $188,489   $775,805 $737,264  $785,287 $487,670  $606,361
 Income (loss) from
  operations............     16,313      14,946     56,112   10,025    64,942  (52,555)   29,705
 Income (loss) before
  cumulative effect of
  change in accounting
  principle.............     10,420       7,597     33,020  (11,037)   35,160  (38,898)   17,885
 Net income (loss)......     10,420       7,597     33,020  (11,037)   35,160  (38,898) (104,137)
 Net income (loss) per
  common share before
  cumulative effect of
  change in accounting
  principle.............       0.50        0.36       1.58    (0.53)     1.68    (1.86)     0.85
 Net income (loss) per
  common share..........       0.50        0.36       1.58    (0.53)     1.68    (1.86)    (4.97)
 Dividends declared per
  common share..........        --          --         .38      .32       --       .38       .38
BALANCE SHEET DATA (AT PERIOD END):
 Working capital........   $ 43,013    $ 36,902   $ 33,166 $ 40,077  $ 27,512 $ (3,369) $ 22,263
 Total assets...........    872,607     920,449    885,521  940,768   993,361  849,804   874,367
 Long-term debt.........    190,537     252,453    212,695  274,314   308,166  223,698   182,273
 Other long-term
  obligations...........    422,987     429,561    421,754  429,993   413,209  413,427   428,075
 Stockholders' equity...    141,046     121,288    130,626  113,692   131,426   96,266   143,164
OPERATING AND OTHER DA-
 TA:
 Tons sold..............      7,545       7,273     29,443   26,742    27,898   17,574    20,853
 Tons produced..........      7,127       6,698     26,887   25,562    27,383   14,848    20,136
 EBITDA(1)..............   $ 44,609    $ 39,571   $170,815 $110,126  $164,373 $ 27,860  $117,764
 Net cash provided from
  operating activities..   $ 32,931    $ 25,116   $131,400 $ 92,526  $ 81,273 $ 54,924  $ 95,353
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) EBITDA is defined as income from operations before the effect of changes in
    accounting principles and extraordinary items, net interest expense, income
    taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization. EBITDA is presented
    because it is a widely accepted financial indicator of a company's ability
    to incur and service debt. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or
    as an alternative to net income, operating income, cash flows from
    operations or as a measure of a company's profitability, liquidity or
    performance under generally accepted accounting principles. This measure of
    EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other
    companies.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
 
 Ashland Coal Summary Selected Financial Data
 
  The summary selected historical consolidated financial data of Ashland Coal
as of the dates and for each of the periods indicated are derived from and
should be read in conjunction with selected financial information and
consolidated financial statements of Ashland Coal incorporated by reference in
this Proxy Statement/Prospectus. The summary consolidated financial data for
the three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1996 have been derived from unaudited
consolidated financial statements which include, in the opinion of management,
all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to
present fairly the consolidated results of operations and financial position of
Ashland Coal for such periods. The results of operations for any interim period
are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for future periods or
for the full fiscal year.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                  MARCH 31,                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                           ----------------------- --------------------------------------------
                              1997        1996       1996     1995     1994     1993     1992
                           ----------- ----------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
                           (UNAUDITED) (UNAUDITED)        (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                        <C>         <C>         <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
  Total revenues.........   $166,608    $143,324   $577,204 $635,961 $610,144 $498,342 $579,724
  Income from
   operations............     18,726       6,216     31,821   67,447   54,720    5,157   57,977
  Income before
   cumulative effect of
   changes in accounting
   principles............     12,284       1,515     16,513   41,411   32,220   45,374   35,739
  Net income.............     12,284       1,515     16,513   41,411   32,220   26,538   35,739
  Fully diluted earnings
   per share.............       0.65        0.07       0.86     2.16     1.68     1.34     1.88
  Dividends declared per
   common share..........      0.115       0.115       0.46     0.46    0.415     0.40     0.40
BALANCE SHEET DATA (AT PERIOD END):
  Working capital........   $ 21,602    $ (1,367)  $ 17,216 $ 24,731 $ 11,955 $  2,285 $ 37,566
  Total assets...........    824,674     841,454    805,077  835,402  838,392  835,991  993,332
  Long-term debt.........    128,609     154,131    135,339  172,975  200,000  244,342  317,958
  Other long-term
   obligations
   (excluding deferred
   taxes)................    138,709     132,910    137,685  129,444  123,413  113,040   57,521
  Stockholders' equity...    414,494     396,257    404,292  397,879  368,983  343,427  288,275
OPERATING AND OTHER DATA:
  Tons sold..............      6,396       6,470     21,833   22,497   20,222   16,029   19,071
  Tons produced..........      5,957       4,944     20,476   20,945   19,183   14,176   16,719
  EBITDA(1)..............   $ 38,239    $ 24,479   $102,000 $138,340 $126,515 $ 76,405 $124,978
  Net cash provided from
   operating activities..   $ 30,752    $ 25,939   $118,031 $121,875 $104,747 $ 74,170 $ 79,023
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) EBITDA is defined as income from operations before the effect of changes in
    accounting principles and extraordinary items, net interest expense, income
    taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization. EBITDA is presented
    because it is a widely accepted financial indicator of a company's ability
    to incur and service debt. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or
    as an alternative to net income, operating income, cash flows from
    operations or as a measure of a company's profitability, liquidity or
    performance under generally accepted accounting principles. This measure of
    EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other
    companies.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
 
 Unaudited Pro Forma Summary Financial Information
 
  The following summary unaudited pro forma financial statements give effect to
the Merger, the issuance of shares of Company Common Stock to the stockholders
of Ashland Coal and the substitution of options to purchase Company Common
Stock for options to purchase Ashland Coal Common Stock pursuant to the Company
Incentive Plan. The Merger will be accounted for under the purchase method of
accounting. The unaudited pro forma financial statements do not reflect any
cost savings or other synergies that may result from the Merger.
 
  The unaudited pro forma financial statements should be read in conjunction
with the historical consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto
of the Company included elsewhere herein and of Ashland Coal incorporated
herein by reference. The unaudited pro forma financial statements do not
purport to be indicative of the results of operations or financial position
which would have occurred had the Merger occurred as of the beginning of the
period or as of the date indicated or of the financial position or results of
operations which may be obtained in the future. See "Unaudited Pro Forma
Financial Information."
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                       THREE MONTHS
                                           ENDED               YEAR ENDED
                                      MARCH 31, 1997       DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                     ------------------   --------------------
                                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
   <S>                               <C>                  <C>
   STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
     Total revenues................    $  364,027                    $1,353,009
     Income from operations........        30,969                        71,654
     Net income....................        20,977                        42,626
     Earnings per common share.....           .53                          1.07
   OPERATING AND OTHER DATA:
     Tons sold.....................        13,941                        51,276
     Tons produced.................        13,084                        47,363
     EBITDA(1).....................    $   82,773                      $272,815
     Net cash provided from operat-
      ing activities...............    $   63,683                      $249,431
<CAPTION>
                                      MARCH 31, 1997
                                     ------------------
   <S>                               <C>                
   BALANCE SHEET DATA:
     Total assets..................    $1,724,718
     Working capital...............        60,115
     Long-term debt................       339,246
     Other long-term obligations...       532,196
     Stockholders' equity..........       603,800
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) EBITDA is defined as income from operations before the effect of changes in
    accounting principles and extraordinary items, net interest expense, income
    taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization. EBITDA is presented
    because it is a widely accepted financial indicator of a company's ability
    to incur and service debt. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or
    as an alternative to net income, operating income, cash flows from
    operations or as a measure of a company's profitability, liquidity or
    performance under generally accepted accounting principles. This measure of
    EBITDA may not be comparable to similar measures reported by other
    companies.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
 
 Comparative Per Common Share Data
 
  Set forth below for the periods indicated are net income, cash dividends
declared and book value per common share data of the Company and Ashland Coal
on both historical and unaudited pro forma combined bases and on a per share
equivalent unaudited pro forma basis. Unaudited pro forma per share information
is derived from the unaudited pro forma information presented elsewhere herein.
The information set forth below should be read in conjunction with the
respective financial statements of the Company and Ashland Coal appearing
elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this Proxy Statement/Prospectus and
with the unaudited pro forma data included under "Unaudited Pro Forma Financial
Information."
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                THREE MONTHS
                                                   ENDED         YEAR ENDED
                                               MARCH 31, 1997 DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                               -------------- -----------------
   <S>                                         <C>            <C>
   COMPANY--HISTORICAL
   Net income................................      $ .50           $ 1.58
   Cash dividends declared...................        --               .38
   Book value (at period end)................       6.73             6.24
   ASHLAND COAL--HISTORICAL
   Net income (fully diluted)................        .65              .86
   Cash dividends declared...................       .115              .46
   Book value (at period end)(1).............      22.89            22.33
   COMPANY--PRO FORMA
   Net income................................        .53             1.07
   Cash dividends declared(2)................        .05              .41
   Book value (at period end)................      15.25
   EQUIVALENT PRO FORMA PER ASHLAND COAL COM-
    MON SHARE
   Net income................................        .53             1.07
   Cash dividends declared(2)................        .05              .41
   Book value (at period end)................      15.25
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Assumes conversion of preferred stock at applicable conversion rate.
 
(2) Represents the aggregate of: (i) cash dividends declared on Company Common
    Stock, (ii) cash dividends declared on Ashland Coal Common Stock and (iii)
    cash dividends other than preference dividends declared on Ashland Coal
    Preferred Stock, divided by the number of shares of Company Common Stock
    assumed to be outstanding upon consummation of the Merger.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
 
                                 RISK FACTORS
 
  The following factors should be taken into account by holders of Ashland
Coal Common Stock and holders of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock in evaluating
whether to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby, which approval and adoption will, if the other
conditions to the Merger are satisfied, result in their becoming holders of
Company Common Stock. These factors should be taken into account in
conjunction with the other information included or incorporated by reference
in this Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH COAL OPERATIONS GENERALLY
 
 Competition
 
  The coal industry is highly competitive and is affected by many factors
beyond the Company's control. Demand for coal and the prices that the Company
will be able to obtain for its coal are closely linked to coal consumption
patterns of the domestic electric utility industry, which has accounted for
approximately 90% of domestic coal consumption in recent years. These coal
consumption patterns are influenced by the demand for electricity,
governmental regulation, technological developments and the location,
availability and price of competing sources of coal, alternative fuels such as
natural gas, oil and nuclear, and alternative energy sources such as
hydroelectric power. In recent years there has been excess coal production
capacity in the United States as a result of increased development of large
surface mining operations, particularly in the western United States, and more
efficient mining equipment and techniques. Competition resulting from excess
capacity encourages producers to reduce prices and to pass productivity gains
through to customers. Demand for the Company's low-sulfur coal and the prices
that the Company will be able to obtain for it will also be affected by the
price and availability of high-sulfur coal, which can be marketed in tandem
with emissions allowances in order to meet federal Clean Air Act requirements.
 
  Electric utility deregulation is expected to provide incentives to utilities
to minimize their fuel costs and is believed to have caused electric utilities
to be more aggressive in negotiating prices with coal suppliers. To the extent
utility deregulation affects the Company's customers, some aspects of
deregulation may adversely affect the Company's business and operating
results.
 
 Potential Fluctuations in Operating Results
 
  The Company may experience fluctuations in operating results in the future,
both on an annual and quarterly basis, as a result of one or more factors,
including expiration or termination of or sales price redeterminations or
suspensions of deliveries under coal supply agreements, disruption of
transportation services, changes in mine operating conditions, changes in laws
or regulations, work stoppages or other labor difficulties, competitive and
overall coal market conditions, and general economic conditions. Such
fluctuations could be significant.
 
  The Company's mining operations are subject to factors beyond its control
that can negatively or positively affect the level of production and hence the
cost of mining at particular mines for varying lengths of time. These factors
include weather conditions, equipment repair requirements, variations in coal
seam thickness, amount of overburden, rock and other natural materials, and
other surface or subsurface conditions. Such production factors frequently
result in significant fluctuations in operating results.
 
  For a discussion of certain factors currently expected to affect the
Company's results of operations in the near term, see "Information Concerning
the Company--Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations--Certain Factors Affecting Current and Future Operating
Results."
 
 Environmental and Regulatory Matters
 
  Governmental authorities regulate the coal mining industry on matters as
diverse as employee health and safety, air quality standards, water pollution,
groundwater quality and availability, plant and wildlife protection,
 
                                      21
<PAGE>
 
the reclamation and restoration of mining properties, the discharge of
materials into the environment and surface subsidence from underground mining.
These regulations have had and will continue to have a significant effect on
the Company's mining costs and, thus, its competitive position vis a vis other
coal producers and providers of alternative energy sources. Mining operations
also require numerous governmental permits or approvals, the availability and
timing of which can affect the efficiency of operations and mining costs. In
addition, significant legislation mandates certain benefits for certain
retired coal miners represented by the United Mine Workers of America
("UMWA").
 
  New legislation, regulations or orders may be adopted or become effective
which may adversely affect the Company's mining operations or cost structure
or the ability of the Company's customers to use coal. New legislation,
regulations or orders may also require the Company or its customers to incur
increased costs or to change operations significantly. These factors could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business and results of
operations.
 
 Reliance on and Terms of Long-Term Coal Supply Contracts
 
  The Company sells a substantial portion of its coal production pursuant to
long-term supply contracts, which will significantly affect the stability and
profitability of operations. Most of the long-term supply contracts currently
in effect allow the Company to sell coal at a higher price than the price at
which such coal could be sold in the spot market. The loss of long-term
contracts, whether as a result of expiration, termination, suspension of
performance or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's results of operations and business. Such effect would be
particularly adverse which respect to the loss of long-term contracts that
permit the Company to sell coal at prices significantly higher than current
market prices. The Company is currently a party to two such contracts, one of
which expires in 2012 and provides for the delivery of approximately 1.3
million tons of compliance coal annually, and the other of which expires in
2003 and provides for the delivery of approximately 400,000 tons of low-sulfur
coal annually.
 
  The Company's long-term coal supply contracts contain price adjustment
provisions, which permit a periodic increase or decrease in the contract price
to reflect increases and decreases in production costs, changes in specified
price indices or items such as taxes or royalties, and contain price reopener
provisions, which provide for an upward or downward adjustment in the contract
price based on market factors. The contracts also typically include stringent
minimum and maximum coal quality specifications and penalty or termination
provisions for failure to meet such specifications, as well as force majeure
provisions allowing suspension of performance or termination by the parties
during the duration of certain events beyond the control of the affected
party, including changes in or the effectiveness of legislation or regulations
affecting such party. If the parties to any long-term contracts with the
Company were to modify, suspend or terminate those contracts, the Company
could be adversely affected to the extent that it is unable to find
alternative customers for the affected coal production at the same level of
profitability.
 
  From time to time, disputes with customers may arise under long-term
contracts relating to, among other things, coal quality, pricing and quantity
and applicability of certain contract terms. The Company may thus become
involved in arbitration and legal proceedings regarding its long-term
contracts. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to resolve
such disputes in a satisfactory manner.
 
 Dependence on Certain Customers
 
  During 1996, combined coal sales by the Company and Ashland Coal to
affiliates of The Southern Company ("Southern Company") and affiliates of
American Electric Power ("AEP") accounted for approximately 14.6% and 13.1%,
respectively, of pro forma combined revenues from coal sales for such period.
After the Merger, the loss of such customers would have a material adverse
effect on the Company.
 
 Reserve Degradation and Depletion
 
  The Company's profitability will be substantially dependent upon its ability
to replace depleted reserves with new reserves that can be mined at
competitive costs. There can be no assurance that replacement reserves will be
available when required or whether such replacement reserves can be mined at
costs comparable to those characteristic of the depleting mines. Exhaustion of
reserves at particular mines can also have an adverse effect
 
                                      22
<PAGE>
 
on operating results that is disproportionate to the percentage of overall
production represented by the production of such mines.
 
  The reserves at the Company's Arch of Kentucky Mine No. 37 capable of being
mined by its longwall operation are expected to be depleted in the third
quarter of 1997. For the year ended December 31, 1996, Mine No. 37 produced
4.5 million tons of coal (from both longwall and continuous miner sections)
which accounted for $20.8 million or 37.1% of the Company's operating income
and sales from the mine accounted for 16.4% of the revenues of the Company in
1996. After exhaustion of the longwall reserves, the decrease in operating
profit will be mitigated to some degree by the continued operation of two
continuous miner sections and by the potential development of an underground
mine in the Darby seam that is in close proximity to the Cave Branch
Preparation Plant currently used to process Mine No. 37 coal.
 
 Transportation
 
  The coal industry depends on rail, trucking and barge transportation to
deliver shipments of coal to customers. Disruption of these transportation
services could temporarily impair the Company's ability to supply coal to its
customers and thus adversely affect the Company's business and operating
results. In addition, transportation costs are a significant component of the
total cost of supplying coal to customers and can affect significantly a coal
producer's competitive position and profitability. Increases in the Company's
transportation costs, or changes in such costs relative to transportation
costs incurred by providers of competing coal or of other fuels, could have an
adverse effect on the Company's business and operating results.
 
 Reliance on UMWA-Represented Labor
 
  At the Effective Time, UMWA-represented employees will account for
approximately 47% of the workforce of the Company and UMWA operations
accounted for approximately 56% of the total coal produced by the Company and
Ashland Coal in 1996. Certain competitors of the Company and Ashland Coal
employ non-union laborers. Due to higher labor costs and the increased risk of
strikes and other work stoppages which may be associated with union operations
in the coal industry, non-union competitors may have a competitive advantage
where they compete with union operations. The seven-month UMWA strike in 1993
adversely affected the operations of the Company. If any current non-union
operations of the Company were to unionize, the Company would incur increased
risk of work stoppages, and possibly higher labor costs.
 
  The Bituminous Coal Operators Association ("BCOA") negotiates with the UMWA
on behalf of its members. The Company's Apogee Coal Company subsidiary and
Ashland Coal's Hobet Mining, Inc. subsidiary are members of the BCOA. The
current National Bituminous Coal Wage Agreement (the "1993 NBCWA"), which
applies to all of the Company's and Ashland Coal's employees represented by
the UMWA, became effective on December 16, 1993 and will expire on August 1,
1998. Wage rates and certain benefits were renegotiated in 1996 for the
remainder of the contract. When the 1993 NBCWA expires, no assurance can be
given that it will be successfully renegotiated without a work stoppage. In
addition to work stoppages which may occur upon termination of a collective
bargaining agreement, union operations may experience unauthorized work
stoppages or wildcat strikes from time to time.
 
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MERGER
 
 Control of the Company by Certain Stockholders
 
  Based on the number of outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, Ashland
Coal Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock as of May 28, 1997, the
number of shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
outstanding options as of such date and the respective ratios at which shares
of Ashland Coal Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock will be
converted into shares of Company Common Stock in the Merger, Ashland Inc., the
Hunt Entities collectively and Carboex will own approximately 53%, an
aggregate of 25%, and 5%, respectively, of the outstanding shares of Company
Common Stock immediately following consummation of the Merger. The Company
Certificate will provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors of
the Company. See "Comparison of Stockholder Rights." As a result of such
provision, and assuming an election of 13 directors and ownership of the
percentages of outstanding Company Common Stock referred to above, Ashland
Inc. and the Hunt Entities (if the Hunt Entities were to vote their respective
shares
 
                                      23
<PAGE>
 
together) will have the power to elect six and three directors of the Company,
respectively. Although certain of the trusts among the Hunt Entities have
common trustees, the Hunt Entities do not have any arrangement or
understanding to vote their shares of the Company Common Stock together for
any purpose. See "The Merger--Security Ownership of the Company After the
Merger."
 
  Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, the Company has agreed to nominate
for election as a director of the Company a person designated by Carboex, and
Ashland Inc. has agreed to vote its shares of Company Common Stock in a manner
sufficient to cause the election of such nominee, in each case for so long
(subject to earlier termination in certain circumstances) as shares of Company
Common Stock owned by Carboex represent at least 63% of the shares of Company
Common Stock acquired by Carboex in the Merger. In addition, the Company, for
so long as the Hunt Entities have the collective voting power to elect by
cumulative voting one or more persons to serve on the Board, has agreed to
nominate for election as directors of the Company that number of persons
designated by certain of the Hunt Entities that could be elected to the Board
by the Hunt Entities by exercise of such cumulative voting power.
 
   The Company Certificate will require the affirmative vote of the holders of
at least two-thirds of outstanding Company Common Stock voting thereon to
approve a merger or consolidation and certain other fundamental actions
involving or affecting control of the Company. The Company Bylaws will require
the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of
Directors of the Company in order to declare dividends and to authorize
certain other actions. As a consequence of the foregoing ownership structure,
Ashland Inc., the Hunt Entities and Carboex, acting together, would have the
power to direct the affairs of the Company and to control or limit these
actions as well. See "Comparison of Stockholder Rights--Supermajority Voting
Provisions."
 
 Inherent Uncertainties Relating to Certain Effects of the Merger
 
  The success of the Merger in enhancing long-term stockholder value will
depend, in part, on achieving cost savings and other benefits that could be
expected to be realized as a result of the Merger. As in every business
combination, achieving such benefits will depend on factors that may not be
within the control of the Company and require the dedication of management
resources, which may temporarily divert full attention from the day-to-day
business of the Company. There can be no assurance that the Company will be
able to realize such cost savings and other benefits, or do so within any
particular period.
 
 Writedowns Related to Duplicate Facilities
 
  Subsequent to the Merger, the Company and Ashland Coal believe that
significant cost savings and other synergies can be achieved. However,
realizing these cost savings and synergies may result in the idling or closing
of duplicate distribution and production facilities by the Company. Idling or
closing facilities may require significant charges to expense in order to
write down the applicable assets to their fair value, less selling costs, if
any. Idling or closing facilities of Ashland Coal that require writedown to
fair value will be adjusted in the purchase price allocation of Ashland Coal.
 
 Uncertainty as to Market Price of Company Common Stock
 
  In light of the considerations set forth above, the Company's status as a
new public company with no trading history, and the inherent uncertainty of
future market prices of the stock of any public company, there can be no
assurance as to the prices at which Company Common Stock will trade following
the Effective Time. Moreover, factors such as fluctuations in the Company's
operating results, general trends affecting the coal industry, broad market
fluctuations and general economic and political conditions may have a
significant effect on market prices for Company Common Stock.
 
 Shares Eligible for Future Sale
 
  Immediately following the consummation of the Merger, the Company will have
outstanding 39,594,415 shares of Company Common Stock (assuming no exercise
prior to the Effective Time of outstanding options to acquire 689,035 shares
of Ashland Coal Common Stock and after eliminating fractional shares resulting
from
 
                                      24
<PAGE>
 
the 338.0857-for-one split of Company Common Stock effected on April 4, 1997).
A significant number of such shares, including shares held by certain holders
of Company Common Stock prior to the Merger, will be eligible for sale without
restriction under the Securities Act in the public market after the
consummation of the Merger by persons other than affiliates of the Company.
Sales of shares by affiliates of Ashland Coal will be subject to Rule 145 of
the Securities Act (or Rule 144 in the case of such persons who become
affiliates of the Company) or as otherwise permitted under the Securities Act.
In addition, certain stockholders of the Company will have rights to require
the Company to register the sale of such holders' shares of Company Common
Stock under the Securities Act or, in some cases, to register the sale of
shares in other registration statements filed by the Company in respect of
sales of shares by it or by others. See "Other Agreements--The Registration
Rights Agreement."
 
 Effects of Authorized but Unissued Preferred Stock
 
  Pursuant to the Company Certificate, the Company's authorized capital stock
includes 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, which the Board of Directors
(by action of at least two-thirds of its members), without further approval of
the stockholders of the Company, is authorized to issue and to determine the
rights and preferences of the preferred stock. These rights and preferences
could be superior to those of the Company Common Stock. The rights of the
holders of Company Common Stock will be subject to, and may be adversely
affected by, any future issuance of preferred stock. The issuance of preferred
stock could also have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change
in control of the Company. The Company has no present plans to issue any
shares of preferred stock. See "Comparison of Stockholder Rights" and
"Description of Company Capital Stock."
 
 Changes in Stockholder Rights
 
  Upon consummation of the Merger, the stockholders of Ashland Coal will
become stockholders of the Company. Differences between the Ashland Coal
Certificate and Ashland Coal Bylaws and the Company Certificate and Company
Bylaws will result in changes to the rights of stockholders of Ashland Coal
when they become stockholders of the Company. For a more detailed explanation
of these changes, see "Comparison of Stockholder Rights."
 
  The Ashland Coal Bylaws provide that the number of Directors shall be fixed
by the affirmative vote of not less than 76% of the whole Board of Directors.
The Company Certificate provides that the number of directors may be
established or changed by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of
the members of the Board of Directors.
 
  The Ashland Coal Certificate provides that Ashland Coal shall not amend its
certificate of incorporation or bylaws, nor shall it enter into any merger or
consolidation, sell, lease or transfer all or substantially all of its
property and assets, or dissolve and wind up its affairs, except upon the
approval of 85% of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Ashland Coal
voting thereon, voting as one class. The Ashland Coal Bylaws require the vote
of not less than 76% of the members of the Board of Directors before the
Ashland Coal Bylaws may be altered or repealed. The Company Certificate
provides that the Company shall not amend certain provisions of the Company
Certificate, nor shall it adopt an agreement or plan of merger or
consolidation, authorize the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially
all of property and assets of the Company, or authorize the dissolution of the
Company or the distribution of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company, except upon the approval of not less than two-thirds of the
outstanding shares of Company Common Stock voting thereon. The Company Bylaws
provide that there be an affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the
members of the Board of Directors to amend the supermajority provisions of the
Company Bylaws. The Company Bylaws otherwise permit the amendment or repeal of
the Company Bylaws upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the Company's
Board of Directors.
 
  The Ashland Coal Bylaws provide that there be an affirmative vote of not
less than 76% of the members of the Board of Directors to authorize the
issuance of any stock or instrument convertible into or rights or warrants
 
                                      25
<PAGE>
 
to subscribe for or purchase any stock of Ashland Coal, except for any Ashland
Coal Common Stock in an amount not greater than 750,000 shares of Ashland Coal
Common Stock issued in connection with any stock option or other plan for the
employees or officers of Ashland Coal. The Company Bylaws provide that there
be an affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the members of the Board
of Directors to authorize the issuance of more than 1,000,000 shares of
Company Common Stock or any shares of Preferred Stock in any one transaction
or series of transactions, to declare a dividend or distribution on any
Company stock, to approve the Company's annual budget or operating plan
(including any unbudgeted capital expenditure in excess of $10,000,000), to
elect the Company's President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial
Officer (if any) or Chief Operating Officer (if any), to adopt a share
purchase plan of a nature commonly referred to as a "poison pill," to
repurchase or redeem any capital stock of the Company, to appoint members to
or dissolve the Executive Committee or to amend the supermajority provisions
of the Company Bylaws.
 
  Neither the Ashland Coal Certificate nor the Ashland Coal Bylaws contain
provisions addressing nominating procedures or procedures for bringing other
business before a stockholders' meeting by a stockholder, whereas the Company
Bylaws provide that in order for nominations or other business to be properly
brought before a stockholders' meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must
give timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary.
 
  Since neither the Ashland Coal Certificate nor the Ashland Coal Bylaws
contain a provision expressly electing not to be governed by Section 203 of
the DGCL, Ashland Coal is subject to Section 203, which contains restrictions
on transactions with persons who acquire 15% or more of a corporation's voting
stock. The Company Certificate contains a provision expressly electing not to
be governed by Section 203.
 
                                      26
<PAGE>
 
                        MARKET PRICE AND DIVIDEND DATA
 
  Ashland Coal Common Stock is listed on the NYSE and traded under the symbol
"ACI." There is no current trading market for Company Common Stock and no
trading market for Ashland Coal Preferred Stock. The table below sets forth,
for the calendar quarters indicated, the range of high and low sale prices of
Ashland Coal Common Stock as reported on the NYSE Composite Transactions Tape,
and the cash dividends declared on Ashland Coal Common Stock and Company
Common Stock.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                         ASHLAND COAL
                                         COMMON STOCK
                                      ------------------------- COMPANY COMMON
                                      HIGH    LOW     DIVIDENDS STOCK DIVIDENDS
                                      ----    ----    --------- ---------------
<S>                                   <C>     <C>     <C>       <C>
1995
  First Quarter...................... $29 1/4 $ 26     $0.115       $  --
  Second Quarter.....................  29 3/8   26      0.115          --
  Third Quarter......................  30 3/4  26 3/4   0.115          --
  Fourth Quarter.....................  30 1/8  20 1/2   0.115        0.320
1996
  First Quarter...................... $24 3/8 $20 1/2  $0.115       $  --
  Second Quarter.....................  26 3/8  22 1/2   0.115          --
  Third Quarter......................  25 3/4  22 1/4   0.115        0.382
  Fourth Quarter.....................  28 3/8  23 3/8   0.115          --
1997
  First Quarter...................... $28 3/8 $23 3/4  $0.115       $0.108
  Second Quarter (through May 29,
   1997).............................   28     24 3/8   0.115        0.108
</TABLE>
 
  On October 4, 1996, the last full trading day prior to the date on which the
Company and Ashland Coal issued a press release announcing that a possible
merger of their businesses was being discussed, on January 24, 1997, the last
full trading day prior to the date on which the Company and Ashland Coal
issued a press release announcing that they had agreed in principle on a
merger as a result of which the Company's stockholders would receive 52% and
the Ashland Coal stockholders would receive 48% of the common stock of the
combined entity, and on April 4, 1997, the last full trading day prior to the
public announcement of the execution of the Merger Agreement, the closing
prices per share of Ashland Coal Common Stock as reported on the NYSE
Composite Transactions Tape were $25 3/4, $27 5/8 and $25 1/4, respectively.
On May 29, 1997, the most recent practicable date prior to the printing of
this Proxy Statement/Prospectus, the closing price per share of Ashland Coal
Common Stock as reported on the NYSE Composite Transactions Tape was $26 3/4.
Stockholders are urged to obtain current market quotations for Ashland Coal
Common Stock. Prices at which Ashland Coal Common Stock may trade prior to the
Merger may not be indicative of prices at which Company Common Stock may trade
following the Merger.
 
  Holders of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock are entitled to receive dividends at
such times as dividends on Ashland Coal Common Stock are paid and in such
amounts as are equivalent to dividends payable on the number of shares of
Ashland Coal Common Stock into which Ashland Coal Preferred Stock is then
convertible. Each share of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock is convertible into
18,346 shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock through August 17, 1998, 19,596
shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock from August 18, 1998 through August 17,
2003, and 20,846 shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock beginning August 18, 2003
and thereafter. In addition, holders of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock are
entitled to receive cumulative annual dividends in preference to dividends
paid on Ashland Coal Common Stock of $2,800 per share, decreasing to $1,400
per share beginning in 1999, and to zero after 2003.
 
  It is anticipated that the annual rate of cash dividends to be declared on
shares of Company Common Stock following the Merger will initially be $0.46
per share. There can be no assurance as to the length of time that the level
of such dividend, or any other future dividend that may be declared by the
Board of Directors of the Company, will be maintained. The declaration and
payment by the Company of dividends and the amount thereof will depend upon
the Company's results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements,
future prospects, limitations imposed by credit agreements or senior
securities and other factors deemed relevant by its Board of Directors.
 
                                      27
<PAGE>
 
                           THE ASHLAND COAL MEETING
 
GENERAL
 
  This Proxy Statement/Prospectus is being furnished to holders of Ashland
Coal Common Stock in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board
of Directors of Ashland Coal for use at the Ashland Coal Meeting to be held on
Monday, June 30, 1997, commencing at 9:00 a.m., local time, and at any
adjournment or postponement thereof.
 
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE MEETING
 
  At the Ashland Coal Meeting, holders of Ashland Coal Common Stock and
holders of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock will consider and vote together upon a
proposal to approve and adopt the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby and consider and vote upon such other matters as may
properly be brought before the Ashland Coal Meeting.
 
  The Board of Directors of Ashland Coal has determined that the Merger is in
the best interests of Ashland Coal and its stockholders, has approved the
Merger Agreement and recommends that Ashland Coal stockholders vote FOR
approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby.
 
VOTING AT THE MEETING; RECORD DATE
 
  The Board of Directors of Ashland Coal has fixed June 5, 1997 as the record
date for the determination of Ashland Coal stockholders entitled to notice of
and to vote at the Ashland Coal Meeting. Accordingly, only holders of record
of Ashland Coal Common Stock and holders of record of Ashland Coal Preferred
Stock on that record date will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the
Ashland Coal Meeting. As of May 28, 1997, there were 13,520,952 shares of
Ashland Coal Common Stock outstanding, held by 962 holders of record, 150
shares of Ashland Coal Class B Preferred Stock outstanding, held by Ashland
Inc., and 100 shares of Ashland Coal Class C Preferred Stock outstanding, held
by Carboex. Each holder of record of shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock on
the record date is entitled to cast one vote per share on the proposal to
approve and adopt the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated
thereby and on any other matters properly submitted for the vote of Ashland
Coal stockholders, exercisable in person or by properly executed proxy, at the
Ashland Coal Meeting. Each holder of record of shares of Ashland Coal
Preferred Stock on the record date is entitled to cast 18,346 votes per share
on such proposal and on any other such matters, exercisable in person or by
properly executed proxy. The presence, in person or by properly executed
proxy, of the holders of a majority of the voting power represented by
outstanding shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred
Stock entitled to vote at the Ashland Coal Meeting is necessary to constitute
a quorum at the Ashland Coal Meeting. Shares represented by duly completed
proxies submitted by nominee holders on behalf of beneficial owners will be
counted as present for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum for
all purposes (even if some such proxies reflect broker non-votes). In
addition, abstentions will be counted as present for purposes of determining
the existence of a quorum.
 
  The approval and adoption by Ashland Coal stockholders of the Merger
Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby will require the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 85% of outstanding shares of
Ashland Coal Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock voting thereon,
voting together as a single class. Abstentions will be counted as shares
present at the Ashland Coal Meeting for purposes of determining the existence
of a quorum, but will not be recorded as votes cast on the proposal. Broker
non-votes with respect to the proposal will be treated as shares not capable
of being voted on the proposal. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes
will have no effect either on the minimum number of affirmative votes
necessary to approve the proposal or on the outcome of voting on the proposal.
 
  As of May 28, 1997, Ashland Inc. was the beneficial owner of 7,529,686
shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock and all outstanding shares of Ashland Coal
Class B Preferred Stock, representing in the aggregate approximately 57% of
the voting power of outstanding Ashland Coal Common Stock and Ashland Coal
Preferred Stock. As of such date, Carboex was the beneficial owner of all
outstanding shares of Ashland Coal Class C Preferred Stock, representing
approximately 10% of the voting power of outstanding Ashland Coal Common
 
                                      28
<PAGE>
 
Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock. The Company has entered into Voting
Agreements with each of Ashland Inc. and Carboex, pursuant to which each such
Ashland Coal stockholder has agreed, among other things, to vote and at the
Company's request to grant the Company such stockholder's irrevocable proxy to
vote, all shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock
owned by such stockholder in favor of approval and adoption of the Merger
Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. Each such Ashland Coal
stockholder has also agreed not to sell, transfer or encumber any of its
shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock or Ashland Coal Preferred Stock now owned
or acquired during the term of the Voting Agreement. See "Other Agreements--
The Voting Agreements." As of May 28, 1997, the directors and executive
officers of Ashland Coal and their affiliates (including Ashland Inc. and
Carboex) were the beneficial owners of Ashland Coal capital stock representing
approximately 68% of the voting power of outstanding Ashland Coal Common Stock
and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock.
 
  If a stockholder is a participant in Ashland Coal's Dividend Reinvestment
and Stock Purchase Plan, the proxy card represents authority to vote the
number of full shares in the participant's dividend reinvestment account on
the record date, as well as shares registered in the participant's name.
 
PROXIES
 
  All shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock
that are entitled to vote and are represented at the Ashland Coal Meeting by
properly executed proxies received prior to or at the Ashland Coal Meeting,
and not revoked, will be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated
on such proxies. If no instructions are indicated, such proxies will in each
case be voted FOR approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby.
 
  If any other matters are properly presented at the Ashland Coal Meeting for
consideration, including, among other things, a motion to adjourn the meeting
to another time and/or place (including, without limitation, for the purpose
of soliciting additional proxies), the persons named in the enclosed form of
proxy and acting thereunder will have discretion to vote on such matters in
accordance with their best judgment.
 
  Any proxy given pursuant to this solicitation may be revoked by the person
giving it at any time before it is voted. Proxies may be revoked by (i) filing
with the Corporate Secretary of Ashland Coal, at or before the taking of the
vote at the Ashland Coal Meeting, a written notice of revocation bearing a
later date than the proxy, (ii) duly executing a later dated proxy relating to
the same shares and delivering it to the Corporate Secretary of Ashland Coal,
before the taking of the vote at the Meeting, or (iii) attending the Ashland
Coal Meeting and voting in person (although attendance at the Ashland Coal
Meeting will not in and of itself constitute a revocation of a proxy). Any
written notice of revocation or subsequent proxy should be sent so as to be
delivered to Ashland Coal, Inc., 2205 Fifth Street Road, Huntington, West
Virginia 25701, Attention: Corporate Secretary, or hand delivered to the
foregoing representative of Ashland Coal, at or before the taking of the vote
at the Ashland Coal Meeting.
 
  All expenses of this solicitation, excluding the cost of mailing this Proxy
Statement/Prospectus and the filing fee paid to the Commission in connection
with filing the Registration Statement (which will be shared proportionately
by the Company and Ashland Coal), will be paid by the party incurring the
expense. See "The Merger Agreement--Termination; Expenses." In addition to
solicitation by use of the mails, proxies may be solicited by directors,
officers and employees of Ashland Coal in person or by telephone, telegram or
other means of communication. Such directors, officers and employees will not
be additionally compensated, but may be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-
pocket expenses in connection with such solicitation. Ashland Coal has
retained Morrow & Co., at an estimated cost of $15,000, plus reimbursement of
expenses, to assist in the solicitation of proxies from brokers, nominees,
institutions and individuals on behalf of Ashland Coal. Arrangements will also
be made with custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for forwarding of proxy
solicitation materials to beneficial owners of shares held of record by such
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries, and Ashland Coal will reimburse such
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses incurred in
connection therewith.
 
  STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD NOT SEND ANY STOCK CERTIFICATES WITH THEIR PROXY CARD.
 
                                      29
<PAGE>
 
                                  THE MERGER
 
BACKGROUND OF THE MERGER
 
  The Company was formed in 1969. Since 1972, the outstanding shares of
Company Common Stock have been beneficially owned by Ashland Inc. and the Hunt
Entities or their respective affiliates or predecessors. As of March 31, 1997,
Ashland Inc. beneficially owned 51.25% and the Hunt Entities beneficially
owned an aggregate of 48.75% of the outstanding shares of Company Common
Stock.
 
  Ashland Coal was organized in 1975 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ashland
Inc. to conduct coal mining operations in the eastern United States that the
stockholders of the Company elected not to pursue at that time. As early as
1986, the Company, Ashland Coal and their respective stockholders discussed
combining the businesses of the two companies. However, no agreement was
reached regarding such a combination. In 1988, Ashland Coal effected an
initial public offering of Ashland Coal Common Stock, thereby becoming a
public corporation.
 
  During 1993, the Company and Ashland Coal again engaged in discussions to
explore a possible merger of the two companies. These discussions did not lead
to an agreement and were abandoned in February 1994, primarily due to the
inability of the parties and their respective stockholders to agree upon the
relative values of the two companies.
 
  During February and March 1996, members of senior management of Ashland Inc.
initiated a discussion with representatives of Ashland Coal regarding the
desirability of a possible business combination of the Company and Ashland
Coal. Also discussed were the procedures that might be implemented with regard
to the negotiation of such a transaction, particularly in light of the equity
interests in each of the companies held by Ashland Inc. and membership on the
Boards of Directors of each of the companies by persons affiliated with
Ashland Inc. Thereafter, representatives of the Hunt Entities were contacted
to determine whether the Hunt Entities had any interest in exploring a
possible business combination of the Company and Ashland Coal. Representatives
of the Hunt Entities indicated that there was interest in exploring such a
transaction.
 
  On April 11, 1996, a meeting among Messrs. William C. Payne, Kenneth G.
Woodring, C. Henry Besten, Sr., Marc R. Solochek and Roy F. Layman, members of
Ashland Coal senior management, and Robert A. Charpie, Juan A. Ferrando and
Thomas Marshall, members of the Board of Directors of Ashland Coal not
affiliated with Ashland Inc., was held at which various aspects of a possible
business combination of the Company and Ashland Coal were discussed, including
the operations of the two companies in the Central Appalachian coal mining
region; the location and general characteristics of their respective coal
reserves and mining equipment and operating personnel; tax attributes of the
two companies and tax and accounting consequences that could result from a
combination of the two companies depending on the form and structure of a
transaction; regulatory aspects (including HSR Act implications) of a
transaction; the then-current capital structures and ownership characteristics
of the two companies; the impact of various transaction structures on leases
and other contracts to which Ashland Coal is a party; the corporate governance
provisions contained in the Ashland Coal Certificate, Ashland Coal Bylaws and
Company Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws; and means by which the
relative values of the two companies could be determined, including by
confirmation of mineral reserves and mining plans of the two companies by an
independent engineering firm, as well as through due diligence and
conventional valuation techniques. Also discussed were various possible
benefits that could be achieved as a result of such a transaction, including
possible operational synergies from more efficient utilization of facilities,
equipment, human resources and coal transportation services; economies of
scale through coordinated operating strategies effected by a larger combined
enterprise; cost savings through elimination of duplicative facilities and
administrative functions; and better access to capital markets.
 
  At a meeting of the Board of Directors of Ashland Coal held on April 25,
1996, a special committee of the Board (the "Ashland Coal Special Committee")
comprised of members of the Board not affiliated with Ashland Inc. was formed
to explore the form, substance and terms on which a business combination of
the Company and
 
                                      30
<PAGE>
 
Ashland Coal could be effected, and to make recommendations to the full Board
of Directors with respect thereto. Mr. Robert A. Charpie was elected Chairman
of the Ashland Coal Special Committee. The other members of the Ashland Coal
Special Committee were Messrs. Juan A. Ferrando, Robert L. Hintz and Thomas
Marshall. The Ashland Coal Special Committee was also specifically authorized
to engage professional advisors to assist it in carrying out its
responsibilities.
 
  Thereafter, Mr. Marshall, a member of the Ashland Coal Special Committee,
contacted Mr. James L. Parker, President of Hunt Petroleum Corporation and a
member of the Board of Directors of the Company, to arrange a meeting with
members of the Board of Directors of the Company not affiliated with Ashland
Inc. Mr. Marshall, together with counsel to the Ashland Coal Special
Committee, met with Mr. Parker and Douglas H. Hunt, Director of Acquisitions
of Petro-Hunt Corporation and a director of the Company, on June 13, 1996 in
Dallas, Texas. At that meeting, the possibility of a business combination of
the Company and Ashland Coal was discussed, and the process by which a
further, more detailed exploration of such a transaction might be pursued was
generally determined. It was agreed at the meeting that the Company and
Ashland Coal should enter into a confidentiality agreement to govern the
treatment of confidential information provided by either company to the other,
that an independent coal mining engineering and consulting firm be retained
jointly by the Ashland Coal Special Committee and a special committee of the
Board of Directors of the Company to, among other things, evaluate the coal
reserves, mining plans and coal sales arrangements of each of the companies on
a comparable and relative basis with a view toward determining a common
methodology for analyzing the relative values of the two companies. Attendees
at this meeting generally agreed that John T. Boyd Company ("Boyd"), a widely
recognized independent mining and geologic consulting firm with offices in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Denver, Colorado, would be an acceptable
candidate for retention by the Ashland Coal Special Committee and a special
committee of the Board of Directors of the Company comprised of Messrs. Parker
and Hunt, directors of the Company not affiliated with Ashland Inc. (the
"Company Special Committee" and, together with the Ashland Coal Special
Committee, the "Special Committees").
 
  On June 17, 1996, a telephonic meeting of the Ashland Coal Special Committee
was held to receive a report from Mr. Marshall regarding the matters discussed
at the June 13 meeting in Dallas as described above. During the meeting it was
resolved that Boyd be retained as a consultant to the Ashland Coal Special
Committee.
 
  The Board of Directors of the Company established the Company Special
Committee by unanimous written consent dated July 10, 1996. The Company
Special Committee was authorized to explore the form, substance and terms on
which a business combination with Ashland Coal could be effected and was
directed to make recommendations to the full Board of Directors of the Company
with respect thereto. As with the Ashland Coal Special Committee, the Company
Special Committee was authorized to engage professional advisors to assist it
in carrying out its responsibilities.
 
  Boyd was jointly retained by the Special Committees pursuant to an
engagement letter dated July 16, 1996. The Company and Ashland Coal entered
into a Confidentiality Agreement, joined in by Boyd, dated July 29, 1996. The
Confidentiality Agreement provided that information furnished by the Company
or Ashland Coal to the other would be kept confidential. Boyd thereafter began
the process of eliciting information from both companies to enable it to
perform its analyses.
 
  Boyd was retained by the Special Committees on the basis of its expertise
and reputation as a widely recognized mining and geologic consultant. The Boyd
engagement letter provided for the companies to pay Boyd a fee based upon
Boyd's normal and customary hourly rates for such services. Payment of such
fee was not conditioned on the outcome of Boyd's opinion or whether or not
such opinion was deemed to be favorable for any party's purposes. No
limitations were imposed by the Special Committees on the scope of Boyd's
investigation undertaken in the performance of its engagement. The Boyd
engagement letter also called for the companies to reimburse Boyd for its
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses. The Company and Ashland Coal paid Boyd a
total of $779,045 plus expenses incurred by it in the performance of its
engagement. Boyd has performed
 
                                      31
<PAGE>
 
services, including reserve audits, for each of the Company and Ashland Coal
for which it has been paid at its standard rates.
 
  A meeting of the Ashland Coal Special Committee was held in Huntington, West
Virginia on July 31, 1996. At this meeting, the processes and procedures
involved in considering a possible business combination with the Company,
including the procedures and scope of analyses expected to be undertaken by
Boyd in the course of its engagement, were reviewed and discussed.
 
  On August 20, 1996, a telephonic meeting of the Ashland Coal Special
Committee was held. During this meeting, the status of Boyd's progress in
performing its engagement was reported, and a joint meeting of the Special
Committees was scheduled to receive from Boyd a preliminary report on the
analyses being undertaken by it. On the same date, the Company Special
Committee reported on Boyd's progress to the full Company Board at its regular
quarterly meeting.
 
  A joint meeting of the Special Committees was held in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania on October 4, 1996. At this meeting, representatives of Boyd
presented Boyd's initial preliminary report on its analyses based on various
publicly available data regarding the Company and Ashland Coal, as well as
information that had been provided to it to date by each of the companies.
Boyd's presentation included a compilation of coal reserves and mining plan
data on a comparable basis, as well as its views as to ranges of indicated
probable relative values of the two companies utilizing a discounted pre-tax
cash flow analysis, all subject to further investigation and data
verification. After various aspects of the presentations were discussed by the
Special Committees, the Special Committees directed Boyd to proceed with its
investigations and analyses. Thereafter, Boyd sought additional information
from each of the Company and Ashland Coal, discussed various data and
assumptions with members of management and other employees of the companies,
and otherwise continued its investigations and analyses. Boyd also conducted
site visits at mines of the two companies.
 
  On October 7, 1996, subsequent to the October 4 review of the first,
preliminary Boyd report, and after concluding that there was a basis for more
detailed investigation of the possible combination, the Company and Ashland
Coal issued a joint press release stating that they were engaged in
discussions of possible options regarding a combination of the two companies.
 
  On November 5, 1996, at the regular quarterly meeting of the Company Board
held in St. Louis, the Company Special Committee reported to the full Company
Board on the status of the work done by Boyd. On November 6, 1996, the Company
Special Committee met with Company management to review a revised draft of the
Boyd report that was received that day.
 
  The Special Committees again met in joint session on November 7, 1996 in
Pittsburgh. At this meeting, representatives of Boyd provided the Special
Committees with updated versions of its various analyses based on additional
information gathered in the course of meetings with employees of the
companies, mine site visits and other further investigation and analysis. Its
representatives also discussed with the Special Committees the extent, scope
and timing of further procedures to be conducted by it prior to completion of
its engagement.
 
  On November 13, 1996, a telephonic meeting of the full Board of Directors of
Ashland Coal was held to receive a progress report on the efforts of the
Ashland Coal Special Committee.
 
  On the same date, a meeting was held in Pittsburgh among Boyd, the Ashland
Coal Special Committee and members of Ashland Coal's senior management to
review various aspects of the analyses performed and to be performed by Boyd
and the status thereof, including the assumptions and data sources utilized.
Another meeting for the same purpose was held with the Company Special
Committee and Company senior management on November 14, 1996. On November 25,
1996, a meeting that included members of the Ashland Coal Special Committee
and representatives of Boyd was held in New York to discuss additional aspects
of the Boyd analyses.
 
  A meeting of the Ashland Coal Special Committee was held in New York on
December 10, 1996. At that meeting, various financial, operational and
structural aspects of a possible combination of the Company and
 
                                      32
<PAGE>
 
Ashland Coal were discussed. In addition, members of the Ashland Coal Special
Committee discussed the status of work performed and to be performed by Boyd
prior to completion of its engagement. Later the same day a meeting of the
full Board of Directors of Ashland Coal was held during which a report was
made regarding the status of the activities being undertaken by and on behalf
of the Ashland Coal Special Committee. At the meeting, the term of the Ashland
Coal Special Committee was extended to March 31, 1997, and the Ashland Coal
Special Committee was authorized to negotiate with the Company Special
Committee the terms and legal structure of a business combination within
parameters established by the Board. The Ashland Coal Special Committee was
instructed to submit the negotiated terms and conditions to the full Ashland
Coal Board for ratification and approval of such terms and conditions.
 
  The final written report of Boyd, dated December 9, 1996 and supplemented on
December 11, 1996, was circulated to the members of the Special Committees. In
its report, Boyd reviewed and independently valued the coal holdings of each
company. Boyd segregated those coal resources which have favorable
characteristics to support present development, those resources having
potential for near-term development and coal resources considered by Boyd to
be unlikely to be economically minable for the foreseeable future. In addition
to the foregoing categories, Boyd also classified the coal resources of each
company in terms of the reliability of the resource estimate in terms of
geological risk. These categories (in descending order of geologic assurance)
are "measured," "indicated" and "inferred." The resources were further
subdivided by Boyd into reserves that could be mined by surface as opposed to
underground mining methods. Coal resources which had been assigned by the
companies to existing or projected mine plans were segregated and valued on a
relative basis as part of the pre-tax discounted cash flow analyses of current
and proposed operations referred to below. Resources that were not in the
companies' ten year mine plans were valued by Boyd using benchmark unit prices
for undeveloped inactive resources. The work done by Boyd in conjunction with
the comparative evaluation of the coal holdings of each company was not an
attempt to prepare a coal reserve report of either company's reserve holdings
in conformity with Commission guidelines. Boyd has separately and
independently prepared for each company a reserve estimate prepared on such
basis.
 
  Boyd separately estimated the relative values of existing coal supply
contacts of the companies by using a pre-tax discounted income approach (to
the incremental contract pricing in excess of comparable spot market pricing)
over the remaining life of the contract. In its analysis, Boyd made an
independent judgment as to the likelihood that the remaining tonnage under the
contracts would be shipped.
 
  Boyd obtained from the companies their most recent mine and associated
business plans. Boyd conducted an audit review of the basic parameters used
for each operating or proposed mine included in the respective plans and made
adjustments when it believed warranted based upon its independent professional
judgment, including observations made by Boyd during its site visits to each
company's major mines. Boyd applied a pre-tax discounted cash flow analysis to
the Company and Ashland Coal plans as adjusted by Boyd as described above.
Boyd valued each of the companies on a relative basis and made no assessment
of the financial and other benefits each company might realize as a result of
the Merger.
 
  In conducting its relative valuation of the companies, Boyd first calculated
the estimated future streams of free cash flows that each company would
produce from its existing and proposed mines, utilizing spot market coal sales
prices, over the next ten years as reflected in the mine plans provided to
Boyd by the companies and modified by Boyd as described above. To the future
cash flow projections Boyd applied a consistent discount rate which it
believed to be appropriate given the inherent risk associated with a coal
mining venture to determine a relative present value of the companies'
respective continuing business on a pre-tax basis. Boyd determined such values
to be $358 million in the case of the Company and $370 million in the case of
Ashland Coal. Boyd then estimated the relative total enterprise values of each
of the companies by adding to the value of continuing operations the following
items: (i) the value of each company's coal supply contracts (estimated to be
$227 million in the case of the Company and $141 million in the case of
Ashland Coal), (ii) the present residual value of the coal reserves of each
company that would not be mined in the ten year time horizon (estimated to be
$120 million in the case of the Company and $45 million in the case of Ashland
Coal), (iii) the present value of the
 
                                      33
<PAGE>
 
residual value of the plant and equipment of each company at the end of the
ten year time horizon (estimated to be $123 million in the case of the Company
and $110 million in the case of Ashland Coal), (iv) the present value of each
company's excess and residual real estate holdings, including the Company's
oil and gas holdings (estimated to be $41 million in the case of the Company
and $8 million in the case of Ashland Coal), and (v) the present value of
certain other assets of the companies, including the Company's Archveyor(R)
mining technology (estimated to be $5 million in the case of the Company and
zero in the case of Ashland Coal). Boyd then deducted from the sum of these
values the estimated book value at January 1, 1997 of each company's debt
(estimated to be $190 million in the case of the Company and $168 million in
the case of Ashland Coal), and the present value of estimated mine closing
liability (estimated to be $45 million in the case of the Company and $14
million in the case of Ashland Coal) and estimated existing employee-related
liabilities, exclusive of future funding for active employees, which was
factored into the cash flow analysis (estimated to be $255 million in the case
of the Company and $99 million in the case of Ashland Coal). As the last step
of its analysis, Boyd made adjustments for the companies' estimated working
capital as of January 1, 1997 ($36 million in the case of the Company and $10
million in the case of Ashland Coal), potential federal income tax benefits
(an addition of $0-$26 million in the case of the Company), and a potential
decrease in value of the Company's Lone Mountain Processing, Inc. ("Lone
Mountain") operations as a result of potential operational modifications that
may be made as a result of certain compliance issues (a deduction of $0-$17
million). Based upon this analysis, Boyd concluded that the companies were of
relatively equal value, but that the relative value of the Company could range
from $403 million to $446 million, or approximately 100% to 110% of that of
Ashland Coal. Boyd stated in its report that its findings were intended to
demonstrate relative or comparative values, and not the fair market values, of
the two companies.
 
  Subsequent to receipt of Boyd's December 9, 1996 written report, Boyd
received inquiries from representatives of the Special Committees and of the
Company and Ashland Coal regarding differences between its preliminary reports
and final report primarily relating to the details underlying its discounted
cash flow analyses of the two companies. In its December 11, 1996 supplement
to its final report, Boyd provided the Special Committees with a detailed
breakdown of the differences, together with its associated workpapers.
 
  On December 12, 1996, at a meeting of the Company Board, the Company Special
Committee delivered a report to the full Company Board on its activities and
the analyses conducted by Boyd. After the report of the Special Committee,
Steven F. Leer, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, made a
detailed report to the Board on the synergies that could be created by a
business combination of the Company and Ashland Coal. At such meeting, the
term of the Company Special Committee was extended to March 31, 1997, and the
Company Special Committee was authorized to negotiate with the Ashland Coal
Special Committee the terms and legal structure of a business combination
between the companies, within parameters established by the Board. The Company
Special Committee was instructed to submit the negotiated terms and conditions
to the Company Board for approval and ratification of such terms and
conditions.
 
  On January 2, 1997, Paul W. Chellgren, Chief Executive Officer of Ashland
Inc. met with representatives of Carboex in Pittsburgh to discuss the terms
upon which Carboex could support the proposed business combination. The
parties discussed potential terms, including various commercial and corporate
governance matters.
 
  A joint meeting of the Special Committees was held in Pittsburgh on January
3, 1997. At the meeting, Boyd representatives reviewed with the Special
Committee Boyd's final report, and representatives of Boyd were available to
respond to questions. In response to inquiries, Boyd explained the various
differences between its preliminary reports and final report described in its
December 11, 1996 supplemental letter. Discussion and negotiation then ensued
regarding the relative valuation of the two companies, including the analyses
that had been performed by Boyd. Issues discussed relating to the relative
values of the two companies included the value (if any) that could be ascribed
to the Company's federal income tax attributes, the amounts to be ascribed to
each company's indebtedness given the differing terms of such indebtedness,
the impact (if any) on relative valuation of various contingent liabilities of
each company, and the extent of the potential decrease in value of
 
                                      34
<PAGE>
 
the Company's Lone Mountain operations as a result of potential operational
modifications. After these discussions, each Special Committee met in separate
session. Messrs. Charpie (on behalf of the Ashland Coal Special Committee) and
Parker (on behalf of the Company Special Committee) were thereafter authorized
to further negotiate the relative equity participation in the combined entity
of Company stockholders and Ashland Coal stockholders. At the conclusion of
these negotiations, the Special Committees reconvened and, upon consideration,
each Special Committee resolved that, subject to agreement on all other
matters and to the execution of definitive documentation, it would recommend
to its respective full Board of Directors that the Company and Ashland Coal
combine on a basis in which the relative equity participation in the combined
Company would be 52% for the stockholders of the Company and 48% for the
stockholders of Ashland Coal.
 
  On January 14, 1997, Mr. Chellgren met with Messrs. Parker and Hunt in
Dallas, Texas, to discuss certain issues raised by the proposed business
combination. Among the issues discussed were Board size and composition,
corporate governance provisions, management, corporate office location, and
the name of the combined entity. No definitive agreement on those issues was
reached.
 
  On January 20, 1997, a meeting of the full Board of Directors of Ashland
Coal was held in Pittsburgh. The Chairman of the Ashland Coal Special
Committee reviewed the status of ongoing discussions between members of the
Special Committees and the process that had been undertaken by the Ashland
Coal Special Committee to date, as well as the various relative valuation,
structural, operating, accounting, tax, governance and timing considerations
pertinent to a possible business combination of the Company and Ashland Coal.
By unanimous vote, the members of the Ashland Coal Special Committee resolved
to recommend to the full Board of Directors that Ashland Coal seek to effect a
business combination with the Company on a basis that would generally result
in Company stockholders and Ashland Coal stockholders owning 52% and 48%,
respectively, of the initial outstanding shares of Company Common Stock after
the Merger. The full Board of Directors, by unanimous vote, accepted such
recommendation and authorized the Ashland Coal Special Committee to continue
negotiations with the Company Special Committee with a view toward reaching a
definitive agreement with respect to the transaction, subject to further
consideration and approval by the full Board of Directors.
 
  On January 22, 1997, the Company Board met by telephone conference. The
Company Special Committee reviewed with the full Board the status of ongoing
discussions between the Special Committees and the process that had been
undertaken by the Company Special Committee to date, as well as the various
valuation, structural, operating, accounting, tax, governance and timing
considerations relative to a possible business combination of the companies.
The Company Special Committee recommended to the full Board of Directors that
the Company seek to effect a business combination with Ashland Coal on a basis
that would generally result in the Company stockholders and Ashland Coal
stockholders owning 52% and 48%, respectively, of the initial outstanding
shares of common stock of the combined enterprise. The full Board of
Directors, by unanimous vote, accepted such recommendation and authorized the
Company Special Committee to continue negotiations with the Ashland Coal
Special Committee with a view toward reaching a definitive agreement with
respect to the transaction, subject to further consideration and approval by
the full Board of Directors.
 
  On January 27, 1997, the Company and Ashland Coal issued a joint press
release announcing that they had reached agreement in principle on the
relative percentages of equity in the combined company that would be held by
Company and Ashland Coal stockholders.
 
  Subsequent to January 27, 1997, negotiations continued with respect to
various aspects of the proposed transaction, including the terms of the Merger
Agreement and the Voting Agreements. Counsel for all parties met on several
occasions to draft and refine the legal documents necessary for the Merger,
and the parties continued to correspond and discuss by telephone the various
business and legal issues raised by the proposed combination. In addition,
negotiations were conducted during this period between Mr. Hintz of the
Ashland Coal Special Committee, on the one hand, and representatives of
Ashland Inc. and Carboex, on the other hand, concerning the ratio at which
shares of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock would be converted into Company Common
Stock in the Merger, as well as among the relevant parties concerning the
terms of the various agreements described under "Other Agreements."
 
                                      35
<PAGE>
 
  The Company Board met on February 18, 1997 in St. Louis. At the meeting, the
Company Special Committee reported on the status of negotiations with the
Ashland Coal Special Committee as well as discussions held the previous
evening among the Special Committee and Board members representing Ashland
Inc. After the meeting, the Company Special Committee proposed by letter dated
February 25, 1997 to the Ashland Coal Special Committee a basis for resolving
remaining issues. The principal remaining issues were (i) the structure of the
transaction, (ii) the location of the combined company's headquarters and
executive personnel, (iii) the effect of outstanding options to acquire
Ashland Coal Common Stock on the relative equity participation in the combined
company, (iv) whether any adjustment to the Merger consideration should be
made because of working capital fluctuations, and (v) the composition of
executive management of the Company following the Merger.
 
  The Ashland Coal Special Committee and the full Ashland Coal Board of
Directors met on February 26 and 27, 1997. At these meetings, various aspects
of the proposed transaction were discussed, including the status of
negotiations with the Company Special Committee regarding remaining issues and
the February 25, 1997 letter from the Company Special Committee. In addition,
at these meetings a presentation was made by representatives of Salomon
Brothers regarding the proposed financial terms of the business combination,
and Salomon Brothers orally rendered its opinion to the Ashland Coal Board of
Directors to the effect that, based upon and subject to certain assumptions,
factors and limitations set forth in the written opinion described under "The
Merger--Opinion of Financial Advisor to Ashland Coal," as of such date, each
of (i) the consideration to be received by the holders of Ashland Coal Common
Stock and (ii) the consideration to be received by the holders of Ashland Coal
Preferred Stock, pursuant to the proposed combination, is fair from a
financial point of view to the holders of Ashland Coal Common Stock other than
Ashland Inc. and its affiliates.
 
  Between February 27 and March 25, 1997, negotiations continued between
representatives of the Special Committees regarding the various remaining
issues. On March 25, 1997, a meeting of the Board of Directors of Ashland Coal
was held at which the Ashland Coal Special Committee reported on the status of
negotiations with the Company Special Committee regarding the resolution of
such issues, and recommended to the full Board of Directors of Ashland Coal
that Ashland Coal seek to enter into a definitive agreement with the Company
on the terms described. The full Board of Directors, by unanimous vote,
accepted such recommendation and authorized the officers of Ashland Coal to
proceed to finalize the terms of a definitive agreement, subject to approval
by the full Board of Directors.
 
  Later on March 25, a meeting of the Company Board was held by telephonic
conference. At the meeting, the Company Special Committee reported on the
status of negotiations with the Ashland Coal Special Committee and informed
the Board that agreement had been reached on all outstanding issues. The
Company Special Committee reviewed with the full Board the resolution of those
issues, and recommended to the full Company Board that the Company seek to
enter into a definitive agreement with Ashland Coal on the terms described.
The Company Board, by unanimous vote, accepted such recommendation and
authorized the Company's executive officers (subject to the approval and
execution by the holders of at least 75% of Company Common Stock of a written
consent amending the Company Certificate to provide for an increase in
authorized shares and other provisions necessary to effect the proposed
Merger) to negotiate and execute the final form of a definitive agreement upon
the terms outlined by the Company Special Committee.
 
  On April 1, 1997, the Company Board held another meeting by telephone
conference to consider certain other corporate actions necessary to effectuate
the proposed Merger. The Company Board unanimously recommended changes to the
Company Certificate, approved certain changes to the Company Bylaws, and took
other corporation actions necessary to facilitate the Merger.
 
  On April 4, 1997, the stockholders of the Company executed the necessary
consents to increase the authorized capital of the Company and to take the
other actions necessary to allow the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement to occur, including amendments to the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company to increase authorized Company Common Stock in
connection with the 338.0857-for-one split of Company Common Stock,
authorization of the Company Certificate and Company Bylaws to be in effect at
the
 
                                      36
<PAGE>
 
Effective Time, authorization of the filling of vacancies on the Board of
Directors as of the Effective Time, and authorization of the adoption of the
Company Incentive Plan as of the Effective Time, all as contemplated by the
Merger Agreement.
 
  On the same date, the Board of Directors of Ashland Coal met to consider the
form of the definitive Merger Agreement. At the meeting, Salomon Brothers
confirmed its opinion to the Board of Directors to the effect that, as of
April 4, 1997, each of (i) the consideration to be received by the holders of
Ashland Coal Common Stock and (ii) the consideration to be received by the
holders of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock, pursuant to the Merger, is fair from
a financial point of view to the holders of Ashland Coal Common Stock other
than Ashland Inc. and its affiliates. The Board of Directors, by unanimous
vote, determined the Merger to be in the best interests of Ashland Coal and
its stockholders, approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby, and resolved to recommend approval and adoption of the
Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby to Ashland Coal
stockholders. The Merger Agreement was thereafter executed and publicly
announced.
 
COMPANY REASONS FOR THE MERGER
 
  The Company Board believes that the Company and Ashland Coal are a unique
strategic fit, which will allow the Company to increase its coal reserves and
operations in the Appalachian region as well as allow Ashland Coal to
diversify reserves and operations through the addition of the Company's
Midwestern and Western reserves and operations. Moreover, the Company Board
believes that Ashland Coal's business strategy, management and coal reserves
are complementary to those of the Company and that the Merger provides
significant opportunities for achieving strategic benefits that constitute key
objectives of the Company's business plan.
 
  Among the strategic benefits that the Company Board expects can be derived
from the Merger are:
 
  .  Reducing Capital and Operating Costs. The Merger will provide several
     opportunities for cost savings, including reductions in borrowing and
     insurance costs. Moreover, since many of the mining operations of the
     respective companies are conducted on contiguous sites or in close
     proximity, the combined company will be able to effect savings on
     equipment costs by moving mining equipment to develop or expand
     operations rather than building or purchasing new equipment. Additional
     savings are expected to result from enhanced purchasing power and
     bargaining strength of the combined enterprise in obtaining equipment,
     parts, supplies and transportation services and in negotiating with
     lessors of coal leases. Finally, the combined entity will be in a
     position to achieve cost savings, synergies and economies of scale by
     eliminating duplicate distribution and coal production facilities and
     equipment and reducing administrative overhead and personnel.
 
  .  Achieving Benefits of Growth and Increased Size. After the Merger, the
     Company will have increased size and diversification of coal reserves
     which will enhance its marketing flexibility. Due to the substantial
     coal reserves in close proximity that will be controlled by the combined
     entity, it will be better able to match coal supplies with
     specifications in existing contracts to maximize the price at which coal
     can be sold and to effect transportation and coal royalty savings. Due
     to its increased size and more diverse coal reserves, the combined
     enterprise will be better able than the Company or Ashland Coal
     separately to make deliveries under favorable contracts during periods
     of temporary production disruptions at one or a few mines. Additionally,
     by virtue of its increased size and capitalization, the combined
     enterprise will be able to pursue more effectively opportunities for
     growth through acquisitions and reserve development activities.
 
  .  Benefits of Becoming a Public Company. After the Merger, the Company
     Common Stock will be publicly traded and listed on the NYSE. This will
     provide access to public equity and debt capital markets for the Company
     as well as providing a trading market and liquidity for the investments
     of Company stockholders.
 
                                      37
<PAGE>
 
  The benefits described above are forward looking statements and actual
results may vary materially from such projected benefits. See "Risk Factors"
and "Information Concerning the Company--Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
 
  The Company Board considered certain potentially negative factors in its
deliberations regarding the Merger, such as the difficulty, disruption and
substantial expense likely to result from the Merger of two enterprises of
roughly equal size, the likelihood that expected synergies and cost saving
benefits would not be realized for a significant period of time (and the
possibility that some of such benefits might never be realized), the factors
described herein under "Risk Factors," the fact that the trading market volume
for Ashland Coal Common Stock has been limited and the need to restructure
existing financing and operating arrangements after the Merger. The Company
Board determined, however, that the benefits of the transaction discussed
above outweighed the potential negative factors.
 
  In reaching its conclusion, the Company Board considered information
provided at its August 20, 1996, November 5, 1996, December 12, 1996, January
22, 1997, February 18, 1997, March 25, 1997 and April 1, 1997 board meetings,
including, among other things, (i) the presentations and recommendations of
the Company management, (ii) information concerning the financial performance
and condition, business operations, capital, reserves, indebtedness and
prospects of Ashland Coal and information concerning the two companies on a
combined basis, (iii) the structure of the Merger, including the accounting
treatment, the tax-free nature of the transaction and the fact that Company
stockholders would retain approximately 52% of the equity of the combined
company, (iv) the terms of the Merger Agreement and other documents to be
executed in the Merger, (v) current industry, economic and market conditions
and trends, including the likelihood of continuing consolidation and
increasing competition in the coal industry, (vi) the possibility of achieving
significant costs savings, operating efficiencies and synergies as the result
of the Merger; (vii) the comparative valuation study conducted by Boyd, (viii)
historical market prices and trading information for Ashland Coal Common
Stock, (ix) the combined company's dividend capacity and cash flow, and (x)
the effect of the Merger on the employees, customers and communities served by
the Company.
 
  The foregoing discussion of the information and factors considered by the
Board of Directors of the Company is not intended to be exhaustive, but
includes all material factors considered by the Board. In reaching its
determination to approve the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby, the Board of Directors of the Company did not assign any
relative or specific weights to the various factors considered by it nor did
it specifically characterize any factor as positive or negative (except as
described above), and individual directors may have given different weights to
different factors and may have viewed certain factors more positively or
negatively than others. After considering the Merger Agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby, and after considering, among other things,
the matters discussed above and the recommendation of the Company Special
Committee, the Board of Directors of the Company, by unanimous vote, approved
the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby as being in the
best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
 
ASHLAND COAL REASONS FOR THE MERGER; RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
  On April 4, 1997, the Board of Directors of Ashland Coal, including the
Ashland Coal Special Committee, unanimously determined that the Merger is in
the best interests of Ashland Coal and its stockholders, approved the Merger
Agreement and resolved to recommend approval and adoption of the Merger
Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby to Ashland Coal
stockholders. In reaching these conclusions, the Board of Directors of Ashland
Coal took into account the following:
 
     1. The recommendation of the Ashland Coal Special Committee.
 
     2. The financial, operational and competitive advantages expected to
  result from the Merger, including operational synergies from more efficient
  utilization of facilities, equipment, human resources and coal
  transportation services; economies of scale through coordinated operating
  strategies effected by a larger combined enterprise; cost savings through
  elimination of duplicative facilities and administrative functions; and
  better access to capital markets.
 
                                      38
<PAGE>
 
     3. Information, including the Boyd report to the Ashland Coal Special
  Committee, concerning the respective businesses, operations, assets,
  financial condition, operating results, strategies and prospects of the
  Company and Ashland Coal.
 
     4. The opportunity for Ashland Coal stockholders to become stockholders
  of a larger company with complementary coal properties and mining
  operations and greater financial resources, of which they would own
  approximately 48% of the equity immediately following the Merger.
 
     5. The terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and related
  documents, which were generally reciprocal in nature and the product of
  arms' length negotiations.
 
     6. The initial rate of cash dividends anticipated to be paid on Company
  Common Stock.
 
     7. The detailed financial analysis and other information presented by
  Salomon Brothers, as well as the written opinion of Salomon Brothers to the
  effect that, based upon and subject to various considerations set forth in
  such opinion, as of April 4, 1997, (i) the consideration to be received by
  holders of Ashland Coal Common Stock in the Merger and (ii) the
  consideration to be received by holders of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock in
  the Merger is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of
  Ashland Coal Common Stock other than Ashland Inc.
 
     8. The fact that the Merger would be a transaction designed to be tax-
  free to Ashland Coal stockholders.
 
     9. The composition of the Board of Directors and executive management of
  the Company.
 
    10. The Voting Agreements.
 
    11. The interests of certain members of management and the Board of
  Directors of Ashland Coal in the Merger described under the caption "The
  Merger--Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger."
 
    12. The risks associated with coordinating the operations of the Company
  and Ashland Coal following the Merger and with achieving the cost-savings
  and other benefits that could be expected to result from the Merger, which
  could depend on factors beyond the control of the Company.
 
  The foregoing discussion of the information and factors considered by the
Board of Directors of Ashland Coal is not intended to be exhaustive, but
includes all material factors considered by the Board of Directors of Ashland
Coal. In reaching its determination to approve the Merger Agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby, the Board of Directors of Ashland Coal did
not assign any relative or specific weights to the various factors considered
by it nor did it specifically characterize any factor as positive or negative
(except as described above), and individual directors may have given different
weights to different factors and may have viewed certain factors more
positively or negatively than others.
 
  FOR THE REASONS DESCRIBED ABOVE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF ASHLAND COAL, BY
UNANIMOUS VOTE, APPROVED THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED THEREBY AS BEING IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF ASHLAND COAL AND ITS
STOCKHOLDERS, AND RECOMMENDED THAT ASHLAND COAL STOCKHOLDERS VOTE TO APPROVE
AND ADOPT THE MERGER AGREEMENT AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY.
 
OPINION OF FINANCIAL ADVISOR TO THE ASHLAND COAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
  On February 27, 1997, Salomon Brothers orally rendered its opinion to the
Ashland Coal Board of Directors to the effect that, based upon and subject to
certain assumptions, factors and limitations set forth in such written opinion
as described below, as of such date, each of (i) the consideration to be
received by the holders of Ashland Coal Common Stock and (ii) the
consideration to be received by the holders of Ashland Coal Convertible
Preferred Stock, pursuant to the proposed combination, is fair from a
financial point of view to the holders of Ashland Coal Common Stock other than
Ashland Inc. and its affiliates. Salomon Brothers subsequently confirmed such
opinion in writing on April 4, 1997, after confirming that its analysis had
not changed in any material respect.
 
                                      39
<PAGE>
 
  THE FULL TEXT OF SALOMON BROTHERS' OPINION DATED APRIL 4, 1997, WHICH SETS
FORTH THE ASSUMPTIONS MADE, PROCEDURES FOLLOWED AND MATTERS CONSIDERED BY
SALOMON BROTHERS, IS ATTACHED AS APPENDIX B TO THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
AND IS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE. SALOMON BROTHERS' OPINION DELIVERED
TO THE ASHLAND COAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS WAS DIRECTED ONLY TO THE FAIRNESS OF
THE CONSIDERATION TO BE RECEIVED BY THE HOLDERS OF ASHLAND COAL COMMON STOCK
AND THE CONSIDERATION TO BE RECEIVED BY THE HOLDERS OF ASHLAND COAL PREFERRED
STOCK, IN EACH CASE FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE HOLDERS OF ASHLAND COAL
COMMON STOCK OTHER THAN ASHLAND INC. AND ITS AFFILIATES, AND DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE A RECOMMENDATION TO ANY ASHLAND COAL STOCKHOLDER AS TO HOW SUCH
STOCKHOLDER SHOULD VOTE AT THE ASHLAND COAL MEETING. THE SUMMARY OF THE
SALOMON BROTHERS OPINION SET FORTH IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO THE FULL TEXT OF SUCH OPINION.
ASHLAND COAL STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE ENTIRE OPINION CAREFULLY.
 
  In connection with rendering its opinion, Salomon Brothers reviewed and
analyzed, among other things, (i) the Merger Agreement, including the Annexes
thereto, (ii) certain information and analyses prepared by Boyd, which was
retained by the Ashland Coal Special Committee and the Company Special
Committee to provide advice with respect to the relative valuation of the
assets of the two companies, (iii) certain publicly available business and
financial information concerning Ashland Coal, (iv) certain internal
information, primarily financial in nature, including projections, concerning
the business and operations of each of Ashland Coal and the Company furnished
to Salomon Brothers by Ashland Coal and the Company for purposes of Salomon
Brothers' analysis, (v) certain publicly available information concerning the
trading of, and the trading market for, Ashland Coal Common Stock, (vi)
certain publicly available information with respect to certain other companies
that Salomon Brothers believed to be comparable to Ashland Coal and the
Company and the trading markets for certain of such other companies'
securities, and (vii) certain publicly available information concerning the
nature and terms of certain other transactions that Salomon Brothers
considered relevant to its inquiry. Salomon Brothers also conducted
discussions with certain representatives of Ashland Coal, the Company and Boyd
to discuss the foregoing matters, including the past and current business
operations, financial condition and prospects of Ashland Coal and the Company
as well as other matters Salomon Brothers believed relevant to its inquiry.
Salomon Brothers also considered such other information, financial studies,
analyses, investigations and financial, economic and market criteria as it
deemed relevant.
 
  In its review and analysis and in arriving at its opinion, Salomon Brothers
assumed that the financial and other information provided to it that was
publicly available was accurate and complete and neither attempted
independently to verify nor assumed any responsibility for verifying any of
such information. Salomon Brothers did not conduct a physical inspection of
any of the properties or facilities of Ashland Coal or the Company, nor did it
make or obtain or assume any responsibility for making or obtaining any
independent evaluations or appraisals of such properties or facilities. In
addition, the Ashland Coal Board of Directors did not request Salomon Brothers
to solicit, and accordingly Salomon Brothers did not solicit, the interest of
third parties to effect a transaction involving Ashland Coal. With respect to
projections, Salomon Brothers assumed that they had been reasonably prepared
on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of
Boyd and the managements of Ashland Coal and the Company as to the future
financial performance of such companies, and Salomon Brothers expressed no
view with respect to such projections or the assumptions on which they were
based.
 
  In conducting its analysis and in arriving at its opinion, Salomon Brothers
considered such financial and other factors as it deemed appropriate under the
circumstances including, among others, the following: (i) the historical and
current financial position and results of operations of each of Ashland Coal
and the Company; (ii) the business prospects of each of Ashland Coal and the
Company; (iii) the historical and current market for Ashland Coal Common Stock
and for the equity securities of certain other companies that Salomon Brothers
believed to be comparable to Ashland Coal and the Company; (iv) the terms of
the Class B Preferred Stock and Class C Preferred Stock of Ashland Coal; and
(v) the nature and terms of certain other acquisition transactions that
Salomon Brothers believed to be relevant. Salomon Brothers also took into
account its assessment of general economic, market and financial conditions as
well as its experience in connection with similar transactions and
 
                                      40
<PAGE>
 
securities valuation generally. No limitations were imposed by Ashland Coal
with respect to the investigations made or the procedures followed by Salomon
Brothers in rendering its opinion.
 
  Salomon Brothers' opinion was necessarily based upon conditions as they
existed and could be evaluated on the date of its opinion, and Salomon
Brothers assumed no responsibility to update or revise its opinion based upon
circumstances or events occurring after the date of its opinion. Salomon
Brothers' opinion was limited to the fairness, from a financial point of view,
of the consideration to be received by the holders of Ashland Coal Common
Stock (other than Ashland Inc. and its affiliates) and did not address Ashland
Coal's underlying business decision to effect the Merger or constitute a
recommendation to any holder of Ashland Coal Common Stock as to how such
holder should vote with respect to the Merger.
 
  The preparation of a fairness opinion involves various determinations as to
the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial analysis and the
application of those methods to the particular circumstances, and therefore
such an opinion is not readily susceptible to summary description.
Furthermore, in arriving at its fairness opinion, Salomon Brothers did not
attribute any particular weight to any analysis or factor considered by it,
but rather made qualitative judgments as to the significance and relevance of
each analysis and factor. Accordingly, Salomon Brothers believes that its
analyses must be considered as a whole and that considering any portions of
such analyses and of the factors considered, without considering all analyses
and factors, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the process
underlying the opinion. In its analyses Salomon Brothers made numerous
assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business and
economic conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of
Ashland Coal and the Company. Any estimates contained in Salomon Brothers'
analyses are not necessarily indicative of actual values or predictive of
future results or values, which may be significantly more or less favorable
than as set forth therein.
 
  The following is a brief summary of the material financial analyses which
Salomon Brothers used in providing its opinion on February 27, 1997 to the
Ashland Coal Board of Directors. The following quantitative information, to
the extent it is based on market data, is based on market data as it existed
at February 27, 1997, and is not necessarily indicative of current market
conditions.
 
 Summary of Analyses
 
 In order to derive an estimated relative valuation range for the valuation of
Ashland Coal as a percentage of a combined valuation of Ashland Coal and the
Company, Salomon Brothers completed a comprehensive valuation analysis of
Ashland Coal and the Company based on three primary valuation techniques: (i)
a discounted cash flow ("DCF") analysis; (ii) a comparable public companies
analysis; and (iii) a precedent transactions analysis. Salomon Brothers also
considered an analysis of the relative contributions of Ashland Coal and the
Company, based on both historical and projected relative contributions, and an
analysis of the conversion ratio for Ashland Coal Preferred Stock in the
Merger. Salomon Brothers concluded that the negotiated 48% and 52% equity
ownership in Arch Coal, Inc. of Ashland Coal and Company stockholders,
respectively, which would result from the Merger (the "Merger Ownership
Allocation"), was consistent with the reference range derived from its
analyses.
 
  Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. Using the DCF methodology, Salomon Brothers
estimated the present value of unlevered future cash flows of Ashland Coal and
the Company based upon a review of three cases, each yielding a set of cash
flow projections for 1997 through 2006. The first case ("Case 1") was based
upon forecasted operating results estimated by Boyd, assuming the operation
only of mines currently in operation and no replacement of lost production
resulting from mine closures. The second case ("Case 2") assumed the
realization of internal expansion opportunities, including adjacent mines
("Brownfield") and new mines ("Greenfield"), the timing of which assumed
stabilizing production at approximately current levels. The Case 2 scenario
further assumed that the supply and demand dynamics of the coal marketplace
would not be disturbed given the stable production base. For purposes of this
analysis, Salomon Brothers used estimates for available opportunities provided
by Boyd and confirmed with the managements of Ashland Coal and the Company.
The
 
                                      41
<PAGE>
 
third case ("Case 3") assumed that cash flow generated from existing mines
would be reinvested to acquire other existing mining operations. Acquisition
tonnage was based on availability of cash and generation of conservative top
line growth.
 
  Salomon Brothers aggregated, with respect to each of the three cases, the
present value of the projected unlevered future cash flows of each of Ashland
Coal and the Company through 2006 with the present value of a range of
estimated terminal values for each of the companies (representing estimates of
the value of each of Ashland Coal and the Company beyond 2006). The ranges of
terminal values were calculated by applying, in each case, multiples of 6x to
7x (determined by Salomon Brothers based on an analysis of comparable publicly
traded companies and precedent transactions) to the estimated earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization ("EBITDA") of each
company in 2006. Using assumed discount rates for yearly cash flows ranging
from 9.6% to 10.9% for Ashland Coal and 9.4% to 11.5% for the Company, Salomon
Brothers computed reference ranges of firm values as follows: (i) under the
Case 1 scenario, $440 million to $505 million for Ashland Coal and $460
million to $535 million for Arch Mineral, (ii) under the Case 2 scenario, $485
million to $570 million for Ashland Coal and $630 million to $760 million for
Arch Mineral, and (iii) under the Case 3 scenario, $700 million to $870
million for Ashland Coal and $705 million to $865 million for Arch Mineral.
Using these firm value ranges, Salomon Brothers computed ranges of relative
equity valuations of Ashland Coal, as a percentage of the combined valuation
of Ashland Coal and the Company, as follows: (i) under the Case 1 scenario,
46% to 49%, (ii) under the Case 2 scenario, 42% to 45%, and (iii) under the
Case 3 scenario, 47% to 50%. Salomon Brothers determined that the Merger
Ownership Allocation was consistent with these reference ranges and that,
accordingly, this analysis supported the conclusions of its opinion.
 
  Public Comparables Trading Analysis. Salomon Brothers compared selected
financial data of Ashland Coal and the Company with certain financial data
from publicly traded coal companies considered by Salomon Brothers to be
comparable in some respect to Ashland Coal and the Company. The comparison
group consisted of Ashland Coal, Pittston Minerals, Rochester & Pittsburgh
Coal Company and Zeigler Coal Holding Company. Salomon Brothers noted,
however, that the universe of publicly traded companies engaged exclusively in
the coal business is limited. Based on its review of certain publicly
available information regarding the companies in the comparison group
(including multiples of (i) firm value to each of tons produced, revenues and
EBITDA and (ii) equity value to each of net income and after-tax operating
cash flow, defined as net income plus depreciation, depletion and amortization
("After-tax Cash Flow"), in each case for 1996, 1997 and the average of 1995
through estimated 1997 data), Salomon Brothers established ranges of implied
equity values of $450 million to $550 million for Ashland Coal and $575
million to $675 million for Arch Mineral. On the basis of such ranges, Salomon
Brothers computed a range of relative equity valuations of Ashland Coal, as a
percentage of the combined valuation of Ashland Coal and the Company, of 45%
to 48%. Salomon Brothers determined that the Merger Ownership Allocation was
consistent with this reference range and that, accordingly, this analysis
supported the conclusions of its opinion.
 
  Precedent Transactions Analysis. Salomon Brothers reviewed twenty selected
merger and acquisition transactions in the coal industry since 1990. Salomon
Brothers noted, however, that publicly available data on precedent
transactions is limited. Based on its review of the available data (including
multiples of (i) firm value to each of revenues, EBITDA, earnings before
interest and taxes ("EBIT") and reserves and (ii) equity value to After-tax
Cash Flow, in each case for 1996, 1997 and the average of 1995 through
estimated 1997 data), Salomon Brothers established ranges of implied equity
values of $500 million to $600 million for Ashland Coal and $550 million to
$750 million for Arch Mineral. Using these ranges, Salomon Brothers computed a
range of relative equity valuations of Ashland Coal, as a percentage of the
combined valuation of Ashland Coal and the Company, of 44% to 47%. Salomon
Brothers determined that the Merger Ownership Allocation was superior to this
reference range and that, accordingly, this analysis supported the conclusions
of its opinion.
 
  Relative Contribution Analysis. Salomon Brothers calculated the relative
contribution by each of Ashland Coal and the Company for 1994 through 2006
(based on both historical and projected contributions under the Case 2
scenario) with respect to (i) coal sales, (ii) EBITDA, (iii) After-tax Cash
Flow and (iv) capital
 
                                      42
<PAGE>
 
expenditures. The results of this analysis indicated that the average relative
contribution of Ashland Coal for 1994 through 2006 would have been 46%, 46%,
47% and 48% for coal sales, EBITDA, After-tax Cash Flow and capital
expenditures, respectively. Salomon Brothers determined that the 48% Merger
Ownership Allocation was consistent with the relative contributions of Ashland
Coal and the Company and this supported Salomon Brothers' opinion.
 
  Preferred Share Conversion Analysis. Salomon Brothers examined the terms of
the conversion in the Merger of shares of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock
("Preferred Shares") into Company Common Stock from the perspective of holders
of Ashland Coal Common Stock (other than Ashland Inc. and its affiliates). In
connection with its analysis, Salomon Brothers used two financial techniques,
the first being based on the principles of efficient market theory (the "EMT
Methodology") and the second being a computation of the net present value of
all incremental cash flows to be received by the holders of the Preferred
Shares in respect thereof (the "NPV Analysis").
 
  As described under "Market Price and Dividend Data," the Preferred Shares
are convertible into a number of shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock ranging
from 18,346 at present to 20,846 from and after August 18, 2003. In addition,
each Preferred Share bears a dividend equal to the sum of (i) the dividends
which would have been received by the holder of the Preferred Share had the
Preferred Share been converted into the number of shares of Ashland Coal
Common Stock into which it is then convertible, and (ii) a fixed preferred
dividend in the amount of $2,800 until 1999, $1,400 from 1999 until 2003, and
zero thereafter.
 
  The EMT Methodology assumes that, because each Preferred Share enjoys the
economic incidents of ownership of the Ashland Coal Common Stock into which it
is convertible even prior to conversion, such Preferred Share should be viewed
as having a value equal to the present value of the maximum number of shares
of Ashland Coal Common Stock into which such Preferred Share is convertible,
plus the net present value of the fixed preferred dividend stream in respect
of such Preferred Share until 2003, when the maximum conversion ratio will
first apply. Using this methodology, Salomon Brothers determined a reference
exchange ratio for the Merger of approximately 21,200 shares of Ashland Coal
Common Stock per Preferred Share. Salomon Brothers also noted that, in view of
the assumption implicit in the EMT Methodology that the holders of Preferred
Shares would hold such shares until 2003, it may be appropriate to apply to
the excess of the exchange ratio over the currently applicable conversion
ratio a liquidity discount of 10-30%, which would result in a range of
reference exchange ratios of approximately 20,344-20,915 shares.
 
  In its NPV Analysis, Salomon Brothers aggregated future cash flows from
additional future shares and dividends under the terms of the Preferred Shares
(discounted at a rate of 6.0%) and dividends from the Ashland Coal Common
Stock into which they might be converted (discounted at a rate of 10.9%),
taking into account the additional value in the future from the increase in
the conversion rate for the Preferred Shares, and assuming that dividend
growth would be consistent with share price growth. This analysis resulted in
a reference exchange ratio in the Merger of approximately 21,800 shares of
Ashland Coal Common Stock per Preferred Share. Applying the aforementioned
range of liquidity discounts, Salomon Brothers determined a range of reference
exchange ratios of approximately 20,760 to 21,480 shares.
 
  Salomon Brothers noted that the agreed exchange ratio of 20,500 shares of
Company Common Stock for each Preferred Share in the Merger was within or
below the ranges or reference values resulting from its analyses and that,
accordingly, this analysis supported the conclusions of its opinion.
 
 Financial Advisory Fees
 
  Salomon Brothers was retained pursuant to an engagement letter dated
February 1, 1997 (the "Engagement Letter") to act as a financial advisor to
the Ashland Coal Special Committee to assist it in connection with the
proposed combination with the Company. Salomon Brothers was selected by the
Ashland Coal Special Committee because of its reputation, its experience with
similar transactions and its knowledge of the energy industry. Salomon
Brothers is an internationally recognized investment banking firm continuously
engaged in
 
                                      43
<PAGE>
 
the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers
and acquisitions, negotiated underwritings, secondary distributions, and for
corporate and other purposes.
 
  Pursuant to the terms of the Engagement Letter, Ashland Coal agreed to pay
Salomon Brothers: (a) a fee of $300,000, payable upon initial submission of
Salomon Brothers' opinion to the Ashland Coal Board of Directors, and (b) in
the event that the services performed by Salomon Brothers were to be increased
materially at the request of the Special Committee as a result of
modifications to the terms of the proposed combination or otherwise, such
additional fees as would be commensurate with the nature and amount of
additional services so provided, the precise amounts of which would be agreed
upon. As a result, Salomon Brothers has become entitled to receive aggregate
fees of $300,000. Ashland Coal has also agreed to reimburse Salomon Brothers
for its out-of-pocket expenses, including reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel and Salomon Brothers' reasonable travel expenses. Ashland Coal has
agreed to indemnify Salomon Brothers and certain related persons against
certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the federal
securities laws, relating to or arising out of its engagement.
 
INTERESTS OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN THE MERGER
 
  In considering the recommendation of the Board of Directors of Ashland Coal
with respect to the Merger Agreement, stockholders of Ashland Coal should be
aware that certain members of the management and Board of Directors of each of
the Company and Ashland Coal have certain interests in the Merger that are in
addition to the interests of stockholders of Ashland Coal generally. The Board
of Directors of Ashland Coal was aware of these interests and considered them,
among other matters, in approving the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby.
 
  Ashland Coal Options. Agreements governing outstanding employee stock
options to acquire Ashland Coal Common Stock provide that such options,
whether or not then vested, will become vested and exercisable upon a "change
of control" of Ashland Coal. The Merger will constitute a "change of control"
of Ashland Coal for such purposes. Based on options to acquire Ashland Coal
Common Stock outstanding as of May 28, 1997, the Merger would result in the
vesting of otherwise unexercisable options to acquire Ashland Coal Common
Stock held by executive officers of Ashland Coal as follows: William C. Payne
(Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer)--18,750 shares; Kenneth G.
Woodring (Senior Vice President)--9,375 shares; C. Henry Besten, Jr. (Senior
Vice President)--6,250 shares; Marc R. Solochek (Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer)--6,250 shares; Roy F. Layman (Administrative Vice
President and Secretary)--5,000 shares; and all officers of Ashland Coal as a
group (16 persons)--79,500 shares.
 
  Ashland Coal Employment Agreement. William C. Payne, Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Ashland Coal, and a member of the Ashland Coal Board of
Directors, is a party to a letter agreement with Ashland Coal dated November
20, 1990 ("Letter Agreement"). It is expected that Mr. Payne will retire at
the Effective Time of the Merger. Pursuant to the Letter Agreement, Mr. Payne
would receive on an annual basis a supplemental benefit equal to 50% of his
average base compensation plus average incentive compensation paid or accrued
under Ashland Coal's Incentive Compensation Plan during the highest 36 months
of the final 60-month period of his employment. Benefits payable under the
Letter Agreement are reduced by any benefits payable to Mr. Payne under
Ashland Coal's Pension Plan, any other qualified defined benefit pension plan
maintained by Ashland Coal, the Ashland Coal Nonqualified Excess Benefit
Pension Plan, and the Ashland Coal Benefit Restoration Plan. As a consequence
of the Letter Agreement, Mr. Payne's benefits under the Pension Plan, the
Nonqualified Excess Benefit Pension Plan, and the Benefit Restoration Plan
will be supplemented by $128,154 per year, assuming (1) he retires at the
Effective Time, (2) that half of the sum of (A) his average base compensation
paid during the highest 36 months of the final 60-month period of his
employment and (B) his average incentive compensation paid during the highest
36 months of the final 60-month period of his employment is $154,945, and (3)
that his regular benefit under the Pension Plan, the Nonqualified Excess
Benefit Pension Plan and the Benefit Restoration Plan, upon retirement would
be $89,353 per year. Benefits under the Letter Agreement are not prorated on
years of service, and are not payable if Mr. Payne's employment is terminated
by Ashland Coal for cause.
 
                                      44
<PAGE>
 
  Enhanced Early Retirement Plan. On April 1, 1997, in anticipation of the
execution of the Merger Agreement and a potential reduction-in-force of
salaried employees following the consummation of the Merger, the Company Board
authorized an enhanced early retirement program to provide certain groups of
salaried employees incentives to elect early or normal retirement under the
Company's retirement plans. Under the program, employees who, with the
addition of three years of age and three years of service, would be eligible
for early or normal retirement under the Company's retirement plans will be
given credit for such age and service for the purpose of benefit calculation
and vesting if they elect to retire under the enhanced early retirement
program. In addition, those eligible employees electing to retire under the
program will receive a retirement incentive bonus of two weeks base pay per
year of service. The enhanced early retirement program was offered only to
certain salaried employee groups of the Company and its subsidiaries. Pursuant
to the Merger Agreement, the Company has agreed to offer this program to
certain groups of Ashland Coal salaried employees after the Effective Time.
Certain of the current executive officers of the Company and Ashland Coal are
eligible for benefits under this plan.
 
  Retention/Severance Agreement. The Company and Ashland Coal have tendered
retention/severance agreements to a total of thirty-six executives, including
all of the executive officers of both companies except for Messrs. Payne and
Leer. Pursuant to the agreements, the covered executives will receive certain
severance benefits if their employment is terminated other than for cause
during the one-year period following the Effective Time. The covered
executives will also receive a continuation of medical benefits for twenty-
four months and an accelerated vesting of stock options in the event his or
her employment is terminated during such period. Pursuant to the Merger
Agreement, the Company has agreed, as of the Effective Time, to assume Ashland
Coal's obligations under the agreements with the eighteen Ashland Coal
employees who have been tendered such agreements. If all current executive
officers of the Company and Ashland Coal who are not expected to remain or
become executive officers of the Company after the Effective Time become
entitled to benefits under such agreements, the aggregate benefit payable to
such individuals would be approximately $1.6 million.
 
  Directors and Executive Officers of the Company. Pursuant to the Merger
Agreement, certain directors of Ashland Coal will become directors of the
Company, and certain officers of Ashland Coal will become officers of the
Company. See "The Merger--Directors and Executive Officers of the Company
After the Merger."
 
  Indemnification; Insurance. The Company has agreed that, from and after the
Effective Time, it will indemnify and hold harmless each present and former
director and officer of Ashland Coal and any of its respective subsidiaries
against any losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses, liabilities or judgments
incurred in connection with any claim arising out of matters existing or
occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, to the full extent that a
corporation is permitted under the DGCL to indemnify its own directors or
officers. The Company has also agreed to maintain in effect for a specified
period policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance coverage,
including coverage with respect to claims arising from acts, omissions or
other events which occur prior to or as of the Effective Time and has,
pursuant to written agreements to be effective as of the Effective Time,
agreed to indemnify the directors and executive officers of Ashland Coal for
certain liabilities incurred by them in their capacities as such. See "The
Merger Agreement--Indemnification and Insurance."
 
  The Registration Rights Agreement. In connection with the Merger, the
Company, Ashland Inc., Carboex and the Hunt Entities entered into a
Registration Rights Agreement pursuant to which, subject to consummation of
the Merger, the Company has agreed to register under the Securities Act the
sale of shares of Company Common Stock owned by Ashland Inc., Carboex or the
Hunt Entities under certain circumstances. See "Other Agreements--The
Registration Rights Agreement."
 
  The Carboex Agreements. The Company and Carboex have entered into agreements
that, effective as of the Effective Time, will replace existing agreements
governing certain commercial arrangements between Ashland Coal and Carboex.
See "Other Agreements--The Carboex Agreements."
 
                                      45
<PAGE>
 
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY AFTER THE MERGER
 
  Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, the Board of
Directors of the Company will be comprised of Messrs. John R. Hall (Chairman),
James R. Boyd, Robert A. Charpie, Paul W. Chellgren, Thomas L. Feazell, Juan
Antonio Ferrando, Robert L. Hintz, Douglas H. Hunt, Steven F. Leer, Thomas
Marshall, James L. Parker, J. Marvin Quin and Ronald Eugene Samples. Messrs.
Hall, Boyd, Hunt, Leer, Parker and Samples are currently members of the Board
of Directors of the Company and Messrs. Charpie, Chellgren, Feazell, Ferrando,
Hintz, Marshall and Quin are currently members of the Board of Directors of
Ashland Coal. Messrs. Hall, Boyd, Chellgren, Feazell and Quin are current or
former executive officers of Ashland Inc. Mr. Hunt is a beneficiary of one of
the trusts included among the Hunt Entities and Mr. Parker is a trustee of
certain trusts, and an officer and director of a corporation, included among
the Hunt Entities. Mr. Ferrando is an executive officer of Carboex. If, prior
to the Effective Time, any of Messrs. Hall, Boyd, Chellgren, Feazell and Quin,
any of Messrs. Hunt, Parker and Samples, or Mr. Ferrando, should die or
otherwise be unable or unwilling to serve as a director of the Company, then a
substitute for such person is to be designated by Ashland Inc., certain of the
Hunt Entities or Carboex, respectively. If, prior to the Effective Time, any
of Messrs. Charpie, Hintz, Marshall and Leer should die or otherwise be unable
or unwilling to serve as a director of the Company, then a substitute for such
person is to be designated by the majority vote of the remainder of the
foregoing prospective members of the Board of Directors of the Company.
Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, the Company has agreed to nominate for
election as a director of the Company a person designated by Carboex, and
Ashland Inc. has agreed, among other things, to vote its shares of Company
Common Stock in a manner sufficient to cause the election of such nominee, in
each case for so long (subject to earlier termination in certain
circumstances) as the shares of Company Common Stock owned by Carboex
represent at least 63% of the shares of Common Stock acquired by Carboex in
the Merger. In addition, the Company has agreed for so long as the Hunt
Entities have the collective voting power to elect, by cumulative voting, one
or more persons to serve on the Board, to nominate for election as directors
of the Company that number of persons designated by certain of the Hunt
Entities that could be elected to the Board by the Hunt Entities by exercise
of such cumulative voting power. See "Risk Factors--Control of the Company by
Certain Stockholders," "The Merger--Security Ownership of the Company After
the Merger" and "Other Agreements."
 
  Set forth below is information concerning each person who is expected to be
a director or executive officer of the Company as of the Effective Time:
 
Directors
 
  James R. Boyd, age 50, has been a director of the Company since 1990. He is
currently, and has for the past five years served as, Senior Vice President
and Group Operating Officer of Ashland Inc. with responsibility for APAC,
Inc., Ashland Services Company, Blazer Energy Corporation and the Company.
 
  Robert A. Charpie, age 71, has been Chairman of the Board of Ampersand
Ventures, Inc. (a venture capital company) since 1988. Mr. Charpie retired in
September 1988 as Chairman of the Board of Cabot Corporation. He has been a
director of Ashland Coal since 1988 and is a director of Champion
International Corporation.
 
  Paul W. Chellgren, age 54, has been Chairman of the Board of Ashland Inc.
since 1997, Chief Executive Officer of Ashland Inc. since 1996 and President
of Ashland Inc. since 1992. Mr. Chellgren was Chief Operating Officer of
Ashland Inc. from 1992 to 1996 and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Ashland Inc. from 1988 to 1992. He was Chairman of the Board of
Ashland Coal from 1982 to 1992, and he has been a director of Ashland Coal
since 1981. He is a director of Ashland Inc. and of PNC Bank Corp.
 
  Thomas L. Feazell, age 60, has been Senior Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary of Ashland Inc. since 1992. He was Administrative Vice President
and General Counsel of Ashland Inc. from 1988 to 1992. Mr. Feazell has been a
director of Ashland Coal since 1981 and is a director of National City Bank of
Ashland, Kentucky.
 
                                      46
<PAGE>
 
  Juan Antonio Ferrando, age 55, is a director of Carboex and has been Senior
Vice President, Business Development, Sociedad Espanola de Carbon Exterior,
S.A. ("Carboex, S.A.") (a coal supply firm controlled by a Spanish state-owned
corporation, and the owner of Carboex) since 1986. During the past five years,
Mr. Ferrando has served in a variety of managerial positions with Desarrollo
de Operaciones Mineras, S.A. (a coal mining company with operations in Spain
and other countries). He has been a director of Ashland Coal since 1988. He is
also a director of Granitos Espanoles, S.A. (a Spanish company which produces
and sells granite).
 
  John R. Hall, age 64, has been a director of the Company since 1979. In
October 1996, Mr. Hall retired as Chief Executive Officer of Ashland Inc., a
position he had held since 1981. In January 1997, he retired as Ashland Inc.'s
Chairman of the Board and director, positions he had held since 1981 and 1968,
respectively. He is also a director of Banc One Corporation, The Canada Life
Assurance Company, CSX Corporation, Reynolds Metals Company and Ucar
International Inc. and is a member of the American Petroleum Institute
Executive Committee.
 
  Robert L. Hintz, age 66, has been Chairman of the Board of R. L. Hintz &
Associates (a management consulting firm) since 1989. Mr. Hintz retired in
1988 as Executive Vice President of CSX Corporation. He has been a director of
Ashland Coal since 1993 and is a director of Reynolds Metals Company, Scott &
Stringfellow, Inc. and Chesapeake Corporation. He is Chairman of MVC-VCU
Hospital Hospitality House; Christian Childrens Fund; and St. Joseph's Villa.
 
  Douglas H. Hunt, age 44, has been a director of the Company since 1995. He
has been the Director of Acquisitions of Petro-Hunt Corporation (oil and gas
exploration and production), Dallas, Texas for more than five years.
 
  Steven F. Leer, age 44, has been President and Chief Executive Officer and a
director of the Company since 1992. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Leer
served as Senior Vice President of The Valvoline Company, a subsidiary of
Ashland Inc. He serves on the Board of Directors of Mercantile Trust Company,
National Association. He is also a director of the Center for Energy and
Economic Development, Chairman of the Coal Policy Committee for the National
Coal Council and Vice Chairman of the National Mining Association.
 
  Thomas Marshall, age 68, retired in 1995 as Chairman of the Board of
Aristech Chemical Corporation, a position he had held since 1986. He was Chief
Executive Officer of Aristech Chemical Corporation from 1986 to 1994. Mr.
Marshall has been a director of Ashland Coal since 1995 and is a director of
PNC Bank Corp. and Allegheny Teledyne Incorporated.
 
  James L. Parker, age 59, has been a director of the Company since 1995. He
is President of Hunt Petroleum Corporation headquartered in Dallas, a position
that he has held for more than five years.
 
  J. Marvin Quin, age 49, has been Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer of Ashland Inc. since 1992 and a director of Ashland Coal since 1992.
He is also a director of Kentucky Electric Steel, Inc.
 
  Ronald Eugene Samples, age 71, has been a director of the Company since
1982, and has served as Chairman of the Board since 1990. Mr. Samples was
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company from 1982 until 1992 and
was Chief Executive Officer of the Company from 1988 until 1992.
 
Executive Officers
 
  Steven F. Leer, 44, current President and Chief Executive Officer of the
Company, will remain the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
following the Merger. He also will be a member of the Company's Board of
Directors.
 
  Kenneth G. Woodring, 47, is currently Senior Vice President--Operations of
Ashland Coal and has served in that capacity since 1989. At the Effective
Time, it is expected he will become Executive Vice President--Mining
Operations of the Company.
 
                                      47
<PAGE>
 
  C. Henry Besten, Jr., 49, is currently Senior Vice President--Marketing of
Ashland Coal and has served in that capacity since 1990. At the Effective
Time, it is expected he will become a Vice President--Strategic Marketing of
the Company and President of Arch Energy Resources, Inc., a subsidiary of the
Company.
 
  John W. Eaves, 39, is currently President of Arch Coal Sales Company, Inc.,
a subsidiary of the Company, and has served in that capacity since 1995. Prior
to that time, during the last five years, he held a series of sales-related
positions with the Company. At the Effective Time, it is expected he will
become Vice President--Marketing of the Company.
 
  Jeffery A. Hoops, 40, currently Vice President of Operations Planning and
Central West Virginia Surface Operations of Ashland Coal and has served in
that capacity since 1994. Prior to that time, during the last five years, he
held various operating positions with Ashland Coal. At the Effective Time, it
is expected that he will become Vice President--Operations of the Company.
 
  Patrick A. Kriegshauser, 36, became Senior Vice President, Treasurer and
Chief Financial Officer of the Company in July, 1996. Prior to that time,
during the last five years, he served as Vice President--Controller, Vice
President--Planning & Development, and Controller of Arch of West Virginia
Inc., then a subsidiary of the Company, until it was merged into Apogee Coal
Company in 1993. It is expected he will retain his current position after the
Effective Time.
 
  David B. Peugh, 42, became Vice President--Business Development of the
Company in 1993. Prior to that time, during the last five years, he was
Director of Exploration and Development of Ashland Coal. It is expected he
will retain his current position after the Effective Time.
 
  Jeffry N. Quinn, 38, became Senior Vice President--Law & Human Resources,
Secretary and General Counsel in 1995. Prior to that time, during the last
five years, he served in the capacity of Senior Vice President, Secretary and
General Counsel. He has been employed with the Company since 1986. It is
expected he will retain his current position after the Effective Time.
 
  Robert W. Shanks, 44, became President of Apogee Coal Company, a subsidiary
of the Company, in 1995. Prior to that time, during the last five years, he
was President of Arch of Illinois, Inc., then a subsidiary of the Company,
which changed its name to Apogee Coal Company in 1993. Thereafter, he served
as Vice President--Illinois Division, Apogee Coal Company until assuming his
current position. He has been employed by the Company since 1976. Mr. Shanks
is currently the Chairman of the BCOA. At the Effective Time, it is expected
he will become Vice President--Operations of the Company.
 
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF THE COMPANY AFTER THE MERGER
 
  The following table sets forth certain information concerning persons or
entities anticipated to own beneficially five percent or more of outstanding
shares of Company Common Stock, as well as information concerning anticipated
ownership of Company Common Stock by each executive officer of the Company,
each director of the Company and by all directors and executive officers of
the Company as a group, in each case based upon beneficial ownership by such
persons or entities of shares of Company Common Stock, Ashland Coal Common
Stock (including shares that may be acquired upon the exercise of employee
stock options) or Ashland Coal Preferred Stock as of May 28, 1997 and after
giving effect to the Merger and the elimination of fractional shares resulting
from the 338.0857-for-one split of Company Common Stock effected on April 4,
1997. Each person is anticipated to have sole voting and investment power with
respect to the shares listed, unless otherwise indicated.
 
                                      48
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           NUMBER      PERCENT
   BENEFICIAL OWNER                                      OF SHARES     OF CLASS
   ----------------                                      ----------    --------
   <S>                                                   <C>           <C>
   Ashland Inc.......................................... 21,340,764      53.9
    P.O. Box 391
    Ashland, Kentucky 41114
   Carboex International, Ltd...........................  2,050,000       5.2
    Sasoon Building
    Shirley Street & Victoria Avenue
    P.O. Box N-272
    Nassau, Bahamas
   Hunt Coal Corporation................................  2,199,659       5.6
    5000 Thanksgiving Tower
    Dallas, Texas 75201
   C. Henry Besten......................................     52,700(1)      *
   James R. Boyd (2)....................................      1,000       --
   Robert A. Charpie....................................     10,000         *
   Paul W. Chellgren (2)................................      5,361(3)      *
   John W. Eaves........................................        --        --
   Thomas L. Feazell (2)................................        670         *
   Juan Antonio Ferrando (4)............................        --        --
   John R. Hall.........................................        500(5)    --
   Robert L. Hintz......................................      1,000         *
   Jeffery A. Hoops.....................................     20,887(6)      *
   Douglas H. Hunt .....................................        --        --
   Patrick A. Kriegshauser..............................        --        --
   Steven F. Leer.......................................         10         *
   Thomas Marshall......................................      2,500         *
   James L. Parker......................................  1,047,387(7)    2.6
   David B. Peugh.......................................      1,494         *
   J. Marvin Quin (2)...................................        500         *
   Jeffry N. Quinn......................................        --        --
   Ronald Eugene Samples................................        --        --
   Robert W. Shanks.....................................        --        --
   Kenneth G. Woodring..................................     73,434(8)      *
   All directors and executive officers of the Company
    as a group
    (21 persons)........................................  1,217,443(9)    3.1
</TABLE>
- --------
  * Less than one percent of the outstanding shares.
 
(1) Includes 4,955 shares held by Mr. Besten under Ashland Coal's Employee
    Thrift Plan, which provides participants with voting and investment power
    with respect to such shares, and 46,500 shares held subject to stock
    options.
 
(2) Messrs. Boyd, Chellgren, Feazell and Quin are executive officers of
    Ashland Inc. and to the extent they may be deemed to be control persons of
    Ashland Inc. they may be deemed to be beneficial owners of shares of
    Company Common Stock owned by Ashland Inc. Each of Messrs. Boyd,
    Chellgren, Feazell and Quin disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.
 
(3) Includes 1,072 shares owned by members of Mr. Chellgren's family as to
    which he disclaims beneficial ownership.
 
(4) Mr. Ferrando, a director of Ashland Coal, is a director of Carboex, and to
    the extent he may be deemed to be a control person of Carboex, he may be
    deemed to be a beneficial owner of shares owned by Carboex. Mr. Ferrando
    disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.
 
(5) Includes 500 shares owned by Mr. Hall's spouse as to which he disclaims
    beneficial ownership.
 
                                      49
<PAGE>
 
(6) Includes 887 shares held by Mr. Hoops under Ashland Coal's Employee Thrift
    Plan and 20,000 shares held subject to stock options.
 
(7) Consists of shares owned by trusts of which Mr. Parker is co-trustee. Mr.
    Parker is also President and a director of Hunt Coal Corporation, and he
    may be deemed to share voting and dispositive power with respect to shares
    of Company Common Stock owned by Hunt Coal Corporation. Mr. Parker
    disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares.
 
(8) Includes 68,835 shares held subject to stock options.
 
(9) Includes 1,572 shares owned by family members of persons in the group for
    which such persons disclaim beneficial ownership, 5,865 shares held by
    executive officers under Ashland Coal's Employee Thrift Plan and 135,335
    shares held subject to stock options.
 
ASHLAND COAL STOCK OPTION PLANS
 
  As provided in the Merger Agreement, Ashland Coal and the Company will take
such actions as may be necessary so that, at the Effective Time, there will be
substituted for each stock option outstanding (an "Ashland Coal Option")
pursuant to Ashland Coal's 1995 Stock Incentive Plan or its 1988 Stock
Incentive Plan for Key Employees of Ashland Coal, Inc. and subsidiaries
(together the "Ashland Coal Stock Plans") whether or not then exercisable, a
fully-vested option issued under the Company Incentive Plan to acquire, on the
same terms and conditions (including per share exercise price) as were
applicable to such Ashland Coal Option, a number of shares of Company Common
Stock equal to the number of shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock subject to
such Ashland Coal Option. Such substitute option will be subject to forfeiture
under the terms of the Ashland Coal Stock Plans; provided, however, that a
participant in the Company Incentive Plan shall be entitled to exercise such
substitute option throughout the term of such option if the participant is
terminated without cause. As of May 28, 1997, there were outstanding options
granted under the Ashland Coal Stock Plans to purchase an aggregate of 689,035
shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock at a weighted average exercise price of
$23.66 per share.
 
  The Company has also agreed to reserve for issuance a sufficient number of
shares of Company Common Stock for delivery and, as soon as practicable after
the Effective Time, it will file a registration statement on Form S-3 or Form
S-8, as the case may be (or any successor or other appropriate forms), with
respect to the shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such
substitute options and use its best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of
such registration statements (and maintain the current status of the
prospectus or prospectuses contained therein) for so long as such substitute
options remain outstanding.
 
ASHLAND COAL DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT PLAN
 
  As provided in the Merger Agreement, Ashland Coal and the Company will take
such actions as may be necessary so that, at the Effective Time, each share of
Ashland Coal Common Stock converted into Company
Common Stock held in the Ashland Coal, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock
Purchase Plan (the "Ashland Coal DRP") will be transferred at the Effective
Time to the Arch Coal, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (the
"Company DRP"). The Company's Board of Directors authorized the Company DRP on
April 1, 1997.
 
ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
 
  The Merger will be accounted for by the Company as a "purchase," as such
term is used under generally accepted accounting principles, of Ashland Coal.
Accordingly, from and after the Effective Time, Ashland Coal's consolidated
results of operations will be included in the Company's consolidated results
of operations. For purposes of preparing the Company's consolidated financial
statements, the Company will establish a new accounting basis for Ashland
Coal's assets and liabilities based upon the fair values thereof and the
Company's purchase price, including the direct costs of the acquisition. A
final determination of required purchase price and related accounting
adjustments and of the fair value of the assets and liabilities of Ashland
Coal has not yet been
 
                                      50
<PAGE>
 
made. Accordingly, the purchase accounting adjustments made in connection with
the development of the unaudited pro forma financial information appearing
elsewhere in this Proxy Statement/Prospectus are preliminary and have been
made solely for purposes of developing such pro forma financial information to
comply with disclosure requirements of the Commission. Although the final
aggregate purchase price and purchase allocation are likely to differ, the pro
forma financial information reflects management's best estimate based upon
currently available information. See "Unaudited Pro Forma Financial
Information."
 
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
 
  The opinions of counsel as to the material federal income tax consequences
of the Merger referred to below are based on current law. Ashland Coal has not
requested nor will it request any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service
(the "IRS") as to the United States federal income tax consequences of the
Merger. Future legislative, judicial or administrative changes or
interpretations, which may be retroactive, could alter or modify the
statements set forth herein. The scope of such opinions may not apply to
certain classes of taxpayers, including, without limitation, insurance
companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions, dealers in
securities, non-resident aliens, foreign corporations, persons who acquired
shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of employee stock
options or rights or otherwise as compensation and persons who hold shares of
either Ashland Coal Common Stock or Ashland Coal Preferred Stock in a hedging
transaction or as part of a straddle or conversion transaction. Also, the
opinions do not address state, local or foreign tax consequences of the
Merger. EACH HOLDER OF ASHLAND COAL COMMON STOCK OR ASHLAND COAL PREFERRED
STOCK (A "HOLDER") SHOULD CONSULT SUCH HOLDER'S OWN TAX ADVISOR AS TO THE
SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER TO SUCH HOLDER.
 
  Opinions of counsel delivered by Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, counsel to
Ashland Coal, and Kelly, Hart & Hallman, P.C., counsel to the Company
(collectively, "Counsel"), have been filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement (the "Tax Opinions"). See "Available Information." Counsel are of
the opinion that the Merger will be treated as a reorganization within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code (a "Reorganization"). Accordingly, for
federal income tax purposes, no gain or loss will be recognized by Ashland
Coal as a result of the Merger and Holders who exchange shares of Ashland Coal
Common Stock or shares of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock for shares of Company
Common Stock pursuant to the Merger will generally be treated as follows:
 
    (i) no gain or loss will be recognized by a Holder with respect to the
  receipt of Company Common Stock;
 
    (ii) the aggregate adjusted tax basis of shares of Company Common Stock
  received by a Holder will be the same as the aggregate adjusted tax basis
  of the shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock exchanged therefor;
 
    (iii) the holding period of shares of Company Common Stock received by a
  Holder will include the holding period of the Ashland Coal Common Stock or
  Ashland Coal Preferred Stock, as the case may be, exchanged therefor,
  provided that such shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock or Ashland Coal
  Preferred Stock are held by the Holder as capital assets at the Effective
  Time; and
 
    (iv) a Dissenting Stockholder who perfects dissenters' appraisal rights
  under the DGCL and who receives payment of the fair value of such
  Dissenting Shares will be treated as having received such payment in
  redemption of such Dissenting Shares. Such redemption will be subject to
  the conditions and limitations of Section 302 of the Code. In general, if
  the Dissenting Shares are held by the Dissenting Stockholder as a capital
  asset at the Effective Time, such Dissenting Stockholder will recognize
  capital gain or loss measured by the difference between the amount of cash
  received by such Dissenting Stockholder and the basis for such Dissenting
  Shares, and such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if
  such shares were held by the holder for more than one year at the Effective
  Time. However, if such Dissenting Stockholder owns, either actually or
  constructively under the provisions of Section 318 of the Code, any shares
  of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock that are exchanged in the Merger for
  Company Common Stock, the
 
                                      51
<PAGE>
 
  payment made to such Dissenting Stockholder could be treated as dividend
  income. In general, under Section 318 of the Code, a Holder may be
  considered to own stock that is owned, and in some cases constructively
  owned, by certain related individuals or entities, and stock that such
  stockholder, or related individuals or entities, have the right to acquire
  by exercising an option. Each Holder of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock who
  contemplates exercising dissenters' appraisal rights should consult such
  Holder's own tax advisor as to the possibility that any payment to such
  Holder will be treated as dividend income.
 
  No ruling has been or will be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service
(the "IRS") in connection with the Merger. Each Holder should be aware that
the Tax Opinions do not bind the IRS and the IRS is therefore not precluded
from successfully asserting a contrary opinion. The Tax Opinions are subject
to certain assumptions, and are subject to the truth and accuracy of certain
representations made by Ashland Coal and the Company.
 
  The obligation of Ashland Coal to consummate the Merger is conditioned on
the receipt by Ashland Coal of an opinion of its counsel, Kirkpatrick &
Lockhart LLP, dated the date on which the Effective Time occurs, substantially
to the effect that the Merger will be treated for federal income tax purposes
either as a tax-free reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of
the Code or as a non-recognition exchange of stock pursuant to Section 351 of
the Code. The obligation of the Company to consummate the Merger is
conditioned on the receipt by the Company of an opinion of its counsel, Kelly,
Hart & Hallman, P.C., dated as of the Effective Time, substantially to the
effect that the Merger will be treated for federal income tax purposes either
as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or as a
non-recognition exchange of stock pursuant to Section 351 of the Code. The
opinions of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP and Kelly, Hart & Hallman, P.C.
referred to in this paragraph will be based in part upon certain assumptions
and representations. Subject to the receipt of such representations,
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP and Kelly, Hart & Hallman, P.C. anticipate that
they will render such opinions. If such opinions are not received, the Merger
will not be consummated unless the conditions requiring their receipt are
waived and the approval of the Ashland Coal stockholders is resolicited by
means of an updated Proxy Statement/Prospectus. Ashland Coal and the Company
currently anticipate that such opinions will be delivered and that neither
Ashland Coal nor the Company will waive the conditions requiring receipt of
such opinions. Such opinions will not be binding upon the IRS and no assurance
can be given that the IRS will not take a contrary position.
 
REGULATORY APPROVALS
 
  Under the HSR Act and the rules promulgated thereunder, Ashland Inc. and
Carboex were required to file pre-merger notifications and reports under the
HSR Act with the United States Department of Justice or Federal Trade
Commission in connection with the Merger. The required waiting periods under
the HSR Act with respect thereto have been terminated. At any time before or
after the Effective Time, such governmental agencies or others could take
action under the antitrust laws with respect to the Merger, including seeking
to enjoin the consummation of the Merger, to rescind the Merger or to require
divestiture of substantial assets of the Company or Ashland Coal. There can be
no assurance that a challenge to the Merger on antitrust grounds will not be
made or that if such a challenge were made that it would not be successful.
 
  Consummation of the Merger is conditioned upon the receipt of all material
governmental authorizations, consents, orders and approvals, subject to waiver
of such condition in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement. The
Company and Ashland Coal intend to pursue vigorously all required regulatory
approvals. However, there can be no assurance that such approvals will, in
fact, be obtained, or, if obtained, as to the timing of their receipt. See
"The Merger Agreement--Conditions."
 
RESALE RESTRICTIONS
 
  All shares of Company Common Stock received by Ashland Coal stockholders in
the Merger will be freely transferable, except that shares of Company Common
Stock received by persons who are deemed to be "affiliates" (as such term is
defined under the Securities Act) of Ashland Coal prior to the Merger may be
resold by them only in transactions permitted by the resale provisions of Rule
145 promulgated under the Securities
 
                                      52
<PAGE>
 
Act (or Rule 144 in the case of such persons who become affiliates of the
Company) or as otherwise permitted under the Securities Act. The Merger
Agreement requires Ashland Coal to exercise its best efforts to cause each of
its affiliates to execute a written agreement to the effect that such person
will not offer or sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of the shares of
Company Common Stock issued to such person in or pursuant to the Merger unless
(a) such sale, transfer or other disposition has been registered under the
Securities Act, (b) such sale, transfer or other disposition is made in
conformity with Rule 145 under the Securities Act or (c) in the opinion of
counsel, such sale, transfer or other disposition is exempt from registration
under the Securities Act. Shares of Common Stock owned by stockholders of the
Company prior to the Merger, except for shares owned by "affiliates" of the
Company, will be freely transferable after the Merger.
 
APPRAISAL RIGHTS
 
  Ashland Coal Common Stockholders. Pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL,
holders of Ashland Coal Common Stock will not be entitled to dissenters'
appraisal rights in connection with the Merger.
 
  Ashland Coal Preferred Stockholders. Section 262 of the DGCL entitles any
holder of record of shares of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock (including shares
not entitled to vote on the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement) who
makes a written demand prior to the taking of the vote at the Ashland Coal
Meeting and who follows the procedures prescribed by Section 262, to an
appraisal of the "fair value" of all, but not less than all, of such shares by
the Delaware Court of Chancery (the "Court"), and to the payment of such fair
value by Ashland Coal, in lieu of receiving the consideration provided under
the Merger Agreement.
 
  Set forth below is a summary of the procedures relating to the exercise of
appraisal rights as provided in Section 262 of the DGCL. Such summary does not
purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
full text of Section 262 attached hereto as Appendix C. Failure to comply with
any of the required steps may result in termination of any appraisal rights
the Dissenting Stockholder may have under the DGCL.
 
  Dissenting Stockholders who follow the procedures set forth in Section 262
of the DGCL may receive a cash payment from the Company equal to the fair
value of their Dissenting Shares, determined exclusive of any element of value
arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the Merger. Unless all the
procedures set forth in Section 262 are followed by a stockholder who wishes
to exercise appraisal rights, such stockholder will be bound by the terms of
the Merger. Each stockholder electing to demand the appraisal of his or her
shares must (i) deliver to Ashland Coal, prior to the Ashland Coal Meeting, a
written demand for appraisal of the stockholder's shares, setting forth the
stockholder's intent to demand an appraisal and giving the stockholder's
identity and (ii) not vote such stockholder's shares in favor of the approval
and adoption of the Merger Agreement. Within 10 days after the Effective Time,
Ashland Coal shall notify each stockholder who has complied with these
requirements that the Merger has become effective.
 
  Within 120 days after the Effective Time, any Dissenting Stockholder, upon
written request, shall be entitled to receive a statement from Ashland Coal,
setting forth the aggregate number of shares which were not voted in favor of
the Merger and with respect to which demands for appraisal have been received
and the aggregate number of holders of such shares. Ashland Coal shall then
mail such written statement to the Dissenting Stockholder as set forth in
Section 262 of the DGCL.
 
  Within 120 days after the Effective Time, a Dissenting Stockholder who has
perfected rights of appraisal as set forth in Section 262 of the DGCL and who
is otherwise entitled to appraisal rights may file a petition in the Court
demanding a determination of the value of all of such Dissenting Shares. Upon
the filing of any such petition by a Dissenting Stockholder, such Dissenting
Stockholder is required to serve a copy thereof upon Ashland Coal. At the
hearing on such petition, the Court shall determine the Dissenting
Stockholders that have complied with the provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL
and have become entitled to appraisal rights. The Court may require the
stockholders who have demanded an appraisal for their shares and who hold
stock represented by certificates to submit their certificates of stock to the
Delaware Register in Chancery for notation
 
                                      53
<PAGE>
 
thereon of the pendency of the appraisal proceedings. Failure to comply with
such a demand by the Court could result in dismissal of the proceedings as to
such stockholder. The Delaware Register in Chancery, if so ordered, shall give
notice of the time and place fixed for the hearing of the petition by
registered or certified mail to the Company and to the stockholders who have
demanded payment for their shares and with whom agreements as to the value of
their shares have not been reached by Ashland Coal. Notice shall also be given
by one or more publications at least one week before the day of the hearing in
a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Wilmington,
Delaware or such publication as the Court deems advisable. The forms of the
notices by mail and by publication shall be approved by the Court, and the
costs thereof shall be borne by Ashland Coal.
 
  After determining the Dissenting Stockholders entitled to an appraisal, the
Court shall appraise the Dissenting Shares by determining their fair value
exclusive of any element of value arising from the accomplishment or
expectation of the Merger, together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to
be paid upon the amount determined to be the fair value. In determining fair
value, the Court is to take into account all relevant factors. The Delaware
Supreme Court has stated that "proof of value by any techniques or methods
which are generally considered acceptable in the financial community and
otherwise admissible in court" should be considered in the appraisal
proceedings and that "fair price obviously requires consideration of all
relevant factors involving the value of a company." The Delaware Supreme Court
has stated that, in making this determination of fair value, the Court must
consider "market value, asset value, dividends, earnings prospects, the nature
of the enterprise and any other facts which were known or which could be
ascertained as of the date of the merger which throw any light on future
prospects of the merger corporation." The Delaware Supreme Court has also held
that "elements of future value, including the nature of the enterprise, which
are known or susceptible of proof as of the date of the merger and not the
product of speculation, may be considered." The Court may, in its discretion,
permit discovery or other pretrial proceedings and may proceed to trial upon
the appraisal before a final determination of all stockholders entitled to an
appraisal.
 
  The Court shall direct the payment of the fair value of the shares, together
with interest thereon, if any, by Ashland Coal to the stockholders entitled to
payment. Payment shall be made to the holders of Dissenting Shares only upon
the surrender to Ashland Coal of the certificates representing such Dissenting
Shares. The costs of the proceedings shall be allocated between the parties in
the manner that the Court deems equitable in the circumstances. Upon
application of a Dissenting Stockholder, the Court may order all or a portion
of the expenses incurred in connection with the appraisal proceeding,
including reasonable attorney's fees and the fees and expenses of experts, to
be charged pro rata against the value of all of the shares entitled to an
appraisal.
 
  From and after the Effective Time, no Dissenting Stockholder shall be
entitled to vote or to receive payment of dividends or other distributions on
his or her Dissenting Shares (except for dividends or other distributions
payable to stockholders of record as of a date prior to the Effective Time).
 
  Any Dissenting Stockholder may, within 60 days after the Effective Time,
withdraw such demand and accept the terms of the Merger. No such demand may be
withdrawn after the expiration of the 60 day period, however, unless Ashland
Coal shall consent thereto. If no petition for an appraisal of such Dissenting
Shares by the Court shall have been filed within the time provided in Section
262(e) of the DGCL, or if the Dissenting Stockholder delivers a written
withdrawal of his or her demand for an appraisal and an acceptance of the
Merger, either within 60 days after the Effective Time or thereafter with the
written approval of Ashland Coal, the right of such Dissenting Stockholder to
an appraisal shall cease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no appraisal
proceeding in the Court shall be dismissed as to any Dissenting Stockholder
without the approval of the Court, which may be conditioned upon such terms as
the Court deems just.
 
  A VOTE AGAINST APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE MERGER AGREEMENT WILL NOT
SATISFY THE REQUIREMENT FOR A WRITTEN DEMAND FOR APPRAISAL.
 
  Exercise of the right to an appraisal under the DGCL may result in a
judicial determination that the "fair value" of Dissenting Shares is higher or
lower than the value of the shares of Company Common Stock to be received in
respect thereof pursuant to the Merger Agreement. If Ashland Coal complies
with the requirements
 
                                      54
<PAGE>
 
of the DGCL, any stockholder who fails to comply with the requirements of the
DGCL will be without a statutory remedy for the recovery of the value of his or
her shares or for money damages to the stockholder with respect to the Merger.
 
  Reference is made to Appendix C attached hereto for the complete text of the
provisions of Section 262 of the DGCL relating to the rights of Dissenting
Stockholders. Statements made in this Proxy Statement/Prospectus summarizing
those provisions are qualified in their entirety by reference to Appendix C.
The provisions are technical in nature and complex. It is suggested that any
stockholder who desires to exercise rights to an appraisal of shares of Ashland
Coal Preferred Stock consult counsel. Failure to comply strictly with the
provisions of the statute may defeat a stockholder's right to an appraisal.
 
  Performance of the Voting Agreements will result in the inability of holders
of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock to perfect dissenters' appraisal rights.
 
                                       55
<PAGE>
 
                             THE MERGER AGREEMENT
 
  Following is a summary of the material terms of the Merger Agreement, a copy
of which is attached as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement/Prospectus and is
incorporated herein by reference. Such summary is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Merger Agreement. Stockholders of Ashland Coal are urged to
read the Merger Agreement in its entirety for a more complete description of
the Merger.
 
THE MERGER
 
  The Merger Agreement provides that, following the approval and adoption of
the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby by the
stockholders of Ashland Coal, and the satisfaction or waiver of the other
conditions to the Merger, Merger Sub will be merged with and into Ashland
Coal, whereupon Ashland Coal will be a subsidiary of the Company.
 
  If all such conditions to the Merger are satisfied or waived, the Merger
will become effective upon the filing of a duly executed Certificate of Merger
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or at such time
thereafter as is provided in the Certificate of Merger.
 
  At the Effective Time, the Company Certificate and Company Bylaws set forth
in Annexes A and B to the Merger Agreement, respectively, will become
effective.
 
CONVERSION OF SECURITIES
 
  Upon consummation of the Merger, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each
issued and outstanding share of Ashland Coal Common Stock (other than shares
owned by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or shares held in
Ashland Coal's treasury immediately prior to the Effective Time, all of which
will be canceled) will be converted into the right to receive one share of
Company Common Stock, and each share of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock (other
than shares owned by the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or shares
held in Ashland Coal's treasury immediately prior to the Effective Time, all
of which will be canceled, and other than Dissenting Shares) will be converted
into the right to receive 20,500 shares of Company Common Stock.
 
  Promptly after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent will mail transmittal
forms and exchange instructions to each holder of record of Ashland Coal
Common Stock and each holder of record of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock to be
used to surrender and exchange certificates evidencing shares of Ashland Coal
Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock for certificates evidencing the
shares of Company Common Stock to which such holder has become entitled. After
receipt of such transmittal forms, each holder of certificates formerly
representing Ashland Coal Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock will
be able to surrender such certificates to the Exchange Agent, and each such
holder will receive in exchange therefor certificates evidencing the number of
shares of Company Common Stock to which such holder is entitled. Such
transmittal forms will be accompanied by instructions specifying other details
of the exchange. ASHLAND COAL STOCKHOLDERS SHOULD NOT SEND IN THEIR
CERTIFICATES UNTIL THEY RECEIVE A TRANSMITTAL FORM.
 
  After the Effective Time, each certificate evidencing Ashland Coal Common
Stock or Ashland Coal Preferred Stock, until so surrendered and exchanged,
will be deemed, for all purposes, to evidence only the right to receive the
number of shares of Company Common Stock which the holder of such certificate
is entitled to receive, without interest. The holder of such unexchanged
certificate will not be entitled to receive any dividends or other
distributions payable by the Company until the certificate has been exchanged.
Following such exchange, such dividends or other distributions will be paid to
the holder entitled thereto, without interest.
 
  The Company or the Exchange Agent will be entitled to deduct and withhold
from the consideration otherwise payable or issuable pursuant to the Merger
Agreement to any holder of Ashland Coal Common Stock
 
                                      56
<PAGE>
 
or Ashland Coal Preferred Stock such amounts as the Company or the Exchange
Agent is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such
payment or issuance under the Code, or any provision of state, local or
foreign tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by the Company or
the Exchange Agent, such withheld amounts shall be treated as having been paid
to the holder of shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock or Ashland Coal Preferred
Stock in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by the
Company or the Exchange Agent.
 
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
  The Merger Agreement contains various customary representations and
warranties of the Company and Ashland Coal (which will terminate upon
consummation of the Merger) relating to, among other things, (a) the corporate
organization and qualification of each of the Company and Ashland Coal and
their respective subsidiaries and certain similar corporate matters; (b) the
capital structure of each of the Company and Ashland Coal; (c) the
authorization, execution, delivery and enforceability of the Merger Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby and related
matters; (d) required governmental filings and absence of violations under
charters, bylaws, and certain instruments and laws; (e) financial statements
of each of the Company and Ashland Coal; (f) the absence of undisclosed
liabilities; (g) the absence of certain material adverse changes or events;
(h) litigation; (i) taxes, tax returns and audits; (j) employee benefits;
(k) environmental matters; (l) brokers and finders; (m) certain tax matters;
(n) labor matters; (o) properties; (p) intellectual property; (q) insurance;
(r) employment and change of control agreements; (s) certain "related party"
transactions; (t) the accuracy of information supplied by each of the Company
and Ashland Coal in connection with the Registration Statement and this Proxy
Statement/Prospectus; (u) restrictions on business activities; (v) benefit
matters; and (w) material agreements.
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS
 
  Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each of the Company and Ashland Coal has
agreed that, during the period from the date of the Merger Agreement until the
earlier of the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its
terms or the Effective Time, except as otherwise disclosed to the other in
writing in connection with the Merger Agreement or consented to in writing by
the other, it and each of its subsidiaries will, with certain exceptions: (a)
carry on its business in the ordinary course in substantially the same manner
as previously conducted; (b) pay its debts and taxes when due subject to good
faith disputes over such debts or taxes, and pay or perform other obligations
when due; (c) use reasonable efforts consistent with past practices to
preserve intact its present business organization; (d) except in the ordinary
course of business, not acquire any stock or other interest in or purchase any
assets of any business organization or entity; (e) not sell, lease, assign,
transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its assets, nor create any mortgage,
security interest or other lien thereon, except in the ordinary course of
business; (f) not incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or any obligation
under any guarantee except in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice; (g) not (i) alter, amend or repeal any provision of its
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws; (ii) change the number of its
directors (other than as a result of the death, retirement or resignation of a
director); (iii) except in the ordinary course of business, form or acquire
any subsidiaries; (iv) except in the ordinary course of business, enter into,
modify or terminate any material contract or agreement to which it is a party
or agree to do so; (v) modify certain employment agreements; or (vi) incur any
obligation for the payment of any bonus, additional salary or compensation or
retirement, termination, welfare or severance benefits payable or to become
payable to any of its employees or other persons, except in any such case for
obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practice and such matters as are required pursuant to the terms of any
existing employment agreement or benefit plan; (h) pay and discharge all
material taxes imposed upon it; (i) not declare, set aside, make or pay any
dividends or other distributions with respect to its capital stock except for
cash dividends not to exceed, in the case of the Company, dividends on Company
Common Stock aggregating not more than 108.33% of the aggregate cash dividends
paid on Ashland Coal Common Stock and Ashland Coal Preferred Stock after
December 31, 1996, or, in the case of Ashland Coal, $0.115 per share of
Ashland Coal Common Stock per quarter and regular cash dividends on shares of
Ashland Coal Preferred Stock, or purchase
 
                                      57
<PAGE>
 
or redeem any shares of its capital stock; (j) not authorize or make any
capital expenditure otherwise than in the ordinary course of business; or (k)
with certain exceptions, not increase the number of shares authorized or
issued and outstanding of its capital stock, nor grant any option, warrant,
call, commitment, right or agreement of any character relating to its capital
stock, nor issue or sell any shares of its capital stock or securities
convertible into such capital stock, or any bonds, promissory notes,
debentures or other corporate securities.
 
INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE
 
  The Merger Agreement provides that Ashland Coal shall, and from and after
the Effective Time, the Company shall, indemnify, defend and hold harmless
each person who was as of the date of the Merger Agreement an officer or
director of Ashland Coal or any of its subsidiaries, as the case may be,
against all losses, claims, damages, costs, expenses, liabilities or judgments
or amounts that are paid in settlement with the approval of the indemnifying
party of or in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or
investigation based in whole or in part on, or arising in whole or in part out
of, the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of it or any of
its subsidiaries, whether pertaining to any matter existing or occurring at or
prior to the Effective Time and whether asserted or claimed prior to, or at or
after, the Effective Time ("Indemnified Liabilities"), and all Indemnified
Liabilities based in whole or in part on, or arising in whole or in part out
of, or pertaining to the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated
thereby, in each case to the full extent that a corporation is permitted under
applicable law to indemnify its own directors or officers.
 
  The Merger Agreement provides that, subject to certain limitations, the
Company will maintain in effect for a specified period policies of directors'
and officers' liability insurance coverage, including coverage with respect to
claims arising from acts, omissions or other events which occur prior to or as
of the Effective Time.
 
ASHLAND COAL STOCK PLANS
 
  For a description of the provisions of the Merger Agreement relating to the
Ashland Coal Stock Plans and the Ashland Coal Options outstanding thereunder
and to the Ashland Coal DRP, see "The Merger--Ashland Coal Stock Option Plans;
and "The Merger--Ashland Coal Dividend Reinvestment Plan."
 
CONDITIONS
 
  The respective obligations of the Company and Ashland Coal to effect the
Merger are subject to the following conditions, among others: (a) the approval
and adoption of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby
by the stockholders of Ashland Coal; (b) the expiration or termination of any
waiting period applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act;
(c) the receipt of all material governmental authorizations, consents, orders
or approvals; (d) the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, which shall
not be the subject of a stop order or proceedings seeking a stop order; (e)
the absence of any temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent
injunction or other order to be in effect that prevents, or seeks to prevent,
the consummation of the Merger; (f) no statute, rule, regulation, or order
shall be enacted, entered, enforced or deemed applicable to the Merger which
makes the consummation of the Merger illegal; (g) the approval and adoption of
the Company Certificate and Company Bylaws; (h) receipt by each of the Company
and Ashland Coal of an opinion of counsel, dated the date on which the
Effective Time occurs, to the effect that the Merger will be treated for
federal income tax purposes either as a tax-free reorganization within the
meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or as a non-recognition exchange of
stock pursuant to Section 351 of the Code; (i) receipt by the Company of all
state securities or "Blue Sky" permits and other authorizations necessary to
issue shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger; (j) the obtaining
of material third-party consents required to consummate the Merger; (k) the
accuracy in all material respects of the representations and warranties of the
other party set forth in the Merger Agreement; and (l) the performance in all
material respects of all obligations of the other party required to be
performed under the Merger Agreement.
 
                                      58
<PAGE>
 
TERMINATION; EXPENSES
 
  The Merger Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective
Time:
 
    (a) by mutual written consent of the Company and Ashland Coal;
 
    (b) by either the Company or Ashland Coal if the Merger shall not have
  been consummated by September 30, 1997 (provided that the right to
  terminate the Merger Agreement under this clause shall not be available to
  any party whose failure to fulfill any material obligation under the Merger
  Agreement has been a cause of or resulted in the failure of the Merger to
  occur on or before such date);
 
    (c) by either the Company or Ashland Coal if a court of competent
  jurisdiction or other Governmental Entity (as defined in the Merger
  Agreement) shall have issued a nonappealable final order, decree or ruling
  or taken any other action, in each case having the effect of permanently
  restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger;
 
    (d) by either the Company or Ashland Coal, if, at the Ashland Coal
  Meeting (including any adjournment or postponement), the requisite vote of
  the stockholders of Ashland Coal in favor of the Merger Agreement and the
  Merger shall not have been obtained; or
 
    (e) by either the Company or Ashland Coal, if (i) the other party has
  breached any representation or warranty contained in the Merger Agreement,
  and such breach shall not have been cured prior to the Effective Time
  (except where such breach would not have a material adverse effect on the
  party having made such representation or warranty and its subsidiaries
  taken as a whole and would not have a material adverse effect upon the
  Company), or (ii) there has been a material breach of a material covenant
  or agreement set forth in the Merger Agreement on the part of the other
  party, which shall not have been cured within two business days following
  receipt by the breaching party of written notice of such breach from the
  other party.
 
  In the event of any termination of the Merger Agreement by either the
Company or Ashland Coal as provided above, the Merger Agreement will become
void and there will be no liability or obligation on the part of the Company,
Ashland Coal, or their respective officers, directors, stockholders or
affiliates, except as set forth in the Merger Agreement and to the extent that
such termination results from the willful breach by a party of any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger
Agreement.
 
  Whether or not the Merger is consummated, all fees, costs and expenses
incurred in connection with the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses,
except that the Company shall bear 52% and Ashland Coal shall bear 48% of all
reasonable fees and expenses incurred in relation to the preparation and
filing of Pre-Merger Notification and Report forms by stockholders of Ashland
Coal under the HSR Act with respect to the Merger, and the printing and filing
of this Proxy Statement/Prospectus and the Registration Statement.
 
AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
 
  The Merger Agreement may be amended at any time by action taken or
authorized by the respective Boards of Directors of the Company and Ashland
Coal, but after approval by the stockholders of Ashland Coal of the Merger
Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, no amendment shall be
made which by law requires further approval by such stockholders without such
further approval. The Company and Ashland Coal, by action taken or authorized
by their respective Boards of Directors, may extend the time for performance
of the obligations or other acts of the other parties to the Merger Agreement,
may waive inaccuracies in the representations or warranties contained in the
Merger Agreement and may waive compliance with any agreements or conditions
contained in the Merger Agreement.
 
                                      59
<PAGE>
 
                               OTHER AGREEMENTS
 
THE VOTING AGREEMENTS
 
  Following is a summary of the Voting Agreements. Such summary is qualified
in its entirety by reference to the full text of the form of Voting Agreement
attached to this Proxy Statement/Prospectus as Appendix D.
 
  Pursuant to the Voting Agreements, Ashland Inc. and Carboex (each, a
"Stockholder") have each agreed that, until the earlier of (i) the Effective
Time or (ii) the date on which the Merger Agreement is terminated in
accordance with its terms (the earlier of such time and such date being
referred to herein as the "Stockholder Expiration Date"), the Stockholder will
vote, or take action by written consent with respect to, all of such
Stockholder's shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock or Ashland Coal Preferred
Stock, as the case may be, in favor of the adoption and approval of the Merger
Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, as such Merger Agreement
may be modified or amended from time to time (but not to reduce the
consideration to be received thereunder).
 
  At the request of the Company, the Stockholder will execute and deliver to
the Company an irrevocable proxy and irrevocably appoint the Company or its
designee such Stockholder's attorney and proxy to vote or give consent with
respect to all of such Stockholder's shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock or
Ashland Coal Preferred Stock, as the case may be, for the purposes set forth
above. Any such proxy will terminate on the Stockholder Expiration Date.
 
  Each Voting Agreement contains the agreement of the Stockholder that, among
other things, until the Stockholder Expiration Date, such Stockholder: (a)
will not, and will not agree to, sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate,
encumber, assign, tender or otherwise dispose of any of such Stockholder's
shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock or Ashland Coal Preferred Stock (or any
interest therein); and (b) other than as expressly contemplated by the Voting
Agreement, will not grant any powers of attorney or proxies or consents in
respect of any of such Stockholder's shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock or
Ashland Coal Preferred Stock, deposit any of such Stockholder's shares of
Ashland Coal Common Stock or Ashland Coal Preferred Stock into a voting trust,
enter into a voting agreement with respect to any of such Stockholder's shares
of Ashland Coal Common Stock or Ashland Coal Preferred Stock or otherwise
restrict the ability of the holder of any of such Stockholder's shares of
Ashland Coal Common Stock or Ashland Coal Preferred Stock freely to exercise
all voting rights with respect thereto.
 
THE REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
 
  The Company, Ashland Inc., the Hunt Entities and Carboex are parties to the
Registration Rights Agreement, which will become effective upon consummation
of the Merger. Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, certain of such
stockholders will have certain rights to require the Company to register the
sale of such stockholder's shares of Company Common Stock under the Securities
Act, and, subject to certain limitations, all such stockholders will have
certain incidental rights to include shares of Company Common Stock in
registration statements filed under the Securities Act with respect to
offerings of Company Common Stock by other stockholders or the Company.
 
THE CARBOEX AGREEMENTS
 
  The following agreements (the "Carboex Agreements") have been entered into
to replace and terminate existing agreements between Carboex, its affiliate,
Sociedad Espanola de Carbon Exterior, S.A. ("Carboex, S.A.") and Ashland Coal.
None of the Carboex Agreements will become effective until the Effective Time.
 
  Coal Off-Take Agreement. The Company and Carboex have entered into a Coal
Off-Take Agreement that grants certain priority rights to Carboex with respect
to the Company's annual supply of coal that is not otherwise committed. This
Coal Off-Take Agreement provides that so long as Carboex owns at least 63% of
the Company Common Stock to be acquired by Carboex in the Merger, it will have
the right to purchase 10% of the coal produced by the Company in any fiscal
year, to the extent not previously committed for sale to third parties.
 
                                      60
<PAGE>
 
Carboex will be required to pay prevailing market prices for any coal acquired
under the Coal Off-Take Agreement.
 
  Sales Agency Agreement. The Company and Carboex S.A. have entered into a
Sales Agency Agreement whereby Carboex S.A. is appointed the exclusive sales
agent for the Company and its subsidiaries for selling coal to Spanish and
Moroccan "Customers" for consumption in Spain and/or Morocco. Under this
agreement, "Customers" include companies that consume coal in Spain and/or
Morocco, companies that are owned principally by Spanish and/or Moroccan
interests and companies that are part of a business enterprise whose
controlling management is headquartered in Spain or Morocco. Carboex S.A. will
be entitled to receive a commission equal to 2% of the selling price of the
coal FOB the mine, payable only upon delivery of the coal and receipt of
payment by the Company. Under this agreement, Carboex S.A. will have no
authority to bind the Company or its subsidiaries. The Sales Agency Agreement
will be subject to termination in the event Carboex or its affiliates no
longer own at least 63% of the Company Common Stock acquired by Carboex in the
Merger.
 
  Coal Sales Agency Agreement. Under a Coal Sales Agency Agreement dated
December 12, 1991, as amended, Carboex and Saarbergwerke AG ("Saarberg"), a
German corporation, together act as Ashland Coal's exclusive agent for the
purpose of selling high volatile metallurgical coal PCI product from reserves
controlled by Ashland Coal's subsidiaries for use in the steel making process
to customers within an area comprised of Europe, several neighboring
Mediterranean countries and the former Soviet Union. The Company, Ashland
Coal, Carboex and Saarberg have entered into an Assignment, Assumption and
Amendment of Coal Sales Agency Agreement (the "Coal Sales Agency Agreement")
pursuant to which Ashland Coal has assigned, as of the Effective Time, the
Coal Sales Agency Agreement to the Company and the Company has assumed the
obligations of Ashland Coal under the Coal Sales Agency Agreement. The Coal
Sales Agency Agreement will terminate December 31, 2004. Under the Coal Sales
Agency Agreement the Company must make available for sale a minimum of 250,000
tons of high volatile metallurgical coal per year. Carboex and Saarberg have
certain options to request PCI product in substitution for high volatile
metallurgical coal.
 
  Shareholder Services Contract. Pursuant to a Shareholder Services Contract
between the Company and Carboex (the "Services Contract") the Company will
provide certain business services to Carboex in connection with Carboex's
other coal investments. The fees Carboex is required to pay for such services
are calculated by reference to an agreed hourly rate for the Company employee
providing the service. The Services Contract will be subject to termination in
the event Carboex or its affiliates no longer own at least 63% of the Company
Common Stock acquired by Carboex in the Merger.
 
THE STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT
 
  Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, the Company has agreed to nominate
for election as a director of the Company a person designated by Carboex, and
Ashland Inc. has agreed, among other things, to vote its shares of Company
Common Stock in a manner sufficient to cause the election of such nominee. In
addition, pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, Ashland Inc. has agreed that
if it or any of its affiliates desire to sell or otherwise dispose of (other
than pursuant to a public offering or pursuant to the Registration Rights
Agreement described above) 50% or more of the shares of Company Common Stock
then held by Ashland Inc. and its affiliates to an Industrial Buyer (as
defined in the Stockholders Agreement) or 20% or more of the total outstanding
shares of Company Common Stock to an Industrial Buyer then, subject to the
satisfaction of certain conditions, Carboex will have the right to sell or
otherwise dispose of all of the shares of Company Common Stock then held by it
in such transaction. The Stockholders Agreement provides that it will
terminate if (i) the Company merges or consolidates with any other corporation
and the Company is not the surviving corporation of such transaction, or the
Company sells all or substantially all of its property, assets and businesses,
or (ii) Carboex owns beneficially less than 63% of the shares of Company
Common Stock acquired by it in the Merger. In addition, the Stockholders
Agreement will terminate as to Ashland Inc. if at any time it and its
affiliates become the beneficial owners of less than 10% of outstanding voting
stock of the Company.
 
  Carboex, Ashland Inc. and the Company are also parties to an agreement
pursuant to which the Company has agreed that Carboex may have a nonvoting
observer in attendance at all regular and special meetings of the
 
                                      61
<PAGE>
 
Company's Board of Directors or certain Committees of the Board, for so long
as Carboex or its affiliates owns at least 63% of the Company Common Stock
acquired by Carboex in the Merger. The Agreement further provides that its
Board of Directors may nonetheless meet without attendance of the nonvoting
observer whenever in the best interest of the Company.
 
AGREEMENT FOR TERMINATION OF VOTING AGREEMENT AND NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS
 
  In connection with the Merger Agreement, the Company, Ashland Inc. and
certain of the Hunt Entities entered into an agreement to terminate an
existing agreement among them pertaining to the voting of the Company's shares
in the election of directors. As part of that agreement the Company has agreed
for so long as the Hunt Entities have the collective voting power to elect, by
cumulative voting, one or more persons to serve on the Board of Directors of
the Company, to nominate for election as directors of the Company that number
of persons designated by certain of the Hunt Entities that could be elected to
the Board by exercise of such cumulative voting power.
 
                                      62
<PAGE>
 
                   UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
  The following unaudited pro forma financial statements give effect to the
Merger, the issuance of shares of Company Common Stock to the stockholders of
Ashland Coal and the substitution of options to purchase Company Common Stock
for Ashland Coal Options pursuant to the Company Incentive Plan. The unaudited
pro forma balance sheet is based on the respective balance sheets of the
Company and Ashland Coal and has been prepared to reflect the Merger as of
March 31, 1997. The unaudited pro forma statements of operations are based
upon the respective statements of operations of the Company and Ashland Coal
and combine the results of operations of the Company and Ashland Coal for the
year ended December 31, 1996 and for the three months ended March 31, 1997, as
if the Merger had been consummated on January 1, 1996 and January 1, 1997,
respectively. The unaudited pro forma financial statements do not reflect any
cost savings or other synergies that may result from the Merger. In the
opinion of the managements of the Company and Ashland Coal, all adjustments
necessary to present pro forma financial statements have been made.
 
  The unaudited pro forma financial statements should be read in conjunction
with the historical consolidated financial statements and related notes
thereto of the Company included elsewhere herein and of Ashland Coal
incorporated herein by reference. The unaudited pro forma financial statements
do not purport to be indicative of the results of operations or financial
position that would have occurred had the Merger occurred as of the beginning
of the period or as of the date indicated or of the financial position or
results of operations that may be obtained in the future.
 
  The Merger will be accounted for under the purchase method of accounting.
Accordingly, the cost to acquire Ashland Coal will be allocated to the assets
acquired and liabilities assumed according to their respective fair values.
The final allocation of such cost is dependent upon certain valuations that
have not progressed to a stage where there is sufficient information to make a
final allocation in the accompanying pro forma financial statements.
Accordingly, the cost allocation adjustments are preliminary and have been
made solely for the purpose of preparing such pro forma financial statements.
 
  Adjustments to the preliminary allocation likely would result in changes to
amounts assigned to coal reserves, plant and equipment and coal supply
agreements and accordingly could impact depreciation, depletion and
amortization charged to future periods. Although not expected to be material,
the likely impact of the final allocation is not reasonably known.
 
                                      63
<PAGE>
 
                   UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
 
                                 MARCH 31, 1997
                                 (IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          PURCHASE
                                  COMPANY   ASHLAND COAL ACCOUNTING
                                 HISTORICAL  HISTORICAL  ADJUSTMENTS     PRO FORMA
                                 ---------- ------------ -----------     ----------
 <S>                             <C>        <C>          <C>             <C>
            ASSETS
 CURRENT ASSETS
 Cash and cash equivalents....    $ 13,660    $ 11,396    $    --        $   25,056
 Trade accounts receivable....      82,246      68,676         --           150,922
 Other receivables............       3,744       6,447         --            10,191
 Inventories..................      37,422      40,366         --            77,788
 Prepaid royalties............       3,897      16,829         --            20,726
 Deferred income taxes........      14,500       2,161         --            16,661
 Prepaid expenses and other
  assets......................       5,581       2,666         --             8,247
                                  --------    --------    --------       ----------
  Total current assets........     161,050     148,541         --           309,591
                                  --------    --------    --------       ----------
 PROPERTY, PLANT AND
  EQUIPMENT, NET                   552,056     562,749      49,821 (1)    1,164,626
                                  --------    --------    --------       ----------
 OTHER ASSETS
 Prepaid royalties............       3,723      73,393     (59,008)(1)       18,108
 Coal supply agreements less
  accumulated amortization....      81,254      26,675      96,325 (1)      204,254
 Deferred income taxes........      64,639         --      (49,655)(2)       14,984
 Receivables and other
  assets......................       9,885      13,316     (10,046)(1)       13,155
                                  --------    --------    --------       ----------
                                   159,501     113,384     (22,384)         250,501
                                  --------    --------    --------       ----------
  Total assets................    $872,607    $824,674    $ 27,437       $1,724,718
                                  ========    ========    ========       ==========
 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
             EQUITY
 CURRENT LIABILITIES
 Accounts payable.............    $ 41,728    $ 52,202    $    --        $   93,930
 Accrued expenses.............      76,309      33,975       4,500 (3)       95,784
 Current portion of long-term
  debt........................         --       40,762         --            59,762
                                  --------    --------    --------       ----------
  Total current liabilities...     118,037     126,939       4,500          249,476
 Long-term debt...............     190,537     128,609      20,100 (4)      339,246
 Accrued postretirement
  benefits....................     230,114      83,503     (28,567)(5)      285,050
 Accrued reclamation and mine
  closure.....................      95,552      11,720         --           107,272
 Accrued workers'
  compensation................      69,448      22,696         --            92,144
 Deferred income taxes........         --       15,923     (15,923)(2)          --
 Other noncurrent
  liabilities.................      27,873      20,790        (933)(6)       47,730
                                  --------    --------    --------       ----------
                                   731,561     410,180     (20,823)       1,120,918
                                  --------    --------    --------       ----------
 STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 Convertible preferred stock..         --       67,841     (67,841)(7)          --
 Common stock.................         209         138          49 (8)          396
 Paid-in capital..............       8,392     109,689     352,878 (9)      470,959
 Retained earnings............     132,445     242,262    (242,262)(10)     132,445
 Less: treasury common stock
  at cost.....................         --       (5,436)      5,436 (11)         --
                                  --------    --------    --------       ----------
  Total stockholders' equity..     141,046     414,494      48,260          603,800
                                  --------    --------    --------       ----------
  Total liabilities and
   stockholders' equity.......    $872,607    $824,674    $ 27,437       $1,724,718
                                  ========    ========    ========       ==========
</TABLE>
 
                                       64
<PAGE>
 
              NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
 
                                MARCH 31, 1997
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
  The purchase price of Ashland Coal and allocation of purchase price are as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                 <C>
Ashland Coal Common Stock outstanding at March 31, 1997 (including
 Ashland Coal preferred stock, as if converted in the Merger).....    18,643
Purchase price per share..........................................  $  24.50(12)
                                                                    --------
Purchase price of Ashland Coal....................................  $456,754
Fair value of options.............................................     6,000
Transaction related fees..........................................     4,500
                                                                    --------
Total purchase price..............................................  $467,254
                                                                    ========
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                    <C>
Historical net book value of Ashland Coal at March 31, 1997........... $414,494
Adjustments for valuing Ashland Coal assets and liabilities:
Prepaid royalties.....................................................  (59,008)
Deferred income taxes.................................................  (40,254)
Other assets..........................................................  (10,046)
Coal supply agreements................................................   96,325
Property, plant and equipment.........................................   56,343
Long-term debt (current and noncurrent)...............................  (20,100)
Accrued postretirement benefits other than pensions...................   28,567
Other long-term liabilities...........................................      933
                                                                       --------
Total purchase price.................................................. $467,254
                                                                       ========
</TABLE>
- --------
 (1) To adjust prepaid royalties, property, plant and equipment, coal supply
     agreements and other long-term assets, including interest rate swap
     agreements, to their estimated fair value. A substantial portion of the
     excess purchase price has been allocated to coal reserves principally
     because of higher productivities and technological advances that occurred
     since the acquisition of the coal reserves combined with the expectation
     of increased values of compliance and low-sulfur coal due to the Clean
     Air Act Amendments. The value assigned to coal supply agreements is
     associated with contracts signed in earlier years when spot market prices
     were higher versus the current spot market prices.
 (2) To record deferred income taxes for the book and tax differences of the
     purchase accounting adjustments, and to reflect the reclassification of
     deferred income tax liability to deferred income tax asset.
 (3) To record transaction related fees.
 (4) To adjust long-term debt to estimated fair value based on current
     interest rates.
 (5) To adjust the liability for postretirement benefits other than pensions
     to equal the accumulated projected benefit obligation.
 (6) To eliminate the deferred gain on sale and leaseback of assets ($2,119)
     and to increase the pension liability ($1,186) to equal the projected
     benefit obligation in excess of plan assets.
 (7) To reflect the conversion of preferred stock to common stock.
 (8) To reflect the elimination of $138 of Ashland Coal common stock and the
     addition of common stock issued by the Company (18,643 shares at $.01 per
     share).
 (9) To reflect the elimination of $109,689 of Ashland Coal paid-in capital
     and the addition of paid-in capital resulting from the common stock and
     options issued by the Company totaling $462,567.
(10) To eliminate retained earnings.
(11) To eliminate treasury stock.
(12) Represents the average market price of Ashland Coal common stock for
     several days before and after March 25, 1997, the date the parties agreed
     to the purchase price.
 
                                      65
<PAGE>
 
             UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 
                         YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            COMPANY   ASHLAND COAL   PRO FORMA    PRO FORMA
                           HISTORICAL  HISTORICAL   ADJUSTMENTS    COMBINED
                           ---------- ------------  -----------   ----------
<S>                        <C>        <C>           <C>           <C>
Revenues:
  Coal sales.............   $750,123    $565,174      $   --      $1,315,297
  Other revenues.........     25,682      12,030          --          37,712
                            --------    --------      -------     ----------
                             775,805     577,204          --       1,353,009
Costs and Expenses:
  Cost of coal sales.....    667,878     508,960        2,346(1)   1,179,184
  Selling, general and
   administrative
   expenses..............     20,435      23,078          --          43,513
  Amortization of coal
   supply agreements.....     12,604       3,786       13,933(2)      30,323
  Other expenses.........     18,776       9,559          --          28,335
                            --------    --------      -------     ----------
Income from operations...     56,112      31,821      (16,279)        71,654
Interest Expense, Net:
  Interest expense.......    (18,783)    (17,905)       4,957(3)     (31,731)
  Interest income........      1,191         417          --           1,608
                            --------    --------      -------     ----------
Income before income
 taxes...................     38,520      14,333      (11,322)        41,531
Provision (benefit) for
 income taxes............      5,500      (2,180)      (4,415)(4)     (1,095)(5)
                            --------    --------      -------     ----------
Net income...............     33,020      16,513       (6,907)        42,626
Dividends on preferred
 stock...................        --       (2,810)       2,810(6)         --
                            --------    --------      -------     ----------
Income applicable to
 common stock............   $ 33,020    $ 13,703      $(4,097)    $   42,626
                            ========    ========      =======     ==========
Earnings per common share
  Primary................   $   1.58    $    .87                  $     1.07
                            ========    ========                  ==========
  Fully diluted..........   $   1.58    $    .86                  $     1.07
                            ========    ========                  ==========
Average shares
 outstanding.............     20,948      18,105(7)                   39,660(8)
                            ========    ========                  ==========
</TABLE>
 
         NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 
  (1) To record net charges associated with adjusting the fair value of
prepaid royalties, property, plant and equipment, and other assets. Additions
to property, plant and equipment, including coal reserves, is assumed to be
depreciated or depleted over 15 years.
  (2) To record net charges associated with adjusting the fair value of coal
supply agreements with an average life of approximately seven years.
  (3) To record the reduction in interest expense on $152.9 million of fixed
rate long-term debt to reflect current market interest rates (6.75% current
rate versus average 9.75% stated rate) and a reduction in amortization of
deferred debt issuance cost.
  (4) To record the tax effect of 39% of the pro forma adjustments. The tax
rate of 39% represents the combined federal and state statutory rates.
  (5) The effective tax rate is substantially less than 39% primarily due to
benefits derived from percentage depletion. The purchase price adjustments
will not affect percentage depletion.
  (6) To eliminate dividends related to the Ashland Coal preferred stock.
  (7) Assumes conversion of preferred stock at a rate of 18,346 per share.
  (8) Shares outstanding include 20,948 of Company shares outstanding as
adjusted for the stock split, 18,643 shares issued to acquire Ashland Coal
assuming conversion of preferred stock at a rate of 20,500 per share, and 69
shares related to stock options that are dilutive.
 
                                      66
<PAGE>
 
             UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 
                       THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1997
                     (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                               COMPANY   ASHLAND COAL   PRO FORMA    PRO FORMA
                              HISTORICAL  HISTORICAL   ADJUSTMENTS   COMBINED
                              ---------- ------------  -----------   ---------
<S>                           <C>        <C>           <C>           <C>
Revenues:
 Coal Sales.................   $192,328    $163,104      $   --      $355,432
 Other revenues.............      5,091       3,504          --         8,595
                               --------    --------      -------     --------
                                197,419     166,608          --       364,027
Costs and Expenses:
 Cost of coal sales.........    171,623     136,627          587(1)   308,837
 Selling, general and
  administrative expenses...      4,897       2,915          --         7,812
 Amortization of coal supply
  agreements................      2,116       1,037        3,483(2)     6,636
 Other expenses.............      2,470       7,303          --         9,773
                               --------    --------      -------     --------
Income from operations......     16,313      18,726       (4,070)      30,969
Interest Expense, Net:
  Interest expense..........     (3,553)     (4,034)       1,239(3)    (6,348)
  Interest income...........        260          72          --           332
                               --------    --------      -------     --------
Income before income taxes..     13,020      14,764       (2,831)      24,953
Provision for income taxes..      2,600       2,480       (1,104)(4)    3,976(5)
                               --------    --------      -------     --------
Net income..................     10,420      12,284       (1,727)      20,977
Dividends on preferred
 stock......................        --         (699)         699(6)       --
                               --------    --------      -------     --------
Income applicable to common
 stock......................   $ 10,420    $ 11,585      $(1,028)    $ 20,977
                               ========    ========      =======     ========
Earnings per common share
 Primary....................   $    .50    $    .67                  $   0.53
                               ========    ========                  ========
 Fully diluted..............   $    .50    $    .65                  $   0.53
                               ========    ========                  ========
Average shares outstanding..     20,948      18,105(7)                 39,660(8)
                               ========    ========                  ========
</TABLE>
 
         NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 
  (1) To record net charges associated with adjusting the fair value of
prepaid royalties, property, plant and equipment, and other assets. Additions
to property, plant and equipment, including coal reserves, is assumed to be
depreciated or depleted over 15 years.
  (2) To record net charges associated with adjusting the fair value of coal
supply agreements with an average life of approximately seven years.
  (3) To record the reduction in interest expense on $152.9 million of fixed
rate long-term debt to reflect current market interest rates (6.75% current
rate versus average 9.75% stated rate) and a reduction in amortization of
deferred debt issuance cost.
  (4) To record the tax effect of 39% of the pro forma adjustments. The tax
rate of 39% represents the combined federal and state statutory rates.
  (5) The effective tax rate is substantially less than 39% primarily due to
benefits derived from percentage depletion.
  (6) To eliminate dividends related to the Ashland Coal preferred stock.
  (7) Assumes conversion of preferred stock at a rate of 18,346 per share.
  (8) Shares outstanding include 20,948 of Company shares outstanding as
adjusted for the stock split, 18,643 shares issued to acquire Ashland Coal
assuming conversion of preferred stock at a rate of 20,500 per share and 69
shares related to stock options that are dilutive.
 
                                      67
<PAGE>
 
                      INFORMATION CONCERNING THE COMPANY
 
GENERAL
 
  The Company, incorporated in 1969, is a growth-oriented United States coal
producer that markets its coal products primarily to domestic electric
utilities. During 1996, the Company produced approximately 26.9 million tons
of coal from 17 mines located in the Appalachian, Illinois Basin and Wyoming
coal fields. Two-thirds of the Company's approximately 1.5 billion tons of
reserves are low-sulfur reserves, most of which are located in Central
Appalachia. More than half of the Company's reserves are owned in fee, with
the balance controlled under lease.
 
  The Company operates principally through its independently managed Apogee
Coal Company ("Apogee") and Catenary Coal Holdings, Inc. ("CCHI") mining
subsidiaries. In addition, Ark Land Company ("Ark Land") provides land
management services, Arch Coal Sales Company, Inc. ("Arch Coal Sales")
provides sales, marketing, transportation coordination and brokerage services,
and Arch Reclamation Services, Inc. ("Arch Reclamation"), manages post-mining
reclamation and idle property disposition. In 1997, Arch Energy Resources,
Inc. ("Arch Energy") was formed to explore and develop business opportunities
in emission allowance trading and hedging, power marketing, coal futures and
cogeneration projects, and to conduct strategic market research. Ark Land,
Arch Coal Sales, Arch Reclamation and Arch Energy are all wholly-owned
subsidiaries of the Company. Unless otherwise indicated, references to the
Company herein include the Company and its subsidiaries.
 
  During the past five years, the Company has completed acquisitions that the
Company believes have enabled it to maintain and strengthen its competitive
position. These acquisitions, the aggregate cost of which was $145 million,
added a total of approximately 209 million tons of reserves located in West
Virginia, Kentucky and Wyoming to the Company's low-sulfur reserve base, and
long-term coal supply contracts covering approximately 3.5 million tons
annually to the Company's long-term contract portfolio. During 1992, the
Company acquired the West Virginia mining operations of Valley Camp Coal
Company and the operations of two southwest Virginia companies. In 1994, the
Company continued its expansion with the acquisitions of Agip Coal Holding
USA, Inc. and Agipcoal America, Inc., and 33 million tons of low-sulfur coal
reserves from entities associated with Island Creek Corporation. Last year,
the Company added to its reserves in southern Wyoming with the acquisition of
approximately 58,000 acres containing approximately 107 million tons of low-
sulfur reserves in the Carbon Basin reserve area. During this five-year
period, the Company also invested approximately $398 million to develop the
acquired and existing Company coal reserves and modernize and upgrade the
related facilities and equipment.
 
  The Company is committed to the safety of its employees. According to the
Mine Safety and Health Administration ("MSHA") Coal Controlling Company
Report, the Company ranked first in 1995 and third in 1996 in mine safety, as
measured by total accidental injury/fatality incidence rate, among coal
controlling entities with both surface and underground mining operations. The
Company's 1996 total injury incidence rate was well below the national
bituminous coal mining industry average as reported in the most recent MSHA
Mine Injuries and Worktime, Quarterly.
 
  The Company believes that its demonstrated dedication to growth and focus on
employee safety, together with its diversity of customers, product and
reserves, position the Company for success in the highly competitive and
rapidly-evolving coal industry.
 
INDUSTRY OVERVIEW AND COMPETITIVE FACTORS
 
  Although undergoing significant consolidation, the coal industry in the
United States remains highly fragmented. Intraregional and interregional
competition is keen as producers seek to position themselves as the low-cost
producer and supplier of high-demand product to electric power utilities. In
recent years, electric utilities have consumed almost 90% of domestic coal
production. The continued demand for the Company's coal
 
                                      68
<PAGE>
 
by such utilities is the principal factor in determining the Company's future
growth and profitability. Demand by electric utilities for coal in turn
depends on the level of electric power usage and the relative cost of coal as
compared to other competing fuels and energy sources.
 
  Long-term demand for electric power will depend on a variety of economic,
regulatory, technological and climatic factors beyond the Company's control.
Historically, domestic demand for electric power has generally increased as
the U.S. economy has grown. Recently, two important regulatory initiatives,
one designed to increase competition among utilities and lower the cost of
electricity for consumers, and another to improve air quality by reducing the
level of sulfur emitted from coal-burning power generation plants, have had
and are expected to continue to have significant effects on the electric
utility industry and its coal suppliers.
 
  Utility Deregulation. Since 1935, domestic electric utilities have operated
in a regulated environment, where prices and return on investment were
determined by state utility and power commissions. In April 1996, however, the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") issued orders establishing rules
providing for open access to transmission systems, thereby initiating
wholesale power wheeling, and encouraging competition in the generation of
electricity. The Company believes that the trend toward deregulation will more
closely link coal prices to electricity prices, and may result in coal pricing
based on a substantially different set of competitive advantages and
disadvantages than is currently the case. Coal producers with diverse high-
quality reserves and cost and transportation advantages will likely gain,
while competitors without these advantages could be adversely affected.
 
  Clean Air Amendments of 1990. The second major regulatory change affecting
the coal industry is Title IV of the Clean Air Act Amendments (the
"Amendments") enacted in 1990. The Amendments have had, and will continue to
have, a significant effect on the domestic coal industry. In general, Phase I
of the Amendments, which became effective in 1995, regulates the level of
emissions of sulfur dioxide from power plants and targets the highest sulfur
dioxide emitters. Phase II, to be implemented in 2000, will extend the
restrictions of the Amendments to all power plants of greater than 75 megawatt
capacity. The Amendments do not define allowable emission levels on a per
plant basis, but instead allocate emission allowances to the affected plants
and allow the emission allowances to be traded so that market participants can
fashion more efficient and flexible compliance strategies. The emission
allowance allocations for Phase I units were based on 2.5 pounds of sulfur
dioxide/MMBtu of the 1985-1987 average plant Btu consumption, and Phase II
allocations will be based on 1.2 pounds of sulfur dioxide/MMBtu.
 
  It was generally anticipated that Phase I of the Amendments would increase
prices for low-sulfur coal. This effect did not materialize, primarily because
of over investment in low-sulfur production capacity and related
transportation facilities in the western United States, and to a lesser degree
in Central Appalachia, in reaction to the anticipated price increase. When the
Amendments were enacted, many plants switched to low-sulfur coal supplied from
the Powder River Basin ("PRB"), located predominantly in Wyoming. This
compliance strategy generated an unexpectedly large number of emission
allowances. Some of these emission allowances were marketed together with
higher sulfur coal and sold in competition with Central Appalachian
production. The Company believes that these factors reduced or capped the
anticipated price increase for Central Appalachian low-sulfur coal in Phase I.
 
  The Company believes that a price premium for low-sulfur coal is more likely
to develop in Phase II because additional coal-burning electric power plants--
including plants that for technological or transportation reasons cannot
efficiently consume PRB coal, but could consume low-sulfur coal from Central
Appalachia--will be affected by Phase II. However, this price premium is not
expected to develop until well into Phase II, after the large bank of
emissions allowances which has developed in connection with Phase I has been
reduced and before utilities electing to comply with Phase II by installation
of so-called "scrubber" sulfur-reduction technologies are able to implement
this compliance strategy. The Company does not believe that compliance
strategies utilizing scrubbers will result in significant downward pressure on
compliance coal prices during initial
 
                                      69
<PAGE>
 
phases of Phase II. However, if the prices of compliance coal and/or emission
allowances rise, scrubber compliance strategies may become more competitive.
The expected reduction of the existing bank of emission allowances during
Phase II should also help to rationalize the market for compliance coal in the
long term to the extent utilities are unable to utilize strategies to create a
new bank of emission allowances.
 
  Industry Competition.  Even assuming that deregulation and the Phase II
requirements will strengthen demand for low-sulfur coal, the Company still
faces substantial competition from other coal producers with excess supply
seeking to satisfy utility demand for coal. The coal industry has historically
been prone to oversupply situations as there have been few barriers to entry.
On the other hand, profit margins from remaining above-market contracts,
coupled with high exit costs in the form of environmental and employee-related
liabilities, have encouraged the perpetuation of marginal operations.
 
  To prosper in such an environment, a coal producer must be able to maintain
low production costs. A fundamental determinant of the cost of production is
the quality of reserves being mined and the producer's ability to replace
depleted reserves with reserves that can be economically mined in the then-
current price environment. The Company believes that its large and diversified
reserve base, coupled with its relatively stable projected mining costs, give
it an advantage over many other producers--most particularly in Central
Appalachia--as prime reserves (those having relatively low mining costs)
deplete and as above-market contracts supporting higher-cost mining operations
expire.
 
  Transportation costs are another fundamental factor affecting coal industry
competition, particularly interregional competition. Nearly two-thirds of all
Central Appalachia coal shipments and over 80% of coal deliveries to utilities
are made by rail. Coordination of the many eastern loadouts, the large number
of small shipments, terrain and labor issues all combine to make shipments
originating in the eastern United States inherently more expensive on a per-
mile basis than shipments originating in the western United States.
Historically, coal transportation rates from the PRB into Central Appalachian
markets limited the use of PRB coal in those markets. More recently, lower
rail rates from the PRB to Central Appalachian markets have created major
competitive challenges for Central Appalachian producers.
 
  Barge transportation is the lowest-cost method of transporting coal long
distances in the eastern United States and the large numbers of eastern
producers with river access keep coal prices very competitive for river
shipments. The Company believes that many utilities with plants located on the
Ohio River system are well positioned for deregulation as competition for
river shipments should remain high for Central Appalachian coal. With close
proximity to competitively-priced Central Appalachian coal and the ability to
receive western coals, the Company believes utilities with plants located on
the Ohio River system will become price setters in a deregulated environment.
The ability of these utilities to blend western and eastern coals will create
a new, dynamic fuel procurement environment that could place western and
eastern coals in even greater competition and limit rail price premiums. River
transport is an important transportation option not available to PRB producers
between Wyoming and midwestern river terminals.
 
COAL RESERVES
 
  The Company owns or controls approximately 1.5 billion tons of coal reserves
of varying qualities in nine states approximately 239 million tons of which
are in the 10 year mine plan for its current and proposed mining operations.
Its reserves include 1 billion tons of recoverable low-sulfur reserves, 865
million tons of which are located in the Appalachian coal field. Of the
Company's total demonstrated low-sulfur reserves, 477.4 million tons contain
1.2 pounds or less of sulfur dioxide/MMBtu, 165.0 million tons of which are in
the 10 year mine plan at its current and proposed operations.
 
  Reserve estimates are prepared by the Company's engineers and geologists and
reviewed and updated periodically. Reserve estimates will change from time to
time, reflecting mining activities, analysis of new
 
                                      70
<PAGE>
 
engineering and geological data, acquisitions and dispositions and other
factors. The Company engaged Boyd to audit the procedures used by the Company
to prepare its internal tonnage reserve estimates by verifying the accuracy of
selected property reserve estimates and retabulating priority reserve groups
according to standard classifications of reliability. In March 1997, Boyd
completed its independent audit and expressed its professional opinion that
the Company's estimate of its coal reserves as of December 31, 1996 has been
accurately calculated in accordance with its procedures, which Boyd found to
be reasonable and in accordance with industry standards. Boyd did not review
the Company's classification of its reserve holdings by sulfur content.
 
  The following table summarizes the Company's demonstrated coal reserves by
region, as estimated as of December 31, 1996:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          CLASSIFICATION       BY MINING METHOD
                                          TOTAL       ----------------------- -------------------
DEMONSTRATED RESERVES BY REGION /1/  DEMONSTRATED /1/ PROVEN /1/ PROBABLE /1/ SURFACE UNDERGROUND
- -----------------------------------  ---------------- ---------- ------------ ------- -----------
                                             (IN MILLIONS OF RECOVERABLE PRODUCT TONS)/1/
<S>                                  <C>              <C>        <C>          <C>     <C>
APPALACHIAN REGION:
KENTUCKY/VIRGINIA...........               478.7         296.0      182.7        9.7      469.0
WEST VIRGINIA...............               410.8         323.1       87.7      215.2      195.6
ILLINOIS BASIN REGION:
ILLINOIS/INDIANA/WESTERN
 KENTUCKY...................               423.3         320.5      102.8       38.2      385.1
WESTERN REGION:
WYOMING.....................               142.5         129.3       13.2       35.3      107.2
TEXAS.......................                28.8           0.0       28.8       28.8        0.0
                                         -------       -------      -----      -----    -------
    TOTAL...................             1,484.1       1,068.9      415.2      327.2    1,156.9
                                         =======       =======      =====      =====    =======
</TABLE>
- --------
1  See "Glossary of Selected Terms" for definitions of "Demonstrated," "Proven
   Reserves," "Probable Reserves" and "Recoverable Product Tons."
 
  The extent to which the Company's coal reserves will be mined will depend in
part upon factors over which it has no control, such as future economic
conditions, the price and demand for coal of the quality and type controlled
by the Company, the price and supply of alternative fuels and future mining
practices and regulations. The ability of the Company to mine in areas covered
by the reserves depends upon the ability of the Company to maintain control of
these reserves (other than the 880 million tons owned in fee) through
extensions or renewals of the leases or other agreements, or the ability of
the Company to obtain new leases or agreements for other reserves.
 
  By tonnage, approximately 59% of the Company's reserves are owned in fee,
approximately 40% are leased from private parties, and approximately 1% are
leased from the federal government or other public authorities.
 
  The private leases generally have an initial fixed term and allow the
Company the right to renew until the exhaustion of mineable and merchantable
coal. Royalties are paid to the lessors either as a fixed amount per ton or as
a percentage of the sales price. Many leases also require payment of minimum
royalties, payable either at the time of the execution of the lease or in
periodic installments. In most cases, the minimum royalty payments are applied
to reduce future production royalties.
 
  The Company holds a total of 17 federal coal leases which are administered
by the United States Department of the Interior pursuant to the Federal Coal
Leasing Amendment Act of 1976. Each of these leases continues for an
indefinite term, provided there is diligent development of the leased property
and continued operation of the related mine or mines. The Company believes it
will be able to satisfy the diligent development and continued operation
requirements applicable to all federal leases material to its existing mining
operations. Failure to comply with the requirements of a federal lease may
result in termination of that lease, and unless the
 
                                      71
<PAGE>
 
particular lease is terminated or assigned to another party, may restrict the
eligibility of the Company or its affiliates to obtain additional federal
mineral leases.
 
  Defects in title or boundaries of reserves could adversely affect the
Company's control of and right to mine its reserves. Accordingly, the Company
usually conducts an investigation of title prior to acquiring coal property
through leasing or purchasing. If title to the property is not checked at the
time of acquisition, the title to such property is usually verified prior to
the time the Company begins mining operations.
 
  Based on historical costs of the Company's coal land and reserves, at March
31, 1997 the net book value of the Company's coal land and reserves was $277.1
million, consisting of $3.9 million of prepaid royalties included in current
assets, $3.7 million of prepaid royalties included in other assets and $269.5
million of coal lands and reserves. Of such aggregate book value,
approximately $193.2 million is attributable to Central Appalachia, $58.6
million is attributable to the Illinois Basin and $17.7 million is
attributable to the western properties.
 
MINING OPERATIONS
 
  The Company's coal mining operations are conducted through two independent,
separately-managed operating subsidiaries: Apogee and CCHI. Apogee is a member
of the BCOA, and its classified hourly employees are subject to the terms and
conditions of a collective bargaining agreement with the UMWA that expires
August 1, 1998. See "Information Concerning the Company--Employees and Labor
Relations." CCHI was formed in 1993 and operates through four wholly-owned
subsidiaries.
 
  Together, Apogee and CCHI own or operate nine surface mines and eight
underground mines in the Appalachian, Illinois Basin and western coal fields.
Fifteen of these mines produce low-sulfur coal, and two produce high-sulfur
coal. Twelve mines are operated by Apogee or CCHI, and the remaining five
mines are operated by independent contractors. In order to reduce the risk of
nonperformance by any contractor, the Company limits the amount of coal
reserves contracted for mining by a single contractor.
 
  The Company has developed an automated mining system for highwall mining
that utilizes a modified continuous miner, followed by a continuous haulage
chain conveyor and a loadout vehicle for transferring coal to the mine haulage
system. This system, known as the Archveyor(R) mining system, is operated by
the Company in Wyoming. The Company is also developing a system utilizing the
Archveyor(R) technology in underground applications. While some of the
technology used in the Archveyor(R) is licensed by the Company, the
Archveyor(R) utilizes many unique features developed by the Company which are
the subject of currently pending patent applications. The high degree of
automation of the Archveyor(R) allows it to operate without the necessity of
positioning employees in front of the entry being mined. The Archveyor(R) has
maintained a no lost-time injury record since installation in 1992 at CCHI's
Wyoming operations.
 
                                      72
<PAGE>
 
  The following table summarizes certain information concerning the Company's
current coal mining operations by region and by mine:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     TONS OF
                                     RESERVES        SULFUR
                                  WITHIN 10 YEAR   CONTENT OF
MINE                     TYPE /1/   MINE PLAN    PRODUCTION /2/          SEAM
- ----                     -------- -------------- --------------          ----
<S>                      <C>      <C>            <C>            <C>
APPALACHIAN REGION:               (IN THOUSANDS)
APOGEE COAL COMPANY
 Arch of Kentucky
  Division
  Mine No. 37...........    U              2,812  Low Sulfur            Harlan
  Upperlick.............  S/A-C            1,800  Low Sulfur      Splint /3/, Harlan
 Arch of West Virginia
  Division
  Ruffner...............    S             14,797  Low Sulfur          5-Block /4/
  Wylo..................    S              3,796  Low Sulfur      Stockton, Coalburg
CATENARY COAL HOLDINGS,
 INC.
 Catenary Coal Company
  Samples...............    S             37,057  Low Sulfur      5-, 6-, 7-Block /4/
  Campbells Creek No.
   3....................   U-C             1,788  Low Sulfur           Stockton
  Campbells Creek No.
   4....................   U-C             4,915  Low Sulfur           Stockton
 Cumberland River Coal
  Co.
  Pardee................    S              1,772  Low Sulfur              B-H
  Band Mill.............    U              5,874  Low Sulfur               F
  Holden Complex........   S-C             9,996  Low Sulfur          Clarion /4/
  Coalburg No. 1........   U-C               970  Low Sulfur           Coalburg
 Lone Mountain
  Processing
  Huff Creek............    U             15,833  Low Sulfur           Kellioka
  Darby Fork............    U             12,693  Low Sulfur           Darby (C)
ILLINOIS BASIN REGION:
APOGEE COAL COMPANY
 Arch of Illinois
  Division
  Captain...............    S              3,794  High Sulfur         No. 5 and 6
  Conant................    U             24,150  High Sulfur            No. 6
WESTERN REGION:
CATENARY COAL HOLDINGS,
 INC.
 Arch of Wyoming, Inc.
  /5/
  Medicine Bow..........    S              6,874  Low Sulfur    Hanna Basin Seams 23-63
  Seminoe II............    S              3,602  Low Sulfur          78 Seam /6/
</TABLE>
- --------
1  Auger (A), Surface (S), Underground (U) or Independent Contractor (C).
   Unless denoted by (C), mines are operated by one of the Company's
   subsidiaries.
 
2  See glossary for definitions of Low-Sulfur Coal and High-Sulfur Coal.
 
3  Includes Lower, Middle and High Splint seams.
 
4  Also mines Coalburg and Stockton seams.
 
5  An additional 3.8 million tons of low-sulfur reserves are assigned to
   Archveyor(R) production.
 
6  Also mines Hanna 2 and Hanna 5 seams.
 
 
                                       73
<PAGE>
 
  The following table sets forth information concerning the Company's coal
production and sales by region for the past five years:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                              ---------------------------------
MINE/1/                                       1996   1995   1994   1993   1992
- -------                                       -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
<S>                                           <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>
APPALACHIAN REGION:                              (IN THOUSANDS OF TONS)
ARCH OF KENTUCKY
  Mine No. 37................................ 4,547  3,925  3,934  1,677  2,672
  Upperlick..................................   694    579    268    211    813
  Other Mines/2/.............................   --     --     272    --     223
                                              -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
    Total Arch of Kentucky................... 5,241  4,504  4,474  1,888  3,708
  Inventory Change...........................   167   (106)  (159)    55    (87)
                                              -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
    Total Sales.............................. 5,408  4,398  4,315  1,943  3,621
                                              -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
ARCH OF WEST VIRGINIA
  Ruffner.................................... 2,871  2,326  2,299  1,070  2,673
  Wylo....................................... 1,737  1,990  1,778    334    978
  Other Mines--Contract/3/...................   --     263    493    381    542
                                              -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
    Total Arch of West Virginia.............. 4,608  4,579  4,570  1,785  4,193
  Inventory Change...........................    70    205   (283)   655   (251)
                                              -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
    Total Sales.............................. 4,678  4,784  4,287  2,440  3,942
                                              -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
CATENARY COAL CO.
  Samples.................................... 4,468  3,571  2,975  1,551  1,024
  Campbells Creek #3.........................   574    510    472    259    --
  Campbells Creek #4.........................   353    347     28    --     --
  Other Mines--Contract/4/...................   --       1  1,215  1,229    980
                                              -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
    Total Catenary Coal Co................... 5,395  4,429  4,690  3,039  2,004
  Inventory Change...........................   (18)    86     (9)    (6)  (151)
                                              -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
    Total Sales.............................. 5,377  4,515  4,681  3,033  1,853
                                              -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
CUMBERLAND RIVER
  Ridgeline/3/...............................   470    936    943    748    162
  Pardee.....................................   747    517    --     --     --
  Band Mill..................................   290    --     --     --     --
  Holden--Contract........................... 1,876  1,820  2,286    --     --
  Pevler--Contract/4/........................   --     966  1,864    --     --
  Other Mines--Contract......................   --     --       3     52    --
                                              -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
    Total Cumberland River................... 3,383  4,239  5,096    800    162
  Inventory Change...........................    19    314   (201)   (84)   (20)
                                              -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
    Total Sales.............................. 3,402  4,553  4,895    716    142
                                              -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
LONE MOUNTAIN
  Huff Creek.................................   921    868    622    145    --
  Darby Fork/5/..............................   634    882    383    127      7
  Other Mines--Contract......................   --     --     --      72    132
                                              -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
    Total Lone Mountain...................... 1,555  1,750  1,005    344    139
  Inventory Change...........................     3    (87)     7      3    --
                                              -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
    Total Sales.............................. 1,558  1,663  1,012    347    139
                                              -----  -----  -----  -----  -----
</TABLE>
 
                                      74
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                        --------------------------------------
MINE                                     1996    1995    1994    1993    1992
- ----                                    ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
<S>                                     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>
APPALACHIAN REGION, CONTINUED:                (IN THOUSANDS OF TONS)
  Production from Company-operated
   mines............................... 16,685  15,015  13,206   5,652   7,739
  Production from contractor-operated
   mines...............................  3,497   4,486   6,629   2,204   2,467
  Inventory Change.....................    241     412    (645)    623    (509)
                                        ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
    Total Sales........................ 20,423  19,913  19,190   8,479   9,697
                                        ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
ILLINOIS BASIN REGION:
ARCH OF ILLINOIS
  Captain..............................  3,117   1,835   2,402   2,059   3,236
  Conant ..............................  1,850   1,762   1,653   1,131   1,075
  Kathleen/6/..........................    --      731   1,630     600   1,502
  Horse Creek/3/.......................    --      --      107     537   1,287
  Other Mines--Contract/3/.............    --      --      190     --        8
                                        ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
    Total Arch of Illinois.............  4,967   4,328   5,982   4,327   7,108
  Inventory Change.....................     (1)   (130)    107     188    (245)
                                        ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
    Total Sales........................  4,966   4,198   6,089   4,515   6,863
                                        ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
WESTERN REGION:
ARCH OF WYOMING
  Medicine Bow.........................  1,507   1,517   1,566   2,460   2,369
  Seminoe II...........................    231     216     --      --      --
  Pilot Butte..........................    --      --      --      205     453
                                        ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
    Total Arch of Wyoming..............  1,738   1,733   1,566   2,665   2,822
  Inventory Change.....................    277    (338)    (82)    339      (8)
                                        ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
    Total Sales........................  2,015   1,395   1,484   3,004   2,814
                                        ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
ARCH COAL SALES COMPANY
  Total Coal Sales.....................  2,060   1,219   1,190   1,599   1,465
  Inventory Change.....................    (21)     17     (55)    (23)     14
                                        ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
    Total Sales........................  2,039   1,236   1,135   1,576   1,479
                                        ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
SUMMARY:
  Production from Company-operated
   mines............................... 23,390  21,076  20,564  12,644  17,661
  Production from contractor-operated
   mines...............................  3,497   4,486   6,819   2,204   2,475
  Broker...............................  2,060   1,219   1,190   1,599   1,465
  Inventory Change.....................    496     (39)   (675)  1,127    (748)
                                        ------  ------  ------  ------  ------
    Total Sales........................ 29,443  26,742  27,898  17,574  20,853
                                        ======  ======  ======  ======  ======
</TABLE>
- --------
1  Production from acquired operations is included only from date of
   acquisition.
 
2  Includes production from three Company-operated mines, idled in 1991 and
   1992, and one mine with production in 1994 only.
 
3  These operations were idled upon exhaustion of assigned reserve base.
 
4  The assets associated with this operation were sold.
 
5  Includes for 1996 and 1995, 114,000 tons produced in development of a
   beltline tunnel.
 
6  This operation was idled upon a determination that market conditions did
   not support production of its high-sulfur reserves.
 
 
                                      75
<PAGE>
 
  The following is a brief description of the significant mining operations of
Apogee and CCHI:
 
 Appalachian Region--Apogee:
 
  Arch of Kentucky. Arch of Kentucky has one captive underground mine, Mine
No. 37, and one contractor- operated surface/auger mine, the Upperlick mine,
as well as a preparation plant and three loadouts on fee property in Harlan
County, Kentucky acquired from United States Steel Company (now USX
Corporation) ("USX"). From these mines, Arch of Kentucky produces low-sulfur
coal which is currently sold under long-term coal supply contracts with
Electric Fuels Corporation, Georgia Power Company, and USX as well as to other
customers under spot or short-term contracts. Arch of Kentucky's mines are
accessible by public roads and Kentucky Utilities Company ("KU") provides
their electrical power.
 
  Mine No. 37 utilizes longwall mining machinery and three continuous miner
units which are currently used to develop panels for the longwall and mine
other reserve areas within the mine. The total cost of plant and equipment for
Mine No. 37 at March 31, 1997 was $36.0 million, and the net book value was
$2.3 million. Apogee projects depletion of the longwall reserves in August
1997. Two continuous miner units will continue to operate after the longwall
reserves are depleted. Production during 1997, 1998 and 1999 will be
significantly less than the production achieved by the longwall operation in
previous years and is expected to approximate 3.5 million tons in 1997, 1.1
million tons in 1998 and 1.0 million tons in 1999. Arch of Kentucky may
develop a new underground mine in the Darby seam to replace, in part,
depleting longwall production. The decision as to whether such mining
operations will be commenced will depend on a number of factors, including,
without limitation, coal price, geologic conditions of the mine and certain
levels of operating costs, including labor costs.
 
  The Upperlick mine, a contract contour surface and auger operation, began
operation in early 1987. This operation is projected to produce approximately
1.6 million tons through 1999, the projected date for depletion of the
reserves.
 
  The Cave Branch Preparation Plant, upgraded in March 1994 at a cost of
approximately $9.1 million, is a computerized operation with a 1,400 ton-per-
hour capacity. The plant uses a heavy media vessel for coarse cleaning and
heavy media cyclones for fine coal cleaning. The upgrade included the
installation of an overland conveyor belt which transports coal from Mine No.
37 to the preparation plant. The total cost of the facilities' plant and
equipment at March 31, 1997 was $34.5 million, and the net book value was
$10.6 million. Coal from the Upperlick mine is transported to the preparation
plant by truck. Coal from the plant or the raw coal stockpile is loaded on the
CSX railroad at 3,500 tons per hour at the rail siding, which can accommodate
a 90-car unit train.
 
  Arch of West Virginia. Arch of West Virginia currently operates two surface
mines, a preparation plant and a loadout facility, in Logan County, West
Virginia, on properties acquired from Diamond Shamrock Coal Company. One
surface mine is located on fee property and the other is on leased property
under leases running generally until exhaustion of mineable and merchantable
coal. From these mines, Arch of West Virginia produces low-sulfur coal which
is currently shipped under the Company's long-term coal supply contracts with
American Electric Power Co. Inc. ("AEP"), Baltimore Gas & Electric Company,
The Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company ("CG&E"), Consumers Power Company and
The Dayton Power & Light Company, ("DP&L") as well as to other customers under
spot and short-term contracts. Arch of West Virginia's operations are
accessible by public road and they receive electrical power from Appalachian
Power Company.
 
  Arch of West Virginia's largest mine, the Ruffner Mine, is a mountaintop-
removal operation utilizing a 49-cubic-yard dragline, together with a 43-
cubic-yard shovel, a 22-cubic-yard shovel, a 28-cubic-yard loader and a fleet
of 200- and 240-ton rock trucks. Apogee expects production at Ruffner during
the next five years to vary between approximately 2.6 to 3.3 million tons
annually.
 
  Arch of West Virginia's other surface mine, the Wylo Mine, is a truck-shovel
operation utilizing a 53-cubic- yard shovel and a 28-cubic-yard loader.
Currently, Apogee expects Wylo to remain in production and produce
 
                                      76
<PAGE>
 
approximately 3.8 million tons through early 1999. At March 31, 1997 the total
cost of the Ruffner Mine and Wylo Mine plant and equipment was $74.2 million
and $39.5 million, respectively, and the net book value was $35.6 million and
$14.9 million, respectively.
 
  Most of the coal produced by Arch of West Virginia is shipped run-of-mine
and does not require processing, but any required processing occurs at the 650
ton-per-hour Ruffner Preparation Plant. The majority of Arch of West
Virginia's production is shipped on the CSX railroad from its Fanco loadout.
Coal can also be trucked to the Company's Big Sandy Terminal on the Big Sandy
River. The loadout facility can handle a 150-car unit train and loads coal at
4,000 tons per hour. As of March 31, 1997 the total cost of these facilities'
plant and equipment was $25.7 million and the net book value was $12.6
million.
 
 Appalachian Region--CCHI:
 
  Catenary Coal Company ("Catenary"). Catenary operates one surface operation
and has two contract underground mines on properties in Kanawha County, West
Virginia acquired from Mr. Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr. in 1989. These properties
are controlled under leases with terms running generally until exhaustion of
mineable and merchantable coal. The low-sulfur production is currently sold
under long-term coal supply contracts with AEP, CG&E, DP&L, KU and Ohio Edison
Company, as well as under spot or short-term contracts to other customers.
Catenary operations are accessible by public road and they receive their
electrical power from Appalachian Power Company.
 
  The Samples Mine, the surface operation, produces approximately 4.0 million
tons annually in a mountaintop surface mining operation, utilizing a 110-
cubic-yard dragline, together with a 53-cubic-yard shovel, a 23-cubic-yard
hydraulic excavator and a 28-cubic-yard loader. Annual production is projected
to increase steadily to approximately 5.0 million tons in 2000. The total cost
of the plant and equipment of the Samples Mine at March 31, 1997 was $81.9
million and the net book value was $48.5 million. This includes approximately
$15.0 million expended in 1993 and 1994 to dismantle, transfer, refurbish and
install the dragline which was originally located at Apogee's Arch of Illinois
operation.
 
  Most of the coal produced at Samples is shipped run-of-mine and does not
require processing. Any processing and loading that is required is handled
through the Toms Fork Preparation Plant and loadout, which began operating in
1995. The total cost of these facilities, including an upgrade to a portion of
the CSX spur to the loadout, was $24.6 million at March 31, 1997 and net book
value was $20.5 million. The plant has an operating capacity of 250 tons per
hour. The loadout is a batch weigh unit train facility on the CSX railroad
with a capacity of 4,000 tons per hour and a rail siding which can accommodate
150 rail cars.
 
  The two contract underground mines include Campbells Creek No. 3 and
Campbells Creek No. 4 operating on leased properties. Both of these operations
are currently one-section mines together producing approximately 1.0 million
tons per year. Campbells Creek No. 3 is currently projected to complete mining
by the end of 1997; Campbells Creek No. 4, with production averaging
approximately 650,000 tons per year until depleted in 2002. An additional unit
is projected to be put in place at Campbells Creek No. 4 upon depletion of the
No. 3 reserves. Run-of-mine coal from these operations is processed at the
Campbells Creek Preparation Plant, which is also contractor-operated. The
total cost of the Campbells Creek complex plant and equipment at March 31,
1997 was $6.0 million, and the net book value was $3.1 million.
 
  Catenary currently plans to develop two additional underground mines.
Campbells Creek No. 5, a one-section mine, is scheduled to begin production in
the second half of 1997 as production from Campbells Creek No. 3 nears
completion. The Winifred No. 1 Mine, also a one-section operation, is
scheduled to begin production in the second half of 1998. Each mine is
expected to produce approximately 250,000 tons annually of low-sulfur coal.
 
  Cumberland River Coal Company ("Cumberland River").  Cumberland River
operates the Pardee and Holden mining complexes. The Pardee mining complex
includes the Pardee surface mine and the Band Mill underground mine, which
began production in 1995 and 1996, respectively, on properties acquired from
Blue Diamond Coal Company. These mines are accessible by public road and are
supplied with electrical power by
 
                                      77
<PAGE>
 
Old Dominion Power. The Pardee Mine, located on fee property in Wise County,
Virginia, is a mountaintop- removal contour strip operation, utilizing a 28-
cubic-yard loader and four 200-ton trucks, along with a small loader and auger
operation. The mine is projected to produce approximately 900,000 and 750,000
tons of coal in 1997 and 1998, respectively, when it will deplete its
economically recoverable reserves. The total cost of the plant and equipment
of the Pardee Mine at March 31, 1997 was $17.0 million, and the net book value
was $7.5 million.
 
  The Band Mill Mine is a two-section underground mine initially developed in
1996. The total cost of the property and equipment at March 31, 1997 at the
mine was $7.7 million and the net book value was $5.9 million. The second
section with a continuous haulage system, became operational in the first
quarter of 1997 at a cost of $4.5 million. With the addition of the second
unit, the Band Mill Mine is projected to produce approximately 850,000 tons of
coal per year.
 
  The majority of the Cumberland River surface coal is shipped on a raw basis
while all deep production and some highwall production requires washing. Coal
is washed at the Pardee Preparation Plant at a rate of approximately 250 tons
per hour. The Pardee loadout, a batch weigh system with an operating capacity
of 4,000 tons per hour, loads onto the Norfolk Southern railroad. The total
cost of the preparation plant and loadout's plant and equipment at March 31,
1997 was $8.6 million and the net book value was $7.3 million. Coal from these
operations is sold under long-term coal supply agreements to Georgia Power
Company and Virginia Electric Power Company, as well as to other customers
under spot and short-term contracts.
 
  The Holden Mining Complex consists of two contract operations, one surface
and one underground, operating on reserves under leases with terms running
generally until exhaustion of mineable and merchantable coal. The operations
are accessible by public road and electrical power is provided by AEP. The
underground operation, the Coalburg No. 1 mine, is scheduled to deplete its
assigned reserves in 1998. An additional contract surface operation is
scheduled to begin production in 1998. The surface operations will deplete
their assigned reserves bases at varying times within the next seven years,
and are expected to produce approximately 1.7 million tons annually throughout
this period. Coal from these operations is sold under long-term coal supply
contracts to Carolina Power & Light Company, CG&E, Cogentrix of Rocky Mount,
Inc. and Birchwood Power Partners, LLP as well as to other customers under
spot and short-term contracts.
 
  The coal from these operations is loaded onto the Norfolk Southern railroad
at the Holden 25 loadout, the CSX railroad at the contractor-owned Holden 22
loadout or trucked to the Company's Big Sandy Terminal on the Big Sandy River
and shipped by barge. The Holden 25 loadout has an operating capacity of 3,200
tons per hour. The Holden 25 complex has an idle 650 ton-per-hour preparation
plant which may resume operation with the development of the Phoenix reserves,
described below. The total cost of the Holden Mining Complex plant and
equipment at March 31, 1997 was $6.1 million, and the net book value was $4.0
million.
 
  Cumberland River is scheduled to begin development of a new, large surface
mine in coal reserves known as the Phoenix reserves in Logan and Mingo
counties, West Virginia. Construction of the mine is anticipated to begin in
1998, with production scheduled to begin in 1999. Cumberland River expects
annual production from this new mine to reach approximately 2.0 million tons
by 2000 and remain constant at that level until the assigned reserve base of
approximately 25 million recoverable tons is exhausted.
 
  Lone Mountain. Lone Mountain's operations consist of two underground mines,
the Darby Fork Mine and the Huff Creek Mine, in Harlan County, Kentucky, on
properties acquired from Millers Cove Energy Company and Straight Creek
Processing. These operations are accessible by public roads and are supplied
with electrical power by KU. These mines are currently operating predominantly
on fee property. The Darby Fork Mine is currently a two-section mine utilizing
battery cars for haulage. A third unit is scheduled to be added in 1998. The
Huff Creek Mine currently operates three sections, two with continuous haulage
units. The total cost of plant and equipment for these mines at March 31, 1997
was $32.5 million, and the net book value was $18.1 million. Coal produced
from these mines has been trucked to the Lone Mountain Processing Plant in
Wise County, Virginia. In 1995, Lone Mountain began development, at a cost of
$16.8 million, of a beltline system
 
                                      78
<PAGE>
 
which moves coal from the mine directly to the processing plant, eliminating
the trucking of most of the coal. The net book value of the beltline system at
March 31, 1997 was $15.9 million. Coal is washed at the Lone Mountain
Preparation Plant, which has an operating capacity of 850 tons per hour. The
preparation plant's total cost for the plant and equipment at March 31, 1997
was $15.2 million, and the net book value was $11.1 million. The loadout has
dual rail service on either the Norfolk Southern or CSX railroads at a rate of
3,000 tons per hour. The majority of Lone Mountain's production is shipped
under contracts to Georgia Power Company.
 
  Lone Mountain is currently projected to start up a new contract underground
mine in the Wax seam. This operation would be a two-section continuous haulage
mine projected to begin production in the second half of 1998, with projected
production of approximately 1.0 million tons annually. Lone Mountain expects
production from this mine together with the Darby Fork and Huff Creek mine to
produce approximately 16.6 million tons over the next five years. The decision
regarding whether such mining operations will be commenced will depend on a
number of factors, including without limitation, coal price, geologic
conditions of the mine and certain levels of operating costs, including labor
costs.
 
 Illinois Basin Region--Apogee:
 
  Arch of Illinois. Arch of Illinois (formerly Southwestern Illinois Coal
Corporation) currently operates one surface mine, the Captain Mine, and one
underground mine, the Conant Mine, on fee property in Perry County, Illinois,
accessible by public road. Illinois Power Company provides Arch of Illinois
with its electrical power. The Captain Mine utilizes modern large scale
surface mining equipment, including an electric shovel with a 105- cubic-yard
bucket and a bucket wheel excavator. The Captain Mine reserves are expected to
be exhausted in the second half of 1998, with production of approximately 2.9
million tons in 1997, decreasing to approximately 1.3 million tons in 1998. At
March 31, 1997 the total cost of plant and equipment associated with the
Captain Mine was $80.5 million, and the net book value was $8.4 million.
 
  The Conant Mine currently operates three continuous miners using battery
powered coal haulers. The total cost for plant and equipment at March 31, 1997
was $32.9 million, and the net book value was $12.9 million. Production from
Conant is expected to increase from current production rates of approximately
1.7 million tons annually, to approximately 2.4 million tons in 1998, and
remain at approximately that level through 2001.
 
  The coal produced from the Captain and Conant Mines is processed through the
Captain Preparation Plant and is loaded onto the Illinois Central or Union
Pacific railroads at the rate of 3,800 tons per hour. The preparation plant's
cost at March 31, 1997 totalled $40.3 million, and its net book value was $5.2
million. Arch of Illinois production is sold under long-term coal supply
contracts with Northern Indiana Public Service Company and Illinois Power
Company, expiring in May 1998 and December 1999, respectively, and to other
customers on spot and short-term orders.
 
 Western Region--CCHI:
 
  Arch of Wyoming, Inc. ("Arch of Wyoming"). Arch of Wyoming operates two
surface mines which include a highwall mining operation in the Hanna Basin,
producing low-sulfur steam coal on federal and private property. Arch of
Wyoming's operations are accessible by public road. Carbon Power provides it
with electrical power. The Medicine Bow Mine, a surface mine in Carbon County,
Wyoming, has modified its production schedule focusing on mining in lower
overburden ratio reserves and increasing the efficiency of reclamation
activities. Medicine Bow is expected to produce a total of approximately 6.8
million tons until exhaustion in late 1999. The Medicine Bow Mine utilizes a
dragline with a 76-cubic-yard bucket and a dragline with a 64-cubic-yard
bucket for overburden removal and reclamation.
 
  The other surface mine, Seminoe II, began production in 1973 and was idled
in 1989. It was reactivated in mid-1995 to produce a higher Btu product and
will produce up to 500,000 tons per year. It uses a 32-cubic-yard dragline.
 
                                      79
<PAGE>
 
  In 1992, production was begun utilizing the Archveyor(R) system in highwalls
at the Medicine Bow Mine. The Archveyor(R) moved to Seminoe II in late 1996
and will alternate between the two mines over the next five years mining
existing highwalls. Approximately 800,000-900,000 tons annually of production
is attributable to the Archveyor(R). The total cost of the plant and equipment
for Arch of Wyoming at March 31, 1997 was $77.6 million, and its net book
value was $7.0 million.
 
  Coal from each of the Medicine Bow and Seminoe II loadouts is loaded out of
stockpile areas for unit train shipment at a rate of 4,000 tons per hour on
the Union Pacific railroad. Coal is being shipped under long-term coal supply
agreements with the Tennessee Valley Authority, Western Fuels--Illinois, Inc.
and UtiliCorp United, Inc. ("UtiliCorp"), as well as to other customers under
spot or short-term contracts.
 
  In June 1996, the Company acquired approximately 58,000 acres in the Carbon
Basin reserve area, approximately 25 miles southeast of the Seminoe II mine,
for $14.2 million. This acreage contains approximately 107 million tons of
reserves of low-sulfur coal. The Company intends to develop 27 million tons of
these reserves as a large surface operation with production currently
projected to begin in 2001.
 
COAL MARKETING AND SALES
 
  The Company sells coal both pursuant to long-term contracts (contracts
having a term of greater than 12 months) and on a current market or spot
basis. The Company's sales during the last five years are summarized in the
following table by type of sale and sulfur content:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
                                                        ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
                                                         (IN MILLIONS OF TONS)
<S>                                                     <C>  <C>  <C>  <C>  <C>
BY TYPE OF SALE:
  Contract Sales/1/.................................... 20.9 20.3 19.6 14.4 18.0
  Spot Sales...........................................  8.5  6.4  8.3  3.2  2.9
                                                        ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
    Total Sales........................................ 29.4 26.7 27.9 17.6 20.9
                                                        ==== ==== ==== ==== ====
BY SULFUR CONTENT:
 1.2 lbs/MMBtu or less
  Contract Sales.......................................  6.4  5.5  5.4  3.4  3.4
  Spot Sales...........................................  2.4  2.1  4.0  1.0  1.9
                                                        ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
    Total..............................................  8.8  7.6  9.4  4.4  5.3
                                                        ==== ==== ==== ==== ====
 Greater than 1.2 to 2.5 lbs/MMBtu
  Contract Sales.......................................  8.2 10.7  8.7  6.1  6.7
  Spot Sales...........................................  4.0  4.2  3.7  2.2  1.1
                                                        ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
    Total.............................................. 12.2 14.9 12.4  8.3  7.8
                                                        ==== ==== ==== ==== ====
 Greater than 2.5 lbs/MMBtu
  Contract Sales.......................................  6.4  4.2  5.5  4.9  7.8
  Spot Sales...........................................  2.0  --   0.6  --   --
                                                        ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
    Total..............................................  8.4  4.2  6.1  4.9  7.8
                                                        ==== ==== ==== ==== ====
</TABLE>
- --------
/1/Contract sales are sales under contracts with a term of more than one year.
 
                                      80
<PAGE>
 
  As of March 31, 1997, the Company had a total of 21 long-term contracts
which expire at various times through November 30, 2012. Committed low-sulfur
tonnage under these contracts totals 55.5 million tons over the period 1997
through 2005. An additional 7.5 million tons of high-sulfur production is
committed under long- term contracts during this same period. The following
table presents information regarding the contract expiration dates and tonnage
levels under those current long-term contracts with annual tonnages remaining,
as of January 1, 1997, of 1,000,000 tons or more:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        ESTIMATED
                                       TONNAGE PER
                                    CONTRACT YEAR /1/
                                    -----------------
                                                          ESTIMATED                     COAL
                                                          REMAINING        COAL      DELIVERED
                          CONTRACT                      TONNAGE AS OF    DELIVERED    THROUGH
CUSTOMER                 EXPIRATION MINIMUM  MAXIMUM  MARCH 31, 1997 /2/  IN 1996  MARCH 31, 1997
- --------                 ---------- -------- -------- ------------------ --------- --------------
                                           (IN MILLIONS OF TONS)
<S>                      <C>        <C>      <C>      <C>                <C>       <C>
APPALACHIAN REGION:
 AEP-Appalachian Power..  12/31/00      0.9      1.3          3.4           0.9          .2
 AEP-Cardinal
  Operating.............  11/30/12      1.1      1.5         20.4           1.3          .3
 Cincinnati Gas &
  Electric..............  12/31/04      1.3      1.3         10.0           1.3          .3
 Dayton Power & Light...  12/31/99      1.1      1.3          3.1           1.1          .3
 Georgia Power ('97
  Agreement)............  12/31/00      0.8      1.2          4.2           0.0          .2
 Georgia Power (CSX
  Agreement)............   6/30/99      0.5      1.3          1.7           1.3          .3
 Ohio Edison............   2/28/03      0.8      1.2          6.5           0.8          .1
ILLINOIS BASIN REGION:
 Illinois Power.........  12/31/99      0.8      2.1          5.1           1.3          .4
 NIPSCO.................   5/31/98      1.0      2.0          2.4           1.9          .5
WESTERN REGION:
 UtiliCorp..............   3/31/00      0.6      1.1          1.9           0.9          .2
</TABLE>
- --------
/1/Estimates based on specific contractual commitments, less actual
   deliveries. Actual amounts delivered may vary from specified minimums or
   maximums due to force majeure and other contractual provisions.
 
/2/Assumes shipment of minimum amounts under all contracts.
 
  The loss of long-term contracts could have a material adverse effect on the
Company's operations and business. See "Risk Factors." The Company believes it
owns and controls sufficient coal reserves to satisfy its long-term sales
commitments. However, in certain cases the Company may acquire additional coal
reserves or purchase coal in order to supply certain customers at a lower cost
to the Company.
 
  Pricing Provisions in Long-Term Coal Supply Agreements. Typically, long-term
contracts contain price adjustment provisions that provide for periodic
adjustment of the sales price based upon changes in designated indices,
changes in wage rates and other costs of production and other factors and the
changes in taxes and royalties resulting from changes in the foregoing. Long-
term contracts also typically provide for adjustment of the price to reflect,
in whole or in part, the cost of compliance with new governmental legislation
that impacts the cost to mine, process or transport coal. Some long-term
contracts also contain price reopener provisions that allow for repricing to
market at designated intervals or at such time as the contract price varies
from current market by more than a fixed-dollar amount or percentage of the
current market price. The outcome of future repricing under price reopener
provisions contained in the Company's coal supply contracts cannot be
predicted at this time.
 
  The operating profit margin achieved by the Company under its coal supply
contracts depends on a variety of factors. Margins vary from contract to
contract and may fluctuate during the life of a contract depending upon a
variety of factors, including the Company's production costs at the supplying
mines. Termination of deliveries under a high profit margin contract can have
an adverse effect on the Company's earnings and operating cash flow
disproportionate to the percentage of production represented by the tonnage
delivered under such contract.
 
                                      81
<PAGE>
 
  Most electric utilities with whom the Company conducts business are stable,
well-capitalized entities with favorable credit ratings. Deregulation in the
electric utility industry may adversely affect the credit worthiness of some
utilities. Generally, credit is extended based on a favorable evaluation of
each customer's financial condition, and collateral is not required.
Historically, credit losses have consistently been minimal.
 
  Spot Coal Prices. Spot prices fluctuate primarily because of changes in
supply and demand. Demand for coal in the short term is primarily driven by
weather-related or economy-based changes in demand for electricity in the
areas serviced by the utilities purchasing the Company's coal. Spot market
supply has historically been most affected by productive capacity in the
industry and short-term disruptions to that capacity, which have frequently
been labor-related. Spot market prices may from time to time be less than or
greater than prices at which the Company is selling similar quality coal under
its long term contracts.
 
OTHER PROPERTIES
 
  Arch Coal Sales operates two transloading facilities, Big Sandy Terminal and
Paint Creek Terminal. The Big Sandy Terminal is located on 131 acres of
property, the majority of which is held under long-term leases, on the Big
Sandy River in Wayne County, West Virginia. It receives coal by truck from
Cumberland River's Holden 25 Mining Complex and Apogee's Arch of West Virginia
Wylo Mine and by rail from third parties for loading onto barges. Big Sandy
has an annual throughput capacity of 6.0 million tons. In addition to coal,
Big Sandy also loads magnetite, ammonium nitrate and gravel for third parties.
Paint Creek Terminal is located on leased property on the Kanawha River at
Crown Hill, West Virginia. The facility transloads approximately 2.5 million
tons of coal received by truck from Catenary Coal Company's Samples Mine.
 
  The Company and its subsidiaries own substantially all of the mining
equipment used in their mining operations. Four of the Company's preparation
plants and related loadout facilities are owned in fee, and the other four are
located on leased property. The Company's headquarters are located in
approximately 50,000 square feet of leased space at CityPlace One, Suite 300,
Creve Coeur, Missouri. Apogee's offices are located at Arch of Illinois on fee
property. CCHI's offices are located in approximately 8,500 square feet of
leased space in Charleston, West Virginia.
 
EMPLOYEES AND LABOR RELATIONS
 
  As of March 31, 1997, the Company and its subsidiaries collectively employed
2,141 full-time employees. The Apogee work force includes 941 individuals who
are represented by the UMWA and are covered by the terms and conditions of the
1993 NBCWA to which Apogee is a signatory.
 
  The Company and the UMWA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU")
contemporaneously with Apogee's execution of the 1993 NBCWA to provide job
opportunities to active and laid off UMWA employees of Apogee at the Company's
non-signatory bituminous coal mining operations. The Company believes that the
effects of the 1993 NBCWA and MOU have not and will not significantly increase
the production costs of the Company's union mining operations. The 1993 NBCWA
will expire on August 1, 1998.
 
  The Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Act of 1992 (the "Coal Act") was
enacted in October 1992 to provide for the funding of health benefits for
certain retirees who were UMWA-represented employees. The Coal Act established
a trust fund to which "signatory operators," operators who were signatory to
the 1988 NBCWA or prior NBCWAs, and "related persons," including Apogee, are
obligated to pay annual premiums for assigned beneficiaries, together with a
pro rata share for certain beneficiaries ("unassigned beneficiaries") who
never worked for such employers, in amounts to be determined by the Secretary
of Health and Human Services on the basis set forth in the Coal Act.
 
  Cumberland River is signatory to a labor agreement with the Scotia
Employees' Association ("SEA"). The SEA agreement applies to certain
operations and reserves in Virginia and Kentucky. The current agreement was
ratified in September 1992, and expires in September 1997. Under the current
agreement, the SEA had the option
 
                                      82
<PAGE>
 
to reopen the contract in 1995 and 1996 to renegotiate wages. The SEA
exercised this option in 1995 and again in 1996. Negotiations under the 1996
reopener are proceeding as of the date of this Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
 
  Cumberland River is signatory to a labor agreement with the Arch on the
North Fork Employees' Association ("AONF"). The AONF agreement applies to
certain operations in Kentucky. There is currently no mine operating under the
AONF agreement. The current agreement was ratified in June 1996 and expires in
June 2001.
 
GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION
 
  Coal mining is subject to regulation by federal, state and local authorities
with respect to the environment, limitations on land use, solid and hazardous
waste disposal, noise, blasting, health and safety, aesthetic concerns,
effects on air, water, vegetation and wildlife and other matters. In addition,
as discussed above the utility industry is subject to extensive regulation
regarding the environmental impact of its power generation activities which
could affect demand for coal. New legislation and/or regulations could be
adopted which may have a significant impact on coal mining operations and/or
customers' ability to use coal.
 
  Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. The federal Surface Mining
Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 ("SMCRA") was enacted to regulate the
surface mining of coal and the surface effects of underground mining of coal.
SMCRA and similar state statutes require, among other things, that mined
property be restored in accordance with specified standards and an approved
reclamation plan. SMCRA requires a mine operator or permittee to submit a bond
or otherwise secure the performance of these reclamation obligations. SMCRA
also imposes a maximum abandoned mine lands tax of $0.35 per ton on surface-
mined coal and $0.15 per ton on underground-mined coal.
 
  Clean Air Act. The federal Clean Air Act, including the Amendments, and
similar state laws which regulate the emissions of materials into the air,
affect coal mining operations both directly and indirectly. Coal mining and
processing operations may be directly affected by Clean Air Act permitting
requirements and/or emissions control requirements relating to particulate
matter, i.e., fugitive dust. The coal industry is also affected indirectly by
the impact of the Clean Air Act on the air emissions from coal-fueled electric
power generating plants.
 
  In addition to controlling emissions of sulfur dioxide, the Amendments also
require the EPA to determine if reductions in the emissions of nitrous oxides
("NOX") are necessary to achieve air quality standards. The EPA has proposed
new standards which, if adopted, could impose costly new control equipment on
electric utilities or other firms using coal to generate electricity. If
reductions in NOX emissions are required, every power generating station using
fossil fuels will be required to employ new technology. Alternatives to some
power plants include abandoning coal as a fuel and substituting natural gas
which emits less NOX during combustion.
 
  Clean Water Act. Coal mining operations are also regulated through the
restrictions under the federal Clean Water Act on effluent discharge into
waters. The issuance, compliance with and renewal of permits governing the
discharge of pollutants require coal mine operators to conform with
performance standards and with record keeping and reporting requirements.
 
  Resource Conservation Recovery Act. The federal Resource Conservation
Recovery Act ("RCRA") and similar state laws affect coal mining operations by
imposing requirements for the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous
wastes. Although mining wastes are excluded from the definition of hazardous
waste for purposes of RCRA, a study is pending in Congress which could affect
this exclusion.
 
  Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act. The
federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act
("CERCLA") and similar state laws affect coal mining operations by imposing
cleanup requirements for threatened or actual releases of hazardous substances
 
                                      83
<PAGE>
 
that may endanger public health or welfare or the environment. Joint and
several liability may be imposed on waste generators, past and present site
owners and operators as well as others regardless of fault or the legality of
the disposal activity at the time it was made. Waste substances generated by
coal production and processing are generally not considered hazardous
substances covered by CERCLA. Products used by coal companies in operations,
such as chemicals and petroleum products, and the disposal of such products,
however, are governed by the statute.
 
  Federal Land Policy. The United States is the largest owner of coal reserves
in the nation. This authority is exercised through several agencies, but
exists primarily through the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land
Management ("BLM"). The majority of these reserves are held in the Western
United States. They include lands on which Arch of Wyoming, Inc. has conducted
surface coal mining operations since 1972 and will mine in the future.
 
  The BLM exercises an authority over public lands which far exceeds the
rights of any private owner of coal. The BLM possesses both those customary
property rights of a private owner together with sovereign authority of the
management of public lands. Although the statutes and regulations are well
established under BLM coal leases, these statutes such as the Mineral Leasing
Act of 1920, as amended by the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1976,
the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1977 and the federal Surface Mining
Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, create a complex and cumbersome process
for a lease applicant. The consequence is that an opponent of federal coal
leasing has numerous opportunities to delay the issuance of a federal coal
lease.
 
  Mine Safety and Health. The federal Coal Mine Safety and Health Act was
adopted in 1969. The federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 brought
significant expansion to the enforcement of health and safety standards. The
federal Mine Safety and Health Administration ("MSHA") monitors compliance
with the law's comprehensive regulation of mining operations, including
training of mine personnel, mining procedures, blasting, the mining equipment
used as well as other matters. Many of the states in which the Company will
operate have programs for mine safety and health regulation and enforcement.
Together with the federal requirements, these mine safety regulations provide
extensive and comprehensive requirements for protection of employee safety and
health.
 
  Black Lung. The Black Lung Reform Act of 1977 requires each coal mine
operator to secure payment of federal and state black lung benefits to its
employees through insurance, bonds, qualified self-insurance or contributions
to a state-controlled fund. This Act also establishes a trust fund for the
payment of benefits and medical expenses to employees for whom no benefits are
obtainable from their employer. The trust fund is financed by a tax on coal
sales.
 
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
 
  The Company and its subsidiaries are parties to numerous claims and lawsuits
with respect to various matters. The Company provides for costs related to
these contingencies, including claims for environmental matters, when a loss
is probable and the amount is reasonably determinable. The Company estimated,
as of March 31, 1997, its probable aggregate loss as a result of such claims
was $5.1 million. The Company estimated that its reasonable possible aggregate
losses from all currently pending litigation could be as much as $2.5 million,
before taxes, in excess of the probable loss previously recognized. In May
1997, the Company agreed to make a payment of $3.3 million to the State of
Utah in final settlement of the matter of Trail Mountain Coal Company v. The
Utah Division of State Lands and Forestry. The $3.3 million payment was $1.5
million more than the $1.8 million the Company had reserved as the probable
loss associated with this lawsuit. To the extent not provided for, the Company
believes the ultimate resolution of such claims will not have a material
adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations,
or liquidity of the Company.
 
  On October 24, 1996, the failure of the rock strata overlaying an old,
abandoned underground mine adjacent to the impoundment used by Lone Mountain
for disposing of coal refuse failed, resulting in an accidental
 
                                      84
<PAGE>
 
discharge of approximately 6.3 million gallons of water and fine coal slurry
into a tributary of the Powell River in Lee County, Virginia. This discharge
resulted in the death of approximately 11,500 fish, according to estimates of
the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Following the discharge,
personnel at Lone Mountain began working with agencies of the Commonwealth of
Virginia and the United States to identify the long-term effects, if any, to
fish, other organisms and the aquatic habitat of the Powell River system.
Small quantities of sediment were removed from stream beds, although the
majority of material has been resuspended and carried downstream. Lone
Mountain has committed to monitor and evaluate the stream conditions for two
years in order to determine accurately the effects of the discharge.
 
  On January 29, 1997, the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy of the
Commonwealth of Virginia filed suit in Lee County Virginia Circuit Court
against Lone Mountain alleging violations of effluent limitations and
reporting violations under Lone Mountain's NPDES permits. Lone Mountain and
the Commonwealth of Virginia have entered into a settlement agreement to
resolve all matters arising out of the discharge. Pursuant to the settlement
agreement, Lone Mountain will pay the Commonwealth $1.396 million. In return
two notices of violation and a show cause order were vacated.
 
  Following publication of the proposed settlement and a public comment period
of 30 days, the Commonwealth is expected to sign the settlement agreement. It
will then be presented to the Circuit Court for entry as a final order. Upon
entry by the court, the settlement will discharge all civil claims alleged in
the state's civil action of January 29, 1997.
 
  At the request of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Fish
& Wildlife Service, the United States Attorney for the Western District of
Virginia has undertaken a criminal investigation of the incident. The
conclusions of this investigation are not expected until late 1997. On March
19, 1997, Lone Mountain received a subpoena to produce documents and to
testify before a federal grand jury. The subpoena seeks the production of
documents related to the design and approval of the impoundment.
 
 
                                      85
<PAGE>
 
SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
  The following table presents selected consolidated financial and operating
data for the Company as of the dates and for each of the periods indicated.
The selected financial and operating data should be read in conjunction with
the consolidated financial statements, and notes thereto, of the Company and
"Information Concerning The Company--Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Conditions and Results of Operations" included herein.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           THREE MONTHS
                          ENDED MARCH 31,              YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                         ----------------- --------------------------------------------------
                           1997     1996     1996   1995(1,2)  1994(3)  1993(4)   1992(5,6,7)
                         -------- -------- -------- ---------  -------- --------  -----------
                                    (In thousands, except per share information)
<S>                      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>        <C>      <C>       <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
 DATA:
Coal sales and other
 revenues............... $197,419 $188,489 $775,805 $737,264   $785,287 $487,670   $ 606,361
Costs and expenses:
 Cost of coal sales
  (8)...................  171,623  162,416  667,878  657,738    648,091  459,493     492,771
 Selling, general and
  administrative
  expenses..............    4,897    4,573   20,435   19,680     21,758   19,070      17,675
 Amortization of coal
  supply agreements.....    2,116    2,855   12,604   13,374     15,346    7,672       6,688
 Write-down of impaired
  assets................      --       --       --    10,241        --       --        6,200
 Restructuring
  expenses..............      --       --       --     8,250        --       --          --
 Other expenses.........    2,470    3,699   18,776   17,956     35,150   53,990      53,322
                         -------- -------- -------- --------   -------- --------   ---------
Income (loss) from
 operations.............   16,313   14,946   56,112   10,025     64,942  (52,555)     29,705
Interest expense, net...    3,293    4,749   17,592   22,962     21,582   15,443      11,520
Provision (benefit) for
 income taxes...........    2,600    2,600    5,500   (1,900)     8,200  (29,100)        300
                         -------- -------- -------- --------   -------- --------   ---------
Income (loss) before
 cumulative effect of
 change
 in accounting
 principle..............   10,420    7,597   33,020  (11,037)    35,160  (38,898)     17,885
Cumulative effect of
 change in accounting
 principle..............      --        -       --       --         --       --     (122,022)
                         -------- -------- -------- --------   -------- --------   ---------
Net income (loss)....... $ 10,420 $  7,597 $ 33,020 $(11,037)  $ 35,160 $(38,898)  $(104,137)
                         ======== ======== ======== ========   ======== ========   =========
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Total assets............ $872,607 $920,449 $885,521 $940,768   $993,361 $849,804   $ 874,367
Working capital.........   43,013   36,902   33,166   40,077     27,512   (3,369)     22,263
Long-term debt..........  190,537  252,453  212,695  274,314    308,166  223,698     182,273
Other long-term
 obligations............  422,987  429,561  421,754  429,993    413,209  413,427     428,075
Stockholders' equity....  141,046  121,288  130,626  113,692    131,426   96,266     143,164
PER COMMON SHARE DATA:
Income (loss) before
 cumulative effect of
 change
 in accounting
 principle..............    $0.50    $0.36 $   1.58 $  (0.53)  $   1.68 $  (1.86)  $    0.85
Cumulative effect of
 change in accounting
 principle.............. $    --  $    --       --       --         --       --        (5.82)
                         -------- -------- -------- --------   -------- --------   ---------
Net income (loss).......    $0.50    $0.36 $   1.58 $  (0.53)  $   1.68 $  (1.86)  $   (4.97)
                         ======== ======== ======== ========   ======== ========   =========
OPERATING AND OTHER
 DATA:
Tons sold...............    7,545    7,273   29,443   26,742     27,898   17,574      20,853
Tons produced...........    7,127    6,698   26,887   25,562     27,383   14,848      20,136
Dividend payments....... $    --  $    --  $  8,000 $  6,697   $    --  $  8,000   $   8,000
EBITDA (9)..............   44,609   39,571  170,815  110,126    164,373   27,860     117,764
Net cash provided from
 operating activities...   32,931   25,116  131,400   92,526     81,273   54,924      95,353
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Results for the year ended December 31, 1995 reflect total charges of
    $18.5 million for restructuring and asset write-downs. The Company
    restructured its selling, general and administrative functions and reduced
    its salaried workforce by 143 employees. Total restructuring charges of
    $8.3 million included charges for severance, pension and post-retiree
    medical benefits. As a result of implementing the Statement of Financial
    Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of
    Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of," the Company recorded charges of
    $10.2 million to writedown certain assets to their fair value. These
    assets included idled facilities at CCHI's Cumberland River Coal Company
    and Apogee's Arch of Illinois and Arch of Kentucky operations.
 
                                      86
<PAGE>
 
(2) On July 31, 1995, the Company sold its timber rights to approximately
    100,000 acres of property in the eastern United States for a gain of $8.4
    million, recorded in Other Revenues.
 
(3) In January 1994, the Company acquired the stock of Agipcoal Holding USA,
    Inc., and its subsidiaries, simultaneously sold certain of the operations
    and entered into a sale lease-back agreement for certain coal reserves for
    net consideration of $65.9 million. Coal mining operations in Kentucky and
    West Virginia, and certain coal supply agreements, were acquired. The
    acquisition was accounted for as a purchase and, accordingly, the results
    of operations are included in the consolidated financial statements of the
    Company subsequent to that date.
 
(4) The results of operations for the year ended December 31, 1993 were
    adversely affected by a seven month strike by the UMWA against all of
    Apogee's operations as part of a nationwide strike against members of the
    BCOA. Depreciation and other expenses, including back-to-work bonuses and
    start-up costs, were expensed in cost of coal sales as incurred.
 
(5) Effective January 1, 1992, the Company adopted SFAS No. 106, "Employers'
    Accounting for Post- retirement Benefits Other Than Pensions." The
    adoption of this standard reduced net income by $122 million ($196.8
    million before Income Taxes).
 
(6) In September 1991, a fire destroyed a major piece of mining equipment at
    Arch of Illinois. This fire was an insured event under property damage and
    business interruption insurance policies. The settlement with the
    insurance carrier resulted in a pre-tax gain on involuntary conversion of
    $24.4 million in 1992.
 
(7) During 1992, the Company revalued the assets acquired in the 1990
    acquisition of certain mine assets in southeastern Kentucky from Blue
    Diamond Coal Company (the "Scotia acquisition"). The revaluation occurred
    as a result of adverse geological conditions which made mining of certain
    of the acquired coal reserves uneconomic. As a result, the Company
    adjusted the carrying value of this investment and charged pre-tax
    earnings of $6.2 million to record the investment at management's estimate
    of net realizable value.
 
(8) In 1993, in consultation with actuaries, the Company adjusted the discount
    rate, the black lung benefit cost escalation rate, rates of disability and
    other assumptions used in the actuarial determination of pneumoconiosis
    (black lung) liabilities to reflect more accurately actual experience. The
    effect of these changes was significant increase in the unrecognized net
    gain. In accordance with Company policy, this gain was amortized as a
    credit to cost of coal sales and totaled $10.8 million for each year 1993
    through 1996.
 
(9) EBITDA is defined as income from operations before the effect of changes
    in accounting principles and extraordinary items, net interest expense,
    income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization. EBITDA is
    presented because it is a widely accepted financial indicator of a
    company's ability to incur and service debt. EBITDA should not be
    considered in isolation or as an alternative to net income, operating
    income, cash flows from operations or as a measure of a company's
    profitability, liquidity or performance under generally accepted
    accounting principles. This measure of EBITDA may not be comparable to
    similar measures reported by other companies.
 
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<PAGE>
 
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS
 
  The results of the Company's operations reflect the acquisition of the AEP-
Cardinal contract in 1992 and AgipCoal Holding USA, Inc. and related companies
in 1994. These acquisitions expanded the Company's coal mining operations with
resulting increases in revenues and expense categories. Each acquisition was
accounted for under purchase accounting principles and, thus, the results of
operations reflect the operations of each acquired business from the date of
its acquisition.
 
  The Company's financial results for 1992 through 1996 included several
events that had a significant impact on revenues, cost of coal sales, income
(loss) from operations and cash flows. These events included:
 
  Asset Write-Down. During 1992, the Company revalued the assets acquired in
the Scotia acquisition in September 1990. The revaluation occurred as a result
of adverse geologic conditions which made mining of certain of the acquired
coal reserves uneconomical. As a result, the Company adjusted the carrying
value of the assets acquired and charged pre-tax earnings $6.2 million to
record the investment at management's estimate of net realizable value.
 
  Insurance Settlement. In September 1991, a fire destroyed a major piece of
mining equipment at Arch of Illinois. This fire was an insured event under the
Company's property damage and business interruption insurance policies. The
settlement with the insurance carrier resulted in a pre-tax gain on
involuntary conversion of $24.4 million in 1992.
 
  Adoption of Financial Accounting Standards No. 106. Effective January 1,
1992, the Company adopted SFAS No. 106, "Employers' Accounting for
Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions." The adoption of this standard
reduced net income by $122 million ($196.8 million before Income Taxes).
 
  UMWA Strike. Beginning May 10, 1993, the UMWA staged a 219 day strike
against Apogee's operations as part of a nationwide strike against members of
the BCOA. During the strike, salaried employees produced coal at three of the
affected operations, but at substantially reduced volumes.
 
  Restructuring Charges During 1995. The Company restructured its selling,
general and administrative functions and, in connection therewith, reduced its
salaried workforce by 143 employees, 52 of whom elected to retire under an
enhanced early retirement program. Total restructuring charges of $8.3 million
included charges for severance, pension and post-retirement medical benefits.
The restructuring reflected the Company's efforts to reduce its costs and
improve its competitive position.
 
  Adoption of Financial Accounting Standard No. 121. Effective September 30,
1995, the Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards ("SFAS") No. 121 "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of." As a result, the Company
recorded charges of $10.2 million to write down certain assets to their fair
value. These assets included idled facilities at CCHI's Cumberland River Coal
Company and Apogee's Arch of Illinois and Arch of Kentucky operations.
 
  Related Party Transactions. Effective January 1, 1991, the Company acquired
from its stockholders certain Illinois coal reserves for $55.2 million (based
on an independent appraisal) which were previously under lease to the Company.
This acquisition was valued for accounting purposes at the stockholders' net
book value of $22.8 million with the $32.4 million difference between the net
book value and fair market value less $12.3 million of deferred income tax
benefits being recorded as a reduction to stockholders' equity. In 1996, as
part of a settlement with the IRS related to the audit of its 1991 tax return,
the Company agreed to adjust the fair market value of the coal properties for
tax purposes from the acquisition price of $55.2 million to $33.8 million
resulting in a decrease in the deferred tax asset of $8.1 million from $12.3
million to $4.2 million. The decrease in the deferred tax asset was charged
directly to stockholders' equity.
 
 
                                      88
<PAGE>
 
  Reclamation and Mine Closure. The federal Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act of 1977 and similar state statutes require that mine property
be restored in accordance with specified standards and an approved reclamation
plan. The Company accrues for the costs of final mine closure over the
estimated useful mining life of the property. These costs relate to reclaiming
the pit and support acreage at surface mines and sealing portals at deep
mines. Other costs common to both types of mining are related to reclaiming
refuse and slurry ponds. The Company accrues for current mine disturbance
which will be reclaimed prior to final mine closure. The establishment of the
final mine closure reclamation liability and the current disturbance is based
upon permit requirements and requires various estimates and assumptions,
principally associated with costs and productivities. Annually, the Company
reviews its entire environmental liability and makes necessary adjustments,
including permit changes and revisions to costs and productivities to reflect
current experience. These recosting adjustments are recorded to cost of coal
sales. Favorable adjustments total $3.3, $4.5, $5.0 and $6.9 million for the
three months ended March 31, 1997 and for the years 1996, 1995 and 1994,
respectively. The Company's management believes it is making adequate
provisions for all expected reclamation and other costs associated with mine
closures.
 
 Certain Factors Affecting Current and Future Operating Results
 
  Actuarial Determination of Pneumoconiosis Liability. In 1993, in
consultation with actuaries, the Company changed the discount rate, black lung
benefit cost escalation rate, rates of disability and other assumptions used
in the actuarial determination of pneumoconiosis (black lung) liabilities to
better reflect actual experience. The effect of these changes was a
significant increase in the unrecognized net gain of approximately $50
million. This gain is being amortized as a credit to cost of coal sales and
totalled $10.8 million ($6.9 million after tax) each year from 1993 through
1996. The gain is expected to be fully amortized in 1997.
 
  Expiration of Georgia Power Contract and Fulfillment of Contract Prior to
Expiration. The Company is currently supplying 1.9 million tons of low-sulfur
coal per year from its Lone Mountain and Cumberland River operations and from
third parties to Georgia Power Company under a long-term coal supply contract
which expires in December 1997. The prices for coal shipped under this
contract are significantly above the current open market price for such coal.
For the year ended December 31, 1996, 8.9% of the Company's revenues and 18.9%
of its operating income related to sales under this contract. The expiration
of the contract will have an adverse impact on the Company's earnings and
operating cash flow, which impact may be disproportionate to the percentage of
total production represented by the tonnage delivered under the contract. The
production from the underground mines at Lone Mountain supply a significant
portion of this contract. If, as a result of the geologic problems at these
mines discussed below, Lone Mountain's operations are unable to produce
sufficient quantities of coal to supply the contract profitably, the Company
has certain rights to ship coal from certain of its other operations and from
certain third-party producers under the contract, and the Company has adequate
supply available from its other operations to fulfill its remaining
commitments under the contract. After expiration of the current Georgia Power
contract, the Company expects to continue to supply a significant amount of
similar quality coal to Georgia Power at prices more closely approximating
current market prices.
 
  Exhaustion of Arch of Kentucky Mine No. 37 Longwall Reserves. The longwall
reserve base at Apogee's Arch of Kentucky Mine No. 37 will be exhausted in the
third quarter of 1997. For the year ended December 31, 1996, Mine No. 37
produced 4.5 million tons of coal (from both the longwall and continuous miner
sections) and accounted for $20.8 million or 37.1% of the Company's operating
income, and sales of coal produced from the mine accounted for 16.4% of the
revenues of the Company. After exhaustion of the longwall reserves, the
decrease in operating profit will be mitigated to some degree by the continued
operation of two continuous miner sections and by the potential development of
an underground mine in the Darby seam that is in close proximity to the Cave
Branch Preparation Plant currently used to process Mine No. 37 coal. At the
exhaustion of the longwall reserves, the Company does not expect any
impairment of assets used to mine those reserves as the estimated useful life
of the related assets expires at the time the reserves are depleted.
 
  Geologic Conditions at the Darby Fork Mine. During 1996, Lone Mountain's
Darby Fork Mine, experienced adverse geologic conditions in the form of
sandstone intrusions in the coal seam and a new portal
 
                                      89
<PAGE>
 
area. These conditions resulted in lower productivity, lower yields and lower
productivity levels, and per ton mining cost increased by 56.6% in 1996
compared to 1995. The Company believes that its exploration efforts have
accurately identified and located the sandstone intrusions, and that the
adverse geologic conditions will continue until the fourth quarter of 1997, at
which time the Company expects improvement in productivity, yield, and
production levels. Mining costs should also improve from 1996 levels due to
the installation of a beltline from the mine to the preparation plant being
fully operational in 1997, resulting in the elimination of higher cost truck
transportation. However, if these adverse geologic conditions continue longer
than expected, or worsen, production from the mine could be reduced or
curtailed, productivity and yield could continue to be adversely affected, and
mining costs could continue to be high or increase to the point that operation
of the mine is uneconomic.
 
  Geologic Conditions at the Huff Creek Mine. In 1996, Lone Mountain's Huff
Creek Mine also experienced poor roof conditions. These conditions were caused
by overmining in the Darby Fork Mine and adverse geologic areas contiguous to
a new portal. As a result of these geologic problems, the operating cost at
the Huff Creek Mine increased 26.9% in 1996 compared to 1995. Beginning in the
second quarter of 1997, the Company made certain revisions to its mining plan
to align mineworks in the Huff Creek Mine to accommodate in-seam stresses and
to better coordinate the mine plan with the Darby Fork mine plan. As a result
of these changes, the Company expects the roof conditions at the Huff Creek
Mine to improve substantially beginning in the third quarter of 1997. As with
Darby Fork, mining costs should improve from 1996 levels as a consequence of
installation of a beltline from the mine to the preparation plant and the
elimination of higher cost truck transportation. However, if the adverse
geologic conditions continue longer than expected, or worsen, production from
the mine could be reduced or curtailed, productivity and yield could continue
to be adversely affected, and cost could continue to be high or increase to
the point that operation of the mine is uneconomic.
 
  Lower Overburden Ratios at the Sample Mine. In April 1997, the Company
completed an acquisition of certain surface mineable reserves adjacent to its
Samples Mine. The acquisition included 9.6 million tons of lower ratio and
higher quality surface mineable coal than that coal currently being mined at
the Samples Mine. As a result, operating costs are expected to decrease in
1998 compared to 1997.
 
  Lower Mining Ratios at Arch of West Virginia Surface Mines. Overburden
ratios and mining costs at Arch of West Virginia's Wylo Mine are expected to
significantly improve in 1998 compared to those expected in 1997 and
overburden ratios and mining costs at Arch of West Virginia's Ruffner Mine
will significantly improve in 1999 compared to those expected in 1997 or 1998.
 
  Increased Archveyor Production at Arch of Wyoming. In 1997, production from
the Archveyor mining system at Arch of Wyoming has been adversely affected by
a fire and the delay of a new, more technologically advanced continuous miner
purchased by the Company. In 1998, the Company believes Archveyor production
will significantly increase compared to 1997, and that as a consequence
operating income will increase.
 
  Installation of a Second Unit at The Band Mill Underground Mine. A second
unit of underground mining equipment was employed at the Band Mill underground
mine at the end of March 1997. Production level and costs are expected to
improve in 1998 when compared to expected 1997 levels due to a full year's
production and increased productivities from deployment of the second
equipment section.
 
  Increased Income From Ark Land Company. The Company intends to utilize its
real estate holdings to significantly increase income in 1998 by disposing of
inactive assets in the ordinary course of business, and increasing third party
rents and royalties.
 
  Lower Interest Cost. As a result of lower borrowing costs and reduced debt
levels, the Company expects its interest cost in 1998 to decrease from 1997
levels.
 
 
                                      90
<PAGE>
 
Changes in Long-Term Coal Supply Contracts.
 
  The Company sells a substantial portion of its coal production pursuant to
long-term coal supply agreements, and as a consequence may experience
fluctuations in operating results in the future, both on an annual and
quarterly basis, as a result of expiration or termination of, or sales price
redeterminations or suspensions of deliveries under, such coal supply
agreements. In addition, price adjustment provisions permit a periodic
increase or decrease in the contract price to reflect increases and decreases
in production costs, changes in specified price indices or items such as taxes
or royalties. Price reopener provisions provide for an upward or downward
adjustment in the contract price based on market factors. The contracts also
typically include stringent minimum and maximum coal quality specifications
and penalty or termination provisions for failure to meet such specifications,
force majeure provisions allowing suspension of performance or termination by
the parties during the duration of certain events beyond the control of the
affected party, and some long-term contracts contain provisions that permit
the utility to terminate the contract if changes in the law make it illegal or
uneconomic for the utility to consume the Company's coal. Imposition of new
nitrous oxide emission limits in connection with Phase II of the Clean Air Act
in 2000 could result in affected utilities seeking to terminate or modify
long-term contracts citing such termination provisions. If the parties to any
long-term contracts with the Company were to modify, suspend or terminate
those contracts, the Company could be adversely affected to the extent that it
is unable to find alternative customers at the same or better level of
profitability.
 
  From time to time, disputes with customers may arise under long-term
contracts relating to, among other things, coal quality, pricing and quantity.
The Company may thus become involved in arbitration and legal proceedings
regarding its long-term contracts. There can be no assurance that the Company
will be able to resolve such disputes in a satisfactory manner.
 
Factors Routinely Affecting Coal Mining Operations
 
  Coal production and sales are subject to a variety of operational, geologic,
transportation, and weather-related factors that routinely cause production to
fluctuate. Operational factors affecting production include anticipated and
unanticipated events. For example, in longwall mines, the longwall equipment
must be dismantled and moved to a new area of the mine whenever the coal
reserves in a segment of the mine--called a panel--are exhausted. The size of
a panel varies, and therefore, the frequency of moves can also vary. At large
surface mining operations major items of scheduled maintenance occasionally
result in down time of stripping or coal loading equipment. Unanticipated
events, such as the unavailability of essential equipment because of breakdown
or unscheduled maintenance, could adversely affect production.
 
  Permits are sometimes delayed by unanticipated regulatory requests or
processing delays. Timely completion of improvement projects and equipment
relocations depends to a large degree on availability of labor and equipment,
timely issuance of permits, and the weather. Sales can be adversely affected
by fluctuations in production and by transportation delays arising from
equipment unavailability and weather-related events, such as flooding.
 
  Geologic conditions within mines are not uniform. Overburden ratios and the
relative composition of overburden at the surface mines vary, as do roof and
floor conditions and seam thickness in underground mines. These variations can
be either positive or negative for production. Weather conditions can also
have a significant effect on the Company's production, depending on the
severity and duration of the condition. For example, extremely cold weather
combined with substantial snow and ice accumulations may impede surface
operations directly and all operations indirectly by making it difficult for
workers and supplies to reach the mine sites.
 
  The results of the third quarter of each year are frequently adversely
affected by lower production and resultant higher costs because of scheduled
vacation periods at the UMWA-represented mines. In addition, costs are
typically somewhat higher during vacation periods because of maintenance
activity carried on during those periods. These adverse effects on the third
quarter may make the third quarter not comparable to the other quarters and
not indicative of results to be expected for the full year.
 
                                      91
<PAGE>
 
  Any one or a combination of changing demand, fluctuating selling prices,
routine operational, geologic, transportation and weather-related factors,
unexpected regulatory changes, unexpected results of litigation, or labor
disruptions may occur at times or in a manner that causes current and
projected results of operations to deviate from projections and expectations.
Decreases in production from anticipated levels usually lead to increased
mining costs and decreased net income.
 
 Results of Operations for the Quarter Ended March 31, 1997
 Compared to the Quarter Ended March 31, 1996
 
  Net income for the first quarter 1997 versus the first quarter 1996
increased $2.8 million or 37.2%, primarily due to increased sales and
production offset, in part, by $3.1 million of costs associated with the
impoundment discharge at Lone Mountain.
 
  Net coal sales for the first quarter of 1997 of $192.3 million increased
$8.4 million or 4.6% as compared to the first quarter of 1996. The increase
resulted from a 3.7% increase in tons sold (7.5 million tons in 1997 compared
to 7.3 million in 1996) while average selling price per ton increased by less
than 1%. The increase in tons sold was attributable to improved market
conditions at Apogee's Arch of Illinois operations, increased productivities
at Apogee's Arch of Kentucky operations and increased brokered sales. These
were partially offset by reduced spot market sales at Apogee's Arch of West
Virginia operations and reduced sales from Cumberland River Coal Company's
Ridgeline Mine, which was idled in the third quarter of 1996. Cost of coal
sales for the first quarter 1997 increased 5.7% to $171.6 million from $162.4
million for first quarter 1996 due primarily to a 6.4% increase in production.
On a per-ton basis, the cost of coal sales increased 1.9% primarily due to
recording $3.1 million of costs associated with the impoundment discharge at
Lone Mountain. See "Information Concerning the Company--Legal Proceedings."
The charges associated with the impoundment primarily attributed to a 7.0%
lower per ton operating margin for the first quarter 1997 compared to the
first quarter 1996 and to lower gross operating margin for the first quarter
1997 of $20.7 compared to the first quarter 1996 of $21.5 million by 3.6%.
 
  Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter 1997
exceeded 1996's first quarter amount by $.3 million, which related to
additional legal and outside services costs.
 
  Amortization of coal supply agreements of $2.1 million for the first quarter
1997 decreased $.7 million or 25.9% from the first quarter 1996 due to the
DP&L contract becoming fully amortized as of December 1996, and a 100,000 ton
reduction in the CG&E contract shipments for the first quarter 1997 versus the
first quarter 1996.
 
  Other expenses principally related to transportation, coal transloading and
other non-mining activities of $2.5 million for the first quarter 1997
compared to $3.7 million for the first quarter 1996. The 33.2% decrease
related primarily to reclamation recosting credits recorded in 1997 resulting
from permit revisions granted by the State of Illinois on various idled
Illinois properties.
 
  Net interest expense of $3.3 million for the first quarter 1997 decreased
30.7% from $4.7 for the first quarter 1996 due to lower debt levels including
lower levels of higher-cost fixed interest rate debt.
 
  Income tax expense for the first quarter 1997 of $2.6 million equaled 1996's
first quarter expense despite an increase in the quarterly pre-tax earnings of
$2.8 million due to recording the current year provision at 20% versus the
prior year's provision which was recorded at 25%. The effective tax rate is
sensitive to changes in profitability because of the effect of percentage
depletion.
 
 Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 1996
 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 1995
 
  Net income for 1996 of $33.0 million exceeded the 1995 net loss of $11.0
million by $44.0 million. The increase in operating income, coupled with the
1995 restructuring charge of $8.3 million and a write down of impaired assets
of $10.2 million, contributed to the increase in net income for 1996 as
compared to 1995.
 
                                      92
<PAGE>
 
  Net coal sales for 1996 of $750.1 million increased $43.3 million or 6.1%
from 1995. The increase resulted from a 10.1% increase in tons sold (29.4
million tons in 1996 compared to 26.7 million tons in 1995), which was offset
by a decrease in average selling prices of 3.7% due primarily to increased
sales of lower realization shipments from the Illinois and Wyoming operations.
The increase in tons sold was attributable to productivity improvements,
improved geologic conditions at Apogee's Arch of Kentucky Mine No. 37,
improved market conditions for Arch of Wyoming and increased brokered sales,
offset in part by the disposition of certain Kentucky operations in October
1995. Despite the increase in tons sold, cost of coal sales for 1996 increased
only 1.5% to $667.9 from $657.7 million for 1995. On a per-ton basis, the cost
of coal sold decreased by 7.8%. The decrease in costs were due to the sale of
certain Kentucky operations, closing of higher cost West Virginia operations
in 1995, a decrease in net periodic postretirement benefit costs of
approximately $4 million, improved productivities at most operations and
improved geologic conditions at Apogee's Arch of Kentucky No. 37 mine and
favorable reclamation recosting adjustments. These positive variances were
partially offset by lower yields and poor geologic conditions at Lone
Mountain. Also, the Company reduced the estimated useful lives of certain
long-lived assets (primarily relates to life of mine assets including
preparation plants and beltlines) for depreciation and amortization purposes.
As a result, an additional $11.3 million of depreciation and amortization
expense was recorded to cost of coal sales. These changes in estimates were
primarily due to increased productivities and reductions in recoverable
reserves. These assets were being depreciated on a straight line basis over
the estimated life of certain mines. As a result of increased production and
adjustments to economically recoverable reserves, the life of the mines were
reduced. Therefore, the asset lives were adjusted to conform to the estimated
recoverable reserves of the respective mines. The additional sales volume,
cost and productivity improvements, partially offset by the lower average
selling price, resulted in the per ton operating margin for 1996 exceeding
that for 1995 by 52% and gross operating margin of $82.2 million exceeding
that for 1995 by $49.1 million, or 67%.
 
  Other revenues consist primarily of transportation, coal transloading, coal
and timber royalties and other non-mining activities. The difference in other
revenues of $25.7 million in 1996 and $30.4 million in 1995 is due primarily
to the gain on sale of timber rights of $8.4 million in 1995.
 
  Selling, general and administrative expenses exceeded 1995 levels due to
recording expenses associated with incentive compensation plans as the Company
had net income as compared to a net loss in 1995.
 
  Amortization of coal supply agreements of $12.6 million decreased $.8
million from 1995 due to the expiration of the AEP-Central Operating contract
in the first quarter of 1996 and the buyout of the Carolina Power & Light
("CP&L") contract on February 28, 1995.
 
  Other expenses principally related to transportation, coal transloading and
other non-mining activities of $18.8 million increased $.8 million due to a
$1.7 million litigation reserve and a $1.4 million charge for the early
redemption of preferred stock of an acquired company, offset, in part, by
lower transportation expenses.
 
  Net interest expense of $17.6 million decreased $5.3 million in 1996 due to
lower debt levels including lower levels of higher-cost fixed interest rate
debt.
 
  Income tax expense increased to $5.5 million from a benefit of $1.9 million
principally due to an increase in the Company's profitability. The effective
tax rate is sensitive to changes in profitability because of the effect of
percentage depletion. The 1995 net tax benefit included a $9.9 million
provision for open tax years.
 
 Results of Operations for the Year Ended December 31, 1995
 Compared to the Year Ended December 31, 1994
 
  The net loss for 1995 of $11.0 million was below 1994's net income of $35.2
million by $46.2 million. A decrease in operating income, coupled with the
termination and buyout of two above market long-term coal supply contracts, a
renegotiated coal supply contract, and charges for restructuring and
impairment of assets, all contributed to 1995's decrease in net income.
 
 
                                      93
<PAGE>
 
  Net coal sales for 1995 of $706.8 million decreased from net sales of $747.5
million for 1994 by 5.4%. The decrease resulted from a 4.3% decrease in tons
sold (26.7 million tons in 1995 compared to 27.9 million tons in 1994), with
average selling prices reflecting a 1.2% decline from the 1994 level. The
decrease in tons sold was primarily attributable to the idling of a deep mine
at the Illinois operations due to the expiration of a long-term sales contract
and a weak market for high-sulfur Illinois Basin product, and the disposition
of certain coal operations in Kentucky in October 1995. These variances were
offset, in part, by better geologic conditions at Apogee's Arch of West
Virginia operations and increased production capacity at the Lone Mountain
operations. The average selling price decreased principally due to the
termination of an above market sales contract, the renegotiation of an above
market coal supply contract resulting in a lower price in exchange for
additional tonnage over an extended term, and the buyout of an above market
coal supply contract on February 28, 1995. Despite the lower sales volume,
cost of coal sales for 1995 of $657.7 million increased only 1.5% due to
increasing both production days and capacity at Arch of West Virginia,
realizing a full year's production from the dragline operation implemented
during 1994 at Samples Mine, increased production capacity at Lone Mountain
and the development of the Pardee surface mine and favorable reclamation
recosting adjustments. These items were offset, in part, by the idling of an
underground mine in Illinois and the disposition of certain Kentucky
operations. On a per-ton basis, the cost of coal sales increased by 6.0% due
to the idling of the lower cost Illinois underground operation and the
development of the Pardee surface mine, offset in part by a full year's
production from the dragline at Samples Mine and the sale and idling of
certain high cost Kentucky and West Virginia operations. The net effect of
lower sales volume, coupled with the per ton sales and cost variances resulted
in a 48.3% decrease in per ton operating margins for 1995 compared to 1994 and
a 50.6% decrease in gross operating margin for 1995 of $49.1 million compared
to 1994 of $99.4 million.
 
  Other revenues of $30.4 million in 1995 were below 1994's other revenues of
$37.8 million due to the sale of substantially all of the assets associated
with the Company's mining equipment supply business in January 1995, partially
offset by the sale of timber rights on certain Appalachian properties.
 
  In 1995, the Company recorded a $10.2 million charge associated with the
impairment of long-term assets and $8.3 million for a restructuring charge
resulting from the elimination of 143 salaried positions at the Company and
its subsidiaries, 52 of whom elected to retire under an enhanced early
retirement program.
 
  Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $2.1 million from
1994 as no provision for incentive compensation plans was recorded due to the
net loss for the year.
 
  Amortization of coal supply contracts in 1995 of $13.4 million decreased
$2.0 million from 1994 due principally to the buyout of a CP&L contract on
February 28, 1995.
 
  Other expenses decreased $17.2 million from 1995 to 1994 due primarily to
the sale of the mining supply business.
 
  Net interest expense of $23.0 million increased $1.4 million despite a
decrease in debt levels. The increase is due to higher weighted average debt
outstanding for the year and a higher effective interest rate on the Company's
revolving credit facility.
 
  Income tax expense decreased from $8.2 million in 1994 to a benefit of $1.9
million in 1995 principally due to a significant reduction in profitability.
The benefit for 1995 was reduced by a provision of $9.9 million for tax
requirements for open years. As noted previously, the effective tax rate is
sensitive to changes in profitability because of the effect of percentage
depletion.
 
 Capital Resources and Liquidity
 
  The Company has historically satisfied its working capital requirements, its
capital expenditures (excluding major acquisitions) and scheduled debt
repayments from its operating cash flow. Cash requirements for the acquisition
of new business operations have generally been funded through a combination of
cash generated from
 
                                      94
<PAGE>
 
operating activities, utilization of the Company's lines of credit and the
issuance of long-term obligations. The Company believes that cash generated
from operations will continue to be sufficient to meet its working capital
requirements, planned or anticipated capital expenditures (excluding major
acquisitions) and scheduled debt repayments. As of December 31, 1996, the
Company could borrow up to $53.0 million under its revolving credit agreement.
 
 Cash Flow From Operations
 
  Cash flow from operations was $131.4, $92.5 and $81.3 million for the years
ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Cash flow from
operations in 1996 exceeded that for 1995 due principally to the increase in
net income. Despite the significant decrease in net income, 1995 cash flow
from operations exceeded 1994 cash flow primarily because 1994 cash flow was
hindered by an increase in the levels of accounts receivables and inventories
after the seven month UMWA strike that ended in December 1993. In addition,
1995 cash flow was favorably affected by reduced coal inventory levels due to
the idling of the Illinois underground mine and certain West Virginia
operations and the sale of certain Kentucky operations.
 
 Capital Expenditures
 
  Excluding the acquisition of the Carbon Basin reserves in 1996 and the
acquisition of Agipcoal and certain other coal reserves in West Virginia in
1994, capital expenditures were $55.4, $82.3 and $96.3 million in 1996, 1995
and 1994, respectively. The Company expended significant capital in upgrading
equipment and capacity at its existing operations and developing new
operations. In 1994, the Company expended $5.2 million to complete the upgrade
to the preparation plant for the No. 37 mine, $9.1 million to upgrade the
truck fleet at the Ruffner Mine, $30.6 million for the expansion of the
Samples Mine, $7.3 million for the development of Lone Mountain and $5.4
million for the development of the Pardee Surface Mine. In addition, the
Company experienced higher than normal equipment replacements in 1994 as a
result of deferring capital expenditures during the seven-month UMWA strike in
1993. In 1995, the Company expended $11.5 million for the development of the
Pardee Surface Mine, $9.4 million to complete the dragline operation at
Samples Mine including a preparation plant and loadout, $22.9 million for the
development and expanded capacity at Lone Mountain and $2.8 million towards
the initial construction of an underground Archveyor(R) system for the Conant
Mine. The capital expenditures for 1996 include $15.1 million for the final
phase of the Lone Mountain development including the installation of a
beltline, slopes and an upgrade to the preparation plant, $5.9 million for the
development of the Band Mill Mine and $4.8 million for construction of the
Archveyor(R) system for the Conant Mine. In addition, on December 19, 1996,
the Company bought out a supplemental payment agreement with Quaker State
related to the AEP-Cardinal sales contract resulting in an additional
investment in the coal sales agreement of $6 million. These expenditures were
financed from cash flow provided from operating activities.
 
 Long-Term Obligations
 
  Revolving Credit Agreement. The Company has an unsecured revolving credit
agreement (the "1994 Revolving Credit Agreement"), which provides for
borrowings of up to $200 million. The agreement expires on January 27, 1999.
At December 31, 1996, the Company had $147 million borrowed under the 1994
Revolving Credit Agreement. As of April 1997, the 1994 Revolving Credit
Agreement required a commitment fee of 0.10% per annum to be paid quarterly on
the average daily unused portion of the lending commitment and a facility fee
of 0.15% per annum on the $200 million capacity. The commitment and facility
fees fluctuate based on the Company's ratio of debt to equity. Interest on
borrowings under the 1994 Revolving Credit Agreement is paid in arrears based
on a money market rate determined by a competitive bid process, the PNC Bank
base rate or a rate based on LIBOR plus an applicable margin, as the Company
may elect. The 1994 Revolving Credit Agreement contains covenants which limit
indebtedness, investments, sales of assets, dividends and other actions and
also requires maintenance of certain financial ratios.
 
  On May 20, 1997, the Company entered into a preliminary agreement for a new
revolving credit agreement to become effective at the Effective Time. The new
revolving credit agreement will be for a term of five years and provide for
borrowings of up to $500 million. The rate of interest on the borrowings under
this agreement will be, at the Company's option, a money market rate
determined by a competitive bid process, the PNC Bank
 
                                      95
<PAGE>
 
base rate and a rate based on LIBOR. The provisions of the revolving credit
agreement will require a facility fee on the amount of the commitment. The
rate used to compute the facility fee will be redetermined quarterly based on
the Company's ratio of debt to equity and may vary from 0.07% to 0.20% per
annum.
 
  Senior Notes. The Company has two senior notes issued under separate note
agreements dated June 24, 1987 and January 29, 1993. The note dated June 24,
1987 has a final payment due of $8 million on June 1, 1997. This note has an
interest rate of 9.85%. The January 29, 1993 note is due January 31, 2003,
with scheduled principal payments of approximately $7.1 million on January 31,
1997 and each January 31 thereafter until final maturity on January 31, 2003.
This note has a fixed interest rate of 7.79% and is payable in semi-annual
installments. The Company may elect to prepay the debt in increments of $5
million, plus a yield maintenance premium. The yield maintenance premium is
equal to the present value of the sum of the difference between the Treasury
yield for obligations with a term equal to the average remaining term of the
senior notes at the time of prepayment and 7.79%.
 
  The senior note agreements contain various covenants which limit
indebtedness, investments, sales of assets, dividends and other actions and
also require maintenance of certain financial ratios.
 
  Other Debt Agreements. The Company has other debt agreements entered into in
connection with acquisitions of coal properties with fixed interest rates
ranging from 7.15% to 9% which are collateralized by acquired properties. The
total outstanding balance of such indebtedness as of December 31, 1996 was
$7.7 million, including one agreement with an outstanding balance of $7
million. This note has a fixed interest rate of 7.15% and is payable in annual
installments (including principal and interest) of approximately $.8 million
through June 30, 2009.
 
  On October 4, 1996, the Company made a lump sum payment of $15.3 million in
exchange for the early redemption of preferred stock of an acquired company.
On December 19, 1996, the Company prepaid indebtedness of $18.3 million and
interest of $.5 million. These payments were made from cash flow provided from
operating activities.
 
 Effects of Inflation and Changing Prices
 
  Certain of the Company's long-term coal supply contracts include provisions
which allow the Company to bill its customers for inflationary cost increases
and increases in operating costs resulting from new or revised governmental
laws and regulations. For the majority of other sales, in periods of
significant inflation, income from operations may be adversely affected if
inflationary price increases or governmental related price increases are not
recognized by the market in the form of higher selling prices. Due to the
capital-intensive nature of the Company's activities, inflation may also have
a significant impact on the development or acquisition of mining operations,
or the future costs of final mine reclamation and the satisfaction of other
long-term liabilities, such as health care or pneumoconiosis (black lung)
benefits.
 
 Governmental and Environmental Matters
 
  The Company operates in an industry that is subject to extensive regulation
over matters such as employee health and safety, discharge of materials into
the environment, permitting and licensing arrangements, mining methods,
reclamation and reforestation of areas of disturbance and various other
matters. Compliance with these complex rules and regulations is constantly
being monitored as part of the Company's ongoing business operations.
 
 Income Tax Matters
 
  The Company's federal income tax returns for the years 1992 through 1994 are
currently under review by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). The IRS has
completed its examinations of the Company's federal income tax returns for the
years ended 1987, 1988 and 1989 and has proposed adjustments which relate
principally to business acquisitions, asset dispositions, corporate
reorganizations, percentage depletion and investment tax credits during those
years. As a result, the IRS has proposed additional taxes aggregating $50
 
                                      96
<PAGE>
 
million plus interest to the date of payment. After an analysis of the
proposed adjustments by management with tax counsel, the Company paid $8.0
million in 1994 to the IRS and filed a protest with the IRS contesting certain
adjustments. Management believes that the Company has adequately provided for
any income taxes and related interest which may ultimately be paid on
contested issues.
 
  On April 30, 1997, the Company made an additional $8 million deposit to the
IRS which the Company's federal income tax returns for the tax years 1987-
1989. The payment was charged against a previously established reserve.
 
  During 1996, the IRS completed its examinations of the Company's federal
income tax returns for years 1990 and 1991 and the Company and the IRS agreed
to a settlement of various tax issues for a payment of $6.5 million, including
interest. Part of the settlement related to the acquisition from the Company's
stockholders of certain Illinois coal reserves for $55.2 million. Their
acquisition was valued for accounting purposes at the stockholders' net book
value of $22.8 million with the $32.4 million difference between the net book
value and fair market value less $12.3 million of deferred tax benefits being
recorded as a reduction to stockholders' equity.
 
  The Company is required to record a valuation allowance when it is "more
likely than not" that some portion or all of its deferred tax asset will not
be realized. It is management's belief that the Company's net deferred income
tax asset will "more likely than not" be realized by generating sufficient
taxable income in the future.
                            EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
  The following table is a summary of compensation information for each of the
last three years for the Chief Executive Officer and each of the other four
most highly compensated individuals, based upon annual salary and bonus for
the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, who will be executive officers of the
Company after the Effective Time.
 
                          SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
                                                                 --------------------------------------------
                                     ANNUAL COMPENSATION                 AWARDS         PAYOUTS
                             ----------------------------------- ---------------------- -------
                                                                 RESTRICTED                        ALL OTHER
                                                    OTHER ANNUAL   STOCK                 LTIP       COMPEN-
                                  SALARY  BONUS (1) COMPENSATION  AWARD(S)  OPTIONS (2) PAYOUTS    SATION (5)
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION  YEAR   ($)      ($)         $          (#)         (#)       ($)         ($)
- ---------------------------  ---- ------- --------- ------------ ---------- ----------- -------    ----------
<S>                          <C>  <C>     <C>       <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
Steven F. Leer               1996 309,731  310,000      -0-         -0-          -0-       -0-       18,600
 President & CEO             1995 299,421      -0-      -0-         -0-          -0-       -0-        9,000
                             1994 278,136  278,500      -0-         -0-          -0-       -0-        9,000
Robert W. Shanks             1996 175,727  123,200      -0-         -0-          -0-       -0-       10,560
 Vice President,             1995 155,168      -0-      -0-         -0-          -0-       -0-        9,000
  Operations
                             1994 139,706   64,212      -0-         -0-          -0-       -0-        8,382
Jeffry N. Quinn              1996 171,656  120,540      -0-         -0-          -0-       -0-       10,332
 Sr. Vice President,         1995 151,784      -0-      -0-         -0-          -0-       -0-        9,000
 Law & HR, Secretary         1994 143,952  100,800      -0-         -0-          -0-       -0-        8,631
 & General Counsel
David B. Peugh               1996 145,091  101,885      -0-         -0-          -0-       -0-        8,705
 Vice-President--            1995 128,271      -0-      -0-         -0-          -0-       -0-        7,696
 Business Development        1994 119,867   60,000      -0-         -0-          -0-       -0-        7,192
Kenneth G. Woodring          1996 237,500      -0-      -0-         -0-       15,000     2,577(3)     6,300
 Exec. Vice President--      1995 237,019   86,763      -0-         -0-        7,500       -0-        6,290
 Mining Operations           1994 224,423   64,128      -0-         -0-        7,500    56,783(4)     9,426
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) For Mr. Woodring, this amount represents the amount of money earned under
    the Ashland Coal, Inc. Incentive Compensation Program for Key Employees
    with respect to the subject year and paid in the immediately succeeding
    year. For Messrs. Leer, Shanks, Quinn and Peugh, these amounts represent
    amounts awarded under the Company Incentive Compensation Plan with respect
    to the subject year and paid in the immediately succeeding year.
 
                                      97
<PAGE>
 
(2) Represents options granted to Mr. Woodring under the Ashland Coal, Inc.
    1995 Stock Incentive Plan.
 
(3) This amount represents the amount paid to Mr. Woodring in 1997 for the
    four years of the 1993-1996 plan cycle under the Ashland Coal, Inc.
    Performance Unit Plan.
 
(4) This amount represents the amount paid to Mr. Woodring in 1995 for the
    four years of the 1991-1994 plan cycle under the Ashland Coal, Inc.
    Performance Unit Plan.
 
(5) In the case of Mr. Woodring, this amount represents contributions by
    Ashland Coal to the named executive's account under the Ashland Coal, Inc.
    Employee Thrift Plan. In the case of Messrs. Leer, Shanks, Quinn and
    Peugh, these amounts represent contributions by the Company to the named
    executive's account under the Company Thrift Plan and for 1996 under the
    Company ERISA Forfeiture Plan.
 
 Company Pension Plan
 
  The Company Pension Plan ("Plan") is a qualified defined benefit plan which
covers full-time salaried and full-time non-union hourly employees, including
Messrs. Leer, Shanks, Quinn and Peugh. Benefits under the Plan are determined
based on years of service, and the average covered remuneration for the five
highest consecutive years of service. To the extent that benefits under the
Plan exceed certain limits established by the Code, they are payable under a
non-qualified pension plan. The following table shows the estimated annual
benefits payable to eligible employees under the qualified and non-qualified
plans, assuming continued employment until normal retirement age.
 
                              PENSION PLAN TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     YEARS OF SERVICE
                 --------------------------------------------------------------------
REMUNERATION        15             20             25             30             35
- ------------     --------       --------       --------       --------       --------
<S>              <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
  $125,000       $ 36,861       $ 49,149       $ 61,436       $ 73,724       $ 86,011
  $150,000         45,299         60,399         75,499         90,589        105,699
  $175,000         53,737         71,649         89,561        107,474        125,386
  $200,000         62,174         82,899        103,624        124,349        145,074
  $225,000         70,612         94,149        117,688        141,224        164,761
  $250,000         79,049        105,399        131,749        158,099        184,449
  $300,000         95,924        127,899        159,874        191,849        223,824
  $400,000        129,674        172,899        216,124        259,349        302,574
  $450,000        146,549        195,399        244,249        293,099        341,949
  $500,000        163,424        217,899        272,374        326,849        381,324
</TABLE>
 
  Compensation covered under the Plan includes annual salary, bonuses paid
pursuant to the Company Incentive Compensation Plan, if any, and amounts
contributed under the Company Thrift Plan. The stated renumeration is the
aggregate compensation during the five consecutive plan years preceding and
including the plan year which gives rise to the highest aggregate, divided by
the employee's years and fractions thereof as an employee during such five
year period. Under the plan this calculation is done both on a paid
compensation and earned compensation basis and renumeration used for benefit
calculation is the lesser of the two. Benefits are computed based on a Life
Only annuity basis without deduction for social security or other amounts.
 
  As of December 31, 1996, Messrs. Leer, Shanks, Quinn and Peugh had credited
service in the Plan of 5, 20, 11 and 3 years, respectively.
 
 Other Information Concerning Ashland Coal Executive Officers
 
  Mr. Woodring is currently an executive officer of Ashland Coal and at the
Effective Time will become an executive officer of the Company. In reliance on
Item 18(b) of Form S-4, certain other executive compensation information with
respect to Mr. Woodring contained in Ashland Coal's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 is incorporated by reference
herein.
 
 
                                      98
<PAGE>
 
 Employment Agreements and Other Arrangements
 
  Mr. Leer is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Leer
entered into an employment agreement with the Company dated March 1, 1992. The
agreement is automatically renewed from year to year unless terminated sixty
days in advance of the end of each year. The agreement provides for an annual
base salary of not less than $250,000 and requires the Company to maintain an
incentive compensation plan under which Mr. Leer is entitled to receive annual
bonuses of up to 100% of his base salary, the amount of the bonus actually
received to be determined on the basis of the achievement by the Company of
certain return on equity goals as established by the Board of Directors on an
annual basis. The agreement also provides that if Mr. Leer's employment is
terminated prior to his fully vesting in the Company's Thrift Plan, he shall
be paid such additional cash compensation as necessary to compensate him for
the economic effect of not vesting. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Mr. Leer
is to be elected President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. It is
anticipated that his current employment agreement will be terminated by mutual
consent after the Effective Time of the Merger and superseded by a new
employment agreement.
 
  Mr. Woodring and seventeen Ashland Coal executive officers and other
employees have entered Retention/ Severance Agreements with Ashland
Coal. Messrs. Shanks, Quinn and Peugh and fifteen executive officers and other
employees of the Company have entered similar agreements with the Company.
Pursuant to the Retention/Severance Agreements, if the employment of the
covered individuals is terminated during the term of the agreements, the
covered individuals will receive severance benefits of 24 months base pay,
continuation of medical benefits for 24 months, and acceleration of the
vesting of other incentives, including stock options. Pursuant to the Merger
Agreement, as of the Effective Time the Company has agreed to assume the
obligations of Ashland Coal under the Retention/Severance Agreements with its
executive officers and other employees.
 
                                      99
<PAGE>
 
                          THE COMPANY INCENTIVE PLAN
 
  On April 1, 1997 and on April 4, 1997, the Company's Board of Directors and
the stockholders, respectively, adopted and approved the Company Incentive
Plan ("Incentive Plan") to be effective at the Effective Time. The purpose of
the Company Incentive Plan is to provide a flexible mechanism to provide
incentives to, and to encourage ownership of the Company Common Stock by,
officers and other selected key management employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries. An aggregate of 6,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock have
been reserved for issuance pursuant to the Company Incentive Plan, including
694,035 shares reserved for issuance in substitution for existing Ashland Coal
options.
 
  The Board of Directors of the Company believes that the successful
implementation of the Company's business strategy will depend upon attracting
and retaining able executives, managers and other key employees. The Board
also believes that the ability to grant Awards (as hereinafter defined) under
the Company Incentive Plan will strengthen the ability of the Company to
attract and retain capable personnel. The Company Incentive Plan provides that
a committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company ("Committee")
will have the flexibility to grant stock options, stock appreciation rights,
restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock, performance
units, merit awards, phantom stock awards and rights to acquire stock through
purchase under a stock purchase program (the "Awards").
 
  A copy of the Company Incentive Plan is attached as Annex E to the Merger
Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this Prospectus/Proxy Statement as
Appendix A. The following summary of the terms of the Company Incentive Plan
is qualified in its entirety by reference to all of the provisions thereof.
 
ADMINISTRATION
 
  The Company Incentive Plan will be administered by the Committee. Subject to
the express provisions of the Company Incentive Plan, the Committee will have
plenary authority, in its discretion, to interpret the Company Incentive Plan,
establish rules and regulations for its operation, select employees of the
Company and its subsidiaries to receive Awards and determine the form and
amount and other terms and conditions of such Awards.
 
ELIGIBILITY
 
  Salaried officers of the Company and other employees of the Company and its
subsidiaries (the "Employees") are eligible to be selected to participate in
the Company Incentive Plan ("Participants"). The selection of participants
from among the Employees is within the discretion of the Committee. The
Company currently has approximately 2,100 Employees and, at the Effective
Time, it is estimated the Company will have approximately 3,656 Employees.
 
AMENDMENT OF PLAN
 
  The Company's Board of Directors may suspend, terminate, modify or amend the
Company Incentive Plan at any time, with or without prior notice; provided,
however, that it may not, without stockholder approval, adopt any amendment
which would (a) increase the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which
may be issued under the Company Incentive Plan, (b) materially increase the
benefits accruing to Participants in the Company Incentive Plan or (c)
materially modify the eligibility requirements for participation in the
Company Incentive Plan, except for adjustments to reflect stock splits or
combinations, reorganizations or other capital adjustments. No suspension,
termination, modification or amendment may terminate an outstanding Award or
materially adversely affect a Participant's rights under an outstanding Award
without the Participant's consent.
 
AVAILABLE SHARES
 
  Six million shares of Company Common Stock are available for grant under the
Company Incentive Plan. Shares of Company Common Stock related to Awards which
terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation or
 
                                      100
<PAGE>
 
otherwise without the issuance of shares, or are settled in cash in lieu of
Company Common Stock, and shares used to pay an option exercise price will
thereafter again be available for grant under the Company Incentive Plan.
 
LIMITATION ON AWARDS
 
  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which any
Participant may receive Awards of stock options or stock appreciation rights
during any calendar year is 300,000; the maximum number of shares of Common
Stock with respect to which any Participant may receive Awards of restricted
stock during any calendar year is 100,000; the maximum number of shares of
Common Stock with respect to which any Participant may receive Merit Awards
during any calendar year is 100,000; and the maximum number of shares of
Common Stock with respect to which any Participant may receive other Awards
during any calendar year is 100,000.
 
STOCK OPTIONS
 
  Under the Company Incentive Plan, the Committee may grant Awards in the form
of incentive and non-qualified stock options to purchase shares of Company
Common Stock. The Committee will determine the number of shares subject to
each option, the manner and time of the option's exercise and the exercise
price per share of stock subject to the option. The exercise price of a stock
option may not be less than the fair market value of the Company Common Stock
on the date of the grant, except as expressly provided in the Company
Incentive Plan with respect to substitution of Awards for similar awards upon
the occurrence of transactions like the Merger. Upon exercise, the option
price may, at the discretion of the Committee, be paid by a Participant in
cash, shares of Company Common Stock, a combination thereof, or such cashless
exercise arrangement as the Committee may deem appropriate. Any stock option
granted in the form of an incentive stock option must satisfy the applicable
requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
 
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
 
  The Company Incentive Plan authorizes the Committee to grant Stock
Appreciation Rights ("SARs") either in tandem with a stock option or
independent of a stock option. A SAR is a right to receive a payment equal to
the appreciation in market value of a stated number of shares of Company
Common Stock from the SAR's exercise price to the market value on the date of
its exercise. The Committee will determine the number of shares subject to the
Award, the manner and time of a SAR exercise and the exercise price, which
shall not be less than the fair market value of a share of Company Common
Stock, except as expressly provided in the Company Incentive Plan with respect
to substitution of Awards for similar awards upon the occurrence of
transactions like the Merger.
 
  A tandem SAR may be granted either at the time of the grant of the related
stock option or at any time thereafter during the term of the stock option. A
tandem SAR shall be exercisable to the extent its related stock option is
exercisable, and the exercise price of such a SAR shall be the same as the
option price under its related stock option. Upon the exercise of a stock
option as to some or all of the shares covered by the Award, the related
tandem SAR shall be canceled automatically to the extent of the number of
shares covered by the stock option exercise.
 
STOCK AWARDS
 
  The Company Incentive Plan authorizes the Committee to grant Awards in the
form of shares of restricted stock or restricted stock units. Such Awards will
be subject to such terms, conditions, restrictions or limitations, if any, as
the Committee deems appropriate including, but not by way of limitation,
restrictions on transferability and continued employment. The Company
Incentive Plan gives the Committee the discretion to accelerate the delivery
of a stock Award.
 
                                      101
<PAGE>
 
PERFORMANCE SHARES
 
  The Company Incentive Plan allows for the grant of "Performance Shares." For
purposes of the Company Incentive Plan, Performance Shares are restricted
shares of Company Common Stock which are awarded subject to attainment of
certain performance goals over a period to be determined by the Committee.
 
PERFORMANCE UNITS
 
  Awards may also be granted in the form of performance units which are units
valued by reference to shares of Company Common Stock. Performance units are
similar to performance shares in that they are awarded contingent upon the
attainment of certain performance goals over a fixed period. The length of the
period, the performance objectives to be achieved during the period, and the
measure of whether and to what degree the objectives have been achieved, will
be determined by the Committee.
 
PERFORMANCE GOALS
 
  If the Committee desires payment under an Award (other than under a stock
option or SAR granted at 100% or more of the fair market value of the shares
of Company Common Stock of the Company as of the date of grant) to qualify as
"performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code, the
performance goals which must be achieved in order for payment to be made shall
be based upon one or more of the following business criteria: net income;
earnings per share; earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT); earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization (EBITDA); debt
reduction, safety, return on investment, operating income, operating ratio,
cash flow, return on assets, stockholders' return, revenue, return on equity,
economic value added ("EVA(R)"), operating costs, sales or compliance with
Company policies.
 
CHANGE IN CONTROL
 
  In the event of a "change in control" (as defined in the Company Incentive
Plan), (i) all of the terms, conditions, restrictions and limitations in
effect on any of an Employee's outstanding Awards would immediately lapse and
(ii) all of the Employee's outstanding Awards would automatically become 100%
vested.
 
  The Company Incentive Plan defines a "change in control" as a change in
control of the Company of a nature that would be required to be reported
(assuming such event has not been "previously reported") in response to Item
1(a) of a Current Report on Form 8-K, as in effect on the date the Company
Incentive Plan is adopted, pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and as in effect on the date the plan was
approved by the Company's shareholders ("Exchange Act"); provided, that
without limitation, a "change in control" shall be deemed to have occurred (1)
upon the approval of the Board of Directors (or if approval of the Board is
not required as a matter of law, the shareholders of the Company) of (A) any
consolidation or merger of the Company in which the Company is not the
continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to which shares of Company
Common Stock would be converted into cash, securities or other property, other
than a merger in which the holders of Company Common Stock immediately prior
to the merger will have more than 50% of the ownership of common stock of the
surviving corporation immediately after the merger, (B) any sale, lease,
exchange or transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions)
of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (C) adoption of
any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or (2)
when any "person" (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), other
than a "Significant Stockholder" (defined as any shareholder of the Company
who, immediately prior to the Effective Date owned more than 5% of the Company
Common Stock) or any subsidiary or employee benefit plan or trust maintained
by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, becomes the "beneficial owner" (as
defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more
than 20% of the Company Common Stock outstanding at such time, without prior
approval of the Board of Directors.
 
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
 
  The following is a summary of the federal income tax consequences of Awards
granted under the Company Incentive Plan, based on current income tax laws,
regulations and rulings.
 
                                      102
<PAGE>
 
 Incentive Stock Options
 
  Subject to the effect of the Alternative Minimum Tax, discussed below, an
optionee does not recognize income on the grant of an Incentive Stock Option.
If an optionee exercises an Incentive Stock Option in accordance with the
terms of the option and does not dispose of the shares acquired within two
years from the date of the grant of the option nor within one year from the
date of exercise, the optionee will not realize any income by reason of the
exercise, and the Company will be allowed no deduction by reason of the grant
or exercise. The optionee's basis in the shares acquired upon exercise will be
the amount paid upon exercise. (See the discussion below for the tax
consequences of the exercise of an option with stock already owned by the
optionee.) Provided the optionee holds the shares as a capital asset at the
time of sale or other disposition of the shares, the gain or loss, if any,
recognized on the sale or other disposition will be capital gain or loss. The
amount of the optionee's gain or loss will be the difference between the
amount realized on the disposition of the shares and the basis in the shares.
 
  If an optionee disposes of the shares within two years from the date of
grant of the option or within one year from the date of exercise ("Early
Disposition"), the optionee will realize ordinary income at the time of such
Early Disposition which will equal the excess, if any, of the lesser of (i)
the amount realized on the Early Disposition, or (ii) the fair market value of
the shares on the date of exercise, over the optionee's basis is in the
shares. The Company will be entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to such
income. The excess, if any, of the amount realized on the Early Disposition of
such shares over the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise
will be long-term or short-term capital gain, depending upon the holding
period of the shares, provided the optionee holds the shares as a capital
asset at the time of Early Disposition. If an optionee disposes of such shares
for less than his basis in the shares, the difference between the amount
realized and his basis will be a long-term or short-term capital loss,
depending upon the holding period of the shares, provided the optionee holds
the shares as a capital asset at the time of disposition.
 
  The excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time the Incentive
Stock Option is exercised over the exercise price for the shares is an item of
adjustment for purposes of the alternative minimum tax ("Stock Option
Preference").
 
 Non-Qualified Stock Options
 
  Non-Qualified Stock Options do not qualify for the special tax treatment
accorded to Incentive Stock Options under the Code. Although an optionee does
not recognize income at the time of the grant of the option, the optionee
recognizes ordinary income upon the exercise of a Non-Qualified Option in an
amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the stock on
the date of exercise of the option and the amount of cash paid for the stock.
 
  As a result of the optionee's exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, the
Company will be entitled to deduct as compensation an amount equal to the
amount included in the optionee's gross income. The Company's deduction will
be taken in the Company's taxable year in which the option is exercised.
 
  The excess of the fair market value of the stock on the date of exercise of
a Non-Qualified Stock Option over the exercise price is not a Stock Option
Preference.
 
 Stock Appreciation Rights
 
  Recipients of SARs do not recognize income upon the grant of such rights.
When a participant elects to receive payment of a SAR, the participant
recognizes ordinary income in an amount equal to the cash and fair market
value of shares of Company Common Stock received, and the Company is entitled
to a deduction equal to such amount.
 
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 Payment in Shares
 
  If the optionee exercises an option and surrenders stock already owned by
the optionee ("Old Shares"), the following rules apply:
 
    1. To the extent the number of shares acquired ("New Shares") exceeds the
  number of Old Shares exchanged, the optionee will recognize ordinary income
  on the receipt of such additional shares (provided the option is not an
  Incentive Stock Option) in an amount equal to the fair market value of such
  additional shares less any cash paid for them and the Company will be
  entitled to a deduction in an amount equal to such income. The basis of
  such additional shares will be equal to the fair market value of such
  shares (or, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the cash, if any,
  paid for the additional shares) on the date of exercise and the holding
  period for such additional shares will commence on the date the option is
  exercised.
 
    2. Except as provided below, to the extent the number of New Shares
  acquired does not exceed the number of Old Shares exchanged, no gain or
  loss will be recognized on such exchange, the basis of the New Shares
  received will be equal to the basis of the Old Shares surrendered, and the
  holding period of the New Shares received will include the holding period
  of the Old Shares surrendered. However, under proposed regulations
  promulgated by the U.S. Department of Treasury, if the optionee exercises
  an Incentive Stock Option by surrendering Old Shares, the holding period
  for the New Shares will begin on the date the New Shares are transferred to
  the optionee for purposes of determining whether there is an Early
  Disposition of the New Shares and, if the optionee makes an Early
  Disposition of the New Shares, the optionee will be deemed to have disposed
  of the New Shares with the lowest basis first. If the optionee exercises an
  Incentive Stock Option by surrendering Old Shares which were acquired
  through the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option or an option granted
  under an employee stock purchase plan, and if the surrender occurs prior to
  the expiration of the holding period applicable to the type of option under
  which the Old Shares were acquired, the surrender will be deemed to be an
  Early Disposition of the Old Shares. The federal income tax consequences of
  an Early Disposition are discussed above.
 
    3. If the Old Shares surrendered were acquired by the optionee by
  exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, or an option granted under an
  employee stock purchase plan, then, except as provided in 2 above, the
  exchange will not constitute an Early Disposition of the Old Shares.
 
    4. Based upon prior rulings of the Internal Revenue Service in analogous
  areas, it is believed that if an optionee exercises an Incentive Stock
  Option and surrenders Old Shares and disposes of the New Shares received
  upon exercise within two years from the date of the grant of the option or
  within one year from the date of exercise, the following tax consequences
  would result:
 
      (i) To the extent the number of New Shares received upon exercise do
    not exceed the number of Old Shares surrendered, the disposition of the
    New Shares will not constitute an Early Disposition (unless the
    disposition is a surrender of the New Shares in the exercise of an
    Incentive Stock Option).
 
      (ii) The disposition of the New Shares will constitute an Early
    Disposition to the extent the number of New Shares received upon
    exercise and disposed of exceeds the number of Old Shares surrendered.
 
 Restricted Stock
 
  Grantees of Restricted Stock do not recognize income at the time of the
grant of such stock. However, when shares of Restricted Stock become free from
any restrictions, grantees recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the
fair market value of the stock on the date all restrictions are satisfied,
less, in the case of Restricted Stock, the amount paid for the stock.
Alternatively, the grantee of Restricted Stock may elect to recognize income
upon the grant of the stock and not at the time the restrictions lapse, in
which case the amount of income recognized will be the fair market value of
the stock on the date of grant. The Company will be entitled to deduct as
compensation the amount includible in the grantee's income in its taxable year
in which the grantee recognizes the income.
 
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 Taxation of Preference Items
 
  Section 55 of the Code imposes an Alternative Minimum Tax equal to the
excess, if any, of (i) 26% of the optionee's "alternative minimum taxable
income" up to $175,000 ($87,500 in the case of married taxpayers filing
separately) and 28% of "alternative minimum taxable" income in excess of
$175,000 ($87,500 in the case of married taxpayers filing separately) over
(ii) his or her "regular" federal income tax. Alternative minimum taxable
income is determined by adding the optionee's Stock Option Preference and any
other items of tax preference to the optionee's adjusted gross income and then
subtracting certain allowable deductions and an exemption amount. The
exemption amount is $33,750 for single taxpayers, $45,000 for married
taxpayers filing jointly and $22,500 for married taxpayers filing separately.
However, these exemption amounts are phased out beginning at certain levels of
alternative minimum taxable income.
 
 Deductibility of Compensation in Excess of $1 Million Per Year
 
  Section 162(m) of the Code precludes a public corporation from deducting
compensation in excess of $1 million per year for its chief executive officer
and any of its four other highest paid executive officers. However, subject to
approval of the Plan by the Company's stockholders, certain performance-based
compensation is exempt from this deduction limit. Stock options and or SAR's
will qualify for this exemption. In addition, certain other Awards granted
under the Company Incentive Plan will also qualify while others may not.
 
  The foregoing statement is only a summary of the federal income tax
consequences of certain Awards which may be granted under the Company
Incentive Plan and is based on the Company's understanding of present federal
tax laws and regulations.
 
OTHER TERMS OF AWARDS
 
  Awards may be paid in cash, Company Common Stock, a combination of cash and
Company Common Stock or any other form of property, as the Committee shall
determine. If an Award is granted in the form of a stock award, stock option,
or performance share, or in the form of any other stock-based grant, the
Committee may include as part of such Award an entitlement to receive
dividends or dividend equivalents. At the discretion of the Committee, payment
of a stock award, performance share, performance unit, dividend, or dividend
equivalent may be deferred by a Participant.
 
  The Company Incentive Plan provides that if employment is terminated for
cause or by the employee without the written consent and approval of the
Company, all unvested Awards shall be forfeited and exercisable options shall
be forfeited after 90 days from the date of termination if not exercised.
 
  If employment is terminated by reason of death, disability or retirement,
all options and stock appreciation rights outstanding immediately prior to the
date of termination shall immediately become exercisable and shall be
exercisable until one year and thereafter shall be forfeited if not exercised,
and all restrictions on any Awards outstanding immediately prior to the date
of termination shall immediately lapse.
 
  If employment is terminated for any reason other than cause, or by the
employee with the written consent and approval of the Company, the Restricted
Period shall lapse on a proportion of any Awards outstanding immediately prior
to such termination (except that, to the extent that an Award of restricted
stock, restricted stock units, performance units, performance stock and
phantom stock is subject to a performance period), such proportion of the
Award shall remain subject to the same terms and conditions for vesting as
were in effect prior to the date of termination and shall be determined at the
end of the performance period. The proportion of an Award upon which the
restricted period shall lapse shall be a fraction, the denominator of which is
the total number of months of any restricted period applicable to an Award and
the numerator of which is the number of months of such restricted period which
elapsed prior to the date of termination.
 
  Options and stock appreciation rights which are or become exercisable by
reason of employment being terminated by the Company for reasons other than
cause or by the employee with the consent and approval of
 
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<PAGE>
 
the Company, shall be exercisable until 120 days from the termination date and
shall thereafter be forfeited if not exercised.
 
  Upon the grant of any Award, the Committee may, by way of an Award Agreement
or otherwise, establish such other terms, conditions, restrictions and
limitations governing the grant of such Award as are not inconsistent with the
Company Incentive Plan.
 
  No Awards have been made to date under the Company Incentive Plan. Except as
provided in the Merger Agreement, the officers and employees of the Company
who may participate in the Company Incentive Plan and the amount of Awards
will be determined by the Committee in its discretion, and it is not possible
to state the names or positions of, or the number of shares of Common Stock
that may be granted to, the Company's officers and key employees. Under the
terms of the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time participants in the
Ashland Coal Stock Plans will receive, in substitution for outstanding options
under the Ashland Coal Stock Plans, options under the Company Incentive Plan.
 
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<PAGE>
 
                       COMPARISON OF STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS
 
  Upon consummation of the Merger, the stockholders of Ashland Coal will
become stockholders of the Company. Differences between the Ashland Coal
Certificate and Ashland Coal Bylaws, and the Company Certificate and the
Company Bylaws will result in changes in the rights of the stockholders of
Ashland Coal when they become stockholders of the Company. The following is a
description of certain of such differences. Descriptions of provisions of the
Company Certificate or the Company Bylaws are qualified in their entirety by
reference to the full texts thereof attached as Annexes A and B to the Merger
Agreement, respectively. A copy of the Merger Agreement is attached hereto as
Appendix A.
 
SUPERMAJORITY VOTING PROVISIONS
 
  Article Fourth of the Ashland Coal Certificate provides that holders of the
outstanding shares of Ashland Coal Preferred Stock, voting together as a
class, shall have the right to elect one Director of Ashland Coal for every 63
shares of Preferred Stock held by such holders, provided that the maximum
number of Directors to be elected by the holders of such Preferred Stock shall
be three. The holders of the outstanding shares of Ashland Coal Common Stock,
voting as a single class and without the votes of the holders of Ashland Coal
Preferred Stock, shall have the right to elect the number of Directors as
fixed by the Ashland Coal Board of Directors pursuant to the Ashland Coal
Bylaws less the number of Directors which the holders of the Ashland Coal
Preferred Stock shall have the right to elect. Article I of the Ashland Coal
Bylaws provides that each holder of Ashland Coal Common Stock shall be
entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock having voting power.
 
  The Company Certificate provides that each holder of shares of Company
Common Stock shall be entitled to one vote for each share of Common Stock
having voting power and beneficially owned by such holder. Article Fourth of
the Company Certificate provides that Company Preferred Stock may be issued by
the Company Board of Directors, provided that the holders of Preferred Stock
will not be entitled to more than the lesser of (a) one vote per $100 of
liquidation value or (b) one vote per share, when voting as a class with the
holders of shares of other capital stock. Any holders of Preferred Stock will
not be entitled to vote on any matter separately as a class, except to the
extent required by law or as specified with respect to (x) any amendment or
alteration of the Company Certificate that would adversely affect the powers,
preferences or special rights of the Preferred Stock or (y) the failure of the
Company to pay dividends on any series of Preferred Stock for any six
quarterly dividend payment periods, whether or not consecutive.
 
  Article Fifth of the Company Certificate requires the affirmative vote of
not less than two-thirds of the members of the entire Board of Directors to
change the number of directors of the Company.
 
  Article Sixth of the Ashland Coal Certificate provides that Ashland Coal
shall not amend the Ashland Coal Certificate or Ashland Coal Bylaws, nor shall
it enter into any merger or consolidation, or sell, lease or transfer all or
substantially all of its property and assets, or dissolve and wind up its
affairs, except upon the approval of 85% of the outstanding shares of capital
stock of Ashland Coal voting thereon, voting as one class. Article Sixth of
the Ashland Coal Certificate also prohibits Ashland Coal from amending,
altering or repealing the Ashland Coal Certificate as it relates to the
election and removal of any directors to be elected by the holders of Ashland
Coal Class B Preferred Stock and Ashland Coal Class C Preferred Stock by
cumulative voting except upon the approval of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Ashland Coal Class B Preferred Stock and Ashland Coal
Class C Preferred Stock voting as separate classes. Article XIII of the
Ashland Coal Bylaws requires the vote of not less than 76% of the members of
the Board of Directors of Ashland Coal before the Ashland Coal Bylaws may be
altered or repealed.
 
  Article Sixth of the Company Certificate requires the affirmative vote of
not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock
voting thereon before the Company may adopt an agreement or plan of merger or
consolidation, authorize the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially
all of the property and assets of the Company, authorize the dissolution of
the Company or the distribution of all or
 
                                      107
<PAGE>
 
substantially all of the assets of the Company to its stockholders or amend
certain provisions of the Company Certificate, including the authorization of
capital stock in Article Fourth, the supermajority provisions in Articles
Fifth and Sixth and the election not to be governed by Section 203 of the DGCL
in Article Eighth. Article II of the Company Bylaws permits the amendment or
repeal of the Company Bylaws upon the affirmative vote of not less than two-
thirds of the Company's Board of Directors.
 
  The Ashland Coal Bylaws provide that the President be elected by the
affirmative vote of not less than 76% of the Board of Directors. The Ashland
Coal Bylaws also state that the President is the Chief Executive Officer.
Article II of the Company Bylaws requires an affirmative vote of not less than
two-thirds of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company to elect
the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer (if
any) and the Chief Financial Officer (if any) of the Company.
 
  The Ashland Coal Bylaws provide that there be an affirmative vote of not
less than 76% of the members of the Board of Directors of Ashland Coal to
authorize the issuance of any stock or instrument convertible into or rights
or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any stock of Ashland Coal, except for
any Ashland Coal Common Stock in an amount not greater than 750,000 shares of
Ashland Coal Common Stock issued in connection with any stock option or other
plan for the employees or officers of Ashland Coal approved and adopted by the
Board of Directors in accordance with the Ashland Coal Bylaws. Article II of
the Company Bylaws requires an affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of
the members of the Board of Directors of the Company to authorize the issuance
of more than 1,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock or any shares of
Preferred Stock of the Company in any one transaction or series of related
transactions, to declare a dividend or distribution on any Company stock, to
approve the Company's annual budget or operating plan, including any
unbudgeted capital expenditure in excess of $10,000,000, to adopt a share
purchase plan of a nature commonly referred to as a "poison pill," to
repurchase or redeem any capital stock of the Company, to appoint members to
or dissolve the Executive Committee or to amend the supermajority provisions
of the Company Bylaws.
 
  The Ashland Coal Bylaws provide that the number of Directors shall be fixed,
from time to time, by a resolution adopted by a vote of not less than 76% of
the whole Board of Directors subject to the provisions of the Ashland Coal
Certificate and the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company Certificate
provides that the number of directors may be established or changed by the
affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the members of the Board of
Directors but in no event shall the number be less than three.
 
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS; CUMULATIVE VOTING
 
  The DGCL provides that the certificate of incorporation of any Delaware
corporation may provide that at all or at certain elections of directors each
holder of stock entitled to vote may vote cumulatively for directors. Article
Fourth of the Ashland Coal Certificate provides that holders of Ashland Coal
Preferred Stock shall have the right to cumulate their votes in accordance
with the DGCL. Article Sixth of the Company Certificate expressly provides
that holders of Company Stock will have the right to cumulate their votes in
the election of directors. A stockholder of the Company who elects to cumulate
votes is entitled to as many votes as equals the number of votes which such
holder would be entitled to cast for the election of directors with respect to
such holder's shares of stock multiplied by the number of directors to be
elected by such holder, and such holder may cast all of such votes for a
single director or may distribute them among the number to be voted for, or
for any two or more of them, as such holder may see fit. If less than the
entire Board of Directors of the Company is to be removed, no director may be
removed without cause if the votes cast against his removal would be
sufficient to elect the director if then cumulatively voted at an election of
the entire Board of Directors.
 
PROCEDURES TO BRING BUSINESS BEFORE A STOCKHOLDERS MEETING
 
  The Company Bylaws provide that in order for nominations or other business
to be properly brought before a stockholders' meeting by a stockholder, the
stockholder must give timely notice thereof in writing to the
 
                                      108
<PAGE>
 
Secretary. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be delivered to the
Secretary not less than 70 days nor more than 90 days prior to the first
anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting; provided, however, that,
in the event the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 20 days
or delayed by more than 70 days from such anniversary date, notice by the
stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 90th day
prior to such meeting and not later than the later of the 70th day prior to
such meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of
the date of such meeting is first made. The notice must set forth (a) as to
each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or
reelection as a director, all information relating to such person that is
required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of
directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A
under the Exchange Act, including such person's written consent to being named
in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected;
(b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the
meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the
meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any
material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial
owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (c) as to the stockholder
giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the
nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder,
as appears on the Company's books, and of such beneficial owner and (ii) the
class and number of shares of the Company which are owned beneficially and of
record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner; and (d) a statement as
to whether or not the stockholder will solicit proxies in support of such
stockholder's nominee or proposal.
 
  The Ashland Coal Bylaws do not contain provisions addressing nominating
procedures or procedures for bringing other business before a stockholders'
meeting by a stockholder. In the absence of such provisions, nominating
procedures or procedures for bringing other business before a stockholders'
meeting are governed by Regulation 14A of the Exchange Act and applicable
Delaware law.
 
STATUTORY PROVISIONS AFFECTING BUSINESS MERGERS AND CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITIONS
 
  Section 203 of the DGCL ("Section 203") provides that any person who
acquires 15% or more of a corporation's voting stock (thereby becoming an
"interested stockholder") may not engage in a "business combination" with the
corporation for a period of three years following the time the person became
an interested stockholder, unless (i) the board of directors of the
corporation approved, prior to such time, either the business combination or
the transaction that resulted in the person becoming an interested
stockholder, (ii) upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in that
person becoming an interested stockholder, that person owns at least 85% of
the corporation's voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction
commenced (excluding shares owned by persons who are directors and officers of
that corporation and shares owned by employee stock plans in which
participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares
will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer), or (iii) the business
combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized by the
affirmative vote (at an annual or special meeting and not by written consent)
of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of voting stock not owned by the
interested stockholder.
 
  In determining whether a stockholder is the "owner" of 15% or more of a
corporation's voting stock for purposes of Section 203, ownership is defined
to include the right, directly or indirectly, to acquire stock or to control
the voting or disposition of stock. A "business combination" is defined to
include (i) mergers or consolidations of a corporation with an interested
stockholder, (ii) sales or other dispositions of ten percent or more of the
assets of a corporation with or to an interested stockholder, (iii) certain
transactions resulting in the issuance or transfer to an interested
stockholder of any stock of a corporation or its subsidiaries, (iv) certain
transactions which would result in increasing the proportionate share of the
stock of a corporation or its subsidiaries owned by an interested stockholder,
and (v) receipt by an interested stockholder of the benefit (except
proportionately as a stockholder) of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges
or other financial benefits from, by or to a corporation or any of its
majority-owned subsidiaries.
 
  Since neither the Ashland Coal Certificate nor the Ashland Coal Bylaws
contains a provision expressly electing not to be governed by Section 203,
Ashland Coal is subject to Section 203. Since the Company Certificate will
contain a provision expressly electing not to be governed by Section 203, the
Company will not be subject to Section 203.
 
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<PAGE>
 
                     DESCRIPTION OF COMPANY CAPITAL STOCK
 
  The Company Certificate provides that the authorized capital of the Company
consists of 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, and
will provide, at the Effective Time, for 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock,
par value $.01 per share ("Company Preferred Stock").
 
COMMON STOCK
 
  Each share of Company Common Stock will entitle its holder of record to one
vote on all matters to be voted on by the stockholders. The Company
Certificate provides that, subject to the rights of holders of Company
Preferred Stock, in the election of directors a holder of Company Common Stock
who elects to cumulate votes shall be entitled to as many votes as equals the
number of votes which (absent this provision as to cumulative voting) such
holder would be entitled to cast for the election of directors with respect to
such holder's shares of stock multiplied by the number of directors to be
elected by such holder, and such holder may cast all of such votes for a
single director or may distribute them among the number to be voted for, or
for any two or more of them, as such holder may see fit. Subject to the rights
of holders of Company Preferred Stock, holders of Company Common Stock will be
entitled to share on a pro rata basis in any distribution to stockholders upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company. No holder of Company
Common Stock will have any preemptive right to subscribe for any stock or
other security of the Company.
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
  The Board of Directors of the Company, without further action by its
stockholders, may, after the Effective Time, authorize the issuance of shares
of Company Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more series and, within
certain limitations, fix the powers, preferences and rights and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof and the number of shares
constituting any series or designations of such series. Satisfaction of any
dividend preferences of outstanding Company Preferred Stock would reduce the
amount of funds available for the payment of dividends on Company Common
Stock. Holders of Company Preferred Stock would normally be entitled to
receive a preference payment in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of Company before any payment is made to the holders of Company
Common Stock. In addition, under certain circumstances, the issuance of such
Company Preferred Stock may render more difficult or tend to discourage a
change in control of the Company. Although the Company currently has no plans
to issue shares of Company Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors of the
Company, without stockholder approval, may, after the Effective Time, issue
Company Preferred Stock with voting and conversion rights which could
adversely affect the rights of holders of shares of Company Common Stock.
 
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
 
  The Transfer Agent and Registrar for Company Common Stock will be First
Chicago Trust Company of New York.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
  The validity of the shares of Company Common Stock to be issued in
connection with the Merger will be passed upon by Jeffry N. Quinn, Senior Vice
President--Law and Human Resources, Secretary and General Counsel of the
Company.
 
 
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<PAGE>
 
                             STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
  If the Merger is consummated, the first annual meeting of stockholders of
the Company following the Merger (the "1998 Company Annual Meeting") will
occur on a date in 1998 that has not yet been determined. With respect to the
1998 Company Annual Meeting, stockholder proposals will be timely, for the
purpose of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, if they are received a
reasonable time before the Company begins to solicit proxies with respect to
the 1998 Company Annual Meeting. The Company intends to treat any stockholder
proposal that is submitted on or before November 21, 1997 as timely (and any
stockholder proposal submitted thereafter as untimely), for the purpose of
Rule 14a-8, in relation to the 1998 Company Annual Meeting. Stockholder
proposals are required to satisfy a number of requirements, in addition to
timeliness, in order to be includable in a company's proxy statement under
Rule 14a-8.
 
  The Company Bylaws provide that in order for nominations or other business
to be properly brought before a stockholders meeting by a stockholder, the
stockholder must give timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary. To be
timely, a stockholder's notice must be delivered to the Secretary not less
than 70 days nor more than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the
preceding year's annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event the date
of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 20 days or delayed by more than
70 days from such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely
must be so delivered not earlier than the 90th day prior to such meeting and
not later than the later of the 70th day prior to such meeting or the 10th day
following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is
first made. The notice must set forth (a) as to each person whom the
stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director all
information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in
solicitations of proxies for the election of directors, or is otherwise
required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act,
including such person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement
as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (b) as to any other
business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief
description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the
reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest
in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on
whose behalf the proposal is made; (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice
and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal
is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the
Company's books, and of such beneficial owner and (ii) the class and number of
shares of the Company which are owned beneficially and of record by such
stockholder and such beneficial owner; and (d) a statement as to whether or
not the stockholder will solicit proxies in support of such stockholder's
nominee or proposal.
 
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<PAGE>
 
                          GLOSSARY OF SELECTED TERMS
 
  Auger Mining. Auger mining employs a large auger, which functions much like
a carpenter's drill. The auger bores into a coal seam and discharges coal out
of the spiral onto conveyor belts. After augering is completed, the openings
are filled and reclaimed. This method of mining is usually employed to recover
any additional coal left in deep overburden areas that cannot be reached
economically by other types of surface mining.
 
  Btu--British Thermal Unit. A measure of the energy required to raise the
temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.
 
  Coal Seam. A bed or stratum of coal.
 
  Coal Washing. The process of removing impurities, such as ash and sulfur-
based compounds, from coal.
 
  Compliance Coal. Coal which, when burned, meets the most stringent federal
Clean Air Act requirements for sulfur dioxide emissions without the aid of
sulfur reduction technology.
 
  Continuous Mining. One of two major underground mining methods now used in
the United States (also see "Longwall Mining"). This process utilizes a
machine--a "continuous miner"--that mechanizes the entire coal extraction
process. The continuous miner removes or "cuts" the coal from the seam. The
loosened coal then falls on a conveyor for removal to a shuttle car or larger
conveyor belt system.
 
  Deep Mine. An underground coal mine.
 
  Demonstrated.  The sum of coal tonnage classified as proven reserves and
probable reserves.
 
  Dragline. A large machine used in the surface mining process to remove the
overburden, or layers of earth and rock, covering a coal seam. The dragline
has a large bucket suspended from the end of a long boom. The bucket, which is
suspended by cables, is able to scoop up great amounts of overburden as it is
dragged across the excavation area.
 
  High-Sulfur Coal. Coal which, when burned, emits 2.5 or more pounds of
sulfur dioxide per million Btu.
 
  Highwall. Unexcavated face of exposed overburden and coal in a surface mine
or in a face or bank on the uphill side of a contour mine excavation.
 
  Incidence Rate. Frequency with which accidents and fatalities occur.
Calculated on the basis of 200,000 hours of exposure during work.
 
  Longwall Mining. One of two major underground coal mining methods currently
in use. This method employs a rotating drum, which is pulled mechanically back
and forth across a face of a coal seam. The loosened coal falls onto a
conveyor for removal from the mine. Longwall operations include a hydraulic
roof support system that advances as mining proceeds, allowing the roof to
fall in a controlled manner in areas already mined.
 
  Low-Sulfur Coal. Coal which, when burned, emits less than 2.5 pounds of
sulfur dioxide per million Btu.
 
  Metallurgical or "Met" Coal. The various grades of coal suitable for
carbonization to make coke for steel manufacture.
 
  Overburden. Layers of earth and rock covering a coal seam. In surface mining
operations, overburden is removed prior to coal extraction.
 
  Overburden Ratio. A measurement indicating the volume of earth and rock, in
cubic yards, that must be removed to expose one ton of marketable coal.
 
  Preparation Plant. A preparation plant is a facility for crushing, sizing
and washing coal to prepare it for use by a particular customer. The washing
process has the added benefit of removing some of the coal's sulfur content.
 
 
                                      112
<PAGE>
 
  Probable (Indicated) Reserves. Reserves for which quantity and grade and/or
quality are computed from information similar to that used for proven
(measured) reserves, but the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement
are farther apart or are otherwise less adequately spaced. The degree of
assurance, although lower than that for proven (measured) reserves, is high
enough to assume continuity between points of observation.
 
  Proven (Measured) Reserves. Reserves for which (a) quantity is computed from
dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes, and grade
and/or quality are computed from the results of detailed sampling; and (b) the
sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are spaced so closely and the
geologic character is so well defined that size, shape, depth and mineral
content of reserves are well established.
 
  Ranks of Coal. The classification of coal by degree of hardness, moisture
and heat content: Anthracite is hard coal, almost pure carbon, used mainly for
heating homes. Bituminous Coal is soft, the most common type found in the
United States, and is used to generate electricity and to make coke for the
steel industry. Subbituminous is a coal with a heating value between
bituminous and lignite, and has low fixed carbon and high percentage of
volatile matter and moisture. Subbituminous coal is used primarily for
generating electricity. Lignite is the softest coal and has the highest
moisture content. It is used for generating electricity in certain parts of
the country and for conversion into synthetic gas. In terms of Btu or
"heating" content, anthracite has the highest value, followed by bituminous,
subbituminous and lignite.
 
  Reclamation. The restoration of land and environmental values to a mining
site after the coal is extracted. Reclamation operations are usually underway
where the coal has already been taken from a mine, even as mining operations
are taking place elsewhere at the site. The process commonly includes
"recontouring" or reshaping the land to its approximate original appearance,
restoring topsoil and planting native grass and ground covers.
 
  Recoverable Product Tons. The tonnage that the Company anticipates will be
available for sale after losses associated with processing and preparation.
 
  Reserve. That part of a coal deposit which could be economically and legally
extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination.
 
  Resource. Naturally occurring concentrations or deposits of coal in such
form and amount that economic extraction is currently or potentially feasible.
Identified resource bodies are determined based on specific geologic evidence
and may contain further subdivisions of reserves, marginal reserves and
subeconomic resources and may be classified according to varying levels of
geologic assurance.
 
  Run-of-Mine Coal. Coal as it comes directly from the mine that is not
treated by a preparation plant.
 
  Scrubber. Any of several forms of chemical/physical devices that operate to
neutralize sulfur compounds formed during coal combustion. These devices
combine the sulfur in gaseous emissions with other chemicals to form inert
compounds, such as gypsum, which must then be removed for disposal. Although
effective in substantially reducing sulfur from combustion gases, scrubbers
require about 6 to 7 percent of a power plant's electrical output and
thousands of gallons of water to operate.
 
  Spot Market. Sales of coal pursuant to an agreement for shipments over a
period of one year or less.
 
  Steam Coal. Coal used by power plant and industrial steam boilers to produce
electricity or process steam. It generally is lower in Btu content and higher
in volatile matter than metallurgical coal.
 
  Surface Mine. A mine in which the coal lies near the surface and can be
extracted by removing overburden.
 
  Tons. References herein to a "ton" mean a "short" or net ton, which is equal
to 2,000 pounds. The short ton is the unit of measure referred to in this
document.
 
  Underground Mine. Also known as a "deep" mine. Usually located several
hundred feet below the earth's surface, an underground mine's coal is removed
mechanically and transferred by shuttle car or conveyor to the surface.
 
  Unit Train. A long train of between 60 and 150 hopper cars, carrying coal
between a single mine and a destination. A typical unit train can carry at
least 10,000 tons of coal in a single shipment.
 
                                      113
<PAGE>
 
                     INDEX TO COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                        <C>
Report of Independent Public Accountants.................................   F-1
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Retained Earnings for the three
 months ended March 31, 1997 and 1996 (unaudited) and the years ended 
 December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994........................................   F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 1997 (unaudited), December
 31, 1996 and 1995.......................................................   F-3
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March
 31, 1997 and 1996 (unaudited) and the years ended December 31, 1996, 
 1995 and 1994...........................................................   F-4
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements...............................   F-5
</TABLE>
 
                                      114
<PAGE>
 
                   REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
To Arch Mineral Corporation:
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Arch Mineral
Corporation (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996
and 1995, and the related consolidated statements of operations and retained
earnings and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1996. These financial statements are the responsibility of the
Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis
for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Arch Mineral Corporation and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period
ended December 31, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
 
As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, in 1995 the
Company changed its method of accounting for impairments of long-lived assets.
 
 
/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
 
St. Louis, Missouri
January 16, 1997 (except with respect to the matters discussed in Note 13 as
to which the date is May 20, 1997)
 
 
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND RETAINED EARNINGS
                  (THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                            THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                 MARCH 31,         YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                          ----------------------- ----------------------------
                             1997        1996       1996      1995      1994
                          ----------- ----------- --------  --------  --------
                          (UNAUDITED) (UNAUDITED)
<S>                       <C>         <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>
Revenues:
  Coal sales............   $192,328    $183,886   $750,123  $706,845  $747,506
  Other revenues........      5,091       4,603     25,682    30,419    37,781
                           --------    --------   --------  --------  --------
                            197,419     188,489    775,805   737,264   785,287
                           --------    --------   --------  --------  --------
Costs and Expenses:
  Cost of coal sales....    171,623     162,416    667,878   657,738   648,091
  Selling, general and
   administrative
   expenses.............      4,897       4,573     20,435    19,680    21,758
  Amortization of coal
   supply agreements....      2,116       2,855     12,604    13,374    15,346
  Write-down of impaired
   assets...............        --          --          --    10,241        --
  Restructuring
   expenses.............        --          --          --     8,250        --
  Other expenses........      2,470       3,699     18,776    17,956    35,150
                           --------    --------   --------  --------  --------
                            181,106     173,543    719,693   727,239   720,345
                           --------    --------   --------  --------  --------
    Income from
     operations.........     16,313      14,946     56,112    10,025    64,942
                           --------    --------   --------  --------  --------
Interest Expense, Net:
  Interest expense......     (3,553)     (5,066)   (18,783)  (23,794)  (22,120)
  Interest income.......        260         317      1,191       832       538
                           --------    --------   --------  --------  --------
                             (3,293)    (4,749)    (17,592)  (22,962)  (21,582)
                           --------    --------   --------  --------  --------
    Income (loss) before
     income taxes.......     13,020      10,197     38,520   (12,937)   43,360
Provision (Benefit) for
 Income Taxes...........      2,600       2,600      5,500    (1,900)    8,200
                           --------    --------   --------  --------  --------
NET INCOME (LOSS)            10,420       7,597     33,020   (11,037)   35,160
Dividends Paid ($.38 and
 $.32 per share)........        --          --      (8,000)   (6,697)       --
Income Tax Charge
 Related to Assets
 Acquired from Related
 Parties................        --          --      (8,086)       --        --
Retained Earnings,
 Beginning of Period....    122,025     105,091    105,091   122,825    87,665
                           --------    --------   --------  --------  --------
Retained Earnings, End
 of Period..............   $132,445    $112,688   $122,025  $105,091  $122,825
                           ========    ========   ========  ========  ========
Earnings (Loss) Per
 Common Share...........   $    .50    $    .36   $   1.58  $   (.53) $   1.68
                           ========    ========   ========  ========  ========
</TABLE>
 
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial
                                  statements.
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                    (THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              DECEMBER 31
                                             MARCH 31,   ----------------------
                                               1997         1996        1995
                                            -----------  ----------  ----------
                                            (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                         <C>          <C>         <C>
ASSETS
Current Assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents................ $   13,660   $   13,716  $   17,502
  Trade accounts receivable................     82,246       75,657      77,893
  Other receivables........................      3,744        5,143      13,764
  Coal inventories.........................     24,737       21,866      25,989
  Repair parts and supplies inventories....     12,685       13,368      13,269
  Deferred income taxes....................     14,500       14,500       7,000
  Prepaid expenses and other assets........      9,478        9,362       7,429
                                            ----------   ----------  ----------
    Total current assets...................    161,050      153,612     162,846
                                            ----------   ----------  ----------
Property, Plant and Equipment:
  Coal lands and mineral rights............    394,724      394,634     378,825
  Plant and equipment......................    691,096      691,834     744,649
  Deferred mine development................     77,872       76,151      65,433
                                            ----------   ----------  ----------
                                             1,163,692    1,162,619   1,188,907
  Less accumulated depletion, depreciation
   and amortization........................   (611,636)    (595,552)   (581,233)
                                            ----------   ----------  ----------
      Property, plant and equipment, net...    552,056      567,067     607,674
                                            ----------   ----------  ----------
Deferred Income Taxes......................     64,639       67,207      67,562
                                            ----------   ----------  ----------
Other Assets:
  Coal supply agreements less accumulated
   amortization............................     81,254       83,369      88,823
  Receivables and other assets.............     13,608       14,266      13,863
                                            ----------   ----------  ----------
    Total assets........................... $  872,607   $  885,521  $  940,768
                                            ==========   ==========  ==========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
  Accounts payable......................... $   41,728   $   42,712  $   47,697
  Accrued expenses.........................     76,309       77,734      75,072
                                            ----------   ----------  ----------
    Total current liabilities..............    118,037      120,446     122,769
Long-Term Debt.............................    190,537      212,695     274,314
Accrued Postretirement Benefits............    230,114      228,843     225,377
Accrued Workers' Compensation Benefits.....     69,448       70,849      69,787
Accrued Reclamation and Mine Closure.......     95,552       97,595     112,971
Other Noncurrent Liabilities...............     27,873       24,467      21,858
                                            ----------   ----------  ----------
    Total liabilities......................    731,561      754,895     827,076
                                            ----------   ----------  ----------
Stockholders' Equity:
  Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized
   100,000,000 shares, issued and
   outstanding 20,948,463 shares...........        209          209         209
  Paid-in capital..........................      8,392        8,392       8,392
  Retained earnings........................    132,445      122,025     105,091
                                            ----------   ----------  ----------
    Total stockholders' equity.............    141,046      130,626     113,692
                                            ----------   ----------  ----------
    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity................................ $  872,607   $  885,521  $  940,768
                                            ==========   ==========  ==========
</TABLE>
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial
                                  statements.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                             (THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                MARCH 31,          YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                         ----------------------- ------------------------------
                            1997        1996       1996       1995       1994
                         ----------- ----------- --------  ----------  --------
                         (UNAUDITED) (UNAUDITED)
<S>                      <C>         <C>         <C>       <C>         <C>
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income (Loss)......   $ 10,420    $  7,597   $ 33,020  $  (11,037) $ 35,160
Items to Reconcile Net
 Income (Loss) to Net
 Cash
 Provided From
 Operating Activities:
 Depreciation,
  depletion and
  amortization.........     28,296      24,625    114,703     100,101    99,431
 Net gain on
  disposition of
  assets...............       (377)       (606)    (7,959)     (8,514)     (419)
 Write-down of impaired
  assets...............        --          --          --      10,241        --
 Changes in:
  Trade accounts
   receivable..........     (6,589)     (7,628)     2,236       1,162   (24,607)
  Other receivables....      1,399       4,884      8,621      (2,964)    6,513
  Coal inventories.....     (2,872)      1,607      4,123       6,019    (6,270)
  Repair parts and
   supplies
   inventories.........        684        (455)       (99)      2,114      (533)
  Income taxes.........      2,568         710     (1,145)     (2,867)  (10,906)
  Accounts payable and
   accrued expenses....     (1,902)     (5,412)    (7,464)        233    (6,674)
  Accrued
   postretirement
   benefits............      1,270       2,077      4,566       8,810    12,698
  Accrued workers'
   compensation
   benefits............     (1,908)     (1,998)      (897)     (8,360)  (13,013)
  Accrued reclamation
   and mine closure....     (2,043)       (194)   (10,492)     (6,877)   (9,865)
 Other.................      3,985         (91)    (7,813)      4,465      (242)
                          --------    --------   --------  ----------  --------
   Net cash provided
    from operating
    activities.........     32,931      25,116    131,400      92,526    81,273
                          --------    --------   --------  ----------  --------
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Additions to Property,
 Plant and Equipment...    (11,546)    (13,485)   (48,290)    (80,347)  (96,271)
Additions to Coal
 Supply Agreements.....        --         (755)    (7,150)     (1,924)       --
Payments for
 Acquisitions..........        --          --     (14,200)         --   (77,427)
Proceeds From
 Dispositions of
 Property, Plant and
 Equipment.............        717         767      4,073      42,605     2,478
                          --------    --------   --------  ----------  --------
   Net cash used in
    investing
    activities.........    (10,829)    (13,473)   (65,567)    (39,666) (171,220)
                          --------    --------   --------  ----------  --------
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from
 Borrowings............      5,000      77,000    251,500   1,270,000   437,000
Payments on
 Borrowings............    (27,158)    (98,862)  (313,119) (1,303,852) (352,532)
Dividends Paid.........        --          --      (8,000)     (6,697)       --
                          --------    --------   --------  ----------  --------
   Net cash provided
    from (used in)
    financing
    activities.........    (22,158)    (21,862)   (69,619)    (40,549)   84,468
                          --------    --------   --------  ----------  --------
   Increase (decrease)
    in cash and cash
    equivalents........        (56)    (10,219)    (3,786)     12,311    (5,479)
Cash and Cash
 Equivalents, Beginning
 of Year...............     13,716      17,502     17,502       5,191    10,670
                          --------    --------   --------  ----------  --------
Cash and Cash
 Equivalents, End of
 Year..................   $ 13,660    $  7,283   $ 13,716  $   17,502  $  5,191
                          ========    ========   ========  ==========  ========
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE
 OF CASH FLOW
 INFORMATION:
Interest paid..........   $  4,255    $  7,200   $ 20,294  $   24,772  $ 18,743
Income taxes paid, net
 of refunds............   $     32    $  1,890   $ 14,731  $      966  $ 11,792
</TABLE>
 
   The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial
                                  statements.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
(1) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND OTHER MATTERS
 
NATURE OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
  The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
Arch Mineral Corporation and its subsidiaries (the "Company"). The Company
produces steam coal from surface and deep mines in Illinois, Kentucky, West
Virginia, Virginia and Wyoming for sale to utility and industrial markets.
Some members of the Company's workforce are represented by various labor
organizations. Significant intercompany transactions and accounts have been
eliminated in consolidation.
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
  Cash and cash equivalents are stated at cost. Cash equivalents consist of
highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less.
 
INVENTORIES
 
  Coal inventories are valued at the lower of average cost or market. Repair
parts and supplies inventories are stated at the lower of average cost or net
realizable value.
 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
 
  Additions to property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. The cost of
coal lands and mineral rights is depleted by the units-of-production method
over the estimated recoverable reserves. The cost of plant and equipment is
depreciated by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives which
range from three to twenty years. Repairs and maintenance are expensed as
incurred; major improvements are capitalized; coal exploration costs are
expensed as incurred. Mine development costs, which are recoverable, are
capitalized and amortized by the units-of-production method over the estimated
recoverable reserves.
 
  During 1996, the Company sold an idle processing plant and loadout
facilities in Eastern Kentucky for the assumption of the environmental
liabilities. As a result, the Company recognized a gain of $4.9 million
included in Other Revenues. During 1995, the Company sold its timber rights to
approximately 100,000 acres of property in the Eastern United States for a
gain of $8.4 million included in Other Revenues.
 
  During 1996, the Company reduced the estimated useful lives of certain long-
lived assets (primarily related to life of mine assets including preparation
plants and beltlines) for depreciation and amortization purposes. These
changes in estimates were primarily due to increased productivities and
reductions in recoverable reserves. As a result, an additional $11.3 million
(after tax impact of $6.9 million or $.33 per share) of depreciation and
amortization expense was recorded in Cost of Coal Sales. The assets included a
preparation plant that had an original life of 16 years that was adjusted to
7.5 years, a preparation plant and beltline related to a surface mine that
carried an original life of 20 years and that was adjusted to 17 years and
deferred development for a surface mine with an original life of 5 years
adjusted to 4 years.
 
OTHER ASSETS
 
  Costs of acquired coal supply agreements are capitalized and amortized over
the contract sales tonnage. Accumulated amortization for sales contracts was
$42,973 and $48,214 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Rights to
leased coal lands are often acquired through royalty payments. Royalties are
classified as a current asset when the prepayments are recoupable against
future production within one year. As mining occurs on these leases, the
prepayment is offset against earned royalties and is included in Cost of Coal
Sales.
 
REVENUE RECOGNITION
 
  Coal sales revenues include sales to customers of coal produced at Company
operations and purchased from other companies. The Company recognizes revenue
from coal sales at the time title passes to the customer.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
Revenues other than from coal sales are included in Other Revenues and are
recognized as services are performed or otherwise earned.
 
ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES
 
  The preparation of the Company's consolidated financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the
Company's management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts
reported in these financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results
could differ from those estimates.
 
RECLASSIFICATIONS
 
  Certain reclassifications of prior year amounts were made to conform with
the current year presentation with no effect on previously reported net income
(loss) or stockholders' equity.
 
ASSET IMPAIRMENT
 
  If facts and circumstances suggest that a long-lived asset may be impaired,
the carrying value is reviewed. If this review indicates that the value of the
asset will not be recoverable, as determined based on projected undiscounted
cash flows related to the asset over its remaining life, then the carrying
value of the asset is reduced to its estimated fair value.
 
  Effective September 30, 1995, the Company adopted the provisions of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121, "Accounting for the
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of."
As a result, the Company recorded charges of $10.2 million to write down
certain assets to their fair value. These assets included idled facilities at
the Company's Arch of Illinois, Arch of Kentucky, and Cumberland River Coal
Company operations. Fair value was based upon management's best estimate of
discounted cash flows.
 
RESTRUCTURING EXPENSES
 
  During 1995, the Company restructured its selling, general and
administrative functions and reduced its salaried workforce by 143 employees,
52 of which accepted the Company's early retirement program. Total
restructuring charges of $8.3 million included charges for severance, pension
and postretiree medical benefits. The restructuring reflected the Company's
efforts to reduce its costs and improve its competitive position.
 
INTERIM FINANCIAL REPORTING
 
  The consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 1997 and for the three
months ended March 31, 1997 and 1996 and the notes thereto are unaudited.
However, in the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting only of
normal accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial statements
have been included.
 
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE
 
  For all periods presented, earnings (loss) per common share was calculated
as net income (loss) divided by common shares outstanding as adjusted for the
stock split (see Note 13), or 20,948,463 shares.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
(2) ACCRUED EXPENSES
 
  Accrued expenses consisted of the following (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DECEMBER 31
                                                                ---------------
                                                                 1996    1995
                                                                ------- -------
   <S>                                                          <C>     <C>
   Accrued income taxes........................................ $19,000 $13,000
   Accrued payroll and related benefits........................  12,410  13,782
   Accrued interest............................................   2,365   4,846
   Accrued taxes other than income taxes.......................  14,272  12,980
   Accrued postretirement benefits.............................  13,000  11,900
   Accrued workers' compensation benefits......................  10,298  12,257
   Other accrued expenses......................................   6,389   6,307
                                                                ------- -------
                                                                $77,734 $75,072
                                                                ======= =======
</TABLE>
 
(3) TAXES
 
  Significant components of the provision for income tax expense (benefit) are
as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            DECEMBER 31
                                                      -------------------------
                                                       1996     1995     1994
                                                      -------  -------  -------
   <S>                                                <C>      <C>      <C>
   Current:
    Federal.......................................... $ 9,200  $   200  $ 9,700
    State............................................   1,050      --     1,141
                                                      -------  -------  -------
     Total Current...................................  10,250      200   10,841
                                                      -------  -------  -------
   Deferred:
    Federal..........................................  (4,050)    (800)  (1,800)
    State............................................    (700)  (1,300)    (841)
                                                      -------  -------  -------
     Total Deferred..................................  (4,750)  (2,100)  (2,641)
                                                      -------  -------  -------
                                                      $ 5,500  $(1,900) $ 8,200
                                                      =======  =======  =======
</TABLE>
 
  A reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax provision (benefit) to
the effective income tax benefit (provision) is as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        DECEMBER 31
                                                 ---------------------------
                                                   1996     1995      1994
                                                 --------  -------  --------
   <S>                                           <C>       <C>      <C>
   Income tax expense (benefit) at statutory
    rate........................................ $ 13,482  $(4,528) $ 15,176
   Percentage depletion allowance...............  (10,431)  (6,701)  (12,228)
   State taxes..................................      350   (1,281)      347
   Non-deductible expenses......................    1,000      700     2,211
   Other, net...................................    1,099    9,910     2,694
                                                 --------  -------  --------
                                                 $  5,500  $(1,900) $  8,200
                                                 ========  =======  ========
</TABLE>
 
  The Other category in the statutory rate reconciliation includes provisions
in excess of statutory requirements for open tax years.
 
  The Company's federal income tax returns for the years 1992 through 1994 are
currently under review by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS has
completed its examinations of the Company's federal income tax returns for the
years ended 1987, 1988 and 1989 and has proposed adjustments which relate
principally to
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
business acquisitions, asset dispositions, corporate reorganizations,
percentage depletion and investment tax credits during those years. As a
result, the IRS has proposed additional taxes aggregating $50 million plus
interest to the date of payment. After an analysis of the proposed adjustments
by management with tax counsel, the Company paid $8 million in 1994 to the IRS
and filed a protest with the IRS contesting certain adjustments. Management
believes that the Company has adequately provided for any income taxes and
related interest which may ultimately be paid on contested issues.
 
  During 1996, the IRS completed its examinations of the Company's federal
income tax returns for years 1990 and 1991 and the Company and the IRS agreed
to a settlement of various tax issues for a payment of $6.5 million including
interest which was charged against previously recorded reserves. Part of the
settlement related to the acquisition from the Company's shareholders of
certain Illinois coal reserves for $55.2 million. Their acquisition was valued
for accounting purposes at the stockholders' net book value of $22.8 million
with the $32.4 million difference between the net book value and fair market
value less $12.3 million of deferred tax benefits being recorded as a
reduction to stockholders' equity. As part of the settlement with the IRS, the
Company agreed to adjust the fair market value of the coal properties to $33.8
million for tax purposes resulting in a decrease to the deferred tax asset of
$8.1 million from $12.3 million to $4.2 million. The decrease in the deferred
tax asset was charged directly to stockholders' equity.
 
  Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities
that result from carryforwards and temporary differences between the financial
statement basis and tax basis of assets and liabilities are summarized as
follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                DECEMBER 31
                                                             ------------------
                                                               1996      1995
                                                             --------  --------
   <S>                                                       <C>       <C>
   Deferred tax assets:
    Postretirement benefits, other than pension............. $ 89,249  $ 91,777
    Workers' compensation benefits..........................   27,631    26,033
    Alternative minimum tax credit carryforward.............   42,503    37,109
    Net operating loss carryforwards........................    7,677    11,599
    Other...................................................   29,083    26,232
                                                             --------  --------
     Total deferred tax asset...............................  196,143   192,750
                                                             --------  --------
   Deferred tax liabilities:
    Coal lands and mineral rights...........................   28,529    15,286
    Plant and equipment.....................................   50,373    50,637
    Deferred mine development...............................    4,469     6,704
    Coal supply agreements..................................    8,834    11,769
    Other...................................................   22,231    33,792
                                                             --------  --------
     Total deferred tax liability...........................  114,436   118,188
                                                             --------  --------
      Net deferred tax asset................................   81,707    74,562
     Less current asset.....................................  (14,500)   (7,000)
                                                             --------  --------
      Long-term deferred tax asset.......................... $ 67,207  $ 67,562
                                                             ========  ========
</TABLE>
 
  If not used, the carryforwards for net operating losses of $19.7 million
will expire in the years 2003 through 2010. The alternative minimum tax credit
carryforwards have no statutory expiration date.
 
  The Company is required to record a valuation allowance when it is more
likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not
be realized. It is management's belief that the Company's net deferred income
tax asset will more likely than not be realized by generating sufficient
taxable income in the future.
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
(4) LONG-TERM DEBT
 
  Long-term debt is comprised of the following (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  DECEMBER 31
                                                    MARCH 31,  -----------------
                                                      1997       1996     1995
                                                   ----------- -------- --------
                                                   (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                <C>         <C>      <C>
$200 million revolving credit agreement, variable
 interest rate,
 payable January 27, 1999 (interest rate at March
 31, 1997--6.10%; December 31, 1996--6.12%;
 December 31, 1995--6.38%).......................   $132,000   $147,000 $158,000
7.79% senior unsecured notes, payable in seven
 equal annual
 installments beginning January 31, 1997.........     42,860     50,000   50,000
9.85% senior unsecured notes, payable annually
 through June 1, 1997............................      8,000      8,000   16,000
9.25% senior unsecured notes, due on August 31,
 1996............................................        --         --    10,000
Obligations from acquisitions of coal properties
 and sales contracts,
 effective interest rates of 7.5% to 12%, payable
 through 2013....................................        --         --    32,276
Obligations, interest rates of 7.15% to 9%,
 payable through 2009,
 collateralized by underlying properties.........      7,676      7,695    8,038
                                                    --------   -------- --------
                                                     190,536    212,695  274,314
Less--current maturities.........................        --         --       --
                                                    --------   -------- --------
                                                    $190,536   $212,695 $274,314
                                                    ========   ======== ========
</TABLE>
 
  The Company has a revolving credit agreement, which terminates in 1999, with
a group of banks providing for borrowings of up to $200 million. The rate of
interest on borrowings under this agreement is, at the Company's option, a
money-market rate determined by a competitive bid process, the PNC Bank base
rate and a rate based on LIBOR. The daily provisions of the revolving credit
agreement require a facility fee on the amount of the commitment and a
commitment fee on the average daily unused portion of the revolving credit
agreement. The rates used for the facility and commitment fees, which are
currently 0.20% and 0.125% per annum, respectively, are determined monthly
based upon the Company's ratio of debt to equity and may vary from 0.15% to
0.25% and 0.100% to 0.125% for the facility fee and commitment fee,
respectively.
 
  Current maturities of long-term debt of $16 million have been reclassified
as noncurrent obligations due to the Company's ability and intent to refinance
their obligations on a long-term basis with funds obtained from the $200
million revolving credit agreement. Scheduled long-term debt repayments are as
follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
      <S>                                                               <C>
      1997............................................................. $    --
      1998.............................................................    7,517
      1999.............................................................  170,615
      2000.............................................................    7,572
      2001.............................................................    7,602
</TABLE>
 
  Certain debt agreements contain covenants requiring current ratio and net
worth minimum amounts, as well as covenants restricting new borrowings,
mortgages, lease commitments, investments and dividends to stockholders.
Retained earnings available for payment of dividends were limited to $8.5
million and $0 as of December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995, respectively.
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
(5) FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
  The following methods and assumptions were used by the Company in estimating
its fair value disclosures for financial instruments:
 
  Cash and cash equivalents: The carrying amounts approximate fair value.
 
  Debt: The carrying amounts of the Company's borrowings under its revolving
credit agreement approximate their fair value. The fair values of the
Company's senior notes and other long-term fixed debt are estimated using
discounted cash flow analyses, based on the Company's current incremental
borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements.
 
  The carrying amounts and fair values of the Company's financial instruments
at December 31, 1996 and 1995 are as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  1996              1995
                                            ----------------- -----------------
                                            CARRYING   FAIR   CARRYING   FAIR
                                             AMOUNT   VALUE   AMOUNT    VALUE
                                            -------- -------- -------- --------
   <S>                                      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
   Cash and cash equivalents............... $ 13,716 $ 13,716 $ 17,502 $ 17,502
   Revolving credit agreement..............  147,000  147,000  158,000  158,000
   Senior notes............................   58,000   59,510   76,000   79,868
   Other debt..............................    7,695    7,695   40,314   45,410
</TABLE>
 
(6) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
 
MAJOR ASSUMPTIONS
 
  Major assumptions used by independent actuaries in determining the
liabilities for defined benefit pension plans, postretirement benefits, and
black lung benefits were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           DECEMBER 31
                                                   ---------------------------
                                                     1996     1995     1994
                                                   -------- -------- ---------
   <S>                                             <C>      <C>      <C>
   Discount rate..................................    7.50%    7.25%      8.0%
   Assumed rate of investment return on pension
    assets........................................     9.0%     9.0%      8.0%
   Compensation increase rate.....................     5.0%     5.0%      5.5%
   Medical trend rate (declines 1% per year)...... 7.0-5.0% 8.0-5.0% 10.0-6.0%
   Black lung benefit cost escalation rate........     4.0%     4.0%      4.0%
</TABLE>
 
  Net gains and losses which result from differences between actuarial
assumptions and actual experience are amortized over five years.
 
WORKERS' COMPENSATION
 
  The Company is liable under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977,
as amended, to provide for pneumoconiosis (black lung) benefits to eligible
employees, former employees, and dependents with respect to claims filed by
such persons on or after July 1, 1993. The Company is also liable under
various states' statutes for black lung benefits. The Company currently
provides for federal and state claims principally through a self insurance
program. Charges are made to operations, as determined by independent
actuaries, at the present value of the actuarially computed present and future
liabilities for such benefits over the employees' applicable years of service.
In addition, the Company is liable for workers' compensation benefits for
traumatic injuries which
 
                                     F-10
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
are accrued as injuries are incurred. Workers' compensation costs (credits)
included the following components (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          DECEMBER 31
                                                    --------------------------
                                                     1996     1995      1994
                                                    -------  -------  --------
   <S>                                              <C>      <C>      <C>
   Self-insured black lung benefits:
     Service cost.................................. $   639  $   572  $    715
     Interest cost.................................   1,735    1,879     1,692
     Net amortization and deferral.................  (9,766)  (9,691)  (10,014)
                                                    -------  -------  --------
                                                     (7,392)  (7,240)   (7,607)
   Other workers' compensation benefits............  13,350   13,041     6,327
                                                    -------  -------  --------
                                                    $ 5,958  $ 5,801  $ (1,280)
                                                    =======  =======  ========
</TABLE>
 
  In consultation with independent actuaries, the Company changed the discount
rate, black lung benefit cost escalation rate, rates of disability and other
assumptions used in the actuarial determination of black lung liabilities as
of January 1, 1993, to better reflect actual experience. The effect of these
changes was a significant increase in the unrecognized net gain. This gain is
amortized through 1997 and totalled $10.8 million in each of the years 1996,
1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
  Summarized below is information about the amounts recognized in the
consolidated balance sheets for workers' compensation benefits (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              DECEMBER 31
                                                           ------------------
                                                             1996      1995
                                                           --------  --------
   <S>                                                     <C>       <C>
   Actuarial present value for self-insured black lung:
     Benefits contractually recoverable from others....... $ (5,665) $ (4,412)
     Benefits for Company employees.......................  (24,842)  (27,296)
                                                           --------  --------
     Accumulated black lung benefit obligation............  (30,507)  (31,708)
     Unrecognized net gain................................   (7,347)  (14,743)
                                                           --------  --------
                                                            (37,854)  (46,451)
   Traumatic and other workers' compensation..............  (43,293)  (35,593)
                                                           --------  --------
     Accrued liabilities for workers' compensation
      benefits............................................  (81,147)  (82,044)
   Less amount included in accrued expenses...............   10,298    12,257
                                                           --------  --------
                                                           $(70,849) $(69,787)
                                                           ========  ========
</TABLE>
 
DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLANS
 
  The Company sponsors pension plans which cover substantially all employees,
other than union employees covered by multiemployer pension plans under
collective bargaining agreements. Benefits under non-contributory defined
benefit pension plans are based on the employee's years of service and
compensation. It is the Company's policy to fund its pension plans by
contributions within allowable limits imposed by the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and federal income tax laws. The net
pension cost of the plans includes the following components (in thousands):
 
                                     F-11
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            DECEMBER 31
                                                      -------------------------
                                                       1996     1995     1994
                                                      -------  -------  -------
   <S>                                                <C>      <C>      <C>
   Defined benefit pension plans:
     Service cost.................................... $ 2,295  $ 2,339  $ 2,331
     Interest cost...................................   4,051    3,454    2,922
     Investment return on plan assets................  (4,159)  (9,052)   1,302
     Net amortization and deferral...................   1,281    5,405   (4,598)
                                                      -------  -------  -------
       Net periodic pension cost.....................   3,468    2,146    1,957
   Provision for restructuring.......................     --     2,125      --
                                                      -------  -------  -------
                                                      $ 3,468  $ 4,271  $ 1,957
                                                      =======  =======  =======
</TABLE>
 
  Summarized below are the funded status of the defined benefit pension plans
and amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               DECEMBER 31
                                                            ------------------
                                                              1996      1995
                                                            --------  --------
   <S>                                                      <C>       <C>
   Actuarial present value:
     Vested benefits......................................  $(46,195) $(39,782)
     Nonvested benefits...................................    (2,974)   (3,547)
                                                            --------  --------
     Accumulated benefit obligation.......................   (49,169)  (43,329)
     Effect of future salary increases....................    (7,541)   (9,332)
                                                            --------  --------
     Projected benefit obligation (PBO)...................   (56,710)  (52,661)
   Plan assets (primarily listed stocks and bonds) at fair
    value.................................................    45,929    43,195
                                                            --------  --------
   Plan assets less than PBO..............................   (10,781)   (9,466)
   Unrecognized net gain..................................    (3,250)   (1,808)
   Unrecognized prior service cost........................     1,017     1,155
   Unrecognized transition gain...........................    (1,283)   (1,481)
                                                            --------  --------
                                                            $(14,297) $(11,600)
                                                            ========  ========
</TABLE>
 
MULTI-EMPLOYER PENSION AND BENEFIT PLANS
 
  Under the labor contract with the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), the
Company made payments of $1.9 million in each of the years 1996, 1995 and 1994
into a multiemployer defined benefit pension plan trust established for the
benefit of UMWA-represented employees. Payments are based on hours worked and
are expensed as paid. Under the Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments Act of
1980, a contributor to a multiemployer pension plan may be liable, under
certain circumstances, for its proportionate share of the plan's unfunded
vested benefits (withdrawal liability). The Company has estimated its share of
such amount to be approximately $26 million at December 31, 1996. The Company
is not aware of any circumstances which would require it to reflect its share
of unfunded vested pension benefits in its financial statements.
 
  The Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Act of 1992 (Benefit Act) provides
for the funding of medical and death benefits for certain retired members of
the UMWA through premiums to be paid by assigned operators (former employers),
transfers of funds in 1993 and 1994 from an overfunded pension trust
established for the benefit of retired UMWA members, and transfers from the
Abandoned Mine Land Funds (funded by a federal tax on coal production)
commencing in 1995. The Company's accounting policy under the Benefit Act is
to charge costs as premiums are paid. Premiums paid were $2.8 million in 1996,
$2.6 million in 1995 and $2 million in 1994.
 
                                     F-12
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS
 
  The Company sponsors unfunded health care and life insurance benefit plans
which cover substantially all active and certain retired employees. The
Company recognizes a liability for the benefits as they are earned up to the
employees' full eligibility and its funding policy is to fund the cost of all
postretirement health and life insurance benefits as they are paid. The net
periodic postretirement benefit cost of these plans includes the following
components (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            DECEMBER 31
                                                      -------------------------
                                                       1996     1995     1994
                                                      -------  -------  -------
   <S>                                                <C>      <C>      <C>
   Company sponsored plans:
     Service cost.................................... $ 2,246  $ 3,383  $ 3,834
     Interest cost...................................  15,648   17,050   14,997
     Net amortization and deferral...................  (1,527)    (108)   3,002
                                                      -------  -------  -------
       Net periodic postretirement benefit cost......  16,367   20,325   21,833
     Provision for restructuring.....................     --       175      --
                                                      -------  -------  -------
       Total postretirement benefit cost............. $16,367  $20,500  $21,833
                                                      =======  =======  =======
</TABLE>
 
  Net periodic postretirement benefit cost decreased approximately $4 million
(an increase in net income of $2.4 million) in 1996 due to changes in certain
actuarial assumptions, including a decrease in the healthcare cost trend rate
and a decrease in the discount rate.
 
  Summarized below is information about the amounts recognized in the
consolidated balance sheets for postretirement benefits (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              DECEMBER 31
                                                          --------------------
                                                            1996       1995
                                                          ---------  ---------
   <S>                                                    <C>        <C>
   Actuarial present value for Company sponsored plans:
     Retiree benefits.................................... $(123,130) $(116,938)
     Active employee benefits............................   (97,202)  (104,890)
                                                          ---------  ---------
     Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation
      (APBO).............................................  (220,332)  (221,828)
     Unrecognized net gain...............................   (20,996)   (14,841)
     Unrecognized prior service gain.....................      (515)      (608)
                                                          ---------  ---------
       Accrued liabilities for postretirement benefits...  (241,843)  (237,277)
   Less amount included in accrued expenses..............    13,000     11,900
                                                          ---------  ---------
                                                          $(228,843) $(225,377)
                                                          =========  =========
</TABLE>
 
  If the health care cost trend rate assumptions were increased by 1%, the
APBO as of December 31, 1996, would be increased by $35.3 million or 16%. The
effect of this change on the sum of the service cost and interest cost
components of the net periodic postretirement benefit cost for 1996 would be
an increase in cost by $3.3 million or 18%.
 
SAVINGS PLAN
 
  The Company sponsors a defined contribution savings plan to assist eligible
employees in providing for retirement or other future financial needs by
matching employee contributions up to 6% of their qualified earnings. The
Company's contributions to the plan were $3.4 million in 1996, $3.4 million in
1995 and $3.3 million in 1994.
 
                                     F-13
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
(7) RECLAMATION AND MINE CLOSING COSTS
 
  The Federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 and similar
state statutes require that mine property be restored in accordance with
specified standards and an approved reclamation plan. The Company accrues for
the costs of final mine closure over the estimated useful mining life of the
property. These costs relate to reclaiming the pit and support acreage at
surface mines and sealing portals at deep mines. Other costs common to both
types of mining are related to reclaiming refuse and slurry ponds. The Company
accrues for current mine disturbance which will be reclaimed prior to final
mine closure. The establishment of the final mine closure reclamation
liability and the current disturbance is based upon permit requirements and
requires various estimates and assumptions, principally associated with costs
and productivities. The Company accrued $6.1 million, $6.5 million, and $7.9
million in the years 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively, for current and final
mine closure reclamation. Cash payments for final mine closure reclamation and
current disturbances approximated $9.8 million, $12.2 million and $16.7
million for the years 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Annually, the Company
reviews its entire environmental liability and makes necessary adjustments,
including permit changes and revisions to costs and productivities to reflect
current experience. These recosting adjustments are recorded to cost of coal
sales. Favorable adjustments total $3.3 million (unaudited), $4.5 million,
$5.0 million and $6.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 1997 and
for the years 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. The Company's management
believes it is making adequate provisions for all expected reclamation and
other costs associated with mine closures.
 
(8) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
 
  In the ordinary course of business, certain fuel, oil and other products are
purchased on a competitive basis from subsidiaries of Ashland Inc., a major
shareholder of the Company which totalled $3.8 million in 1996, $5 million in
1995 and $4.1 million in 1994.
 
(9) CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK AND MAJOR CUSTOMERS
 
  The Company places its cash equivalents in investment-grade short-term
investments and limits the amount of credit exposure to any one commercial
issuer.
 
  The Company markets its coal principally to electric utilities in the United
States. As of December 31, 1996 and 1995, accounts receivable from electric
utilities located in the United States totaled $61.3 million and $62.9
million, respectively. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of the
customer's financial condition, and collateral is not generally required.
Credit losses are provided for in the financial statements and consistently
have been minimal.
 
  The Company is committed under long-term contracts to supply coal that meets
certain quality requirements at specified prices. These prices are generally
adjusted based on indices. Quantities sold under some of these contracts may
vary from year to year within certain limits at the option of the customer.
Two customers accounted for 20% and 12% of coal sales in 1996, 18% and 12% of
coal sales in 1995, and 17% and 10% of coal sales in 1994.
 
(10) ACQUISITIONS
 
  In June 1996, the Company acquired approximately 58,000 acres in the Carbon
Basin Reserve area consisting of approximately 107 million tons of low sulfur
reserves for $14.2 million.
 
  In January 1994, the Company acquired the stock of several related
companies, immediately sold certain of the operations and leased back certain
coal reserves for a net consideration paid of $65.9 million. Coal mining
 
                                     F-14
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
operations in Kentucky and West Virginia, including coal supply agreements,
were acquired. In October 1994, the Company acquired certain assets and
assumed certain liabilities of a West Virginia coal mining operation for $11.5
million. Both acquisitions have been accounted for as purchases. The following
is a combined summary of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed
during 1994 (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
   <S>                                                                 <C>
   Accounts receivable................................................ $ 18,487
   Coal inventories...................................................    7,543
   Property, plant and equipment......................................   52,538
   Coal supply agreements.............................................   41,400
   Accounts payable and accrued expenses..............................  (15,413)
   Deferred income taxes..............................................  (20,600)
   Accrued postretirement benefits....................................     (800)
   Accrued reclamation and mine closure...............................   (9,709)
   Other assets and liabilities.......................................    3,981
                                                                       --------
     Net consideration paid........................................... $ 77,427
                                                                       ========
</TABLE>
 
(11) COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
  The Company has entered into various noncancellable royalty lease agreements
for land and mineral reserve interests. Generally these agreements include
provisions that allow the Company the right to renew the lease or to maintain
the lease in force until the exhaustion of mineable and merchantable coal. The
Company has various equipment rental agreements primarily related to coal
mining and transportation equipment. Rental expense for equipment operating
leases was $8.5 million in 1996, $8.1 million in 1995 and $8.5 million in
1994.
 
  Future minimum annual payments pursuant to royalty and rental agreements for
the next five years are as follows (in thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               COAL    OPERATING
                                                             ROYALTIES  LEASES
                                                             --------- ---------
   <S>                                                       <C>       <C>
   1997.....................................................  $7,914    $3,947
   1998.....................................................   6,962     1,391
   1999.....................................................   6,362       766
   2000.....................................................   6,362       223
   2001.....................................................   6,362       227
</TABLE>
 
  The Company had outstanding unsecured letters of credit and surety bonds of
$289 million as of December 31, 1996, to secure workers' compensation,
reclamation and other performance commitments.
 
  The Company is a party to numerous claims and lawsuits with respect to
various matters. The Company provides for costs related to contingencies,
including environmental matters, when a loss is probable and the amount is
reasonably determinable. The Company estimates that its probable aggregate
loss as a result of such claims is $2.6 million (included in Other Noncurrent
Liabilities) as of December 31, 1996, and $5.1 million (unaudited) as of March
31, 1997. The Company estimates that its reasonably possible aggregate losses
from all currently pending litigation could be as much as $1.2 million (before
taxes) as of December 31, 1996 and $2.5 million (unaudited) as of March 31,
1997, in excess of the probable loss previously recognized. After conferring
with counsel, it is the opinion of management that the ultimate resolution of
these claims, to the extent not previously provided for, will not have a
material adverse effect on the consolidated financial position, results of
operations, or liquidity of the Company.
 
                                     F-15
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  In May 1997, the Company agreed to make a payment of $3.3 million to the
State of Utah in final settlement of the matter of Trail Mountain Coal Company
v. The Utah Division of State Lands and Forestry. The $3.3 million payment was
$1.5 million more than the $1.8 million the Company had reserved as of
December 31, 1996, and March 31, 1997, as the probable loss associated with
this lawsuit. The Company will record an expense of $1.5 million in the second
quarter of 1997 related to the settlement.
  On October 24, 1996, the failure of the rock strata overlaying an old,
abandoned underground mine adjacent to the impoundment used by Lone Mountain
for disposing of coal refuse failed, resulting in an accidental discharge of
approximately 6.3 million gallons of water and fine coal slurry into a
tributary of the Powell River in Lee County, Virginia. This discharge resulted
in the death of approximately 11,500 fish, according to estimates of the
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Following the discharge,
personnel at Lone Mountain began working with agencies of the Commonwealth of
Virginia and the United States to identify the long-term effects, if any, to
fish, other organisms and the aquatic habitat of the Powell River system.
Small quantities of sediment were removed from stream beds, although the
majority of material has been resuspended and carried downstream. Lone
Mountain has committed to monitor and evaluate the stream conditions for two
years in order to determine accurately the effects of the discharge.
 
  On January 29, 1997, the Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy of the
Commonwealth of Virginia filed suit in Lee County Virginia Circuit Court
against Lone Mountain alleging violations of effluent limitations and
reporting violations under Lone Mountain's NPDES permits. Lone Mountain and
the Commonwealth of Virginia have entered into a settlement agreement to
resolve all matters arising out of the discharge. Pursuant to the settlement
agreement, Lone Mountain will pay the Commonwealth $1.4 million. In return two
notices of violation and a show cause order were vacated.
 
  Following publication of the proposed settlement and a public comment period
of 30 days, the Commonwealth is expected to sign the settlement agreement. It
will then be presented to the Circuit Court for entry as a final order. Upon
entry by the court, the settlement will discharge all civil claims alleged in
the state's civil action of January 29, 1997.
 
  At the request of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Fish
& Wildlife Service, the United States Attorney for the Western District of
Virginia has undertaken a criminal investigation of the incident. The
conclusions of this investigation are not expected until late 1997. On March
19, 1997, Lone Mountain received a subpoena to produce documents and to
testify before a federal grand jury. The subpoena seeks the production of
documents related to the design and approval of the impoundment.
 
  During the three months ended March 31, 1997, the Company recorded expenses
related to the Lone Mountain impoundment totaling $3.1 million (unaudited),
including a provision for the $1.4 million settlement above, and for costs to
reconstruct the impoundment.
 
                                     F-16
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
(12) QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
  Quarterly financial data for 1996 and 1995 is summarized below (in
thousands):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         MARCH 31 JUNE 30        SEPT 30             DEC 31
                         -------- --------       --------           --------
<S>                      <C>      <C>            <C>                <C>
1996:
  Coal sales and other
   revenues............. $188,489 $191,520       $195,441(1)        $200,355
  Income from
   operations...........   14,946   11,112         16,654             13,400(2)
  Net income............    7,597    5,235         10,930              9,258(3)
  Earnings per common
   share................      .36      .25            .52                .44
1995:
  Coal sales and other
   revenues............. $188,729 $175,228       $186,679(6)        $186,628
  Income (loss) from
   operations...........    6,501      542(4)(5)   (5,936)(4)(7)(8)    8,918
  Net income (loss).....      348   (4,590)        (9,950)             3,155
  Earnings (loss) per
   common share.........      .02     (.22)          (.47)               .15
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) During the third quarter of 1996, the Company sold an idle processing
    plant and loadout facilities in Eastern Kentucky for a gain of $4.9
    million included in Other Revenues.
 
(2) During the fourth quarter of 1996, the Company recorded a $3.8 million
    reduction in its reclamation and mine closing costs due to permit changes
    granted by state authorities and revisions to costs associated with
    removal of structures and productivities to reflect current experience.
 
(3) During the fourth quarter of 1996, no tax provision was required in order
    to achieve the effective tax rate.
 
(4) During 1995, the Company restructured its selling, general and
    administrative functions and reduced its salaried workforce by 143
    employees, 52 of which accepted the Company's early retirement program.
    Total restructuring charges of $8.3 million ($4.8 million in the second
    quarter and $3.5 million in the third quarter 1995) included charges for
    severance, pension and postretiree medical benefits.
 
(5) During the second quarter of 1995, the Company recorded a $5.1 million
    reduction in its reclamation and mine closing costs due to increased
    equipment operating productivities which reduces the cost to perform
    reclamation.
 
(6) During the third quarter of 1995, the Company sold its timber rights to
    approximately 100,000 acres of property in the Eastern United States for a
    gain of $8.4 million included in Other Revenues.
 
(7) During the third quarter of 1995, the Company recorded charges totalling
    $3 million including $1.5 million for the idling of an underground mine at
    its Illinois operations, $700,000 for the disposition of coal operations
    in Eastern Kentucky and $800,000 for the write-off of a loader destroyed
    by fire. The mine idling resulted from changing market conditions and the
    loss of contractual commitments to supply coal that was subject to annual
    market reopeners.
 
(8) Effective September 30, 1995, the Company adopted the provisions of
    Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121, "Accounting for the
    Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed
    Of." As a result, the Company recorded charges of $10.2 million to write
    down certain assets to their fair value.
 
(13) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
 
  On April 4, 1997, the Company changed its capital structure whereby the
number of authorized shares was increased to 100,000,000 common shares, the
par value was changed to $.01 per share, and a common stock split of 338.0857-
for-one was effected. All share and per share information have been
retroactively restated to reflect the stock split effective April 4, 1997.
 
                                     F-17
<PAGE>
 
                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS--(CONTINUED)
 
  On April 30, 1997, the Company made an $8 million deposit to the IRS in
connection with the Company's federal income tax returns for the tax years
1987-1989 which are under examination. The payment was charged against a
previously established resource recorded as a current liability.
 
  On May 20, 1997, the Company entered into a preliminary agreement for a new
revolving credit agreement to become effective at the Effective Time. The new
revolving credit agreement will be for a term of five years and provide for
borrowings of up to $500 million. The rate of interest on the borrowings under
this agreement will be, at the Company's option, a money market rate
determined by a competitive bid process, the PNC Bank base rate and a rate
based on LIBOR. The provisions of the revolving credit agreement will require
a facility fee on the amount of the commitment. The rate used to compute the
facility fee will be redetermined quarterly based on the Company's ratio of
debt to equity and may vary from 0.07% to 0.20% per annum.
 
                                     F-18
<PAGE>
 
                                                                      APPENDIX A
 
 
                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
 
                           DATED AS OF APRIL 4, 1997
 
                                     AMONG
 
                           ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION,
 
                             AMC MERGER CORPORATION
 
                                      AND
 
                               ASHLAND COAL, INC.
 
                                      A-1
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----
 <C>             <S>                                                       <C>
 ARTICLE I       THE MERGER.............................................     1
    Section 1.1  Effective Time of the Merger...........................     1
    Section 1.2  Closing................................................     1
    Section 1.3  Effects of the Merger..................................     2
    Section 1.4  Headquarters...........................................     2
 ARTICLE II      CONVERSION OF SECURITIES...............................     2
    Section 2.1  Conversion of Capital Stock............................     2
    Section 2.2  Exchange of Certificates...............................     3
    Section 2.3  No Further Transfers...................................     4
    Section 2.4  Dissenting Shares......................................     4
    Section 2.5  Withholding............................................     4
 ARTICLE III     REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.........................     5
    Section 3.1  Representations and Warranties of the Company and ACI..     5
 ARTICLE IV      COVENANTS..............................................    14
    Section 4.1  Stockholder Approval...................................    14
    Section 4.2  Conduct of Business....................................    14
    Section 4.3  Access to Information..................................    16
    Section 4.4  Legal Conditions to the Merger.........................    16
    Section 4.5  Public Announcements...................................    16
    Section 4.6  Tax-Free Reorganization................................    16
    Section 4.7  Affiliate Agreements...................................    17
                 Representations, Covenants and Conditions; Further
    Section 4.8  Assurances.............................................    17
    Section 4.9  Certain Benefit Matters................................    17
    Section 4.10 Indemnification; Insurance.............................    18
    Section 4.11 Notification of Certain Matters........................    19
    Section 4.12 NYSE Listing...........................................    19
 ARTICLE V       CONDITIONS TO MERGER...................................    19
                 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect the
    Section 5.1  Merger.................................................    19
    Section 5.2  Additional Conditions to Obligations of ACI............    20
    Section 5.3  Additional Conditions to Obligation of the Company.....    21
 ARTICLE VI      TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT..............................    21
    Section 6.1  Termination............................................    21
    Section 6.2  Effect of Termination..................................    22
    Section 6.3  Fees and Expenses......................................    22
    Section 6.4  Amendment..............................................    22
    Section 6.5  Extension; Waiver......................................    22
</TABLE>
 
                                      A-2
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----
 <C>             <S>                                                       <C>
 ARTICLE VII     MISCELLANEOUS...........................................   22
    Section 7.1  Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties...........   22
    Section 7.2  Notices.................................................   23
    Section 7.3  Interpretation..........................................   24
    Section 7.4  Knowledge...............................................   24
    Section 7.5  Counterparts............................................   24
    Section 7.6  Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries..........   24
    Section 7.7  Governing Law...........................................   24
    Section 7.8  Assignment..............................................   24
    Section 7.9  Severability............................................   24
    Section 7.10 Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver; Remedies Cumulative...   24
</TABLE>
 
Annex A--Form of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Arch Coal, Inc.
 
Annex B--Form of Restated and Amended Bylaws of Arch Coal, Inc.
 
Annex C--Directors of Arch Coal, Inc. as of the Effective Time
 
Annex D--Form of Affiliate Agreement
 
Annex E--Form of Arch Coal, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan
 
 
                                      A-3
<PAGE>
 
                         AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
 
  AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER ("AGREEMENT"), dated as of April 4, 1997, by
and among Arch Mineral Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"),
AMC Merger Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("MERGER SUB") and wholly owned
subsidiary of the Company, and Ashland Coal, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("ACI").
 
  WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of the parties hereto have approved this
Agreement and deem it advisable and in the best interests of their respective
corporations and stockholders that the Company and ACI enter into a strategic
business combination in order to advance the long-term business interests of
the Company and ACI and enhance stockholder value; and
 
  WHEREAS, such strategic business combination of the Company and ACI will be
effected pursuant to the terms of this Agreement by means of a transaction in
which Merger Sub will merge with and into ACI (the "MERGER"), whereupon ACI
will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and the stockholders of
ACI will become stockholders of the Company; and
 
  WHEREAS, prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, all
corporate action necessary to amend and restate, effective immediately prior
to the Effective Time (as herein defined), the Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws of the Company in their entireties to read as set forth in Annexes
A and B attached hereto, respectively (the "COMPANY AMENDED AND RESTATED
CHARTER AND BYLAWS"), has been taken by the Board of Directors and the
stockholders of the Company; and
 
  WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
as a condition and inducement to the Company's willingness to enter into this
Agreement, Ashland Inc., a stockholder of ACI, has entered into a Voting
Agreement (the "VOTING AGREEMENT") with the Company pursuant to which such
stockholder has agreed, among other things, to vote its shares of Common
Stock, par value $.01 per share, of ACI ("ACI COMMON STOCK") and Class B
Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share, of ACI ("ACI CLASS B PREFERRED
STOCK") in favor of this Agreement and otherwise in favor of the Merger; and
 
  WHEREAS, for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Merger
shall qualify either as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "CODE"), or as a non-
recognition exchange of stock under Section 351 of the Code;
 
  NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth below, the
parties agree as follows:
 
                                   ARTICLE I
 
                                  THE MERGER
 
  Section 1.1 Effective Time of the Merger. Subject to the provisions of this
Agreement, a certificate of merger (the "CERTIFICATE OF MERGER") in such form
(including, if required, an agreement of merger) as required in order to
effect the Merger under the relevant provisions of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the "DGCL") shall be duly prepared, executed and acknowledged
by the appropriate party or parties and thereafter delivered to the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware for filing as provided in the DGCL as soon
as practicable on or after the Closing Date. The Merger shall become effective
upon the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware or at such time thereafter as is provided in the
Certificate of Merger (the "EFFECTIVE TIME").
 
  Section 1.2 Closing. The closing of the Merger (the "CLOSING") will take
place at a time and on a date to be specified by the Company and ACI, which
shall be as soon as practicable after all of the conditions to the Merger set
forth in Article V have been satisfied or waived, subject to the rights of
termination and abandonment hereinafter set forth (the "CLOSING DATE"), at a
location mutually agreeable to the parties.
 
                                      A-4
<PAGE>
 
  Section 1.3 Effects of the Merger.
 
    (a) At the Effective Time (i) Merger Sub shall be merged with and into
  ACI and the separate existence of Merger Sub will cease, (ii) the
  Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Merger Sub as in effect
  immediately prior to the Merger shall become the Certificate of
  Incorporation and Bylaws of ACI as the surviving corporation of the Merger,
  and (iii) the directors of Merger Sub at the Effective Time shall be the
  directors of ACI as the surviving corporation of the Merger and hold office
  as provided in the Bylaws of ACI as in effect beginning at the Effective
  Time.
 
    (b) The Merger shall otherwise have the effects specified in applicable
  provisions of the DGCL.
 
    (c) At the Effective Time, the directors of the Company shall be as set
  forth in Annex C attached hereto.
 
  Section 1.4 Headquarters. The executive staff of the Company will be located
in St. Louis, Missouri at least until the earlier of (i) two years from the
date of the Effective Time or (ii) such time as various trusts for the benefit
of descendants of H.L. and Lyda Hunt, the beneficiaries of those trusts, and
various corporations owned by trusts for the benefit of descendants of H.L.
and Lyda Hunt (collectively, the "Hunt Entities") own less than 50% of the
Company Common Stock that the Hunt Entities owned at the Effective Time. The
operational personnel of the Company will initially be located in Huntington,
West Virginia. Following the Effective Time, the Board of Directors of the
Company will engage a recognized expert in office location to compile and
present to the Board of Directors of the Company detailed recommendations
regarding the location of the principal executive offices of the Company.
 
                                  ARTICLE II
 
                           CONVERSION OF SECURITIES
 
  Section 2.1 Conversion of Capital Stock. As of the Effective Time, by virtue
of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any shares
of capital stock of the Company, ACI or Merger Sub:
 
    (a) The issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of Merger Sub
  shall be converted into and become 1,000 fully paid and nonassessable
  shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of ACI, as the surviving
  corporation of the Merger.
 
    (b) Each issued and outstanding share of ACI Common Stock other than
  shares of ACI Common Stock issued and held in the treasury of ACI or owned
  of record by the Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the
  Company shall be converted into and shall become one share of Common Stock,
  par value $.01 per share, of the Company ("COMPANY COMMON STOCK").
 
    (c) Each issued and outstanding share of ACI Class B Preferred Stock
  other than shares of ACI Class B Preferred Stock issued and held in the
  treasury of ACI or owned of record by the Company or any direct or indirect
  subsidiary of the Company and other than shares of ACI Class B Preferred
  Stock held by a holder who has properly exercised and perfected appraisal
  rights under Section 262 of the DGCL ("ACI CLASS B DISSENTING SHARES")
  shall be converted into and become 20,500 shares of Company Common Stock.
 
    (d) Each issued and outstanding share of Class C Preferred Stock, par
  value $100 per share, of ACI ("ACI CLASS C PREFERRED STOCK") other than
  shares of ACI Class C Preferred Stock issued and held in the treasury of
  ACI or owned of record by the Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary
  of the Company and other than shares of ACI Class C Preferred Stock held by
  a holder who has properly exercised and perfected appraisal rights under
  Section 262 of the DGCL ("ACI CLASS C DISSENTING SHARES" and, together with
  ACI Class B Dissenting Shares, "ACI DISSENTING SHARES") shall be converted
  into and become 20,500 shares of Company Common Stock.
 
                                      A-5
<PAGE>
 
    (e) Each share of ACI Common Stock, ACI Class B Preferred Stock and ACI
  Class C Preferred Stock issued and held in the treasury of ACI or owned of
  record by the Company or any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof
  immediately prior to the Effective Time shall automatically be canceled and
  retired without any conversion thereof, and no consideration shall be
  exchangeable therefor.
 
    (f) All shares of ACI Common Stock, ACI Class B Preferred Stock and ACI
  Class C Preferred Stock, when converted into shares of Company Common Stock
  as provided in this Section 2.1, shall no longer be outstanding and shall
  automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each
  holder of a certificate representing any such shares shall cease to have
  any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the shares of
  Company Common Stock to be issued in consideration therefor upon the
  surrender of such certificate in accordance with Section 2.2, without
  interest.
 
  Section 2.2 Exchange of Certificates.
 
    (a) After the Effective Time, each holder of a certificate formerly
  evidencing shares of ACI Common Stock which have been converted pursuant to
  Section 2.1(b), each holder of a certificate formerly evidencing shares of
  ACI Class B Preferred Stock which have been converted pursuant to Section
  2.1(c), each holder of a certificate formerly evidencing shares of ACI
  Class C Preferred Stock which have been converted pursuant to Section
  2.1(d), upon surrender of the same to First Chicago Trust Company of New
  York or another exchange agent selected by the Company (the "EXCHANGE
  AGENT") as provided in Section 2.2(b) hereof, shall be entitled to receive
  in exchange therefor (i) a certificate or certificates representing the
  number of shares of Company Common Stock into which such shares of ACI
  Common Stock, ACI Class B Preferred Stock or ACI Class C Preferred Stock
  shall have been so converted. Until so surrendered, each certificate
  formerly evidencing shares of ACI Common Stock, ACI Class B Preferred Stock
  or ACI Class C Preferred Stock which have been so converted will be deemed
  for all corporate purposes of the Company to evidence ownership of the
  number of shares of Company Common Stock for which the shares of ACI Common
  Stock, ACI Class B Preferred Stock or ACI Class C Preferred Stock formerly
  represented thereby were exchanged; provided, however, that until such
  certificate is so surrendered, no dividend payable to holders of record of
  Company Common Stock as of any date subsequent to the Effective Time shall
  be paid to the holder of such certificate in respect of the shares of
  Company Common Stock evidenced thereby and such holder shall not be
  entitled to vote such shares of Company Common Stock. Upon surrender of a
  certificate formerly evidencing shares of ACI Common Stock , ACI Class B
  Preferred Stock or ACI Class C Preferred Stock which have been so
  converted, there shall be paid to the record holder of the certificates of
  Company Common Stock issued in exchange therefor (i) at the time of such
  surrender, the amount of dividends and any other distributions theretofore
  paid with respect to such shares of Company Common Stock as of any date
  subsequent to the Effective Time to the extent the same has not yet been
  paid to a public official pursuant to abandoned property, escheat or
  similar laws and (ii) at the appropriate payment date, the amount of
  dividends and any other distributions with a record date after the
  Effective Time but prior to surrender and a payment date subsequent to
  surrender payable with respect to such shares. No interest shall be payable
  with respect to the payment of such dividends.
 
    (b) As soon as practicable after the Effective Time, the Exchange Agent
  shall send a notice and a transmittal form to each holder of certificates
  formerly evidencing shares of ACI Common Stock, each holder of certificates
  formerly evidencing shares of ACI Class B Preferred Stock and each holder
  of certificates formerly evidencing shares of ACI Class C Preferred Stock
  (other than certificates formerly representing shares to be canceled
  pursuant to Section 2.1(e) and certificates representing ACI Dissenting
  Shares) advising such holder of the effectiveness of the Merger and the
  procedure for surrendering to the Exchange Agent (who may appoint
  forwarding agents with the approval of the Company) such certificates for
  exchange into certificates evidencing Company Common Stock. Each holder of
  certificates theretofore evidencing shares of ACI Common Stock, ACI Class B
  Preferred Stock or ACI Class C Preferred Stock, upon proper surrender
  thereof to the Exchange Agent together and in accordance with such
  transmittal form, shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor
  certificates evidencing Company Common Stock deliverable
 
                                      A-6
<PAGE>
 
  in respect of the shares of ACI Common Stock, ACI Class B Preferred Stock
  or ACI Class C Preferred Stock theretofore evidenced by the certificates so
  surrendered. At any time following one year after the Effective Time, the
  Company shall be entitled to require the Exchange Agent to deliver to the
  Company any consideration issuable or payable in the Merger which had been
  made available to the Exchange Agent by or on behalf of the Company and
  which has not been provided or disbursed to holders of certificates
  representing ACI Common Stock, ACI Class B Preferred Stock or ACI Class C
  Preferred Stock, and thereafter such holders shall be entitled to look to
  the Company as general creditors thereof with respect to the consideration
  issuable or payable in the Merger upon the due surrender of their
  certificates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Exchange Agent nor
  any party hereto shall be liable to a holder of certificates theretofore
  representing shares of ACI Common Stock, ACI Class B Preferred Stock or ACI
  Class C Preferred Stock for any amount which may be required to be paid to
  a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or
  similar law.
 
    (c) If any certificate evidencing shares of Company Common Stock is to be
  delivered to a person other than the person in whose name the certificates
  surrendered in exchange therefor are registered, it shall be a condition to
  the issuance of such certificate evidencing shares of Company Common Stock
  that the certificates so surrendered shall be properly endorsed or
  accompanied by appropriate stock powers and otherwise in proper form for
  transfer, that such transfer otherwise be proper and that the person
  requesting such transfer pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other
  taxes payable by reason of the foregoing or establish to the satisfaction
  of the Exchange Agent that such taxes have been paid or are not required to
  be paid.
 
    (d) In the event any certificate shall have been lost, stolen or
  destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person
  claiming such certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed, the Company will
  issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate the
  certificate evidencing shares of Company Common Stock deliverable in
  respect thereof, as determined in accordance with this Article II. When
  authorizing such issue of the certificate for shares of Company Common
  Stock in exchange therefor, the Company may, in its discretion and as a
  condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such
  lost, stolen or destroyed certificate to give the Company a bond in such
  sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made
  against the Company with respect to the certificate alleged to have been
  lost, stolen or destroyed.
 
    (e) Approval and adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of ACI
  shall constitute, as an integral part of the Merger, ratification of the
  appointment of, and the reappointment of, said Exchange Agent.
 
  Section 2.3 No Further Transfers. After the Effective Time, there shall be
no registration of transfers of shares on the stock transfer books of ACI of
the shares of ACI Common Stock, ACI Class B Preferred Stock and ACI Class C
Preferred Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.
 
  Section 2.4 Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, no ACI Dissenting Share shall be converted into or be
exchangeable for the right to receive the consideration therefor provided in
Section 2.1, but the holder thereof shall be entitled to receive such
consideration as shall be determined pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL with
respect to such share; provided, however, that if any such holder shall have
failed to perfect or shall have effectively withdrawn or otherwise lost such
holder's rights to appraisal under the DGCL, such holder's ACI Dissenting
Shares shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted into and to have
become exchangeable for, as of the Effective Time, the right to receive the
consideration therefor provided in Section 2.1 without any interest thereon,
and such shares shall no longer be ACI Dissenting Shares.
 
  Section 2.5 Withholding. The Company or the Exchange Agent shall be entitled
to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable or issuable
pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of ACI Common Stock, ACI Class B
Preferred Stock or ACI Class C Preferred Stock such amounts as the Company or
the
 
                                      A-7
<PAGE>
 
Exchange Agent is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making
of such payment or issuance under the Code, or any provision of state, local
or foreign tax law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by the Company
or the Exchange Agent, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes
of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the shares of ACI
Common Stock, ACI Class B Preferred Stock or ACI Class C Preferred Stock in
respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by the Company or the
Exchange Agent.
 
                                  ARTICLE III
 
                        REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
 
  Section 3.1 Representations and Warranties of the Company and ACI. When used
in connection with the Company or any of its respective Subsidiaries (as
hereinafter defined) or ACI or any of its respective Subsidiaries, as the case
may be, the term "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" for all purposes of this Agreement
means any change or effect that individually or when taken together with all
other such changes or effects that have occurred during any relevant time
period prior to the date of determination of the occurrence of the Material
Adverse Effect, (i) is materially adverse or is reasonably likely to be
materially adverse to the business, assets, financial condition or results of
operations or prospects of the Company and its respective Subsidiaries or ACI
and its respective Subsidiaries, respectively, in each case taken as a whole,
or (ii) does materially adversely affect or is reasonably likely to materially
adversely affect the ability of, in the case of the Company, the Company and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or, in the case of ACI, ACI and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, as the case may be, to perform its respective
obligations under this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents (as hereinafter
defined) or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
When used herein, the term "MATERIAL" for all purposes of this Agreement means
material to the party referred to and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
Except as set forth in the disclosure letter (designated as such specifically
for purposes of this Agreement) delivered at or prior to the execution hereof
to the Company or ACI, as the case may be, by ACI and the Company,
respectively (each, a "DISCLOSURE LETTER"), and except (in the case of ACI) as
disclosed in reports, proxy statements or information statements filed by ACI
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), the Company (except for
paragraphs (c), (n) and (w) below) hereby represents and warrants to ACI, and
ACI (except for paragraphs (b) and (z) below), hereby represents and warrants
to the Company, that:
 
    (a) Corporate Organization and Qualification. It and each of its
  Subsidiaries (both domestic and foreign), is an entity duly formed, validly
  existing and in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction
  of formation and is in good standing as a foreign entity in each
  jurisdiction where the properties owned, leased or operated, or the
  business conducted, by it or its Subsidiaries require such qualification,
  except for such failure to so qualify or be in such good standing which
  does not constitute a Material Adverse Effect. As used in this Agreement,
  the word "SUBSIDIARY" means, with respect to any party, any corporation or
  other entity or organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of
  which (i) such party or any other Subsidiary of such party is a general
  partner (excluding partnerships, the general partnership interests of which
  are held by such party or any Subsidiary of such party that do not have a
  majority of the voting interest in such partnership) or (ii) at least a
  majority of the securities or other interests having by their terms
  ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the Board of Directors or
  others performing similar functions with respect to such corporation or
  other organization is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such
  party or by any one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such party and one
  or more of its Subsidiaries. It and each of its Subsidiaries has the
  requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its respective
  businesses as they are now being conducted. It has made available to the
  Company (in the case of ACI) and ACI (in the case of the Company) a
  complete and correct copy of its Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws,
  in each case as amended to date. In each case, such Certificate of
  Incorporation and Bylaws so delivered are in full force and effect.
 
    (b) Authorized Capital of the Company. The authorized capital stock of
  the Company consists of 100,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, of
  which 20,948,463 shares are outstanding. All of the
 
                                      A-8
<PAGE>
 
  outstanding shares of Company Common Stock have been duly authorized and
  are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. No Company Common Stock
  has been reserved for issuance, except for shares of Company Common Stock
  reserved for issuance pursuant to the Arch Coal, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive
  Plan. The Company does not have outstanding any bonds, debentures, notes or
  other obligations the holders of which have the right to vote (or are
  convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for securities having the
  right to vote) either alone or with the stockholders of the Company on any
  matter. Each of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the
  Company's corporate Subsidiaries is duly authorized, validly issued, fully
  paid and nonassessable and, except for shares held by officers and
  directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries as nominees and for the
  benefit of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, is owned, either
  directly or indirectly, by the Company free and clear of all liens,
  pledges, security interests, claims or other encumbrances. Except as set
  forth above, there are no shares of capital stock of the Company
  authorized, issued or outstanding, and there are no preemptive rights or
  any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, rights, convertible
  securities or other agreements or commitments of the Company or any of its
  Subsidiaries of any character relating to the issued or unissued capital
  stock or other securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
 
    (c) Authorized Capital of ACI. The authorized capital stock of ACI
  consists of 44,000,000 shares of ACI Common Stock, of which 13,518,008
  shares were outstanding as of March 31, 1997, 500 shares of convertible
  Class A Preferred Stock, of which no shares were outstanding on such date,
  250 shares of ACI Class B Preferred Stock, of which 150 shares were
  outstanding on such date, and 250 shares of ACI Class C Preferred Stock, of
  which 100 shares were outstanding on such date. Since such date, no
  additional shares of capital stock of ACI have been issued except for
  shares of ACI Common Stock which have been issued upon conversion of shares
  of ACI Class B Preferred Stock or ACI Class C Preferred Stock, pursuant to
  the exercise of options outstanding as of such date under the ACI Stock
  Plans (as defined below), or pursuant to the ACI Dividend Reinvestment and
  Stock Purchase Plan (the "DRP"). As of such date, 519,035 shares of ACI
  Common Stock were issuable upon exercise of outstanding options under the
  1988 Stock Incentive Plan for Key Employees of Ashland Coal, Inc. and
  Subsidiaries and 175,000 shares of ACI Common Stock were issuable upon
  exercise of outstanding options under the ACI 1995 Stock Incentive Plan
  (together, the "ACI STOCK PLANS"). All of the outstanding shares of ACI
  Common Stock, ACI Class B Preferred Stock and ACI Class C Preferred Stock
  have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and
  nonassessable. ACI has no shares of ACI Common Stock, ACI Class B Preferred
  Stock or ACI Class C Preferred Stock reserved for issuance, except that, as
  of such date, an aggregate of 1,519,035 shares of ACI Common Stock were
  reserved for issuance pursuant to the ACI Stock Plans, an aggregate of
  5,211,500 shares of ACI Common Stock were reserved for issuance upon
  conversion of shares of ACI Class B Preferred Stock and ACI Class C
  Preferred Stock, and an aggregate of 137,812.436 shares of ACI Common Stock
  were reserved for issuance pursuant to the DRP. ACI has no outstanding
  bonds, debentures, notes or other obligations the holders of which have the
  right to vote (or are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
  securities having the right to vote) either alone or with the stockholders
  of ACI on any matter. Each of the outstanding shares of capital stock of
  each of ACI's corporate Subsidiaries is duly authorized, validly issued,
  fully paid and nonassessable and, except for shares held by officers and
  directors of ACI and its Subsidiaries as nominees and for the benefit of
  ACI or any of its Subsidiaries, is owned, either directly or indirectly, by
  ACI free and clear of all liens, pledges, security interests, claims or
  other encumbrances. Except as set forth above, as of the date hereof there
  are no shares of capital stock of ACI authorized, issued and outstanding,
  and there are no preemptive rights or any outstanding subscriptions,
  options, warrants, rights, convertible securities or other agreements or
  commitments of ACI or any of its Subsidiaries of any character relating to
  the issued or unissued capital stock or other securities of ACI or any of
  its Subsidiaries.
 
    (d) Corporate Authority. Subject (in the case of ACI) only to approval of
  this Agreement and the Merger by the affirmative vote of the holders of at
  least 85% of the outstanding shares of capital stock of ACI voting thereon
  and voting as one class, it has the requisite corporate power and authority
  and has taken all corporate action necessary in order to execute and
  deliver this Agreement and any other agreement,
 
                                      A-9
<PAGE>
 
  instrument or certificate (collectively, the "ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS") to be
  executed or delivered by it pursuant hereto, and to consummate the
  transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. Its Board of Directors,
  including the Special Committee thereof formed to consider (among other
  things) the Merger (each a "SPECIAL COMMITTEE"), has approved this
  Agreement and the Merger and (in the case of the Board of Directors of ACI)
  has directed that this Agreement and the Merger be submitted to its
  stockholders for approval and adoption in accordance with applicable law
  and its Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, and, subject to its
  fiduciary duties under applicable law, has recommended that its
  stockholders approve this Agreement and the Merger. This Agreement and each
  Ancillary Document to be executed and delivered by it pursuant hereto is a
  valid and binding agreement, certificate or instrument, as the case may be,
  of it enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to
  bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
  affecting creditors' rights generally and to applicable limitations on the
  availability of equitable remedies, including considerations of public
  policy.
 
    (e) Governmental Filings; No Violations. (i) Other than the filings
  provided for in Section 1.1, such filings as may be required under the
  Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the "HSR
  ACT"), filings required under the Exchange Act, filings required under the
  Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), filings required
  under state securities and "Blue Sky" laws, and any filings required to be
  made under the laws of any foreign jurisdiction, no notices, reports or
  other filings are required to be made by it or its Subsidiaries with, nor
  are any consents, registrations, approvals, permits or authorizations
  required to be obtained by it or its Subsidiaries from, any governmental or
  regulatory authority, agency, court, commission or other entity, domestic
  or foreign ("GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY"), in connection with the execution and
  delivery of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Documents by it and the
  consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, the
  failure of which to make or obtain would constitute a Material Adverse
  Effect.
 
    (ii) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any of the
  Ancillary Documents by it, nor the consummation by it of any of the
  transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, or any action required by
  applicable law as a result thereof, will constitute or result in (A)
  subject (in the case of ACI only) to receipt of requisite stockholder
  approval, a breach or violation of, or a default under, its Certificate of
  Incorporation or Bylaws or the comparable governing instruments of any of
  its Subsidiaries, (B) a breach or violation of, a default (with or without
  the giving of notice or the passage of time) under or the triggering of any
  payment or other obligations, or the right of any third party to require a
  payment or performance of an obligation not otherwise due, pursuant to, or
  accelerate vesting under, any existing collective bargaining, bonus, profit
  sharing, thrift, compensation, stock option, restricted stock, pension,
  retirement, employee stock ownership, deferred compensation, employment,
  termination, severance or other plan, agreement, trust, fund, policy or
  arrangement for the benefit of any current or former directors, officers or
  employees of it or any of its Subsidiaries ("BENEFIT PLANS") or any grant
  or award made under any of the foregoing, (C) a breach or violation of, a
  default under, a change in the rights of any party under, or the
  acceleration of or the creation of a lien, pledge, security interest or
  other encumbrance on assets (with or without the giving of notice or the
  lapse of time) pursuant to, any provision of any note, bond, mortgage,
  indenture, agreement, lease, contract, instrument, arrangement or other
  obligation of it or any of its Subsidiaries or (D) a breach or violation of
  any law, rule, ordinance or regulation or judgment, decree, order, award or
  governmental or non- governmental permit, license, franchise or other
  similar right or authorization to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is
  subject except, in the case of clauses (B), (C) or (D) above, for such
  breaches, violations, defaults, accelerations or changes that would not
  constitute a Material Adverse Effect. Its Disclosure Letter sets forth, to
  its knowledge, a list of any consents, approvals or waivers required under
  or pursuant to any of the foregoing to be obtained prior to consummation of
  the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. It will use all reasonable
  efforts to obtain the consents, approvals or waivers referred to in its
  Disclosure Letter.
 
    (f) Financial Statements. Each of the Company and ACI has delivered to
  the other a copy of its consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 1996
  and 1995 and its consolidated statements of income, of
 
                                     A-10
<PAGE>
 
  stockholders' equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the
  period ended December 31, 1996, together with the related notes thereto and
  the audit report thereon of Arthur Andersen LLP (in the case of the
  Company) and of Ernst & Young LLP (in the case of ACI). Each of such
  consolidated balance sheets (including the related notes) fairly presents
  the consolidated financial position of the delivering party and its
  Subsidiaries as of its date and each of such consolidated statements of
  income, of stockholders' equity and of cash flows (including the related
  notes), fairly presents the results of operations, stockholders' equity and
  cash flows of the delivering party and its Subsidiaries for the periods
  covered thereby, in each case in accordance with United States generally
  accepted accounting principles consistently applied during the periods
  involved, except as may be noted therein. Each of the Company and ACI will
  deliver to the other a copy of each of its consolidated balance sheets
  prepared as of any date subsequent to December 31, 1996 and its
  consolidated statements of income, of stockholders' equity and of cash
  flows for any period then ended, together with the related notes thereto,
  if any. Such consolidated balance sheets will fairly present the
  consolidated financial portion of the delivering party and its Subsidiaries
  as of their respective dates and such consolidated statements of income, of
  stockholders' equity and of cash flows will fairly present the results of
  operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the delivering party and
  its Subsidiaries for the respective periods covered thereby (subject, in
  the case of consolidated financial statements for interim periods to normal
  year-end audit adjustments which would not be material in amount or
  effect), in each case in accordance with United States generally accepted
  accounting principles consistently applied during the periods involved,
  except as may be noted therein.
 
    (g) Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. It and its Subsidiaries do not
  have any liabilities, whether accrued or contingent and whether or not
  required to be reflected in financial statements in accordance with United
  States generally accepted accounting principles, that are material to the
  financial condition of it and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, other than
  (i) liabilities (or reserves therefor) reflected in its consolidated
  balance sheet as of December 31, 1996 and (ii) normal or recurring
  liabilities incurred since December 31, 1996 in the ordinary course of
  business consistent with past practices.
 
    (h) Absence of Certain Changes. Since December 31, 1996, except as
  contemplated by this Agreement, it and its Subsidiaries have conducted
  their respective businesses only in, and have not engaged in any material
  transaction other than in, the ordinary and usual course of such businesses
  and there has not been (i) any change in it or any development or
  combination of developments which constitutes a Material Adverse Effect;
  (ii) any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other
  distribution with respect to its capital stock except for, in the case of
  ACI, regular cash dividends per share of ACI Common Stock of not more than
  $0.115 per quarter and regular cash dividends on shares of ACI Class B
  Preferred Stock and ACI Class C Preferred Stock and, in the case of the
  Company, cash dividends on AMC Common Stock in an aggregate amount not
  exceeding 108.33% of the aggregate cash dividends paid on ACI Common Stock,
  ACI Class B Preferred Stock and ACI Class C Preferred Stock for the same
  period; or (iii) any change by it in accounting principles, practices or
  methods that is not required by United States generally accepted accounting
  principles or by Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act. Since December 31,
  1996, except as provided for herein and other than in the ordinary course
  consistent with past practice, there has not been (A) any increase in the
  compensation payable or which could become payable by it or its
  Subsidiaries to their officers or key employees, or (B) any amendment of
  any of its or any of its Subsidiary's Benefit Plans which, when taken
  together with all other such amendments, would result in an aggregate
  increase in annual funding liability of more than $250,000.
 
    (i) Litigation. There are no civil, criminal or administrative actions,
  suits, claims, hearings, investigations or proceedings pending or, to its
  knowledge, threatened, against it or any of its Subsidiaries that have
  resulted or are reasonably likely to result in any claims against, or
  obligations or liabilities of, it or any of its Subsidiaries, that
  constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
 
    (j) Taxes. All federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to
  be filed by or on behalf of it or any of its Subsidiaries have been timely
  filed or requests for extension have been timely filed and any such
 
                                     A-11
<PAGE>
 
  extension shall have been granted and not have expired other than those
  returns with respect to which the failure to timely file or the failure to
  request an extension of the time for filing would not have a Material
  Adverse Effect, and all such filed returns are complete and accurate in all
  material respects. Except as currently being contested in good faith or
  with respect to which adequate reserves have been made in its financial
  statements, all taxes required to be shown on returns or to be paid with
  respect to returns for which extensions have been filed by it have been
  paid in full or have been recorded on its consolidated balance sheet and
  consolidated statement of earnings or income in accordance with United
  States generally accepted accounting principles. There is no outstanding
  audit examination, deficiency, or refund litigation with respect to any
  taxes of it or any of its Subsidiaries that might reasonably be expected to
  result in a determination that would constitute a Material Adverse Effect,
  except for any such examination, deficiency or litigation as to which
  adequate reserves are reflected in its financial statements. All taxes,
  interest, additions and penalties due with respect to completed and settled
  examinations or concluded litigation relating to it or any of its
  Subsidiaries have been paid in full or have been recorded on its balance
  sheet and consolidated statement of earnings or income (in accordance with
  United States generally accepted accounting principles). Neither it nor any
  of its Subsidiaries has executed an extension or waiver of any statute of
  limitations on the assessment or collection of any tax due that is
  currently in effect, the failure to pay which would constitute a Material
  Adverse Effect.
 
    (k) Employee Benefits. (i) True and correct copies of all documents
  evidencing its Benefit Plans, including any "employee benefit plan" as
  defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
  1974, as amended ("ERISA"), have been delivered to the Company (in the case
  of ACI) and ACI (in the case of the Company).
 
    (ii) Except for such incidents of actual or possible noncompliance which
  would not constitute a Material Adverse Effect, (A) all of its Benefit
  Plans, to the extent subject to ERISA, are in substantial compliance with
  ERISA, (B) each Benefit Plan which is an "employee pension benefit plan"
  within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA ("PENSION PLAN") and which is
  intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a
  favorable determination letter covering the Tax Reform Act of 1986 from the
  Internal Revenue Service or application for such a favorable determination
  has been made within the applicable remedial amendment period provided by
  the Code, and it is not aware of any circumstances likely to result in
  either revocation of any such favorable determination letter or denial of
  such request, (C) each Benefit Plan which is a group health plan within the
  meaning of Section 4980B(g)(2) of the Code is in substantial compliance
  with the requirements of Section 4980B of the Code, and (D) there is no
  pending or, to its knowledge, threatened litigation, investigation or audit
  relating to the Benefit Plans other than claims for benefits made in the
  ordinary course. Neither it nor any Subsidiary has engaged in a transaction
  with respect to any Benefit Plan that, assuming the taxable period of such
  transaction expired as of the date hereof, could subject it or any of its
  Subsidiaries to a tax or penalty imposed by either Section 4975 of the Code
  or Section 502(i) of ERISA in an amount which would constitute a Material
  Adverse Effect. Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has completely or
  partially withdrawn from a "multiemployer plan" within the meaning of
  Section 3(37) of ERISA or has suffered a 70% decline in "contribution base
  units" within the meaning of Section 4205(b)(1)(A) of ERISA in any plan
  year beginning after 1979.
 
    (iii) No material liability under Subtitle C or D of Title IV of ERISA
  has been or is expected to be incurred by it or any Subsidiary with respect
  to any ongoing, frozen or terminated Benefit Plan currently or formerly
  maintained by any of them, or any Benefit Plan of any entity which is
  considered one employer with it or any of its Subsidiaries under Section
  4001 of ERISA or Section 414 of the Code (an "ERISA AFFILIATE"). No notice
  of a "reportable event", within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA for
  which the 30-day reporting requirement has not been waived, has been
  required to be filed for any Pension Plan or by any ERISA Affiliate within
  the 12-month period ending on the date hereof.
 
                                     A-12
<PAGE>
 
    (iv) All material contributions required to be made by it or any of its
  Subsidiaries under the terms of any Benefit Plan have been timely made or
  have been accrued pending full and timely payment. No Benefit Plan of an
  ERISA Affiliate has an "accumulated funding deficiency" (whether or not
  waived) within the meaning of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of
  ERISA. None of it, its Subsidiaries or its ERISA Affiliates has provided,
  or is required to provide, security to any Benefit Plan of an ERISA
  Affiliate pursuant to Section 401(a)(29) of the Code.
 
    (v) For all Pension Plans that are "defined benefit plans" within the
  meaning of Section 3(35) of ERISA, there has been no material adverse
  change in the financial condition of any such Pension Plan since the last
  day of the most recent plan year.
 
    (vi) Except as set forth in the documents evidencing its Benefit Plans,
  neither it nor its Subsidiaries have any obligations for retiree health and
  life benefits.
 
    (vii) The Board of Directors of ACI has taken action to terminate the
  Ashland Coal, Inc. Salary Continuation Plan.
 
    (l) Environmental Matters. (i) Surface Mining Permits. It and each of its
  Subsidiaries is in compliance with all of the current permits ("SURFACE
  MINING PERMITS") held by it or any such Subsidiary issued pursuant to the
  Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, as amended, or pursuant
  to an equivalent state regulatory program granted primacy under the
  provisions of 30 U.S.C. (S) 1253 (collectively, "SURFACE MINING LAWS"),
  including the mining plans as respects reclamation, coal processing and
  related activities as submitted to the Office of Surface Mining or any
  state equivalent agency having jurisdiction over a state program granted
  primacy under the provisions of 30 U.S.C. (S) 1253 ("SURFACE MINING
  ENFORCEMENT AGENCY") to obtain the Surface Mining Permits, the failure to
  be in compliance with which would constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
  Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries has been subjected to or is as of
  the date hereof subject to any bond forfeiture, permit suspension or
  revocation proceedings instituted by any Surface Mining Enforcement Agency
  and neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries is presently "permit-blocked" in
  any state or under the federal Applicant Violator System which would
  constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
 
    (ii) Use and Condition of Real Property. Except for valid grandfathered
  nonconforming uses, the operations on, conditions of and use of all of the
  real property owned, leased, controlled or used by it and each of its
  Subsidiaries in its business conform to all, and give rise to no liability
  under, any federal, state and local laws, ordinances, requirements,
  regulations, licenses, permits, judicial or administrative orders,
  injunctions, judgements and decrees relating to zoning, land use, mining,
  health, safety or the environment including, without limitation, those
  pertaining to Hazardous Materials (as hereinafter defined), subsidence,
  water drainage, treatment or impoundment, reclamation and all other
  restrictions and covenants regarding the use of any real property owned,
  leased, controlled or used by it or any of its Subsidiaries in its
  business, the failure to conform or to comply with which would constitute a
  Material Adverse Effect. The term "HAZARDOUS MATERIALS" shall mean (A)
  "hazardous wastes" as defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
  ("RCRA"); (B) "hazardous substances" as defined in the Comprehensive
  Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA"); (C)
  gasoline, petroleum or other hydrocarbon product, by-products, derivatives,
  additives or fractions (including used or spent products); (D) "chemical
  substances" as defined in the Toxic Substance Control Act ("TSCA"); (E)
  asbestos; and (F) any radioactive materials or substances. The real
  property owned, leased, controlled or used by it and each of its
  Subsidiaries in its business is free of any waste or debris or Hazardous
  Materials, except as would not constitute in a Material Adverse Effect.
 
    (iii) Releases of Hazardous Materials. There have been no releases (as
  "release" is defined under CERCLA or under any applicable state or local
  law or regulation) of Hazardous Materials (A) by it or any of its
  Subsidiaries, or (B) by any other person or entity at, on, in, from, under,
  over or in any way
 
                                     A-13
<PAGE>
 
  affecting any real property owned, leased, controlled or used by it or any
  of its Subsidiaries in its business, an adjacent site or facility, or any
  other real property which may have been owned, leased, controlled or used
  in the past by it or any of its Subsidiaries, other than in each case such
  releases which would not constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
 
    (iv) Production, Storage and Disposal of Hazardous Materials. No real
  property owned, leased, controlled or used by it or any of its Subsidiaries
  in its business has been or is being used to produce, manufacture, process,
  generate, store, treat, dispose of, manage, ship or transport Hazardous
  Materials other than as would not constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
 
    (v) Safety Matters. It and each of its Subsidiaries have complied with
  the requirements of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as
  amended, and all applicable similar or related statutes of any state and
  have complied with all applicable federal, state or local laws, ordinances,
  requirements, rules, regulations, licenses, permits, orders, injunctions,
  judgments, or decrees pertaining to mine safety and health, the failure to
  comply with which would constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
 
    (m) Brokers and Finders. Neither it nor any of its officers, directors or
  employees has employed any broker or finder or incurred any liability for
  any brokerage fees, commissions or finder's fees in connection with the
  transactions contemplated hereby, except that, in the case of ACI, ACI has
  retained Salomon Brothers Inc as its financial advisor in connection with
  the transactions contemplated hereby, the arrangements with which have been
  disclosed in writing to the Company prior to the date hereof.
 
    (n) Takeover Statute. The Board of Directors of ACI has taken all actions
  so that the restrictions contained in Section 203 of the DGCL applicable to
  a "business combination" (as defined in Section 203) will not apply to the
  execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the Voting
  Agreement or the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions
  contemplated by this Agreement or the Voting Agreement.
 
    (o) Tax Matters. Neither it nor any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates has
  taken or agreed to take any action that would prevent the Merger from being
  treated as either a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of
  the Code or a non-recognition exchange of stock under Section 351 of the
  Code.
 
    (p) Labor Matters. It has previously furnished to the Company (in the
  case of ACI) and ACI (in the case of the Company) true and complete copies
  of all labor and collective bargaining agreements to which it or its
  Subsidiaries is a party and that are currently in effect, together with all
  amendments thereto (if any), other than the National Bituminous Coal Wage
  Agreement of 1993 and the related Memorandum of Understanding. There are no
  strikes or other work stoppages involving any employees of it or any of its
  Subsidiaries and there are no material labor disputes by any labor
  organization in progress or pending or, to its knowledge, threatened
  against it or any of its Subsidiaries that would constitute a Material
  Adverse Effect. To its knowledge, it and its Subsidiaries are in compliance
  with all applicable laws and regulations in respect of employment and
  employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, wages and hours,
  occupational safety, health or welfare conditions relating to premises
  occupied, and civil rights, non-compliance with which would constitute a
  Material Adverse Effect. There are no charges of unfair labor practices
  pending before any governmental authority involving or affecting it or any
  of its Subsidiaries that would constitute a Material Adverse Effect. It has
  not been notified that any customer or supplier (including any supplier of
  transportation services) of it or any Subsidiary is involved in or
  threatened with or affected by any strike or other labor disturbance or
  dispute, litigation or administrative proceeding or judgment, order,
  injunction, decree or award, the consequences of which would constitute a
  Material Adverse Effect.
 
    (q) Properties. (i) Owned Real Property. It and each of its Subsidiaries
  has good and marketable title to all real property owned or purported to be
  owned by it or its Subsidiaries which is used or projected to be used by it
  or its Subsidiaries or any other person in connection with its mining
  activities (hereinafter "FEE PROPERTY"). As used herein "good and
  marketable title" shall mean title which is free from
 
                                     A-14
<PAGE>
 
  encumbrances and any reasonable doubt as to its validity excepting only
  those imperfections of title and encumbrances, if any, which do not
  constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
 
    (ii) Leased or Licensed Real Property. It and each of its Subsidiaries
  has good and marketable leasehold title to all the real property leased or
  licensed by it in connection with its business (hereinafter "LEASED
  PROPERTY") and the Leased Property is not subject to any restrictions on
  transfer or use, except as created by the lease or license pursuant to
  which it or its Subsidiaries holds the Leased Property or as would not
  constitute a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein "good and marketable
  leasehold title" shall mean a valid and subsisting leasehold interest which
  is free from encumbrances and any reasonable doubt as to its validity
  excepting only those imperfections of title and encumbrances, if any, which
  do not constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
 
    (iii) Facilities and Improvements. It and each of its Subsidiaries has
  good and marketable title (as defined in Section 3.1(q)(i)) to loadouts,
  tipples, docks and other facilities material to its operations
  ("FACILITIES") owned or purported to be owned by it or its Subsidiaries,
  and good and marketable leasehold title (as defined in Section 3.1(q)(ii))
  to the Facilities which are leased by it or its Subsidiaries. All of the
  Facilities, and the use presently being made of the Fee Property and the
  Leased Property, comply with all applicable zoning and building code
  ordinances and all applicable fire, environmental, occupational safety and
  health standards and similar requirements established by law or regulation,
  except as would not constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
 
    (iv) Reserve Information. The coal reserve information furnished by it to
  the Company (in the case of ACI) and ACI (in the case of the Company), has
  been prepared in accordance with prudent and accepted engineering practices
  and it is not aware of any inaccuracies in such information as would
  constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
 
    (v) Equipment and Other Personalty. It and each of its Subsidiaries has
  good and marketable title (as defined in Section 3.1(q)(i) to the
  equipment, machinery, vehicles, rolling stock and other tangible personal
  property used by it or its Subsidiaries in its business and material to its
  operations (the "PERSONALTY") which is owned by it and good and marketable
  leasehold title (as defined in Section 3.1(q)(ii)) to the Personalty used
  in its business which is leased.
 
    (r) Intellectual Property. It and its Subsidiaries either own, or to its
  knowledge, have valid, binding and enforceable rights to use all patents,
  trademarks, trade names, service marks, service names, copyrights, other
  proprietary intellectual property rights, applications therefor and
  licenses or other rights in respect thereof ("INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY") used
  or held for use or necessary in connection with the business of it or its
  Subsidiaries, without any conflict with the rights of others, except for
  such conflicts that would not constitute a Material Adverse Effect. Neither
  it nor any of its Subsidiaries has, as of the date hereof, received any
  notice from any other person pertaining to or challenging the right of it
  or its Subsidiaries to use any Intellectual Property or any trade secrets,
  proprietary information, inventions, know-how, processes and procedures
  owned or used by or licensed to it or any of its Subsidiaries, except with
  respect to rights the loss of which, individually or in the aggregate,
  would not constitute a Material Adverse Effect. To its knowledge, none of
  its or its Subsidiaries' personnel is in violation of any term of any
  employment contract, patent disclosure agreement or any other contract or
  agreement relating to the relationship of any such employee with it or its
  Subsidiaries or any other party the result of which would constitute a
  Material Adverse Effect.
 
    (s) Insurance. It and each of its Subsidiaries has in effect valid and
  effective policies of insurance, issued by companies believed by it to be
  sound and reputable, insuring it or such Subsidiary (as the case may be)
  for losses customarily insured against by others engaged in similar lines
  of business.
 
 
                                     A-15
<PAGE>
 
    (t) Employment and Change in Control Agreements.
 
    (i) Its Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of all
  agreements between it or any of its Subsidiaries and any of its (or any of
  such Subsidiary's) officers, directors or employees providing for the terms
  of his or her employment with it or any of its Subsidiaries and the terms
  of his or her severance or other payments upon termination of such
  employment (the "EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS"). It has previously furnished to
  the Company (in the case of ACI) and ACI (in the case of the Company) true
  and complete copies of all Employment Agreements, together with all
  amendments thereto (if any).
 
    (ii) Except as provided for in this Agreement, neither it nor any of its
  Subsidiaries is a party to any oral or written (i) agreement with any
  director, officer or employee of it or any of its Subsidiaries (A) the
  benefits of which are contingent, or the terms of which are materially
  altered, upon the occurrence of a transaction involving it of the nature
  contemplated by this Agreement or (B) providing for compensation payments
  that would not be deductible by it for federal income tax purposes, or (ii)
  agreement or Benefit Plan, any of the benefits of which will be increased,
  or the vesting of the benefits of which will be accelerated, by the
  occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
  value of any of the benefits of which will be calculated on the basis of
  any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
 
    (u) Certain Transactions. None of the officers or directors of it or of
  any of its Subsidiaries and, to its knowledge, none of its employees or the
  employees of any of its Subsidiaries, is a party to any material
  transaction with it or any of its Subsidiaries (other than for services as
  an employee, officer or director), including, without limitation, any
  contract, agreement or other arrangement (i) providing for the furnishing
  of services to or by, (ii) providing for rental of real or personal
  property to or from, or (iii) otherwise requiring payments to or from, any
  such officer, director, affiliate or employee, any member of the family of
  any such officer, director or employee of any corporation, partnership,
  trust or other entity in which any such officer, director or employee has a
  substantial interest (excluding the ownership of not more than two percent
  (2%) of the capital stock of a publicly traded corporation) or which is an
  affiliate of such officer, director or employee.
 
    (v) Information in Disclosure Documents and Registration Statement. None
  of the information supplied or to be supplied by it for inclusion or
  incorporation by reference in (i) the registration statement on Form S-4 to
  be filed with the SEC in connection with the issuance of shares of Company
  Common Stock in the Merger (the "S-4") will, at the time of the filing of
  the S-4 and any amendments thereto and at the time the S-4 becomes
  effective under the Securities Act, contain any untrue statement of a
  material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
  therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
  circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, and (ii) the proxy
  statement/prospectus relating to the meeting of ACI's stockholders to be
  held in connection with the Merger and the offering of shares of Company
  Common Stock to the holders of shares of ACI Common Stock, ACI Class B
  Preferred Stock and ACI Class C Preferred Stock (the "PROXY STATEMENT")
  will, at the date mailed to the stockholders and at the times of the
  meeting of ACI stockholders to be held in connection with the Merger,
  contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
  material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make
  the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are
  made, not misleading.
 
    (w) Opinion of Financial Advisor. ACI has received the opinion of its
  financial advisor referred to in Section 3.1(m), dated the date hereof, to
  the effect that, as of such date, each of (i) the consideration to be
  received by holders of ACI Common Stock in the Merger and (ii) the
  consideration to be received by holders of ACI Preferred Stock in the
  Merger is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of ACI
  Common Stock other than Ashland Inc., a copy of which opinion has been
  delivered to the Company.
 
    (x) Restrictions on Business Activities. There is no agreement, judgment,
  injunction, order or decree binding upon it or any of its Subsidiaries that
  has or could reasonably be expected to have the effect of
 
                                     A-16
<PAGE>
 
  prohibiting or impairing any material business practice of the Company, ACI
  and their respective Subsidiaries (in each case, taken as a whole), the
  acquisition of any material property by the Company, ACI and their
  respective Subsidiaries (in each case, taken as a whole) or the conduct of
  the business by the Company, ACI and their respective Subsidiaries (in each
  case, taken as a whole) as such business is currently conducted by the
  Company and ACI and their respective Subsidiaries.
 
    (y) Material Agreements. All contracts, agreements, commitments or other
  understandings of arrangements to which it or any of its Subsidiaries is a
  party or by which it or any of its property is bound or affected,
  including, but not limited to, contracts for the future purchase of mining
  supplies, equipment, or any other materials or goods (except for contracts
  for purchases of materials or goods to meet immediate operating needs),
  contracts for sales, agency or brokerage services, contracts for future
  sale of coal or coal products to any customer or person, contract mining
  agreements or other contracts providing for the operation of facilities or
  properties, contracts for the washing, tippling or other processing of coal
  by or for third parties, or contracts for the trucking, transportation or
  transloading of coal, fire, theft, casualty, liability, Workers'
  Compensation, black lung and other insurance policies insuring it or any of
  its Subsidiaries, loan agreements, indentures, mortgages, pledges,
  conditional sale or title retention agreements, security agreements,
  equipment obligations, guaranties, leases or lease purchase agreements to
  which it or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it is bound, the
  loss of rights of it or its Subsidiaries under any of which would result in
  a Material Adverse Effect are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance
  with their respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency,
  reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors'
  rights generally and to applicable limitations on the availability of
  equitable remedies, including considerations of public policy, are in full
  force and effect, and there exists no default which, after notice or lapse
  of time, or both, would result in a right to accelerate or loss of rights
  of it or its Subsidiaries thereunder.
 
    (z) Certain Company Approvals. The Company and its stockholders have
  taken all corporate action necessary such that the Company's Amended and
  Restated Charter and Bylaws will be in effect immediately prior to the
  Effective Time. The Company, by requisite action of its Board of Directors,
  and the stockholders of the Company, by requisite vote, have approved and
  adopted the Arch Coal, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan in the form attached
  hereto as Annex E, and the Company has taken all corporate action necessary
  to reserve for issuance a sufficient number of shares of Company Common
  Stock for issuance upon exercise of stock options and other rights subject
  to grant under such Plan. The Company has taken all corporate action
  necessary such that, at the Effective Time, the Board of Directors of the
  Company will be comprised only of those persons identified or referred to
  as directors of the Company in Annex C attached hereto.
 
                                  ARTICLE IV
 
                                   COVENANTS
 
  Section 4.1 Stockholder Approval. As promptly as practicable following the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, unless this Agreement shall have
been previously terminated in accordance with Article VI, ACI shall submit
this Agreement and the Merger to its stockholders for approval and adoption at
a meeting of its stockholders called for such purpose (the "ACI STOCKHOLDERS
MEETING").
 
  Section 4.2 Conduct of Business. During the period from the date of this
Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this
Agreement in accordance with Article VI or the Effective Time, each of the
Company and ACI agrees as to itself and its Subsidiaries (except to the extent
that the other shall otherwise consent in writing), to carry on its business
in the usual, regular and ordinary course in substantially the same manner as
heretofore conducted, to the end that its goodwill and ongoing business be
substantially unimpaired at the Effective Time. Except as expressly
contemplated by this Agreement, and not in limitation of the foregoing, during
the aforesaid period each of the Company and ACI shall (and shall cause its
Subsidiaries to), except as approved in writing by the other:
 
                                     A-17
<PAGE>
 
    (a) preserve and maintain its corporate existence and all of its rights,
  privileges and franchises reasonably necessary or desirable in the normal
  conduct of its business;
 
    (b) not acquire any stock or other interest in, nor (except in the
  ordinary course of business) purchase any assets of, any corporation,
  partnership, association or other business organization or entity or any
  division thereof (except any stock or assets distributed to it or any of
  its Subsidiaries as part of any bankruptcy or other creditor settlement or
  pursuant to a plan of reorganization), nor agree to do any of the
  foregoing;
 
    (c) not sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its
  assets (including, without limitation, patents, trade secrets or licenses),
  nor create any mortgage, security interest or other lien on any of its
  assets, except as permitted by this Agreement or in the ordinary course of
  business and except that it and each of its Subsidiaries may sell or
  otherwise dispose of any assets which are held for disposition as of the
  date hereof or are obsolete;
 
    (d) not incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or any obligation under
  any guarantee or "make whole" or capital support agreement or arrangement,
  other than as a result of borrowings or drawdowns, the issuance of letters
  of credit for its account and the incurrence of interest, letter of credit
  reimbursement obligations and other obligations incurred in the ordinary
  course of business consistent with past practice;
 
    (e) not (i) alter, amend or repeal any provision of its Certificate of
  Incorporation or Bylaws, (ii) change the number of its directors (other
  than as a result of the death, retirement or resignation of a director),
  (iii) except in the ordinary course of its business, form or acquire any
  Subsidiaries not existing as of the date of this Agreement, (iv) except in
  the ordinary course of its business or as required to obtain any consent,
  enter into, modify or terminate any material contracts or agreement to
  which it is a party or agree to do so, (v) modify any Employment Agreement,
  or (vi) declare, pay, commit to or incur any obligation of any kind for the
  payment of any bonus, additional salary or compensation or retirement,
  termination, welfare or severance benefits payable or to become payable to
  any of its employees or such other persons, except in any such case for
  obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
  past practice and such matters as are required pursuant to the terms of any
  existing Employment Agreement or Benefit Plan;
 
    (f) maintain its books, accounts and records in the usual, ordinary and
  regular manner and in material compliance with all applicable laws and with
  its methods and policies of accounting in effect on the date hereof;
 
    (g) pay and discharge all material federal, state, local and foreign
  taxes imposed upon it or upon its income or profits, or upon any property
  belonging to it, prior to the date on which penalties attach thereto,
  except to the extent that it is currently contesting, in good faith and by
  proper proceedings, the payment of such taxes and it maintains appropriate
  reserves with respect thereto;
 
    (h) use all reasonable efforts to meet its obligations under all material
  contracts, agreements and instruments to which it is a party;
 
    (i) use all reasonable efforts to maintain its business and assets in
  good repair, order and condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted, and to
  maintain insurance upon such business and assets at least comparable in
  amount and kind to that in effect on the date hereof;
 
    (j) use all reasonable efforts to maintain its present relationships and
  goodwill with suppliers, brokers, manufacturers, representatives,
  distributors, customers and others having business relations with it
  (provided that it may pursue overdue accounts and otherwise exercise lawful
  remedies in its customary fashion);
 
    (k) carry on and operate its business in, and only in, the usual, regular
  and ordinary course in substantially the same manner as heretofore
  conducted and use all reasonable efforts to cause its
 
                                     A-18
<PAGE>
 
  representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement and in any
  Ancillary Document to be true and correct, in all respects, on and as of
  the Effective Time, subject only to changes in the ordinary course of
  business;
 
    (l) not declare, set aside, make or pay any dividends or other
  distributions with respect to its capital stock except (in the case of ACI)
  for regular cash dividends not to exceed $0.115 per share of ACI Common
  Stock per quarter and regular cash dividends on shares of ACI Class B
  Preferred Stock and shares of ACI Class C Common Stock and except (in the
  case of the Company) for cash dividends on Company Common Stock in an
  aggregate amount not to exceed 108.33% of the aggregate cash dividends paid
  on ACI Common Stock, ACI Class B Preferred Stock and ACI Class C Preferred
  Stock after December 31, 1996; or purchase or redeem any shares of its
  capital stock or agree to take any such action;
 
    (m) not authorize or make any capital expenditure otherwise than in the
  ordinary course of business;
 
    (n) not increase the number of shares authorized or issued and
  outstanding of its capital stock, nor grant or make any pledge, option,
  warrant, call, commitment, right or agreement of any character relating to
  its capital stock, nor issue or sell any shares of its capital stock or
  securities convertible into such capital stock, or any bonds, promissory
  notes, debentures or other corporate securities or become obligated so to
  sell or issue any such securities or obligations, except, in any case, for
  the issuance of shares of ACI Common Stock upon conversion of shares of ACI
  Class B Preferred Stock or ACI Class C Preferred Stock and upon exercise of
  options outstanding under the ACI Stock Plans.
 
  Section 4.3 Access to Information. Upon reasonable notice, each of the
Company and ACI shall (and shall cause its Subsidiaries to) (i) afford to the
officers, employees, accountants, counsel and other representatives of the
other, access, during normal business hours during the period prior to the
earlier of the termination of this Agreement and the Effective Time, to all
its properties, books, contracts, commitments, records, officers, employees,
accountants, correspondence and affairs, and (ii) cause its and their officers
and employees to furnish to the other and its authorized representatives any
and all financial, technical and operating data and other information
pertaining to its businesses and those of its Subsidiaries as the other shall
from time to time reasonably request. Each party will hold any such
information subject to the Confidentiality Agreement, dated July 29, 1996,
between the Company and ACI (the "CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT") in accordance
with and subject to the restrictions contained in the Confidentiality
Agreement. No information or knowledge obtained in any investigation pursuant
to this Section 4.3 shall affect or be deemed to modify any representation or
warranty contained in this Agreement or the conditions to the obligations of
the parties to consummate the Merger.
 
  Section 4.4 Legal Conditions to the Merger. Each of the parties hereto will
take all reasonable actions necessary to comply promptly with all legal
requirements which may be imposed on it with respect to the Merger and will
promptly cooperate with and furnish information to the other in connection
with any such requirements imposed upon any of them or any of their
Subsidiaries in connection with the Merger. Each of the parties hereto will,
and will cause its Subsidiaries to, take all reasonable actions necessary to
obtain (and will cooperate with each other in obtaining) any consent,
authorization, order or approval of, or any exemption by, any Governmental
Entity or other public third party, required to be obtained or made by any of
the parties hereto or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with the Merger
or the taking of any action contemplated thereby or by this Agreement.
 
  Section 4.5 Public Announcements. Neither the Company nor ACI shall make any
press release or other written public statement or publicly deliver any
formally prepared oral statement concerning the matters covered by this
Agreement without the approval of the other, except as required by law or
applicable regulation, and each shall in all events use its best efforts to
permit such other parties an opportunity to review and comment upon any such
release or statement prior to dissemination.
 
  Section 4.6 Tax-Free Reorganization. The parties hereto shall each use its
best efforts to cause the Merger to be treated either as a reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or as a non- recognition
exchange of stock pursuant to Section 351 of the Code.
 
                                     A-19
<PAGE>
 
  Section 4.7 Affiliate Agreements. Within two weeks following the date of
this Agreement, ACI will provide the Company with a list of those persons who
are, in its reasonable judgment after review by its independent counsel,
"affiliates" of ACI within the meaning of Rule 145 promulgated under the
Securities Act ("RULE 145") (each such person who is an "affiliate" within the
meaning of Rule 145 is referred to herein as a "RULE 145 AFFILIATE"). ACI
shall provide the Company with such information and documents as the Company
shall reasonably request for purposes of reviewing such list and shall notify
the Company in writing regarding any change in the identity of its Rule 145
Affiliates prior to the Closing Date. ACI shall use all reasonable efforts to
deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company prior to the Effective Time
from each of its Rule 145 Affiliates, an executed Affiliate Agreement, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Annex D (each an "AFFILIATE
AGREEMENT"). The Company shall be entitled to place appropriate legends on the
certificates evidencing any Company Common Stock to be received by such Rule
145 Affiliates pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and to issue
appropriate stop transfer instructions to the transfer agent for Company
Common Stock, consistent with the terms of the Affiliate Agreements.
 
  Section 4.8 Representations, Covenants and Conditions; Further Assurances.
 
    (a) The parties hereto will each use all reasonable efforts (i) to take,
  and to cause their respective Subsidiaries to take, all actions necessary
  to render accurate as of the Effective Time their respective
  representations and warranties contained herein, (ii) to refrain, and to
  cause their respective Subsidiaries to refrain, from taking any action
  which would render any such representation or warranty inaccurate in any
  material respect as of such time and (iii) to perform or cause to be
  satisfied, and to cause their respective Subsidiaries to perform or cause
  to be satisfied, each covenant or condition to be performed or satisfied by
  them.
 
    (b) In addition to the provisions of Section 4.4 hereof and in
  furtherance thereof, upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof,
  each of the parties hereto shall use all reasonable efforts to take, or
  cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all other
  things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective as
  promptly as practicable the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, to
  obtain in a timely manner all necessary waivers, consents and approvals and
  to effect all necessary registrations and filings, and to otherwise satisfy
  or cause to be satisfied all conditions precedent to its obligations under
  this Agreement.
 
  Section 4.9 Certain Benefit Matters.
 
    (a) Prior to the Effective Time, ACI and the Company shall take such
  actions as may be necessary such that at the Effective Time there shall be
  substituted for each option (an "ACI OPTION") to purchase a share of ACI
  Common Stock outstanding pursuant to the ACI Stock Plans, whether or not
  then exercisable, a fully vested option ("SUBSTITUTE OPTION") issued
  pursuant to the Arch Coal, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the "COMPANY
  INCENTIVE PLAN") to purchase on the same terms and conditions (including
  per share exercise price) a number of shares of Company Common Stock equal
  to the number of shares of ACI Common Stock subject to such ACI Option;
  provided that Substitute Options held by employees who accept benefits
  under the 1997 Enhanced Early Retirement Plan referred to in Section
  4.9(e), who receive benefits under the 1997 Enhanced Severance Plan
  referred to in Section 4.9(f) or who otherwise retire as provided in the
  ACI Stock Plans shall be exercisable throughout the full term thereof and
  shall not expire or otherwise become subject to termination or forfeiture.
  At or prior to the Effective Time, ACI shall make all necessary
  arrangements with respect to the applicable ACI Stock Plans to permit the
  substitution of Substitute Options for the unexercised ACI Options by the
  Company pursuant to this Section 4.9.
 
    (b) Effective at the Effective Time, the Company shall issue a Substitute
  Option under the Company Incentive Plan in substitution for each ACI Option
  in accordance with this Section 4.9. At or prior to the Effective Time, the
  Company shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve for issuance a
  sufficient number of shares of Company Common Stock for delivery upon
  exercise of the Substitute Options. As of the Effective Time, the Company
  shall have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 or Form S-8, as the
  case may be (or any successor or other appropriate forms), or another
  appropriate form with respect to the shares of Company Common Stock subject
  to such Substitute Options, and shall use all reasonable efforts
 
                                     A-20
<PAGE>
 
  to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement (and maintain
  the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained therein) for
  so long as such Substitute Options remain outstanding.
 
    (c) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company and ACI shall take such
  actions as may be necessary such that at the Effective Time the Company
  shall assume liability for and shall pay when due all benefits accrued
  under ACI's Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors Fees (the "DIRECTORS
  DC PLAN") and each phantom stock unit under the Directors DC Plan shall be
  converted into a phantom stock unit relating to Company Common Stock
  pursuant to the Arch Coal, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors
  Fees, which Plan shall by its terms provide that each director
  participating therein shall have a fully nonforfeitable right to such
  director's entire account balance, if any, thereunder.
 
    (d) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company and ACI shall take such
  actions as may be necessary such that at the Effective Time each share of
  ACI Common Stock converted into Company Common Stock pursuant to Section
  2.1 that at the time of its conversion is held in safekeeping in the DRP
  will be transferred at the Effective Time to safekeeping in the Arch Coal,
  Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (the "COMPANY DRP"). As
  of the Effective Time, the Company shall have filed a registration
  statement on Form S-3 (or any successor or other appropriate forms) with
  respect to the Company DRP, and shall use all reasonable efforts to
  maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement (and maintain the
  current status of the prospectus or prospectuses contained therein) so long
  as the Company DRP shall remain in effect.
 
    (e) After the Effective Time, the Company shall cause enhanced early
  retirement benefits to be offered to (i) the salaried employees at ACI's
  Huntington office and (ii) as the Company shall deem appropriate, the
  salaried employees of certain ACI Subsidiaries, in any case under the 1997
  Enhanced Early Retirement Plan adopted by the Company's Board of Directors
  by resolution dated April 1, 1997.
 
    (f) Any salaried employee of ACI or its Subsidiaries who is involuntary
  terminated without cause during the one-year period following the Effective
  Time, shall receive severance benefits from the Company pursuant to the
  1997 Enhanced Severance Plan adopted by the Company's Board of Directors by
  resolution dated April 1, 1997. This amount shall not apply to any ACI
  employees covered under the agreements contemplated by Section 4.9(g) of
  this Agreement or to employees who elect to participate in the 1997
  Enhanced Early Retirement Plan contemplated by Section 4.9(e) of this
  Agreement.
 
    (g) As soon as practicable following the execution of this Agreement, ACI
  shall offer, and use all reasonable efforts to enter into, At-Will Employee
  Retention/Severance Agreements, substantially in the form of agreement
  approved by the Board of Directors of the Company by resolution dated April
  1, 1997, with those current ACI employees as set forth in such resolution.
  At the Effective Time, the Company shall assume the obligations of ACI
  under such At-Will Employee Retention/Severance Agreements.
 
  Section 4.10 Indemnification; Insurance.
 
    (a) ACI shall, and from and after the Effective Time the Company shall,
  indemnify, defend and hold harmless each person who is now, or has been at
  any time through the date of this Agreement or who becomes prior to the
  Effective Time, an officer, director or employee of ACI or any of its
  Subsidiaries (the "ACI INDEMNIFIED PARTIES") against (i) all losses,
  claims, damages, costs, expenses, liabilities or judgments or amounts that
  are paid in settlement with the approval of the indemnifying party (which
  approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) of or in connection with any
  claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation based in whole or in part
  on or arising in whole or in part out of the fact that such person is or
  was a director, officer or employee of ACI or any of its Subsidiaries or is
  or was a plan fiduciary serving at the request of ACI or any of its
  Subsidiaries, whether pertaining to any matter existing or occurring at or
  prior to the Effective Time and whether asserted or claimed prior to, or at
  or after the Effective Time ("ACI INDEMNIFIED LIABILITIES") and (ii) all
  ACI Indemnified Liabilities based in whole or in part on, or arising in
  whole or in part out of, or pertaining to this Agreement or the
  transactions contemplated hereby to the full extent a corporation is
  permitted under the DGCL to indemnify its own directors, officers and
  employees (and the Company will pay expenses in advance of the final
  disposition of any such action or
 
                                     A-21
<PAGE>
 
  proceeding to each ACI Indemnified Party to the full extent permitted by
  law upon receipt of any undertaking contemplated by Section 145(e) of the
  DGCL). Without limiting the foregoing, in the event that any such claim,
  action, suit, proceeding or investigation is brought against any ACI
  Indemnified Party (whether arising before or after the Effective Time), (i)
  the ACI Indemnified Parties may retain counsel satisfactory to them and ACI
  (or them and the Company after the Effective Time), (ii) ACI (or after the
  Effective Time, the Company) shall pay all reasonable fees and expenses of
  such counsel for the ACI Indemnified Parties promptly as statements
  therefor are received, and (iii) ACI (or after the Effective Time, the
  Company) will use all reasonable efforts to assist in the vigorous defense
  of any such matter, provided that neither ACI nor the Company shall be
  liable for any settlement of any claim effected without its written
  consent, which consent, however, shall not be unreasonably withheld. Any
  ACI Indemnified Party wishing to claim indemnification under this Section
  4.10(a), upon learning of any such claim, action, suit, proceeding or
  investigation, shall notify ACI or, after the Effective Time, the Company
  (but the failure so to notify shall not relieve ACI or the Company from any
  liability which it may have under this Section 4.10(a) except to the extent
  such failure prejudices such party), and shall deliver to ACI (or after the
  Effective Time, the Company) the undertaking contemplated by Section 145(e)
  of the DGCL. The ACI Indemnified Parties as a group may retain only one law
  firm to represent them with respect to each such matter unless there is,
  under applicable standards of professional conduct, a conflict on any
  significant issue between the positions of any two or more ACI Indemnified
  Parties.
 
    (b) For a period of at least five years after the Effective Time, the
  Company shall cause to be maintained in effect policies of directors' and
  officers' liability insurance of the type maintained by ACI as of the date
  hereof in an aggregate coverage amount not less than $20,000,000 and
  including coverage with respect to claims arising from facts or events
  which occurred before the Effective Time to the extent available; provided,
  that in no event shall the Company be required to expend, in order to
  maintain or procure insurance coverage pursuant to this Section 4.10(b),
  any amount per annum in excess of 200% of the annual amount expended by ACI
  as of the date hereof.
 
    (c) The provisions of this Section 4.10 are intended to be for the
  benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, each ACI Indemnified Party and his
  or her heirs and representatives.
 
  Section 4.11 Notification of Certain Matters. Each of the Company and ACI
shall give prompt notice to the other, of (i) the occurrence, or non-
occurrence, of any event the occurrence, or non-occurrence, of which would be
reasonably likely to cause any representation or warranty of it contained in
this Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate and (ii) any failure of it to comply
with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or
satisfied by it hereunder; provided, however, that the delivery of any notice
pursuant to this Section shall not limit or otherwise affect the remedies
available hereunder to the party receiving such notice and further provided
that failure to give such notice shall not be treated as a breach of covenant
for the purposes of Section 6.1(e)(ii) unless the failure to give such notice
results in material prejudice to the other party.
 
  Section 4.12 NYSE Listing. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause
the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, shares of Company Common Stock
issued in the Merger, shares of Company Common Stock issuable upon the
exercise of stock options or other rights under the Company Incentive Plan or
pursuant to the Company DRP to be approved for listing on the New York Stock
Exchange (subject, in the case of then unissued shares to official notice of
issuance) not later than the Effective Time.
 
                                   ARTICLE V
 
                             CONDITIONS TO MERGER
 
  Section 5.1 Conditions to Each Party's Obligation To Effect the Merger. The
respective obligations of each party to this Agreement to effect the Merger
shall be subject to the satisfaction prior to the Closing Date of the
following conditions:
 
                                     A-22
<PAGE>
 
    (a) Stockholder Approval. This Agreement and the Merger shall have been
  approved and adopted by the requisite affirmative vote of holders of ACI
  Common Stock, ACI Class B Preferred Stock and ACI Class C Preferred Stock
  entitled to vote thereon.
 
    (b) Governmental and Regulatory Consents. Any waiting period applicable
  to the consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act shall have expired or
  been terminated and, other than the filings provided for in Section 1.1,
  all filings required to be made prior to the Effective Time by the Company,
  ACI or any of their respective Subsidiaries with, and all consents,
  approvals and authorizations required to be obtained prior to the Effective
  Time by the Company, ACI or any of their respective Subsidiaries from, any
  Governmental Entity in connection with the execution and delivery of this
  Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
  shall have been made or obtained, except failures in the foregoing that do
  not have a Material Adverse Effect as applied to the Company and its
  Subsidiaries taken as a whole from and after the Effective Time (a "COMPANY
  MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT").
 
    (c) S-4. The S-4 shall have become effective under the Securities Act and
  shall not be the subject of any stop order or proceedings seeking a stop
  order.
 
    (d) No Injunctions or Restraints; Illegality. No temporary restraining
  order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other order issued by any
  court of competent jurisdiction or other legal or regulatory restraint or
  prohibition preventing the consummation of the Merger or limiting or
  restricting in any material respect the conduct or operation of the
  businesses of the Company or ACI after the Merger shall have been issued,
  nor shall there be any statute, rule, regulation or order enacted, entered,
  enforced or deemed applicable to the Merger which makes the consummation of
  the Merger illegal.
 
    (e) Blue Sky Laws. The Company shall have received all state securities
  or "Blue Sky" permits and other authorizations, if any, necessary to issue
  shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger.
 
    (f) Consents. Each of the Company and ACI shall have obtained all
  consents required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
  Agreement, including the Merger, and all other consents in connection with
  the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, the failure to
  obtain which would constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect.
 
  Section 5.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of ACI. The obligation of
ACI to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction of each of the
following additional conditions, any of which may be waived in writing
exclusively by ACI:
 
    (a) Representations and Warranties of the Company. The representations
  and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall be true and
  correct in all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and
  (except to the extent such representations and warranties are made as of an
  earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and
  correct in all material respects at and as of such date) as of the Closing
  Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date, in each case except for
  changes contemplated by this Agreement, and ACI shall have received a
  certificate signed on behalf of the Company by a duly authorized executive
  officer of the Company to such effect.
 
    (b) Performance of Obligations of the Company. The Company shall have
  performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed
  by it under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and ACI shall
  have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by a duly
  authorized executive officer of the Company to such effect.
 
    (c) Tax Opinion. ACI shall have received a written opinion from
  Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, counsel to ACI, to the effect that the Merger
  will be treated for federal income tax purposes either as a tax-free
  reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or as a
  non-recognition exchange of
 
                                     A-23
<PAGE>
 
  stock under Section 351 of the Code. In rendering such opinion, counsel may
  rely upon representations and certificates of the Company, ACI and Merger
  Sub.
 
    (d) NYSE Listing. The shares of Company Common Stock to be issued in the
  Merger, to be issued upon the exercise of Substitute Options and to be
  issued pursuant to the Company DRP shall have been approved for listing on
  the New York Stock Exchange upon official notice of issuance.
 
    (e) Company Amended and Restated Charter and Bylaws. The Company Amended
  and Restated Charter and Bylaws shall be in full force and effect.
 
    (f) Company Board of Directors. The Board of Directors of the Company
  shall be comprised only of those persons identified or referred to as
  directors of the Company in Annex C attached hereto.
 
    (g) Material Adverse Change. Since the date of this Agreement, there
  shall have been no changes, occurrences or circumstances involving the
  business, results of operations or financial condition or prospects of the
  Company and any of its Subsidiaries that constitute a Material Adverse
  Effect.
 
  Section 5.3 Additional Conditions to Obligation of the Company. The
obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction
of each of the following additional conditions, any of which may be waived, in
writing, exclusively by the Company:
 
    (a) Representations and Warranties of ACI. The representations and
  warranties of ACI set forth in this Agreement shall be true and correct in
  all material respects as of the date of this Agreement and (except to the
  extent such representations and warranties are made as of an earlier date,
  which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all
  material respects at and as of such date) as of the Closing Date as though
  made on and as of the Closing Date, in each case except for changes
  contemplated by this Agreement, and the Company shall have received a
  certificate signed on behalf of ACI by a duly authorized executive officer
  of ACI to such effect.
 
    (b) Performance Of Obligations of ACI. ACI shall have performed in all
  material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under this
  Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and the Company shall have
  received a certificate signed on behalf of ACI by a duly authorized
  executive officer of ACI to such effect.
 
    (c) Tax Opinion. The Company shall have received the opinion of Kelly,
  Hart & Hallman, P.C., counsel to the Company, to the effect that the Merger
  will be treated for federal income tax purposes either as a tax-free
  reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code or as a
  non-recognition exchange of stock under Section 351 of the Code. In
  rendering such opinion, counsel may rely upon representations and
  certificates of the Company, ACI and Merger Sub.
 
    (d) Material Adverse Change. Since the date of this Agreement, there
  shall have been no changes, occurrences or circumstances involving the
  business, results of operations or financial condition or prospects of ACI
  and any of its Subsidiaries that constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
 
                                  ARTICLE VI
 
                           TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
 
  Section 6.1 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated (i) by mutual
consent of the Company and ACI or (ii) at any time prior to the Effective Time
by written notice by the terminating party to the other parties under the
circumstances set forth below:
 
    (a) by either the Company or ACI if the Merger shall not have been
  consummated by September 30, 1997 (provided that the right to terminate
  this Agreement under this Section 6.1(a) shall not be available to
 
                                     A-24
<PAGE>
 
  any party whose failure to fulfill any material obligation under this
  Agreement has been a cause of or has resulted in the failure of the Merger
  to occur on or before such date); or
 
    (b) by either the Company or ACI if a court of competent jurisdiction or
  other Governmental Entity shall have issued a nonappealable final order,
  decree or ruling or taken any other action, in each case having the effect
  of permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Merger;
  or
 
    (c) by either the Company or ACI if, at the ACI Stockholders' Meeting
  (including any adjournment or postponement), the requisite vote of the
  stockholders of ACI in favor of this Agreement and the Merger shall not
  have been obtained; or
 
    (d) by the Company or ACI, if (i) the other has breached any
  representation or warranty contained in this Agreement, and such breach
  shall not have been cured prior to the Effective Time (except where such
  breach would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the party having made
  such representation or warranty and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and
  would not constitute a Company Material Adverse Effect after giving effect
  to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), or (ii) if there has
  been a material breach of a material covenant or agreement set forth in
  this Agreement on the part of the other, which shall not have been cured
  within two business days following receipt by the breaching party of
  written notice of such breach from the other party.
 
  Section 6.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this
Agreement as provided in Section 6.1, this Agreement shall immediately become
void and there shall be no liability or obligation on the part of any party
hereto or its officers, directors, stockholders or affiliates arising from the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or its termination.
 
  Section 6.3 Fees and Expenses. All fees and expenses incurred in connection
with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by
the party incurring such expenses, whether or not the Merger is consummated;
provided, however, that the Company shall bear 52% and ACI shall bear 48% of
all reasonable fees and expenses incurred in relation to the preparation and
filings of Pre-Merger Notification and Report forms by stockholders of ACI
under the HSR Act with respect to the Merger, and the printing and filing of
the Proxy Statement (including any related preliminary materials) and the S-4
(including financial statements and exhibits) and any amendments or
supplements thereto.
 
  Section 6.4 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto,
by action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of Directors, at any
time before or after approval of the matters presented in connection with the
Merger by the stockholders of ACI but, after any such approval, no amendment
shall be made which by law requires further approval by such stockholders
without such further approval. This Agreement may not be amended except by an
instrument in writing signed on behalf of all of the parties hereto.
 
  Section 6.5 Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the
parties hereto, by action taken or authorized by their respective Boards of
Directors, may, to the extent legally allowed, (i) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties
hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties
contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto by the other
parties hereto and (iii) waive compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions contained herein for their benefit. Any agreement on the part of a
party hereto to any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth
in a written instrument signed on behalf of such party.
 
                                  ARTICLE VII
 
                                 MISCELLANEOUS
 
  Section 7.1 Nonsurvival of Representations and Warranties. None of the
representations and warranties in this Agreement or in any instrument
delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Effective Time.
 
                                     A-25
<PAGE>
 
Except for agreements set forth herein or therein to be performed, in whole or
in part, after the Effective Time, no agreements set forth herein or therein
shall survive the Effective Time.
 
  Section 7.2 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be
in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, telecopied
(which is confirmed) or mailed by registered certified mail (return receipt
requested) to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address
for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
 
    (a) if to the Company, to:
 
        Arch Mineral Corporation         Suite 300         CityPlace One
        St. Louis, Missouri 63141
 
        Attention: Chief Executive Officer
 
        with a copy to:
 
        Jeffry N. Quinn, Esquire         Arch Mineral Corporation
        Suite 300         CityPlace One         St. Louis, Missouri 63141
 
        and to:
 
        F. Richard Bernasek, Esquire         Kelly, Hart & Hallman, P.C.
        Suite 2500         201 Main Street         Fort Worth, Texas 76012
 
    (b) if to ACI, to:
 
        Ashland Coal, Inc.         2205 Fifth Street Road         Huntington,
West Virginia 25701
 
        Attention: Chief Executive Officer
 
        with a copy to:
 
        Roy F. Layman, Administrative Vice President-           Law and Human
Resources and Secretary         Ashland Coal, Inc.         2205 Fifth Street
Road         Huntington, West Virginia 25701
 
        and to:
 
        Ronald D. West         Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP         1500 Oliver
Building         Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
 
                                     A-26
<PAGE>
 
  Section 7.3 Interpretation. When a reference is made in this Agreement to
Sections, such reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless
otherwise indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this
Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words "INCLUDE,"
"INCLUDES" or "INCLUDING" are used in this Agreement they shall be deemed to
be followed by the words "without limitation." The phrases "THE DATE OF THIS
AGREEMENT," "THE DATE HEREOF," and terms of similar import, unless the context
otherwise requires, shall be deemed to refer to April 4, 1997.
 
  Section 7.4 Knowledge. All references in this Agreement or any certificate
to knowledge of the Company or ACI shall mean the knowledge of any executive
officer or executive officers of such party referred to in the S-4 (but only
the executive officer executing any such certificate, in the case of a
certificate) and shall reflect reasonable inquiry by such executive officer or
executive officers in connection specifically with respect to the statement
made to such knowledge.
 
  Section 7.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement and
shall become effective when two or more counterparts have been signed by each
of the parties and delivered to the other parties, it being understood that
all parties need not sign the same counterpart.
 
  Section 7.6 Entire Agreement; No Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement
and the documents and instruments referred to herein, including the
Confidentiality Agreement, constitute the entire agreement and supersedes all
prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof, and, except for the provisions of
Sections 4.9 and 4.10, are not intended to confer upon any person other than
the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.
 
  Section 7.7 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to any
applicable conflicts of law.
 
  Section 7.8 Assignment. Neither this Agreement nor any of the rights,
interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned or otherwise transferred
in whole or in part by any of the parties hereto (whether by operation of law
or otherwise) without the prior written consent of the other parties. Subject
to the preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors
and permissible assigns and transferees.
 
  Section 7.9 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement
is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law, or
public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any
manner adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other
provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties
hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect
the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable
manner to the end that transactions contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the
extent possible.
 
  Section 7.10 Failure or Indulgence Not Waiver; Remedies Cumulative. No
failure or delay on the part of any party hereto in the exercise of any right
hereunder shall impair such right or be construed to be a waiver of, or
acquiescence in, any breach of any representation, warranty or agreement
herein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude
other or further exercise thereof or of any other right. All rights and
remedies existing under this Agreement are cumulative to, and not exclusive
of, any rights or remedies otherwise available.
 
                                     A-27
<PAGE>
 
  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed by
their respective officers, thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first set
forth above.
 
                                     ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
 
                                     By:        /s/ Steven F. Leer
                                         ------------------------------------ 
                                         Title: President and Chief Executive
                                         Officer
 
                                     AMC MERGER CORPORATION
 
                                     By:        /s/ Jeffry N. Quinn
                                         ------------------------------------
                                         Title: President
 
                                     ASHLAND COAL, INC.
 
                                     By:       /s/ William C. Payne
                                         ------------------------------------
                                         Title: President
 
                                      A-28
<PAGE>
 
                                                                        ANNEX A
 
           RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF ARCH COAL, INC.
 
  FIRST: The name of the Corporation is Arch Coal, Inc. (hereinafter referred
to as the "Corporation").
 
  SECOND: The address of the Corporation's registered office in the State of
Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New
Castle, and the name of its registered agent at such address is The
Corporation Trust Company.
 
  THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or
activity for which a Corporation may be organized under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
 
  FOURTH: The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the
Corporation shall have authority to issue is One Hundred Ten Million
(110,000,000), which shall be divided into two classes as follows:
 
    A. One Hundred Million (100,000,000) shares of Common Stock, the par
  value of which shares is One Cent ($.01) per share; and
 
    B. Ten Million (10,000,000) shares of Preferred Stock, the par value of
  which shares is One Cent ($.01) per share. The Corporation's Board of
  Directors is hereby expressly authorized to provide by resolution or
  resolutions from time to time for the issuance of the Preferred Stock in
  one or more series, the shares of each of which series to have such voting
  rights and the terms and conditions for the exercise thereof, provided that
  the holders of shares of Preferred Stock (1) will not be entitled to more
  than the lesser of (x) one vote per $100 of liquidation value or (y) one
  vote per share, when voting as a class with the holders of shares of other
  capital stock, and (2) will not be entitled to vote on any matter
  separately as a class, except to the extent required by law or as specified
  with respect to each series with respect to (x) any amendment or alteration
  of the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation that would adversely
  affect the powers, preferences, or special rights of the applicable series
  of Preferred Stock or (y) the failure of the Corporation to pay dividends
  on any series of Preferred Stock in full for any six quarterly dividend
  payment periods, whether or not consecutive, in which event the number of
  directors may be increased by two and the holders of outstanding shares of
  Preferred Stock then similarly entitled shall be entitled to elect the two
  additional directors until full accumulated dividends on all such shares of
  Preferred Stock shall have been paid; and such designations, preferences
  and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and
  qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be permitted
  under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and as shall be
  stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such
  stock adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to the authority expressly
  vested in the Board of Directors in the Bylaws.
 
  FIFTH: The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or
under the direction of a Board of Directors consisting of such number of
directors as is determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the
affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the members of the entire
Board of Directors; provided, however, that in no event shall the number of
directors be less than three (3).
 
  SIXTH: Except as otherwise fixed pursuant to the provisions of Article
FOURTH hereof relating to the voting rights of the holders of any class or
series of Preferred Stock:
 
    1. In the election of directors, a holder of Common Stock who elects to
  cumulate votes shall be entitled to as many votes as equals the number of
  votes which (absent this provision as to cumulative voting) such holder
  would be entitled to cast for the election of directors with respect to
  such holder's shares of stock multiplied by the number of directors to be
  elected by such holder in such election, and such holder may
<PAGE>
 
  cast all of such votes for a single director or may distribute them among
  the number to be voted for, or for any two or more of them, as such holder
  may see fit.
 
    2. The affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the
  shares of Common Stock voting thereon, in the manner and to the extent
  permitted in the Bylaws, shall be required to:
 
      (i) Adopt an agreement or plan of merger or consolidation;
 
      (ii) Authorize the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially
    all of the property and assets of the Corporation;
 
      (iii) Authorize the dissolution of the Corporation or the
    distribution of all or substantially all of the assets of the
    Corporation to its stockholders; or
 
      (iv) Amend, alter, supplement, repeal or adopt any provision
    inconsistent with Article FOURTH, Article FIFTH, this Article SIXTH or
    Article EIGHTH.
 
    3. On all other matters, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares
  of Common Stock voting thereon will be required unless a greater vote is
  required by law.
 
    4. Voting by the stockholders for the election of directors or on any
  other matter need not be by written ballot.
 
  SEVENTH: In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by
statute, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter or
repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation as therein provided.
 
  EIGHTH: The Corporation hereby expressly elects not to be governed by
Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
 
  NINTH: No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or any of
its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a
director, except for liability (i) for any breach of such director's duty of
loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not
in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation
of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware or (iv) for any transaction from which such director derived
an improper personal benefit. No repeal of or amendment to this Article NINTH
shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any
director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of
such director occurring prior to such repeal or amendment. If the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware is amended to authorize corporate
action further eliminating the personal liability of directors, then the
liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to
the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, as amended.
 
  TENTH: The Corporation reserves the right to amend or repeal any provision
contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner from time to time
prescribed herein and by the laws of the State of Delaware. All rights herein
conferred are granted subject to this reservation.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                                                                         ANNEX B
 
 
                          RESTATED AND AMENDED BYLAWS
 
                                       OF
 
                                ARCH COAL, INC.
 
 
                              ADOPTED:     , 1997
 
<PAGE>
 
                          RESTATED AND AMENDED BYLAWS
 
                                       OF
 
                                ARCH COAL, INC.
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
 <C>            <S>                                                         <C>
 ARTICLE I--    MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS..................................
    SECTION 1.  Annual Meeting............................................
    SECTION 2.  Special Meeting...........................................
    SECTION 3.  Notice of Meetings........................................
    SECTION 4.  Quorum....................................................
    SECTION 5.  Conduct of Business.......................................
    SECTION 6.  Proxies and Voting........................................
    SECTION 7.  Waiver of Notice..........................................
    SECTION 8.  Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting................
    SECTION 9.  Adjournments..............................................
    SECTION 10. Record Date...............................................
    SECTION 11. Inspectors of Election....................................
    SECTION 12. List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote.....................
    SECTION 13. Advisory Stockholder Votes................................
 ARTICLE II--   BOARD OF DIRECTORS........................................
    SECTION 1.  Power of the Directors....................................
    SECTION 2.  Number and Term of Office; Election.......................
    SECTION 3.  Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations............
    SECTION 4.  Election..................................................
    SECTION 5.  Vacancies.................................................
    SECTION 6.  Resignation...............................................
    SECTION 7.  Removal...................................................
    SECTION 8.  Regular Meetings..........................................
    SECTION 9.  Special Meetings..........................................
    SECTION 10. Notice of Meeting.........................................
    SECTION 11. Quorum....................................................
    SECTION 12. Manner of Acting..........................................
    SECTION 13. Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone.........
    SECTION 14. Action by Consent.........................................
    SECTION 15. Organization..............................................
    SECTION 16. Executive Committee.......................................
    SECTION 17. Audit Committee...........................................
    SECTION 18. Other Committees..........................................
    SECTION 19. Waiver of Notices.........................................
    SECTION 20. Compensation of Directors.................................
 ARTICLE III--  OFFICERS..................................................
    SECTION 1.  Election and Appointment; Term of Office..................
    SECTION 2.  Resignation; Removal; Vacancies...........................
    SECTION 3.  Duties and Functions......................................
</TABLE>
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----
 <C>            <S>                                                        <C>
 ARTICLE IV--   NOTES, LOAN AGREEMENTS, CHECKS, BANK ACCOUNTS, ETC.......
    SECTION 1.  Execution of Documents...................................
    SECTION 2.  Deposits.................................................
 ARTICLE V--    INDEMNIFICATION..........................................
    SECTION 1.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers................
    SECTION 2.  Right to Indemnification.................................
    SECTION 3.  Expenses.................................................
    SECTION 4.  Other Rights.............................................
 ARTICLE VI--   SHARES AND THEIR TRANSFER................................
    SECTION 1.  Certificates for Shares..................................
    SECTION 2.  Transfer.................................................
    SECTION 3.  Record...................................................
 ARTICLE VII--  THIRD PARTIES............................................
 ARTICLE VIII-- SEAL.....................................................
 ARTICLE IX--   FISCAL YEAR..............................................
 ARTICLE X--    AMENDMENTS...............................................
 ARTICLE XI--   NOTICES..................................................
 ARTICLE XII--  COMPUTATION OF TIME PERIODS..............................
</TABLE>
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                          RESTATED AND AMENDED BYLAWS
 
                                      OF
 
                                ARCH COAL, INC.
 
                      ARTICLE I--MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
 
SECTION 1. ANNUAL MEETING.
 
  The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be held at
such date, time and place as shall be designated by the Board of Directors and
stated in the notice of the meeting.
 
SECTION 2. SPECIAL MEETING.
 
  Special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time by the
President, the Chief Executive Officer, any two or more members of the Board
of Directors or holders of 10% or more of the outstanding capital stock of the
Corporation entitled generally to vote for the election of Directors to be
held at such date, time and place within the United States as shall be
designated in the notice thereof.
 
SECTION 3. NOTICE OF MEETINGS.
 
  Written notice of the place, date and time of each meeting of the
stockholders shall be given in the manner provided in Article XI, not less
than ten nor more than sixty days before the date on which the meeting is to
be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except as
otherwise provided herein or required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter,
as required from time to time by the General Corporation Law of Delaware). The
notice of any special meeting shall state the purpose or purposes for which
the special meeting is called and shall indicate that such notice is being
issued upon the request of the person or persons calling the meeting.
 
  Upon the written request of the person or persons calling any special
meeting, notice of such meeting shall be given by the Secretary of the
Corporation on behalf of such person or persons. Every request to the
Secretary of the Corporation for the giving of notice of a special meeting of
stockholders shall state the purpose or purposes of such meeting.
 
  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the
United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such
stockholder's address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.
 
SECTION 4. QUORUM.
 
  Subject to the provisions required by law, the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended from time to time (hereafter the "Certificate of
Incorporation") and these Bylaws in respect of the vote required for a
specified action, at any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote, present in
person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
 
  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting,
the presiding person of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the stock,
present in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting from time to time,
without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be
present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be
present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been
transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. If the adjournment is for
more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for
the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to
each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 5. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.
 
  The Board of Directors of the Corporation may adopt by resolution such rules
and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall
deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules and
regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting
of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules,
regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such
chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules,
regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or
prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation,
the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the
meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and
the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or
participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation,
their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the
chairman of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to the
meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations
on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to
the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the
meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in
accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
 
SECTION 6. PROXIES AND VOTING.
 
  Except as may be otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation
or these Bylaws, (i) each stockholder of record present in person or by proxy
shall be entitled, at every stockholders' meeting, to one vote for each share
of capital stock having voting power standing in the name of such stockholder
on the books of the Corporation, and (ii) the affirmative vote of a majority
of the shares voting thereon at a duly organized meeting and entitled to vote
on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders.
 
  Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express
consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another
person or persons to act for such person by proxy. Every proxy must be in
writing and signed by the stockholder or such stockholder's attorney-in-fact.
No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless
the proxy provides for a longer period. A duly executed proxy shall be
irrevocable for the period stated therein if the proxy states that it is
irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest
sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power.
 
SECTION 7. WAIVER OF NOTICE.
 
  Notices of meetings need not be given to any stockholder who submits a
written waiver of notice, signed in person or by proxy, whether before or
after the meeting. The purpose or purposes of any meeting of stockholders
shall be specified in any such waiver of notice. Attendance of a stockholder
at a meeting, in person or by proxy, shall constitute a waiver of notice of
such meeting, except when the stockholder attends a meeting for the express
purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of
any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
 
SECTION 8. CONSENT OF STOCKHOLDERS IN LIEU OF MEETING.
 
  Any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of
stockholders of the Corporation, or any action which may be taken at any
annual or special meeting of the stockholders, may be taken without a meeting,
without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing,
setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of
outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would
be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares
entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the
Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal
place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of
the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.
Delivery made to the Corporation's registered office shall be made by hand or
by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
  Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder
who signs the consent and no written consent shall be effective to take the
corporate action referred to therein unless, within sixty days of the date the
earliest dated consent is delivered to the Corporation, a written consent or
consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered
to the Corporation in the manner prescribed in this Section 8.
 
SECTION 9. ADJOURNMENTS.
 
  Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn from time to
time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and notice need not be
given of any such adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are
announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned
meeting the Corporation may transact any business which might have been
transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for more than thirty
days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned
meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of
record entitled to vote at the meeting.
 
SECTION 10. RECORD DATE.
 
  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to
notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or to receive payment of
any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or to exercise
any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for
the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a
record date, which record date shall not precede the date on which the
resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date shall not
be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of any meeting of
stockholders, nor more than sixty days prior to the time for such other action
as hereinbefore described; provided, however, that if no record date is fixed
by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders
entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the
close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given
or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding
the day on which the meeting is held, and, for determining stockholders
entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment
of rights or to exercise any rights of change, conversion or exchange of stock
or for any other purpose, the record date shall be at the close of business on
the day on which the Board of Directors adopts a resolution relating thereto.
 
  A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote
at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting;
provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for
the adjourned meeting.
 
  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to
consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of
Directors may fix a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which
the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors,
and which record date shall be not more than ten days after the date upon
which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted. If no record date has
been fixed by the Board of Directors and no prior action by the Board of
Directors is required by law, the record date shall be the first date on which
a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be
taken is delivered to the Corporation in the manner prescribed by Article I,
Section 8 hereof. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors
and prior action by the Board of Directors is required by law with respect to
the proposed action by written consent of the stockholders, the record date
for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in
writing shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of
Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
 
SECTION 11. INSPECTORS OF ELECTION.
 
  The Corporation may, and shall if required by law, in advance of any meeting
of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election, who may be
employees of the Corporation, to act at the meeting or any adjournment thereof
and to make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or
more persons
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. In the
event that no inspector so appointed or designated is able to act at a meeting
of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more
inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the
discharge of such inspector's duties, shall take and sign an oath to execute
faithfully the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to
the best of such inspector's ability. The inspector or inspectors so appointed
or designated shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of capital stock of the
Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each such share, (ii)
determine the shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the
meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and
ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the
disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors, and
(v) certify their determination of the number of shares of capital stock of
the Corporation represented at the meeting and such inspectors' count of all
votes and ballots. Such certification and report shall specify such other
information as may be required by law. In determining the validity and
counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders of the
Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted by
applicable law. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election may
serve as an inspector at such election.
 
SECTION 12. LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE.
 
  The Secretary of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days
before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders
entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing
the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the
name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any
stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business
hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a
place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be
specified in the notice of the meeting, or if not so specified, at the place
where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at
the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and may be
inspected by any stockholder who is present. Upon the willful neglect or
refusal of the Directors to produce such a list at any meeting for the
election of Directors, they shall be ineligible for election to any office at
such meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the stock ledger shall be
the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to vote in person or
by proxy at any meeting of stockholders or to examine the stock ledger, the
list of stockholders or the books of the Corporation.
 
SECTION 13. ADVISORY STOCKHOLDER VOTES.
 
  In order for stockholders to adopt or approve any precatory proposal
submitted to them for the purpose of requesting the Board of Directors to take
certain actions, the affirmative vote of the holders of shares of capital
stock having at least a majority of the vote which could be cast by the
holders of all shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereupon, voting as a
single class, must be voted in favor of the proposal.
 
                        ARTICLE II--BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
SECTION 1. POWER OF THE DIRECTORS.
 
  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the
direction of the Board of Directors, which may exercise all the powers of the
Corporation and do all lawful acts and things which are not conferred upon or
reserved to the stockholders by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation.
 
SECTION 2. NUMBER AND TERM OF OFFICE; ELECTION.
 
  Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and the
restriction that the number of Directors shall not be less than the number
required by the laws of the State of Delaware, the number of Directors shall
be fixed, from time to time, by a resolution adopted by the affirmative vote
of not less than two-thirds of the members of the entire Board of Directors.
 
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
  Each Director, including any Director elected to fill a vacancy as set forth
in Section 5 of this Article II, shall hold office until the earlier of such
Director's death, resignation, removal in the manner hereinafter provided, or
the election and qualification of such Director's successor.
 
SECTION 3. NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS AND NOMINATIONS.
 
  A. Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
 
    (1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the
  Corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the
  stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (a) pursuant
  to the Corporation's notice of meeting delivered pursuant to Section 3 of
  Article I of these Bylaws, (b) by or at the direction of the Chairman or
  the Board of Directors, (c) with respect to those persons to be elected by
  any class or classes of Preferred Stock of the Corporation, by any holder
  of such class or classes of Preferred Stock, or (d) other than with respect
  to those persons to be elected by any class or classes of Preferred Stock
  of the Corporation, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled
  to vote at the meeting who complied with the procedures set forth in this
  Section 3 and who was a stockholder of record at the time such notice is
  delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation.
 
    (2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an
  annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (d) of subparagraph (A)
  (1) of this Section 3, the stockholder must have given timely notice
  thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a
  stockholder's notice shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation
  at its principal executive offices not less than seventy days nor more than
  ninety days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's Annual
  Meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the Annual
  Meeting is advanced by more than twenty days, or delayed by more than
  seventy days, from such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be
  timely must be so delivered not earlier than the ninetieth day prior to
  such Annual Meeting and not later than the close of business on the later
  of the seventieth day prior to such Annual Meeting or the tenth day
  following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting
  is first made. Such stockholder's notice shall set forth (a) as to each
  person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection
  as a Director all information relating to such person that is required to
  be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of Directors, or is
  otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the
  Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including
  such person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a
  nominee and to serving as a Director if elected; (b) as to any other
  business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief
  description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the
  reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material
  interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if
  any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (c) as to the stockholder giving
  the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination
  or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they
  appear on the Corporation's books, and of such beneficial owner and (ii)
  the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned
  beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner;
  and (d) a statement as to whether or not the stockholder will solicit
  proxies in support of such stockholder's nominee or proposal.
 
    (3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of subparagraph (A)
  (2) of this Section 3 to the contrary, in the event that the number of
  Directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is
  increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees
  for Director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors
  made by the Corporation at least eighty days prior to the first anniversary
  of the preceding year's Annual Meeting, a stockholder's notice required by
  this Section 3 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to
  nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be
  delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at its principal executive
  offices not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the
  day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
 
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
  B. Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted
at a Special Meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the
meeting pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting pursuant to Section 3
of Article I of these Bylaws. Nominations of persons for election to the Board
of Directors may be made at a Special Meeting of stockholders at which
Directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting
(a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (b) by any stockholder
of the Corporation who is entitled to vote at the meeting, who complies with
the notice procedures set forth in this Section 3 and who is a stockholder of
record at the time such notice is delivered to the Secretary of the
Corporation. Nominations by stockholders of persons for election to the Board
of Directors may be made at such a Special Meeting of stockholders if the
stockholder's notice as required by subparagraph (A) (2) of this Section 3
shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at its principal
executive offices not earlier than the ninetieth day prior to such Special
Meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the
seventieth day prior to such Special Meeting or the tenth day following the
day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the Special
Meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected
at such meeting.
 
  C. General.
 
    (1) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set
  forth in this Section 3 shall be eligible to serve as Directors and only
  such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have
  been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth
  in this Section 3. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of
  Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Chairman of the meeting shall have the
  power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed
  to be brought before the meeting was made in accordance with the procedures
  set forth in this Section 3 and, if any proposed nomination or business is
  not in compliance with this Section 3, to declare that such defective
  proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.
 
    (2) For purposes of this Section 3, "public announcement" shall mean
  disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service,
  Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document
  publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange
  Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
 
    (3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3, a
  stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the
  Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the
  matters set forth in this Section 3. Nothing in this Section 3 shall be
  deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of or the
  obligation of the Corporation to include proposals in the Corporation's
  proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
 
SECTION 4. ELECTION.
 
  Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, at each
meeting of the stockholders for the election of Directors at which a quorum is
present, the persons receiving the greatest number of votes, up to the number
of Directors to be elected, shall be the Directors.
 
SECTION 5. VACANCIES.
 
  Any vacancy on the Board of Directors (other than a vacancy caused by the
death, resignation or removal of any Director elected by the holders of any
class or classes of Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class or classes,
as the case may be) or newly created directorship shall be filled by a
majority of the Directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by the
sole remaining Director.
 
SECTION 6. RESIGNATION.
 
  Any Director may resign at any time by giving written notice of resignation
to the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the President or the
Secretary of the Corporation. Any such resignation shall take effect
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
at the time specified therein, or, if the time when it shall become effective
shall not be specified therein, then it shall take effect when accepted by
action of the Board of Directors. Except as aforesaid, the acceptance of such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
 
SECTION 7. REMOVAL.
 
  Any or all of the Directors (other than the Directors elected by the holders
of any class or classes of Preferred Stock of the Corporation, voting
separately as a class or classes, as the case may be) may be removed by the
stockholders, with or without cause, by a vote of the holders of a majority of
the shares then entitled to vote at an election of Directors, provided that if
less than all the Directors are to be removed, no one of the Directors may be
removed without cause if the votes cast against such Director's removal would
be sufficient to elect such Director if then cumulatively voted at an election
of the entire Board.
 
SECTION 8. REGULAR MEETINGS.
 
  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or
places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall be
established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all Directors.
 
SECTION 9. SPECIAL MEETINGS.
 
  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by any two of the
Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the President or Chief Executive Officer
and shall be held at such place within the United States, on such date and at
such time as the person or persons calling the meeting shall fix.
 
SECTION 10. NOTICE OF MEETING.
 
  Notice of the date, place, time and purpose or purposes of each meeting of
the Directors shall be given to each Director in the manner provided in
Article XI at such Director's usual place of business at least three business
days before the day on which the meeting is to be held. Upon written request
of the person or persons calling any special meeting, notice of such meeting
shall be given by the Secretary of the Corporation on behalf of such person or
persons and shall indicate the person or persons calling the meeting.
 
SECTION 11. QUORUM.
 
  At all meetings of the Board of Directors, the presence of a majority of the
whole Board of Directors fixed by or in the manner provided in these Bylaws
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
 
SECTION 12. MANNER OF ACTING.
 
  A. Except as otherwise provided in subsection B of this Section 12, the vote
of a majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is
present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or act of the
Board of Directors.
 
  B. The vote of not less than two-thirds of the entire Board of Directors
shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or act of the Board of
Directors in respect of the following:
 
    (i) the declaration of a dividend or distribution on any capital stock of
  the Corporation not otherwise entitled to such dividend or distribution
  pursuant to the terms thereof;
 
    (ii) the approval of the Corporation's annual budget or operating plan
  and any material modification thereof, including any capital expenditure in
  excess of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) not provided for in the annual
  budget;
 
    (iii) the election or removal of the Chief Executive Officer, President,
  Chief Financial Officer (if any) or Chief Operating Officer (if any) of the
  Corporation;
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
 
    (iv) except for the issuance of Common Stock pursuant to a compensation
  plan approved by the Board of Directors, the issuance of more than One
  Million (1,000,000) shares of Common Stock or any shares of Preferred Stock
  in any one transaction or a series of related transactions;
 
    (v) the adoption of a share purchase rights plan of a nature commonly
  referred to as a "poison pill";
 
    (vi) the repurchase or redemption of any capital stock of the
  Corporation;
 
    (vii) an establishment or change in the number of Directors of the
  Corporation;
 
    (viii) the appointment of members to or dissolution of the Executive
  Committee; or
 
    (ix) the amendment of this Section 12 of these Bylaws.
 
SECTION 13. PARTICIPATION IN MEETINGS BY CONFERENCE TELEPHONE.
 
  Members of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may
participate in a meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference
telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear and speak to each other, and such
participation shall constitute the presence in person at such meeting.
 
SECTION 14. ACTION BY CONSENT.
 
  Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of
Directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting, prior
notice, or vote if a consent in writing, which writing may be in counterparts
which may bear telecommunicated facsimile signatures, setting forth the action
so taken, is signed by all members of the Board or committee, and such writing
is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or committee.
 
SECTION 15. ORGANIZATION.
 
  Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairman of
the Board or in the Chairman's absence by the Chief Executive Officer, or in
their absence by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The Secretary of the
Corporation shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in the Secretary's
absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary
of the meeting.
 
SECTION 16. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
 
  The Board of Directors may establish an Executive Committee to consist of
such Directors as the Board shall from time to time designate. The Executive
Committee shall to the extent permitted by law have and may exercise such
powers and authority as the Board shall from time to time determine. The
Executive Committee shall record minutes of each of its meetings and shall
submit the same to the Board at the first meeting of the Board held subsequent
to such meeting of the Executive Committee. At all meetings of the Executive
Committee, a majority of the total number of the members thereof shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A majority vote of the
members of the Executive Committee who are present shall be the act of the
Executive Committee.
 
SECTION 17. AUDIT COMMITTEE.
 
  The Board may by resolution designate an Audit Committee consisting of three
or more Directors. Vacancies on the Audit Committee may be filled by the Board
at any time and any member of the Audit Committee shall be subject to removal,
with or without cause, at any time by resolution passed by the Board.
 
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
  The Audit Committee shall review with the independent public accountants for
the Corporation the scope of their examination, receive copies of the reports
of such accountants, meet with representatives of such accountants for the
purpose of reviewing and considering questions relating to such accountants'
examination and such reports, review, either directly or through such
accountants, the internal accounting and auditing procedures of the
Corporation, report the results of the foregoing to the Board and act upon
such other matters as may be referred to it by the Board.
 
  At each meeting of the Board the Audit Committee shall make a report of all
action taken by it since its last report to the Board.
 
  The Audit Committee shall meet as often as may be deemed necessary and
expedient at such times and places as shall be determined by the members of
the Audit Committee. A majority of the members of the Audit Committee shall
constitute a quorum. In the absence of the Chairman of the Audit Committee,
the Audit Committee may appoint any member to preside at meetings thereof.
 
SECTION 18. OTHER COMMITTEES.
 
  The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole
Board, designate one or more other committees, each of which shall consist of
one or more Directors. The Board may designate one or more Directors as
alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified
member at any meeting of the committee. Each such committee shall have and may
exercise such powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management
of the business and affairs of the Corporation as the Board shall provide in
the resolution designating such committee, except as otherwise provided by
statute.
 
SECTION 19. WAIVER OF NOTICES.
 
  Notice of a meeting need not be given to any Director who submits a written
waiver of notice signed by such Director, including a telecommunicated
facsimile waiver, whether before or after the meeting. The purpose or purposes
of any meeting of the Directors must be specified in any such waiver of
notice. Attendance of a Director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of
notice of such meeting, except when the Director attends a meeting for the
express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the
transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened.
 
SECTION 20. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS.
 
  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these
Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the
compensation of Directors. The Directors may be paid their expenses, if any,
for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a
fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated
salary as Director, or both. No such payment shall preclude any Director from
serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation
therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like
compensation for attending committee meetings.
 
                             ARTICLE III--OFFICERS
 
SECTION 1. ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT; TERM OF OFFICE.
 
  The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chairman of the Board, a
President, one or more Vice Presidents as determined from time to time by the
Board, a Treasurer, a Secretary and a Controller. Subject to Article II,
Section 12 of these Bylaws, the Board shall designate either the Chairman of
the Board or the President as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.
Subject to Article II, Section 12 of these Bylaws, each such officer shall be
elected by the Board at its annual meeting to serve at the will and pleasure
of the Board and shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Board
and until such officer's successor is elected or until such officer's earlier
death, resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. The Board
may elect or appoint
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
such other officers (including one or more Assistant Treasurers and one or
more Assistant Secretaries), and subject to the provisions of Article II,
Section 12 of these Bylaws, a Chief Financial Officer or Chief Operating
Officer, as it deems necessary, who shall have such authority and shall
perform such duties as the Board may prescribe. If additional officers are
elected or appointed during the year, each of them shall hold office until the
next annual meeting of the Board at which officers are regularly elected or
appointed and until such officer's successor is elected or appointed or until
such officer's earlier death, resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter
provided. To the extent the Board shall deem appropriate, more than one of the
offices authorized herein may be held by the same person.
 
SECTION 2. RESIGNATION; REMOVAL; VACANCIES.
 
  A. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chief
Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Corporation, and such resignation
shall take effect upon receipt unless specified therein to be effective at
some other time (subject always to the provisions of Section 2.B). No
acceptance of any such resignation shall be necessary to make it effective.
 
  B. Subject to the provisions of Article II, Section 12 of these Bylaws, all
officers and agents elected or appointed by the Board shall be subject to
removal at any time by the Board with or without cause.
 
  C. A vacancy in any office may be filled for the unexpired portion of the
term in the same manner as provided for election or appointment to such
office.
 
SECTION 3. DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS.
 
  A. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all
meetings of the stockholders and directors and shall perform such other duties
as the Board may prescribe.
 
  B. Chief Executive Officer. In the case of absence, refusal to serve or
incapacity of the Chairman of the Board (if the Chief Executive Officer shall
not be designated as such), the Chief Executive Officer shall perform the
duties of such office. The Chief Executive Officer may assign such duties to
other officers of the Corporation as the Chief Executive Officer deems
appropriate.
 
  C. President. In the case of absence, refusal to serve or incapacity of the
Chief Executive Officer (if the President shall not be designated as such),
the President shall perform the duties of such office. If the President shall
not be designated as the Chief Executive Officer by the Board pursuant to
Section 1 of this Article III, the President shall act under the control of
the Chief Executive Officer.
 
  D. Chief Operating Officer. In the event the President is not designated as
Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 1, the President may, in the
Board's discretion, be designated as the Chief Operating Officer of the
Corporation and shall have such powers and duties as the Board, or Chief
Executive Officer, may prescribe.
 
  E. Vice Presidents. The Vice Presidents shall have such powers and perform
such duties as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may prescribe. One or
more Vice Presidents may be given and shall use as part of the title such
other designations, including, without limitation, the designations "Executive
Vice President" and "Senior Vice President," as the Board or the Chief
Executive Officer may designate from time to time. One of the Vice Presidents
may also be given and shall use as part of the title such other designations
as may be descriptive of their responsibilities, including, without
limitation, designations such as "Chief Financial Officer" or "General
Counsel," as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer may designate from time
to time. In the case of absence, refusal to serve or incapacity of the
Chairman of the Board and the President, the powers and duties of the Chief
Executive Officer shall be vested in and performed by such Vice Presidents as
have the designation "Executive Vice President," in the order of their
seniority or as otherwise established by action of the Board from time to
time, or by such other officer as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer
shall have most recently designated for that purpose in a writing filed with
the Secretary of the Corporation.
 
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
  F. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall act under the direction of the Chief
Financial Officer of the Corporation, or, if none, the Chief Executive
Officer. The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for
all funds and securities of the Corporation and the deposit thereof in the
name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be
designated by the Board or by the Treasurer pursuant hereto. The Treasurer
shall be authorized at any time, and from time to time, by a writing
countersigned by such officer or officers as may be authorized by the Board:
(i) to open bank accounts in the name of the Corporation in any bank or trust
company for the deposit therein of any funds, drafts, checks or other orders
for the payment of money to the Corporation; (ii) to authorize and empower any
representative or agent of the Corporation to draw upon or sign for the
Corporation either manually or by the use of facsimile signature, any and all
checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money against such bank
accounts which any such bank or trust company may pay without further inquiry;
and (iii) to sign, in the name of the Corporation, certificates representing
the stock of the Corporation.
 
  G. Secretary. The Secretary shall act under the direction and control of the
Board. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board, the Executive
Committee and the stockholders and record the proceedings in a book to be kept
for that purpose and shall perform like duties for committees designated by
the Board. The Secretary shall duly give or cause to be given, in accordance
with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law, notice of all
meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board. The Secretary
shall be the custodian of the records and the corporate seal or seals of the
Corporation and shall cause the corporate seal to be affixed to all documents,
the execution of which, on behalf of the Corporation, under its seal, is duly
authorized and when so affixed may attest to same. The Secretary may sign,
with the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President,
certificates of stock of the Corporation.
 
  H. Controller. The Controller shall act under the direction of the Chief
Financial Officer of the Corporation, or, if none, the Chief Executive
Officer. Subject to the direction of the Chief Financial Officer of the
Corporation or, if none, the Chief Executive Officer, the Controller shall
have charge of the accounting records of the Corporation, shall keep full and
accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the
Corporation, shall maintain adequate internal control of the Corporation's
accounts, and may perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Chief
Financial Officer of the Corporation or, if none, the Chief Executive Officer,
and by the Board.
 
                      ARTICLE IV--NOTES, LOAN AGREEMENTS,
                          CHECKS, BANK ACCOUNTS, ETC.
 
SECTION 1. EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS.
 
  The Board shall from time to time by resolution authorize the officers,
employees and agents of the Corporation to execute and deliver checks and
other orders for the payment of money and notes, bonds and other securities,
together with mortgages, loan agreements and other instruments securing or
relating thereto and other contracts and commitments for and in the name of
the Corporation and may authorize such officers, employees and agents to
delegate such power (including authority to redelegate) by written instrument
to other officers, employees or agents of the Corporation.
 
SECTION 2. DEPOSITS.
 
  All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from
time to time to the credit of the Corporation or otherwise as the Board or any
officer of the Corporation to whom power in that respect shall have been
delegated by the Board shall select.
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
                          ARTICLE V--INDEMNIFICATION
 
SECTION 1. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
  A. Every person who is or was a Director or officer of the Corporation, or
of any other corporation or entity which such person served as such at the
request of the Corporation shall in accordance with Section 2 of this Article
V be indemnified by the corporation against expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with any claim, action, suit or
proceeding (other than any claim, action, suit or proceeding brought by or in
the right of the Corporation), civil or criminal, administrative or
investigative, or in connection with an appeal relating thereto, in which such
person may be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of such person
being or having been a Director or officer of the Corporation or such other
corporation or entity, or by reason of any action taken or not taken in such
capacity as such Director or officer, whether or not such person continues to
be such at the time such liability or expense shall have been incurred,
provided that such person acted, in good faith, and in a manner such person
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 that such conduct was unlawful. The termination of
any claim, action, suit or proceeding, civil or criminal, by judgment, order,
settlement (whether with or without court approval), conviction or upon a plea
of guilty or nolo contendere, or its equivalent shall not create a presumption
that a Director or officer did not meet the standards of conduct set forth in
this Section l.A.
 
  B. Every person who is or was a Director or officer of the Corporation, or
of any other corporation or entity which such person served as such at the
request of the Corporation, shall in accordance with Section 2 of Article V be
indemnified by the Corporation against expenses (including attorneys' fees)
actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense
or settlement of any claim, action, suit or proceeding brought by or in the
right of the Corporation, or in connection with an appeal or otherwise, by
reason of such person being or having been a Director or officer of the
Corporation or such other corporation or entity, or by reason of any action
taken or not taken in such person's capacity as such Director or officer,
whether or not such person continues to be such at the time such expense shall
have been incurred, provided that such person acted in good faith, and in a
manner such person reasonably believed to be in the best interests of the
Corporation, and provided further, that no indemnification shall be made in
respect of any claim, action, suit or proceeding as to which such person shall
have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the
extent that the court in which such claim, action, suit or proceeding was
brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of
liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court
shall deem proper.
 
SECTION 2. RIGHT TO INDEMNIFICATION.
 
  Every person referred to in Section 1 or Section 2 of this Article V who has
been wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, with respect to any claim,
action, suit or proceeding of the character described in said Sections shall
be entitled to indemnification as of right. Except as provided in the
preceding sentence, any indemnification under Section 1 or Section 2 of this
Article V may be made by the Board of Directors, in its discretion, but only
if (a) the Board of Directors, acting by a quorum consisting of Directors who
are not parties to such claim, action, suit or proceeding, shall have found
that the Director or officer has met the applicable standard of conduct set
forth in Section 1 or Section 2, as the case may be, of this Article V or (b)
there be no such disinterested quorum, independent legal counsel (who may be
the regular outside counsel of the Corporation) shall have delivered to the
Corporation written advice to the effect that in their judgment such
applicable standard has been met, or (c) by the stockholders of the
Corporation.
 
SECTION 3. EXPENSES.
 
  Expenses incurred with respect to any claim, action, suit or proceeding of
the character described in Section 1 of this Article V may be paid by the
Corporation prior to the final disposition thereof upon receipt of an
undertaking by or on behalf of the Director or officer to repay such amount
unless it shall ultimately be determined that such person is entitled to
indemnification by the Corporation.
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 4. OTHER RIGHTS.
 
  The rights of indemnification provided in this Article V shall be in
addition to any other rights to which a Director or officer of the Corporation
or such other corporation or entity may otherwise be entitled by contract,
vote of disinterested stockholders or Directors or otherwise or as a matter of
law; and in the event of such person's death, such rights shall extend to such
person's heirs and legal representatives.
 
                     ARTICLE VI--SHARES AND THEIR TRANSFER
 
SECTION 1. CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES.
 
  The stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates signed in
the name of the Corporation by (a) the Chief Executive Officer or the
President or a Vice President and (b) either the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation.
 
  If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock
or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations, preferences
and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of
stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of
such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the
face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent
such class or series of stock, provided that, except as otherwise provided in
Section 202 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, or in any act
amending, supplementing or substituted for such Section, in lieu of the
foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the
certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or
series of stock, a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge
to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and
relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of
stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of
such preferences and/or rights.
 
  Any of or all the signatures on a certificate may be facsimile. In case any
officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile
signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such
officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may
be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such
officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
 
  The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or certificates to be
issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the
Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of
an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to
be lost, stolen or destroyed.
 
SECTION 2. TRANSFER.
 
  Upon surrender to the Corporation or its transfer agent of a certificate for
shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession,
assignation or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation
to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old
certificate and record the transaction upon its books.
 
SECTION 3. RECORD.
 
  The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a
person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends,
and to vote as such owner, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable
or other claim to or interest in such shares on the part of any other person,
whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as
otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.
 
                                      16
<PAGE>
 
                          ARTICLE VII--THIRD PARTIES
 
  Any party dealing with the Corporation shall be entitled to rely
conclusively as to the due authorization of any act of the Corporation upon a
certificate provided to it and signed by (a) the President or any Vice
President and (b) the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation
to the effect that such act was duly authorized by all necessary action of the
Corporation.
 
                              ARTICLE VIII--SEAL
 
  The Board of Directors may by resolution provide for a suitable seal,
containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of
the Secretary of the Corporation.
 
                            ARTICLE IX--FISCAL YEAR
 
  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on the last calendar day of
each year.
 
                             ARTICLE X--AMENDMENTS
 
  Subject to the provisions of Article II, these Bylaws may be adopted,
repealed, altered or amended by the Board of Directors at any regular or
special meeting thereof. Except as otherwise fixed pursuant to the provisions
of the Certificate of Incorporation hereof relating to the voting rights of
the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, the stockholders of the
Corporation shall have the power to adopt, repeal, alter or amend Article II
of these Bylaws by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the
shares of the Common Stock voting thereon.
 
                              ARTICLE XI--NOTICES
 
  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
delivered personally or sent, if in the United States by first class mail
return receipt requested, or if outside the United States by air mail, return
receipt requested, or in either case by telex, telecopy, or other facsimile
telecommunications. Any notice or other communication so transmitted shall be
deemed to have been given at the time of delivery, in the case of a
communication delivered personally, on the business day following receipt of
answer back, telecopy, or facsimile confirmation, in the case of a
communication sent by telex, telecopy or other facsimile telecommunication,
respectively, or as provided in Section 3 of Article I of these Bylaws in the
case of a communication sent by mail.
 
                   ARTICLE XII--COMPUTATION OF TIME PERIODS
 
  The words "day" or "days" as used in these Bylaws with respect to the
computation of periods of time shall mean calendar days and the words
"business day" or "business days" as used in these Bylaws with respect to the
computation of periods of time shall mean any day that is not a Saturday,
Sunday or other holiday in New York, New York; provided, however, that if the
last day of any period of time shall fall on a day other than a business day,
such period shall be extended to include the next succeeding business day in
each such location. All computations of time shall be based on New York, New
York time.
 
                                      17
<PAGE>
 
                                                                        ANNEX C
 
                         DIRECTORS OF ARCH COAL, INC.
                           AS OF THE EFFECTIVE TIME
 
                                 James R. Boyd
                               Robert A. Charpie
                               Paul W. Chellgren
                               Thomas L. Feazell
                             Juan Antonio Ferrando
                                 John R. Hall
                                Robert L. Hintz
                                Douglas H. Hunt
                                Steven F. Leer
                                Thomas Marshall
                                James L. Parker
                                J. Marvin Quin
                             Ronald Eugene Samples
 
If, prior to the Effective Time, (i) any of Messrs. Boyd, Chellgren, Feazell,
Hall and Quin; (ii) any of Messrs. Hunt, Parker and Samples; or (iii) Mr.
Ferrando, should die or otherwise be unable or unwilling to serve as a
director of the Company, then a substitute for such person shall be designated
by (i) Ashland Inc.; (ii) Hunt Coal Corporation, Petro-Hunt Corporation, the
Lyda Hunt-Margaret Trusts and the Lyda Hunt-Herbert Trusts; or (iii) Carboex,
respectively. If, prior to the Effective Time, any of Messrs. Charpie, Hintz,
Leer or Marshall should die or otherwise be unable or unwilling to serve as a
director of the Company, then a substitute for such person shall be designated
by a majority of the remainder of the persons listed above.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                        ANNEX D
 
                         [FORM OF AFFILIATE AGREEMENT]
 
                                                                         , 1997
 
Arch Coal, Inc.
Suite 300
CityPlace One
Creve Coeur, Missouri 63141
 
Gentlemen:
 
  The undersigned has been advised that as of the date hereof the undersigned
may be deemed to be an "affiliate" of Ashland Coal, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("ACI"), as the term "affiliate" is defined for purposes of
paragraphs (c) and (d) of Rule 145 of the Rules and Regulations (the "Rules
and Regulations") of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"). Pursuant to the
terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 4, 1997 (the
"Agreement"), among Arch Mineral Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), AMC Merger Corporation and ACI, at the Effective Time (as defined
in the Agreement) ACI will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
 
  As a result of the Merger (as defined in the Agreement), the undersigned may
receive shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share ("Company Common
Stock"), of the Company. The undersigned would receive such shares in exchange
for shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of ACI, shares of Class
B Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share, of ACI, or shares of Class C
Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share, of ACI owned by the undersigned.
 
  The undersigned hereby represents and warrants to, and covenants with, the
Company that in the event the undersigned receives any Company Common Stock in
the Merger:
 
    (A) The undersigned shall not make any sale, transfer or other
  disposition of Company Common Stock in violation of the Act or the Rules
  and Regulations.
 
    (B) The undersigned has carefully read this letter and discussed its
  requirements and other applicable limitations upon the undersigned's
  ability to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of the Company Common Stock,
  to the extent the undersigned has felt it necessary, with the undersigned's
  counsel.
 
    (C) The undersigned has been advised that the issuance of shares of
  Company Common Stock to the undersigned in the Merger has been registered
  under the Act by a Registration Statement on Form S-4. However, the
  undersigned has also been advised that because (i) at the time of the
  submission of the Merger for a vote of the stockholders of ACI the
  undersigned may be deemed an affiliate of ACI, and (ii) the distribution by
  the undersigned of the Company Common Stock has not been registered under
  the Act, the undersigned may not sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of
  Company Common Stock issued to the undersigned in the Merger unless (a)
  such sale, transfer or other disposition has been registered under the Act,
  (b) such sale, transfer or other disposition is made in conformity with the
  volume and other applicable limitations imposed by Rule 145 under the Act,
  or (c) in the opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Company
  delivered in writing to the Company prior to such sale, transfer or other
  disposition, such sale, transfer or other disposition is otherwise exempt
  from registration under the Act.
 
<PAGE>
 
Arch Coal, Inc.
     , 1997
Page 2
 
    (D) The undersigned understands that, except to the extent set forth in
  an agreement to which the Company is a party, the Company will be under no
  obligation to register the sale, transfer or other disposition of the
  Company Common Stock by the undersigned or on the undersigned's behalf
  under the Act or to take any other action necessary in order to make
  compliance with an exemption from such registration available.
 
    (E) The undersigned understands that stop transfer instructions may be
  given to the Company's transfer agent with respect to the Company Common
  Stock owned by the undersigned and that there may be placed on the
  certificates for the Company Common Stock issued to the undersigned, or any
  substitutions for all or part of such Company Common Stock, a legend
  stating in substance:
 
      "The shares represented by this certificate were issued in a
    transaction to which Rule 145 under the Securities Act of 1933 applies.
    The shares represented by this certificate may only be transferred in
    accordance with the terms of a letter agreement dated     , 1997, a
    copy of which agreement is on file at the principal offices of Arch
    Coal, Inc.
 
    (F) The undersigned also understands that unless the transfer by the
  undersigned of the undersigned's Company Common Stock has been registered
  under the Act or is a sale made in conformity with the provisions of this
  letter, the Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to place
  the following legend on the certificates issued to any transferee of shares
  from the undersigned and to obtain an agreement from the proposed
  transferee to effect hereof as a condition to issuance of certificates to
  such transferee:
 
      "The shares represented by this certificate have not been registered
    under the Securities Act of 1933 and were acquired from a person who
    received such shares in a transaction to which Rule 145 under the
    Securities Act of 1933 applies. The shares have been acquired by the
    holder not with a view to, or for resale in connection with, any
    distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933
    and may not be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred except
    in accordance with an exemption from the registration requirements of
    the Securities Act of 1933."
 
  It is understood and agreed that the legend set forth in paragraph E or F
above shall be removed by delivery of substitute certificates without such
legend if the undersigned shall have delivered to the Company (i) a copy of a
letter from the staff of the Commission, or an opinion of counsel, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company to the effect that such
legend is not required for purposes of the Act or (ii) reasonably satisfactory
evidence or representations that the shares represented by such certificates
are being or have been transferred in a transaction made in conformity with
the provisions of Rule 145.
 
                                                   Very truly yours,
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                                                                        ANNEX E
 
                   ARCH COAL, INC. 1997 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
 
                                   SECTION 1
 
                             STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
 
  1.1. The Arch Coal, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") has been
established by Arch Mineral Corporation, which pursuant to the Agreement and
Plan of Merger by and between the Company and Ashland Coal, Inc., et. al, will
change its name to Arch Coal, Inc., to become effective at the Effective Time
as defined herein in order to:
 
  (a) attract and retain executive, managerial and other salaried employees;
 
  (b) motivate participating employees, by means of appropriate incentives, to
achieve long-range goals;
 
  (c) provide incentive compensation opportunities that are competitive with
those of other major corporations; and
 
  (d) further identify a Participant's interests with those of the Company's
other stockholders through compensation based on the Company's common stock;
thereby promoting the long-term financial interest of the Company and its
Related Companies, including the growth in value of the Company's equity and
enhancement of long-term stockholder return.
 
                                   SECTION 2
 
                                  DEFINITIONS
 
  2.1. Unless the context indicates otherwise, the following terms shall have
the meaning set forth below:
 
  (a) ACQUIRING CORPORATION. The term "Acquiring Corporation" shall mean the
surviving, continuing successor or purchasing corporation in an acquisition or
merger with the Company in which the Company is not the surviving corporation.
 
  (b) AWARD. The term "Award" shall mean any award or benefit granted to any
Participant under the Plan, including, without limitation, the grant of
Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units,
Performance Stock, Performance Units, Merit Awards, Phantom Stock Awards and
Stock acquired through purchase under Section 12.
 
  (c) BOARD. The term "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company
acting as such but shall not include the Committee or other committees of the
Board acting on behalf of the Board.
 
  (d) CAUSE. The term "Cause" shall mean (a) the continued failure by the
Participant to substantially perform his or her duties with the Company (other
than any such failure resulting from his or her incapacity due to physical or
mental illness), or (b) the engaging by the Participant in conduct which is
demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or otherwise.
 
  (e) CHANGE IN CONTROL. A "Change in Control" shall mean a change in control
of the Company of a nature that would be required to be reported (assuming
such event has not been "previously reported") in response to Item 1(a) of a
Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
as
<PAGE>
 
in effect on the date this Plan is approved by the shareholders of the
Company; provided that, without limitation, such a Change in Control shall be
deemed to have occurred (1) upon the approval of the Board (or if approval of
the Board is not required as a matter of law, the shareholders of the Company)
of (A) any consolidation or merger of the Company in which the Company is not
the continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to which shares of Stock
would be converted into cash, securities or other property, other than a
merger in which the holders of the Stock immediately prior to the merger will
have more than 50% of the ownership of common stock of the surviving
corporation immediately after the merger, (B) any sale, lease, exchange or
other transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all
or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (C) adoption of any plan
or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, or (2) when any
"person" (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), other than a
Significant Stockholder, or any subsidiary of the Company or employee benefit
plan or trust maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, shall
become the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 20% of the Stock outstanding at the
time, without the prior approval of the Board.
 
  (f) CODE. The term "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended. A reference to any provision of the Code shall include reference to
any successor provision of the Code.
 
  (g) COMMITTEE. The term "Committee" means the committee of the Board
selected in accordance with the provisions of Subsection 4.2.
 
  (h) COMPANY. The term "Company" means Arch Coal, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, which prior to the Effective Date was known as Arch Mineral
Corporation.
 
  (i) DATE OF TERMINATION. A Participant's "Date of Termination" shall be the
date on which his or her employment with all Employers and Related Companies
terminates for any reason; provided that for purposes of this Plan only, a
Participant's employment shall not be deemed to be terminated by reason of a
transfer of the Participant between the Company and a Related Company
(including Employers) or between two Related Companies (including Employers);
and further provided that a Participant's employment shall not be considered
terminated by reason of the Participant's leave of absence from an Employer or
a Related Company that is approved in advance by the Participant's Employer.
 
  (j) DISABILITY. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, a Participant
shall be considered to have a "Disability" during the period in which he or
she is unable, by reason of a medically determined physical or mental
impairment, to carry out his or her duties with an Employer, which condition,
in the discretion of the Committee, shall generally be an event which
qualifies as a "long term disability" under applicable long term disability
benefit programs of the Company.
 
  (k) EFFECTIVE DATE. The term "Effective Date" shall mean the "Effective
Time" of the "Merger" under the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April
4, 1997, among the Company, Ashland Coal, Inc., and AMC Merger Corporation.
 
  (l) EMPLOYEE. The term "Employee" shall mean a person with an employment
relationship with an Employer.
 
  (m) EMPLOYER. The Company and each Subsidiary which, with the consent of the
Company, participates in the Plan for the benefit of its eligible Employees
are referred to collectively as the "Employers" and individually as an
"Employer".
 
  (n) EXCHANGE ACT. The term "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended.
 
  (o) EXERCISE PRICE. The term "Exercise Price" means, with respect to each
share of Stock subject to an Option, the price fixed by the Committee at which
such share may be purchased from the Company pursuant to the exercise of such
Option, which price at no time may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value
of the Stock on the date the Option is granted, except as permitted and
contemplated by Section 21 of the Plan.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
  (p) FAIR MARKET VALUE. The "Fair Market Value" of the Stock on any given
date shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes
place on such date, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, regular
way, of the Stock, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated
transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to
trading on the NYSE or, if the Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on
the NYSE, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting
system with respect to securities listed on the principal national securities
exchange on which the Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Stock
is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the
last quoted sale price on such date or, if not so quoted, the average of the
high bid and low asked prices in the over-the- counter market on such date, as
reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotations System or such other system then in use, or, if on any such date
the Stock is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing
bid and asked prices on such date as furnished by a professional market maker
making a market in the Stock. If the Stock is not publicly held or so listed
or publicly traded, "Fair Market Value" per share of Stock shall mean the Fair
Market Value per share as reasonably determined by the Committee.
 
  (q) IMMEDIATE FAMILY. With respect to a particular Participant, the term
"Immediate Family" shall mean, whether through consanguinity or adoptive
relationships, the Participant's spouse, children, stepchildren, siblings and
grandchildren.
 
  (r) INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION. The term "Incentive Stock Option" shall mean any
Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan.
 
  (s) MERIT AWARD. The term "Merit Award" shall mean any Merit Award granted
under the Plan.
 
  (t) NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR. The term "Non-Employee Director" shall mean a
person who qualifies as such under Rule 16b-3(b)(3) under the Exchange Act or
any successor provision, and who also qualifies as an "outside director" under
Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
  (u) NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION. The term "Non-qualified Stock Option" shall
mean any Non-Qualified Stock Option granted under the Plan.
 
  (v) NYSE. The term "NYSE" refers to the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
 
  (w) OPTION. The term "Option" shall mean any Incentive Stock Option or Non-
Qualified Stock Option granted under the Plan.
 
  (x) PARTICIPANT. The term "Participant" means an Employee who has been
granted an award under the Plan.
 
  (y) PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION. The term "Performance-Based
Compensation" shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of
the Code.
 
  (z) PERFORMANCE GOALS. The term "Performance Goals" means the goals
established by the Committee under an Award which, if met, will entitle the
Participant to payment under such Award and will qualify such payment as
"Performance-Based Compensation" as that term is used in Code Section
162(m)(4)(C). Such goals will be based upon one or more of the following
business criteria: net income; earnings per share; earnings before interest
and taxes ("EBIT"); earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and
amortization ("EBITDA"); debt reduction; safety; return on investment;
operating income; operating ratio; cash flow; return on assets; stockholders'
return; revenue; return on equity; economic value added (EVA(R)); operating
costs; sales; or compliance with Company policies.
 
  (aa) PERFORMANCE PERIOD. The term "Performance Period" shall mean the period
over which applicable performance is to be measured.
 
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
  (bb) PERFORMANCE STOCK. The term "Performance Stock" shall have the meaning
ascribed to it in Section 10 of the Plan.
 
  (cc) PERFORMANCE UNITS. The term "Performance Units" shall have the meaning
ascribed to it in Section 11 of the Plan.
 
  (dd) PHANTOM STOCK AWARD. The term "Phantom Stock Award" shall mean any
Phantom Stock Award granted under the Plan.
 
  (ee) PLAN. The term "Plan" shall mean this Arch Coal, Inc. 1997 Stock
Incentive Plan as the same may be from time to time amended or revised.
 
  (ff) QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLAN. The term "Qualified Retirement Plan" means
any plan of an Employer or a Related Company that is intended to be qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Code.
 
  (gg) RELATED COMPANIES. The term "Related Companies" means any Significant
Stockholder and their subsidiaries; and any other company during any period in
which it is a Subsidiary or a division of the Company, including any entity
acquired by, or merged with or into, the Company or a Subsidiary.
 
  (hh) RESTRICTED PERIOD. The term "Restricted Period" shall mean the period
of time for which shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units are
subject to forfeiture pursuant to the Plan or during which Options and Stock
Appreciation Rights are not exercisable.
 
  (ii) RESTRICTED STOCK. The term "Restricted Stock" shall have the meaning
ascribed to it in Section 8 of the Plan.
 
  (jj) RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS. The term "Restricted Stock Units" shall have
the meaning ascribed to it in Section 9 of the Plan.
 
  (kk) RETIREMENT. "Retirement" of a Participant shall mean the occurrence of
a Participant's Date of Termination under circumstances that constitute such
Participant's retirement at normal or early retirement age under the terms of
the Qualified Retirement Plan of Participant's Employer that is extended to
the Participant immediately prior to the Participant's Date of Termination or,
if no such plan is extended to the Participant on his or her Date of
Termination, under the terms of any applicable retirement policy of the
Participant's Employer.
 
  (ll) SEC. "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
  (mm) SIGNIFICANT STOCKHOLDER. The term "Significant Stockholder" shall mean
any shareholder of the Company who, immediately prior to the Effective Date,
owned more than 5% of the common stock of the Company.
 
  (nn) STOCK. The term "Stock" shall mean shares of common stock, $.01 par
value per share, of the Company.
 
  (oo) STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The term "Stock Appreciation Rights" shall
mean any Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan.
 
  (pp) SUBSIDIARY. The term "Subsidiary" shall mean any present or future
subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Code Section
424(f).
 
  (qq) TAX DATE. The term "Tax Date" shall mean the date a withholding tax
obligation arises with respect to an Award.
 
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                                   SECTION 3
 
                                  ELIGIBILITY
 
  3.1. Subject to the discretion of the Committee and the terms and conditions
of the Plan, the Committee shall determine and designate from time to time,
the Employees or other persons as contemplated by Section 21 of the Plan who
will be granted one or more Awards under the Plan.
 
                                   SECTION 4
 
                         OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION
 
  4.1. The Plan has been adopted by the Board on       , 1997, effective as of
the Effective Date, subject to the further approval of the shareholders of the
Company. In addition, if the Plan is approved by the shareholders, to the
extent required pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code, it or any part thereof
shall be resubmitted to shareholders for reapproval at the first shareholders'
meeting that occurs during the fifth year following the year of the initial
approval and thereafter at five year intervals, in each case, as may be
required to qualify any Award hereunder as Performance-Based Compensation. The
Plan shall be unlimited in duration and remain in effect until termination by
the Board; provided however, that no Incentive Stock Option may be granted
under the Plan after       , 2007.
 
  4.2. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee which shall consist of
two or more members of the Board who are Non-Employee Directors. Plenary
authority to manage and control the operation and administration of the Plan
shall be vested in the Committee, which authority shall include, but shall not
be limited to:
 
  (a) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the authority and discretion to
select Employees to receive Awards, to determine the time or times of receipt,
to determine the types of Awards and the number of shares covered by the
Awards, to establish the terms, conditions, performance criteria,
restrictions, and other provisions of such Awards. In making such Award
determinations, the Committee may take into account the nature of services
rendered by the respective Employee, his or her present and potential
contribution to the Company's success and such other factors as the Committee
deems relevant.
 
  (b) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the authority and discretion to
determine the extent to which Awards under the Plan will be structured to
conform to the requirements applicable to Performance-Based Compensation as
described in Code Section 162(m), and to take such action, establish such
procedures, and impose such restrictions at the time such awards are granted
as the Committee determines to be necessary or appropriate to conform to such
requirements.
 
  (c) The authority and discretion to interpret the Plan and the Awards
granted under the Plan, to establish, amend and rescind any rules and
regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the terms and provisions of any
agreements made pursuant to the Plan, to make all other determinations that it
deems necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan and to correct
any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan
or in any Award, in each case, in the manner and to the extent the Committee
deems necessary or advisable to carry it into effect.
 
  4.3. Any interpretation of the Plan by the Committee and any decision made
by it under the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons. The express
grant in the Plan of any specific power to the Committee shall not be
construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. Provided,
however, that except as otherwise permitted under Treasury Regulation 1.162-
27(e)(2)(iii)(C), the Committee may not increase any Award once made if
payment under such Award is intended to constitute Performance-Based
Compensation.
 
  4.4. The Committee may only act at a meeting by unanimous consent if
comprised of two members, and otherwise by a majority of its members. Any
determination of the Committee may be made without a meeting
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
by the unanimous written consent of its members. In addition, the Committee
may authorize one or more of its members or any officer of an Employer to
execute and deliver documents and perform other administrative acts pursuant
to the Plan.
 
  4.5. No member or authorized delegate of the Committee shall be liable to
any person for any action taken or omitted in connection with the
administration of the Plan unless attributable to his or her own fraud or
gross misconduct. The Committee, the individual members thereof, and persons
acting as the authorized delegates of the Committee under the Plan, shall be
indemnified by the Employers against any and all liabilities, losses, costs
and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) of whatsoever kind and nature
which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against, the Committee or
its members or authorized delegates by reason of the performance of any action
pursuant to the Plan if the Committee or its members or authorized delegates
did not act in willful violation of the law or regulation under which such
liability, loss, cost or expense arises. This indemnification shall not
duplicate but may supplement any coverage available under any applicable
insurance policy, contract with the indemnitee or the Company's By-laws.
 
  4.6. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, but
without giving effect to Awards made pursuant to Section 21, the maximum
number of shares of Stock with respect to which any Participant may receive
any Award of an Option or a Stock Appreciation Right under the Plan during any
calendar year is 300,000; the maximum number of shares with respect to which
any Participant may receive Awards of Restricted Stock during any calendar
year is 100,000; the maximum number of shares with respect to which any
Participant may receive Merit Awards during any calendar year is 100,000; and
the maximum number of shares with respect to which any Participant may receive
other Awards during any calendar year is 100,000.
 
  4.7. To the extent that the Committee determines that it is necessary or
desirable to conform any Awards under the Plan with the requirements
applicable to "Performance-Based Compensation", as that term is used in Code
Section 162(m)(4)(C), it may, at or prior to the time an Award is granted,
establish Performance Goals for a particular Performance Period. If the
Committee establishes Performance Goals for a Performance Period, it may
approve a payment from that particular Performance Period upon attainment of
the Performance Goal.
 
                                   SECTION 5
 
                        SHARES AVAILABLE UNDER THE PLAN
 
  5.1. The shares of Stock with respect to which Awards may be made under the
Plan shall be shares of currently authorized but unissued or treasury shares
acquired by the Company, including shares purchased in the open market or in
private transactions. Subject to the provisions of Section 16, the total
number of shares of Stock available for grant of Awards shall not exceed six
million (6,000,000) shares of Stock. Except as otherwise provided herein, if
any Award shall expire or terminate for any reason without having been
exercised in full, the unissued shares of Stock subject thereto (whether or
not cash or other consideration is paid in respect of such Award) shall again
be available for the purposes of the Plan. Any shares of Stock which are used
as full or partial payment to the Company upon exercise of an Award shall be
available for purposes of the Plan.
 
                                   SECTION 6
 
                                    OPTIONS
 
  6.1. The grant of an "Option" under this Section 6 entitles the Participant
to purchase shares of Stock at a price fixed at the time the Option is
granted, or at a price determined under a method established at the time the
Option is granted, subject to the terms of this Section 6. Options granted
under this Section 6 may be either Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified
Stock Options, and subject to Subsection 6.6 and Sections 15 and 20, shall not
be exercisable for at least six months from the date of grant, as determined
in the discretion of the Committee. An "Incentive Stock Option" is an Option
that is intended to satisfy the requirements applicable to an "incentive stock
option" described in Section 422(b) of the Code. A "Non-Qualified Option" is
an Option that is not intended to be an "incentive stock option" as that term
is described in Section 422(b) of the Code.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
  6.2. The Committee shall designate the Employees to whom Options are to be
granted under this Section 6 and shall determine the number of shares of Stock
to be subject to each such Option. To the extent that the aggregate Fair
Market Value of Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by any individual during any calendar year
(under all plans of the Company and all Related Companies) exceeds $100,000,
such Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options, but only to the
extent required by Section 422 of the Code.
 
  6.3. The determination and payment of the purchase price of a share of Stock
under each Option granted under this Section shall be subject to the following
terms of this Subsection 6.3:
 
  (a) The purchase price shall be established by the Committee or shall be
determined by a method established by the Committee at the time the Option is
granted; provided, however, that in no event shall the price per share be less
than the Fair Market Value per share on the date of the grant except as
otherwise permitted by Section 21 of the Plan;
 
  (b) The full purchase price of each share of Stock purchased upon the
exercise of any Option shall be paid at the time of such exercise and, as soon
as practicable thereafter, a certificate representing the shares so purchased
shall be delivered to the person entitled thereto; and
 
  (c) The purchase price shall be paid either in cash, in shares of Stock
(valued at Fair Market Value as of the day of exercise), through a combination
of cash and Stock (so valued) or through such cashless exercise arrangement as
may be approved by the Committee and established by the Company, provided that
any shares of Stock used for payment shall have been owned by the Participant
for at least six (6) months.
 
  6.4. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, an Option granted
under this Section 6 shall be exercisable in accordance with the following
terms of this Subsection 6.4.
 
  (a) The terms and conditions relating to exercise of an Option shall be
established by the Committee, and may include, without limitation, conditions
relating to completion of a specified period of service, achievement of
performance standards prior to exercise of the Option, or achievement of Stock
ownership objectives by the Participant. No Option may be exercised by a
Participant after the expiration date applicable to that Option.
 
  (b) The exercise of an Option will result in the surrender of the
corresponding rights under a tandem Stock Appreciation Right, if any.
 
  6.5. The exercise period of any Option shall be determined by the Committee
but the term of any Option shall not extend more than ten years after the date
of grant.
 
                                   SECTION 7
 
                           STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
 
  7.1. Subject to the terms of this Section 7, a Stock Appreciation Right
granted under the Plan entitles the Participant to receive, in cash or Stock
(as determined in accordance with Subsection 7.4), value equal to all or a
portion of the excess of: (a) the Fair Market Value of a specified number of
shares of Stock at the time of exercise; over (b) a specified price which
shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock at the time
the Stock Appreciation Right is granted, or, if granted in tandem with an
Option, the exercise price with respect to shares under the tandem Option.
 
  7.2. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall designate
the Employees to whom Stock Appreciation Rights are to be granted under the
Plan, shall determine the exercise price or a method by which the price shall
be established with respect to each such Stock Appreciation Right, and shall
determine the number of shares of Stock on which each Stock Appreciation Right
is based. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted in connection with all or
any portion of a previously or contemporaneously granted Option or not in
connection
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
with an Option. If a Stock Appreciation Right is granted in connection with an
Option then, in the discretion of the Committee, the Stock Appreciation Right
may, but need not, be granted in tandem with the Option.
 
  7.3. The exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to the
following:
 
  (a) If a Stock Appreciation Right is not in tandem with an Option, then the
Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable in accordance with the terms
established by the Committee in connection with such rights but, subject to
Sections 15 and 20, shall not be exercisable for six months from the date of
grant and the term of any Stock Appreciation Right shall not extend more than
ten years from the date of grant; and may include, without limitation,
conditions relating to completion of a specified period of service,
achievement of performance standards prior to exercise of the Stock
Appreciation Rights, or achievement of objectives relating to Stock ownership
by the Participant; and
 
  (b) If a Stock Appreciation Right is in tandem with an Option, then the
Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable only at the time the tandem
Option is exercisable and the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right will
result in the surrender of the corresponding rights under the tandem Option.
 
  7.4. Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the value to be
distributed to the Participant, in accordance with Subsection 7.1, shall be
distributed in shares of Stock (valued at their Fair Market Value at the time
of exercise), in cash, or in a combination of Stock or cash, in the discretion
of the Committee.
 
                                   SECTION 8
 
                               RESTRICTED STOCK
 
  8.1. Subject to the terms of this Section 8, Restricted Stock Awards under
the Plan are grants of Stock to Participants, the vesting of which is subject
to certain conditions established by the Committee, with some or all of those
conditions relating to events (such as continued employment or satisfaction of
performance criteria) occurring after the date of the grant of the Award,
provided, however, that to the extent that vesting of a Restricted Stock Award
is contingent on continued employment, the required employment period shall
generally (unless otherwise determined by the Committee) not be less than one
year following the grant of the Award unless such grant is in substitution for
an Award under this Plan or a predecessor plan of the Company or a Related
Company. To the extent, if any, required by the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware, a Participant's receipt of an Award of newly issued shares
of Restricted Stock shall be made subject to payment by the Participant of an
amount equal to the aggregate par value of such newly issued shares of Stock.
 
  8.2. The Committee shall designate the Employees to whom Restricted Stock is
to be granted, and the number of shares of Stock that are subject to each such
Award. The Award of shares under this Section 8 may, but need not, be made in
conjunction with a cash-based incentive compensation program maintained by the
Company, and may, but need not, be in lieu of cash otherwise awardable under
such program.
 
  8.3. Shares of Restricted Stock granted to Participants under the Plan shall
be subject to the following terms and conditions:
 
  (a) Restricted Stock granted to Participants may not be sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered during the Restricted Period;
 
  (b) The Participant as owner of such shares shall have all the rights of a
stockholder, including but not limited to the right to vote such shares and,
except as otherwise provided by the Committee or as otherwise provided by the
Plan, the right to receive all dividends and other distributions paid on such
shares;
 
  (c) Each certificate issued in respect of shares of Restricted Stock granted
under the Plan shall be registered in the name of the Participant but, at the
discretion of the Committee, each such certificate may be deposited with the
Company with a stock power endorsed in blank or in a bank designated by the
Committee;
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
  (d) The Committee may award Restricted Stock as Performance-Based
Compensation, which shall be Restricted Stock that will be earned (or for
which earning is accelerated) upon the achievement of Performance Goals
established by the Committee and the Committee may specify the number of
shares that will be earned upon achievement of different levels of
performance; except as otherwise provided by the Committee, achievement of
maximum targets during the Performance Period shall result in the
Participant's earning of the full amount of Restricted Stock comprising such
Performance-Based Compensation and, in the discretion of the Committee,
achievement of the minimum target but less than the maximum target, the
Committee may result in the Participant's earning of a portion of the Award;
and
 
  (e) Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, any Restricted Stock
which is not earned by the end of a Restricted Period or Performance Period,
as the case may be, shall be forfeited. If a Participant's Date of Termination
occurs prior to the end of a Restricted Period or Performance Period, as the
case may be, the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion, that the
Participant will be entitled to settlement of all or any portion of the
Restricted Stock as to which he or she would otherwise be eligible, and may
accelerate the determination of the value and settlement of such Restricted
Stock or make such other adjustments as the Committee, in its sole discretion,
deems desirable. Subject to the limitations of the Plan and the Award of
Restricted Stock, upon the vesting of Restricted Stock, such Restricted Stock
will be transferred free of all restrictions to the Participant (or his or her
legal representative, beneficiary or heir).
 
                                   SECTION 9
 
                            RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
 
  9.1. Subject to the terms of this Section 9, a Restricted Stock Unit
entitles a Participant to receive shares for the units at the end of a
Restricted Period to the extent provided by the Award with the vesting of such
units to be contingent upon such conditions as may be established by the
Committee (such as continued employment or satisfaction of performance
criteria) occurring after the date of grant of the Award, provided, however,
that to the extent that the vesting of a Restricted Stock Unit is contingent
on continued employment, the required employment period shall generally not be
less than one year following the date of grant of the Award unless such grant
is in substitution for an Award under this Plan or a predecessor plan of the
Company or a Related Company. The Award of Restricted Stock Units under this
Section 9 may, but need not, be made in conjunction with a cash-based
incentive compensation program maintained by the Company, and may, but need
not, be in lieu of cash otherwise awardable under such program.
 
  9.2. The Committee shall designate the Employees to whom Restricted Stock
Units shall be granted and the number of units that are subject to each such
Award. During any period in which Restricted Stock Units are outstanding and
have not been settled in Stock, the Participant shall not have the rights of a
stockholder, but, in the discretion of the Committee, may be granted the right
to receive a payment from the Company in lieu of a dividend in an amount equal
to any cash dividends that might be paid during the Restricted Period.
 
  9.3. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, any Restricted Stock
Unit which is not earned by the end of a Restricted Period shall be forfeited.
If a Participant's Date of Termination occurs prior to the end of a Restricted
Period, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine that the
Participant will be entitled to settlement of all, any portion, or none of the
Restricted Stock Units as to which he or she would otherwise be eligible, and
may accelerate the determination of the value and settlement of such
Restricted Stock Units or make such other adjustments as the Committee, in its
sole discretion, deems desirable.
 
                                  SECTION 10
 
                               PERFORMANCE STOCK
 
  10.1. Subject to the terms of this Section 10, an Award of Performance Stock
provides for the distribution of Stock to a Participant upon the achievement
of performance objectives, which may include Performance Goals, established by
the Committee.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
  10.2. The Committee shall designate the Employees to whom Awards of
Performance Stock are to be granted, and the number of shares of Stock that
are subject to each such Award. The Award of shares of Performance Stock under
this Section 10 may, but need not, be made in conjunction with a cash-based
incentive compensation program maintained by the Company, and may, but need
not, be in lieu of cash otherwise awardable under such program.
 
  10.3. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, any Award of
Performance Stock which is not earned by the end of the Performance Period
shall be forfeited. If a Participant's Date of Termination occurs prior to the
end of a Performance Period, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may
determine that the Participant will be entitled to settlement of all, any
portion, or none of the Performance Stock as to which he or she would
otherwise be eligible, and may accelerate the determination of the value and
settlement of such Performance Stock or make such other adjustments as the
Committee, in its sole discretion, deems desirable.
 
                                  SECTION 11
 
                               PERFORMANCE UNITS
 
  11.1. Subject to the terms of this Section 11, the Award of Performance
Units under the Plan entitles the Participant to receive value for the units
at the end of a Performance Period to the extent provided under the Award. The
number of Performance Units earned, and value received from them, will be
contingent on the degree to which the performance measures established at the
time of grant of the Award are met.
 
  11.2. The Committee shall designate the Employees to whom Performance Units
are to be granted, and the number of Performance Units to be subject to each
such Award.
 
  11.3. For each Participant, the Committee will determine the value of
Performance Units, which may be stated either in cash or in units representing
shares of Stock; the performance measures used for determining whether the
Performance Units are earned; the Performance Period during which the
performance measures will apply; the relationship between the level of
achievement of the performance measures and the degree to which Performance
Units are earned; whether, during or after the Performance Period, any
revision to the performance measures or Performance Period should be made to
reflect significant events or changes that occur during the Performance
Period; and the number of earned Performance Units that will be settled in
cash and/or shares of Stock.
 
  11.4. Settlement of Performance Units shall be subject to the following:
 
  (a) The Committee will compare the actual performance to the performance
measures established for the Performance Period and determine the number of
Performance Units as to which settlement is to be made;
 
  (b) Settlement of Performance Units earned shall be wholly in cash, wholly
in Stock or in a combination of the two, to be distributed in a lump sum or
installments, as determined by the Committee; and
 
  (c) Shares of Stock distributed in settlement of Performance Units shall be
subject to such vesting requirements and other conditions, if any, as the
Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, restrictions of the
type that may be imposed with respect to Restricted Stock under Section 8.
 
  11.5. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, any Award of
Performance Units which is not earned by the end of the Performance Period
shall be forfeited. If a Participant's Date of Termination occurs prior to the
end of a Performance Period, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may
determine that the Participant will be entitled to settlement of all, any
portion, or none of the Performance Units as to which he or she would
otherwise be eligible, and may accelerate the determination of the value and
settlement of such Performance Units or make such other adjustments as the
Committee, in its sole discretion, deems desirable.
 
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
 
                                  SECTION 12
 
                            STOCK PURCHASE PROGRAM
 
  12.1. The Committee may, from time to time, establish one or more programs
under which Employees will be permitted to purchase shares of Stock under the
Plan, and shall designate the Employees eligible to participate under such
Stock purchase programs. The purchase price for shares of Stock available
under such programs, and other terms and conditions of such programs, shall be
established by the Committee. The purchase price may not be less than 75% of
the Fair Market Value of the Stock at the time of purchase (or, in the
Committee's discretion, the average Stock value over a period determined by
the Committee), and further provided that if newly issued shares of Stock are
sold, the purchase price may not be less than the aggregate par value of such
newly issued shares of Stock.
 
  12.2. The Committee may impose such restrictions with respect to shares
purchased under this Section 12, as the Committee, in its sole discretion,
determines to be appropriate. Such restrictions may include, without
limitation, restrictions of the type that may be imposed with respect to
Restricted Stock under Section 8.
 
                                  SECTION 13
 
                                 MERIT AWARDS
 
  13.1. The Committee may from time to time make an Award of Stock under the
Plan to selected Employees for such reasons and in such amounts as the
Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine. The consideration to be paid
by an Employee for any such Merit Award, if any, shall be fixed by the
Committee from time to time, but, if required by the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware, it shall not be less than the aggregate par value of
the shares of Stock awarded to him or her.
 
                                  SECTION 14
 
                             PHANTOM STOCK AWARDS
 
  14.1. The Committee may make Phantom Stock Awards to selected Employees
which may be based solely on the value of the underlying shares of Stock,
solely on any earnings or appreciation thereon, or both. Subject to the
provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the sole and complete
authority to determine the number of hypothetical or target shares as to which
each such Phantom Stock Award is subject and to determine the terms and
conditions of each such Phantom Stock Award. There may be more than one
Phantom Stock Award in existence at any one time with respect to a selected
Employee, and the terms and conditions of each such Phantom Stock Award may
differ from each other.
 
  14.2. The Committee shall establish vesting or performance measures for each
Phantom Stock Award on the basis of such criteria and to accomplish such
objectives as the Committee may from time to time, in its sole discretion,
determine. Such measures may be based on years of service or periods of
employment, or the achievement of individual or corporate performance
objectives, but shall, in each instance, be based upon one or more of the
business criteria as determined pursuant to Section 4.7. The vesting and
performance measures determined by the Committee shall be established at the
time a Phantom Stock Award is made. Phantom Stock Awards may not be sold,
assigned, transferred, pledged, or otherwise encumbered, except as provided in
Section 17, during the Performance Period.
 
  14.3. The Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, the manner of
payment, which may include cash or shares of Stock in such proportions as the
Committee shall determine.
 
  14.4. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, any Award of Phantom
Stock which is not earned by the end of the Performance Period shall be
forfeited. If a Participant's Date of Termination occurs prior to the end of a
Performance Period, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine that
the Participant will be
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
entitled to settlement of all or a portion of the Phantom Stock for which he
or she would otherwise be eligible, and may accelerate the determination of
the value and settlement of Phantom Stock or make such other adjustment as the
Committee, in its sole discretion, deems desirable.
 
                                  SECTION 15
 
                           TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
 
  15.1. If a Participant's employment is terminated by the Participant's
Employer for Cause or if the Participant's employment is terminated by the
Participant without the written consent and approval of the Participant's
Employer, all of the Participant's unvested Awards, including any unexercised
Options, shall be forfeited.
 
  15.2. If a Participant's Date of Termination occurs by reason of death,
Disability or Retirement, all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
outstanding immediately prior to the Participant's Date of Termination shall
immediately become exercisable and shall be exercisable until one year from
the Participant's Date of Termination and thereafter shall be forfeited if not
exercised, and all restrictions on any Awards outstanding immediately prior to
the Participant's Date of Termination shall immediately lapse. Options and
Stock Appreciation Rights which are or become exercisable at the time of a
Participant's death may be exercised by the Participant's designated
beneficiary or, in the absence of such designation, by the person to whom the
Participant's rights will pass by will or the laws of descent and
distribution.
 
  15.3. If a Participant's Date of Termination occurs by reason of
Participant's employment being terminated by the Participant's Employer for
any reason other than Cause, or by the Participant with the written consent
and approval of the Participant's Employer, the Restricted Period shall lapse
on a proportion of any Awards outstanding immediately prior to the
Participant's Date of Termination (except that, to the extent that an Award of
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units, Performance Stock
and Phantom Stock is subject to a Performance Period), such proportion of the
Award shall remain subject to the same terms and conditions for vesting as
were in effect prior to the Date of Termination and shall be determined at the
end of the Performance Period. The proportion of an Award upon which the
Restricted Period shall lapse shall be a fraction, the denominator of which is
the total number of months of any Restricted Period applicable to an Award and
the numerator of which is the number of months of such Restricted Period which
elapsed prior to the Date of Termination.
 
  15.4. Options and Stock Appreciation Rights which are or become exercisable
by reason of the Participant's employment being terminated by the
Participant's Employer for reasons other than Cause or by the Participant with
the consent and approval of the Participant's Employer, shall be exercisable
until 60 days from the Participant's Termination Date and shall thereafter be
forfeited if not exercised.
 
  15.5. Except to the extent the Company shall otherwise determine, if, as a
result of a sale or other transaction (other than a Change in Control), a
Participant's Employer ceases to be a Related Company (and the Participant's
Employer is or becomes an entity that is separate from the Company), the
occurrence of such transaction shall be treated as the Participant's Date of
Termination caused by the Participant's employment being terminated by the
Participant's Employer for a reason other than Cause.
 
  15.6. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 15, the
Committee may, with respect to any Awards of a Participant (or portion
thereof) that are outstanding immediately prior to the Participant's Date of
Termination, determine that a Participant's Date of Termination will not
result in forfeiture or other termination of the Award, or may extend the
period during which any Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised,
but shall not extend such period beyond the expiration date set forth in the
Award.
 
 
                                      12
<PAGE>
 
                                  SECTION 16
 
                             ADJUSTMENTS TO SHARES
 
  16.1. If the Company shall effect a reorganization, merger, or
consolidation, or similar event or effect any subdivision or consolidation of
shares of Stock or other capital readjustment, payment of stock dividend,
stock split, spin-off, combination of shares or recapitalization or other
increase or reduction of the number of shares of Stock outstanding without
receiving compensation therefor in money, services or property, then the
Committee shall appropriately adjust (i) the number of shares of Stock
available under the Plan, (ii) the number of shares of Stock available under
any individual or other limitations under the Plan, (iii) the number of shares
of Stock subject to outstanding Awards and (iv) the per-share price under any
outstanding Award to the extent that the Participant is required to pay a
purchase price per share with respect to the Award.
 
  16.2. If the Committee determines that an adjustment in accordance with the
provisions of Subsection 16.1 would not be fully consistent with the purposes
of the Plan or the purposes of the outstanding Awards under the Plan, the
Committee may make such other adjustments, if any, that the Committee
reasonably determines are consistent with the purposes of the Plan and/or the
affected Awards.
 
  16.3. To the extent that any reorganization, merger, consolidation, or
similar event or any subdivision or consolidation of shares of Stock or other
capital readjustment, payment of stock dividend, stock split, spin-off,
combination of shares or recapitalization or other increase or reduction of
the number of shares of Stock hereunder is also accompanied by or related to a
Change in Control, the adjustment hereunder shall be made prior to the
acceleration contemplated by Section 20.
 
                                  SECTION 17
 
                    TRANSFERABILITY AND DEFERRAL OF AWARDS
 
  17.1. Awards under the Plan are not transferable except by will or by the
laws of descent and distribution. To the extent that a Participant who
receives an Award under the Plan has the right to exercise such Award, the
Award may be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the
Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 17, the
Committee may, subject to any restrictions under applicable securities laws,
permit Awards under the Plan (other than an Incentive Stock Option) to be
transferred by a Participant for no consideration to or for the benefit of the
Participant's Immediate Family (including, without limitation, to a trust for
the benefit of a Participant's Immediate Family or to a Partnership comprised
solely of members of the Participant's Immediate Family), subject to such
limits as the Committee may establish, provided the transferee shall remain
subject to all of the terms and conditions applicable to such Award prior to
such transfer.
 
  17.2. The Committee may permit a Participant to elect to defer payment under
an Award under such terms and conditions as the Committee, in its sole
discretion, may determine; provided that any such deferral election must be
made prior to the time the Participant has become entitled to payment under
the Award.
 
                                  SECTION 18
 
                                AWARD AGREEMENT
 
  18.1. Each Participant granted an Award pursuant to the Plan shall sign an
Award Agreement which signifies the offer of the Award by the Company and the
acceptance of the Award by the Participant in accordance with the terms of the
Award and the provisions of the Plan. Each Award Agreement shall reflect the
terms and conditions of the Award. Participation in the Plan shall confer no
rights to continued employment with an Employer nor shall it restrict the
right of an Employer to terminate a Participant's employment at any time for
any reason, not withstanding the fact that the Participant's rights under this
Plan may be negatively affected by such action.
 
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
                                  SECTION 19
 
                                TAX WITHHOLDING
 
  19.1 All Awards and other payments under the Plan are subject to withholding
of all applicable taxes, which withholding obligations shall be satisfied
(without regard to whether the Participant has transferred an Award under the
Plan) by a cash remittance, or with the consent of the Committee, through the
surrender of shares of Stock which the Participant owns or to which the
Participant is otherwise entitled under the Plan pursuant to an irrevocable
election submitted by the Participant to the Company at the office designated
for such purpose. The number of shares of Stock needed to be submitted in
payment of the taxes shall be determined using the Fair Market Value as of the
applicable tax date rounding down to the nearest whole share.
 
                                  SECTION 20
 
                               CHANGE IN CONTROL
 
  20.1. After giving effect to the provisions of Section 16 (relating to the
adjustment of shares of Stock), and except as otherwise provided in the Plan
or the Agreement reflecting the applicable Award, upon the occurrence of a
Change in Control:
 
  (a) All outstanding Options (regardless of whether in tandem with Stock
Appreciation Rights) shall become fully exercisable and may be exercised at
any time during the original term of the Option;
 
  (b) All outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights (regardless of whether in
tandem with Options) shall become fully exercisable and may be exercised at
any time during the original term of the Option;
 
  (c) All shares of Stock subject to Awards shall become fully vested and be
distributed to the Participant; and
 
  (d) Performance Units may be paid out in such manner and amounts as may be
reasonably determined by the Committee.
 
                                  SECTION 21
 
                             MERGERS/ACQUISITIONS
 
  21.1. In the event of any merger or acquisition involving the Company and/or
a Subsidiary of the Company and another entity which results in the Company
being the survivor or the surviving direct or indirect parent corporation of
the merged or acquired entity, the Committee may grant Awards under the
provisions of the Plan in substitution for awards held by employees or former
employees of such other entity under any plan of such entity immediately prior
to such merger or acquisition upon such terms and conditions as the Committee,
in its discretion, shall determine and as otherwise may be required by the
Code to ensure such substitution is not treated as the grant of a new Award
for tax or accounting purposes.
 
  21.2. In the event of a merger or acquisition involving the Company in which
the Company is not the surviving corporation, the Acquiring Corporation shall
either assume the Company's rights and obligations under outstanding Awards or
substitute awards under the Acquiring Corporation's plans, or if none,
securities for such outstanding Awards. In the event the Acquiring Corporation
elects not to assume or substitute for such outstanding Awards, and without
limiting Section 20, the Board shall provide that any unexercisable and/or
unvested portion of the outstanding Awards shall be immediately exercisable
and vested as of a date prior to such merger or consolidation, as the Board so
determines. The exercise and/or vesting of any Award that was permissible
solely by reason of this Section 21.2 shall be conditioned upon the
consummation of the merger or consolidation. Unless otherwise provided in the
Plan or the Award, any Awards which are neither assumed by the Acquiring
Corporation nor exercised on or prior to the date of the transaction shall
terminate effective as of the effective date of the transaction.
 
                                      14
<PAGE>
 
                                  SECTION 22
 
                           TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT
 
  22.1. The Board may suspend, terminate, modify or amend the Plan, provided
that any amendment that would (a) increase the aggregate number of shares of
Stock which may be issued under the Plan, (b) would change the method of
determining the exercise price of Options, other than to change the method of
determining Fair Market Value of Stock as set forth in Section 2.1(o) of the
Plan, or (c) materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for
participation in the Plan, shall be subject to the approval of the Company's
stockholders, except that any such increase or modification that may result
from adjustments authorized by Section 16 does not require such approval. No
suspension, termination, modification or amendment of the Plan may terminate a
Participant's existing Award or materially and adversely affect a
Participant's rights under such Award without the Participant's consent.
 
                                      15
<PAGE>
 
                                                                     APPENDIX B
SALOMON BROTHERS INC 
Seven World Trade Center 
New York, New York 10048
 
212-783-7000
 
                                               ----------------
                                                SALOMON BROTHERS
                                                ------------------
 
April 4, 1997
 
Board of Directors
Ashland Coal, Inc.
2205 Fifth Street Road
Huntington, West Virginia 25701
 
Members of the Board:
 
  You have requested our opinion as investment bankers as to the fairness,
from a financial point of view, to the holders of common stock. $.01 par value
("Common Stock"), of Ashland Coal, Inc. (the "Company") other than Ashland
Inc. ("Ashland") and its affiliates of (i) the consideration to be received by
holders of Common Stock and (ii) the consideration to be received by holders
of the Company's Class B Preferred Stock, $100 par value ("Class B
Preferred"), and Class C Preferred Stock, $100 par value ("Class C Preferred"
and, collectively with Class B Preferred, "Preferred Stock"), in the proposed
combination (the "Proposed Combination") of the Company and Arch Mineral
Corporation ("Arch Mineral"). You have advised us that each of the Company and
Arch Mineral is majority owned by Ashland. The Proposed Combination is to be
effected pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 4,
1997 (the "Agreement"), by and among Arch Mineral, AMC Merger Corporation and
the Company.
 
  As more specifically set forth in the Agreement, in the Proposed Combination
the Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Arch Mineral, and (i)
each share of Common Stock will be converted into the right to receive one
share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Arch Mineral ("Arch
Mineral Common"), (ii) each share of Class B Preferred will be converted into
the right to receive 20,500 shares of Arch Mineral Common, and (iii) each
share of Class C Preferred will be converted into the right to received 20,500
shares of Arch Mineral Common. We also understand that, prior to execution and
delivery of the Agreement, Arch Mineral will have been recapitalized so that
each previously outstanding share of its Common Stock will have been converted
into 338.0857 shares of Common Stock.
 
  As you are aware, Salomon Brothers Inc has acted as financial advisor to the
Special Committee of the Company in connection with the Proposed Combination
and will receive a fee for our services. Additionally, Salomon Brothers Inc is
currently and has previously acted as agent for Ashland's medium term note
program for which we have received compensation. In addition, in the ordinary
course of our business, we actively trade the debt and equity securities of
Ashland for our own account and for the accounts of customers and,
accordingly, may at any time hold a long or short position in such securities.
 
  In connection with rendering our opinion, we have reviewed and analyzed,
among other things, the following: (i) the Agreement dated as of April 4,
1997, including the Annexes thereto, (ii) certain information, analyses and
forecasts prepared by John T. Boyd Company ("Boyd") and Price Waterhouse LLP
("Price Waterhouse"), both of which were retained by the Special Committees of
the Company and Arch Mineral to provide advice with respect to the relative
valuations of the assets of the two companies; (iii) certain publicly
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  SALOMON BROTHERS INC & WORLDWIDE AFFILIATES
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlanta . Bangkok . Beijing . Boston . Chicago . Frankfurt . Hong Kong .
London . Los Angeles . Madrid . Melbourne . Mexico . Milan . Moscow . New Delhi
 . New York . Osaka . Paris . San Franciso . Seoul . Singapore . Sydney .
Taipei . Tokyo . Toronto . Zug . Zurich
 
                                      B-1
<PAGE>
 
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
 
Ashland Coal, Inc.
April 4, 1997
Page 2
 
                                               ----------------
                                                SALOMON BROTHERS
                                                ------------------
 
 
available business and financial information concerning the Company, (iv)
certain internal information, primarily financial in nature, including
projections, concerning the business and operations of each of the Company and
Arch Mineral, furnished to us by Boyd, Price Waterhouse, the Company and Arch
Mineral for purposes of our analysis; (v) certain publicly available
information concerning the trading of, and the trading market for, the Common
Stock; (vi) certain publicly available information with respect to certain
other companies that we believe to be comparable to the Company and Arch
Mineral and the trading markets for certain of such other companies'
securities; and (vii) certain publicly available information concerning the
nature and terms of certain other transactions that we consider relevant to
our inquiry. We have also conducted discussions with certain representatives
of the Company, Arch Mineral, Boyd and Price Waterhouse to discuss the
foregoing, including the past and current business operations, financial
condition and prospects of the Company and Arch Mineral as well as other
matters we believe relevant to our inquiry. We have also considered such other
information, financial studies, analyses, investigations and financial,
economic and market criteria that we deemed relevant.
 
  In our review and analysis and in arriving at our opinion, we have assumed
that the financial and other information provided us or that was publicly
available was accurate and complete and have neither attempted independently
to verify nor assumed responsibility for verifying any of such information. We
have not conducted a physical inspection of any of the properties or
facilities of the Company or Arch Mineral, nor have we made or obtained or
assumed any responsibility for making or obtaining any independent evaluations
or appraisals of any of such properties or facilities. In addition, you have
not requested us to, and accordingly we have not, solicited the interest of
third parties to effect a transaction involving the Company. With respect to
projections, we have assumed that they have been reasonably prepared on bases
reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of Boyd and
the management of the Company and Arch Mineral as to the future financial
performance of such companies, and we express no view with respect to such
projections or the assumptions on which they were based.
 
  In conducting our analysis and in arriving at our opinion as expressed
herein, we have considered such financial and other factors as we have deemed
appropriate under the circumstances including, among others, the following:
(i) the historical and current financial position and results of operations of
each of the Company and Arch Mineral; (ii) the business prospects of each of
the Company and Arch Mineral; (iii) the historical and current market for the
Common Stock and for the equity securities of certain other companies that we
believe to be comparable to the Company and Arch Mineral; (iv) the terms of
the Preferred Stock; and (v) the nature and terms of certain other acquisition
transactions that we believe to be relevant. We have also taken into account
our assessment of general economic, market and financial conditions as well as
our experience in connection with similar transactions and securities
valuation generally. Our opinion necessarily is based upon conditions as they
exist and can be evaluated on the date hereof and we assume no responsibility
to update or revise our opinion based upon circumstances or events occurring
after the date hereof. Our opinion is, in any event, limited to the fairness,
from a financial point of view, of the consideration to be received by the
holders of Common Stock and holders of preferred stock of the Company in the
Proposed Combination and does not address the Company's underlying business
decision to effect the Proposed Combination or constitute a recommendation to
any holder of Common Stock as to how such holder should vote with respect to
the Proposed Combination.
 
 
                                      B-2
<PAGE>
 
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
 
Ashland Coal, Inc.
April 4, 1997
Page 3
 
                                               ----------------
                                                SALOMON BROTHERS
                                                ------------------
 
  Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion as investment
bankers that each of (i) the consideration to be received by holders of Common
Stock in the Proposed Combination and (ii) the consideration to be received by
holders of Preferred Stock in the Proposed Combination is fair, from a
financial point of view, to the holders of Common Stock other than Ashland.
 
Very truly yours,
 
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
 
                                      B-3
<PAGE>
 
                                                                     APPENDIX C
 
              SECTION 262 OF THE DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW
 
262 APPRAISAL RIGHTS.
 
  (a) Any stockholder of a corporation of this State who holds shares of stock
on the date of the making of a demand pursuant to subsection (d) of this
section with respect to such shares, who continuously holds such shares
through the effective date of the merger or consolidation, who has otherwise
complied with subsection (d) of this section and who has neither voted in
favor of the merger or consolidation nor consented thereto in writing pursuant
to (S)228 of this title shall be entitled to an appraisal by the Court of
Chancery of the fair value of his shares of stock under the circumstances
described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section. As used in this section,
the word "stockholder" means a holder of record of stock in a stock
corporation and also a member of record of a nonstock corporation; the words
"stock" and "share" mean and include what is ordinarily meant by those words
and also membership or membership interest of a member of a nonstock
corporation; and the words "depository receipt" mean a receipt or other
instrument issued by a depository representing an interest in one or more
shares, or fractions thereof, solely of stock of a corporation, which stock is
deposited with the depository.
 
  (b) Appraisal rights shall be available for the shares of any class or
series of stock of a constituent corporation in a merger or consolidation to
be effected pursuant to (S)251 (other than a merger effected pursuant to
subsection (g) of Section 251), 252, 254, 257, 258, 263 or 264 of this title:
 
    (1) Provided, however that no appraisal rights under this section shall
  be available for the shares of any class or series of stock, which stock,
  or depository receipts in respect thereof, at the record date fixed to
  determine the stockholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the
  meeting of stockholders to act upon the agreement of merger or
  consolidation, were either (i) listed on a national securities exchange or
  designated as a national market system security on an interdealer quotation
  system by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or (ii) held
  of record by more than 2,000 holders; and further provided that no
  appraisal rights shall be available for any shares of stock of the
  constituent corporation surviving a merger if the merger did not require
  for its approval the vote of the holders of the surviving corporation as
  provided in subsection (f) of (S)251 of this title.
 
    (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, appraisal rights
  under this section shall be available for the shares of any class or series
  of stock of a constituent corporation if the holders thereof are required
  by the terms of an agreement of merger or consolidation pursuant to
  (S)(S)251, 252, 254, 257, 258, 263 and 264 of this title to accept for such
  stock anything except:
 
      a. Shares of stock of the corporation surviving or resulting from
    such merger or consolidation, or depository receipts in respect
    thereof;
 
      b. Shares of stock of any other corporation, or depository receipts
    in respect thereof, which shares of stock or depository receipts at the
    effective date of the merger or consolidation will be either listed on
    a national securities exchange or designated as a national market
    system security on an interdealer quotation system by the National
    Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or held of record by more than
    2,000 holders;
 
      c. Cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional depository
    receipts described in the foregoing subparagraphs a. and b. of this
    paragraph; or
 
      d. Any combination of the shares of stock, depository receipts and
    cash in lieu of fractional shares or fractional depository receipts
    described in the foregoing subparagraphs a., b. and c. of this
    paragraph.
 
    (3) In the event all of the stock of a subsidiary Delaware corporation
  party to a merger effected under (S)253 of this title is not owned by the
  parent corporation immediately prior to the merger, appraisal rights shall
  be available for the shares of the subsidiary Delaware corporation.
 
 
                                      C-1
<PAGE>
 
  (c) Any corporation may provide in its certificate of incorporation that
appraisal rights under this section shall be available for the shares of any
class or series of its stock as a result of an amendment to its certificate of
incorporation, any merger or consolidation in which the corporation is a
constituent corporation or the sale of all or substantially all of the assets
of the corporation. If the certificate of incorporation contains such a
provision, the procedures of this section, including those set forth in
subsections (d) and (e) of this section, shall apply as nearly as is
practicable.
 
  (d) Appraisal rights shall be perfected as follows:
 
    (1) If a proposed merger or consolidation for which appraisal rights are
  provided under this section is to be submitted for approval at a meeting of
  stockholders, the corporation, not less than 20 days prior to the meeting,
  shall notify each of its stockholders who was such on the record date for
  such meeting with respect to shares for which appraisal rights are
  available pursuant to subsections (b) or (c) hereof that appraisal rights
  are available for any or all of the shares of the constituent corporations,
  and shall include in such notice a copy of this section. Each stockholder
  electing to demand the appraisal of his shares shall deliver to the
  corporation, before the taking of the vote on the merger or consolidation,
  a written demand for appraisal of his shares. Such demand will be
  sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of the
  stockholder and that the stockholder intends thereby to demand the
  appraisal of his shares. A proxy or vote against the merger or
  consolidation shall not constitute such a demand. A stockholder electing to
  take such action must do so by a separate written demand as herein
  provided. Within 10 days after the effective date of such merger or
  consolidation, the surviving or resulting corporation shall notify each
  stockholder of each constituent corporation who has complied with this
  subsection and has not voted in favor of or consented to the merger or
  consolidation of the date that the merger or consolidation has become
  effective; or
 
    (2) If the merger or consolidation was approved pursuant to (S)228 or
  (S)253 of this title, each constituent corporation, either before the
  effective date of the merger or consolidation or within ten days
  thereafter, shall notify each of the holders of any class or series of
  stock of such constituent corporation who are entitled to appraisal rights
  of the approval of the merger or consolidation and that appraisal rights
  are available for any or all shares of such class or series of stock of
  such constituent corporation, and shall include in such notice a copy of
  this section; provided that, if the notice is given on or after the
  effective date of the merger or consolidation, such notice shall be given
  by the surviving or resulting corporation to all such holders of any class
  or series of stock of a constituent corporation that are entitled to
  appraisal rights. Such notice may, and, if given on or after the effective
  date of the merger or consolidation, shall, also notify such stockholders
  of the effective date of the merger or consolidation. Any stockholder
  entitled to appraisal rights may, within twenty days after the date of
  mailing of such notice, demand in writing from the surviving or resulting
  corporation the appraisal of such holder's shares. Such demand will be
  sufficient if it reasonably informs the corporation of the identity of the
  stockholder and that the stockholder intends thereby to demand the
  appraisal of such holder's shares. If such notice did not notify
  stockholders of the effective date of the merger or consolidation, either
  (i) each such constituent corporation shall send a second notice before the
  effective date of the merger or consolidation notifying each of the holders
  of any class or series of stock of such constituent corporation that are
  entitled to appraisal rights of the effective date of the merger or
  consolidation or (ii) the surviving or resulting corporation shall send
  such a second notice to all such holders on or within 10 days after such
  effective date; provided, however, that if such second notice is sent more
  than 20 days following the sending of the first notice, such second notice
  need only be sent to each stockholder who is entitled to appraisal rights
  and who has demanded appraisal of such holder's shares in accordance with
  this subsection. An affidavit of the secretary or assistant secretary or of
  the transfer agent of the corporation that is required to give either
  notice that such notice has been given shall, in the absence of fraud, be
  prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. For purposes of
  determining the stockholders entitled to receive either notice, each
  constituent corporation may fix, in advance, a record date that shall be
  not more than 10 days prior to the date the notice is given; provided that,
  if the notice is given on or after the effective date of the merger or
  consolidation, the record date shall be such effective date. If no record
  date is fixed and the notice is given prior to the effective date, the
  record date shall be the close of business on the day next preceding the
  day on which the notice is given.
 
                                      C-2
<PAGE>
 
  (e) Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger or consolidation,
the surviving or resulting corporation or any stockholder who has complied
with subsections (a) and (d) hereof and who is otherwise entitled to appraisal
rights, may file a petition in the Court of Chancery demanding a determination
of the value of the stock of all such stockholders. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, at any time within 60 days after the effective date of the merger
or consolidation, any stockholder shall have the right to withdraw his demand
for appraisal and to accept the terms offered upon the merger or
consolidation. Within 120 days after the effective date of the merger or
consolidation, any stockholder who has complied with the requirements of
subsections (a) and (d) hereof, upon written request, shall be entitled to
receive from the corporation surviving the merger or resulting from the
consolidation a statement setting forth the aggregate number of shares not
voted in favor of the merger or consolidation and with respect to which
demands for appraisal have been received and the aggregate number of holders
of such shares. Such written statement shall be mailed to the stockholder
within 10 days after his written request for such a statement is received by
the surviving or resulting corporation or within 10 days after expiration of
the period for delivery of demands for appraisal under subsection (d) hereof,
whichever is later.
 
  (f) Upon the filing of any such petition by a stockholder, service of a copy
thereof shall be made upon the surviving or resulting corporation, which shall
within 20 days after such service file in the office of the Register in
Chancery in which the petition was filed a duly verified list containing the
names and addresses of all stockholders who have demanded payment for their
shares and with whom agreements as to the value of their shares have not been
reached by the surviving or resulting corporation. If the petition shall be
filed by the surviving or resulting corporation, the petition shall be
accompanied by such a duly verified list. The Register in Chancery, if so
ordered by the Court, shall give notice of the time and place fixed for the
hearing of such petition by registered or certified mail to the surviving or
resulting corporation and to the stockholders shown on the list at the
addresses therein stated. Such notice shall also be given by 1 or more
publications at least 1 week before the day of the hearing, in a newspaper of
general circulation published in the City of Wilmington, Delaware or such
publication as the Court deems advisable. The forms of the notices by mail and
by publication shall be approved by the Court, and the costs thereof shall be
borne by the surviving or resulting corporation.
 
  (g) At the hearing on such petition, the Court shall determine the
stockholders who have complied with this section and who have become entitled
to appraisal rights. The Court may require the stockholders who have demanded
an appraisal of their shares and who hold stock represented by certificates to
submit their certificates of stock to the Register in Chancery for notation
thereon of the pendency of the appraisal proceedings; and if any stockholder
fails to comply with such direction, the Court may dismiss the proceedings as
to such stockholder.
 
  (h) After determining the stockholders entitled to an appraisal, the Court
shall appraise the shares, determine their fair value exclusive of any element
of value arising from the accomplishment or expectation of the merger or
consolidation, together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid upon
the amount determined to be the fair value. In determining such fair value,
the Court shall take into account all relevant factors. In determining the
fair rate of interest, the Court may consider all relevant factors, including
the rate of interest which the surviving or resulting corporation would have
had to pay to borrow money during the pendency of the proceeding. Upon
application by the surviving or resulting corporation or by any stockholder
entitled to participate in the appraisal proceeding, the Court may, in its
discretion, permit discovery or other pretrial proceedings and may proceed to
trial upon the appraisal prior to the final determination of the stockholder
entitled to an appraisal. Any stockholder whose name appears on the list filed
by the surviving or resulting corporation pursuant to subsection (f) of this
section and who has submitted his certificates of stock to the Register in
Chancery, if such is required, may participate fully in all proceedings until
it is finally determined that he is not entitled to appraisal rights under
this section.
 
  (i) The Court shall direct the payment of the fair value of the shares,
together with interest, if any, by the surviving or resulting corporation to
the stockholders entitled thereto. Interest may be simple or compound, as the
Court may direct. Payment shall be so made to each such stockholder, in the
case of holders of uncertificated stock forthwith, and the case of holders of
shares represented by certificates upon the surrender to the corporation of
the certificates representing such stock. The Court's decree may be enforced
as other decrees in the Court of Chancery may be enforced, whether such
surviving or resulting corporation be a corporation of this State or of any
state.
 
                                      C-3
<PAGE>
 
  (j) The costs of the proceeding may be determined by the Court and taxed
upon the parties as the Court deems equitable in the circumstances. Upon
application of a stockholder, the Court may order all or a portion of the
expenses incurred by any stockholder in connection with the appraisal
proceeding, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney's fees and the
fees and expenses of experts, to be charged pro rata against the value of all
the shares entitled to an appraisal.
 
  (k) From and after the effective date of the merger or consolidation, no
stockholder who has demanded his appraisal rights as provided in subsection
(d) of this section shall be entitled to vote such stock for any purpose or to
receive payment of dividends or other distributions on the stock (except
dividends or other distributions payable to stockholders of record at a date
which is prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation);
provided, however, that if no petition for an appraisal shall be filed within
the time provided in subsection (e) of this section, or if such stockholder
shall deliver to the surviving or resulting corporation a written withdrawal
of his demand for an appraisal and an acceptance of the merger or
consolidation, either within 60 days after the effective date of the merger or
consolidation as provided in subsection (e) of this section or thereafter with
the written approval of the corporation, then the right of such stockholder to
an appraisal shall cease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no appraisal
proceeding in the Court of Chancery shall be dismissed as to any stockholder
without the approval of the Court, and such approval may be conditioned upon
such terms as the Court deems just.
 
  (l) The shares of the surviving or resulting corporation to which the shares
of such objecting stockholders would have been converted had they assented to
the merger or consolidation shall have the status of authorized and unissued
shares of the surviving or resulting corporation.
 
                                      C-4
<PAGE>
 
                                                                     APPENDIX D
 
                               VOTING AGREEMENT
 
  THIS VOTING AGREEMENT, dated as of April   , 1997, by and between Arch
Mineral Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("AMC"), and the stockholder
identified on the signature page hereof (the "Stockholder");
 
                                  WITNESSETH:
 
  WHEREAS, the Stockholder, as of the date hereof, is the owner of or has the
sole right to vote the number of shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share ("Common Stock"), Class B Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share
("Class B Preferred Stock") and/or Class C Preferred Stock, par value $100 per
share ("Class C Preferred Stock" and, together with Common Stock and Class B
Preferred Stock, "Capital Stock") of Ashland Coal, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), set forth below the name of the Stockholder on
the signature page hereof (the "Shares"); and
 
  WHEREAS, in reliance upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, AMC
will enter into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of the date hereof
(the "Merger Agreement"), with the Company and AMC Merger Corporation which
provides, among other things, that upon the terms and subject to the
conditions thereof the Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of AMC
(the "Merger"); and
 
  WHEREAS, to induce AMC to enter into the Merger Agreement and to incur the
obligations set forth therein, the Stockholder is entering into this Agreement
pursuant to which the Stockholder agrees to vote in favor of the Merger, and
to make certain agreements with respect to the Shares upon the terms and
conditions set forth herein;
 
  NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants
and agreements set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
agree as follows:
 
  Section 1. Voting of Shares; Proxy. (a) The Stockholder agrees that until
the earlier of (i) the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement) or
(ii) the date on which the Merger Agreement is terminated (the earliest
thereof being hereinafter referred to as the "Expiration Date"), the
Stockholder shall vote all Shares owned by the Stockholder at any meeting of
the Company's stockholders (whether annual or special and whether or not an
adjourned meeting) for adoption and approval of the Merger Agreement and the
transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger as such Merger
Agreement may be modified or amended from time to time. Any such vote shall be
cast in accordance with such procedures relating thereto as shall ensure that
it is duly counted for purposes of determining that a quorum is present and
for purposes of recording the results of such vote or consent.
 
  (b) At the request of AMC, the Stockholder, in furtherance of the
transactions contemplated hereby and by the Merger Agreement, and in order to
secure the performance by the Stockholder of its duties under this Agreement,
shall promptly execute, in accordance with the provisions of Section 212(e) of
the Delaware General Corporation Law, and deliver to AMC, an irrevocable
proxy, substantially in the form of Annex A hereto, and irrevocably appoint
AMC or its designees, with full power of substitution, its attorney and proxy
to vote all of the Shares owned by the Stockholder in respect of any of the
matters set forth in, and in accordance with the provisions of Section 1(a).
The Stockholder acknowledges that the proxy executed and delivered by it shall
be coupled with an interest, shall constitute, among other things, an
inducement for AMC to enter into the Merger Agreement, shall be irrevocable
and shall not be terminated by operation of law or upon the occurrence of any
event.
 
  Section 2. Covenants of the Stockholder. The Stockholder covenants and
agrees for the benefit of AMC that, until the Expiration Date, it will:
 
    (a) not sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, encumber, assign, tender or
  otherwise dispose of, or other than as expressly contemplated by the Merger
  Agreement, enter into any contract, option or other arrangement or
  understanding with respect to the sale, transfer, pledge, hypothecation,
  encumbrance, assignment, tender or other disposition of, any of the Shares
  owned by it or any interest therein; and
 
                                      D-1
<PAGE>
 
    (b) other than as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, not grant any
  powers of attorney or proxies or consents in respect of any of the Shares
  owned by it, deposit any of the Shares owned by it into a voting trust,
  enter into a voting agreement with respect to any of the Shares owned by it
  or otherwise restrict the ability of the holder of any of the Shares owned
  by it freely to exercise all voting rights with respect thereto.
 
  Section 3. Covenants of AMC. AMC covenants and agrees for the benefit of the
Stockholder that (a) immediately upon execution of this Agreement, it shall
enter into the Merger Agreement, and (b) until the Expiration Date, it shall
use best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action, and do, or cause
to be done, all things necessary or advisable in order to consummate and make
effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger
Agreement, consistent with the terms and conditions of each such Agreement;
provided, however, that nothing in this Section 3, Section 12 or any other
provision of this Agreement is intended, nor shall it be construed, to limit
or in any way restrict AMC's right or ability to exercise any of its rights
under the Merger Agreement.
 
  Section 4. Representations and Warranties of the Stockholder. The
Stockholder represents and warrants to AMC that: (a) the execution, delivery
and performance by the Stockholder of this Agreement will not conflict with,
require a consent, waiver or approval under, or result in a breach of or
default under, any of the terms of any contract, commitment or other
obligation (written or oral) to which the Stockholder is bound; (b) this
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Stockholder and
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Stockholder,
enforceable against the Stockholder in accordance with its terms; (c) the
Stockholder is the sole owner of or has the sole right to vote the Shares and
the Shares represent all shares of Capital Stock which the Stockholder is the
sole owner of or has the sole right to vote at the date hereof, and the
Stockholder does not have any right to acquire, nor is it the "beneficial
owner" (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended) of, any other shares of any class of capital stock of
the Company or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
for any shares of any class of capital stock of the Company; (d) the
Stockholder has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; and (e) the Stockholder
owns the Shares free and clear of all liens, claims, pledges, charges,
proxies, restrictions, encumbrances, proxies, voting trusts and voting
agreements of any nature whatsoever other than as provided by this Agreement
and other than the Restated Shareholders Agreement among Ashland Inc., Carboex
International, Ltd. and the Company dated December 12, 1991, as amended August
6, 1993. The representations and warranties contained herein shall be made as
of the date hereof and as of each day from the date hereof through and
including the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement).
 
  Section 5. Adjustments; Additional Shares. In the event (a) of any stock
dividend, stock split, merger (other than the Merger) recapitalization,
reclassification, conversion, combination, exchange of shares or the like of
any of the Capital Stock of the Company on, of or affecting the Shares or (b)
that the Stockholder shall become the beneficial owner of any additional
shares of Capital Stock or other securities entitling the holder thereof to
vote or give consent with respect to the matters set forth in Section 1, then
the terms of this Agreement shall apply to the shares of Capital Stock or
other instruments or documents held by the Stockholder immediately following
the effectiveness of the events described in clause (a) or the Stockholder
becoming the beneficial owner thereof as described in clause (b), as though,
in either case, they were Shares hereunder.
 
  Section 6. Specific Performance. The Stockholder acknowledges that the
agreements contained in this Agreement are an integral part of the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and that, without these
agreements, AMC would not enter into the Merger Agreement, and acknowledges
that damages would be an inadequate remedy for any breach by it of the
provisions of this Agreement. Accordingly, the Stockholder and AMC each agree
that the obligations of the parties hereunder shall be specifically
enforceable and neither party shall take any action to impede the other from
seeking to enforce such right of specific performance.
 
  Section 7. Notices. All notices, requests, claims, demands and other
communications hereunder shall be effective upon receipt (or refusal of
receipt), shall be in writing and shall be delivered in person, by telecopy or
telefacsimile, by telegram, by next-day courier service, or by mail
(registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to
the Stockholder at the address listed on the signature page hereof, and to AMC
at
 
                                      D-2
<PAGE>
 
Suite 300, CityPlace One, St. Louis, Missouri 63141, Attention: Secretary,
telecopy number (314) 994-2734, or to such other address or telecopy number as
any party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith.
 
  Section 8. Binding Effect; Survival. Upon execution and delivery of this
Agreement by AMC, this Agreement shall become effective as to the Stockholder
at the time the Stockholder executes and delivers this Agreement. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto
and their respective successors and assigns.
 
  Section 9. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements
made and to be performed entirely within such State.
 
  Section 10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two
counterparts, both of which shall be an original and both of which together
shall constitute one and the same agreement.
 
  Section 11. Effect of Headings. The Section headings herein are for
convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
 
  Section 12. Additional Agreements; Further Assurance. Subject to the terms
and conditions herein provided, each of the parties hereto agrees to use all
reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all action and to do, or
cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and
make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The
Stockholder will provide AMC with all documents which may reasonably be
requested by AMC and will take reasonable steps to enable AMC to obtain fully
all rights and benefits provided it hereunder.
 
  Section 13. Amendment; Waiver. No amendment or waiver of any provision of
this Agreement or consent to departure therefrom shall be effective unless in
writing and signed by AMC and the Stockholder, in the case of an amendment, or
by the party which is the beneficiary of any such provision, in the case of a
waiver or a consent to depart therefrom.
 
  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed by the parties
hereto all as of the day and year first above written.
 
                                          ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
 
                                          By ____________________________
 
                                          Name: _________________________
 
                                          Title: ________________________
 
_______________________________
Name of Stockholder
 
By: ___________________________
 
Address: ______________________
    
         ______________________

         ______________________
 
Number of Shares:
 
   ________________________ (Common Stock)
 
   ________________________ (Class B Preferred Stock)
 
   ________________________ (Class C Preferred Stock)
 
                                      D-3
<PAGE>
 
                                                                        ANNEX A
 
                                [FORM OF PROXY]
 
                               IRREVOCABLE PROXY
 
  In order to secure the performance of the duties of the undersigned pursuant
to the Voting Agreement, dated as of         , 1997 (the "Voting Agreement"),
between the undersigned and Arch Mineral Corporation, a Delaware corporation,
a copy of such agreement being attached hereto and incorporated by reference
herein, the undersigned hereby irrevocably appoints          and         , and
each of them, the attorneys, agents and proxies, with full power of
substitution in each of them, for the undersigned and in the name, place and
stead of the undersigned, in respect of any of the matters set forth in
clauses (i) and (ii) of Section 1 of the Voting Agreement, to vote or, if
applicable, to give written consent, in accordance with the provisions of said
Section 1 and otherwise act (consistent with the terms of the Voting
Agreement) with respect to all shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share, Class B Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share, and Class C
Preferred Stock, par value $100 per share (the "Shares"), of Ashland Coal,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), whether now owned or hereafter
acquired, which the undersigned is or may be entitled to vote at any meeting
of the Company held after the date hereof, whether annual or special and
whether or not an adjourned meeting, or, if applicable, to give written
consent with respect thereto. This Proxy is coupled with an interest, shall be
irrevocable and binding on any successor in interest of the undersigned and
shall not be terminated by operation of law or upon the occurrence of any
event. This Proxy shall operate to revoke any prior proxy as to the Shares
heretofore granted by the undersigned. This Proxy shall terminate on         ,
1997. This Proxy has been executed in accordance with Section 212(e) of the
Delaware General Corporation Law.
 
Dated: ________________________           _______________________________
 
 
                                      D-4
<PAGE>
 
                                                                      APPENDIX E
 
P
R
O
X
Y

                              ASHLAND COAL, INC.

              THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                            OF ASHLAND COAL, INC.
           SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD JUNE 30, 1997

The undersigned holder of shares of Common Stock par value $.01 per share
("Ashland Coal Common Stock") of Ashland Coal, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Ashland Coal") hereby appoints Robert A. Charpie and Thomas Marshall,
individually, with full power of substitution in each of them, as proxy or
proxies to represent the undersigned and vote all shares of Ashland Coal Common
Stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present and
voting at the Special Meeting of Stockholders of Ashland Coal to be held on
Monday, June 30, 1997 at 9:00 a.m., local time, at Ashland Coal's principal
executive offices at 2205 Fifth Street Road, Huntington, West Virginia and at
any adjournment thereof, in respect of approval and adoption of the Agreement
and Plan of Merger dated as of April 4, 1997 among Arch Mineral Corporation,
AMC Merger Corporation and Ashland Coal and the transactions contemplated
thereby, and on all other matters as may properly come before the meeting or
any adjournments thereof.


(change of address/comments)

- ------------------------------------------------------------

- ------------------------------------------------------------

- ------------------------------------------------------------

- ------------------------------------------------------------
(If you have written in the above space, please mark the
corresponding box on the opposite side of this card)


You are encouraged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate box, and
promptly returning this Proxy in the enclosed envelope, which requires no
postage, but you need not mark any box if you wish to vote in accordance with
the recommendation of the Board of Directors.


SEE REVERSE
   SIDE

<PAGE>

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                           9772
 [X] Please mark your
     votes as in this
     example.

 This proxy when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed
 herein. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR approval and
 adoption of the Merger Agreement. In their discretion, the proxies are
 authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the
 meeting.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR approval
                     and adoption of the Merger Agreement.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      FOR  WITHHELD  ABSTAIN     You are encouraged to specify
 1. APPROVAL                                     your choice by marking the 
    OF MERGER                                    appropriate box, and promptly
    AGREEMENT         [ ]     [ ]      [ ]       returning this Proxy in the
 (see opposite side)                             enclosed envelope, which 
                                                 requires no postage, but you
                                                 need not mark any box if you
                                                 wish to vote in accordance
                                                 with the recommendation of the
                                                 Board of Directors.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                 Change of Address/
                                                 Comments on
                                                 opposite side.        [ ]

                                                 I plan to attend the
                                                 Annual Meeting.       [ ]


SIGNATURE(S)                                         DATE
            ----------------------------------------     -------------
NOTE: Please sign EXACTLY as name appears hereon. When signing as executor,
      trustee, etc., or as officer of a corporation, give full title as such.
      For joint accounts, please obtain both signatures.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
P
R
O
X
Y

                              ASHLAND COAL, INC.

       THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR
             THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS ON JUNE 30, 1997

The person(s) whose signature(s) appear(s) on the opposite side hereof hereby
constitute(s) and appoint(s) Robert A. Charpie and Thomas Marshall, and each of
them, its true and lawful attorney and proxy with full power of substitution in
each, to represent such person(s) at the Special Meeting of Stockholders of
Ashland Coal, Inc. ("Ashland Coal") to be held at the Ashland Coal Headquarters
Building at 2205 Fifth Street Road, Huntington, West Virginia at 9:00 a.m. on
Monday, June 30, 1997, and at any adjournments thereof, and to vote, with all
powers such person(s) would possess if present at such meeting all shares of
Preferred Stock credited to such person'(s) account(s) as of the record date for
the Special Meeting, in respect of the approval and adoption of the Agreement
and Plan of Merger dated as of April 4, 1997, among Arch Mineral Corporation,
AMC Merger Corporation and Ashland Coal and the transactions contemplated
thereby, and on all other matters properly coming before the meeting or any
adjournments thereof.


(change of address/comments)

- ------------------------------------------------------------

- ------------------------------------------------------------

- ------------------------------------------------------------

- ------------------------------------------------------------
(If you have written in the above space, please mark the
corresponding box on the opposite side of this card)


You are encouraged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate box, and
promptly returning this Proxy in the enclosed envelope, which requires no
postage, but you need not mark any box if you wish to vote in accordance with
the recommendation of the Board of Directors.


SEE REVERSE
   SIDE

<PAGE>

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                           9772
 [X] Please mark your
     votes as in this
     example.

 This proxy when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed
 herein. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR approval and
 adoption of the Merger Agreement. In their discretion, the proxies are
 authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the
 meeting.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR approval
                     and adoption of the Merger Agreement.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      FOR  WITHHELD  ABSTAIN     You are encouraged to specify
 1. Approval of the                              your choice by marking the 
    Merger                                       appropriate box, and promptly
    Agreement         [ ]     [ ]      [ ]       returning this Proxy in the
 (see opposite side)                             enclosed envelope, which 
                                                 requires no postage, but you
                                                 need not mark any box if you
                                                 wish to vote in accordance
                                                 with the recommendation of the
                                                 Board of Directors.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                 Change of Address/
                                                 Comments on
                                                 opposite side.        [ ]

                                                 I plan to attend the
                                                 Annual Meeting.       [ ]


SIGNATURE(S)                                         DATE
            ----------------------------------------     -------------
NOTE: Please sign EXACTLY as name appears hereon. When signing as executor,
      trustee, etc., or as officer of a corporation, give full title as such.
      For joint accounts, please obtain both signatures.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
 
P
R
O
X
Y

                              ASHLAND COAL, INC.

       THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR
             THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS ON JUNE 30, 1997

The person whose signature appears on the opposite side hereof, as a participant
in the Coal-Mac, Inc. Savings and Retirement Plan ("Plan"), hereby instructs
Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., Trustee, to constitute and appoint Robert A. Charpie
and Thomas Marshall, and each of them, the lawful attorney and proxy of said
Trustee with full power of substitution in each, to represent the interests of
such person in the Common Stock of Ashland Coal, Inc. ("Ashland Coal") held
under the terms of the Plan at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Ashland
Coal to be held at the Ashland Coal Headquarters Building at 2205 Fifth Street
Road, Huntington, West Virginia at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June 30, 1997, and at
any adjournments thereof, and to vote, with all powers such person(s) would
possess if present at such meeting all shares of Common Stock credited to such
person's account under the Plan as of the record date for the Annual Meeting, in
respect of the approval and adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated
as of April 4, 1997, among Arch Mineral Corporation, AMC Merger Corporation and
Ashland Coal and the transactions contemplated thereby, and on all other matters
as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.


(change of address/comments)

- ------------------------------------------------------------

- ------------------------------------------------------------

- ------------------------------------------------------------

- ------------------------------------------------------------
(If you have written in the above space, please mark the
corresponding box on the opposite side of this card)


You are encouraged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate box, and
promptly returning this Proxy in the enclosed envelope, which requires no
postage, but you need not mark any box if you wish to vote in accordance with
the recommendation of the Board of Directors.


SEE REVERSE
   SIDE

<PAGE>

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                           9772
 [X] Please mark your
     votes as in this
     example.

 This proxy when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed
 herein. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR approval and
 adoption of the Merger Agreement. In their discretion, the proxies are
 authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the
 meeting.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR approval
                     and adoption of the Merger Agreement.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      FOR  WITHHELD  ABSTAIN     You are encouraged to specify
 1. Approval of the                              your choice by marking the 
    Merger                                       appropriate box, and promptly
    Agreement         [ ]     [ ]      [ ]       returning this Proxy in the
 (see opposite side)                             enclosed envelope, which 
                                                 requires no postage, but you
                                                 need not mark any box if you
                                                 wish to vote in accordance
                                                 with the recommendation of the
                                                 Board of Directors.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                 Change of Address/
                                                 Comments on
                                                 opposite side.        [ ]

                                                 I plan to attend the
                                                 Annual Meeting.       [ ]


SIGNATURE(S)                                         DATE
            ----------------------------------------     -------------
NOTE: Please sign EXACTLY as name appears hereon. When signing as executor,
      trustee, etc., or as officer of a corporation, give full title as such.
      For joint accounts, please obtain both signatures.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
 
P
R
O
X
Y

                              ASHLAND COAL, INC.

       THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR
             THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS ON JUNE 30, 1997

The person whose signature appears on the opposite side hereof, as a participant
in the Ashland Coal, Inc. Employee Thrift Plan ("Plan"), hereby instructs Chase
Manhattan Bank, N.A., Trustee, to constitute and appoint Robert A. Charpie and
Thomas Marshall, and each of them, the lawful attorney and proxy of said Trustee
with full power of substitution in each, to represent the interests of such
person in the Common Stock of Ashland Coal, Inc. ("Ashland Coal") held under the
terms of the Plan at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Ashland Coal to be
held at the Ashland Coal Headquarters Building at 2205 Fifth Street Road,
Huntington, West Virginia at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June 30, 1997, and at any
adjournments thereof, and to vote, with all powers such person(s) would possess
if present at such meeting all shares of Common Stock credited to such person's
account under the Plan as of the record date for the Annual Meeting, in respect
of the approval and adoption of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of
April 4, 1997, among Arch Mineral Corporation, AMC Merger Corporation and
Ashland Coal and the transactions contemplated thereby, and on all other matters
properly coming before the meeting or any adjournments thereof.


(change of address/comments)

- ------------------------------------------------------------

- ------------------------------------------------------------

- ------------------------------------------------------------

- ------------------------------------------------------------
(If you have written in the above space, please mark the
corresponding box on the opposite side of this card)


You are encouraged to specify your choices by marking the appropriate box, and
promptly returning this Proxy in the enclosed envelope, which requires no
postage, but you need not mark any box if you wish to vote in accordance with
the recommendation of the Board of Directors.


SEE REVERSE
   SIDE

<PAGE>

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                                           9772
 [X] Please mark your
     votes as in this
     example.

 This proxy when properly executed, will be voted in the manner directed
 herein. If no direction is made, this proxy will be voted FOR approval and
 adoption of the Merger Agreement. In their discretion, the proxies are
 authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the
 meeting.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR approval
                     and adoption of the Merger Agreement.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      FOR  WITHHELD  ABSTAIN     You are encouraged to specify
 1. Approval of the                              your choice by marking the 
    Merger                                       appropriate box, and promptly
    Agreement         [ ]     [ ]      [ ]       returning this Proxy in the
 (see opposite side)                             enclosed envelope, which 
                                                 requires no postage, but you
                                                 need not mark any box if you
                                                 wish to vote in accordance
                                                 with the recommendation of the
                                                 Board of Directors.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                 Change of Address/
                                                 Comments on
                                                 opposite side.        [ ]

                                                 I plan to attend the
                                                 Annual Meeting.       [ ]


SIGNATURE(S)                                         DATE
            ----------------------------------------     -------------
NOTE: Please sign EXACTLY as name appears hereon. When signing as executor,
      trustee, etc., or as officer of a corporation, give full title as such.
      For joint accounts, please obtain both signatures.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II
 
                    INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 20. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
  Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation, in its certificate of
incorporation, to limit or eliminate, subject to certain statutory
limitations, the liability of directors to the corporation or its stockholders
for monetary damages for breaches of fiduciary duty, except for liability (a)
for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its
stockholders, (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (c) under Section 174 of
the DGCL, or (d) for any transaction from which the director derived an
improper personal benefit. Article Ninth of the Company Certificate provides,
among other things, that the personal liability of directors of the Company is
so eliminated.
 
  Under Section 145 of the DGCL, a corporation has the power to indemnify
directors and officers under certain prescribed circumstances and subject to
certain limitations against certain costs and expenses, including attorneys'
fees actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, to which
any of them is a party by reason of his being a director or officer of the
corporation if it is determined that he acted in accordance with the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in such statutory provision. Article
V of the Company Bylaws provides that the Company will indemnify any person
who may be involved, as a party or otherwise, in a claim, action, suit or
proceeding (other than any claim, action, suit or proceeding brought by or in
the right of the Company) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the
Company as a director or officer of any other corporation or entity, against
certain liabilities, costs and expenses. The Company is also authorized to
maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer
of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a
director or officer of any other corporation or entity, against any liability
asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity
or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Company would have
the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the DGCL. The
Company plans to enter into indemnity agreements between (a) any person who is
or was, shall be or shall have been a director and/or officer of the Company,
Ashland Coal, Inc. and/or AMC Merger Corporation; or (b) any person who is or
was serving, shall serve, or shall have served at the request of the Company
as a director, officer, partner, trustee, fiduciary, employee or agent of
another foreign or domestic corporation or non-profit corporation,
cooperative, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or
other incorporated or unincorporated enterprise.
 
ITEM 21. EXHIBITS.
 
  The following exhibits are filed as part of this registration statement:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
   NO.                                DESCRIPTION
 -------                              -----------
 <C>     <S>
   2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 4, 1997 among Arch
         Mineral Corporation, AMC Merger Corporation and Ashland Coal, Inc.
         (Filed herewith; appears as Appendix A to the Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus forming part of this registration statement)
   2.2   Form of Voting Agreement between Arch Mineral Corporation and each of
         Ashland Inc. and Carboex International, Ltd. (Filed herewith; appears
         as Appendix D to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus forming part of this
         registration statement)
   3.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Arch Mineral Corporation
         (Filed herewith)
   3.2   Form of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Arch Coal, Inc.
         (Filed herewith; appears as Annex A to Appendix A to the Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus forming part of this registration statement)
</TABLE>
 
 
                                     II-1
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
   NO.                                 DESCRIPTION
 -------                               -----------
 <C>     <S>
   3.3   Bylaws of Arch Mineral Corporation (Filed herewith)
   3.4   Form of Restated and Amended Bylaws of Arch Coal, Inc. (Filed
         herewith; appears as Annex B to Appendix A to the Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus forming part of this registration statement)
   4.1   Stockholders Agreement, dated as of April 4, 1997, among Carboex
         International, Ltd., Ashland Inc. and Arch Mineral Corporation (Filed
         herewith)
   4.2   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 4, 1997, among Arch
         Mineral Corporation, Ashland Inc., Carboex International, Ltd. and the
         entities listed on Schedules I and II thereto (Filed herewith)
   4.3   Agreement Relating to Nonvoting Observer, executed as of April 4,
         1997, among Carboex International, Ltd., Ashland Inc., Ashland Coal,
         Inc. and Arch Mineral Corporation (Filed herewith)
   4.4   Agreement for Termination of the Arch Mineral Corporation Voting
         Agreement and for Nomination of Directors, dated as of April 4, 1997,
         among Hunt Coal Corporation, Petro-Hunt Corporation, each of the
         trusts listed on Schedule I thereto, Ashland Inc. and Arch Mineral
         Corporation (Filed herewith)
   5.1   Opinion of Jeffry N. Quinn as to the legality of the securities being
         registered (Filed herewith)
   8.1   Opinion of Kelly, Hart & Hallman, P.C. regarding certain tax matters
         (Filed herewith)
   8.2   Opinion of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP regarding certain tax matters
         (Filed herewith)
  10.1   Coal Off-Take Agreement, executed as of April 4, 1997, among Arch
         Mineral Corporation, Carboex International, Ltd. and Ashland Inc.
         (Filed herewith)
  10.2   Sales Agency Agreement, executed as of April 4, 1997, among Arch
         Mineral Corporation, Ashland Inc. and Carboex S.A. (Filed herewith)
  10.3   Assignment, Assumption and Amendment of Coal Sales Agency Agreement,
         executed as of April 4, 1997, among Arch Mineral Corporation, Ashland
         Coal, Inc., Saarbergwerke AG and Carboex International, Ltd. (Filed
         herewith)
  10.4   Shareholder Services Contract, executed as of April 4, 1997, among
         Arch Mineral Corporation, Ashland Coal, Inc., Carboex International,
         Ltd. and Ashland Inc. (Filed herewith)
  10.5   Lease between Pocahontas Land Corporation and Ark Land Company, dated
         January 31, 1994, as amended as of October 2, 1995, Partial Release
         and Surrender of Lease dated February 1, 1996, as amended October 21,
         1996 (Filed herewith)
  10.6   Lease Contract by and between William C. Francis and Mountain Land and
         Reclamation, Inc. (predecessor to Ark Land Company), dated November
         16, 1988, Supplemental Leases dated May 16, 1989, August 25, 1991,
         Assignment of Lease dated September 13, 1991, amended as of December
         23, 1992 and September 1, 1995 and March 17, 1997 (Filed herewith)
  10.7   Lease Contract by and between Virgil Eversole Estate and Mountain Land
         and Reclamation, Inc. (predecessor to Ark Land Company) dated November
         21, 1988, Assignment of Lease dated September 13, 1991 amended as of
         December 23, 1992, November 11, 1994 and August 26, 1995 (Filed
         herewith)
  10.8   Deed of Lease and Agreement between Dingess-Rum Coal Company and
         Amherst Coal Company (predecessor to Ark Land Company), dated June 1,
         1962, as supplemented January 1, 1968, June 1, 1973, July 1, 1974,
         November 12, 1987, Lease Exchange Agreement dated July 2, 1979 amended
         as of January 1, 1984 and January 7, 1993; February 24, 1993; Partial
         Release dated as of May 6, 1988; Assignments dated March 15, 1990,
         October 5, 1990 (Filed herewith)
  10.9   Agreement of Lease by and between Shonk Land Company, Limited
         Partnership and Lawson Hamilton (predecessor to Ark Land Company),
         dated February 8, 1983, as amended October 7, 1987, March 9, 1989,
         April 1, 1992, October 31, 1992, December 5, 1992, February 16, 1993,
         August 4, 1994, October 1, 1995, July 31, 1996 and November 27, 1996
         (Filed herewith)
  10.10  United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management
         Modified Coal Lease with Medicine Bow Coal Company, effective
         September 1, 1981 (Filed herewith)
  10.11  Amended and Restated Mining Lease by and between Rock Springs Royalty
         Company and Ark Land Company, dated December 13, 1988 amended June 23,
         1994, January 1, 1996 and February 20, 1996 (Filed herewith)
</TABLE>
 
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
   NO.                              DESCRIPTION
 -------                            -----------
 <C>     <S>              
  10.12  Employment Agreement between Arch Mineral Corporation and Steven
         F. Leer, dated March 1, 1992 (Filed herewith)
  10.13  Consulting Agreement between Arch Mineral Corporation and Ronald
         E. Samples, effective September 1, 1992, as amended by letter
         agreements dated October 6, 1992, September 1, 1993, September
         1, 1994, September 1, 1995, August 31, 1996 and March 30, 1997
         (Filed herewith)
  10.14  Form of At Will Employee Retention/Severance Agreement (Filed
         herewith)
  10.15  Form of Indemnity Agreement between Arch Coal, Inc. and
         Indemnitee (as defined therein) (Filed herewith)
  10.16  Arch Mineral Corporation 1993 Incentive Compensation Plan; as
         amended by Amendment No. 1 dated December 12, 1995 (Filed
         herewith)
  10.17  Arch Mineral Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan (Filed
         herewith)
  10.18  Arch Coal, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Directors' Fees
         (Filed herewith)
  10.19  Arch Coal, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (Filed herewith;
         appears as Annex E to Appendix A to the Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus forming part of this registration
         statement)
  10.20  Arch Mineral Corporation 1996 ERISA Forfeiture Plan (Filed
         herewith)
  21.1   List of Subsidiaries of Arch Mineral Corporation (Filed
         herewith)
  23.1   Consent of Jeffry N. Quinn (Included in opinion Filed as Exhibit
         5.1)
  23.2   Consent of Kelly, Hart & Hallman, P.C. (Included in opinion
         filed as Exhibit 8.1)
  23.3   Consent of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP (Included in opinion filed
         as Exhibit 8.2)
  23.4   Consent of John T. Boyd Company (Filed herewith)
  23.5   Consent of Salomon Brothers Inc (Filed herewith)
  23.6   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (Filed herewith)
  23.7   Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP (Filed herewith)
  23.8   Consent of Robert A. Charpie (Filed herewith)
  23.9   Consent of Paul W. Chellgren (Filed herewith)
  23.10  Consent of Thomas L. Feazell (Filed herewith)
  23.11  Consent of Juan Antonio Ferrando (Filed herewith)
  23.12  Consent of Robert L. Hintz (Filed herewith)
  23.13  Consent of Thomas Marshall (Filed herewith)
  23.14   Consent of J. Marvin Quin (Filed herewith)
  24.1   Power of Attorney of John R. Hall (Filed herewith)
  24.2   Power of Attorney of James R. Boyd (Filed herewith)
  24.3   Power of Attorney of Douglas H. Hunt (Filed herewith)
  24.4   Power of Attorney of James L. Parker (Filed herewith)
  24.5   Power of Attorney of Ronald Eugene Samples (Filed herewith)
  24.6   Power of Attorney of Steven F. Leer (Filed herewith)
  99.1   Form of Proxy of Ashland Coal, Inc. for holders of Ashland Coal
         Common Stock (Filed herewith)
  99.2   Form of Proxy of Ashland Coal, Inc. for holders of Ashland Coal
         Preferred Stock (Filed herewith)
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT
   NO.                           DESCRIPTION
 -------                         -----------
 <C>     <S>                                                          
  99.3   Form of Proxy of Ashland Coal, Inc. for participants in the
         Coal-Mac, Inc. Savings and Retirement Plan (Filed herewith)
  99.4   Form of Proxy of Ashland Coal, Inc. for participants in the
         Ashland Coal, Inc. Employee Thrift Plan (Filed herewith)
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 22. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
  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;
 
    (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.
 
  (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.
 
  (4) 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 section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement 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.
 
  (5) That prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered
hereunder through use of a prospectus which is a part of this registration
statement, by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within
the meaning of Rule 145(c), the issuer undertakes that such reoffering
prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable
registration form with respect to reofferings by persons who may be deemed
underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other Items of
the applicable form.
 
  (6) That every prospectus (i) that is filed pursuant to paragraph (5)
immediately preceding, or (ii) that purports to meet the requirements of
section 10(a)(3) of the Act and is used in connection with an offering of
securities subject to Rule 415, will be filed as a part of an amendment to the
registration statement and will not be used until such amendment is effective,
and that, for purposes 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.
 
  (7) To respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference
into the prospectus pursuant to Items 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this Form, within
one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated
documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means. This includes
information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of
the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.
 
                                     II-4
<PAGE>
 
  (8) To supply by means of a post-effective amendment all required
information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved
therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration
statement when it became effective.
 
  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 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 Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.
 
                                     II-5
<PAGE>
 
                                  SIGNATURES
 
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Creve Coeur, State of
Missouri on May 28, 1997.
 
                                          ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
 
                                               /s/ Steven F. Leer
                                          By:  ________________________________
                                             Steven F. Leer
                                             President and Chief Executive
                                             Officer
 
  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
      SIGNATURE                           CAPACITY                    DATE
 
/s/ Steven F. Leer            President and Chief Executive       May 28, 1997
- -------------------------     Officer
Steven F. Leer                (Principal Executive Officer)
                              and a Director
                                  
/s/ Patrick A.                Senior Vice President,              May 28, 1997
Kriegshauser                  Treasurer and Chief
- -------------------------     Financial Officer (Principal
Patrick A. Kriegshauser       Financial Officer)
  
/s/ John W. Lorson            Controller (Principal               May 28, 1997
- -------------------------     Accounting Officer)
John W. Lorson
 
            *                 Chairman of the Board               May 28, 1997
- -------------------------
John R. Hall
 
            *                 Director                            May 28, 1997
- -------------------------
James R. Boyd
 
            *                 Director                            May 28, 1997
- -------------------------
Douglas H. Hunt
 
            *                 Director                            May 28, 1997
- -------------------------
James L. Parker
 
            *                 Director                            May 28, 1997
- -------------------------
Ronald Eugene Samples
 
*By:
   /s/ Jeffry N. Quinn
  ---------------------
     Jeffry N. Quinn
    Attorney-in-Fact
 
                                     II-6
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT                                                            SEQUENTIAL
   NO.                          DESCRIPTION                         PAGE NUMBER
 -------                        -----------                         -----------
 <C>     <S>                                                        <C>
   2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 4, 1997
         among Arch Mineral Corporation, AMC Merger Corporation
         and Ashland Coal, Inc. (Filed herewith; appears as
         Appendix A to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus forming
         part of this registration statement)
   2.2   Form of Voting Agreement between Arch Mineral
         Corporation and each of Ashland Inc. and Carboex
         International, Ltd. (Filed herewith; appears as Appendix
         D to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus forming part of this
         registration statement)
   3.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Arch Mineral
         Corporation (Filed herewith)
   3.2   Form of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Arch
         Coal, Inc. (Filed herewith; appears as Annex A to
         Appendix A to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus forming
         part of this registration statement)
   3.3   Bylaws of Arch Mineral Corporation (Filed herewith)
   3.4   Form of Restated and Amended Bylaws of Arch Coal, Inc.
         (Filed herewith; appears as Annex B to Appendix A to the
         Proxy Statement/Prospectus forming part of this
         registration statement)
   4.1   Stockholders Agreement, dated as of April 4, 1997, among
         Carboex International, Ltd., Ashland Inc. and Arch
         Mineral Corporation (Filed herewith)
   4.2   Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 4,
         1997, among Arch Mineral Corporation, Ashland Inc.,
         Carboex International, Ltd. and the entities listed on
         Schedules I and II thereto (Filed herewith)
   4.3   Agreement Relating to Nonvoting Observer, executed as of
         April 4, 1997, among Carboex International, Ltd.,
         Ashland Inc., Ashland Coal, Inc. and Arch Mineral
         Corporation (Filed herewith)
   4.4   Agreement for Termination of the Arch Mineral
         Corporation Voting Agreement and for Nomination of
         Directors, dated as of April 4, 1997, among Hunt Coal
         Corporation, Petro-Hunt Corporation, each of the trusts
         listed on Schedule I thereto, Ashland Inc. and Arch
         Mineral Corporation (Filed herewith)
   5.1   Opinion of Jeffry N. Quinn as to the legality of the
         securities being registered (Filed herewith)
   8.1   Opinion of Kelly, Hart & Hallman, P.C. regarding certain
         tax matters (Filed herewith)
   8.2   Opinion of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP regarding certain
         tax matters (Filed herewith)
  10.1   Coal Off-Take Agreement, executed as of April 4, 1997,
         among Arch Mineral Corporation, Carboex International,
         Ltd. and Ashland Inc. (Filed herewith)
  10.2   Sales Agency Agreement, executed as of April 4, 1997,
         among Arch Mineral Corporation, Ashland Inc. and Carboex
         S.A. (Filed herewith)
  10.3   Assignment, Assumption and Amendment of Coal Sales
         Agency Agreement, executed as of April 4, 1997, among
         Arch Mineral Corporation, Ashland Coal, Inc.,
         Saarbergwerke AG and Carboex International, Ltd. (Filed
         herewith)
  10.4   Shareholder Services Contract, executed as of April 4,
         1997, among Arch Mineral Corporation, Ashland Coal,
         Inc., Carboex International, Ltd. and Ashland Inc.
         (Filed herewith)
  10.5   Lease between Pocahontas Land Corporation and Ark Land
         Company, dated January 31, 1994, as amended as of
         October 2, 1995, Partial Release and Surrender of Lease
         dated February 1, 1996, as amended October 21, 1996
         (Filed herewith)
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>
 
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT                                                            SEQUENTIAL
   NO.                          DESCRIPTION                         PAGE NUMBER
 -------                        -----------                         -----------
 <C>     <S>                                                        <C>
  10.6   Lease Contract by and between William C. Francis and
         Mountain Land and Reclamation, Inc. (predecessor to Ark
         Land Company), dated November 16, 1988, Supplemental
         Leases dated May 16, 1989, August 25, 1991, Assignment
         of Lease dated September 13, 1991, amended as of
         December 23, 1992 and September 1, 1995 and March 17,
         1997 (Filed herewith)
  10.7   Lease Contract by and between Virgil Eversole Estate and
         Mountain Land and Reclamation, Inc. (predecessor to Ark
         Land Company) dated November 21, 1988, Assignment of
         Lease dated September 13, 1991 amended as of December
         23, 1992, November 11, 1994 and August 26, 1995 (Filed
         herewith)
  10.8   Deed of Lease and Agreement between Dingess-Rum Coal
         Company and Amherst Coal Company (predecessor to Ark
         Land Company), dated June 1, 1962, as supplemented
         January 1, 1968, June 1, 1973, July 1, 1974, November
         12, 1987, Lease Exchange Agreement dated July 2, 1979
         amended as of January 1, 1984 and January 7, 1993;
         February 24, 1993; Partial Release dated as of May 6,
         1988; Assignments dated March 15, 1990, October 5, 1990
         (Filed herewith)
  10.9   Agreement of Lease by and between Shonk Land Company,
         Limited Partnership and Lawson Hamilton (predecessor to
         Ark Land Company), dated February 8, 1983, as amended
         October 7, 1987, March 9, 1989, April 1, 1992, October
         31, 1992, December 5, 1992, February 16, 1993, August 4,
         1994, October 1, 1995, July 31, 1996 and November 27,
         1996 (Filed herewith)
  10.10  United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land
         Management Modified Coal Lease with Medicine Bow Coal
         Company, effective September 1, 1981 (Filed herewith)
  10.11  Amended and Restated Mining Lease by and between Rock
         Springs Royalty Company and Ark Land Company, dated
         December 13, 1988 amended June 23, 1994, January 1, 1996
         and February 20, 1996 (Filed herewith)
  10.12  Employment Agreement between Arch Mineral Corporation
         and Steven F. Leer, dated March 1, 1992 (Filed herewith)
  10.13  Consulting Agreement between Arch Mineral Corporation
         and Ronald E. Samples, effective September 1, 1992, as
         amended by letter agreements dated October 6, 1992,
         September 1, 1993, September 1, 1994, September 1, 1995, August 31,
         1996 and March 30, 1997 (Filed herewith)
  10.14  Form of At Will Employee Retention/Severance Agreement
         (Filed herewith)
  10.15  Form of Indemnity Agreement between Arch Coal, Inc. and
         Indemnitee (as defined therein) (Filed herewith)
  10.16  Arch Mineral Corporation 1993 Incentive Compensation
         Plan; as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated December 12,
         1995 (Filed herewith)
  10.17  Arch Mineral Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan
         (Filed herewith)
  10.18  Arch Coal, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for
         Directors' Fees (Filed herewith)
  10.19  Arch Coal, Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (Filed
         herewith; appears as Annex E to Appendix A to the Proxy
         Statement/Prospectus forming part of this registration
         statement)
  10.20  Arch Mineral Corporation 1996 ERISA Forfeiture Plan
         (Filed herewith)
  21.1   List of Subsidiaries of Arch Mineral Corporation (Filed
         herewith)
  23.1   Consent of Jeffry N. Quinn (Included in opinion Filed as
         Exhibit 5.1)
  23.2   Consent of Kelly, Hart & Hallman, P.C. (Included in
         opinion filed as Exhibit 8.1)
  23.3   Consent of Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP (Included in
         opinion filed as Exhibit 8.2)
  23.4   Consent of John T. Boyd Company (Filed herewith)
  23.5   Consent of Salomon Brothers Inc (Filed herewith)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBIT                                                           SEQUENTIAL
   NO.                         DESCRIPTION                         PAGE NUMBER
 -------                       -----------                         -----------
 <C>     <S>                                                       <C>
  23.6   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (Filed herewith)
  23.7   Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP (Filed herewith)
  23.8   Consent of Robert A. Charpie (Filed herewith)
  23.9   Consent of Paul W. Chellgren (Filed herewith)
  23.10  Consent of Thomas L. Feazell (Filed herewith)
  23.11  Consent of Juan Antonio Ferrando (Filed herewith)
  23.12  Consent of Robert L. Hintz (Filed herewith)
  23.13  Consent of Thomas Marshall (Filed herewith)
  23.14  Consent of J. Marvin Quin (Filed herewith)
  24.1   Power of Attorney of John R. Hall (Filed herewith)
  24.2   Power of Attorney of James R. Boyd (Filed herewith)
  24.3   Power of Attorney of Douglas H. Hunt (Filed herewith)
  24.4   Power of Attorney of James L. Parker (Filed herewith)
  24.5   Power of Attorney of Ronald Eugene Samples (Filed
         herewith)
  24.6   Power of Attorney of Steven F. Leer (Filed herewith)
  99.1   Form of Proxy of Ashland Coal, Inc. for holders of
         Ashland Coal Common Stock (Filed herewith)
  99.2   Form of Proxy of Ashland Coal, Inc. for holders of
         Ashland Coal Preferred Stock (Filed herewith)
  99.3   Form of Proxy of Ashland Coal, Inc. for participants in
         the Coal-Mac, Inc. Savings and Retirement Plan (Filed
         herewith)
  99.4   Form of Proxy of Ashland Coal, Inc. for participants in
         the Ashland Coal, Inc. Employee Thrift Plan (Filed
         herewith)
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     Exhibit 3.1


                                   RESTATED
                          CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

                                       OF

                            ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION

                                     *****


     FIRST.   The name of the Corporation is

                            ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION

     SECOND.  The registered office of the Corporation shall be in the City of
Wilmington, County of Dover, State of Delaware.  The name of its registered
agent in charge thereof is The Prentice-Hall Corporation Service, Inc.

     THIRD.   The nature of the business or purposes to be conducted or promoted
is:

     To carry on and conduct mining and related operations of any and every kind
and character with respect to the recovery and removal of coal, ores, metals,
stone, clay, sand, gravel, oil, gas, petroleum, timber and all minerals, mineral
substances, combustible substances, products and substances of all types,
whether solid, liquid or gaseous.

     To mine, extract, remove, recover and sever any or all of said coal,
minerals, products, and other substances.

     To search for, prospect for, drill for, explore for, said coal, minerals,
products, and other substances.

     To manufacture, process, smelt, mill, treat, concentrate, refine, prepare
for market, and otherwise produce and deal in (both at wholesale and retail)
coal, coke, and all said minerals and substances and products, and the by-
products and end products thereof, of
<PAGE>
 
every kind and description and by whatsoever process the same can or may now or
hereafter be produced.

     To purchase, lease, rent, option, or in any way or in any manner acquire or
hold title or secure franchises or interests in coal, all substances and
minerals, mineral interests, mines, coal and mineral properties, mining claims
and licenses, franchises, rights and privileges, in any estate, interest or
rights in real property, personal or mixed property, and to develop and improve
the foregoing.

     To lease, sell, exchange, or in any manner dispose of said interests and
properties, and interests therein.

     To store, ship, transport, market, buy, sell, export, import, and otherwise
deal as principal, agent, or broker in coal, ores, metals, stone, clay, sand,
gravel, oil, gas, petroleum, timber, and all minerals, mineral substances,
products, and substances of all types, whether solid, liquid or gaseous,
including coke and by-products and end products, and to transact such other
business and operations as may be advisable or necessary to carry out the
foregoing purposes.

     To sink shafts, pipes, slopes, drifts, wells, and construct and operate
roads and roadways, reservoirs, pipelines, docks, barges, products and material
transfer and handling equipment.

     To purchase, sell, use, maintain, lease, exchange, acquire, or dispose of
in any manner, develop and improve, equip and erect any machinery, equipment,
tools, fixtures, supplies, parts, appliances, plants, factories, warehouses,
stores, depots, dwellings, mines, coke ovens, oil and gas wells, tipples,
buildings, docks, pipelines, and structures of all types and on property real or
personal, useful or incidental to the business of the
<PAGE>
 
Corporation.

     In general, to possess and exercise all the powers and privileges granted
by the General Corporation Law of Delaware or by any other law of Delaware or by
this Restated Certificate of Incorporation including, without limitation, the
power to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be
organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware, together with any
powers incidental thereto so far as such powers and privileges are necessary or
convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business or purposes
of the Corporation.

     The business and purposes specified in the foregoing clauses shall, except
where otherwise expressed, be in nowise limited or restricted by reference to,
or inference from, the terms of any other clause in this Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, but the business and purposes specified in each of the foregoing
clauses of this article shall be regarded as independent business and purposes.

     FOURTH.  The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall
have authority to issue is 100,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01
per share.

     Each share of common stock of the Corporation with a par value of $1.00
which is issued and outstanding is hereby reclassified and changed into 338.0857
fully paid and nonassessable shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 of the
Corporation, and each certificate held by each holder of record for one or more
shares of Common Stock of the Corporation as of the close of business on the
date this amendment becomes effective shall, until exchanged, represent 338.0857
shares of Common Stock multiplied by the number of full and fractional shares of
Common Stock represented by the certificate of such holder.
<PAGE>
 
     Each share of common stock shall be entitled to one vote and, subject to
the provisions of the By-laws of the Corporation with respect to the fixing of
record dates, each stockholder of record shall have the right at every
stockholders' meeting to one vote for each share of Common Stock standing in his
name on the share register of the Corporation.

     FIFTH.  The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.

     SIXTH.  1.  Election of directors need not be by written ballot unless the
By-laws so provide.  Any director may be removed from office with or without
cause at any time by the affirmative vote of the stockholders of record holding
three-fourths of the outstanding shares of the stock of the Corporation entitled
to vote.

     2.  Annual or special meetings of the Corporation may be disposed with upon
written consent by the holders of record of the percentage of the outstanding
stock which would be required to authorize the action being proposed.  Notice of
the taking of such action shall be given to the stockholders not more than ten
(10) days after the action has been taken.

     3.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by
statute, the board of directors is expressly authorized:

     (a) To make, alter or repeal the By-laws of the Corporation subject to the
right of the stockholders entitled to vote with respect thereto to alter and
repeal By-laws made by the board of directors.

     (b) To authorize and cause to be executed mortgages and liens upon the real
and personal property of the Corporation.

     (c) To set apart out of any of the funds of the Corporation available for
dividends
<PAGE>
 
a reserve or reserves for any proper purpose and to abolish any such reserve in
the manner in which it was created.

     (d) When and as authorized by the vote of the holders of the required
percentage of the issued and outstanding stock having voting power given at a
stockholders' meeting duly called upon such notice as is required by statute, or
when authorized by the written consent of the holders of the required percentage
of the voting stock issued and outstanding, to sell, lease or exchange all or
substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation, including its
good will and its corporate franchises, upon such terms and conditions and for
such consideration, which may consist in whole or in part of money or property
including shares of stock in, and/or other securities of, any other corporation
or corporations, as its board of directors shall deem expedient and for the best
interests of the Corporation.

     SEVENTH.  Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this
Corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this
Corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable
jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary
way of this Corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof, or on the
application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under
the provisions of Section 291 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code or on the
application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed
for this Corporation under the provisions of Section 279 of Title 8 of the
Delaware Code order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of
the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may
be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs.  If a majority in
number representing three-fourths in value of the
<PAGE>
 
creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of
stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or
arrangement and to any reorganization of this Corporation as a consequence of
such compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said
reorganization shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application
has been made, be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on
all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this Corporation, as the case
may be, and also on this Corporation.

     EIGHTH.   Meetings of stockholders may be held within or without the State
of Delaware, as the By-laws may provide.  The books of the Corporation may be
kept (subject to any provision contained in the statutes) outside the State of
Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the
board of directors or in the By-laws of the Corporation.

     NINTH.    Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders
shall be taken only upon the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of not
less than three-fourths of the issued and outstanding shares of stock of the
Corporation.

     TENTH.    The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or
repeal any provision contained in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation in
the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred upon
stockholders, directors and officers herein are granted subject to this
reservation.

     ELEVENTH. No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its
Stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty by such
director as a director.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, a director
shall be liable to the extent provided by applicable law (i) for breach of the
director's duty of loyalty to the Corporation
<PAGE>
 
or its Stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which
involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to
Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction
from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.  No amendment to
or repeal of this Article Eleventh shall apply to or have any effect on the
liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with
respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such
amendment.

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     Exhibit 3.3

                               CONFORMED BY-LAWS

                                       OF

                            ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
                     with amendments through July 10, 1996


                                    -ooOoo-


                                    Offices
                                    -------


     SECTION 1.  Registered Office.  The registered office of the Corporation in
                 -----------------                                              
the State of Delaware shall be 32 Loockerman Square, Suite L-100, City of Dover,
County of New Castle. The name of the registered agent in charge thereof is The
Prentice-Hall Corporation Service, Inc.

     SECTION 2.  Other Offices.  The Corporation may also have offices at other
                 -------------
places within or without the State of Delaware.

                                   ARTICLE II

                            Meetings of Stockholders
                            ------------------------

     SECTION 1.  Annual Meetings.  The annual meeting of the stockholders for
                 ---------------                                             
the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may
properly come before the meeting shall be held on the first Tuesday of April if
not a legal holiday, and if a legal holiday then on the next secular day
following, at 10:00 A.M., or at such other date and time as shall be designated
from time to time by the board of directors and stated in the notice of the
meeting.

     SECTION 2.  Special Meeting.  A special meeting of the stockholders for any
                 ---------------                                                
purpose or purposes may be called by any three (3) members of the Board or the
<PAGE>
 
President to be held at such place, date and hour as shall be designated in the
notice thereof.

     SECTION 3.  Notice of Meetings.  Except as otherwise expressly required by
                 ------------------                                            
law, notice of each meeting of the stockholders shall be given not less than 10
nor more than 50 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder
entitled to vote at such meeting by mailing such notice, postage prepaid,
directed to such stockholder at his address as it appears on the records of the
Corporation. Every such notice shall state the place, date and hour of the
meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which
the meeting is called. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, notice of
any adjourned meeting of the stockholders need not be given. Notice of any
meeting of stockholders shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who
shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy, except when the stockholder,
being entitled to vote at such meeting, attends for the express purpose of
objecting, at the beginning of such meeting, to the transaction of any business
because such meeting is not lawfully called or convened. A written waiver of
notice, signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time
stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.

     SECTION 4.  List of Stockholders.  It shall be the duty of the Secretary or
                 --------------------                                           
other officer of the Corporation who shall have charge of its stock ledger to
prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of the stockholders, a
complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, arranged in
alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number
of shares registered in the name of each

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for
any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period
of at least 10 days prior to the meeting at the place within the city where the
meeting is to be held. Such list shall also be produced and kept at the time and
place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any
stockholder who is present.

     SECTION 5.  Quorum.   At each meeting of the stockholders, except as
                 ------                                                  
otherwise expressly required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation,
stockholders holding seventy-five percent (75%) of the shares of stock of the
Corporation issued and outstanding, and entitled to be voted,at the meeting,
shall be present in person or by proxy to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum at any such meeting or any
adjournment or adjournments thereof, a majority in voting interest of those
present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat, or in the absence
therefrom of all the stockholders, any officer entitled to

preside at, or to act as secretary of, such meeting may adjourn such meeting
from time to time until stockholders holding the amount of stock requisite for a
quorum shall be present in person or by proxy.   At any such adjourned meeting
at which a quorum may be present  any business may be transacted which might
have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.

     SECTION 6.  Organization.  At each meeting of the stockholders,  one of
                 ------------                                               
the following shall act as chairman of the  meeting and preside thereat, in the
following order of precedence:

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
          (a) The Chief Executive Officer;

          (b) any other officer of the Corporation designated by the Board or
     the Executive Committee to act as chairman of such meeting and to preside
     thereat if the above-named officer shall be absent from such meeting; or

          (c) a stockholder of record of the Corporation who shall be chosen
     chairman of such meeting by a majority in voting interest of the
     stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote thereat.

The Secretary, or, if he shall be presiding over the meeting in accordance with
the provisions of this Section or if he shall be absent from such meeting, the
person (who shall be an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary shall be
present thereat) whom the chairman of such meeting shall appoint, shall act as
secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

     SECTION 7.  Order of Business.  The order of business of each meeting of
                 -----------------                                           
the stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of such meeting, but such
order of business may be changed by a majority in voting interest of those
present in person or by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote thereat.

     SECTION 8.  Voting.  Each holder of Common Stock shall, at each meeting of
                 ------                                                        
the stockholders, be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share
of Common Stock of the Corporation held by him and registered in his name on the
books of the Corporation:

          (a) On the date fixed pursuant to the provisions of Section 5 of
     Article VIII of these By-laws as the record date for the determination of
     stockholders who

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
     shall be entitled to receive notice of and to vote at such meeting, or

          (b) If no record date shall have been so fixed, then at the close of
     business on the day next preceding the day on which notice of the meeting
     shall be given.

Shares of its own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation,
if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of
such other corporation is held by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to
vote nor counted for quorum purposes. Any vote of stock of the Corporation may
be given at any meeting of the stockholders by the stockholders entitled thereto
in person or by proxy appointed by an instrument in writing delivered to the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or the secretary of the
meeting. The attendance at any meeting of a stockholder who may theretofore have
given a proxy shall not have the effect of revoking the same unless he shall in
writing so notify the secretary of the meeting prior to the voting of the proxy.
At all meetings of the stockholders all matters unless the question is one upon
which by express provision of the statutes or the certificate of incorporation,
a different vote is required, shall be decided by the vote of not less than
seventy-five percent (75%) of the stockholders entitled to vote, a quorum being
present. Except as otherwise expressly required by law, the vote at any meeting
of the stockholders on any question need not be by ballot, unless so directed by
the chairman of the meeting. On a vote by ballot each ballot shall be signed by
the stockholder voting, or by his proxy; if there be such proxy, and shall state
the number of shares voted.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 9.  Action by Consent.  Any action required or permitted to be
                 -----------------                                         
taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a
meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing,
setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding
stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary
to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to
vote thereon were present and voted. Not more than ten (10) days after the
taking of such action, notice thereof shall be given to those stockholders, if
any, who have not so consented in writing.

                                  ARTICLE III
  
                              Board of Directors
                              ------------------

     SECTION 1.  General Powers.  The business and affairs of the Corporation
                 --------------                                              
shall be managed by the Board.

     SECTION 2.  Number and Term of Office.  The number of directors which
                 -------------------------                                
shall constitute the whole Board shall be six (6)  who shall be elected at the
annual meeting by the stockholders, and who shall hold office until the annual
meeting next after their election and until such later date as their successors
shall be elected and shall qualify.

     The Board of Directors shall from time to time be empowered to create the
additional positions of Director Emeritus. A Director Emeritus shall be a non-
voting advisor to the Board and shall perform such other duties as the Chairman
of the Board or the Board may prescribe. A Director Emeritus shall serve at the
pleasure of the Board.

     SECTION 3.  Election.  At each meeting of the stockholders for the
                 --------                                              
election of

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
directors at which a quorum is present the persons receiving the greatest number
of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, shall be the directors.

      SECTION 4.  Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.  Any director may resign
                  ----------------------------------                          
at any time by giving written notice of his resignation to the President or the
Secretary of the Corporation. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time
specified therein, or, if the time when it shall become effective shall not be
specified therein, then it shall take effect when accepted by action of the
Board. Except as aforesaid, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be
necessary to make it effective.

     A director may be removed, either with or without cause, at any time by a
vote of seventy-five percent (75%) of the stockholders.

     In case of any vacancy on the Board or any newly created directorship, a
director to fill the vacancy or the newly created directorship for the unexpired
portion of the term being filled shall be elected by (i) the vote of seventy-
five percent (75%) of the stockholders of the Corporation, or (ii) by a vote of
seventy-five percent (75%) of the remaining members of the Board.

     SECTION 5.  Meetings.
                 -------- 
     (A)  Annual Meetings.  The first meeting of each newly elected Board of
          ---------------                                                   
Directors shall be held at such time and place as may be fixed by the vote of
the stockholders at the annual meeting. The Board shall meet for the purpose of
organization and the transaction of other business.

     (B) Regular Meetings.  Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at such
         ----------------                                                      
times and places as the Board shall from time to time determine.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
     (C) Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the Board shall be held
         ----------------                                              
whenever called by the President or three (3) directors. Any and all business
may be transacted at a special meeting which may be transacted at a regular
meeting of the Board.

     (D) Place of Meeting.  The Board may hold its meetings at such place or
         ----------------                                                   
places within or without the State of Delaware as the Board may from time to
time by resolution determine or as shall be designated in the respective notice
or waivers of notice thereof.

     (E) Notice of Meetings.  Notice of the regular meetings of the Board or
         ------------------                                                 
of any adjourned meeting need not be given.

      Notice of special meetings of the Board, or of any meeting of any
committee of the Board, shall be mailed by the Secretary to each director, or
member of such committee, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of
business, at least two days before the day on which such meeting is to be held,
or shall be sent to him by telegraph, cable or other form of recorded
communications or be delivered personally or by telephone not later than the day
before the day on which such meeting is to be held. Such notice shall include
the time and place of such meeting. Notice of any such meeting need not be given
to any director or member of any committee, however, if waived by him in writing
or by telegraph, cable or other form of recorded communications, whether before
or after such meeting shall be held, or if he shall be present at such meeting.

      (F) Quorum and Manner of Acting.  Not less than seventy-five percent
          ---------------------------                                     
(75%) of the directors then in office shall be present in person at any meeting
of the Board in

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting. In
the absence of a quorum for any such meeting, a majority of the directors
present thereat may adjourn such meeting from time to time until a quorum shall
be present. No action shall be taken by the Board except with the approval of
not less than seventy-five percent (75%) members of the Board, provided,
however, that in the case of any vacancy on the Board or any newly created
directorship, a director may be elected to fill the vacancy or the newly created
directorship for the unexpired portion of the term being filled by the vote of
seventy-five percent (75%) of the remaining members of the Board pursuant to
Article III, Section 4, of these By-laws.

     (G) Action by Communications Equipment.  The directors, or the members of
         ----------------------------------                                   
any committee of the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or of
such committee, by means of conference telephone or similar communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other, and such participation shall constitute presence in person at such
meeting.

     (H) Action by Consent.  Any action required or permitted to be taken at
         -----------------                                                  
any meeting of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a
meeting if all members of the Board or committees as the case may be, consent
thereto in writing, and such writing is filed with the minutes of the
proceedings of the Board or committee.

     (I) Organization.  At each meeting of the Board, one of the following
         ------------                                                     
shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat, in the following order
of precedence; (a) the President; or (b) any director chosen by a majority of
the directors present thereat. The Secretary or, in his absence, any person (who
shall be an Assistant

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary shall be present thereat) whom the chairman
shall appoint shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes
thereof.

     SECTION 6.  Compensation.  The Board may provide that the Corporation shall
                 ------------                                                   
reimburse each director or member of a committee for any expenses incurred by
him on account of his attendance at any meeting, but directors shall not be
entitled to any other compensation for their service as such. Nothing contained
in this Section shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the
Corporation in any other capacity and  receiving compensation therefor.

                                  ARTICLE IV

                                  Committees
                                  ----------

      SECTION 1.  Executive Committee.
                  ------------------- 

      (A)  Designation and Membership.  The Board may, by resolution passed by
           --------------------------                                         
not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the members of the whole Board,
designate an Executive Committee consisting of such number of directors as the
Board shall appoint.  Vacancies may be filled by the Board at any time and any
appointed member of the Executive Committee shall be subject to removal, with or
without cause, at any time by the Board.

      (B)  Functions and Powers. The Executive Committee, to the extent provided
           --------------------                                                 
in the resolution, shall possess and may exercise, during the intervals between
meetings of the Board, the powers of the Board in the management of the business
and affairs of the Corporation; provided, however, that the Executive Committee
shall not have the power of authority to approve amendments to the Certificate
of Incorporation

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
of the Corporation, adopt agreements of merger or consolidation, recommend to
the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all the
property and assets of the Corporation, recommend to the stockholders the
dissolution of the Corporation or the revocation of a dissolution or amend these
By-laws. At each meeting of the Board the Executive Committee shall make a
report of all action taken by it since its last report to the Board.

      (C)  Meetings and Quorum.  The Executive Committee shall meet as often as
           -------------------                                                 
may be deemed necessary and expedient at such times and places as shall be
determined by the Executive Committee. Any action taken by the Executive
Committee must be taken by the unanimous action of all members thereof.  The
Executive Committee may appoint any member of the Executive Committee to preside
at its meetings.

      SECTION 2.  Other Committees.  The Board may, by resolution passed by not
                  ----------------                                             
less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the members of the whole Board,
designate other committees, each committee to consist of two (2) or more
Directors, and to have such duties and functions as shall be provided in such
resolution.

                                   ARTICLE V


                                   Officers
                                   --------

      SECTION 1.  Election and Appointment and Term of Office.  The officers of
                  -------------------------------------------                  
the Corporation shall be a Chairman of the Board, a President, one or more Vice
Presidents (the number thereof to be  determined from time to time by the
Board), a Treasurer, a Secretary and a Controller. Each such officer shall be
elected by

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
the Board at its annual meeting and shall hold office until the next annual
meeting of the Board and until his successor is elected or until his earlier
death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided.

     The Board of Directors shall designate either the Chairman of the Board or
the President as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation.

     The Board may elect or appoint such other officers (including one or more
Assistant Treasurers and one or more Assistant Secretaries) as it deems
necessary who shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as the
Board may prescribe.

     If additional officers are elected or appointed during the year, each of
them shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Board at which
officers are regularly elected or appointed and until his successor is elected
or appointed or until his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner
hereinafter provided.

     SECTION 2.  Resignation, Removal and Vacancies.  Any officer may resign at
                 ----------------------------------                            
any time by giving written notice to the Chief Executive Officer or the
Secretary of the Corporation, and such resignation shall take effect at the time
specified therein or, if the time when it shall become effective shall not be
specified therein, then it shall take effect when accepted by action of the
Board. Except as aforesaid, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be
necessary to make it effective.

      All officers and agents elected or appointed by the Board shall be subject
to removal at any time by the Board with or without cause.

     A vacancy in any office may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term
in the 

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
 
same manner as provided for election or appointment to such office.

     SECTION 3.  Duties and Functions.
                 -------------------- 

     (A)  Chairman of the Board.  The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all
          ---------------------                                                 
meetings of the stockholders and directors and shall perform such other duties
as the Board of Directors may prescribe.

     (B)  President.   In the absence, refusal or incapacity of the Chairman of
          ---------                                                            
the Board, the President shall perform the duties of the Chairman of the Board,
except those of presiding at meetings of directors.

     (C)  Chief Executive Officer.  Subject to the direction and control of the
          -----------------------                                              
Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer shall have responsibility for
the management and control of the affairs and business of the Corporation and
shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the
office of the Chief Executive Officer, including the power to enter into
commitments, execute and deliver contracts and do and perform all such other
acts and things as are necessary and appropriate to accomplish the Corporation's
business and operations and to manage the business and affairs of the
Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer may assign such duties to other
officers of the Corporation as he or she deems appropriate.

     (D)  Chief Operating Officer.  In the event the President is not designated
          -----------------------                                               
as Chief Executive Officer pursuant to this Article V, the President shall be
the Chief Operating Officer of the Corporation and shall have such powers and
duties as the Board of Directors, or Chief Executive Officer, may prescribe.


     (E)  Vice Presidents.  The Vice Presidents shall have such powers and
          ---------------                                                 
perform 

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
 
such duties as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer or the
President may prescribe. One or more Vice Presidents may be given and shall use
as part of his or her title such other designations, including, without
limitation, the designations "Executive Vice President" and "Senior Vice
President", as the Board of Directors may designate from time to time. In the
absence, refusal or incapacity of the Chief Executive Officer and the President,
the powers and duties of the President shall be vested in and performed by such
Vice Presidents as have the designation "Executive Vice President", in the order
of their seniority or as otherwise established by action of the Board of
Directors from time to time, or by such other officer as the Board of Directors
or the Chief Executive Officer shall have most recently designated for that
purpose in a writing filed with the Secretary.

     (F)   Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall act under the direction of the Chief
           ---------                                                           
Executive Officer. Subject to the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, the
Treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and
securities of the Corporation and the deposit thereof in the name and to the
credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board
of Directors or by the Treasurer pursuant hereto. The Treasurer shall be
authorized at any time, and from time to time, by a writing countersigned by the
Chief Executive Officer, to open bank accounts in the name of the Corporation in
any bank or trust company for the deposit therein of any funds, drafts, checks
or other orders for the payment of money to the Corporation; and the Treasurer
shall be authorized at any time, and from time to time, by a writing
countersigned by the Chief Executive Officer, to authorize and empower any

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
 
representative or agent of the Corporation to draw upon or sign for the
Corporation either manually or by the use of facsimile signature, any and all
checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money against such bank
accounts which any such bank or trust company may pay without further inquiry.

     (G)   Secretary. The Secretary shall act under the direction of the Chief
           ---------                                                          
Executive Officer. Subject to the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, the
Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and the
stockholders and record the proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose
and shall perform like duties for committees designated by the Board of
Directors when required. The Secretary shall give or cause to be given notice of
all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors.
The Secretary shall affix the seal of the Corporation to all deeds, contracts,
bonds or other instruments requiring the corporate seal when the same shall have
been signed on behalf of the Corporation by a duly authorized officer. The
Secretary shall be the custodian of all contracts, deeds, documents and all
other indicia of title to properties owned by the Corporation and of its other
corporate records (except accounting records).

     (H)  Controller. The Controller shall act under the direction of the Chief
          ----------                                                           
Financial Officer of the Corporation, or, if none, the Chief Executive Officer.
Subject to the direction of the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation or,
if none, the Chief Executive Officer, the Controller shall have charge of the
accounting records of the Corporation, shall keep full and accurate accounts of
all receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation, shall
maintain adequate internal control of the

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
 
Corporation's accounts, and may perform such other duties as may be
prescribed by the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation or, if none, the
Chief Executive Officer, and by the Board of Directors.

                                   ARTICLE VI

             Contracts, Checks, Notes, Drafts, Bank Accounts, Etc.
             ------------------------------------------------------

     SECTION 1.  Execution of Documents.  The Board shall designate the
                 ----------------------                                
officers, employees and agents of the Corporation who shall have power to
execute and deliver deeds, contracts, mortgages, bonds, debentures, checks,
notes, drafts and other orders for the payment of money and other documents for
and in the name of the Corporation.

     SECTION 2.  Deposits.  All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed
                 --------                                                      
shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation or
otherwise as the Board or any officer of the Corporation to whom power in that
respect shall have been delegated by the Board shall determine.

                                  ARTICLE VII

                               Books and Records
                               -----------------
     The books and records of the Corporation may be kept at such places within
or without the State of Delaware as the Board may from time to time determine.

                                      -16-
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE VIII

                 Shares and Their Transfer; Fixing Record Date
                 ---------------------------------------------

     SECTION 1.  Certificates for Stock.  Every owner of stock of the
                 ----------------------                              
Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate certifying the number of
shares owned by him in the Corporation and designating the class of stock to
which such shares belong, which shall otherwise be in such form as the Board
shall prescribe. Each such certificate shall be signed by, or in the name of the
Corporation by, the President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer or an
Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Corporation. In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has
been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such
certificate is issued, it may nevertheless be issued by the Corporation with the
same effect as if he were such officer at the date of issue. In the event the
Corporation is advised of any agreement or agreements among stockholders of the
Corporation relating to restrictions on the transferability or voting rights of
the Corporation's stock, no certificate for such restricted stock will be issued
by the Corporation unless first imprinted with a legend referring to such
agreement or agreements.

     SECTION 2.  Record.  A record shall be kept of the name of the person
                 ------                                                   
owning the stock represented by each certificate for stock of the Corporation
issued, the number of shares represented by each such certificate, and the date
thereof, and, in the case of cancellation, the date of cancellation. The person
in whose name shares of

                                      -17-
<PAGE>
 
stock stand on the books of the Corporation shall be deemed the owner thereof
for all purposes.

     SECTION 3.  Transfer of Stock.  Transfers of shares of the stock of the
                 -----------------                                          
Corporation shall be made only on the books of the Corporation by the registered
holder thereof, or by his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney
duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the Corporation, and on the
surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed.

     SECTION 4.  Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates.  The holder
                 -------------------------------------------------             
of any stock of the Corporation shall immediately notify the Corporation of any
loss, theft or mutilation of the certificate therefor. The Corporation may issue
a new certificate for stock in the place of any certificate theretofore issued
by it and alleged to have been lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, and the
Board may, in its discretion, require the owner of the lost, stolen, mutilated
or destroyed certificate or his legal representative to give the Corporation a
bond in such sum, limited or unlimited, in such form and with such surety or
sureties as the Board shall in its discretion determine, to indemnify the
Corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the
alleged loss, theft, mutilation or destruction of any such certificate or the
issuance of any such new certificate.

     SECTION 5.  Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.  In
                 -------------------------------------------------------     
order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of
or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to
express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to
receive payment of any

                                      -18-
<PAGE>
 
dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to
exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or
for the purpose of any other law action, the Board may fix, in advance, a record
date, which shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of
such meeting, nor more than 60 days prior to any such other action.


                                  ARTICLE IX

                                     Seal
                                     ----

      The Board shall provide a corporate seal, which shall have inscribed
thereon the name of the corporation, the word "seal" and the word "Delaware".
The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile to be impressed or affixed or
reproduced or otherwise.

                                   ARTICLE X
                                   
                                  Fiscal Year
                                  -----------

      The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on the last day of December
in each year.

                                  ARTICLE XI
                                 
                                Indemnification
                                ---------------

Every person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation, or of any other corporation or entity which he serves or served as
such at the request of the Corporation, may, in accordance with this Article XI
but not if prohibited by law, be indemnified by the Corporation against
reasonable expense and any liability paid or incurred by him in connection with
or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding (whether brought by or
in the right of the Corporation or such other corporation or entity

                                      -19-
<PAGE>
 
or otherwise), civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which he may
be involved, as a party or otherwise, by reason of his being or having been a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or such other
corporation or entity, whether or not he continues to be such at the time such
expense or liability shall have been paid or incurred, provided such person
acted, in good faith, in what he reasonably believed to be the best interests of
the Corporation, or such other corporation or entity, as the case may be, and in
addition in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe that his conduct was unlawful. As used in this Article XI, the term
"expense" shall mean counsel fees and disbursements and all other expenses
(except any liability) relating to any such claim, action, suit or proceeding,
and the term "liability" shall mean amounts of judgments, fines or penalties
against, and amounts paid in settlement by, a director, officer, employee or
agent with respect to any such claim, action, suit or proceeding. Every person
referred to in the first paragraph of this Article XI who has been wholly
successful, on the merits or otherwise, with respect to any claim, action, suit
or proceeding of the character described in such first paragraph shall have a
right of indemnification. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, any
indemnification under such first paragraph may be made by the Board of
Directors, in its discretion, but only if either (i) the Board of Directors,
acting by a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to (or who have
been wholly successful with respect to) such claim, action, suit or proceedings,
shall have found that the director, officer or employee has met the applicable
standard of conduct set forth in such first paragraph or (ii) if there be 

                                      -20-
<PAGE>
 
no such disinterested quorum, independent legal counsel (who may be the regular
outside counsel of the Corporation) shall have delivered to the Corporation
written advice to the effect that in their judgment such applicable standard has
been met.

     Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, no indemnification shall
be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall
have been adjudged to be liable to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the
court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application
that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances
of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

      Any expense incurred with respect to any claim, action, suit or proceeding
of the character described in the first paragraph of this Article XI may be
advanced by the Corporation prior to the final disposition thereof upon receipt
of an undertaking made by or on behalf of the recipient to repay such amount if
it is ultimately determined that he is not to be indemnified under this 
Article XI.

     The rights of indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or
granted pursuant to this Article XI shall be in addition to any rights to which
any such director, officer or employee may otherwise be entitled by contract or
as a matter of law and, in the event of such person's death, such rights shall
extend to his heirs and legal representatives unless otherwise provided when
authorized or ratified.

                                      -21-
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE XII

                                  Amendments
                                  ----------

  These By-laws may be altered or repealed by the vote of (i) seventy-five
percent (75%) of the members of the Board of Directors or (ii) the holders of
not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the outstanding stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote in respect thereof, by their vote given at an
annual meeting or at any special meeting.

                                   * * * * *

                                        

                                      -22-

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     Exhibit 4.1

                            Stockholders Agreement
                            ----------------------

     This Stockholders Agreement, dated as of April 4, 1997, is among Carboex
International, Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the Bahamas
("Carboex"), Ashland Inc., a Kentucky corporation ("Ashland"), and Arch Mineral
Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Arch Mineral").

     WHEREAS, at the Effective Time, as defined in that certain Agreement and
Plan of Merger dated April 4, 1997, among Arch Mineral, Ashland Coal, Inc. and
AMC Merger Corporation (the "Merger Agreement"), Ashland and Carboex will each
own shares of the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Arch Mineral
("Common Stock"); and

     WHEREAS, Carboex has relied upon this Agreement in consenting to the merger
provided for in the Merger Agreement;

     WHEREAS, Ashland and Carboex deem it in their best interests and the best
interest of Arch Mineral that the voting power of the Common Stock owned by
Ashland and Carboex be exercised pursuant to prior agreement to the extent and
upon the terms and conditions stated herein; and

     WHEREAS, Ashland, Carboex and Arch Mineral desire to enter into certain
agreements with respect to the ownership and transfer of shares of Common Stock
owned by Ashland and Carboex and with respect to the nomination of persons for
election to the Board of Directors of Arch Mineral: and

     NOW, THEREFORE, an agreement in respect of the shares of Common Stock owned
by Ashland and Carboex is hereby established upon the following terms and
conditions to all of which the parties hereto expressly assent and agree:

     SECTION 1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, and unless the context
                -----------                                                   
requires a different meaning, the following terms (whether used in the singular
or plural) have the meanings indicated:

     "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any Person that controls, is
controlled by or is under common control with such Person in question. For the
purposes of this definition, "control" (including, with correlative meanings,
the terms "controlled by" and "under common control with"), as used with respect
to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power
to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.

     "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended from
time to time and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.
<PAGE>
 
     "Industry Buyer" means a Person engaged primarily in the business of
industrial or natural resource production, distribution or sales, as determined
by the Board of Directors of Arch Mineral. The term Industry Buyer shall also
include financial buyers, financial intermediaries, brokers, dealers, banks,
investment banks or merchant banks ("Financial Buyer") only if the sale to such
                                                       ----                    
Financial Buyer will result, or is reasonably likely to result at any time
during the three-month period immediately following the sale, in at least three
individuals who were members of the Board of Directors of Arch Mineral
immediately prior to such sale no longer serving as directors by reason of such
sale.

     "Permitted Transferee" means in the case of a Permitted Transferee of
Ashland, the Affiliate or Affiliates of Ashland to whom Ashland has transferred
all or part of its Voting Stock, or in the case of a Permitted Transferee of
Carboex, the Affiliate or Affiliates of Carboex to whom Carboex has transferred
all or part of its Voting Stock.

     "Person" means an individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture,
joint stock company, government (or an agency or political subdivision thereof)
or other entity of any kind.

     "Public Offering" means a public offering and sale of Common Stock for cash
pursuant to (i) an effective registration statement under the Securities Act
(other than pursuant to Form S-4 or S-8) and in compliance with all applicable
state securities laws, (ii) a private offering to certain qualified
institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act or
(iii) an offering to non-U.S. persons outside the United States in accordance
with Regulation S under the Securities Act.

     "Registration Rights Agreement" means that certain registration rights
agreement among Arch Mineral, Ashland, Carboex and certain other parties dated
the same date as this Agreement.

     "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal
agency at the time administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

     "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933 as amended from time to
time and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.

     "Voting Stock" means capital stock of any class or classes of Arch Mineral,
the holders of which are entitled, in the absence of contingencies, to
participate generally in the election of the members of Arch Mineral's Board of
Directors, and any securities of Arch Mineral convertible into, or exercisable
or exchangeable for, any such capital stock of Arch Mineral, including, without
limitation, the Common Stock; provided, however, that any capital stock held in
                              --------  -------                                
the treasury of Arch Mineral or held by any subsidiary of Arch Mineral shall not
be Voting Stock.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 2. Director Nomination and Election. (a) The parties hereto agree
                --------------------------------                              
with the principle that Carboex, at all times during the effectiveness of this
Agreement and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, shall be
entitled to be represented by one member of the Board of Directors of Arch
Mineral. Ashland and Arch Mineral agree they shall take the following steps to
cause one representative of Carboex to be elected to the Board of Directors of
Arch Mineral:

          (i)     Arch Mineral shall give at least 10 days' notice to Ashland
     and Carboex of any meeting of its Board of Directors (or any committee
     thereof) at which the Board's nominees for election are to be selected.
     Upon receipt of such notice from Arch Mineral, Carboex shall within 10 days
     thereafter furnish Arch Mineral with a written designation of one nominee
     for election to the Board of Directors of Arch Mineral, with a copy thereof
     to Ashland. Such notice shall be given in the manner set forth in Section 6
     of this Agreement. If no written designation of a nominee is received by
     Arch Mineral within the time frame specified herein, the current director
     of Arch Mineral designated by Carboex shall be a nominee for the ensuing
     election.

          (ii)    So long as this Agreement is in effect, Arch Mineral hereby
     agrees to take all actions necessary to nominate or cause to be nominated
     and to solicit proxies (and if properly executed or otherwise valid, to
     vote all such proxies and other shares which Arch Mineral management is
     otherwise entitled to vote in accordance with the terms and requirements of
     this provision) for election as a director at each annual meeting of
     stockholders (or, if applicable, at any special meeting of stockholders) of
     Arch Mineral, the representative of Carboex designated by Carboex or in
     favor of the current director designated by Carboex, as the case may be,
     pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) above.

          (iii)   So long as this Agreement is in effect, Ashland in respect of
     the election of the directors of Arch Mineral, agrees to vote or cause to
     be voted, in person or by proxy, the number of the shares of Voting Stock
     now or hereafter held or owned directly or indirectly by it which when
     combined with the shares of Voting Stock held or owned directly or
     indirectly by Carboex and its Permitted Transferees and the proxies
     received by Arch Mineral under Section 2(a)(ii) above, will be sufficient
     to elect the person Carboex designates in writing pursuant to
     Section 2(a)(i) above as a director of Arch Mineral.

          In addition, so long as this Agreement is in effect, if Ashland or its
     Permitted Transferees shall be the beneficial owner (as defined in 
     Rule 13d-3(a) under the Exchange Act) of less than 20% but more than 10% of
     the outstanding Voting Stock, then Ashland shall be entitled to vote the
     shares of Voting Stock held or owned directly or indirectly by Ashland in
     such manner as it may, in its sole discretion, deem advisable, to elect the
     number of directors of Arch Mineral that it would be entitled to elect with
     cumulative voting for election of directors, and Ashland further agrees to
     vote any remaining shares of its Voting Stock for election of the Carboex
     representative as provided above.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     Except as specifically set forth in this Section 2(a)(iii), Ashland shall
be free to vote its shares of Voting Stock in such manner as it may, in its sole
discretion, deem advisable.

     (iv)     So long as this Agreement is in effect, Carboex may designate
a successor to fill any vacancy created by the death, resignation, or incapacity
of its designated nominee to the Arch Mineral Board of Directors by giving
notice to Arch Mineral in the manner set forth in Section 6 of this Agreement
setting forth the name of the new designee. Arch Mineral will recommend to the
Board such new designee and Ashland will vote its shares in the election of
directors, if required, to cause the Board to appoint Carboex's designee and
each of Arch Mineral and Ashland will cause to be taken all steps to assure the
continued representation of Carboex on the Arch Mineral Board of Directors
contemplated by this Section 2.

     (b)      Notwithstanding the foregoing Sections 2(a)(i)-(iv), if at any
time during the term of this Agreement Arch Mineral adopts a staggered Board of
Directors, Arch Mineral and Ashland shall take all steps regarding nomination
and election of directors to ensure Carboex continues to be represented by one
member of the Board of Directors.

     SECTION 3. Tag-Along Right. (a) If at any time Ashland or any of its
                ---------------                                          
Permitted Transferees desires to sell or otherwise dispose of ("sell") 50% or
more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock held by Ashland or its
Permitted Transferees, considered as a group, to an Industry Buyer, or 20% or
more of the total outstanding shares of Common Stock of Arch Mineral at such
time to an Industry Buyer, then at least 30 days prior to selling such Common
Stock to such Industry Buyer, Ashland shall deliver written notice (the "Tag-
Along Notice") to Carboex specifying (i) the identity of the Industry Buyer,
(ii) the number of shares of Common Stock owned by Ashland and its Permitted
Transferees which they propose to sell, (iii) the proposed price per share to be
paid to Ashland or its Permitted Transferees by the Industry Buyer, (iv) the
form of consideration (e.g., cash or notes) to be paid by such Industry Buyer
and (v) any other material terms and conditions of the proposed sale (the
"Proposed Sale"). Within 15 days following its receipt of the Tag-Along Notice,
Carboex may, if it desires to exercise its Tag-Along Right, deliver a written
notice (a "Tag-Along Instruction") to Ashland stating that Carboex desires to
participate in the Proposed Sale and setting forth the number of shares of
Common Stock then held by Carboex and its Permitted Transferees to be sold in
the Proposed Sale (it being expressly agreed that Carboex may not exercise its
Tag-Along rights for less than all the Common Stock held by Carboex and its
Permitted Transferees). A Tag-Along Instruction delivered pursuant to this
Section 3(a) shall be deemed to be an irrevocable commitment by Carboex and its
Permitted Transferees to sell pursuant to the Proposed Sale the number of shares
of Common Stock held by Carboex and its Permitted Transferees set forth in the
Tag-Along Instruction. Failure to provide a Tag-Along Instruction within the 
15-day period specified in this Section 3(a) shall constitute a waiver of the
right of Carboex and its Permitted Transferees to have any

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
shares of Common Stock included in the Proposed Sale. Carboex's Tag-Along right
provided in this Section 3(a) shall not apply to transfers by Ashland to its
Permitted Transferees, to Public Offerings or to sales of Common Stock pursuant
to the Registration Rights Agreement.

     (b)      In the event Carboex timely elects to exercise its Tag-Along
rights, Carboex shall deliver to Ashland, at the same time the Tag-Along
Instruction is delivered, the certificate or certificates representing the
shares of Common Stock to be sold by Carboex and its Permitted Transferees duly
endorsed in blank for transfer, free and clear of all liens other than any liens
created by action of Ashland, but without any other representation or warranty,
other than customary representations and warranties given in transactions of
this sort, and with all requisite stock transfer tax stamps attached, together
with a limited power-of-attorney authorizing Ashland to sell such shares of
Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Tag-Along Notice. Promptly
after the consummation of the Proposed Sale, Ashland shall notify Carboex of
such consummation, shall remit to Carboex the net consideration received (less
an allocable portion of the transfer taxes and reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses) for the shares of Common Stock of Carboex and its Permitted
Transferees sold pursuant to the Proposed Sale, and shall furnish such other
evidence of the completion and time of completion of the Proposed Sale and the
terms thereof as may be reasonably requested in writing by Carboex. If the net
consideration received in the Proposed Sale is comprised of cash and non-cash
proceeds, Carboex will receive its pro rata portion of each type of net
consideration based on the percentage of the total number of shares sold
represented by the shares sold by Carboex and its Permitted Transferees. If, at
the end of six months from the date of the Tag-Along Notice, Ashland has not
completed the Proposed Sale of the Common Stock of Carboex designated by a Tag-
Along Instruction to be sold to the Industry Buyer, Ashland shall return to
Carboex all certificates representing shares of Common Stock which Carboex
delivered pursuant to this Section 3, and all the rights and obligations
contained in this Agreement with respect to such shares of Common Stock (other
than Common Stock of Ashland being transferred in the Proposed Sale) shall again
be in effect and Ashland may not effect another Section 3 Proposed Sale without
repeating the foregoing procedures.

     (c)      Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 3 and subject
to compliance by Ashland and its Permitted Transferees with the provisions of
this Section 3, there shall be no liability on the part of Ashland or its
Permitted Transferees to Carboex or its Permitted Transferees if the Proposed
Sale pursuant to this Section 3 is not consummated for any reason whatsoever.
Any decision as to whether to sell in the Proposed Sale shall be at Ashland's
sole and absolute discretion.

     SECTION 4. Enforceability.  Arch Mineral hereby represents that this
                --------------                                           
Agreement is its valid and binding obligation enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the terms may conflict with
the Bylaws of Arch Mineral. If it is determined that due to any such conflict
the obligations of any of the parties to this Agreement are not enforceable,
then Arch Mineral, Ashland and Carboex agree to use their best efforts to effect
an amendment to the Bylaws of Arch Mineral to address the issue (or eliminate
the

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
inconsistency) that created the unenforceability all consistent with the
principle that Carboex, at all times during the effectiveness of this Agreement
and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, shall be entitled to
be represented by one member of the Board of Directors of Arch Mineral. Except
in respect of any Arch Mineral obligation that requires it to act in a manner
inconsistent with its Bylaws, Arch Mineral represents that its obligations
hereunder comply in all respects with the provisions of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, including, without limitation, Sections 211 and  223 thereof.

     SECTION 5. Termination. This Agreement shall terminate upon the earliest to
                -----------                                                     
occur of the following:

          (a)   In the event that Arch Mineral shall merge or consolidate with
     any other corporation (Arch Mineral not being the surviving corporation)
     and, upon consummation of such merger or consolidation, the stockholders of
     Arch Mineral immediately prior to such merger or consolidation shall not
     own at least 40% of the outstanding shares of voting stock of the
     corporation whose securities are exchanged in the merger, or if Arch
     Mineral shall sell, lease or transfer all or substantially all the
     property, assets or business of Arch Mineral; or

          (b)   If at any time Carboex or its Permitted Transferees shall be the
     beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3(a) under the Exchange Act) of
     less than 63% of the shares of Common Stock owned by Carboex at the
     Effective Time (as that term is defined in the Combination Agreement);
     provided that Carboex shall be deemed to hold for this purpose any shares
     of Arch Mineral Common Stock which Carboex has transferred to Arch Mineral
     or any subsidiary of Arch Mineral in exchange for voting equity securities
     of approximately equivalent voting power of Arch Mineral or such
     subsidiary.

     In addition, this Agreement shall terminate as to Ashland only but not as
to Arch Mineral or Carboex if at any time Ashland or its Permitted Transferees
shall cease to be the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 (a) under the
Exchange Act) of 10% or more of the outstanding Voting Stock.

     SECTION 6. Notices. Any notice or other communication hereunder shall be in
                -------                                                         
writing and shall be duly given (i) on the date of delivery if received in
person; (ii) on the third business day after dispatch if sent by documented
overnight international delivery service such as Federal Express; (iii) on the
date of transmission if sent by facsimile transmission, provided that a
confirmation copy thereof is sent no later than the business day following
transmission by documented overnight delivery service or certified mail, postage
prepaid, return receipt requested. Notices or other communications shall be
directed to the following addresses:

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
     (a)  Ashland Inc. P.O. Box 391
          Ashland, KY 41114
          Attention: General Counsel
          Fax: (606) 329-3559

     (b)  Carboex International, Ltd.
          c/o Carboex S.A.
          Calle Manuel Cortina
          No. 2, Madrid, 10, Spain
          Attention: Chairman
          Fax: 011-341-445-2407

     (c)  Arch Mineral Corporation
          Suite 300
          CityPlace One
          St. Louis, MO 63141
          Attention: General Counsel
          Fax: (314) 994-2734

     All such notices, except those received in person, shall be deemed received
on the date of receipt by the recipient thereof if received prior to 5 p.m. in
the place of receipt and such day is a business day in the place of receipt.
Otherwise, any such notice shall be deemed not to have been received until the
next succeeding business day in the place of receipt.

     Any of the parties hereto may, by notice given in accordance with this
Section 6, specify a new address for notices under this Agreement.

     SECTION 7. Miscellaneous. (a) Remedies: Jurisdiction. Each of the parties
                -------------      ----------------------                     
hereto acknowledge and agree that in the event of any breach of this Agreement,
the nonbreaching party or parties would be irreparably harmed and could not be
made whole by monetary damages. It is accordingly agreed that the parties hereto
will waive the defense in any action for specific performance that a remedy at
law would be adequate and that the parties hereto, in addition to any other
remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity, shall be entitled to
compel specific performance of this Agreement. With respect to any suit, action
or proceeding relating to this Agreement ("Proceedings"), each party
irrevocably:

     (i) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of
Delaware and the United States District Court for the District of Delaware;

     (ii) waives any objection which it may have at any time to the laying of
venue of any Proceedings brought in any such court, waives any claim that such
Proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient forum and further waives the
right to object, with respect to such Proceedings, that such court does not have
jurisdiction over such party;

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
     (iii)   consents and agrees that the service of any and all legal
process, summons, notices and documents which may be served in any Proceedings
arising hereunder may be made by complying with the provisions set forth in
Section 6 hereof, with such service to be effective upon receipt;

     (iv)    waives posting of a bond or other security; and

     (v)     waives any right it may have to a trial by jury.

     (b)     Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of
             --------                                                       
reference only and shall not control or affect the meaning or construction of
any provision hereof.

     (c)     Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement
             ----------------
and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter
contained herein and there are no restrictions, promises, representations,
warranties, covenants or undertakings with respect to the subject matter hereof
other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein or therein. This
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings between the parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof.

     (d)     Applicable Law. The validity of this Agreement, or any part hereof,
             --------------
and the interpretation of all provisions hereof, shall be governed by the laws
of the State of Delaware.

     (e)     Severability. The invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of any
             ------------
provision of this Agreement in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity,
legality or enforceability of the remainder of this Agreement in such
jurisdiction or the validity, legality or enforceability of this Agreement or
such provision in any other jurisdiction, it being intended that all rights and
obligations of the parties hereunder shall be enforceable to the fullest extent
permitted by law.

     (f)     Agreement To Be Bound. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
             ---------------------                                          
contained in this Agreement, no shares of Voting Stock may be sold, transferred
or otherwise disposed of to any Permitted Transferee unless such Permitted
Transferee, prior to such sale, transfer or other disposition, agrees in
writing, in form and substance satisfactory to Arch Mineral, to be bound by the
terms of this Agreement to the same extent and in the same manner as the
transferor of such shares, a copy of which writing shall be maintained on file
with the Secretary of Arch Mineral and shall include the address of such
Permitted Transferee to which notices hereunder shall be sent.

     (g)     Successors; Assigns; Transferees. The provisions of this Agreement
             ----------------------------------                                
shall be binding upon and accrue to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and Permitted Transferees. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
neither this

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
Agreement nor any right, remedy, obligation or liability arising hereunder or by
reason hereof shall be assignable (including by pledge or other security
interest) by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of
Ashland and its Permitted Transferees and Carboex and its Permitted Transferees;
provided. however, that Ashland or Carboex may assign its or their rights,
- -------------------                                                       
remedies, obligations and liabilities in connection with a transfer of its or
their shares of Voting Stock to a Permitted Transferee in accordance with the
terms of this Agreement.

     (h)     Amendments; Waivers. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or
             -------------------                                                
supplemented and no waivers of or consents to departures from the provisions
hereof may be given unless consented to in writing by each of the parties
hereto.

     (i)     Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
             ------------                                               
counterparts, each of which, when so executed, shall be deemed to be an
original, and such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
instrument.

     (j)     Limited Liability. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
             -----------------                                             
Agreement, none of the present or future directors, officers, or stockholders of
the parties hereto shall have any personal liability for performance of any
obligation of such party under this Agreement.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned parties have executed this Agreement,
all as of the day and year above written.

                                    ASHLAND INC.,                              
                                                                               
                                    By:  /s/ Thomas L. Feazell                 
                                    Name:    Thomas L. Feazell                 
                                    Title:   Senior Vice President,            
                                             General Counsel and Secretary     
                                                                               
                                    CARBOEX INTERNATIONAL, LTD.,               
                                                                               
                                    By:  /s/ Juan A. Ferrando                  
                                    Name:    Juan A. Ferrando                  
                                    Title:   Director                          
                                                                               
                                    ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION                   
                                                                               
                                    By:  /s/ Jeffry N. Quinn                   
                                    Name:    Jeffry N. Quinn                   
                                    Title:   Senior Vice President             

                                       9

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     Exhibit 4.2


     REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, dated as of April 4, 1997 ("Agreement"), 
                                                                ---------
among ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), ASHLAND
                                                             -------
 INC., a Kentucky corporation ("AI"), CARBOEX INTERNATIONAL, LTD., a Bahamian
                                --                                           
corporation, ("Carboex"), the entities listed on Schedule I hereto
               -------                                            
(individually, a "Hunt Entity," and collectively, the "Hunt Entities"), and the
                  -----------                          ---- --------           
entities listed on Schedule II hereto (individually, a "Hunt Piggybacker", and
                                                        ----------------      
collectively, the "Hunt Piggybackers", (AI, Carboex, each Hunt Entity and each
                   ---- ------------                                          
Hunt Piggybacker being hereafter referred to as a "Shareholder" and AI, Carboex,
                                                   -----------                  
the Hunt Entities and the Hunt Piggybackers being hereafter referred to
collectively as the "Shareholders").
                     ------------   

     WHEREAS, AI, Carboex, the Hunt Entities and the Hunt Piggybackers each will
own shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $.01 ("Company Common
                                                           --------------
Stock") as of the Effective Date; and

     WHEREAS, on the Effective Date, the Shareholders (other than the Hunt
Piggybackers) will be subject to restrictions on the disposition of shares of
Company Common Stock under the Securities Act (as hereafter defined); and

     WHEREAS, the Company has determined that it would be in its best interests
and in the best interest of its public stockholders to provide AI, Carboex and
the Hunt Entities with the means to effect the public sale of registered shares
of the Company Common Stock on the terms and subject to the conditions provided
herein in order to increase the number of shares of Company Common Stock freely
tradeable on the public market, the number of holders
<PAGE>
 
thereof, thereby the market liquidity of the Company Common Stock; and

     WHEREAS, the Company has determined that it would be in its best interests
and the best interest of the public stockholders to provide each of the Hunt
Piggybackers registration rights in underwritten offerings with the other
Shareholders;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto
agree effective as of the Effective Date as follows:

                                   ARTICLE I

                              CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
                              -------------------

     SECTION 1.01.  Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the
                    ---------------------                                
following capitalized terms shall have the following respective meanings:

     "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, any other
      ---------                                                             
Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such specified
Person.

     "Effective Date" shall mean the date the business combination between
      --------------                                                      
Ashland Coal, Inc. ("Ashland Coal") and the Company described in that certain
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 4, 1997, among the Company,
Ashland Coal, and AMC Merger Corporation becomes effective and the conversion of
Ashland Coal securities to Company Common Stock pursuant thereto has occurred.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
      ------------                                                             
or any similar federal statute then in effect, and a reference to a particular
section thereof shall be deemed to include a reference to the comparable
section, if any, of any such similar federal statute.

     "Holder" shall mean (i) each Shareholder or any Affiliate of such
      ------                                                          
Shareholder to whom all the Registrable Securities owned by and all unexercised
rights under this Agreement then held by such Shareholder have been transferred
or assigned; provided that any such Affiliate shall only accede to the
             --------                                                 
registration rights of the transferring or assigning Shareholder hereunder which
have not been exercised by such Shareholder on or prior to the date of such
assignment or transfer, or (ii) any transferee or assignee to whom all the
Registrable Securities owned by and all unexercised rights under this Agreement
held by such Shareholder at the time of the transfer or assignment (the
"Transfer Date") are transferred or assigned (any such Affiliate and other
- --------------                                                            
transferees and assignees referred to in (i) and (ii) being hereafter referred
to as a "Permitted Transferee"), provided that such Permitted Transferee shall
         --------------------    --------                                     
only accede to the registration rights of the transferor hereunder which have
not been exercised by such transferor on or prior to the Transfer Date, provided
                                                                        --------
further that the registration rights, if any, obtained by such Permitted
- -------                                                                 
Transferee shall be subject to termination pursuant to this Agreement,
including, without limitation and as applicable, Sections 2.02, 3.02 and 10.02.
"Holder" shall not include any Shareholder who has
 ------                                           

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
exercised all its registration rights hereunder, a Permitted Transferee who has
exercised all its registration rights hereunder, or a Permitted Transferee who
never obtained any registration rights hereunder.

     "Hunt Group" shall mean one or more of the Hunt Entities and their
      ----------                                                       
Permitted Transferees owning, at the time of determination, more than 50% of all
the Registrable Shares then held by all the Hunt Entities and all Permitted
Transferees of the Hunt Entities.

     "Market Value" shall mean as of any day the closing price of the Company
      ------------                                                           
Common Stock on the NYSE (or if such day shall not be a day when Company Common
Stock is eligible for trading the last day when a closing price was reported).

     "Person" shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture,
      ------                                                        
corporation, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any department
or agency thereof.

     "Prospectus" means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement,
      ----------                                                              
as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement with respect to the
terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by
such Registration Statement and all other amendments or supplements to the
Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated,
or deemed to be incorporated, by reference in such Prospectus.

     "Registrable Securities" shall mean any Company Common Stock held by the
      ----------------------                                                 
Shareholders on the Effective Date or securities which may be issued or
distributed in respect thereof by way of stock dividend or stock split or other
distribution, recapitalization or

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
reclassification.  As to any particular Registrable Securities, such securities
shall cease to be Registrable Securities when (i) a Registration Statement with
respect to the sale of such securities shall have become effective under the
Securities Act and Section 2.03, such securities have not been withdrawn from
registration under Section 5.04, and:

     (A)  the Selling Holder of such securities shall have disposed of such
          securities in accordance with the plan of distribution set forth in
          such Registration Statement; or

     (B)  after 10 days in the case of an underwritten offering or 120 days in
          the case of an offering on a delayed or continuous basis, the Selling
          Holder of such securities has sold fewer than 40% of the securities so
          registered by such Selling Holder for any reason (other than the
          occurrence of a contingency described in Section 2.03(i) or (ii) or
          withdrawal of securities under Section 5.04), provided in such case
                                                        --------
          only the Registrable Securities disposed of plus the number of
          Registrable Securities equal to the difference between the securities
          sold by such Selling Holder pursuant to such Registration Statement
          and 40% of the amount of Registrable Securities originally registered
          on such Registration Statement by such Selling Holder shall cease to
          be Registrable Securities,

(ii) such securities shall have been sold to the public pursuant to any
statutory or regulatory exemption from registration under the

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
Securities Act or when the number of shares of Registrable Securities sought to
be registered by any Holder (other than by a Hunt Piggybacker) pursuant to this
Agreement shall be equal to or less than the number of Registrable Securities
eligible for resale by such Holder pursuant to any statutory or regulatory
exemption from registration under the Securities Act during the six months next
following the date the subject registration is first sought by any Holder
(assuming the average weekly trading volume for purposes of any such exemption
shall be the same as the average weekly trading volume in the four weeks most
recently completed prior to such date), (iii) such securities shall have been
otherwise transferred to a Permitted Transferee, new certificates for them not
bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by the
Company and subsequent disposition of them shall not be subject to registration
or qualification of them under the Securities Act or any state securities or
blue sky law then in force, or (iv) such securities shall have ceased to be
outstanding.

     "Registration Expenses" means any and all out-of-pocket expenses  of the
      ---------------------                                                  
Company incurred at the request of or with the concurrence of the Company
incident to performance of or compliance with this Agreement, including, without
limitation, (i) all SEC and stock exchange or National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses of
complying with state securities or blue sky laws (including fees and
disbursements of counsel for the underwriters in connection with blue sky
qualifications of the Registrable Securities and

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
determination of the eligibility of the Registrable Securities for investment
under the laws of such jurisdiction as the managing underwriters or Holders of
the Registrable Securities being registered may indicate), (iii) all printing,
messenger and delivery expenses, (iv) all fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on any securities
exchange pursuant to Section 5.01(o), (v) the fees and disbursements of outside
counsel for the Company and of its independent public accountants, including the
expenses  of any special audits and/or "cold comfort" letters required by or
incident to such performance and compliance, (vi) any fees and disbursements of
underwriters customarily paid by the issuer or seller of securities, and (vii)
the reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained in connection
with the Registration Statement.

     "Registration Statement" means any registration statement under the
      ----------------------                                            
Securities Act which covers any Registrable Securities filed by the Company
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement or otherwise, including the
Prospectus contained therein, any amendments and supplements to such
Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, and all exhibits
and all material incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference in
such Registration Statement.

     "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any
      --------------                                                           
similar federal statute then in effect, and a reference to a particular section
thereof shall be deemed to

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
include a reference to the comparable section, if any, of any such similar
federal statute.

     "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other
      ---                                                                
federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

     "Selling Holder" shall mean any Holder of Registrable Securities being
      --------------                                                       
registered pursuant to this Agreement in connection with a Registration
Statement, including any Holder participating in a Hunt Group.

                                   ARTICLE II

                              DEMAND REGISTRATION
                              -------------------

     SECTION 2.01. Demands for Registration. (a) To exercise its demand
                   ------------------------                            
registration rights under Section 2.02, a Holder or, in the case of the exercise
of rights hereunder by any Holder that is a Hunt Entity or a Permitted
Transferee of a Hunt Entity, the Hunt Group, shall give written notice (a
"Demand") requesting that the Company effect the registration under the
- -------                                                                
Securities Act of all or part of the Registrable Securities held by it in an
amount not less than the greater of $10,000,000 in Market Value of the
Registrable Securities as of the day of the request or 2% of the total issued
and outstanding shares of Common Stock on such date (a "Demand Registration"),
                                                        -------------------   
which demand shall specify the amount of Registrable Securities to be
registered, the computation of shares eligible for exempt public resale pursuant
to subsection (ii) of the Registrable Securities definition in Section 1.01 and
intended method or methods of disposition of such Registrable Securities,

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
which disposition shall be for cash and may be by means of either an
underwritten offering or, after the Company is eligible to use an abbreviated
Registration Statement on Form S-3 or any successor Form, offering on a delayed
or continuous basis pursuant to or in reliance on Rule 415 of the Securities
Act, as amended from time to time after the execution date of this Agreement or
any similar or successor provision under the Securities Act.  Upon receipt of
such Demand, the Company will use its best efforts to effect the registration
under the Securities Act of such Registrable Securities for disposition in
accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition stated in such
Demand, provided that:

     (i)  if the Company shall have previously effected a registration with
          respect to Registrable Securities pursuant to this Article II or
          Article III, the Company shall not be required to commence using its
          best efforts to effect a registration pursuant to this Article II
          until a period of 30 days shall have elapsed from the termination of
          the most recent such previous registration;

     (ii) if, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, a registration at the
          time and on the terms requested would adversely affect any securities
          offering by the Company or merger, acquisition, disposition or other
          material transaction involving the Company or any subsidiary of the
          Company that had been formally proposed by the Company prior to the
          Company's receipt of the Demand, the

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
          Company shall not be required to commence using its best efforts to
          effect a registration pursuant to this Section 2.01 until the later of
          (A) 10 days after the completion or abandonment of such securities
          offering and related distribution or merger, acquisition, disposition
          or other material transaction involving the Company or any subsidiary
          of the Company and (B) the termination of any "black out", hold-out or
          lock-up period or the like, if any, required by any underwriters in
          connection with such securities offering or merger, acquisition,
          disposition or other material transaction involving the Company or any
          subsidiary of the Company; provided, however, that such delay shall 
                                     ----------------- 
          not exceed 120 days; and provided further that the Holder seeking 
                               --------------------         
          registration will not unreasonably withhold its consent to a
          request by the Company to extend such period; and provided further 
                                                        --------------------
          that the Company may not invoke against any Holder the suspension of
          commencement of best efforts to effect a Demand Registration provided
          for in this subparagraph (ii) by reason of a securities offering more
          than two times in any 12-month period; and

     (iii)if, while a Demand is pending pursuant to this Article   II, the 
          Company determines in its reasonable judgment that the filing of a
          Registration Statement would require the disclosure of material
          information which the Company has a bona fide business purpose for
          preserving as

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
          confidential or that the Company would be unable to comply with SEC
          requirements, the Company shall not be required to commence using its
          best efforts to effect a registration pursuant to this Article II
          until the earlier of (A) 10 days after the date upon which such
          material information is disclosed to the public or ceases to be
          material or (B) 120 days after the Company makes such good faith
          determination; provided, however, that the Holder requesting
                         -----------------                            
          registration will not unreasonably withhold its consent to a request
          by the Company to extend such period.

Within 10 days after receipt of a Demand for which a registration will be
effected, the Company shall serve written notice (the "Notice") of such Demand
                                                       ------                 
to all other Holders entitled to participate therein and shall, subject to the
provisions of Section 2.02 hereof, as expeditiously as possible use its best
efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable
Securities (A) which the Company has been so requested to register by the
initiating Holder or Holders referred to in the preceding sentence and (B) all
other Registrable Securities with respect to which the Company received written
request by another Holder or Holders for inclusion therein within 15 days after
Notice to the applicable Holder or Holders, the registration by such other
Holder or Holders being considered "Demand Piggybacking" and each such Holder
being deemed a "Demand Piggybacker".  A Demand Piggybacker's method of
disposition shall be the same method specified by the

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
initiating Holder of the Demand.  In the event any Holder who has received the
Company's Notice elects not to participate as a Demand Piggybacker in an
underwritten offering, such Holder may not exercise its Demand Registration
rights until the underwritten offering described in the Notice is completed.

     (b) Except where suspension of effectiveness is required when making an
amendment to a Registration Statement, the Company agrees to use its best
efforts to keep such Demand Registration continuously effective for the lesser
of 120 days following the date on which such Registration Statement pursuant to
a Demand Registration is declared effective (plus the number of days of any
discontinuance described in Section 5.03) or the period ending on the completion
of the distribution.

     SECTION 2.02.  Number of Demand Registrations, Duration of Right. (a)
                    -------------------------------------------------     
Holders are entitled to Demand Registration as follows:

    (i)  Carboex and its Permitted Transferees together shall be entitled to one
         (1) Demand Registration which subsequently becomes effective under the
         Securities Act and Section 2.03;

    (ii) the Hunt Entities and Permitted Transferees of the Hunt Entities
         together and only when acting as a Hunt Group shall be entitled to two
         Demand Registrations, each of which subsequently becomes effective
         under the Securities Act and Section 2.03 (it being understood and
         acknowledged by each Hunt Entity that two Demand Registrations by any
         Hunt Group, however comprised, shall

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
         constitute the sole entitlement of the Hunt Entities and their
         Permitted Transferees to Demand Registration, notwithstanding that any
         particular Hunt Entity or any particular Permitted Transferee of a Hunt
         Entity has not participated in a Hunt Group of Selling Holders); and

   (iii) AI and its Permitted Transferees shall be entitled to three Demand
         Registrations, each of which subsequently becomes effective under the
         Securities Act and Section 2.03;

provided, however, that any Demand Registration right obtained by a Permitted
- -----------------                                                            
Transferee, may only be exercised not later than five (5) years after the
Transfer Date; and provided further, that the right to effect a Demand
               --------------------                                   
Registration or incidental registration after withdrawal of the securities under
Section 5.04 shall be governed by that section.  Carboex and its Permitted
Transferees together shall be entitled to one (1) piggyback registration upon
each Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2.01; the Hunt Entities and
Permitted Transferees of a Hunt Entity together and only when acting as a Hunt
Group shall be entitled to one (1) piggyback registration upon each Demand
Registration pursuant to Section 2.01 (it being understood and acknowledged by
each Hunt Entity that one piggyback registration by any Hunt Group, however
comprised, shall constitute the sole entitlement of the Hunt Entities and their
Permitted Transferees to piggyback registration with respect to any Demand
Registration, notwithstanding that any particular Hunt Entity or any particular
Permitted Transferee of a Hunt Entity has not participated in a Hunt Group of
Selling

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
Holders); and AI and its Permitted Transferees together shall be entitled to one
(1) piggyback registration upon each Demand Registration pursuant to Section
2.01; provided, however, that a piggyback registration upon a Demand
      -----------------                                             
Registration pursuant to Section 2.01 obtained by a Permitted Transferee, if
any, may only be exercised not later than five (5) years after the Transfer
Date.

     (b) The registration within the meaning of Section 2.03 of Registrable
Securities by a Holder for sale alone or together with another Holder, shall
constitute the use of each such Holder's Demand Registration unless such
registration is a Demand Piggybacking.

     (c) The Registrable Shares of the Hunt Piggybackers and Permitted
Transferees of the Hunt Piggybackers shall not be considered when determining
whether the Hunt Entities are acting as a Hunt Group under this Section, it
being understood that a Hunt Piggybacker or any group of Hunt Piggybackers
(except a Hunt Piggybacker that is a Permitted Transferee of a Hunt Entity
acting in a Hunt Group, Carboex or AI) or their respective Permitted Transferees
(other than a Permitted Transferee of a Hunt Piggybacker who is a Hunt Entity,
Carboex or AI) shall not have any right to a Demand Registration, or to
piggyback on a Demand Registration except pursuant to Section 2.04.

     SECTION 2.03.  Effective Registration Statement.  A registration requested
                    --------------------------------                           
pursuant to this Article II and pursuant to Article III shall be deemed to have
been effected when it has been declared effective by the SEC; provided, however,
                                                              ----------------- 
such registration

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
statement shall be deemed not to have been effected with respect to any
Registrable Securities not already sold if (i) within 90 days after it has
become effective, the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
registration is interfered with by any stop order, injunction, or other order or
requirement of the SEC or any other governmental agency or court (unless such
stop order, injunction, or other order or requirement arises as a result of an
act or omission of a Selling Holder or the Selling Holders of Registrable
Securities, in which case it shall be deemed to have been effected), or (ii) (A)
in an underwritten Article II or Article III registration, there has occurred
any material adverse change in the financial markets which has been invoked by
the underwriters to terminate the underwriting agreement with respect to the
Registrable Securities under a "market out" or other similar condition to the
underwriters' obligation to close under such underwriting agreement, or (B) in
an Article II or Article III registration which is not an underwritten offering,
there has occurred, in the opinion of the selling broker acting for the Selling
Holders under the Registration Statement, which selling broker shall have been
previously approved by the Company, any material adverse change in the financial
markets within 90 days of the effective date of the offering under the
Securities Act which makes impracticable the sale of the Registrable Securities.

     SECTION 2.04.  Rights of the Hunt Piggybackers, the Company or
                    -----------------------------------------------
Securityholders to Piggyback on Demand Registrations.  Subject to the priority
- ----------------------------------------------------                          
provisions of Section 2.05, the Hunt Piggybackers and

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
their Permitted Transferees shall have the right to include their Registrable
Securities, and the Company and any of its other securityholders (other than
Holders of Registrable Securities in such capacity), shall have the right to
include shares of Company Common Stock or any other Company securities that are
of the same class or type as any Registrable Securities, in any Demand
Registration pursuant to this Article II.  The Hunt Piggybackers, the Company's,
and such securityholder's method of disposition shall be the same method
specified by the initiating Holder or, in the case of the exercise of rights
hereunder by any Holder that is a Hunt Entity, by a representative of the Hunt
Group with whom the Holder is participating, in the Demand.  The right of the
Hunt Piggybackers and any other securityholder of the Company to registration in
connection with a Demand Registration under this Section 2.04 shall terminate at
such time as the registration rights of AI, Carboex and each Hunt Entity under
this Article II shall terminate (including by agreement of AI, Carboex and the
Hunt Entities).

     SECTION 2.05. Priority in Demand Registrations. In a Registration Statement
                   --------------------------------                             
pursuant to Article II initiated by any Holder or Holders other than a Hunt
Group, if the managing underwriters of an underwritten offering or the selling
broker in an offering on a delayed or continuous basis inform the Holders that
the total number of Registrable Securities which the Holders intend to include
in such offering is such as to materially and adversely affect the success of
such offering, then such offering

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
shall include (i) first, 100% of the Registrable Securities the initiating
Holder or Holders propose to sell, (ii) second, the number of Registrable
Securities requested by a Demand Piggybacker or Demand Piggybackers to be
included in such registration which, in the good faith judgment of such managing
underwriter or underwriters or selling broker, as the case may be, can be sold
and not materially and adversely affect the success of the offering, allocated
pro rata among all requesting Demand Piggybackers on the basis of the relative
number of Registrable Securities sought to be registered by each such Demand
Piggybacker, and (iii)

     (a) in the case of an underwritten offering only, third, the number of
Registrable Securities requested by a Hunt Piggybacker or Hunt Piggybackers to
be included in such registration which, in the good faith judgment of such
managing underwriter or underwriters can be sold and not materially and
adversely affect the success of the offering, allocated pro rata among all
requesting Hunt Piggybackers on the basis of the relative number of Registrable
Securities sought to be registered by each such Hunt Piggybacker; and fourth,
the number of securities of the Company or its securityholders (other than the
Shareholders) allocated among them pursuant to any allocation method agreed
among them; or

     (b) in the case of a nonunderwritten offering only, third, the number of
Registrable Securities requested by a Hunt Piggybacker and the number of
securities of the Company or its securityholders (other than the Shareholders)
allocated among them

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
pursuant to any allocation method agreed among them with respect to all shares
sought to be registered by them.

     In a Registration Statement pursuant to Article II initiated by a Hunt
Group that is not an underwritten offering, if the selling broker in an offering
on a delayed or continuous basis informs the Holders that the total number of
Registrable Securities which the Holders intend to include in such offering is
such as to materially and adversely affect the success of such offering, then
such offering shall include (i) first, 100% of the Registrable Securities the
initiating Hunt Group proposes to sell, (ii) second, the number of Registrable
Securities requested by any Demand Piggybackers to be included in such
registration which, in the good faith judgment of such managing underwriter or
underwriters or selling broker, as the case may be, can be sold and not
materially and adversely affect the success of the offering, allocated pro rata
among all requesting Demand Piggybackers on the basis of the relative number of
Registrable Securities sought to be registered by each such Demand Piggybacker,
and (iii) third, securities of the Company or securityholders (other than the
Demand Piggybackers), including the Registrable Securities of the Hunt
Piggybackers, pursuant to any allocation method agreed among them with respect
to all shares sought to be registered by the Company or such other
securityholders and any Hunt Piggybackers.

     In a Registration Statement pursuant to Article II initiated by a Hunt
Group that is an underwritten offering, if the managing underwriter informs the
Holders that the total number of

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
Registrable Securities which the Holders intend to include in such offering is
such as to materially and adversely affect the success of such offering, then
such offering shall include (i) first, 100% of the Registrable Securities of the
initiating Hunt Group proposes to sell, (ii) second, the number of Registrable
Securities requested by any Demand Piggybackers and any Hunt Piggybackers to be
included in such registration which, in the good faith judgment of such managing
underwriter or underwriters can be sold and not materially and adversely affect
the success of the offering, allocated pro rata among all requesting Demand
Piggybackers and Hunt Piggybackers on the basis of the relative number of
Registrable Securities sought to be registered by each such Demand Piggybacker
and Hunt Piggybacker and (iii) third, the number of securities of the Company or
its securityholders (other than the Shareholders) allocated among them pursuant
to any allocation method agreed among them.

                                  ARTICLE III

                            INCIDENTAL REGISTRATION
                            -----------------------

     SECTION 3.01. Right to Include Registrable Securities. If, during the
                   ---------------------------------------                
period commencing on and after the Effective Date, the Company proposes to file
a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering by
the Company, or by any other Person having the right to require the Company to
file such registration statement, of Company Common Stock (other than a
registration statement on Form S-4 or S-8 or an S-3 used for a dividend
reinvestment plan, or any successor forms), then in the

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
case of an underwritten offering, the Company shall give written notice of each
such proposed filing to the Holders and, in the case of a nonunderwritten
offering, the Company shall give written notice of each such proposed filing to
the Holders other than the Hunt Piggybackers, in each case at least 20 days
before the anticipated filing date, and such notice shall offer such
participating Holders or, in the case of the exercise of rights hereunder by any
Holder that is a Hunt Entity, a Hunt Group, the opportunity to register such
number of Registrable Securities as each such Holder or, in the case of the
exercise of rights hereunder by any Holder that is a Hunt Entity, a
representative of the Hunt Group with whom the Holder is participating, may
request using the method of disposition proposed by the Company.  Upon the
written request of any participating Holder or, in the case of the exercise of
rights hereunder by any Holder that is a Hunt Entity, a representative of the
Hunt Group with whom the Holder is participating (such participating Holder and
any other Person with registration rights exercisable with respect to the
subject registration being deemed "Incidental Piggybackers"), made within 15
days after receipt of any such notice (which request shall specify the
Registrable Securities intended to be sold), the Company shall use its best
efforts to effect the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable
Securities which the Company has been so requested to register. Subject to the
managing underwriter's or selling broker's, as the case may be, Section 3.03
good faith judgment regarding the number of Registrable Securities

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
to be registered, the Company shall use its best efforts to cause the managing
underwriters of any proposed underwritten offering or the selling broker in any
proposed offering on a delayed or continuous offering, to include such
Registrable Securities requested by Holders of its Registrable Securities
pursuant to this Section in such offering on the same terms and conditions as
any similar securities of the Company or other Person included therein.

    SECTION 3.02. Number of Incidental Registrations, Duration of Right.
                  ----------------------------------------------------- 
Carboex and its Permitted Transferees together shall be entitled to two (2)
incidental registrations pursuant to this Article III which subsequently become
effective under the Securities Act and Section 2.03; the Hunt Entities and
Permitted Transferees of the Hunt Entities together and only when acting in a
Hunt Group shall be entitled to two (2) incidental registrations pursuant to
this Article III which subsequently become effective under the Securities Act
and Section 2.03 (it being understood and acknowledged by each Hunt Entity that
two incidental registrations by any Hunt Group, however comprised, shall
constitute the sole entitlement of the Hunt Entities and their Permitted
Transferees to incidental registration, notwithstanding that any particular Hunt
Entity or any particular Permitted Transferee of a Hunt Entity has not
participated in a Hunt Group of Selling Holders); AI and its Permitted
Transferees together shall be entitled to two (2) incidental registrations
pursuant to this Article III which subsequently become effective under the
Securities Act and Section 2.03; and, in the case of underwritten offerings only
and until

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
such time as the registration rights of AI, Carboex and each Hunt Entity under
this Article III shall terminate (including by agreement of AI, Carboex, and the
Hunt Entities), each Hunt Piggybacker and its Permitted Transferee together
shall be entitled to two (2) incidental registrations pursuant to this Article
III which subsequently become effective under the Securities Act and Section
2.03, provided, however, that an incidental registration right obtained by a
      -----------------                                                     
Permitted Transferee, if any, may only be exercised not later than 10 years
after the Transfer Date.

    SECTION 3.03. Priority in Incidental Registration. If the managing
                  -----------------------------------                 
underwriters of an underwritten offering or the selling broker in an offering on
a delayed or continuous basis inform the Incidental Piggybacker or Incidental
Piggybackers that the total number of Registrable Securities or other securities
which the Incidental Piggybacker or Incidental Piggybackers intend to include in
such offering is such as to materially and adversely affect the success of such
offering, then such offering shall include (i) first, 100% of the securities the
Company or other Person initiating such registration proposes to sell, (ii)
second, the number of Registrable Securities or other securities requested by
AI, Carboex or the Hunt Group to be included in such registration which, in the
good faith judgment of such managing underwriter or underwriters or selling
broker, as the case may be, can be sold and not materially and adversely affect
the success of the offering, allocated pro rata among AI, Carboex or the Hunt
Group on the basis of the relative number of Registrable Securities or other

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
securities then sought to be registered by each of AI, Carboex and the Hunt
Group, and (iii) third, in the case of an underwritten offering only, the number
of Registrable Securities or other Securities requested by Hunt Piggybacker or
Hunt Piggybackers to be included in such registration which, in the good faith
judgment of the managing underwriter or underwriters, can be sold and not
materially and adversely affect the success of the offering, allocated pro rata
among all requesting Hunt Piggybackers on the basis of the relative number of
Registrable Securities or other Securities then sought to be registered by each
such Hunt Piggybacker.

                                   ARTICLE IV

                      HOLD-BACK AND COMPLIANCE AGREEMENTS
                      -----------------------------------

    SECTION 4.01. Restriction on Sales by Holders. Each Holder agrees not to
                  -------------------------------                           
effect any public sale or distribution of Registrable Securities, including a
public sale or distribution pursuant to any statutory or regulatory exemption
from registration under the Securities Act, (i) if prohibited by applicable law,
or otherwise (ii) during the 14 days prior to, and during the 90 day period
beginning on, the effective date of any Registration Statement made effective
pursuant to Article II or III hereof (except as part of such Registration
Statement), in the case of (ii), if and to the extent requested by the Company
in the case of a non-underwritten public offering in which the Company has
registered securities other than Registrable Securities or if and to the extent
requested

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
by the Company or the managing underwriters in the case of an underwritten
public offering.

    SECTION 4.02. Restriction on Sales by the Company or Others. The Company
                  ---------------------------------------------             
agrees (i) not to effect any public sale or distribution of any securities
similar to the Registrable Securities (other than similar securities registered
on Form S-4 or S-8 or an S-3 used for a dividend reinvestment plan, or any
successor form) or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for such securities, during the 14 days prior to, and during the 90
day period beginning on, the effective date of any Registration Statement made
effective pursuant to Article II hereof.

    SECTION 4.03.  Restriction on Purchases by the Holders.  Each of the
                   ---------------------------------------              
Selling Holders agrees that it will observe the provisions of SEC Regulation M,
including Rule 102 therein, regulating the timing of purchases of Company Common
Stock by Selling Holders and their "affiliated purchasers" (within the meaning
of SEC Regulation M) during any "distribution" (within the meaning of SEC
Regulation M) of Company Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE V

                            REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
                            -----------------------

    SECTION 5.01. In connection with the Company's Demand Registration
obligations pursuant to Article II hereof and in each case subject to the
limitations upon such obligations set forth in this Agreement, the Company shall
use its best efforts to effect such registrations to permit the sale of such
Registrable

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition
thereof permitted by this Agreement, and, pursuant thereto, the Company shall as
expeditiously as possible:

    (a)  prepare and file with the SEC, within the time period specified in
         Article II, the Registration Statement relating to the Demand
         Registration on any appropriate form under the Securities Act, which
         form shall be available for the disposition of the Registrable
         Securities by the Holders thereof in accordance with the intended
         method or methods of distribution thereof, which disposition shall be
         for cash, and use its best efforts to cause such Registration Statement
         to become effective; provided, however, that before filing a 
                              -----------------             
         Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements
         thereto, except for documents incorporated, or deemed to be
         incorporated, by reference after the initial filing of any Registration
         Statement, the Company shall furnish to the Selling Holders and to
         counsel designated by such Selling Holders (or, in the case of any
         registration by a Hunt Group, to a Hunt Entity and counsel designated
         by the Hunt Group) copies of all such documents proposed to be filed,
         which documents shall be subject to the review of such Selling Holders
         and their counsel (or, in the case of any registration by a Hunt Group,
         to a Hunt Entity and counsel designated by the Hunt Group), and the
         Company shall not file any Registration Statement, or

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
         amendment thereto or any Prospectus or any supplement thereto (except
         for documents incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference)
         to which the Selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, shall
         reasonably object in the light of the requirements of the Securities
         Act and any other applicable laws and regulations;

    (b)  prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and post-effective
         amendments to a Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such
         Registration Statement effective for the applicable period; cause the
         related Prospectus to be supplemented by any required Prospectus
         supplement, and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to Rule 424
         under the Securities Act; and comply with the provisions of the
         Securities Act applicable to the Company with respect to the
         disposition of all securities covered by such Registration Statement
         during the applicable period in accordance with the intended methods of
         disposition by the sellers thereof set forth in such Registration
         Statement or Prospectus;

    (c)  notify counsel for the Selling Holders (or, in the case of any
         registration by a Hunt Group, to a Hunt Entity and counsel designated
         by the Hunt Group) and the managing underwriters and selling broker, if
         any, and (if requested by any such Person) confirm such advice in
         writing, (1) when a Prospectus or any Prospectus supplement or
         amendment to a Prospectus has been filed,

                                       26
<PAGE>
 
         and, with respect to a Registration Statement or any post-effective
         amendment to a Registration Statement, when the same has become
         effective, (2) of any request by the SEC for amendments or supplements
         to a Registration Statement or related Prospectus or for additional
         information or any receipt of SEC comments, (3) of the issuance by the
         SEC of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration
         Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for any such purpose,
         (4) if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company
         made as contemplated by Section 5.01(1) cease to be true and correct,
         (5) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to
         the suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable
         Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
         threatening of any proceedings for such purpose, (6) of the happening
         of any event which requires the making of any changes in a Registration
         Statement or related Prospectus so that such documents shall not
         contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
         material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
         statements therein not misleading and (7) of the Company's reasonable
         determination that a post-effective amendment to a Registration
         Statement would be appropriate;

                                       27
<PAGE>
 
    (d)  make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order
         suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any
         order preventing or suspending the use of any Prospectus and, if any
         such order is issued, to obtain the withdrawal of any such order;

    (e)  if reasonably requested by the managing underwriters, selling broker or
         any Selling Holder (or, in the case of any registration by a Hunt
         Group, by a Hunt Entity designated by the Hunt Group) in connection
         with an offering: (i) incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-
         effective amendment such information as the requesting persons agree
         should be included therein, including, without limitation, information
         with respect to the number of Registrable Securities being sold to such
         underwriters, the purchase price being paid therefor by such
         underwriters and any other terms of the underwritten (or best efforts
         underwritten) offering of the Registrable Securities to be sold in such
         offering; (ii) make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement
         or post-effective amendment as soon as notified of the matters to be
         incorporated in such Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;
         and (iii) supplement or make amendments to any Registration Statement;

                                       28
<PAGE>
 
    (f)  furnish to each Selling Holder (or, in the case of any registration by
         a Hunt Group, to a Hunt Entity designated by the Hunt Group) and each
         managing underwriter or selling broker, as the case may be, without
         charge, at least one copy of the executed Registration Statement or
         Statements and any post-effective amendment thereto, including
         financial statements and schedules, all documents incorporated therein
         by reference and all exhibits (including those incorporated by
         reference);

    (g)  deliver to each Selling Holder and to such counsel as designated by the
         Selling Holder (or, in the case of any registration by a Hunt Group, to
         a Hunt Entity and counsel designated by the Hunt Group), and to the
         underwriters or selling broker, if any, without charge, as many copies
         of the Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each preliminary
         Prospectus) and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Persons may
         reasonably request, such delivery to evidence the Company's consent to
         the use of such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by
         each of the Selling Holders (or, in the case of any registration by a
         Hunt Group, by a Hunt Entity and Counsel designated by the Hunt Group)
         and the underwriters or selling broker, if any, in connection with the
         offering and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such
         Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;

                                       29
<PAGE>
 
    (h)  prior to any public offering of Registrable Securities, register or
         qualify or cooperate with the Selling Holders (or, in the case of any
         registration by a Hunt Group, with a Hunt Entity and Counsel designated
         by the Hunt Group), the underwriters or selling broker, if any, and
         their respective counsel in connection with the registration or
         qualification of such Registrable Securities for offer and sale under
         the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Selling
         Holder (or, in the case of any registration by a Hunt Group, as a Hunt
         Entity and Counsel designated by the Hunt Group) or underwriter or
         selling broker reasonably requests in writing; keep each such
         registration or qualification effective during the period such
         Registration Statement is required to be kept effective and do any and
         all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the
         disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities covered
         by the applicable Registration Statement; provided that the Company
         shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any
         jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action
         which would subject it to general service of process in any such
         jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

    (i)  cooperate with the Selling Holders (or, in the case of any registration
         by a Hunt Group, with a Hunt Entity

                                       30
<PAGE>
 
         designated by the Hunt Group) and the managing underwriters or selling
         broker, if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of
         certificates representing Registrable Securities to be sold and not
         bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such Registrable Securities
         to be in such denominations and registered in such names as the
         managing underwriters or selling broker or such Selling Holders (or, in
         the case of any registration by a Hunt Group, with a Hunt Entity
         designated by the Hunt Group) may reasonably request;

    (j)  use its best efforts to cause the Registrable Securities covered by the
         applicable Registration Statement to be registered with or approved by
         such other governmental agencies or authorities as may be necessary to
         enable the seller or sellers thereof or the underwriters or selling
         broker, if any, to consummate the disposition of such Registrable
         Securities;

    (k)  upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 5.01(c)(6),
         prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to the applicable
         Registration Statement or related Prospectus or any document
         incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document
         so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable
         Securities being sold thereunder, such Prospectus shall not contain an
         untrue statement of a

                                       31
<PAGE>
 
         material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
         statements therein not misleading;

    (l)  enter into customary agreements (including an underwriting agreement)
         and take all such other actions in connection therewith reasonably
         required in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such
         Registrable Securities and in such connection the Company shall deliver
         such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the
         managing underwriters or selling broker, if any, to evidence compliance
         with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement
         or other agreement entered into by the Company;

    (m)  subject to customary confidentiality restrictions and applicable law,
         make available for inspection by a representative of the Selling
         Holders (or, in the case of any registration by a Hunt Group, of the
         Hunt Entity designated by the Hunt Group), any underwriter or the
         selling broker participating in any disposition, and any attorney,
         accountant or other agent retained by such Selling Holders (or, in the
         case of any registration by a Hunt Group, by the Hunt Entity designated
         by the Hunt Group) or underwriter, all financial and other records,
         pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company reasonably
         and customarily subject to a due diligence review, and cause the
         Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all information

                                       32
<PAGE>
 
         reasonably requested by any such representative, underwriter, attorney,
         accountant or other agent in connection with such Demand Registration;

    (n)  otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and
         regulations of the SEC and, if required by the underwriters or
         applicable law, make generally available to its securityholders
         earnings statements satisfying the provisions of Section ll(a) of the
         Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, no later than
         90 days after the end of the 12-month periods (1) commencing at the end
         of any fiscal quarter in which Registrable Securities are sold to
         underwriters in a firm or best efforts underwriting offering and (2)
         beginning with the first day of the Company's first fiscal quarter next
         succeeding each sale of Registrable Securities after the effective date
         of a Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said 12-month
         periods; and

    (o)  use its best efforts to list such Registrable Securities on any
         national securities exchange on which Company Common Stock is then
         listed, if such Registrable Securities are not already so listed and if
         such listing is then permitted under the rules of such exchange, and to
         provide a transfer agent and registrar for such Registrable Securities
         not later than the effective date of such Registration Statement.

                                       33
<PAGE>
 
    SECTION 5.02. Information from Selling Holders. The Company may require
                  --------------------------------                         
each Selling Holder as to any Registration Statement being effected to furnish
to the Company such information regarding such Selling Holder and the
distribution of such securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably
request in writing. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Selling Holders shall furnish to the Company, or cause any underwriter or
selling broker selected by the Selling Holders to furnish to the Company, such
written representations as to the number of Registrable Securities held, offered
or sold by them from time to time pursuant to the Registration Statement and
such other information as the Company or its transfer agent may reasonably
require to monitor sales pursuant to the Registration Statement and effect
timely settlements of the sales.

    SECTION 5.03. Discontinuance of Dispositions. Each of the Selling Holders
                  ------------------------------                             
agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company or otherwise of the
happening of any event of the kind described in Section 5.01(c)(2), (3), (5),
(6) or (7) hereof, such Selling Holder shall forthwith discontinue disposition
of such Registrable Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement covering
such Registrable Securities until such Selling Holder's receipt of the copies of
the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5.01(k) hereof,
or until it (or in the case of any registration by a Hunt Group, the Hunt Entity
designated by the Hunt Group) is advised in writing by the Company that the use
of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and has received

                                       34
<PAGE>
 
copies of any additional or supplemental filings which are incorporated, or
deemed to be incorporated, by reference in such Prospectus, and, if so directed
by the Company, such Selling Holder shall deliver to the Company (at the
Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such
Selling Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such Registrable
Securities current at the time of receipt of such notice. In the event the
Company shall give any such notice, the 120 day time period mentioned in Section
2.01 shall be extended by the number of days during the time period from and
including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to Section 5.01(c)
hereof to and including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities
covered by such Registration Statement shall have received the copies of the
supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 5.01(k) hereof.

    SECTION 5.04. Sharing of Registration Expenses. If the Company, in the
                  --------------------------------                        
exercise of its reasonable judgment, objects to any change requested by a
Selling Holder or the Selling Holders or the underwriters, if any, to any
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto
(except documents incorporated, to be incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference) as provided for in this Article V, the Company shall not
be obligated to make any such change and the objecting Selling Holder or
objecting Selling Holders, as the case may be, may withdraw their Registrable
Securities from such registration. In such event and provided that such Selling
Holder

                                       35
<PAGE>
 
or Selling Holders acted reasonably and in good faith in requesting such change
and in withdrawing the Registrable Securities so withdrawn from such
registration, (i) (A) if the withdrawal shall occur prior to effectiveness or
within 90 days after the effective date of the Registration Statement under the
Securities Act, the Company and the objecting Selling Holder or objecting
Selling Holders (pro rata based on the number of shares withdrawn) shall share
equally all Registration Expenses (including the Company's counsel fees and
expenses) not otherwise payable by any nonobjecting Selling Holders under
Section 9.01 incurred in connection with such registration statement or
amendment thereto or prospectus or supplement thereto, and (B) such registration
shall not constitute a Demand Registration or an incidental registration in
accordance with Section 2.03, (ii) (A) if the withdrawal shall occur more than
90 days after the effective date of the Registration Statement under the
Securities Act, the objecting Selling Holder or objecting Selling Holders (pro
rata based on the number of shares withdrawn), as the case may be, shall pay all
Registration Expenses (including the Company's counsel fees and expenses) not
otherwise payable by any nonobjecting Selling Holder under Section 9.01 incurred
in connection with such Registration Statement or amendment thereto or
prospectus or supplement thereto, and (B) such registration shall constitute a
Demand Registration or incidental registration hereunder by the objecting
Selling Holder or each of the objecting Selling Holders.

                                       36
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE VI

                                INDEMNIFICATION
                                ---------------

    SECTION 6.01. Indemnification by the Company. The Company agrees to
                  ------------------------------                       
indemnify and hold harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, each Holder of
Registrable Securities, each Affiliate of such Holder, and each of their
respective officers, directors, employees and agents from and against all
losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses  (including reasonable counsel
fees and expenses) arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement or
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any
amendments or supplements thereto) or in any preliminary Prospectus or any
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a
Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not
misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
expenses arise out of or relate to any information furnished in writing to the
Company by such Holder expressly for use therein.

    SECTION 6.02. Indemnification by Selling Holders. (a) Each Selling Holder
                  ----------------------------------                         
agrees, severally but not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless, to the full
extent permitted by law, the Company, each Affiliate of the Company (other than
an indemnifying Selling Holder) its directors, its officers who sign any
Registration Statement, its other officers, employees and agents and each Person

                                       37
<PAGE>
 
who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) from and against any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and expenses  (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses)
arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Registration Statement or Prospectus (as amended
or supplemented if such Holder shall have furnished any amendments or
supplements thereto) or in any preliminary Prospectus or any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated or necessary to
make the statements therein (in the case of a Prospectus, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, to the extent, but
only to the extent, that such untrue statement or omission is contained in or
arises from any information or undertaking so furnished in writing by such
Holder to the Company expressly for inclusion in such Registration Statement or
Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary
Prospectus.

    (b) The Company shall be entitled to receive indemnities from underwriters,
selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry professionals
participating in the distribution to the same extent as provided in Section
6.02(a) herein with respect to information~so furnished in writing by such
Persons specifically for inclusion in any Registration Statement or Prospectus,
or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary Prospectus.

                                       38
<PAGE>
 
    SECTION 6.03.  Delivery of Prospectus. The indemnity provisions in Sections
                   ----------------------                                      
6.01 and 6.02 above are subject to the condition that, insofar as they relate to
any untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) or omission (or alleged
omission) made in a preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus but eliminated or
remedied in any amended Prospectus on file with the SEC at the time the
registration statement becomes effective or any amended prospectus filed with
the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) or 424(c) (the "Final Prospectus"), such
indemnity provisions shall not inure to the benefit of any Selling Holder if
such Selling Holder is not selling Registrable Securities through an
underwriter, if the Company has previously delivered copies of such Final
Prospectus to an underwriter or Selling Holder and if a copy of the Final
Prospectus was not furnished to the Person or entity asserting the loss,
liability, claim or damage at or prior to the time such action is required by
the Securities Act.

    SECTION 6.04. Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any Person entitled
                  --------------------------------------                     
to indemnification hereunder (the "indemnified party") shall (i) give prompt
                                   ----------- -----                        
notice to the Person against whom such indemnity is sought (the "indemnifying
                                                                 ------------
party") of any claim with respect to which such indemnification is sought and
- -----                                                                        
(ii) permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party; provided, however,
                                                          ----------------- 
that any indemnified party entitled to indemnification hereunder shall have the
right to employ separate counsel and to participate in the defense of such
claim, but the

                                       39
<PAGE>
 
fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified
party unless (a) the indemnifying party has agreed to pay such fees or expenses,
(b) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of such claim
and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party or (c) in
the reasonable judgment of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party,
based upon advice of their respective counsel, a conflict of interest may exist
between such indemnified party and the indemnifying party with respect to such
claims (in which case, if the indemnified party notifies the indemnifying party
in writing that such indemnified party elects to employ separate counsel at the
expense of the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the
right to assume the defense of such claim on behalf of such indemnified party).
If such defense is not assumed by the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party
shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its
consent (but such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld). No indemnifying
party shall consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which
does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or
plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect
to such claim or litigation. An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or
elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the
fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such
indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless, in the reasonable
judgment of any indemnified party, a conflict of

                                       40
<PAGE>
 
interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other of such
indemnified parties with respect to such claim, in which event the indemnifying
party shall be obligated to pay the fees and expenses  of such additional
counsel or counsels.

     SECTION 6.05. Contribution. (a) If the indemnification provided for in this
                   ------------                                                 
Article VI from the indemnifying party is unavailable to an indemnified party
hereunder in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
referred to therein, then the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of
the indemnifying party and indemnified parties in connection with the actions
which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such
indemnifying party and indemnified parties shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to
state a material fact, has been made by, or relates to information supplied by
or omitted to be supplied by, such indemnifying party and indemnified parties,
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such action. The amount paid or payable by a
party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses
referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to

                                       41
<PAGE>
 
the limitations set forth in Section 6.04, any legal or other fees or expenses
reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any investigation or
proceeding.
     (b) The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 6.05 were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account
the equitable considerations referred to in Section 6.05(a). No Person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section ll(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

                                  ARTICLE VII

                                RULE 144 and 145
                                ----------------

     SECTION 7.01. Rule 144 and 145.  The Company shall use its best efforts to
                   ----------------                                            
take such action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent
required from time to time during the term of this Agreement, to enable such
Holder to lawfully sell Registrable Securities publicly without registration
under the Securities Act, including  within the limitation of the regulatory
exemption provided by (a) Rules 144 and 145 under the Securities Act, as such
Rule may be amended from time to time, or (b) any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the SEC.  Each Holder agrees to provide the Company prior
written notice and such written information as the Company may reasonably
request within 10 days after receipt of such notice, including representations
by the Holder in respect of the Holder's holdings, offers and sales of

                                       42
<PAGE>
 
Company Common Stock and the Holder's compliance with the requirements of any
statutory or regulatory exemption from registration, prior to effecting any
public offer or sale of Registrable Securities without registration under the
Securities Act.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                     SELECTION OF UNDERWRITERS, COMPLIANCE
                     -------------------------------------

                               WITH REQUIREMENTS
                               -----------------

     SECTION 8.01. In any Demand Registration, the Holder or Holders requesting
the demand pursuant to Section 2.01(a) shall have the right to select the
investment banker or bankers and managers or selling broker, as the case may be,
to administer the offering; provided, however, that such investment bankers and
                            --------  -------                                  
managers or selling broker, as the case may be, must be reasonably satisfactory
to the Company and any Demand Piggybacker.

     SECTION 8.02. No Person may participate in any registration hereunder
unless such Person (a) agrees to sell such Person's securities on the basis
provided in any arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to
approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all questionnaires,
powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents
required under the terms of such arrangements.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                    EXPENSES
                                    --------

     SECTION 9.01. Registration Expenses. The Company shall have no obligation
                   ---------------------                                      
for the out-of-pocket expenses  of any Selling Holder in

                                       43
<PAGE>
 
connection with any registration undertaken pursuant to this Agreement. Except
as provided in Section 5.04 and by the next sentence, all Registration Expenses
incurred in connection with each Registration Statement pursuant to Article II
of this Agreement shall be paid pro rata by the Selling Holders thereunder on
the basis of the number of Shares sought to be registered by each such Selling
Holder. Except as provided in Section 5.04, all Registration Expenses incurred
in connection with one Registration Statement for each Holder making Demand
under Article II, and with each Registration Statement pursuant to Article III,
shall be paid by the Company or in the case of an Article III offering involving
a securityholder (other than a Selling Holder) initiating the registration, by
such securityholder.  In addition, a Demand or Incidental Piggybacker shall have
no obligation for any Registration Expenses where the Company or a
securityholder (other than a Selling Holder) is required to pay such expenses by
the foregoing provisions.  All underwriting discounts and commissions and
transfer taxes, if any, incurred in connection with any offering hereunder shall
be paid by the sellers thereunder based upon the ratio of the number of shares
of Company Common Stock to the total number of shares of Company Common Stock in
the offering.

                                   ARTICLE X

                               GENERAL PROVISIONS
                               ------------------

     SECTION 10.01. No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company shall not, on or
                    --------------------------                              
after the date of this Agreement, enter into any agreement with respect to its
securities which will prohibit or

                                       44
<PAGE>
 
materially hinder the Company's performance hereunder; provided, however, that
nothing in this provision shall be deemed to prohibit the Company's grant of or
any Person's (other than a Holder's) exercise of registration rights.

     SECTION 10.02. Duration of Registration Rights, Survival of Other
                    --------------------------------------------------
Obligations. In the case of a Holder who is a Shareholder, the registration
- -----------                                                                
rights provided for in Article II and Article III shall survive as long as the
Shareholder shall hold Registrable Securities. In the case of a Permitted
Transferee, the registration rights provided for by this Agreement obtained by
such Permitted Transferee, if any, shall terminate five years after the Transfer
Date, in the case of a registration pursuant to Article II, and ten years after
the Transfer Date, in the case of a registration pursuant to Article III.

     SECTION 10.03. Notices, Designation of Hunt Group Representative.  All
                    -------------------------------------------------      
notices and other communications given or made pursuant hereto shall be in
writing (including telecopier or facsimile or similar writing) and shall be
deemed to have been duly given or made as of the date (a) delivered (if
delivered personally), (b) mailed by certified mail (postage prepaid, return
receipt requested) if mailed, or (c) the date sent by telecopier to the parties
at the following addresses or telecopier numbers (or at such other address or
telecopier number for a party as shall be specified by like notice, except that
notices of changes of address or telecopier numbers shall be effective only upon
receipt):

                                       45
<PAGE>
 
     (a)   if to the Company:
           Arch Mineral Corporation
           Suite 300
           CityPlace One
           St. Louis, Missouri 63141
           Telecopier No.: (314) 994-2734
           Attention: General Counsel

           (After the Effective Time, notices shall be directed to "Arch Coal,
           Inc." instead of "Arch Mineral Corporation".)

     (b)   if to Ashland Inc.:           
           Ashland Inc.                  
           P.O. Box 391                  
           Ashland, Kentucky 41114       
           Telecopier No.: (606) 329-3823
           Attention: General Counsel     

     (c)   if to Carboex:                
           Carboex International, Ltd.   
           Bolan House                   
           P.O. Box N-3010               
           Nassau, Bahamas               
           Telecopier No.: ______________
           Attention: ___________________ 

     (d)   if to the Hunt Entities or the Hunt Piggybackers:
           Hunt Coal Corporation                
           5000 Thanksgiving Tower              
           1601 Elm Street                      
           Dallas, Texas 75201                  
           Telecopier No.: (214) 922-1060       
           Attention: James L. Parker, President 

           with additional notice in the case of notice to the Hunt Entities:

           Petro-Hunt Corporation             
           3800 Thanksgiving Tower            
           1601 Elm Street                    
           Dallas, Texas 75201                
           Telecopier No.: (214) 880-7101     
           Attention: Bruce W. Hunt, President 

Whenever acting as a Hunt Group as provided for in this Agreement, and without
affecting any other requirements of this Agreement

                                       46
<PAGE>
 
other than in respect of the timing and content of notices to and from the Hunt
Entities comprising such Hunt Group, the Hunt Entities comprising such Hunt
Group shall furnish the Company a written designation of the Hunt Entity and
counsel representing such Hunt Group, executed by each Hunt Entity comprising
said Hunt Group, which designation shall include a representation by each Hunt
Entity in said Hunt Group of such Hunt Entity's holdings of Company Common Stock
at the time of designation in order to permit the Company to ascertain that the
Hunt Entities so acting in fact comprise a Hunt Group.  The designation also
shall specify an address for notice to said Hunt Group and its counsel during
the period such Hunt Group shall be exercising any rights under this Agreement.
Once a designation in proper form is received by the Company, the Company shall
be relieved of any obligation under this Agreement to communicate separately
with the Hunt Entities comprising such Hunt Group, and the Hunt Entities
comprising such Hunt Group shall be relieved of any individual obligations under
this Agreement to communicate with the Company, in each case until such time as
all Hunt Entities initially comprising such Hunt Group have disposed of their
Company Common Stock in the subject offering and/or the subject Registration
Statement is no longer effective, including by withdrawal thereof.  The written
designation described herein shall be delivered with the first notice or
communication in respect of such Hunt Group's exercise of rights under this
Agreement, it being understood that the Company is under no obligation to act
and no time periods for acting specified in this

                                       47
<PAGE>
 
Agreement shall begin to run unless and until the Company has received a written
designation meeting the requirements of this Section.  The Hunt Piggybackers
acknowledge and agree that notice to Hunt Coal Corporation as provided for above
shall be sufficient notice to all of them for all purposes under this Agreement,
and each of the Company, AI, Carboex and the Hunt Entities is entitled to rely
upon any communication, representation or agreement made by said Hunt Coal
Corporation expressly on behalf of any Hunt Piggybacker as being the
communication, representation or agreement of such Hunt Piggybacker.

     SECTION 10.04. Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
                    --------                                                  
reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.

     SECTION 10.05. Severability. If any term or other provision of this
                    ------------                                        
Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any rule of law
or public policy, all other conditions and provisions of this Agreement shall
nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal
substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner
adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision
is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original
intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in
order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally
contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

                                       48
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 10.06. Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire
                    ----------------                                       
agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes all prior agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, and
except as otherwise expressly provided herein.

     SECTION 10.07. Amendment; Waiver. This Agreement may not be amended or
                    -----------------                                      
modified except by an instrument in writing signed by the Company and each
Holder. Waiver of any term or condition of this Agreement shall only be
effective if in writing and shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent
breach or waiver of the same term or condition, or a waiver of any other term or
condition of this Agreement.

     SECTION 10.08. Successors, Assigns and Transferees. This Agreement shall be
                    -----------------------------------                         
binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective permitted successors and assigns. In addition, and whether or not any
express assignment shall have been made, the provisions of this Agreement which
are for the benefit of the parties hereto other than the Company shall also be
for the benefit of and enforceable by any Permitted Transferee thereof, subject
to the provisions contained herein.

     SECTION 10.09. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and
                    -------------                                          
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware applicable to
contracts executed in and to be performed in that State.

     SECTION 10.10. Counterparts; Copies in Electronic Medium. This Agreement
                    -----------------------------------------                
may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the

                                       49
<PAGE>
 
different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed
shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall
constitute one and the same agreement.

     SECTION 10.11. Specific Performance. The parties hereto acknowledge and
                    --------------------                                    
agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the
provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their
specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, it is agreed that they
shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the
provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and
provisions hereof in any court of competent jurisdiction in the United States or
any state thereof, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled
at law or equity.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and the Shareholders have caused this
Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above in their individual
capacities or by their respective representatives thereunto duly authorized, as
applicable.
 
                                       ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION      
                                                                     
                                       By:  /s/ Jeffry N. Quinn      
                                            Name:  Jeffry N. Quinn        
                                            Title: Senior Vice President  
                                                                     
                                       ASHLAND INC.                  
                                                                     
                                       By:  /s/ Thomas L. Feazell    
                                            Name: Thomas L. Feazell       
                                            Title:  Senior Vice President,
                                            General Counsel and Secretary  

                                       50
<PAGE>
 
                                       CARBOEX INTERNATIONAL, LTD.        
                                                                          
                                       By:  /s/ Juan A. Ferrando          
                                            Name: Juan A. Ferrando             
                                            Title: Director                    
                                                                          
                                       PETRO HUNT CORPORATION             
                                                                          
                                       By:  /s/ Bruce W. Hunt             
                                            Bruce W. Hunt, President           
                                                                          
                                       LYDA HUNT-MARGARET TRUST -         
                                       AL G. HILL, JR.                    
                                                                          
                                       By:  
                                            ---------------------------   
                                            Margaret Hunt Hill, Trustee        
                                                                          
                                       By:  /s/ Tom Hunt, Trustee         
                                            Tom Hunt, Trustee                  
                                                                          
                                       By:  /s/ James L. Parker, Trustee  
                                            James L. Parker, Trustee           
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                       LYDA HUNT-MARGARET TRUST -         
                                       ALINDA HUNT HILL                   
                                                                          
                                       By:  
                                            ---------------------------   
                                            Margaret Hunt Hill, Trustee        
                                                                          
                                       By:  /s/ Tom Hunt, Trustee         
                                            Tom Hunt, Trustee                  
                                                                          
                                       By:  /s/ James L. Parker, Trustee  
                                            James L. Parker, Trustee           
                                                                          
                                                                          
                                       LYDA HUNT-MARGARET TRUST -         
                                       LYDA HILL                          
                                                                          
                                       By:  
                                            ---------------------------   
                                            Margaret Hunt Hill, Trustee        
                                                                          
                                       By:  /s/ Tom Hunt, Trustee         
                                            Tom Hunt, Trustee                  
                                                                          
                                       By:  /s/ James L. Parker, Trustee  
                                            James L. Parker, Trustee            

                                       51
<PAGE>
 
                                       HUNT COAL CORPORATION                 
                                                                             
                                       By:  /s/ James L. Parker
                                            James L. Parker, President
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                       LYDA HUNT-HERBERT TRUST -             
                                       DOUGLAS H. HUNT                       
                                                                             
                                       By:  /s/ Walter P. Roach, Trustee     
                                            Walter P. Roach, Trustee        

                                       By:  /s/ Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee 
                                            Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                       LYDA HUNT-HERBERT TRUST -             
                                       BARBARA A. HUNT                       
                                                                             
                                       By:  /s/ Walter P. Roach, Trustee     
                                            Walter P. Roach, Trustee    
                                                                             
                                       By:  /s/ Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee 
                                            Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee 
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                       LYDA HUNT-HERBERT TRUST -             
                                       LYDA B. HUNT                          
                                                                             
                                       By:  /s/ Walter P. Roach, Trustee     
                                            Walter P. Roach, Trustee    
                                                                             
                                       By:  /s/ Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee  
                                            Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                       LYDA HUNT-HERBERT TRUST -             
                                       DAVID S. HUNT                         
                                                                             
                                       By:  /s/ Walter P. Roach, Trustee     
                                            Walter P. Roach, Trustee    
                                                                             
                                       By:  /s/ Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee 
                                            Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee   
 

                                       52
<PAGE>
 
                                       LYDA HUNT-HERBERT TRUST -            
                                       BRUCE W. HUNT                        
                                                                            
                                       By:  /s/ Walter P. Roach, Trustee    
                                            Walter P. Roach, Trustee      
                                                                            
                                       By:  /s/ Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee
                                            Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                       LYDA HUNT-CAROLINE TRUST -           
                                       JOHN BUNKER SANDS                    
                                                                            
                                       By:  /s/ Don W. Crisp, Trustee       
                                            Don W. Crisp, Trustee         
                                                                            
                                       By:  /s/ Caroline Rose Hunt, Trustee 
                                            Caroline Rose Hunt, Trustee   
                                                                            
                                       By:  /s/ Charles J. Tusa, Trustee    
                                            Charles J. Tusa, Trustee      
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                       LYDA HUNT-CAROLINE TRUST -           
                                       DAVID KEITH SANDS                    
                                                                            
                                       By:  /s/ Don W. Crisp, Trustee       
                                            Don W. Crisp, Trustee         
                                                                            
                                       By:  /s/ Caroline Rose Hunt, Trustee 
                                            Caroline Rose Hunt, Trustee   
                                                                            
                                       By:  /s/ Charles J. Tusa, Trustee    
                                            Charles J. Tusa, Trustee      
                                                                            
                                                                            
                                       LYDA HUNT-CAROLINE TRUST -           
                                       STEPHEN H. SANDS                     
                                                                            
                                       By:  /s/ Don W. Crisp, Trustee       
                                            Don W. Crisp, Trustee            
                                                                            
                                       By:  /s/ Caroline Rose Hunt, Trustee 
                                            Caroline Rose Hunt, Trustee      
                                                                            
                                       By:  /s/ Charles J. Tusa, Trustee    
                                            Charles J. Tusa, Trustee         
  

                                       53
<PAGE>
 
                                       LYDA HUNT-CAROLINE TRUST -        
                                       LAURIE SANDS                      
                                                                         
                                       By:  /s/ Don W. Crisp, Trustee    
                                            Don W. Crisp, Trustee             
                                                                         
                                       By:  /s/ Caroline Rose Hunt, Trustee
                                            Caroline Rose Hunt, Trustee       
                                                                         
                                       By:  /s/ Charles J. Tusa, Trustee 
                                            Charles J. Tusa, Trustee          
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                       LYDA HUNT-CAROLINE TRUST -        
                                       PATRICK BRIAN SANDS               
                                                                         
                                       By:  /s/ Don W. Crisp, Trustee    
                                            Don W. Crisp, Trustee             
                                                                         
                                       By:  /s/ Caroline Rose Hunt, Trustee
                                            Caroline Rose Hunt, Trustee       
                                                                         
                                       By:  /s/ David K. Sands, Trustee  
                                            David K. Sands, Trustee           
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                       ROSEWOOD RESOURCES, INC.          
                                                                         
                                       By:  /s/ Gary E. Conrad           
                                            Gary E. Conrad, President         
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                       LYDA HUNT-BUNKER TRUST -          
                                       HOUSTON B. HUNT                   
                                                                         
                                       By:  /s/ F. C. Vickers, Trustee   
                                            F. C. Vickers, Trustee            
                                                                         
                                       By:  
                                            ---------------------------- 
                                            C. H. Mercer, Trustee             
                                                                         
                                       By:  /s/ Paul A. Hope, Trustee    
                                            Paul H. Hope, Trustee              

 

                                       54
<PAGE>
 
                                       LYDA HUNT-BUNKER TRUST -              
                                       ELIZABETH B. HUNT                     
                                                                             
                                       By:  /s/ F. C. Vickers, Trustee       
                                            F. C. Vickers, Trustee           
                                                                             
                                       By:  
                                            ----------------------------     
                                            C. H. Mercer, Trustee            
                                                                             
                                       By:  /s/ Paul A. Hope, Trustee        
                                            Paul H. Hope, Trustee            
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                       LYDA HUNT-BUNKER TRUST - 
                                       ELLEN F. HUNT                         

                                       By:  /s/ F. C. Vickers, Trustee  
                                            F. C. Vickers, Trustee      
                                                                        
                                       By:  
                                            ----------------------------
                                            C. H. Mercer, Trustee       
                                                                        
                                       By:  /s/ Paul A. Hope, Trustee   
                                            Paul H. Hope, Trustee       
                                                                        
                                                                        
                                       NELSON BUNKER HUNT TRUST ESTATE  
                                                                        
                                       By:  /s/ F. C. Vickers, Trustee  
                                            F. C. Vickers, Trustee      
                                                                        
                                       By:  
                                            ----------------------------
                                            Samuel R. Miller, Advisory  
                                            Board                       
                                                                        
                                       By:  /s/ Robert J. D'Agostino    
                                            J. D'Agostino, Advisory
                                            Board 
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                       LYDA HUNT-LAMAR TRUST -         
                                       LAMAR HUNT                      
                                                                       
                                       By:  /s/ J.R. Holland, Jr.      
                                            J. R. Holland, Jr., Trustee
                                                                       
                                       By:  /s/ Thomas J. Fowler     
                                           Thomas J. Fowler, Trustee

                                       55
<PAGE>
 
                                       LYDA HUNT-LAMAR TRUST -         
                                       LAMAR HUNT, JR.                 
                                                                       
                                       By:  /s/ J. R. Holland, Jr.     
                                            J. R. Holland, Jr., Trustee     
                                                                       
                                       By:  /s/ Thomas J. Fowler       
                                            Thomas J. Fowler, Trustee       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                       LYDA HUNT-LAMAR TRUST -         
                                       CLARK K. HUNT                   
                                                                       
                                       By:  /s/ J. R. Holland, Jr.     
                                            J. R. Holland, Jr., Trustee     
                                                                       
                                       By:  /s/ Thomas J. Fowler       
                                            Thomas J. Fowler, Trustee       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                       LYDA HUNT-LAMAR TRUST -         
                                       SHARON L. HUNT                  
                                                                       
                                       By:  /s/ J. R. Holland, Jr.     
                                            J. R. Holland, Jr., Trustee     
                                                                       
                                       By:  /s/ Thomas J. Fowler       
                                            Thomas J. Fowler, Trustee       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                                                       
                                       LYDA HUNT-LAMAR TRUST -         
                                       DANIEL L. HUNT                  
                                                                       
                                       By:  /s/ J. R. Holland, Jr.     
                                            J. R. Holland, Jr., Trustee     
                                                                       
                                       By:  /s/ Thomas J. Fowler       
                                            Thomas J. Fowler, Trustee        

                                       56
<PAGE>
 
                                       LAMAR HUNT TRUST ESTATE    
                                                                  
                                       By:  /s/ J. R. Holland, Jr.
                                            J. R. Holland, Jr., Trustee
                                                                  
                                       By:  /s/ Wayne Henry       
                                            Wayne Henry, Advisory Board 
     

                                       57
<PAGE>
 
                                   Schedule I
                                   ----------


Lyda Hunt-Margaret Trust - Douglas H. Hunt
Lyda Hunt-Margaret Trust - Barbara A. Hunt
Lyda Hunt-Margaret Trust - Lyda B. Hunt
Lyda Hunt-Margaret Trust - David S. Hunt
Lyda Hunt-Margaret Trust - Bruce W. Hunt


Petro-Hunt Corporation


Lyda Hunt-Margaret Trust - Al G. Hill, Jr.
Lyda Hunt-Margaret Trust - Lyda Hill
Lyda Hunt-Margaret Trust - Alinda Hunt Hill


Hunt Coal Corporation
<PAGE>
 
                                  Schedule II
                                  -----------

 
Lyda Hunt-Caroline Trust  -  John Bunker Sands
Lyda Hunt-Caroline Trust  -  David Keith Sands
Lyda Hunt-Caroline Trust  -  Stephen H. Sands
Lyda Hunt-Caroline Trust  -  Laurie Sands
Lyda Hunt-Caroline Trust  -  Patrick Brian Sands
 
Rosewood Resources, Inc.
 
Lyda Hunt-Bunker Trust    -  Houston B. Hunt
Lyda Hunt-Bunker Trust    -  Elizabeth B. Hunt
Lyda Hunt-Bunker Trust    -  Ellen F. Hunt
 
Nelson Bunker Hunt Trust Estate
 
Lyda Hunt-Lamar Trust     -  Lamar Hunt
Lyda Hunt-Lamar Trust     -  Lamar Hunt, Jr.
Lyda Hunt-Lamar Trust     -  Clark K. Hunt
Lyda Hunt-Lamar Trust     -  Sharon L. Hunt
Lyda Hunt-Lamar Trust     -  Daniel L. Hunt

Lamar Hunt Trust Estate

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     Exhibit 4.3


                   AGREEMENT RELATING TO NONVOTING OBSERVER


     This Agreement, executed as of April 4, 1997, among Carboex International,
Ltd. ("CIL"), Ashland Inc. ("Ashland"), Ashland Coal, Inc. ("ACI") and Arch
Mineral Corporation ("Company"), recites and provides as follows:

     Recitals.   Reference is made to that certain letter agreement, dated
     --------                                                             
February 27, 1982, among Ashland Oil, Inc., legal predecessor to Ashland
("AOI"), Saarberg Coal International GmbH ("SCI"), CIL and ACI, whereby SCI and
CIL were granted the right to have a non-voting observer in attendance at all
regular and special meetings of the Board of directors of ACI; that certain
letter agreement, dated June 6, 1988, among AOI, SCI, CIL and ACI whereby the
parties thereto agreed to reclassify the capital stock of ACI (the
"Reclassification"); that certain letter agreement dated August 10, 1988, among
AOI, SCI, ACI and CIL whereby the parties thereto agreed that CIL would continue
to have the right to have a non-voting observer in attendance at all regular and
special meetings of the Board of Directors of ACI upon the Reclassification and
so long as CIL owned a sufficient number of ACI's Class C Preferred Stock to be
entitled to elect one or more directors to the Board of Directors of ACI, and
that certain letter agreement dated as of March 9, 1995, between ACI and
Saarbergwerke AG (legal successor to SCI) wherein all rights of Saarbergwerke AG
under the August 10, 1988 letter agreement were terminated (which letter
agreements are together referred to as the "ACI Agreement").  ACI is party to
that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") dated as of
April 4, 1997, among the Company, ACI, and AMC Merger Corporation, providing for
a business combination between ACI and AMC and the conversion of ACI's
outstanding capital stock to shares of Company common stock as of the Effective
Time (as that term is defined in the Merger Agreement).  In light of the
transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement, the parties wish to terminate
the ACI Agreement and ACI and Ashland Inc. are entering into this Agreement
solely for that purpose and CIL and the Company wish to execute this Agreement.

     In consideration of the mutual undertakings and agreements set forth
herein, we agree as follows:

     (a) CIL hereby agrees its rights under the ACI Agreement are terminated and
extinguished as of the Effective Time, and

     (b) The Company hereby agrees that at the Effective Time and so long
thereafter as CIL and its affiliates beneficially own at least 63% of the shares
of Company common stock obtained by CIL at the Effective Time in the conversion
under the Merger Agreement (provided that CIL shall be deemed to own for this
purpose any
<PAGE>
 
shares of the Company which it has transferred to the Company or any subsidiary
of it in exchange for voting equity securities of approximately equivalent
voting power of the Company or such subsidiary), CIL shall have the right to
have a non-voting observer in attendance at all regular and special meetings of
the Board of Directors of the Company in which a CIL director has a right to
attend, provided that the Company reserves the right of its Board of Directors
to meet in executive session at such meetings from time to time as is in the
best interest of the Company without the attendance of the non-voting observer.

     (c) CIL hereby undertakes to inform its appointed non-voting observer of
his obligations under the federal and state securities laws of the United
States, and of the terms of this Agreement.

     (d) Nothing in this Agreement shall be in derogation of any rights
(statutory, contractual or other) of CIL with respect to the Company.

     (e) This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts and by the
different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed
to be an original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute one and
the same instrument. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with the
substantive laws of the State of Delaware.

Carboex International, Ltd.

By: /s/ Juan A. Ferrando

Its: Director


Arch Mineral Corporation

By: /s/ Steven F. Leer

Its: Pres. & CEO


Ashland Inc.

By: /s/ Thomas L. Feazell

Its: Senior Vice President,
     General Counsel and Secretary


                                       2
<PAGE>
 
Ashland Coal, Inc.

By: /s/ William C. Payne

Its: President



                                       3

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.4

                 AGREEMENT FOR TERMINATION OF THE ARCH MINERAL
                 ---------------------------------------------
         CORPORATION VOTING AGREEMENT AND FOR NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS
         ------------------------------------------------------------
                                        
     AGREEMENT FOR TERMINATION OF THE ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION VOTING AGREEMENT
AND FOR NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS, dated as of April 4, 1997 (the "Agreement"), by
and between Hunt Coal Corporation, a Texas corporation ("Hunt Coal"), Petro-Hunt
Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Petro-Hunt"), each of the trusts listed on
Schedule I hereto (the "Hunt Trusts", and together with Hunt Coal and Petro-
Hunt, the "Hunt Group"), Ashland Inc., a Kentucky corporation ("Ashland"), and
Arch Mineral Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

     WHEREAS, Hunt Petroleum Corporation ("Hunt Petroleum"), Petro-Hunt, the
Hunt Trusts, Ashland and the Company entered into a Voting Agreement dated
effective as of September 1, 1993 (the "Voting Agreement");

     WHEREAS, Hunt Petroleum subsequently assigned its rights under the Voting
Agreement to Hunt Coal and Hunt Coal assumed the obligations of Hunt Petroleum
thereunder;

     WHEREAS, the Company has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger
("Merger Agreement") providing, among other things, for the merger of a wholly-
owned subsidiary of the Company with and into Ashland Coal, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Ashland Coal") for the purpose of effecting a combination of the
Company and Ashland Coal;

     WHEREAS, the Hunt Group, Ashland and the Company have agreed to terminate
their respective rights and obligations under the Voting Agreement as of the
Effective Time (as deemed in the Merger Agreement) subject to reinstatement in
the event the Merger Agreement is terminated; and

     WHEREAS, the Hunt Group and the Company desire to enter into certain
agreements with respect to the nomination of persons for election to the Board
of Directors of the Company (the "Board").

     NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as
follows:

     1. Termination of Voting Agreement. At the Effective Time (as defined in
        -------------------------------                                      
the Merger Agreement), the Voting Agreement shall be terminated and each party
hereto shall be released fully from its respective obligations thereunder.

     2. Nomination of Hunt Designee. So long as the Hunt Group, the entities
        ---------------------------                                         
listed on Schedule II hereto and the beneficiaries of any trusts included among
the Hunt Group and the listed entities shall have the collective voting power to
elect, by cumulative voting, one or more persons to serve on the Board, the
Company agrees to take all actions necessary to nominate or cause to be
nominated and to solicit proxies (and if properly executed or otherwise valid,
to vote all such proxies and other shares which Company management is otherwise
entitled to vote in accordance with the terms and requirements of this
provision) for election as a director at each
<PAGE>
 
annual meeting of stockholders (or, if applicable, at any special meeting of
stockholders) of the Company, the number of persons that could be elected to the
Board by exercise of such cumulative voting power. Such person or persons (each
a "Hunt Designee") shall be designated in a writing signed by the holders of a
majority of the shares held by the Hunt Group, or, in the event that no such
Hunt Designee shall be so designated, shall be the Hunt Designee or Hunt
Designees then serving on the Board.

     3. Appointment of Hunt Designee to Board Committees. The Company agrees to
        ------------------------------------------------                       
cause, effective as of the Effective Time (as defined in the Merger Agreement),
one of the Hunt designees to the Board to be appointed as one of the initial
members of each of the following committees of the Board: (a) the Audit
Committee (Mr. James L. Parker as Chairman), (b) the Executive Committee, (c)
the Nominating Committee and (d) the Compensation Committee.

     4. Effect of Termination of the Merger Agreement. Anything herein to the
        ---------------------------------------------                        
contrary notwithstanding, this Agreement shall immediately become void, and the
Voting Agreement shall remain in full force and effect, in the event that the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are terminated or abandoned in
accordance with the terms thereof.

     5. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement and
        ----------------                                                  
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, written or oral, of the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof.

     6. Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
        -------------                                                       
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the
conflict of law provisions thereof.

     7. Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of
        -------------                                                 
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.


                                   HUNT COAL CORPORATION
                
                                   By: /s/ James L. Parker
                                           James L. Parker, President
                
                
                                   PETRO-HUNT CORPORATION
                
                                   By: /s/ Bruce W. Hunt
                                           Bruce W. Hunt, President
                
                
                                   LYDA HUNT-MARGARET TRUST -
                                   AL G. HILL, JR.
                
                                   By: /s/ Margaret Hunt Hill
                                           Margaret Hunt Hill, Trustee
                
                                   By: /s/ Tom Hunt, Trustee
                                           Tom Hunt, Trustee
                
                                   By: /s/ James L. Parker, Trustee
                                           James L. Parker, Trustee
                
                
                                   LYDA HUNT-MARGARET TRUST -
                                   ALINDA HUNT HILL
                
                                   By: /s/ Margaret Hunt Hill, Trustee
                                           Margaret Hunt Hill, Trustee
                
                                   By: /s/ Tom Hunt, Trustee
                                           Tom Hunt, Trustee
                
                                   By: /s/ James L. Parker, Trustee
                                           James L. Parker, Trustee
<PAGE>
 
                                   LYDA HUNT-MARGARET TRUST -
                                   LYDA HILL
                
                                   By:  /s/ Margaret Hunt Hill, Trustee
                                            Margaret Hunt Hill, Trustee
                 
                                   By:  /s/ Tom Hunt, Trustee
                                            Tom Hunt, Trustee
                
                                   By:  /s/ James L. Parker, Trustee
                                            James L. Parker, Trustee
                 
                 
                 
                                   LYDA HUNT-HERBERT TRUST -
                                   DOUGLAS H. HUNT
                 
                                   By:  /s/ Walter P. Roach, Trustee
                                            Walter P. Roach, Trustee
                 
                                   By:  /s/ Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee
                                            Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee
                 
                 
                 
                                   LYDA HUNT-HERBERT TRUST -
                                   BARBARA A. HUNT
                 
                                   By:  /s/ Walter P. Roach, Trustee
                                            Walter P. Roach, Trustee
                 
                                   By:  /s/ Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee
                                            Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee
                 
                 
                 
                                   LYDA HUNT-HERBERT TRUST -
                                   LYDA B. HUNT
                 
                                   By:  /s/ Walter P. Roach, Trustee
                                            Walter P. Roach, Trustee
 
<PAGE>
 
                                   By:  /s/ Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee
                                            Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee
                
                
                
                                   LYDA HUNT-HERBERT TRUST -
                                   DAVID S. HUNT
                
                                   By:  /s/ Walter P. Roach, Trustee
                                            Walter P. Roach, Trustee
                
                                   By:  /s/ Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee
                                            Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee
                
                
                
                                   LYDA HUNT-HERBERT TRUST -
                                   BRUCE W. HUNT
                
                                   By:  /s/ Walter P. Roach, Trustee
                                            Walter P. Roach, Trustee
                
                                   By:  /s/ Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee
                                            Gage A. Prichard, Sr., Trustee
                
                
                                   ASHLAND INC.
                
                                   By:  /s/ Thomas L. Feazell
                                   Name:    Thomas L. Feazell
                                   Title:   Senior Vice President, General 
                                            Counsel and Secretary 
                                            
                
                
                                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
                
                                   By:  /s/ Jeffry N. Quinn
                    

<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULE I

Lyda Hunt-Margaret Trust - Al G. Hill, Jr.
Lyda Hunt-Margaret Trust - Alinda Hunt Hill
Lyda Hunt-Margaret Trust - Lyda Hill

Lyda Hunt-Herbert Trust - Douglas H. Hunt
Lyda Hunt-Herbert Trust - Barbara A. Hunt
Lyda Hunt-Herbert Trust - Lyda B. Hunt
Lyda Hunt-Herbert Trust - David S. Hunt
Lyda Hunt-Herbert Trust - Bruce W. Hunt
<PAGE>
 
                                  SCHEDULE II

Rosewood Resources, Inc.

Lyda Hunt - Caroline Trust - John Bunker Sands
Lyda Hunt - Caroline Trust - David Keith Sands
Lyda Hunt - Caroline Trust - Stephen H. Sands
Lyda Hunt - Caroline Trust - Laurie Sands
Lyda Hunt - Caroline Trust - Patrick Brian Sands

Nelson Bunker Hunt Trust Estate

Lyda Hunt - Bunker Trust - Houston B. Hunt
Lyda Hunt - Bunker Trust - Elizabeth B. Hunt
Lyda Hunt - Bunker Trust - Ellen F. Hunt

Lamar Hunt Trust Estate

Lyda Hunt - Lamar Trust - Lamar Hunt
Lyda Hunt - Lamar Trust - Lamar Hunt, Jr.
Lyda Hunt - Lamar Trust - Clark K. Hunt
Lyda Hunt - Lamar Trust - Sharon L. Hunt
Lyda Hunt - Lamar Trust - Daniel L. Hunt

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1


                                 May 28, 1997

Arch Mineral Corporation
CityPlace One, Suite 300
Creve Coeur, Missouri 63141

     Re:  REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4
          ----------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:
- ---------------------

     I am Senior Vice President - Law & Human Resources, Secretary and General
Counsel of Arch Mineral Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
have acted in such capacity in connection with the Registration Statement on
Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement") filed by the Company with the Securities
and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
relating to the issuance by the Company of an aggregate of up to 19,337,043
shares (the "Shares") of the Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Company pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of April 4, 1997
(the "Merger Agreement") among the Company, Ashland Coal, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and AMC Merger Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a wholly
owned subsidiary of the Company.

     I am familiar with the Registration Statement.  I have also examined the
Merger Agreement, corporate documents and such certificates, instruments and
corporate records, and such questions of law, as I have deemed necessary for
purposes of expressing an opinion on the matters hereinafter set forth.  In all
examinations of documents, instruments and other papers, I have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures on original and certified documents and the
conformity to original and certified documents of all copies submitted to me as
conformed, photostatic or other copies.

     On the basis of the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the Shares, when
issued in accordance with the Merger Agreement, will be validly issued, and
fully paid and non-assessable.

     I consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement and to the reference to me in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus forming a
part thereof under the caption "Legal Matters."

                                    Sincerely,


                                /s/ Jeffry N. Quinn
                                    Jeffry N. Quinn

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     Exhibit 8.1


                                       May 29, 1997


Arch Mineral Corporation
CityPlace One
Suite 300
Creve Coeur, MO 63141

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel for Arch Mineral Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("Arch Mineral"), in connection with the preparation and execution
of the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 4, 1997 (the "Merger
Agreement") among Arch Mineral, AMC Merger Corporation, a Delaware corporation
which is a newly formed and wholly owned subsidiary of Arch Mineral ("Merger
Sub"), and Ashland Coal, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Ashland Coal"). Pursuant
to the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Ashland Coal (the
"Merger"), and Ashland Coal will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Arch
Mineral. Unless otherwise defined, capitalized terms referred to herein have the
meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement. All Section references, unless
otherwise indicated, are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code").

     You have requested our opinion regarding certain United States Federal 
income tax consequences of the Merger. In delivering this opinion, we have 
reviewed and relied upon the facts, statements, descriptions and representations
set forth in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Arch Mineral and
Ashland Coal with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Registration
Statement"), the Merger Agreement (including Exhibits) and such other documents
pertaining to the Merger as we have deemed necessary or appropriate. We have
also relied upon certificates of officers of Arch Mineral and Ashland Coal
respectively (the "Officers' Certificates").

     In connection with rendering this opinion, we have also assumed (without 
any independent investigation) that:

     1. Original documents (including signatures) are authentic, documents 
submitted to us as copies conform to the original documents, and there has been 
(or will be by the Effective Time) due execution and delivery of all documents 
where due execution and delivery are prerequisites to effectiveness thereof;

     2. Any statement made in any of the documents referred to herein, "to the 
best of the knowledge" of any person or party is correct without such 
qualification;
<PAGE>
 
Arch Mineral Corporation
May 29, 1997
Page 2


     3. All statements, descriptions and representations contained in any of the
documents referred to herein or otherwise made to us are true and correct in all
material respects and no actions have been (or will be) taken which are
inconsistent with such representations; and

     4. The Merger will be reported by Arch Mineral and Ashland Coal on their 
respective Federal income tax returns in a manner consistent with the opinion 
set forth below.

     Based on our examination of the foregoing items and subject to the 
assumptions, exceptions, limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are
of the opinion that, if the Merger is consummated in accordance with the Merger 
Agreement (and without any waiver, breach or amendment of any of the provisions 
thereof), the statements set forth in the Officers' Certificates are true and 
correct as of the date hereof, on the Effective Date of the Registration 
Statement and at the Effective Time, and the application of the Federal income 
tax laws to the Merger does not change from the date hereof to the Effective 
Time, then:

          (a) For Federal income tax purposes, the Merger will qualify as a 
"reorganization" as defined in Section 368(a) of the Code; and

          (b) The discussion set forth in the second paragraph under the caption
"The Merger--Federal Income Tax Consequences" in the Prospectus constituting a
part of the Registration Statement insofar as it relates to the statements of
law or legal conclusions constitutes our opinion with respect to such statements
of law or legal conclusions.

     This opinion represents and is based upon our best judgment regarding the 
application of Federal income tax laws arising under the Code, existing judicial
decisions, administrative regulations and published rulings and procedures. Our 
opinion is not binding upon the Internal Revenue Service or the courts, and 
there is no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will not successfully 
assert a contrary position. Furthermore, no assurance can be given that future 
legislative, judicial or administrative changes, on either a prospective or 
retroactive basis, would not adversely affect the accuracy of the conclusions 
stated herein. Nevertheless, we undertake no responsibility to advise you of 
any new developments in the application or interpretation of the Federal income 
tax laws.

     This opinion addresses only the classification of the Merger as a
reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code, and does not address any other
Federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences that may result from the
Merger or any other transaction (including any transaction undertaken in
connection with the Merger). Furthermore, this opinion relates only to the
holders of Ashland Coal stock who hold such stock as a capital asset. No opinion
is expressed as to the Federal income tax treatment that may be relevant to a
particular investor in light of personal circumstances or to certain types of
investors subject to special treatment under the Federal income tax laws (for
example, life insurance companies, dealers in securities, taxpayers subject to
the alternative minimum tax, banks, tax-exempt organizations, non-United States
persons, and
<PAGE>

Arch Mineral Corporation
May 29, 1997
Page 3

stockholders who acquired their shares of Ashland Coal stock pursuant to the
exercise of options or otherwise as compensation).

     No opinion is expressed as to any transaction other than the Merger as 
described in the Merger Agreement or to any transaction whatsoever, including
the Merger, if all the transactions described in the Merger Agreement are not
consummated in accordance with the terms of such Merger Agreement and without
waiver or breach of any material provision thereof or if all of the
representations, warranties, statements and assumptions upon which we relied are
not true and accurate at all relevant times. In the event any one of the
statements, representations, warranties or assumptions upon which we have relied
to issue this opinion is incorrect, our opinion might be adversely affected and
may not be relied upon.

     This opinion has been delivered to you for the purposes of being included
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and satisfying the requirements of
Section 5.2(c) of the Merger Agreement. It may not be relied upon for any
purpose or by any other person or entity, and may not be made available to any
other person or entity without our prior written consent. We hereby consent to
the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to
the use of our name in connection with the Federal income tax consequences of
the Merger under the headings "The Merger--Federal Income Tax Consequences" in
the Registration Statement.

                                             Very truly yours,

                                             /s/ KELLY, HART & HALLMAN, P.C.

                                             KELLY, HART & HALLMAN, P.C.


<PAGE>
 
                                                                     Exhibit 8.2


                                       May 30, 1997
                                           


Ashland Coal, Inc.
2205 Fifth Street Road
Huntington, West Virginia 25701

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel for Ashland Coal, Inc., a Delaware corporation 
("Ashland Coal"), in connection with the preparation and execution of the 
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 4, 1997 (the "Merger Agreement") 
among Arch Mineral Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Arch Mineral"), AMC 
Merger Corporation, a Delaware corporation which is a newly formed and wholly 
owned subsidiary of Arch Mineral ("Merger Sub"), and Ashland Coal. Pursuant to 
the Merger Agreement, Merger Sub will merge with and into Ashland Coal (the 
"Merger"), and Ashland Coal will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Arch 
Mineral. Unless otherwise defined, capitalized terms referred to herein have the
meanings set forth in the Merger Agreement. All Section references, unless 
otherwise indicated, are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the 
"Code").

     You have requested our opinion regarding certain United States Federal 
income tax consequences of the Merger. In delivering this opinion, we have 
reviewed and relied upon the facts, statements, descriptions and representations
set forth in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed by Arch Mineral and
Ashland Coal with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Registration
Statement"), the Merger Agreement (including Exhibits) and such other documents
pertaining to the Merger as we have deemed necessary or appropriate. We have
also relied upon certificates of officers of Arch Mineral and Ashland Coal
respectively (the "Officers' Certificates").

     In connection with rendering this opinion, we have also assumed (without 
any independent investigation) that:

     1. Original documents (including signatures) are authentic, documents 
submitted to us as copies conform to the original documents, and there has been 
(or will be by the Effective Time) due execution and delivery of all documents 
where due execution and delivery are prerequisites to effectiveness thereof;
<PAGE>
 
Ashland Coal, Inc.
May 30, 1997

Page 2


     2. Any statement made in any of the documents referred to herein, "to the 
best of the knowledge" of any person or party is correct without such 
qualification;

     3. All statements, descriptions and representations contained in any of the
documents referred to herein or otherwise made to us are true and correct in all
material respects and no actions have been (or will be) taken which are
inconsistent with such representations; and

     4. The Merger will be reported by Arch Mineral and Ashland Coal on their 
respective Federal income tax returns in a manner consistent with the opinion 
set forth below.

     Based on our examination of the foregoing items and subject to the 
assumptions, exceptions, limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are
of the opinion that, if the Merger is consummated in accordance with the Merger 
Agreement (and without any waiver, breach or amendment of any of the provisions 
thereof), the statements set forth in the Officers' Certificates are true and 
correct as of the date hereof, on the Effective Date of the Registration 
Statement and at the Effective Time, and the application of the Federal income 
tax laws to the Merger does not change from the date hereof to the Effective 
Time, then:

          (a) For Federal income tax purposes, the Merger will qualify as a 
"reorganization" as defined in Section 368(a) of the Code; and

          (b) The discussion set forth in the second paragraph under the caption
"The Merger--Federal Income Tax Consequences" in the Prospectus constituting a
part of the Registration Statement insofar as it relates to the statements of
law or legal conclusions constitutes our opinion with respect to such statements
of law or legal conclusions.


     This opinion represents and is based upon our best judgment regarding the 
application of Federal income tax laws arising under the Code, existing judicial
decisions, administrative regulations and published rulings and procedures. Our 
opinion is not binding upon the Internal Revenue Service or the courts, and 
there is no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service will not successfully 
assert a contrary position. Furthermore, no assurance can be given that future 
legislative, judicial or administrative changes, on either a prospective or 
retroactive basis, would not adversely affect the accuracy of the conclusions 
stated herein. Nevertheless, we undertake no responsibility to advise you of 
any new developments in the application or interpretation of the Federal income 
tax laws.

     This opinion addresses only the classification of the Merger as a 
reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code, and does not address any other 
Federal, state, local or foreign tax consequences that may result from the 
Merger or any other transaction (including any transaction undertaken in
connection with the Merger). Furthermore, this opinion relates only to
<PAGE>
 
Ashland Coal, Inc.
May 30, 1997

Page 3

the holders of Ashland Coal stock who hold such stock as a capital asset. No 
opinion is expressed as to the Federal income tax treatment that may be relevant
to a particular investor in light of personal circumstances or to certain types 
of investors subject to special treatment under the Federal income tax laws (for
example, life insurance companies, dealers in securities, taxpayers subject to
the alternative minimum tax, banks, tax-exempt organizations, non-United States
persons, and stockholders who acquired their shares of Ashland Coal stock
pursuant to the exercise of options or otherwise as compensation).

     No opinion is expressed as to any transaction other than the Merger as 
described in the Merger Agreement or to any transaction whatsoever, including
the Merger, if all the transactions described in the Merger Agreement are not
consummated in accordance with the terms of such Merger Agreement and without
waiver or breach of any material provision thereof or if all of the
representations, warranties, statements and assumptions upon which we relied are
not true and accurate at all relevant times. In the event any one of the
statements, representations, warranties or assumptions upon which we have relied
to issue this opinion is incorrect, our opinion might be adversely affected and
may not be relied upon.

     This opinion has been delivered to you for the purposes of being included
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and satisfying the requirements of
Section 5.2(c) of the Merger Agreement. It may not be relied upon for any
purpose or by any other person or entity, and may not be made available to any
other person or entity without our prior written consent. We hereby consent to
the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to
the use of our name in connection with the Federal income tax consequences of
the Merger under the headings "The Merger--Federal Income Tax Consequences" in
the Registration Statement.

                                             Very truly yours,

                                             /S/ KIRKPATRICK & LOCHHART LLP

                                             KIRKPATRICK & LOCKHART LLP

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 10.1



                            COAL OFF-TAKE AGREEMENT

                                     AMONG

                            ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION

                          CARBOEX INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

                                      AND

                               ASHLAND COAL, INC.

                             EXECUTED APRIL 4, 1997
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
 
Section                   Description                     Page
<S>                       <C>                             <C>  
  1.0                     DEFINITIONS                      3
  1.1                     ACI Restated Coal Off-Take      
                            Agreement                      3
  1.2                     Affiliate                        4
  1.3                     Annual operating Plan            4
  1.4                     Arch                             4
  1.5                     Available Tonnage                4
  1.6                     Combination Agreement            4
  1.7                     Committed Tonnage                4
  1.8                     Comparable Contract              5
  1.9                     Decommitted Tonnage              5
 1.10                     Effective Time                   5
 1.11                     Fiscal Year                      5
 1.12                     Long-Term Contract               5
 1.13                     Long-Term Plan                   5
 1.14                     Long-Term Sales Commitment       6
 1.15                     New Saleable Tonnage             6
 1.16                     Off-Take Percentage              6
 1.17                     Off-Take Tonnage                 6
 1.18                     Person                           6
 1.19                     Qualifying Contract              7
 1.20                     Saleable Tonnage                 7
 1.21                     Sales Commitment                 7
 1.22                     Shares                           8
 1.23                     Subsidiary                       8
 1.24                     Third Party                      8
 1.25                     Unfilled Off-Take                8
                                                          
                          OFF-TAKE RIGHTS                  9
  2.1                     Priority Rights                  9
  2.2                     Increases in Tonnage             9
  2.3                     New or Increased Sales          
                            Commitments                    9
     
                          OFFER PROCEDURE                  10
  3.1                     Written Estimates                10
  3.2                     Annual Offers                    10
</TABLE> 
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
  <S>                     <C>                              <C> 
  3.3                     Spot Offers                      12
  3.4                     Long-Term Sales Commitments      13
     
  4.0                     DELIVERY AND HANDING OF
                            COAL FOR EXPORT                15
  4.1                     Export Qualities                 15
  4.2                     Shipment                         15
  4.3                     Overseas Shipments               15
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Section                   Description                     Page
<S>                       <C>                             <C> 
  5.0                     SALES CONTRACTS                  15
  5.1                     Terms of Sale                    15
  5.2                     Determination of Price           16
      
  6.0                     ADDITIONAL PURCHASES             16
  6.1                     Purchasing Agent                 16
  6.2                     Additional Sales                 17
      
  7.0                     MISCELLANEOUS                    17
  7.1                     Term                             17
  7.2                     Computation of Time Periods      17
  7.3                     Amendments; Waivers              18
  7.4                     Binding Effect and
                            Assignability                  18
  7.5                     Notices                          19
  7.6                     Severability                     20
  7.7                     Publicity                        20
  7.8                     Counterparts Headings            20
  7.9                     Governing Law                    20
  7.10                    Termination of ACI Restated
                            Coal Off-Take Agreement        21
      
  8.0                     AGREEMENT TO LIMIT OFF-TAKE      21
 
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>
 
     THIS COAL OFF-TAKE AGREEMENT, executed April 4, 1997, among ARCH MINERAL
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Company"), CARBOEX INTERNATIONAL, LTD., a
Bahamian corporation ("Carboex"); and ASHLAND COAL, INC., a Delaware corporation
("Ashland Coal"); recites and provides as follows:

     WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, Ashland Coal and Saarberg Coal International GmbH ("SCI") entered
into an agreement dated May 28, 1981 (the "1981 Coal Off-Take Agreement")
relating to the right of certain shareholders of Ashland Coal to purchase coal
from Ashland Coal; and

     WHEREAS, the 1981 Coal Off-Take Agreement was amended by that certain First
Coal Off-Take Agreement Assignment and Amendment dated February 27, 1982 among
SCI, Ashland, Sociedad Espanola de Carbon Exterior, S.A. (now called Carboex,
S.A. "CSA"), and Ashland Coal (the "First Amendment") and by that certain Second
Amendment to Coal Off-Take Agreement among SCI, CSA, and Ashland Coal; and

     WHEREAS, by Assignment and Assumption Agreement made as of June 30, 1982,
CSA assigned to Carboex all CSA's rights, duties and obligations under certain
agreements, including among them the
<PAGE>
 
First Amendment, and Carboex assumed full performance of all of the terms and
conditions of the First Amendment; and

     WHEREAS, effective September 30, 1988, SCI was merged into Saarbergwerke AG
("Saarberg"), with Saarberg being the surviving corporation; and

     WHEREAS, Saarberg, Carboex and Ashland Coal entered into a Restated Coal
Off-Take Agreement dated December 12, 1991 (the "Restated Coal Off-Take
Agreement") for the purpose of restating the 1981 Coal Off-Take Agreement, as
amended, in its entirety to reflect the foregoing amendments and the merger of
SCI into Saarberg, and not to otherwise change any of the substantive terms and
provisions thereof, a copy of which Restated Coal Offtake Agreement is attached
hereto as Exhibit A; and

     WHEREAS, Saarberg, Carboex and Ashland Coal entered into a letter agreement
(the "1991 Letter Agreement") also dated December 12, 1991, wherein Saarberg and
Carboex agreed to certain limitations under the Restated Coal Off-Take Agreement
so long as that certain Coal Sales Agency Agreement dated December 12, 1991,
among Ashland Coal, Saarberg and Carboex (the "Met Coal Agreement") was in
effect, a copy of which 1991 Letter Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit B;
and

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     WHEREAS, by letter agreement dated as of March 9, 1995, a copy of which is
attached hereto as Exhibit C, all of Saarberg's rights and obligations under the
Restated Coal Off-Take Agreement were terminated (which Restated Coal Off-Take
Agreement, after giving effect to such termination, is hereafter referred to as
the "ACI Restated Coal Off-Take Agreement"); and

     WHEREAS, by termination of its rights under the Restated Coal Off-Take
Agreement, the limitations imposed by the 1991 Letter Agreement were of no force
and effect with respect to Saarberg and its interest therein terminated; and

     WHEREAS, Ashland Coal is party to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger
(the "Merger Agreement") dated as of April 4, 1997, among the Company, Ashland
Coal, and AMC Merger Corporation which provides for a business combination of
Ashland Coal and the Company and the conversion of outstanding Ashland Coal
capital stock to Company capital stock as of the Effective Time (as that term is
defined in the Merger Agreement); and

     WHEREAS, in light of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement,
Ashland Coal and Carboex desire to terminate the ACI Restated Coal Off-Take
Agreement and the 1991 Letter Agreement 

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
and ACI is entering into this Agreement solely for that purpose; and


     WHEREAS, Carboex desires to secure certain rights to purchase coal from the
Company and its subsidiaries and subject to and conditioned upon the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, the
Company is willing to enter such an arrangement, upon the terms and conditions
hereof;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
hereinafter contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.0  DEFINITIONS
     -----------
     For all purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the
following meanings:

     1.1  "ACI Restated Coal Off-Take Agreement" shall have the meaning given
that term in the recitals to this Agreement.

     1.2  "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person
which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, such first Person.  For purposes of this definition, "control"
means the beneficial ownership, directly, or indirectly through one or more
Affiliates,

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
of more than 50% of the voting shares or equivalent interests or ownership
interests in a Person.

     1.3  "Annual Operating Plan" shall mean the budgeted plan of coal
operations, including the calculations of Saleable Tonnage, Committed Tonnage
and a detailed listing of Sales Commitments in the form set forth in Schedule A
hereto and calculations based thereon of Off-Take Tonnage and Available Tonnage
prepared on an annual basis for each Fiscal Year by the management of Arch and
approved by the Board of Directors of the Company pursuant to the Company's By-
laws, as in effect from time to time.

     1.4  "Arch" shall mean the Company and each Subsidiary of the Company,
collectively.

     1.5  "Available Tonnage" shall mean, for any Fiscal Year, Saleable Tonnage
for such Fiscal Year less Committed Tonnage for such Fiscal Year.

     1.6  "Merger Agreement" shall have the meaning given that term in the
recitals to this Agreement.

     1.7  "Committed Tonnage" shall mean, for any Fiscal Year, that portion of
Saleable Tonnage which Arch is committed pursuant to Sales Commitments to sell
and deliver to Third Parties and Carboex in such Fiscal Year.


                                       5
<PAGE>
 
     1.8  "Comparable Contract" shall mean a contract (i) whereby Arch sells at
least 100,000 tons of coal in any Fiscal Year to or for ultimate delivery to a
customer outside of the continental United States and Canada; (ii) which is a
Long-Term Contract; (iii) which provides for delivery of coal of comparable
quality as the coal sold in the Qualifying Contract; and (iv) which contains
similar basic terms, including without limitation, transportation, of the
Qualifying Contract.

     1.9  "Decommitted Tonnage" shall mean quantities of coal previously
considered to be Committed Tonnage in a given Fiscal Year, which quantities of
coal Arch is no longer legally, or, in the judgment of Arch, commercially
committed to deliver in such Fiscal Year.

     1.10 "Effective Time", for purposes of this Agreement, shall have the same
meaning given that term in the Merger Agreement.

     1.11 "Fiscal Year" shall mean the annual accounting period of the Company
beginning after the Effective Time, presently commencing on January 1st and
ending on December 31st of each year; provided that in the event of any change
in the Company's fiscal year, the date set forth in this Agreement shall be
adjusted to new dates corresponding to the new fiscal year.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
     1.12 "Long-Term Contract" shall mean a contract with firm pricing for a
term of longer than one year.

     1.13 "Long-Term Plan" shall mean the long-range forecast of coal
operations, including calculations of Saleable Tonnage and Committed Tonnage and
calculations based thereon of Off-Take Tonnage and Available Tonnage covering
each of at least the four (4) Fiscal Years succeeding the Fiscal Year covered by
the Annual Operating Plan prepared by the management of Arch and approved by the
Board of Directors of the Company pursuant to the Company's By-Laws as in effect
from time to time; provided that such long-range forecast shall be updated
annually at the same time as the Annual Operating Plan is prepared.

     1.14 "Long-Term Sales Commitment" shall mean any Sales Commitment providing
for the delivery of coal by Arch in more than one Fiscal Year or in any single
Fiscal Year after the next following Fiscal Year.

     1.15 "New Saleable Tonnage" shall mean the quantities of coal produced by
or for Arch from U.S. domestic operations or purchased from U.S. domestic
operations of Third Parties by Arch in addition to Saleable Tonnage set forth in
the Annual Operating Plan for a given Fiscal Year; provided, however, that new
                                                   --------  -------          
Saleable Tonnage

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
shall not include any quantity of coal involved in coal swaps or back-to-back
contracts having a term of two years or less.

     1.16 "Off-Take Percentage" shall mean the number 10%.

     1.17 "Off-Take Tonnage" shall mean that quantity of coal calculated by
multiplying Saleable Tonnage for such Fiscal Year by the Off-Take Percentage.

     1.18 "Person" shall mean any corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, trust or other business entity, any individual or any government,
governmental agency or public body or authority.

     1.19 "Qualifying Contract" shall mean a contract (i) whereby Carboex
purchases at least 100,000 tons of coal from Arch, and (ii) which is a "Long-
Term Contract".

     1.20 "Saleable Tonnage" shall mean, for any Fiscal Year, the total quantity
of coal to be produced by or for Arch from U.S. domestic operations or purchased
from the U.S. domestic operations of Third Parties for delivery to Arch in such
Fiscal Year, as set forth in the then-current Annual Operating Plan or Long-Term
Plan; provided, however, that Saleable Tonnage shall not include any quantity of
      --------  -------                                                         
coal involved in coal swaps or back-to-back contracts having a term of two years
or less.


                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     1.21  "Sales Commitment" shall mean any contract or written or oral
commitment or any unexpired firm offer by Arch for the sale and delivery of coal
by Arch in any Fiscal Year to Carboex or a Third Party, (a) in the case of such
a contract or commitment, which is (i) legally binding, or (ii) although not
legally binding because of termination rights, unexercised renewal or extension
rights (express or implied), price reopener provisions, open delivery dates,
open quantities or other open terms of sale, constitutes, in the good faith
judgment of Arch, a commercial commitment to sell coal of a specified quality or
reasonable range of qualities to a customer for deliveries within a specified
Fiscal Year or Years in specified quantities (within 10% plus or minus for any
Fiscal Year) that is customarily honored in the coal industry and the honoring
of which is in the best interests of Arch, (b) in the case of such a firm offer,
which specifies the quantity, quality, price, delivery dates and any other
principal terms customarily quoted in the coal trade and the period during which
such offer is firm and open for acceptance by the offeree and (c) in either
case, which is entered into on or after the Effective Time, in accordance with
the provisions of this Agreement, provided that, prior to entering into such
contract or commitment, or making 

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
such firm offer, Arch shall have designated such contract, commitment or offer
as a Sales Commitment for all purposes of this Agreement by notice to Carboex,
specifying the quantity, quality and price of coal committed thereby for each
Fiscal Year for which, in the good faith judgment of Arch, such contract,
commitment or offer constitutes a Sales Commitment within the meaning of the
foregoing.

     1.22 "Shares" shall mean any of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
the Company.

     1.23 "Subsidiary" shall mean, with respect to any corporation, any other
corporation more than 50% of whose voting shares or equivalent interests or
ownership interests are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly through one
or more Subsidiaries, by the former corporation.

     1.24 "Third Party" shall mean any Person other than (a) Carboex or any
Affiliate of Carboex, or (b) Arch.

     1.25 "Unfilled Off-Take" shall mean the Off-Take Tonnage for such Fiscal
Year which is not at the time covered by Sales Commitments with Carboex.

                                      10
<PAGE>
 
2.0  OFF-TAKE RIGHTS
     ---------------

     2.1  Priority Rights.  Pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, Carboex
          ---------------                                                   
shall have a priority right to purchase from Arch for delivery during any given
Fiscal Year a quantity of coal equal to the Off-Take Tonnage for such Fiscal
Year and certain additional Spot Tonnage pursuant to Section 3 3; provided,
                                                                  -------- 
however, that, except as provided in Section 3.3 hereof, such priority right
- -------                                                                     
shall not entitle Carboex to enter into new Sales Commitments for aggregate
quantities of coal for delivery during a given Fiscal Year in excess of
Available Tonnage for such Fiscal Year.

     2.2  Increases in Tonnage.  Arch shall use reasonable efforts to cause
          --------------------                                             
Saleable Tonnage to increase from Fiscal Year to Fiscal Year in order to provide
for delivery of the quantity of coal representing the Off-Take Tonnage.  In case
Arch shall fail to achieve the production levels to have available its Saleable
Tonnage, Arch shall use reasonable efforts to reduce Sales Commitments with
Third Parties which are not legally binding so that it will have Available
Tonnage in each Fiscal Year during the term of this Agreement in a quantity up
to the Unfilled Off-Take for such Fiscal Year, for which Carboex shall have
offered firmly to enter into comparable Sales Commitments.

                                      11
<PAGE>
 
     2.3  New or Increased Sales Commitments.  Arch shall not enter into any new
          ----------------------------------                                    
Sales Commitment with a Third Party or increase by more than 10% the quantity of
coal to be delivered in any Fiscal Year under any existing Sales Commitment with
a Third Party except for short-term Sales Commitments for delivery of coal in
any Fiscal Year entered into after October 1 of the preceding Fiscal Year in
accordance with Section 3.2, sales of Spot Tonnage in accordance with Section
3.3, and Long-Term Sales Commitments entered into in accordance with Section
3.4.  For all purposes of this Agreement, Saleable Tonnage, Off-Take Tonnage and
Committed Tonnage for any Fiscal Year beyond the coverage of the then-current
Long-Term Plan shall be deemed to be the same as Saleable Tonnage, Off-Take
Tonnage and Committed Tonnage for the last Fiscal Year of such Long-Term Plan,
adjusted, in the case of Committed Tonnage, to reflect known changes in Long-
Term Sales Commitments.

3.0  OFFER PROCEDURE
     ---------------

     3.1  Written Estimates.  Not later than August lst of each Fiscal Year,
          -----------------                                                 
Carboex shall provide Arch with its written estimate of those quantities of coal
which it wishes to purchase from Arch for delivery during the next Fiscal Year
and during each of the succeeding Fiscal Years to be covered by the Long-Term
Plan. Such

                                      12
<PAGE>
 
written estimates shall include reasonable details of qualities and delivery
dates for such coal.

     3.2  Annual Offers.  Not later than October 1st of each Fiscal Year, Arch
          -------------                                                       
shall notify Carboex as to the Saleable Tonnage, Committed Tonnage and Available
Tonnage, and its Unfilled Off-Take for the next Fiscal Year covered by the
Annual Operating Plan and for each succeeding Fiscal Year covered by the Long-
Term Plan.  If requested by Carboex prior to October 31, Arch will forthwith
commence good faith negotiations with Carboex to reach Sales Commitments for
delivery of coal in the next Fiscal Year in an aggregate quantity equal to the
lesser of (i) the quantity requested by Carboex, (ii) Available Tonnage for such
Fiscal Year, or (iii) the Unfilled Off-Take of Carboex for such Fiscal Year.
Arch shall be free to enter into Sales Commitments with Third Parties or Carboex
covering any Available Tonnage for such next Fiscal Year as to which no
negotiations are requested by Carboex prior to August 1st ("Free Tonnage").
Arch shall not be obligated to negotiate Sales Commitments with Carboex pursuant
to this Section 3.2 after December 31 of any year with respect to the next
immediate succeeding Fiscal Year.  Any Available Tonnage which is covered by a
request for negotiations with Carboex pursuant to this

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
Section 3.2 ("Annual Negotiation Tonnage") and which is not covered by a Sales
Commitment entered into by Carboex and Arch on or before December 31 of the year
in question, shall be deemed free for sale by Arch to Third Parties; provided,
                                                                     -------- 
however, that, except pursuant to Section 3.3 concerning spot offers and Section
- -------                                                                         
3.4 concerning Long-Term Sales Commitments, prior to entering into a Sales
Commitment to sell any Annual Negotiation Tonnage to a Third Party, Arch shall
give notice to Carboex, specifying the principal terms and conditions (including
prices, quantity, quality and delivery periods) of such proposed Sales
Commitment and transmitting a copy or draft thereof, if available, and if such
terms and conditions of sale (including prices, quantity, quality and delivery
periods) are equivalent to, or less favorable to Arch than, the terms and
conditions (including prices, quantity, quality and delivery periods) last
offered by Carboex in the negotiations conducted pursuant to this Section 3.2,
Carboex shall have the right, exercisable by written notice to Arch within five
(5) business days after receipt of such notice from Arch, to enter into a Sales
Commitment to purchase all (but not less than all) of the Annual Negotiation
Tonnage bid for by such Third Party upon terms and

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
conditions substantially equivalent to those offered by such Third Party.

     3.3  Spot Offers.  Arch shall promptly notify Carboex as to the
          -----------                                               
availability of any coal which becomes Free Tonnage, New Saleable Tonnage or
Decommitted Tonnage (specifying the Sales Commitment from which such Decommitted
Tonnage became available) during the current Fiscal Year and if Arch shall
propose to sell such tonnage on a spot or short-term basis (hereinafter "Spot
Tonnage"), Arch shall first offer to sell such Spot Tonnage to Carboex by notice
specifying the quantity, quality and delivery date(s) thereof and the asking
price therefor.  Upon receipt Of such offer Carboex shall have the right,
exercisable by notice to Arch within five (5) business days (or, with respect to
short-term sales, such longer period as may be appropriate in accordance with
proposed shipping schedules not to exceed thirty (30) days after the date of
such notice but in any event not later than ten (10) days prior to the loading
date proposed by Arch), to accept such offer and purchase all or any part of
such Spot Tonnage at such asking price and upon such terms or to make a counter-
offer (open for such period as may be specified by Carboex) to purchase all or
any part of such Spot Tonnages at a bid price and upon other terms

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
specified in such notice of counter-offer from Carboex.  In case Carboex shall
reject such offer from Arch, Arch shall be free to sell such Spot Tonnage to a
Third Party at any time and upon any terms and conditions and without any
further obligations to Carboex hereunder.  In case any such Spot Tonnage shall
not have been sold by acceptance of such offer and/or counter-offer but Carboex
shall have made a counteroffer, Arch may, during the period ending thirty (30)
days after Arch's original offer, sell such Spot Tonnage to a Third Party,
provided that Arch shall not sell any such Spot Tonnage at a price more than 3%
below the bid price or upon other terms and conditions less favorable to Arch
than those contained in such counter-offer without first offering to sell Spot
Tonnage to Carboex at such lower price and upon such less favorable terms, by
notice as provided in the first sentence of this Section 3.3; upon receipt of
such notice, Carboex shall have the right, exercisable by notice to Arch within
two (2) business days, to accept such offer and purchase all of such Spot
Tonnage upon such terms.

     3.4  Long-Term Sales Commitments.  (a) If requested by Carboex at any time,
          ---------------------------                                           
Arch will forthwith commence good faith negotiations (subject to the rights of
Arch pursuant to Section 3.4(b) to propose to sell coal to a Third Party) with
Carboex to reach

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
Long-Term Sales Commitments in an aggregate quantity for any Fiscal Year(s)
equal to the lesser of (i) the quantity requested by Carboex for each such
Fiscal Year, or (ii) the Unfilled Off-Take for each such Fiscal Year.  In the
course of these negotiations, Carboex may request from Arch a firm offer, open
for a period of at least 60 days, and such request for a firm offer shall not be
unreasonably denied by Arch.  Arch shall keep Carboex informed concerning any
substantial Long-Term Sales Commitment negotiations with Third Parties.

     (b) In case Arch shall at any time propose to enter into a Long-Term Sales
Commitment to sell coal to a Third Party, Arch shall give notice of such
proposed Long-Term Sales Commitment to Carboex, specifying the term, quantities,
quality, delivery dates, prices and other terms and conditions thereof and
transmitting a copy or draft of such Long-Term Sales Commitment, if available.
Upon receipt of such notice, Carboex shall have the right, exercisable by notice
to Arch within 30 days after receipt of Arch's notice, to negotiate and enter
into a Long-Term Sales Commitment with Arch to purchase coal covered by such
notice in quantities in any Fiscal Year up to the Unfilled Off-Take of Carboex
for such Fiscal Year and upon terms (including prices and

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
delivery times) no more favorable to Arch than those specified in such notice.
If Carboex shall not elect to negotiate or enter into such Long-Term Sales
Commitment, Arch may, within 60 days after the expiration of such 30-day period,
enter into a Long-Term Sales Commitment with a Third Party to sell such
quantities and quality of coal at such delivery times and at prices and upon
other terms and conditions no less favorable to Arch than those specified in
such notice.  Such 30 or 60-day periods may be extended for a reasonable amount
of time upon the prior written consent of the Company and Carboex.

4.0  DELIVERY AND HANDLING OF COAL FOR EXPORT
     ----------------------------------------

     4.1  Export Qualities.  Arch shall use reasonable efforts to offer for sale
          ----------------                                                      
to Carboex export quality coal.  Any Sales Commitment with Carboex shall include
customary export terms and conditions.

     4.2  Shipment.  Arch shall have the responsibility for coordinating the
          --------                                                          
production or purchase of coal with the transportation and transshipment thereof
into ocean vessels if so requested by Carboex.

     4.3  Overseas Shipments.  Coal purchased for export hereunder shall be
          ------------------                                               
purchased F.O.B. vessel New Orleans, F.O.B. cars/piers

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
Hampton Roads or F.O.B. any other ocean port, and Carboex agrees to be
responsible for the overseas shipments of coal so delivered. The responsibility
for overseas shipments includes the obtaining of import licenses, unloading the
coal and the transshipment of coal to the final destinations.  Carboex agrees to
cooperate in regard to ocean shipping to reduce the costs and delays in the
export of coal from the United States.

5.O  SALE CONTRACTS
     --------------

     5.1  Terms of Sale.  All negotiations hereunder as to the terms and
          -------------                                                 
conditions of sale of coal to Carboex shall be conducted by Arch's management on
an arm's length basis.  Terms and conditions of sale shall be agreed upon by
Carboex and Arch separately for each Sales Commitment, provided that Arch and
Carboex may separately agree from time to time to general terms and conditions
which shall apply with respect to purchases Of Spot Tonnage pursuant to Section
3.3 hereof.

     5.2  Determination of Price.  Prices negotiated hereunder shall be
          ----------------------                                       
negotiated on the basis of prevailing market conditions for sales of comparable
quantities, qualities and destination, and shall take into account any savings
of selling expenses by Arch. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
each Qualifying

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
Contract will provide that if, during the term thereof, Arch shall enter into
one or more Comparable Contracts, and if during any period or periods the price
in effect in any of such Comparable Contracts is lower than the price in the
Qualifying Contract, then the price in the Qualifying Contract during such
period or periods shall be reduced to the lowest price of the prices then in
effect in such Comparable Contracts.  In determining, for purposes of this
paragraph, whether a contract is a Long-Term Contract within the meaning of the
Comparable Contract definition, the term shall be deemed to expire at such time
as the contract will terminate should the parties fail to reach agreement on
price if the contract contains price reopener provisions.

6.0  ADDITIONAL PURCHASES
     --------------------

     6.1  Purchasing Agent.  Arch agrees to offer its services, at standard
          ----------------                                                 
brokerage commissions, to Carboex for purchasing coal for the account of Carboex
from other United States sources if Arch is not able to supply this coal from
Available Tonnage or Spot Tonnage.

     6.2  Additional Sales.  Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent Carboex
          ----------------                                                  
from negotiating on an arm's length basis with the management of Arch to
purchase, whether on a long-term, annual or

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
spot basis, quantities of coal in excess of its Off-Take Tonnage for a given
Fiscal Year.

7.0  MISCELLANEOUS
     -------------

     7.1  Term.  This Agreement shall become effective as of the Effective Time
          ----                                                                 
and shall continue in full force and effect until the date Carboex and its
Affiliates no longer beneficially own at least 63% of the shares of the
Company's capital stock that Carboex obtained at the Effective Time in the
conversion under the Merger Agreement, provided, however, that existing Sales
                                       --------  -------                     
Commitments between Arch and Carboex shall continue in full force and effect in
accordance with their terms after the termination of this Agreement.

     7.2  Computation of Time Periods.  The words "day" or "days" as used in
          ---------------------------                                       
this Agreement with respect to the computation of periods of time shall mean
calendar days and the words "business day" or "business days" as used in this
Agreement with respect to the computation of periods of time shall mean any day
that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other holiday in the state of the Company's
corporate headquarters or Madrid, Spain; provided, however, that if the last day
                                         --------  -------                      
of any period of time shall fall on a day other than a business day, such period
shall be extended to include the next

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
succeeding business day in each such location.  All computations of time shall
be based on New York City time.

     7.3  Amendments; Waivers.  This Agreement may not be amended or modified in
          -------------------                                                   
any manner, except by an instrument in writing signed by each of the parties
hereto.  The failure of any party hereto to enforce at any time any of the
provisions of this Agreement shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of any
such provision, or the right of any party thereafter to enforce each and every
such provision.  No waiver of any breach of this Agreement shall be held to be a
waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

     7.4  Binding Effect and Assignability.  The Company shall cause each of its
          --------------------------------                                      
Subsidiaries to perform and comply with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement.  This Agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns; provided that (a) the
Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder, in whole or in part,
without the prior written consent of Carboex, and (b) Carboex may assign or
transfer its rights and obligations hereunder, in whole or in part, to any
Affiliate (and upon any such assignment and assumption by the Affiliate, Carboex
shall, with the written consent of the Company, be released from all further
obligations

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
hereunder to the extent so assigned and assumed).  Any Affiliate which is an
assignee of Carboex and whose credit rating is not approved by the Company, at
any time, for execution of Sales Commitments pursuant to this Agreement shall
have its obligations guaranteed by Carboex.  In case of any assignment or
transfer of rights hereunder pursuant to the foregoing clause (b), a pro rata
share of the existing Sales Commitments of Carboex for each Fiscal Year after
the assignment or transfer shall be deducted in calculating the Unfilled Off-
Take of Carboex for each Fiscal Year.

     7.5  Notices.  All notices, requests, demands and other communications
          -------                                                          
hereunder shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by first class
airmail, or by telex or telecopy, confirmed by such mail:

     1.   Arch Mineral Corporation
          Suite 300
          CityPlace One
          St. Louis, Missouri 63141
          Attention: Senior Vice President-Marketing

          (After the Effective Time, notices shall be directed to "Arch Coal,
          Inc." instead of "Arch Mineral Corporation").

     2.   Ashland Coal, Inc
          P. O. Box 6300
          Huntington, West Virginia, U.S.A.
          Attention: Senior Vice President-Marketing

     3.   Carboex International Ltd.
          Calle Manuel Cortina
          No. 2
          Madrid 10
          Spain
          Attention:  Assistant to the Chairman


                                       23
<PAGE>
 
or such other address as may be designated by any party to the other parties
hereto.  Any notice or other communication so transmitted shall be deemed to
have been given at the time of delivery, in the case of a communication
delivered personally, on the business day following receipt of answerback or
telecopy confirmation, in the case of a communication sent by telex or telecopy,
or ten days after mailing, in the case of a communication sent by mail.

     7.6  Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement should be or become
          ------------                                                         
fully or partly invalid or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever or should
violate any applicable law, this Agreement is to be considered divisible as to
such provision and such provision is to be deemed deleted from this Agreement,
and the remainder of this Agreement shall be valid and binding as such provision
were not included therein.  There shall be substituted for any such provision
deemed to be deleted a suitable provision which, as far as is legally possible,
comes nearest to what the parties desired or would have desired according to the
sense and

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
purpose of this Agreement, had they considered the point when concluding this
agreement.

     7.7  Publicity.  No party shall release any publicity with respect to this
          ---------                                                            
Agreement or any other transactions herein contemplated without the prior
written approval of the other party, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld.

     7.8  Counterparts; Headings.  This Agreement may be executed in several
          ----------------------                                            
counterparts and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts together
shall constitute but one and the same instrument. The headings in this Agreement
are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction
hereof.

     7.9  Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
          -------------                                                        
accordance with, the laws of the State of West Virginia.

     7.10 Termination of ACI Restated Coal Off-Take Agreement. Ashland Coal and
          ---------------------------------------------------
Carboex agree that each of the ACI Restated Coal Off-Take Agreement and the 1991
Letter Agreement is terminated and all rights and obligations of the parties
thereto are extinguished, in each case as of the Effective Time. Notwithstanding
the

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
foregoing, any claims and liabilities arising under the ACI Restated Coal Off-
Take Agreement and the 1991 Letter Agreement prior to such termination shall
survive such termination and the termination of this Agreement, and all Sales
Commitments between ACI and Carboex in effect at the Effective Time shall
continue in full force and effect in accordance with their terms after the
termination of the ACI Restated Coal Off-Take Agreement and 1991 Letter
Agreement.

8.0  AGREEMENT TO LIMIT OFF-TAKE
     ---------------------------

     Carboex agrees upon the Effective Time and thereafter so long as the Met
Coal Agreement continues in effect, that Carboex may exercise its rights under
this Agreement only for the purchase of coal to be consumed (i) in Spain, or
(ii) by power plants that may hereafter be constructed outside of Spain in which
Carboex or an Affiliate of Carboex holds an equity ownership position.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day
and year first written above.

ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION            CARBOEX INTERNATIONAL, LTD.
By: /s/ Steven F. Leer              By: /s/ Juan A. Ferrando
Its: Pres. & CEO                    Its: Director

                                       26
<PAGE>
 
ASHLAND COAL, INC.
By: /s/ William C. Payne
Its: President

                                       27
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT A

Restated Coal Off-Take Agreement among Saarbergwerke AG, Carboex International.
Ltd. and Ashland Coal, Inc. is incorporated herein by reference  (Exhibit 10.1
to Ashland Coal, Inc.'s Form 8-K dated April 6, 1992)

                                       28
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT B
                                    Ashland

                              ASHLAND COAL, INC.

              P O BOX 6300 HUNTINGTON, WV 25771 . (304) 526-3333



                                    December 12, 1991

Saarbergwerke AG
P.O. Box 1030
D 6000 Saarbruecken
Federal Republic of Germany
ATT: Mr. Hans Freymann

Carboex International Ltd.
Calle Manuel Cortina
2-Madrid-28010, Spain
ATT: Mr. Juan Antonio Ferrando


                        Coal Sales Agency Agreement for
                   Metallurgical Coal/Restricted Application
                          of Coal Off-Take Agreement

Dear Sirs:

     This letter sets forth an agreement among Ashland Coal, Inc., Saarbergwerke
AG ("Saarberg") and Carboex International Ltd. ("Carboex"), with respect to the
limitation on the purchasing rights of Saarberg and Carboex under the Coal Off-
Take Agreement ("COTA") during the continuation of the Coal Sales Agency
Agreement ("CSAA") executed concurrently herewith by our respective companies.

     We hereby agree that for such time as the CSAA continues in effect,
Saarberg and Carboex may utilize the COTA only for the purchase of coal to be
consumed (i) in their respective home countries, or (ii) by power plants that
may hereafter be constructed outside their respective home countries in which
they hold, respectively, an equity ownership position.
<PAGE>
 
Saarbergwerke AG
Carboex International Ltd.
December 12, 1991
Page Two


     Please confirm your agreement to the foregoing by signing in the space
provided below on the original and two copies of this letter, and returning the
original and one copy to the undersigned.


                              Yours very truly,


                              ASHLAND COAL, INC.

                              /s/ Henry Besten, Jr.
                              C. Henry Besten, Jr.
                              Senior Vice President,
                              Marketing


Agreement confirmed this 12th
day of December, 1991:

SAARBERGWERKE AG

By:  [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
     Name:
     Title:

Agreement confirmed this 12th
day of December, 1991:

CARBOEX INTERNATIONAL LTD.

By:  /s/ Juan Antonio Ferrando
     Name: Juan Antonio Ferrando
     Title: Director
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT C
                [LETTERHEAD OF ASHLAND COAL, INC. APPEARS HERE]

ASHLAND COAL, INC.

                                 March 9, 1995


Saarbergwerke AG
P.O. Box 1030
D66111 Saarbruecken
Federal Republic of Germany


Gentlemen:

     As a result of the sale by Saarbergwerke AG ("Saarberg") to Ashland Inc.
(formerly Ashland Oil, Inc.) of the 150 shares of Class B Preferred Stock of
Ashland Coal, Inc. ("Ashland Coal"), a number of miscellaneous matters have
arisen which have been or need to be dealt with. In order to clarify that we
have addressed each of these matters, would you kindly review the following:

          1.   Ashland Coal has elected not to terminate the so-called "Met Coal
     Agreement" (the Coal Sales Agency Agreement dated December 12, 1991, as
     amended) and a separate letter of understanding among Saarberg, Carboex
     International Ltd. ("Carboex"), and Ashland Coal will address that matter.

          2.   The Sales Agency Agreement dated October 4, 1990 concerning the
     sale of coal in Germany will remain unchanged.

          3.   I believe we have resolved the matter of the reinvestment by
     Saarberg in the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan of the
     Saarberg portion of the prorated dividends payable in 1995. We may need a
     letter from Ashland Inc. to First Chicago, but I have talked with Ashland
     Inc. about that and there should not be a problem.

          4.   I understand that the Indemnity Agreement dated September 21,
     1981, as amended August 6, 1993, between Ashland Inc. and Saarberg has been
     addressed separately, and no further action is needed.

          In addition, we need to confirm that the following agreements have
terminated with respect to Saarberg's rights and obligations thereunder:

               (a) The Restated Shareholders Agreement dated December
               12, 1991, as amended, among Saarberg, Carboex, Ashland
               Inc., and Ashland Coal;
<PAGE>
 
Saarbergwerke, AG
March 9, 1995
Page Two

               (b) The Registration Rights Agreement dated August 2, 1993, among
               Saarberg, Carboex, Ashland Inc., and Ashland Coal;

               (c) The Restated Coal Off-Take Agreement dated December 12, 1991,
               among Saarberg, Carboex, and Ashland Coal;

               (d) The Shareholder Services Contract dated October 13, 1981
               among Ashland Coal, Saarberg and Carboex; and,

               (e) That certain letter agreement dated August 10, 1988 among
               Ashland Inc., Ashland Coal, Saarberg, and Carboex regarding the
               attendance at Ashland Coal's Board meetings of non-voting
               observers.

     Would you kindly confirm your agreement with the foregoing, by signing,
dating, and returning a copy of this letter to me. Also, if there are any other
matters that need to be addressed, please let me know.

                              Yours very truly,

                              ASHLAND COAL, INC.

                              /s/ Roy F. Layman

                              Roy F. Layman
                              Administrative Vice President


ACCEPTED AND AGREED TO
THIS 27th DAY OF March
1995.

SAARBERGWERKE, AG.

     By:  [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]    [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
     Its: Member of the Board         Executive Vice President
          of Managing Directors       and General Counsel

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 10.2

                            SALES AGENCY AGREEMENT


     AGREEMENT, executed as of April 4, 1997, among ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION, a
Delaware corporation ("Arch Mineral"), ASHLAND COAL, INC., a Delaware
corporation ("ACI") and CARBOEX S.A. (formerly known as SOCIEDAD ESPANOLA DE
CARBON EXTERIOR. S.A.), a company organized under the laws of Spain ("Carboex");
 
     RECITALS.  ACI and Carboex are parties to that certain Sales Agency
     --------                                                           
Agreement (the "1982 Agency Agreement") dated as of February 27, 1982, a copy of
which is attached hereto as Exhibit A.  ACI and Arch Mineral are parties to an
Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") dated as of April 4, 1997,
among ACI, Arch Mineral and AMC Merger Corporation providing for a business
combination of ACI and AMC and the conversion of Carboex International Ltd.'s
("CIL") Class C Preferred Stock of ACI to shares of Arch Mineral common stock as
of the Effective Time (as that term is defined in the Merger Agreement).  CIL is
a wholly owned subsidiary of Carboex.  In light of the transactions contemplated
in the Merger Agreement, ACI and Carboex wish to terminate the 1982 Agency
Agreement as of the Effective Time, and ACI is entering into this Agreement for
that purpose, and subject to and conditioned upon the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, Arch Mineral and Carboex wish
to enter into this Sales Agency Agreement effective as of the Effective Time.

     AGREEMENT.  In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein, the
     ---------                                                                  
parties hereto agree as follows:

     1.   As used in this Agreement, "Customer" shall mean a company or any
subsidiaries and affiliates thereof, other than Carboex and its subsidiaries and
affiliates, which (i) consumes coal in Spain and/or Morocco, (ii) is owned
principally by Spanish and/or Moroccan interests, or (iii) is part of a business
enterprise whose controlling management is headquartered in Spain or Morocco.

     2.   Subject to and without limiting the terms of that certain Coal Sales
Agency Agreement dated as of April 4, 1997, among Arch Mineral, Carboex and
Saarbergwerke AG ("Saarberg") in respect of sales of metallurgical coal in
(among other countries) Morocco (the "Met Coal Agreement"), Arch Mineral hereby
appoints Carboex as the exclusive agent of Arch Mineral for the purpose of
selling, on behalf of Arch Mineral or its subsidiaries, coal to Customers for
consumption in Spain and/or Morocco, as the case may be.

     3.   Arch Mineral shall pay to Carboex, as compensation for the services of
Carboex under this Agreement, a commission (determined as specified in paragraph
4 of this Agreement) upon
<PAGE>
 
each ton of coal which is sold by Arch Mineral or its subsidiary to a Customer
for consumption in Spain and/or Morocco, and which is delivered and paid for.
No commission shall be paid upon any coal not delivered and paid for,
irrespective of the reason for such non-delivery or non-payment.  Carboex shall
not be entitled to payment for any expenses incurred in connection with its
services hereunder, it being understood that payment of the commission will be
full compensation to Carboex.

     4.   The commission payable to Carboex under paragraph 3 hereof shall be
two percent of the selling price of the coal FOB the mine, irrespective of
whether the actual selling price is on an FOB the mine basis.  It is understood
that where coal is transported by rail to a barge loading facility, the price of
the coal FOB the mine means the price FOB the point of loading into the railcar.
It is further understood that where coal is trucked directly from the mine to a
barge loading facility, the price of the coal FOB the mine means the price FOB
the point of loading into the barge.

     5.   The commission shall be payable to Carboex within 10 days after the
receipt by Arch Mineral of payment for the coal.

     6.   Carboex shall use its best efforts to promote the sale of Arch Mineral
coal in Spain and Morocco to the maximum extent possible, subject, in the case
of Spain, to any limitation imposed by the government of Spain as to
diversification of sources of supply.  Carboex shall keep Arch Mineral informed
as to Spanish and Moroccan markets. Except as otherwise agreed and subject to
paragraphs 7 and 8 hereof, it is the express understanding of the parties hereto
that Carboex, as Arch Mineral's exclusive agent hereunder, will be in charge of
all discussions with Customers as to coal for consumption in Spain and/or
Morocco.

     7.   Except as otherwise expressly agreed, neither Carboex nor its
affiliates shall have any authority to bind Arch Mineral or its subsidiaries in
any respect, to determine price or any other term of sale, to execute sales
contracts or to receive payments from the purchaser, including Customer. Such
contracts shall be made in the name of Arch Mineral or its subsidiaries.

     8.   In the event Carboex fails to use its best efforts to sell Arch
Mineral coal not otherwise subject to the Met Coal Agreement to Customers
located in Spain and/or Morocco, Arch Mineral may give Carboex written notice of
such failure, and if such failure is not cured within a period of six months
from receipt of such notice, then Arch Mineral shall have the right to use its
own sales force to sell to such Customers, but Carboex shall remain entitled to
its commission under paragraph 3 of this Agreement and, when and if Carboex
resumes best efforts to sell, as

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
determined by Arch Mineral in its sole discretion, Arch Mineral shall withdraw
its sales force.

     9.   Carboex shall not assign this agreement without the prior written
consent of Arch Mineral.  Arch Mineral hereby consents to an assignment to a
company in which Carboex has no less than a 51% ownership interest.

     10.  Arch Mineral shall have the right to terminate this Agreement whenever
(i) the ownership interest of Carboex in an assignee of this Agreement becomes
less than 51%, (ii) CIL and its affiliates no longer beneficially own at least
63% of shares of the capital stock of Arch Mineral obtained by CIL in the
conversion under the Merger Agreement at the Effective Time.

Carboex shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time upon two
years' prior written notice to Arch Mineral.

     11.  This Agreement shall become effective at the Effective Time as that
term is defined in the Merger Agreement.

     12.  It is the intent of the parties to this Agreement that, so long as
Carboex has "Unfilled Off-Take" as defined in that certain Coal Off-Take
Agreement dated April 4, 1997, between Arch Mineral and Carboex ("COTA"), all
quantities of coal upon which Carboex is entitled to a commission under this
Agreement shall be deducted from Carboex's "Off-Take Tonnage" as defined in
COTA. However, the parties also recognize that such deduction from Off-Take
Tonnage may not always be appropriate.  Therefore, in all circumstances, the
parties hereto agree to review each contract subject to this paragraph 12 and
further agree not to make any such deduction without the prior written consent
of each party.

     13.  Each of ACI and Carboex acknowledge and agree that there are no
outstanding obligations of or claims by either of them under the 1982 Agency
Agreement as of the execution date of this Agreement, and each agrees that the
1982 Agency Agreement is terminated and that all rights and obligations
thereunder are extinguished, in each case as of the Effective Time.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any claims or liabilities arising prior to such
termination shall survive such termination and the termination of this
Agreement, and all sales commitments entered into by ACI pursuant to the 1982
Agency Agreement in effect at the Effective Time shall continue in full force
and effect in accordance with their terms after the termination of this
Agreement.

     14.  This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts and by the
different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day
and year first above written.

 
                                 ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION

                                 By: /s/ Steven F. Leer

                                 Its: President & CEO


                                 ASHLAND COAL, INC.

                                 By: William C. Payne

                                 Its: President 

 
                                 CARBOEX S.A.

                                 By: /s/ Juan A. Ferrando

                                 Its: Senior-Vice President 

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                             SALES AGENCY AGREEMENT

Sales Agency Agreement between Ashland Coal, Inc. and Sociedad Espanola De
Carbon Exterior, S.A., dated as of February 27, 1982, is incorporated herein by
reference(Exhibit 10.28 to Ashland Coal, Inc.'s Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1995)

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 10.3
                     ASSIGNMENT, ASSUMPTION AND AMENDMENT
                     ------------------------------------
                                      OF
                                      --
                          COAL SALES AGENCY AGREEMENT
                          ---------------------------


     THIS AGREEMENT is executed this 4th day of April, 1997, by and among ARCH
MINERAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Arch Mineral"); ASHLAND COAL,
INC., a Delaware, corporation ("ACI"); and SAARBERGWERKE AG ("SAG") and CARBOEX
INTERNATIONAL, LTD. ("CBX"), companies organized under the laws of the Federal
Republic of Germany and the Bahamas, respectively (hereinafter SAG and CBX are
together referred to as "Sales Agent").

                                  WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, ACI and Sales Agent are parties to that certain Coal Sales Agency
Agreement dated as of December 12, 1991 as amended by an Amendment No. 1 to Coal
Sales Agency Agreement dated January 26, 1993, and a letter agreement dated
March 27, 1995, attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Coal Sales Agency
Agreement"); and

     WHEREAS, ACI and Arch Mineral are parties to that certain Agreement and
Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") dated as of April 4, 1997, among Arch
Mineral, ACI, and AMC Merger Corporation, which Merger Agreement provides for a
business combination of ACI and Arch Mineral, the changing of the name of Arch
Mineral to Arch Coal, Inc. ("Arch Coal") and the conversion of outstanding ACI
capital stock to Arch Mineral capital stock as of the Effective Time (as that
term is defined in the Merger Agreement); and

     WHEREAS, in light of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement,
ACI desires to assign and Sales Agent desires ACI
<PAGE>
 
to assign, all ACI's interest under the Coal Sales Agency Agreement to Arch
Mineral and ACI is entering into this Agreement solely for that purpose; and

     WHEREAS, contingent upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by the Merger Agreement and beginning at the Effective Time, Arch Mineral
desires to utilize exclusively the marketing and technical services of Sales
Agent to develop and promote the long-term sale of high vol coking coal and PCI
product produced from coal reserves presently and in the future controlled by
Arch Mineral and its subsidiaries (the "Products") for use in the steel making
process in those countries listed on Schedule 1 attached hereto (the "Area of
Responsibility"; and each country therein, an "Area Country") by accepting ACI's
assignment and assuming all of ACI's obligations under the Coal Sales Agency
Agreement, in each case as of the Effective Time; and

     WHEREAS, Sales Agent desires to evidence its consent to such assignment and
assumption; and

     WHEREAS, concurrently with the effectiveness of the assignment and
assumption, Sales Agent and Arch Mineral wish to amend the Coal Sales Agency
Agreement as herein provided; and

     WHEREAS, for convenience Arch Mineral is hereinafter referred to as Arch
Coal.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
herein contained and the mutual benefit to be derived therefrom, the parties
agree as follows:

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     1.   Assignment.
          ---------- 

     ACI assigns to Arch Coal all of ACI's right, title and interest in and to
the Coal Sales Agency Agreement and delegates to Arch Coal all of ACI's duties
and obligations thereunder, in each case effective as of the Effective Time, and
thereupon ACI shall be released from any liability to Sales Agent arising out of
the performance or non-performance of the Coal Sales Agency Agreement at or
after the Effective Time, provided, however, that ACI's assignment and Arch
                          --------  -------                                
Coal's assumption shall not operate as an assignment and assumption of, or
otherwise affect, any sales contract or commitment entered into by ACI prior,
on, or after the Effective Time, or its rights to payment with respect thereto.

     2.   Assumption.
          ---------- 

     Arch Coal hereby accepts assignment from ACI of such right, title and
interest in and under the Coal Sales Agency Agreement and agrees to fully assume
and perform all of the duties and obligations of ACI thereunder from and after
the Effective Time, provided, however, that Arch Coal's acceptance and
                    --------  -------                                 
assumption herein shall not be deemed to obligate Arch Coal in any respect under
any sales contract or commitment entered into by ACI on, or after the Effective
Time, including with respect to ACI's obligation to supply coal thereunder.

     3.   Consent.
          ------- 

     Sales Agent hereby consents to the assignment of the Coal Sales Agency
Agreement by ACI to Arch Coal and Arch Coal's assumption of all the duties and
obligations of ACI.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     4.   Amendments.
          ---------- 

     Each of Arch Coal and the Sales Agent agree that the Coal Sales Agency
Agreement shall be amended as follows from and after the Effective Time:

(a)  The first sentence of Section 3 is amended and restated as follows:

     "Arch Coal shall make available a minimum of 250,000 tons (2,000 lbs.) of
     high vol coking coal to the extent produced from its properties (the
     "Committed Tonnage") per calendar year for sale by Arch Coal in acceptance
     of customer orders pursuant to this Agreement, provided, however, Sales
                                                    --------  -------       
     Agent shall have the right, upon written notice by the preceding October 31
     with respect to any calendar year during the term of this Agreement, to
     require that up to 82,500 tons (2,000 lbs.) of PCI product be available in
     place of high vol coking coal for sale during the succeeding calendar
     year."

(b)  Paragraph 5 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

"5.  Term.  This Agreement shall become effective as of the Effective Time, and
     ----                                                                      
     the initial term of this Agreement shall expire December 31, 2004.  The
     parties agree to discuss an elective extension of this Agreement at least
     one year prior to the expiration of this Agreement."

(c)  The second sentence of subsection (b) of Section 7 is amended and restated
     as follows:

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
               "A "Qualifying Disposition" shall mean disposition of all or any
               portion of Arch Coal stock held by CBX the effect of which is
               that CBX and its affiliates no longer beneficially own at least
               63 per cent of the Arch Coal stock obtained by CBX at the
               Effective Time in the conversion under the Merger Agreement."

     (d)  The first sentence of Section 12 is amended and restated as follows:

               "This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
               with the laws of the State of West Virginia, U.S.A., except for
               any conflict of laws rules which would require the application of
               the laws of any other jurisdiction."

     (e)  The addresses for notices to Arch Coal and CBX in Section 13 is
          amended and restated as follows:

Arch Mineral Corporation            Carboex International Ltd.
Suite 300                           Sasoon Building
CityPlace One                       Shirley Street & Victoria Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri 63141           P. O. Box N - 272
Attention: Senior Vice              Nassau, Bahamas
President-Marketing
Fax: (314) 994-2734
(After the Effective Time, notices shall be
directed instead to "Arch Coal, Inc.".)

     (f)  Schedule 1 is amended and restated as set forth in Annex 1 to this
          Agreement.

     (g)  Schedule 2 is amended and restated as set forth in Annex 2 to this
          Agreement.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
     5.   Governing Law.
          ------------- 

     This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of West Virginia, U.S.A., except for any conflict of laws or
rules which would require the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

     6.   Entire Agreement.
          ---------------- 

     This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto
respecting the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all prior oral or written
communications, and all contemporaneous oral agreements and understandings.
This Agreement may not be modified, supplemented, amended, explained or waived
by parole evidence, custom or customary dealings or practices between the
parties or in any other way, except in writing signed by the duly authorized
representatives of the parties.  This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be
executed by their respective duly authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.
 
                              ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
                              By: /s/ Steven F. Leer
                              Its: Pres. & CEO

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                              ASHLAND COAL, INC.
                              By: /s/ William C. Payne
                              Its: President

                              SAARBERGWERKE AG
                              By: [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                              Its: ________________________
 

                              CARBOEX INTERNATIONAL LTD.
                              By: /s/ Juan Antonio Ferrando
                              Its: Director

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
                                                                         ANNEX 1

                                  SCHEDULE 1

                            AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY*

          Albania                        Luxemburg
          Algeria                        Morocco
          Austria                        Netherlands
          Belgium                        Norway
          Bulgaria                       Poland
          countries comprising
           the former Czechoslovakia     Portugal

          Denmark                        Romania
          Egypt                          countries comprising
                                          the former Soviet Union
          Finland                        Sweden
          France                         Switzerland
          Greece                         Tunisia
          Hungary                        Turkey
          Ireland                        United Kingdom
          Italy                          Yugoslavia

* Territory presently comprising the listed countries, each herein referred to
  as an "Area Country".

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
                                                                         ANNEX 2

                                  SCHEDULE 2
                                        
     CARBOEX INTERNATIONAL LTD. ("CBX") has an existing relationship with
Ruhrkohle AG, pursuant to which, on an annually renegotiated basis, CBX supplies
coal to meet a portion of the annual requirements of TURKIYE DEMIR VE CELIK
ISLETMELERI ("TDCI"). CBX may continue to supply such coal to TDCI, pursuant to
the foregoing, without violating Section 8 of the Coal Sales Agency Agreement.

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                          COAL SALES AGENCY AGREEMENT

Coal Sales Agency Agreement between Ashland Coal, Inc., Saarbergwerke AG, and
Carboex International Ltd., dated December 12, 1991, is incorporated herein by
reference (Exhibit 10.31 to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1991, filed with the SEC on March 4, 1992)

                                       10

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 10.4


                         SHAREHOLDER SERVICES CONTRACT


     THIS SHAREHOLDER SERVICES CONTRACT ("Services Contract"), executed as of
April 4, 1997, by and among ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation,
with a mailing address of Suite 300, CityPlace One, St. Louis, Missouri 63141
("Arch Mineral"), ASHLAND COAL, INC., a Delaware corporation, with a mailing
address of P.O. Box 6300, Huntington, West Virginia 25771 ("Ashland Coal"),
CARBOEX INTERNATIONAL, LTD., a Bahamian corporation, with a mailing address of
Bolan House, P. O. Box N-3010, Nassau, Bahamas ("Carboex") and ASHLAND INC., a
Kentucky corporation, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 391, Ashland, Kentucky
41114 ("Ashland"), recites and provides as follows:

                                  WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, Ashland Coal, Ashland and Carboex are parties to that certain
Shareholders Services Contract dated October 13, 1981, originally among Ashland
Coal, Ashland and Saarberg Coal International GmbH ("SCI"), as amended by letter
agreement dated August 8, 1988 to add Carboex as a party effective February 7,
1982, and by letter agreement dated March 9, 1995, to remove Saarbergwerke AG,
legal successor to SCI, as a party to the Contract, a copy of which Shareholders
Services Contract, as amended, is attached as Exhibit A (the "ACI Shareholders
Services Contract"); and

     WHEREAS, Ashland Coal is party to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger
(the "Merger Agreement") dated as of April 4, 1997,
<PAGE>
 
among Arch Mineral, Ashland Coal, and AMC Merger Corporation providing for a
business combination of Ashland Coal and Arch Mineral and the conversion of
Ashland Coal's outstanding capital stock into shares of Arch Mineral common
stock as of the Effective Time (as that term is defined in the Merger Agreement)
and the changing of the name of Arch Mineral to Arch Coal, Inc. ("Arch Coal");
and

     WHEREAS, in light of the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement,
Ashland, Carboex and ACI wish to terminate the ACI Shareholders Services
Contract and ACI and Ashland are entering into this Services Contract solely for
that purpose; and

     WHEREAS, the Carboex may, from time to time, request Arch Mineral to
provide to it services not normally rendered to it as a shareholder; and

     WHEREAS, Arch Mineral and Carboex desire to evidence the terms and
conditions under which such services will be provided; and

     WHEREAS, for convenience of reference Arch Mineral is referred to herein as
Arch Coal;

     NOW THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual
benefit to be derived therefrom and the mutual covenants and agreements herein
contained, Arch Coal, Ashland Coal, Ashland and Carboex mutually agree as
follows:

     1.  From time to time the Carboex may desire Arch Coal to render services
to it in connection with its respective coal business other than with Arch Coal
and other than those services Arch Coal is required to perform for Carboex as a
shareholder, it

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
being intended that nothing contained herein shall in any way affect those
services or obligations owed by Arch Coal to Carboex as a shareholder. There
shall also be excluded from this Services Contract testing services provided by
Hobet Mining, Inc. in the ordinary and regular course of its business to
Carboex. Whenever services are desired, a representative of Carboex desiring
such services (the "Shareholder Representative") shall contact the President,
any Senior Vice President, or any Vice President of Arch Coal (the "Arch Coal
Representative") describing the nature of the services desired and when such
services are desired to be performed. The Arch Coal Representative shall advise
Carboex whether or not Arch Coal can perform such services and if they can be
timely performed. If the Shareholder Representative and the Arch Coal
Representative agree on the nature of the services to be performed and when they
shall be performed, Arch Coal shall provide such services upon an "if, as, and
when available" basis as determined solely by Arch Coal, but otherwise as
provided for in this Services Contract. It is understood that Arch Coal is only
agreeing to perform services for Carboex as herein provided and Arch Coal will
not be required or authorized to make any managerial decisions on behalf of
Carboex and shall have no responsibility for the ultimate use made by Carboex of
the services rendered by Arch Coal. The Shareholder Representative will be
designated by Carboex promptly after execution of this Services Contract.

     2.  Services provided by Arch Coal to Carboex will, to the extent possible,
be provided through the same or similarly

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
qualified personnel using the same or similar equipment and facilities which
Arch Coal uses for its own services of a similar nature. Arch Coal will give due
consideration to the recommendations of Carboex regarding the selection of
personnel, equipment and facilities; provided, however, the selection of
personnel, equipment and facilities shall always be within the sole discretion
of Arch Coal. The services shall at all times be performed expeditiously to the
best of Arch Coal's ability.

     3.  For the services provided by Arch Coal to Carboex hereunder, Carboex
agrees to pay Arch Coal for services rendered to it an amount of money
calculated by multiplying the number of hours spent by each exempt employee
performing such services by the Hourly Rate ("Hourly Rate") for such employee
for the category set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto and made a part hereof
to which such employee belongs. The Hourly Rate has been determined by (i)
taking the average of the salaries of those exempt employees for each category
(the "Category Salary") who it is believed will be providing such services and
dividing the Category Salary by 1,852 (which approximates each exempt employee's
available man hours per year), and adding to the result determined pursuant to
(i) above, (a) 35% of such result to cover fringe benefits and payroll taxes,
and (b) 42% of such result to cover administrative and overhead expenses. In
addition, Carboex shall reimburse Arch Coal for actual direct expenses (except
any such expenses included in the Hourly Rate) incurred by Arch Coal in
connection with providing services to Carboex. Time spent traveling in
connection with

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
providing such services shall be included as part of the time spent performing
such services. As used in this Services Contract, "exempt employee" means an
employee of Arch Coal within the meaning of 29 CFR Section 541 et seq. The
                                                               -- ---     
"Executive Officers" category set forth on Exhibit A shall include the President
and any Senior Vice President of Arch Coal, and the Presidents of Arch Coal's
operating subsidiaries. If an employee who provides services is a member of more
than one category set forth on Exhibit B, the highest rate shall apply.

     4.  On January 1 and July 1 ("Revisions Dates") of each year Arch Coal will
recalculate the Category Salary for each category set forth on Exhibit B using
the salaries then in effect for the exempt employees in each category and the
new Category Salary so calculated shall be used to redetermine the Hourly Rate
which redetermined Hourly Rate shall be effective until the next Revision Date.
Promptly after each recalculation, Arch Coal shall provide Carboex with the
redetermined Hourly Rate for each category set forth on Exhibit B.

     5.  This Services Contract shall become effective as of the Effective Time
as that term is defined in the Merger Agreement and shall continue in full force
and effect until the earlier of (1) the date thirty (30) days after a party's
receipt of written notice electing to terminate this Services Contract (or such
later date specified in such notice), or (2) the date Carboex and its affiliates
no longer beneficially own at least 63% of the shares of

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
Arch Coal's capital stock that Carboex obtained at the Effective Time in the
conversion under the Merger Agreement.

     6.  Arch Coal's employees engaged in providing services under this Services
Contract shall maintain a record of the time spent on-such services, accurate to
the hour, describing in reasonable detail the services performed. The Arch Coal
Representative or the Controller of Arch Coal shall collect such records and
Arch Coal's Accounting Department shall submit them to Carboex on or before the
tenth (10) day of each calendar month for services performed during the
preceding calendar month together with a statement for such services determined
by using the Hourly Rate and evidence of any direct expenses incurred in
connection with providing such services. The first statement will cover a charge
for services rendered from the effective date of this Services Contract through
the end of the calendar month in which it is executed. Carboex agrees to pay for
such services in full within twenty (20) days after receipt of each statement.
The parties agree to use every reasonable effort to have all requests made by
the Shareholder Representative to the Arch Coal Representative; however, if any
request for services is made by someone other than the Shareholder
Representative, or to someone other than the Arch Coal Representative, and Arch
Coal performs such services, Arch Coal shall be paid for such services as herein
provided.

     7.  In connection with any use by Carboex of Arch Coal's aircraft, Carboex
shall pay Arch Coal at Arch Coal's prevailing rate in effect from time to time.
Arch Coal, if requested by

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
Carboex, shall advise Carboex of the rate prior to use by Carboex of the
aircraft.

     8.  Arch Coal agrees to keep confidential any proprietary information
furnished to Arch Coal by Carboex in connection with providing the services
requested by Carboex except to the extent that such information (i) has already
been disclosed by Carboex or others, (ii) is already public information, or
(iii) in the reasonable opinion of Arch Coal is required to be disclosed by a
court of competent jurisdiction or by governmental reporting requirements. Any
information furnished by Carboex to Arch Coal shall remain the property of
Carboex, and any reports, maps or information generated by Arch Coal for Carboex
shall become the property of Carboex.

     9.  Anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, it is
understood that Arch Coal has agreed to perform services to Carboex as a
convenience, and in this regard, it is understood that the performance of all
services shall be at the sole risk of Carboex and Arch Coal shall not be liable
to Carboex for any cost, damage, expense or loss incurred by Carboex, including,
without limitation, any special, indirect or consequential damages arising from,
or alleged to have arisen from, the failure based on imputed knowledge of Arch
Coal supervisory personnel to perform or the misperformance of Arch Coal, unless
such failure based on imputed knowledge or misperformance results directly from
the gross negligence of Arch Coal.

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
     10. In the event that any party hereto is rendered unable, wholly or in
part, by force majeure to carry out or fulfill its obligations under this
Services Contract, it is agreed that the party claiming force majeure shall give
notice and reasonably full particulars of the force majeure cause or causes by
telephone or telegraph (and promptly confirmed by letter) to the other party as
soon as possible after the occurrence of the force majeure cause or causes and
thereupon the obligations of both parties insofar as and to the extent they are
affected by such force majeure, shall be suspended during the continuation of
the force majeure, but for no longer; provided, however, that such force majeure
                                      --------  -------                         
cause or causes shall, insofar as possible, be remedied with all reasonable
dispatch, but nothing contained herein shall be construed as requiring a party
to settle any labor dispute by acceding to any opposing demands when such course
is inadvisable in the discretion of the party having the difficulty. The term
"force majeure" as used herein shall mean acts of God, strikes, concerted acts
of workmen, acts or omissions of subcontractors or independent contractors,
lockouts or other industrial disturbances, acts of the public enemy, wars,
blockades, insurrections, riots, epidemics, landslides, lightning, earthquakes,
fires, storms, floods, washouts, arrests or restraints, requisitions and
priorities of the government, either federal, state, civil or military, civil
disturbances, explosions, future rules, regulations, orders, laws, or
proclamations of governmental authorities acting under claim or color of
authority, disruption or breakdown in transportation

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
facilities, and any other cause or causes, whether or not of the type or kind
specifically enumerated, which are not reasonably within the control of the
party claiming force majeure. Furthermore, the parties agree to render
assistance to each other, to the fullest extent possible, to eliminate the
condition of force majeure.

     11. The parties hereto shall not assign this Services Contract in whole or
in part, or assign in whole or in part any of their respective rights hereunder,
or delegate all or any part of their respective obligations or duties hereunder,
in every case without the prior written consent of the other party; provided,
                                                                    -------- 
however, that such consent shall not be required for assignment or delegation in
- -------                                                                         
connection with a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the
assigning or delegating party.

     12. All notices required pursuant to this Services Contract shall be in
writing and shall be sufficient in all respects if delivered in person or sent
by first class airmail, or by telex or telecopy confirmed by such mail to:

                                Arch Mineral Corporation
                                Suite 300
                                CityPlace One
                                St. Louis, Missouri 63141
                                Attention: General Counsel

                                (After the Effective Time, notices shall be 
                                directed instead to "Arch Coal, Inc..)

                                Ashland Inc.
                                P.O. Box 391
                                Ashland, Kentucky 41101
                                Attention: General Counsel

 

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                                Carboex International, Ltd.
                                Calle Manuel Cortina
                                No. 2
                                Madrid 10
                                Spain
                                Attention: Assistant to the Chairman

                                Ashland Coal, Inc.
                                P.O. Box 6300
                                Huntington, West Virginia 25771
                                Attention: President

     13. Arch Coal and Carboex are Equal Opportunity Employers. It is,
therefore, understood that this Services Contract is subject to the rules and
regulations adopted by the Secretary of Labor under Executive Order No. 11246,
as amended.

     14. No action or failure to act by Carboex or Arch Coal shall constitute a
waiver of any right or duty afforded either of them under this Services
Contract, nor shall any such action or failure to act constitute an approval of
or acquiescence in any breach thereunder, except as may be specifically agreed
in writing.

     15. Nothing contained in this Services Contract shall create for, or give
to, any third party any claim or right of action against the parties hereto
which would not arise but for the existence of this Services Contract.

     16. This Services Contract shall be construed, and the rights of the
parties shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of West
Virginia.

     17. This Services Contract and the attached Exhibit B constitute the
complete and final expression of the agreement between Carboex and Arch Coal
with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Services Contract supersedes all
prior negotiations,

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
proposals, and agreements, either oral or written, between the parties and shall
govern and control all transactions, rights, duties and remedies between the
parties related to this Services Contract. The conduct of the parties hereto
arising subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Services Contract shall
not modify or vary the interpretation of the Services Contract or any of the
provisions, unless and to the extent such conduct affirmatively and clearly
indicates that all parties hereto place the same interpretation upon it. All
communications between the parties which are about or affect the right, duty or
remedy of either party to this Services Contract, and any amendments,
alterations or modifications thereof, shall be in writing or shall be confirmed
promptly in writing and shall be signed by a duly authorized officer of each of
the parties hereto. As to any conflict between the Exhibit B attached hereto or
documents incorporated by reference and the main text of this Services Contract,
the terms and conditions stated in the main text shall govern in all cases. This
Agreement may be executed in several counterparts and by the different parties
hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, but all such counterparts together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.

     18. Whenever in this Services Contract "Arch Coal," "Ashland Coal",
"Ashland" or "Carboex" is used, such term shall include any entity of which Arch
Coal, Ashland Coal, Ashland or Carboex, respectively, own directly or indirectly
through other affiliates

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
or subsidiaries, more than 50% of the voting shares or equivalent interests;
provided, however, "Ashland" shall not be deemed to include Arch Coal or Ashland
Coal.

     19. Ashland Coal, Ashland and Carboex agree that the ACI Shareholders
Services Contract is terminated and that all rights and obligations of the
parties thereto are extinguished, in each case as of the Effective Time as that
term is defined in the Merger Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
claims and liabilities arising prior to such termination shall survive such
termination and the termination of this Services Contract.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Arch Coal, Ashland Coal, Ashland, and Carboex have
caused their respective duly authorized officers to sign this Services Contract
as of the day and year first above written.


ASHLAND COAL, INC.                      ASHLAND INC.

By: /s/ William C. Payne                By: /s/ Thomas L. Feazell

Its: President                          Its: Senior Vice President,
                                        General Counsel and Secretary



ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION                CARBOEX INTERNATIONAL, LTD.

By: /s/ Steven F. Leer                  By: /s/ Juan A. Ferrando

Its: Pres. & CEO                        Its: Director

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                        SHAREHOLDERS SERVICES CONTRACT

Shareholders Services Contract by and between Ashland Coal, Inc., Ashland Oil,
Inc. and Saarberg Coal International GMBH, dated October 13, 1981 is
incorporated herein by reference (Exhibit 10.41 to Ashland Coal, Inc.'s
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-22425) filed with the
SEC on June 9, 1988, as amended)
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT B

                                      to

                        SHAREHOLDERS SERVICES CONTRACT



               CATEGORY                  HOURLY RATE
               --------                  -----------

          Executive Officers               $
                                            ------

          Other Officers                    
                                            ------

          Department Heads                  
                                            ------

          Managers                          
                                            ------

          All Others                        
                                            ------

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 10.5

                                     LEASE
                                     -----
                                (Holden No.25)


     THIS LEASE, Made as of January 31, 1994, between POCAHONTAS LAND
CORPORATION, a corporation of Virginia, Lessor, and ARK LAND COMPANY, a
corporation of Delaware, Lessee;


                             W I T N E S S E T H:
                             - - - - - - - - - -

     IN consideration of the sum of Ten Dollars ($10.00) cash, receipt of which
is acknowledged, and the performance and observance of the terms and provisions
hereinafter set forth to be performed and observed by Lessee, and reserving as
rent the royalties, rentals and all other payments hereinafter provided for,
Lessor hereby leases to Lessee, for the period of ten (10) years from the date
hereof through January 30, 2004, subject to early termination as hereinafter
provided or to extension for additional ten (10) year periods until all the coal
which can be economically mined and removed has been mined and removed and the
reclamation thereof has been finally approved by the state and/or federal agency
or agencies which now have or shall hereafter have jurisdiction or control of
such mining operations, and all the bonds therefor have been fully released, all
as hereinafter provided in ARTICLE XX hereof, the sole and exclusive right of
mining and removing, by any method of mining, various seams of coal upon and
within certain parcels or areas of land containing in the aggregate 8,364.18
acres, more or less, being more fully described as follows:

     Situated partly in Island Creek Magisterial District of Logan County, West
Virginia, on the waters of Right Fork, Littles, Cow and Pine Creeks of Island
Creek; partly in Lee Magisterial District of Mingo County, West Virginia, on the
waters of Rockhouse Fork, South Branch, Spring and Big South Branches of same,
and Middle Fork of Elk Creek; and partly in Magnolia Magisterial District of
said Mingo County, West Virginia, on the waters of Pigeon Creek and Grant,
Little Laurel and Oldfield Branches of same.

     Said 8,364.18 acres, more or less, are more fully shown on colored map
attached hereunto and made a part hereof and marked in the lower right-hand
corner thereof: "Pocahontas Land Corporation, Bluefield, West Virginia, 
No. 6088-A, Jan. 21, 1994, G.B.M."

     Said 8,364.18 acres, more or less, are made up of different tracts or
parcels of land in which Pocahontas Land Corporation owns various seams of coal
and which for convenience of designation are as follows (areas given being by
estimation only and are not to be construed as a warranty of acreage):
<PAGE>
 
                                 TABLE OF AREA
      In Island Creek Magisterial District of Logan County, West Virginia

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

Tract or Parcel                                                    Area in Acres
out of which area is taken                                          (Coal Only)
- --------------------------                                           ---------


<S>                                                                  <C> 
Pt. united Thacker Tr. No. 103 - William Kronenwett                     230.00
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 321 - Lewis Curry, et al                     164.24
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 322 - Lewis Curry, et al                      69.80
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 381 - Betsy A. Justice                        16.66
                                                                         -----
                                                                              
     Total - Island Creek Magisterial District                          480.70 


                                 TABLE OF AREA
           In Lee Magisterial District of Mingo County, West Virginia

<CAPTION> 

Tract or Parcel                                                    Area in Acres
out of which area is taken                                          (Coal Only)
- --------------------------                                           ---------


<S>                                                                  <C> 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 32 - Arthur D. Bright                      1,980.17 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 35 - Arthur D. Bright                         32.50 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 89 - William Kronenwett                      361.56 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 89-2 - William Kronenwett                     20.00 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 89-3 - William Kronenwett                     47.00 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 93 - William Kronenwett                      273.50 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 102 - William Kronenwett                     151.00 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 103 - William Kronenwett                   1,775.56 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 179 - S. B. Robertson                        133.36 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 190 - S. B. Robertson                         26.96 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 191 - S. B. Robertson                         15.57 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 207 - Denning B. Browning, et al              79.75 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 284 - Island Creek Min. Co.                   84.90 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 322 - Lewis Curry, et al                      13.98 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. Nos. 347 & 348 - Red Jacket Coal Co.             792.35 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 18 - Egbert Mills                             
       (Area of Mine No. 14B)                                           220.33
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 19 - Arthur D. Bright
       (Area of Mine No. 14B)                                           139.32
</TABLE>

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
<S>                                                                   <C> 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 20 - Arthur D. Bright                         27.55
       (Area of Mine No. 14B)                                               
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 21 - Arthur D. Bright                         74.58
       (Area of Mine No. 14B)                                            -----

       Total - Lee Magisterial District                               6,249.94


                                 TABLE OF AREA
        In Magnolia Magisterial District of Mingo County, West Virginia

<CAPTION> 

Tract or Parcel                                                    Area in Acres
out of which area is taken                                          (Coal Only) 
- --------------------------                                           ---------  
                                                                                

<S>                                                                  <C> 
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 31 - Island Creek Min. Co. - Vicie Varney    96.00   
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 31 - Island Creek Min. Co. - Tr. 4           48.29   
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 32 - Arthur D. Bright                       904.58   
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 37 - Egbert Mills                           140.89   
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 41 - R. T. W. Duke                          119.78   
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 42-a - Arthur D. Bright                      50.00   
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 42-b - Arthur D. Bright                      42.00   
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 359 - Island Creek Min. Co.                 232.00   
                                                                       ------   

     Total - Magnolia Magisterial District                           1,633.54


                                 RECAPITULATION
                                 --------------
<CAPTION> 

<S>                                                                  <C>
Logan County - Island Creek Magisterial District                       480.70
Mingo County - Lee Magisterial District                              6,249.94
Mingo County - Magnolia Magisterial District                         1,633.54
                                                                     --------

     Total area to be included in lease                              8,364.18
</TABLE>

     Said 8,364.18 acres, more or less, are further made up of areas in which
various seams of coal are conveyed as follows:


     Area No. 1: All seams of coal, except the Lower Cedar Grove Seam, in the
     ----------
5,572.43 acres, more or less, which are shown in unbordered yellow color at Area
No. 1 on said attached whiteprint map.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     Area No. 2: All seams of coal, except the Upper Cedar Grove Seam and Lower
     ----------
Cedar Grove Seam in the 820.60 acres, more or less, shown in yellow color with
orange border as Area No. 2 on said attached whiteprint map.

     Area No. 3: All seams of coal, except the Chilton Seam and the Lower Cedar
     ----------
Grove Seam, in the 957.00 acres, more or less, shown in yellow color with
magenta border as Area No. 3 on said attached whiteprint map.

     Area No. 4: All seams of coal in the 504.37 acres, more or less, shown in
     ----------
yellow color with blue border as Area No. 4 on said attached whiteprint map.

     Area No. 5: All seams of coal, except the Lower Cedar Grove Seam, in the
     ----------
461.78 acres, more or less, shown in yellow color with green border as Area 
No. 5 on said attached whiteprint map.

     Area No. 6: The Coalburg Seam of coal and seams of coal above the Coalburg
     ----------
Seam in 48.00 acres, more or less, shown in yellow color with brown border as
Area No. 6 on said attached whiteprint map.


     THE RIGHTS HEREIN LEASED are limited to such as Lessor possesses and has
the lawful right to lease and to such as Lessor owns under the deeds covering
said properties or said coal and appurtenant rights, and it is agreed that
Lessor does not warrant its title to the leased properties or any portion
thereof. However, upon the assertion of an adverse claim to any portion of the
leased properties, Lessor shall render all assistance possible to Lessee in
defense against such adverse claim. It is further agreed that, if a court decree
(after exhaustion of appeals) or by agreement of the parties hereto it is
determined that the adverse claim is valid and such adverse claim is of such
nature that Lessor does not have sufficient title to such portion of said leased
properties to permit Lessee's mining of the coal therein, then, to the extent
the Lessee has paid royalties to Lessor on coal mined in such portion, such
royalties shall be refunded to Lessee.

     EXCEPTING AND RESERVING, HOWEVER, from this lease, and to the Lessor all
seams of coal other than those herein leased and the entire ownership of the
properties herein described, and all of the oil, gas and other minerals and
mineral substances, timber, and other products of every kind and description
therein and thereon, together with the right to mine, remove and take away the
entire amount and body thereof, for all purposes other than those for which this
lease is made; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that exercise of the ownership and rights so
excepted and reserved shall not unreasonably interfere with the requirements,
convenience and safety of operations of Lessee.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     Lessee agrees to conduct all operations hereunder in compliance in all
material respects with all applicable laws of the State of West Virginia and the
United States of America now existing or hereafter enacted, and all rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.

     IT IS UNDERSTOOD, however, that the properties included in this lease are
in an area committed to the mining and removal of coal and other minerals and
that coal mining operations and other enterprises have been and are now being
conducted by a lessee or lessees of Lessor in, upon and under the surface of the
properties above described and in the general vicinity thereof. It is the
intention hereof that said properties are hereby leased to Lessee, AS IS, IN
THEIR PRESENT CONDITION and subject to the rights of others as hereinabove set
forth.

     THIS LEASE is subject to the following terms and provisions which Lessee
covenants with Lessor to perform and observe, viz:


                                   ARTICLE I

                        COVENANT TO DEVELOP: PERMITTING
                        -------------------------------


     Section 1.1. Development. Lessee shall at all times diligently and
                  -----------
energetically open, develop and maintain operations within the leased properties
in order that so long as Lessee can mine the leased coat at a reasonable profit
its capacity for mining, preparing and shipping coal shall be sufficient to meet
the demands and requirements of the market to the extent that the same can
reasonably be done hereunder; and in the event of any suspension of operation
expected to exceed thirty (30) days, Lessee shall report promptly in writing to
Lessor any suspension of operations, reasons therefor and expected duration
thereof.

     Section 1.2. Permitting. Lessee agrees that upon execution of this lease,
                  ----------
it or its permitted sublessees will promptly commence the necessary procedures
with the appropriate state and/or federal agencies having jurisdiction of such
mining operations and obtain and maintain in effect the requisite permit or
permits for the conduct of such mining operations. Lessee also agrees that it or
its permitted sublessees will continue with subsequent required permitting
procedures with said state and/or federal agencies to the end that the mining
operations contemplated under this lease can be conducted continuously, insofar
as possible under applicable laws, and the regulations promulgated thereunder,
until all the coal herein leased, which can be mined and removed by such
approved mining methods has been mined and removed. In the event this lease
shall be terminated or canceled for any reason prior to completion of operations
hereunder and Lessee shall have obtained the requisite permit or permits for the
conduct of such mining operations from such agencies, then Lessee hereby
covenants and agrees that it shall promptly, upon request of Lessor, assign
and/or otherwise

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
transfer said permit or permits, pursuant to W. Va. Code 22A-3-19 et seq., to
                                             -----------          -- ---- 
such other party or parties as Lessor may designate.


                                  ARTICLE II

                              PRODUCTION ROYALTY
                              ------------------


     Section 2.1. Amount of Royalty. Lessee shall pay to Lessor as rent a
                  -----------------
royalty of One Dollar and Seventy-five Cents ($1.75) per net ton of 2,000 pounds
of coal mined hereunder or eight percent (8%) of the average gross selling price
per net ton, as hereinafter defined, whichever is greater, for coal mined
hereunder, calculated and reported on a monthly basis.

     Section 2.2. Reporting of Quantity of Coal Mined. Lessee shall, on or
                  -----------------------------------
before the twentieth (20th) day of each calendar month, furnish to Lessor a
written report, certified as to correctness by such agent as Lessee may
designate or such agent of a permitted sublessee having personal knowledge of
the facts, showing the quantity of coal mined hereunder during the immediately
preceding calendar month, using as a basis railroad weights of all coal shipped
by railroad and ascertaining the quantity of all other coal mined hereunder in a
manner satisfactory to the General Manager of Lessor, or such person or persons
as the General Manager shall designate (hereinafter "General Manager"); and
Lessee shall comply with any further rules and regulations for the accurate
ascertainment and report of the quantity of coal mined hereunder and the selling
price thereof that may reasonably be prescribed by said General Manager.

     In the event Lessee shall mix coal produced hereunder with other coal prior
to shipment, Lessee shall comply with such reasonable rules and regulations as
the General Manager of Lessor shall from time to time prescribe for the purpose
of ascertaining with reasonable accuracy the quantity of coal produced
hereunder.

     Section 2.3. Date of Payment of Royalty: Interest. On or before the
                  ------------------------------------
twentieth (20th) day of each calendar month, Lessee shall pay Lessor for the
coal mined hereunder during the immediately preceding calendar month at the
higher rate set forth in Section 2.1 above. Lessee will pay interest to Lessor
on any royalty amounts due and not paid by the 30th day of the calendar month at
the effective prime interest rate as then charged by Morgan Guaranty Trust
Company of New York and calculated daily from the date said amounts are due.

   Section 2.4. Calculation of Royalty: Gross Selling Price Defined. For the
                ---------------------------------------------------
purpose of calculating the royalty provided for above, the term "gross selling
price" as used herein shall mean the actual price paid for coal sold to a bona
fide purchaser, assuming the sale occurs, f.o.b. the initial outbound loading
point after preparation (provided that "preparation" shall not include merely
crushing or sizing of coal), if any, or, if not first transported to a

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
preparation facility, the actual price paid for the coal, assuming the sale
occurs, f.o.b. the outbound loading point on the leasehold, less any sales tax
imposed thereon, but without deduction for selling commissions to affiliated
companies, advertising, credit losses, or other expenses, but with deduction for
discounts or allowances actually allowed to arms-length wholesalers; provided,
however, that if Lessor gives notice to Lessee in writing that, in Lessor's
reasonable judgment, a particular purchaser is not a bona fide purchaser, Lessor
may elect to substitute for the gross selling price paid by that purchaser the
prevailing market price of such coal as reasonably determined by Lessor and
based upon recent sales by Lessee and others of coal of comparable quality to
bona fide purchasers; provided further, that for any coal consumed on or off the
leased premises without sale by Lessee the gross selling price for the purpose
of computing the royalty shall be the prevailing market price, as determined
above, of such coal at the time of shipment from the leased premises or, if used
on the leased premises, at the time of use.

     The term "bona fide purchaser" as used herein shall mean a purchaser who
pays valuable consideration in good faith without intending to take unfair
advantage of any third parties, including Lessor, but in no case shall that
phrase include persons or parties affiliated with Lessee, either directly or
through any joint ownership.

     Section 2.5. Unmined or Lost Coal. Tonnage royalty which may be owed by
                  --------------------
Lessee for coal in place left unmined or rendered unmineable or that may be lost
or destroyed on the leased properties as provided in Section 7.1 hereof shall be
based on the prevailing market price, as determined above, of such coal, if
properly sized and cleaned, at the time when such coal should have been mined or
at the time when such coal is lost or destroyed, as may be appropriate under the
terms of this lease.


                                  ARTICLE III

                         ADVANCE MINIMUM ANNUAL RENTAL
                         -----------------------------


     Section 3.1. Amount and Payment: Interest: Lessee shall pay to Lessor, as
                  ----------------------------
advance minimum annual rental on account of coal mined or to be mined hereunder,
the sum of One Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,200,000.00) for calendar
year 1994, payable in equal quarterly installments of Three Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($300,000.00), provided that minimum annual rental for 1994 shall be
prorated from the date of this lease. For calendar year 1995 and each calendar
year thereafter under this lease and extensions thereof, the advance minimum
annual rental shall be One Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,200,000.00).
Payment of advance minimum annual rental shall be made quarterly on or before
January 1st, April 1st, July 1st and October 1st of each calendar year, except
that advance minimum annual rental for the first quarter of 1994 shall be paid
upon execution of this lease.

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
     Lessee will pay interest to Lessor on the amount of any advance minimum
annual rental due and not paid within ten (10) days after the date such rental
is due at the effective prime interest rate as. then charged by Morgan Guaranty
Trust Company of New York and calculated daily from the date said amount is due.

     Section 3.2. Recoupment. Each payment of advance minimum annual rental
                  ----------
hereunder shall be applied as a credit, until recouped, as follows: (a) first,
against production royalties payable for mining performed under this lease
during the calendar year for which such payment of minimum annual rental is
made; (b) secondly, against production royalties payable for mining performed in
that same calendar year under the lease of even date herewith to lessee from
Pocahontas Development Corporation, a Kentucky corporation, and wholly-owned
subsidiary of Lessor, pertaining to the property in Floyd, Johnson and Martin
Counties, Kentucky known as Pevler ("Pevler Reserves") and not otherwise
recoupable as a credit against royalties under the terms of that lease; 
(c) thirdly, against production royalties payable for mining performed under
this lease in the two calendar years following the calendar year for which the
minimum annual rental is paid and not otherwise recoupable as a credit against
production royalties under the terms hereof or under the terms of the aforesaid
lease to Lessee of the Pevler Reserves; and (d) lastly, against production
royalties payable for mining performed under the aforesaid lease to Lessee of
the Pevler Reserves in the two calendar years following the calendar year for
which the minimum annual rental is paid and not otherwise recoupable as a credit
against production royalties under the terms of that lease or under the terms of
this lease. The provisions of this Section 3.2 will not be construed to permit
more than one credit for any payment of advance minimum annual rental against
any production royalties due Lessor under this lease or under the aforesaid
lease to Lessee of the Pevler Reserves.

     Section 3.3. Failure to Perform; Excuse. In the event of unavoidable
                  --------------------------
interruption of or delay in its operations in any calendar year of this lease,
due to strikes, accidents, inadequate car supply, or causes of like character
not within the control of Lessee, at the end of that calendar year Lessee shall
be reimbursed that percentage of its payment of advance minimum annual rental
which is equal to the percentage of that year in which Lessee's operations are
delayed because of any such causes. However, the parties hereto recognize and
agree that the potential for depressed markets for the sale of coal or coal
products, whether such conditions are regional in nature or more widespread, and
increased production costs are business risks contemplated by operators and
miners and sellers of coal, and, therefore, neither the existence of a depressed
market for the sale of coal or coal products, nor increased or high costs of
mining coal experienced by Lessee, nor any combination thereof shall constitute
grounds for or be deemed to be interpreted as a basis for release from payment
of advance minimum annual rental under Section 3.1 hereof.

     Section 3.4. Modification of Minimum Rental. Whenever, in the good faith
                  ------------------------------     
opinion of the General Manager of Lessor and such agent as Lessee may designate,
the quantity of unmined coal remaining which Lessee is or has become obligated
to mine has been reduced

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
or depleted so as to justify a modification, reduction, or suspension of advance
minimum annual rental, such advance minimum annual rental may be modified,
reduced, or suspended upon the mutual agreement of the General Manager of Lessor
and such agent as Lessee may designate, and Lessee shall mine the same at the
rate of tonnage royalty provided for in ARTICLE II above.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                          LESSEE'S RECORDS; INSPECTION
                          ----------------------------


     4.1 Lessee shall keep books of account at its corporate headquarters or at
such other place as Lessor may approve in writing, to ascertain: the quantity of
coal mined; the quantity of coal used at the mines; the quantity of coal
shipped; and the selling prices obtained for all coal mined hereunder. Said
books shall be open at all reasonable times for inspection by Lessor or its
agents for the purpose of comparing and verifying the reports rendered by Lessee
under ARTICLE II hereof or for obtaining information as to the quantity of coal
mined, the quantity of coal used at the mines, the quantity of coal shipped and
the selling prices obtained.

     4.2 Upon request, supporting documentation pertaining to said books of
account, such as coal sales contracts, purchase contracts, invoices, lessee work
papers and any other supporting documentation considered necessary to Lessor's
inspection hereunder shall be made available to Lessor in order to confirm the
information contained in the books of account described in the preceding 
Section 4.1. The contents of such documentation shall be treated as confidential
information by Lessor and shall not be disclosed to any person or entity not a
party to this lease, except as provided by relevant state or federal laws.


                                   ARTICLE V

                           ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES
                           -------------------------


     Section 5.1. Lessee shall be responsible for any pollution of air, lands or
water resulting from coal and coal products, slack, dirt, slate and other waste
materials deposited by it on the properties above described, or arising or
resulting from Lessee's operations hereunder, and Lessee shall indemnify and
save harmless Lessor, its officers, agents and employees, from all claims,
demands, prosecutions, fines, and judgments against Lessor, its officers, agents
or employees, by reason of any such pollution and shall pay all costs and
expenses incurred by Lessor, its officers, agents or employees, in defending any
such claims, demands and

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
prosecutions. Upon request of Lessor, Lessee shall defend Lessor against any and
all such claims at Lessee's expense.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                           LESSEE'S MINING OPERATIONS
                           --------------------------


     Lessee covenants that it will use due care and diligence to protect the
properties and coal reserves included herein from waste, injury or damage and to
that end Lessee shall conduct its operations hereunder in accordance with the
terms of Sections 6.1 and 6.2 hereof.

     Section 6.1. Mining Practices and Compliance with Laws. Lessee shall, in
                  -----------------------------------------
accordance with plans of mining and descriptions thereof approved as provided
for in Section 6.2 below, but subject to the requirements of the State of West
Virginia and federal law pertaining to the conduct of the mining of coal, mine
the coal within the leased properties in an effectual, workmanlike and proper
manner, and so that said mining shall not unreasonably interfere with the proper
exercise of the rights hereinbefore excepted and reserved to Lessor; and, Lessee
shall comply in all material respects with the laws of the State of West
Virginia and the United States of America now existing or hereafter enacted, and
all the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, relating to the conduct of
operations for the mining of coal.

     Section 6.2. Approval of Mining Plans. To protect the properties and coal
                  ------------------------
reserves included herein from waste, injury or damage, Lessee shall mine the
coal within the leased properties in accordance with plans of mining and
reclamation and descriptions thereof which shall be submitted by Lessee to
Lessor. Such mining and reclamation shall not be initiated until such plans and
descriptions have been approved in writing by the General Manager of Lessor.
Upon Lessor's request, Lessee shall furnish Lessor: (i) a copy of Lessee's
application for the mining permit, including the reclamation plan required by
the State of West Virginia, with the maps and drawings attached thereto, and
(ii) a statement of the post mining land use which is proposed to be made of the
leased properties following reclamation obligations, for approval by said
General Manager, prior to its being filed with the governmental agencies
responsible for issuance of such mining permits. Lessor shall use due diligence
in reviewing such application and plans of mining and reclamation and
descriptions thereof, and Lessor shall not withhold notice of approval or
disapproval for an unreasonable length of time. Notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this Section 6.2, Lessor shall not require a higher post-mining
land use and condition than the pre-mining land use and condition, unless
otherwise agreed between Lessor and Lessee. No change in any such plans or
descriptions so approved by said General Manager shall be made without such
change being approved in advance by said General Manager, or except as required
by such regulatory agencies. Lessor agrees to consent to any reasonable post-
mining land use as requested by Lessee. To facilitate

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
mining the leased properties, Lessor hereby waives its right to require Lessee
to maintain barrier pillars.


                                  ARTICLE VII

                      LESSEE'S LIABILITY FOR NONCOMPLIANCE
                      ------------------------------------


     Section 7.1. If at any time Lessee shall not conduct operations as provided
in ARTICLE VI hereof and loss of coal which Lessee is obligated to mine or loss
of other coal of Lessor may thereby result, the General Manager shall give
notice to Lessee of any violations of Article VI and, in the event of a failure
of Lessee to cure such violation within ten (10) days of receipt of written
notice from Lessor specifying such violation, Lessor may seek arbitration in
accordance with the terms of this Lease. Lessee shall pay to Lessor the full
amount of royalty, at the rate provided in ARTICLE II hereof, on the tonnage of
coal determined to be lost which Lessee is obligated to mine or that may remain
unmined by reason of failure of Lessee to conduct operations as required by said
ARTICLE VI, in the same manner as if said coal had been mined and removed; and
Lessee shall compensate Lessor for the full amount of any other coal of Lessor
that is lost by reason of the failure of Lessee to conduct operations as
required by said ARTICLE VI.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

           ENGINEERING REQUIREMENTS; AUTHORITY OF GENERAL MANAGER OF
           ---------------------------------------------------------
              LESSOR; SURVEY DATA; PRESERVATION OF SURVEY CONTROL
              ---------------------------------------------------
                            (TRIANGULATION) STATIONS
                             -----------------------


     Section 8.1.  Engineering Requirements: Authority of General Manager of
                   ---------------------------------------------------------
Lessor. Lessee shall employ a competent engineer to make surveys, determine
- ------
elevations, prepare plans and maps of the mine workings, and Lessee shall
prepare and keep up, on a scale to the approval of the General Manager of
Lessor, a map which shall be updated every three (3) months and shall show
accurately and completely, the boundaries of the lands included herein, the
locations of all railway tracks, rights-of-way, streams, roads, buildings,
structures and mine workings on or under said lands, together with elevations on
sea level datum on the mine workings, and any additional information that can be
practically obtained and that may be necessary to the safe and proper conduct of
the mining operations, or that may be reasonably requested by the General
Manager of Lessor. The size of said map shall be in accordance with standards to
be prescribed by said General Manager and a reproducible tracing of said map,
which shall be the property of Lessor, shall be sent to said General Manager on
or before the twentieth (20th) day of January, April, July and October of each

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
year, properly posted in accordance herewith for the three (3) months ending on
the last day of the calendar month immediately preceding; and said General
Manager shall have the privilege of keeping said tracing a sufficient time to
obtain therefrom such information as he may desire before returning the said
tracing to Lessee for each subsequent posting; and Lessor and its agents shall
at all times have access to the maps, plans and tracings of Lessee, and may take
therefrom copies of such portions as may be desired.

     Section 8.2. Survey Data: Preservation of Survey Control (Triangulation)
                  -----------------------------------------------------------
Stations. Upon Lessor's request, Lessee shall furnish Lessor's General Manager
- --------
with a copy of all information, including but not limited to, maps, survey field
books and traverse sheets, resulting from surveying performed on behalf of the
Lessee within the leased premises. Lessee shall use due care to avoid the
destruction of survey control or triangulation stations. However, if in Lessee's
operations hereunder, it becomes necessary to destroy one of said survey control
or triangulation stations, then Lessor shall be notified as soon as practicable
in advance of such destruction. If such destruction does occur without said
prior notice thereof being given to Lessor, then Lessee shall promptly reimburse
Lessor for the cost of resetting said survey control or triangulation stations.


                                   ARTICLE IX

                        FAILURE TO FURNISH PLANS OR MAPS
                        --------------------------------


     Section 9.1. If Lessee fails to furnish any plan or map as provided for in
ARTICLE VIII hereof for thirty (30) days after written demand therefor by the
General Manager of Lessor, Lessor may at its option employ a competent engineer
to make surveys and to prepare such plan or map, and Lessee shall pay to Lessor
the full amount of expenses so incurred.


                                   ARTICLE X

                     PREVENTION OF FIRES; DUTIES OF LESSEE
                     -------------------------------------


     Section 10.1.  Lessee shall use all reasonable care and precaution to
prevent the occurrence of fires in timber or forest growth on the surface
overlying the properties included herein and to cause the prompt extinguishment
of any such fires, and Lessee shall cooperate with Lessor and its other lessees
or agents in extinguishing such fires on (said surface and on) adjoining lands
that may be liable to spread to or over said surface overlying the properties
included herein. Lessee shall be responsible for all damage caused by fire to
timber or forest growth or in any other respect on the surface overlying the
properties included herein or adjoining lands that may be due to negligence of
Lessee, its employees, agents or contractors.

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE XI

                     COAL FROM OTHER LANDS; LAND USE TOLL
                     ------------------------------------


   Section 11.1. In the event Lessee transports or ships coal from any property
not owned by Lessor under or through any of the leased properties, Lessee shall
pay to Lessor fifteen cents ($.15) per net ton of that coal, or, one-half of one
per cent (1/2%) of the average gross selling price per net ton of that coal, as
gross selling price is defined in Section 2.4 above, whichever is greater, as
land use toll for such transportation or shipment; provided however that Lessee
                                                   ----------------
shall have the right to transport or ship, free of charge, coal mined from the
Chilton seam on properties hereafter owned, leased or controlled by Lessee, its
sublessees or affiliates (but currently owned by Cole and Crane Real Estate
Trust, but currently leased to a subsidiary of A. T. Massey Coal Company, as
successor to W-P Coal Company or its affiliates) adjacent to the leased
properties through portals located on the leased properties. Lessee shall report
and make payment, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 2.2 and 2.3 above, for
coal transported or shipped hereunder. The parties understand and acknowledge
that the surface ownership is currently vested in a third party and that Lessee
shall not be obligated to pay to Lessor any wheelage fees, tolls or other
charges related to the use of the surface of the leased properties in connection
with mining of this or other properties owned, leased or controlled by Lessee,
its sublessees or affiliates.


                                  ARTICLE XII

                                INDEMNIFICATION
                                ---------------


   Section 12.1. Lessee shall conduct operations hereunder on its own behalf and
not as agent or employee of Lessor and there shall be no privity of contract
between Lessor and employees of Lessee. All employees, agents, contractors,
subcontractors, and materialmen of Lessee, whether on a wage or profit sharing
basis, shall be selected, hired, directed, paid, and discharged only by Lessee.
Lessee shall and hereby agrees to indemnify and save harmless Lessor, its
officers, agents, and employees, from and against any and all claims, demands,
suits, judgments, recoveries and liabilities for injury to or death of any
person or persons whomsoever and for loss of or damage to any property
whatsoever, arising or in any manner growing out of the operations or activities
of Lessee under or in connection with this lease. Lessee hereby further agrees
to indemnify and save harmless Lessor, its officers, agents and employees, from
and against any and all penalties, fines, prosecutions, statutory recoveries
(whether civil or criminal) and governmental actions which arise from or are
occasioned by the operations or activities of Lessee under or in connection with
this lease.


                                       13
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE XIII

                 TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS; COAL APPRAISAL REPORTS
                 ---------------------------------------------


   Section 13.1. Taxes and Assessments. During the term of this lease and any
                 ---------------------
extensions or renewals pursuant to ARTICLE XX hereof, Lessee shall pay and bear
and reimburse Lessor for the expense of all taxes and assessments of every kind
and character that may be levied or assessed by governmental authority against
or upon the properties included herein or Lessor's ownership thereof, including,
without limitation: (i) excise, privilege or license taxes based upon the
acreage of land owned by Lessor in the State of West Virginia, any exemption of
acreage therefrom to be prorated to the acreage included in this lease; (ii) ad
valorem taxes; and (iii) taxes levied or assessed on the coal mined hereunder,
on the privilege of mining said coal, on the improvements or other property of
Lessee in or on properties above described, on the leasehold rights of Lessee,
and on the income accruing to Lessee therefrom. Within thirty (30) days of
Lessee's receipt of a statement for such taxes and assessments, together with
copies of corresponding paid tax tickets therefor, Lessee shall repay to Lessor
the amount of any such taxes and assessments as shall be paid by Lessor.

   Section 13.2. Coal Appraisal Reports. Lessee shall submit to Lessor, for its
                 ----------------------
review, a copy of annual coal appraisal reports and returns prepared pursuant to
W. Va. Code 11-1 A, et seq., or regulations promulgated thereunder, prior to
- -----------
their filing with the West Virginia State Tax Department. It is understood and
agreed that the assessments and levies arising and calculated from such reports
are based, in part, upon the annual production tonnages of Lessee, and for that
reason, Lessee shall pay to Lessor, in the manner provided in Section 13.1
hereof, an amount equal to any increase in such assessments and levies resulting
from operations upon the lands herein. Such payments shall continue and survive
any termination or cancellation of this lease until such time as said
assessments and levies have returned to inactive or non-production status.
Lessee will pay interest to Lessor on any amounts due under Section 13.1 hereof
and this Section and not paid within thirty (30) days after demand therefor has
been made at the effective prime interest rate as then charged by Morgan
Guaranty Trust Company of New York and calculated daily from the date said
amounts are due. Lessor reserves the right to pay any taxes or assessments due
under this ARTICLE XIII without waiving its rights for collection thereof from
Lessee as provided in ARTICLES XXII and XXIII of this lease.



                                       14
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE XIV

                        RIGHT TO ASSIGN, SUBLEASE, ETC.
                        -------------------------------


   Section 14.1. Lessee shall have the right, without the consent of Lessor, to
assign (but under no circumstances, to mortgage) any of its estate, interest or
rights hereunder, or any part thereof, to financially responsible and reputable
third parties of Lessee's choosing; provided, however, in the event of
assignment, Lessee shall, at least fifteen (15) days in advance of any such
assignment, submit, in writing, to Lessor for Lessor's information, the name of
the proposed assignee. Lessee shall have the right to sublease (but under no
circumstances, to mortgage) any of its estate, interest or rights hereunder, or
any part thereof, to financially responsible and reputable third parties of
Lessee's choosing only upon the written consent of Lessor which consent shall
not be unreasonably withheld. Notwithstanding any such sublease or assignment,
Lessee shall continue to be obligated to pay Lessor advance minimum annual
rentals under Section 3.1 hereof; however, the same credits for Lessee against
advance minimum annual rentals, as set forth in Section 3.2 of this lease, shall
apply to coal mined and shipped pursuant to such subleases or assignments, and
Lessee shall retain all advance minimum annual rentals and wheelage royalty
amounts paid by such sublessee or assignee and all production royalty amounts
paid by such sublessee or assignee in excess of the said royalty rates provided
in Article II, as herein amended. In each such instance, the sublease or
assignment shall bind the sublessee or assignee to observe all of the Lessee's
obligations, duties and undertakings in this lease pertaining to the properties
so subleased or assigned. If the properties are so subleased or assigned by
Lessee and the sublessee or assignee expressly assumes the lease obligations of
Lessee with respect to said properties, then the Lessee shall thereafter be
relieved from its lease obligations with respect to the properties so subleased
or assigned, except, that Lessee shall remain liable to Lessor for obligations
or liabilities arising prior to the date of such sublease or assignment,
including, but not limited to: (i) Lessee's reclamation obligations under
Article XX hereof; (ii) all indemnity undertakings contained in Articles V, XII,
XVI, XVII and XX of this lease; and (iii) the provisions relating to survival of
certain obligations contained in Section 20.2, Section 22.3 and Section 28.1 of
this lease.

   Section 14.2. In like manner, Lessee shall have the right, without the
consent of Lessor, to assign, or with the consent of Lessor to sublease, (but
under no circumstances, to mortgage) any of its estate, interest or rights
hereunder, or any part thereof, to any other third parties to the same effect,
upon the same terms and conditions as provided in Section 14.1, except that the
Lessee shall not be discharged from lease obligations to the Lessor, as provided
in Section 14.1, and Lessee shall remain liable to the Lessor for that
assignee's or sublessee's performance of all of the Lessee's obligations, duties
and undertakings under this lease.



                                    15
<PAGE>
 
   Section 14.3. Any disagreement between Lessor and Lessee as to whether a
third party sublessee or assignee is financially responsible and reputable may
be submitted by either Lessor or Lessee to arbitration, as provided in Article
XXIV herein.

   Section 14.4. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary,
Lessee shall have the right to assign or sublease this Lease to an affiliated
company without consent of Lessor. "Affiliated Company" shall include any direct
or indirect parent or subsidiary of Lessee, or any business entity in which the
Lessee, its direct or indirect parent or subsidiary owns or controls fifty
percent (50%) of the capital stock or other ownership interest.


                                  ARTICLE XV

                    WORKERS' COMPENSATION; LESSEE'S DUTIES
                    --------------------------------------


   Section 15.1. Lessee shall subscribe to and operate under the provisions of
the West Virginia Workers' Compensation Act, or qualify as a self-insurer in
accordance with applicable law and make all necessary payments thereto, and such
coverage shall also include drivers of any trucks which may be hired, rented or
leased, and upon request furnish to Lessor certificate of such compliance,
together with paid premium receipts.

   If at any time the subscription to said Workers' Compensation Act shall cease
to be in force and effect, then Lessee shall suspend, and Lessor may stop, all
operations of Lessee hereunder until such subscription shall be reinstated.


                                  ARTICLE XVI

               BLACK LUNG BENEFITS; INDEMNIFICATION; EVIDENCE OF
               -------------------------------------------------
                           FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
                           ------------------------


   Section 16.1. Lessee hereby guarantees and agrees to indemnify and save
harmless Lessor, its officers, agents and employees, from the payment of or any
liability for benefits which may be required under the Black Lung Benefits Act
(30 U.S.C. 901, et seq.) and under any laws or regulations of the State of West
Virginia, arising from any mining operations hereunder, and Lessee agrees that
during the primary period and renewals, if any, of this lease, it will furnish
annually to Lessor evidence of financial responsibility for such black lung
benefits under applicable federal and state laws, as well as regulations issued
thereunder. Such evidence of financial responsibility shall consist of the
following:



                                       16
<PAGE>
 
   (a) in the event the Workers' Compensation law of the state (State) in which
   the leased property is located has been included in the list published by the
   Secretary of Labor of the United States of America under the Black Lung
   Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 901, et seq.), such evidence shall consist of a
   certification from the officers administering the Workers' Compensation
   program for the State certifying as to Lessee's black lung benefits coverage
   under those Workers' Compensation laws;

   (b) in the event the Workers' Compensation laws of the State are not included
   in the list published by the Secretary of Labor of the United States of
   America under the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 901, et seq.), Lessee
   shall either:

       (1) qualify as a self-insurer in accordance with regulations prescribed
   by said Secretary of Labor, or

       (2) insure and keep insured, with any stock company or mutual company or
   association, or any other person or fund, including any State fund, which is
   authorized under the laws of the State to insure Workers' compensation, all
   black lung benefits payable under applicable federal and state statutes and
   regulations issued thereunder, and furnish a satisfactory certificate to
   Lessor evidencing such insurance coverage.


                                 ARTICLE XVII

                 WAGES AND BENEFITS; INDEMNIFICATION AND BOND
                 --------------------------------------------


   Section 17.1. Lessee hereby guarantees and agrees to indemnify Lessor, its
officers, agents and employees, from the payment of or any liability for, or
resulting from, wages and benefits which may be due Lessee's employees or
contractors, and, to that end, Lessee shall, at Lessor's sole discretion, prior
to or at any time after commencing operations hereunder, obtain a surety bond,
the amount of which shall be calculated pursuant to W.Va. Code 21-5-14 et seq.,
                                                    ----------
irrespective of the length of time Lessee had been doing business in this State,
securing Lessor from payment of or any liability for, or resulting from, said
wages and benefits.

                                 ARTICLE XVIII

                      INSURANCE; CESSATION OF OPERATIONS
                      ----------------------------------


   Section 18.1. Amount of Insurance. As a condition precedent to the
                 -------------------
commencement of operations hereunder, Lessee shall arrange for the maintenance
of public liability insurance


                                       17
<PAGE>
 
with a good solvent casualty insurance company or companies satisfactory to
Lessor, which insurance shall indemnify said Lessor against legal liability for
loss by reason of personal injury, death and property damage or loss sustained
as a result, or by reason, of the operations hereunder, with a minimum combined
single limit of $4,000,000.00 for bodily injury, death and property damage and
Lessee shall, upon request of Lessor, furnish to Lessor certificates of such
insurance, together with paid premium receipts. This coverage shall also include
any trucks or other equipment hired, rented or leased in operations hereunder.

   It is understood and agreed, however, that the minimum limits of coverage set
forth above are not intended and will in no manner limit the recoveries of
Lessor under the indemnity provisions of ARTICLES V, XII, XVI and XVII above of
this lease.

   Section 18.2. Cessation or Suspension of Operations. If at any time any of
                 -------------------------------------
these insurance coverages shall cease to be in force and effect, then, upon
written demand of Lessor, Lessee shall suspend all operations hereunder until
such insurance coverages shall be reinstated.


                                  ARTICLE XIX

                  LESSOR'S RIGHT TO INSPECT MINING OPERATIONS
                  -------------------------------------------


   Section 19.1. Lessor, and the Lessor's employees, agents and engineers, shall
at all times have the right and privilege of entering the works and mines of
Lessee in or upon the properties included herein to inspect, examine, survey or
measure the same or any part thereof for the purpose of verifying the reports of
Lessee as to the amounts of coal mined or removed, or for any other lawful
purpose, and for these purposes to use freely the means of access to said works
and mines, without hindrance or molestation.


                                  ARTICLE XX

                        OBLIGATION TO MINE; EXTENSION;
                        ------------------------------
                         DUTY TO RECLAIM; TERMINATION
                         ----------------------------


   Section 20.1. Obligation to Mine: Extension. Lessee shall mine and remove all
                 -----------------------------
of the coal which can be mined and removed hereunder by modern mining methods
and if, at the expiration of the original period hereof, Lessee has not mined
and removed all of the coal which it is or may become obligated to mine, then
this lease shall be extended for such additional ten (10) year periods as may be
necessary, upon the same terms and provisions, but subject to the full payment
of all royalties, rentals and other payments due hereunder,



                                       18
<PAGE>
 
until all of said coal which can be economically mined and removed by approved
mining methods has been mined and removed from the leased properties; and
whenever during said original period or any extension thereof, as herein
provided, Lessee shall have mined and removed all of said coal by such approved
mining methods and shall have paid all royalties, rentals and other payments due
or accrued hereunder then Lessee's obligation to mine coal and make payment of
minimum annual rental hereunder shall terminate.

   Section 20.2. Duty to Reclaim: Payment of Amounts Due: Termination.  In the
                 ----------------------------------------------------
event the lease herein shall not be extended at the end of the original period
hereof or any extended period thereof, or all of said coal has been mined and
removed, then this lease shall continue to be extended for additional one (1)
year periods, at a nominal rental mutually agreeable to Lessor and Lessee, until
all the reclamation of the lands disturbed by mining operations under this lease
has been completed and finally approved by the state and/or federal agency or
agencies having jurisdiction of such mining operations and all the bonds for
such reclamation have been fully released by such agency or agencies. Upon such
release of all of said bonds this lease shall terminate, without, however,
releasing Lessee from any obligations or liabilities arising prior to said
termination. Further, in the event Lessee has not made payment of all royalties,
rentals and other payments due hereunder at the end of the original period
hereof or any renewal or extended period thereof, then Lessor, at its option,
may extend the term of this lease until all of such payments have been made.


                                  ARTICLE XXI

                             TERMINATION OF LEASE
                             --------------------


   Section 21.1. Termination by Lessee. After Lessee's satisfaction of all
                 ---------------------
mining and reclamation obligations contained in ARTICLE XX hereof, Lessee may
give Lessor thirty (30) days' notice of its intention to terminate this lease,
and, if Lessor shall determine that Lessee has fully performed its obligations
under this lease, Lessee's obligations hereunder shall be deemed terminated
effective on such thirtieth (30th) day, without, however, releasing Lessee from
any obligations or liabilities arising prior to said termination of obligations.
Upon termination of this lease, any advance minimum annual rental paid for the
calendar year in which the termination occurs which has not been credited
against production royalties shall be refunded to Lessee, and Lessee shall not
be liable for any further advance minimum annual rentals.

   Section 21.2.  Removal of Property Following Termination or Expiration.  Upon
                  -------------------------------------------------------
termination or expiration of this lease, Lessee shall have 180 days in which to
remove from the properties leased hereby all Lessee's equipment, buildings and
other improvements and personal property, and any of the same not so removed
shall, at Lessor's option, either



                                       19
<PAGE>
 
become the property of Lessor without charge therefor or be disposed of by
Lessor at Lessee's cost and expense.


                                 ARTICLE XXII

                                    DEFAULT
                                    -------

   Section 22.1. Default: Cancellation by Lessor. If any one or more of the
                 -------------------------------
following events (herein sometimes called Events of Default) shall occur:

       (a) If default shall be made in the due and punctual payment of any rent,
   royalty or any part thereof, when and as the same may become due and payable,
   or in the payment of taxes and insurance premiums or any other amounts to be
   borne by Lessee hereunder, or in the furnishing of receipts and certificates
   of payment therefor when due, or in the furnishing of any of the books,
   records or reports by Lessee to be furnished under this lease, and such
   default shall continue for thirty (30) days after notice by Lessor to Lessee;
   or,

       (b) If default shall be made by Lessee in the performance of or
   compliance with any of the covenants, agreements, terms or conditions
   contained in this lease, other than those referred to in the foregoing
   subsection (a) of this Section 22.1, and such default shall continue for a
   period of sixty (60) days after written notice thereof from Lessor to Lessee,
   and Lessee shall not within such period commence with due diligence the
   curing of such default, or if Lessee shall, within such period, commence with
   due diligence to cure such default and thereafter shall fail or neglect to
   prosecute and complete with due diligence and dispatch the curing of such
   default; or,

       (c) If Lessee shall file a voluntary petition in bankruptcy or shall be
   adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent, or shall file any petition or answer
   seeking or acquiescing in any reorganization, arrangement, composition,
   readjustment, liquidation, dissolution or similar relief for itself under any
   present or future federal, state or other statute, law or regulation, or
   shall seek or consent to or acquiesce in the appointment of any trustee,
   receiver, or liquidator of Lessee or of all or any substantial part of the
   property leased hereby or of any or all the rents, revenues, issues,
   earnings, profits, or income thereof, or shall make any general assignment
   for the benefit of creditors, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay
   its debts generally as they become due;

then and in any such event, Lessor at any time thereafter while such default or
condition is continuing, may give written notice to Lessee specifying the
occurrence giving rise to such Event of Default, or Events of Default, and
stating that the lease shall terminate on the date specified in such notice,
which shall be at least ten (10) days after the giving of such notice.


                                       20
<PAGE>
 
Upon the date specified in such notice, this lease and the estate and interest
hereby demised shall terminate and all rights of Lessee under this lease shall
cease.

   Section 22.2. Repossession, etc., by Lessor. Lessee expressly waives any
                 -----------------------------
right to prior notice or any process of law other than the issuance of the
warrant of distraint, and Lessee further expressly waives any right to hearing
prior to the levy of such warrant and sale thereunder and at any time after such
termination of this lease, Lessor, without further notice, may enter and re-
enter the premises for all proper purposes and repossess itself by all legal
means, including summary proceedings, of its prior and former estate and may
remove Lessee and all persons claiming through Lessee from the property leased
hereby.

   Section 22.3. Survival of Lessee's Obligations: Damages. No termination of
                 -----------------------------------------
this lease or repossession of the property leased hereby, by force, summary
proceedings, ejectment or otherwise, shall relieve Lessee of its liability and
obligations under this lease, and such liability and obligations, including,
without limitation, the indemnity commitments contained in ARTICLES V, XII, XVI
and XVII above of this lease, shall survive termination or any repossession. In
the event of any such termination or repossession, Lessee shall pay to Lessor
the advance minimum annual rentals, production royalties and other charges
required to be paid by Lessee up to the time of such termination or
repossession.

   Section 22.4. No Waiver. etc. by Lessor. No failure by Lessor to insist upon
                 -------------------------
the strict performance of any covenant, agreement, term or condition of this
lease or to exercise any right, power or remedy consequent upon a breach
thereof, and no acceptance of full or partial performance or payment of
royalties during the continuance of any such breach, shall constitute a waiver
of or consent to any such breach or of such covenant, agreement, term or
condition. No waiver of any breach shall affect or alter this lease, but each
and every covenant, agreement, term and condition of this lease shall continue
in full force and effect with respect to any other then existing or subsequent
breach thereof.

   Section 22.5. Injunction Against Breach. In the event of any breach or
                 -------------------------
threatened breach by Lessee of any of the covenants, agreements, terms or
conditions of this lease, Lessor shall have the right to invoke any rights,
powers and remedies allowed at law, in equity or by statute or otherwise,
whether or not specifically provided in this lease.

   Section 22.6. Lessor's Remedies Cumulative, etc. Each right, power and remedy
                 ---------------------------------
of Lessor provided for in this lease shall be cumulative and concurrent and
shall be in addition to every other right, power or remedy provided for in this
lease or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity, by statute or otherwise,
and the exercise or beginning of the exercise by Lessor of any one or more of
the rights, powers or remedies provided for in this lease or now or hereafter
existing at law or in equity, by statute or otherwise shall not preclude the
simultaneous or later exercise by Lessor of any or all other rights, powers or
remedies provided for in this lease, or by statute or otherwise.



                                       21
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE XXIII

                                 CONDEMNATION
                                 ------------


   Section 23.1. If the coal herein leased, or any portion thereof, shall be
taken in, or in any manner affected by, condemnation for any public or quasi-
public use under any statute or by right of eminent domain, or by private
purchase in lieu of condemnation, by a public body vested with the power of
eminent domain, then, and in each and every such event, Lessor shall be free to
conduct all negotiations for compensation or damages, including without
limitation, participation in viewer's proceedings and the institution of
litigation concerning such taking, with the understanding that in the case of
each and every condemnation or taking Lessor shall notify Lessee of same, and
Lessor and Lessee shall be paid out of any such award or compensation in damages
as follows:

   (a) If the award for the coal in any such condemnation or taking shall exceed
the amount of royalty that would have been due Lessor had the coal been then
mined, based upon recent sales by Lessee or, if no such sales exist, based upon
recent sales by others of coal of comparable quality, all of such award which is
in excess of said royalty amount shall be the property of and be paid to Lessee
and the balance of the award shall be the property of and be retained by Lessor;
or,

   (b) If such award for the coal shall be equal to or less than said royalty
amount, then all of such award shall be the property of and be retained by
Lessor.

   (c) Any specific award for Lessee's buildings, structures or improvements
shall be paid to Lessee and any award for surface lands, or interests therein or
any other buildings, structure or improvements thereon, shall be the property of
Lessor.

   Lessee shall cooperate with Lessor in all matters hereunder, including
joining in any litigation or settlement if Lessor determines such to be
necessary; provided, that any such condemnation or taking shall not otherwise
affect Lessee's duties and obligations under this lease, except as provided
herein.

   In the event that such condemnation or taking materially affects or impairs
the ability of Lessee to conduct mining operations in accordance with its
approved mining plans, Lessee shall have the right to terminate this Lease,
subject to the right of Lessee to reenter the premises to conduct all
reclamation required by law.



                                       22
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE XXIV

                                  ARBITRATION
                                  -----------


   Section 24.1. If there should arise any matters in dispute hereunder on which
Lessor and Lessee cannot finally agree, such matter or matters shall be referred
to a board of arbitrators consisting of three (3) disinterested, competent
persons, one selected by Lessor and one by Lessee, as hereinafter provided, and
the two thus selected shall select the third, who shall have the power of an
umpire and be known as umpire-arbitrator. The decision and award of such
arbitrators, or any two of them, or, in case of disagreement among all the
arbitrators, of the umpire-arbitrator, shall be conclusive and binding upon
Lessor and Lessee and promptly complied with.

   The party desiring arbitration shall give written notice to the other party,
definitively stating the point or points in dispute and naming the person
selected as arbitrator; and it shall be the duty of the other party, within
fifteen (15) days after receiving such notice, to name an arbitrator, and these
two shall select the umpire-arbitrator; and in event the party notified does not
name an arbitrator within said period of fifteen (15) days, the party serving
such notice may select a second arbitrator and the two thus selected shall
select the umpire-arbitrator.

   In the event of failure of the two arbitrators, selected as aforesaid, within
thirty (30) days from receipt by both of them of notice of their selection, to
agree upon the umpire-arbitrator, then they shall jointly notify, in writing,
the parties of their failure to agree upon such umpire-arbitrator. The parties
shall then, within fifteen (15) days from the date of such notification, jointly
select the umpire-arbitrator. In the event the parties are unable to so select
the umpire-arbitrator within said fifteen (15) day period, they shall then
jointly select the names of three (3) potential umpire-arbitrators. None of
these three (3) potential umpirearbitrators shall represent, or have any
affiliation with either party. Once the list of said three (3) potential umpire-
arbitrators has been prepared, each party shall then strike the name of one (1)
potential umpire-arbitrator from said list. The person remaining on such list
after the parties have stricken a name from said list shall be the umpire-
arbitrator. Further, in the event the parties fail to select such umpire-
arbitrator as aforesaid, either of the parties may apply to the American
Arbitration Association (AAA) for the appointment of an umpire-arbitrator
pursuant to the rules and procedures of the AAA for the appointment of neutral
arbitrators, as revised. The individual then designated will act as such umpire-
arbitrator hereunder.

   The umpire-arbitrator thus chosen shall give to Lessor and Lessee written
notice as to the time and place of hearing, which hearing shall be not less than
ten (10) nor more than twenty (20) days after his selection, and, at the time
and place appointed he shall proceed with the


                                       23
<PAGE>
 
hearing unless, for some good cause of which the arbitrators shall be the judge,
it shall be postponed until some later date within a reasonable time. Both
Lessor and Lessee shall have full opportunity to be heard, orally and in
writing, on any question thus submitted. In arriving at a decision and award,
the arbitrators shall be bound by any relevant state and federal law applicable
to the substantive issue or issues so submitted for arbitration, and they shall
make such decision and award in writing, and deliver a copy to both Lessor and
Lessee. The arbitration award shall specify by whom the costs of arbitration
shall be borne and paid and the amount of such costs, including reasonable
compensation for the arbitrators.


                                  ARTICLE XXV

                                CONTROLLING LAW
                                ---------------


   Section 25.1. In all coal mining operations and other activities conducted
hereunder Lessee shall comply with all the laws of the United States of America
and the State of West Virginia now or hereafter enacted, and all rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder by any governmental agency, relating to such
coal mining operations or other activities. Any disputes as to the meaning and
application of any of the provisions of this lease shall be determined under the
laws of the State of West Virginia.


                                 ARTICLE XXVI

                                    NOTICE
                                    ------


   Section 26.1. The giving of any notice to, or the making of any demand on,
Lessee shall be sufficient if in writing, addressed to Lessee and mailed via
certified mail, providing for receipt, to Lessee at P.O. Box 4187, Fairview
Heights, Illinois 62208; and likewise the giving of any notice to, or the making
of any demand on, Lessor shall be sufficient if in writing, addressed to Lessor
and similarly mailed via certified mail, providing for receipt, to Lessor at 
P.O. Box 1517, Bluefield, West Virginia 24701; and ten (10) days shall be
considered a reasonable notice or demand period except where a longer notice
period is herein prescribed.



                                       24
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE XXVII

                                   HEADINGS
                                   --------


   Section 27.1. The headings of the ARTICLES in this lease are for convenience
only and shall not be used to construe or interpret the scope or intent of this
lease or in any way affect the same.


                                ARTICLE XXVIII

                                   SURVIVAL
                                   --------


   Section 28.1. No termination or cancellation of this lease shall relieve
either of the parties hereto from any obligations or liabilities incurred by it
under this lease as of the time of such termination or cancellation.


                                 ARTICLE XXIX

                                 SEVERABILITY
                                 ------------


   Section 29.1. If any term or provision of this lease is held to be illegal or
invalid for any reason whatsoever, such illegality or invalidity shall not
affect the validity or legality of any of the other terms or provisions of this
lease.


                                  ARTICLE XXX

                   TERMS BINDING UPON SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
                   -----------------------------------------


   Section 30.1. All of the terms and provisions hereof to be performed and
observed by the respective parties hereto shall be binding upon and shall inure
to the benefit of their respective successors, and assigns.



                                      25
<PAGE>
 
WITNESS the following signatures and seals as of the date first above written.
Executed in two (2) counterparts.


                                       POCAHONTAS LAND CORPORATION



                                       By: /s/ Robert L. Raines
                                          ---------------------------
                                       Name:
                                       Title:  President


Attest:
/s/ Robert N. Stephens
Assistant Corporate Secretary


                                       ARK LAND COMPANY



                                       By: /s/ Michael D. Bauersachs
                                          --------------------------- 
                                       Name:   Michael D. Bauersachs
                                       Title:  Vice President

Attest:

Secretary



                                      26
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA )
                       ) To-wit:
COUNTY OF KANAWHA      ) 

          I, Sally Caraway Gall, a Notary Public of said County, do certify that
Robert L. Raines, President, who signed the writing above, dated as of January
31, 1994, for said Pocahontas Development Corporation, has this day in my said
County, before me, acknowledged the said writing to be the act and deed of said
Corporation.

          Given under my hand and official seal this 31 day of January, 1994.
                                                     --        -------

[NOTARY SEAL APPEARS HERE]               /s/ Sally Caraway Gall
                                         -----------------------------------
                                                   Notary Public

My commission expires:  July 10, 2001    .
                      -------------------
                                    
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA     )
         -----------------
                           ) To-wit:
COUNTY OF KANAWHA          )
          ---------------- 

          I, Sally Caraway Gall, a Notary Public of said County, do certify that
             ------------------
Michael D. Bauersachs, its Vice President, who signed the writing above, dated
- ---------------------      --------------
as of January 31, 1994, for said Ark Land Company, has this day in my said
County, before me, acknowledged the said writing to be the act and deed of said
Corporation.

          Given under my hand and official seal this 31 day of January, 1994.
                                                     --        -------


[NOTARY SEAL APPEARS HERE]               /s/ Sally Caraway Gall
                                         -----------------------------------
                                                   Notary Public

My commission expires:  July 10, 2001   .
                      ------------------


This instrument prepared by Stephen M. Hopta, Attorney at Law, Bluefield, West
Virginia 24710-1517.


                                      27
<PAGE>
 
                              Amendment to Lease
                                (Holden No. 25)


          This Amendment to Lease is made and effective this 2nd day of October,
1995, by and between Pocahontas Land Corporation ("Lessor"), a Virginia
corporation and Ark Land Company ("Lessee"), a Delaware corporation.


                                  WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, by Lease dated January 31, 1994, as amended, ("the Lease"), Lessor
leased to Lessee, the sole and exclusive right of mining and removing various
seams of coal upon and within certain parcels or areas of land containing in the
aggregate 8,364.18 acres, more or less, located in Logan and Mingo Counties,
West Virginia; and

     WHEREAS, Lessor and Lessee desire to amend the Lease in accordance with the
following terms and conditions.

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

     1. The first paragraph of Section 3.1. entitled "Amount and Payment:
                                                      -------------------
Interest:" is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
- ---------

          Section 3.1. Amount and Payment: Interest. Lessee shall pay to Lessor,
                       ----------------------------
     as advance minimum annual rental on account of coal mined or to be mined
     hereunder, the sum of One Million Two Hundred Thousand Dollars
     ($1,200,000.00) for calendar years 1994 and 1995, payable in equal
     quarterly installments of Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00),
     provided that minimum annual rental for 1994 shall be prorated from the
     date of this lease. For calendar year 1996 and each calendar year
     thereafter under this lease and extensions thereof, the advance minimum
     annual rental shall be Two Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars
     ($2,400,000.00). The advance minimum annual rental for the first quarter of
     1994 shall be paid upon execution of this lease. Thereafter, payments of
     advance minimum annual rental shall be made in equal quarterly installments
     on or before January 1st, April 1st, July 1st and October 1st of each
     calendar year, provided, however, that if Lessee previously in the current
     calendar year shall have mined sufficient tonnages at the then current
     royalty rate to yield production royalty payments to Lessor which equal or
     exceed the total of the advance minimum rental installments for that
     calendar year which have been paid and are due at the time of such payment,
     no such quarterly installment of advance minimum rental shall be made.
<PAGE>
 
     2. Section 3.2. entitled "Recoupment." is hereby deleted in its entirety
                               ----------
and replaced with the following:

          Section 3.2 Recoupment. Each payment of advance minimum annual rental
                      ----------
     hereunder shall be applied as a credit, until recouped, as follows: (a)
     first, against production royalties payable for mining performed under this
     lease during the calendar year for which such payment of minimum annual
     rental is made; (b) secondly, against production royalties payable for
     mining performed under this lease in the two calendar years following the
     calendar year for which the minimum annual rental is paid and not otherwise
     recoupable as a credit against production royalties under the terms hereof.
     The provisions of this Section 3.2 will not be construed to permit more
     than one credit for any payment of advance minimum annual rental against
     any production royalties due Lessor under this lease.

     3. All other terms and conditions of the Lease shall remain in full force
and effect.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this amendment on the
day and year first above written.



                                   Pocahontas Land Corporation

                                   By: /s/ Robert L. Raines
                                      --------------------------------

                                   Title: President
                                         -----------------------------


                                   Ark Land Company

                                   By: /s/ David B. Peugh
                                      --------------------------------

                                   Title: President
                                         -----------------------------


                                       2
<PAGE>
 
          THIS PARTIAL RELEASE AND SURRENDER OF LEASE, made as of February 1,
1996, between ARK LAND COMPANY ("Ark"), a Delaware corporation, and POCAHONTAS
LAND CORPORATION ("Pocahontas"), a Virginia a corporation;


                             W I T N E S S E T H:
                             - - - - - - - - - -

          WHEREAS:

          1.  By Lease made as of January 31, 1994, as amended (hereinafter
called "Original Lease"), Pocahontas leased to Ark for a period of ten (10)
years from January 31, 1994, through January 30, 2004, subject to renewal or
termination as therein provided, the sole and exclusive right of mining and
removing, by any method of mining, various seams of coal upon and within certain
parcels of land containing in the aggregate 8,364.18 acres, more or less,
situated in Logan and Mingo Counties, West Virginia, as therein described,
subject to exceptions and reservations and upon terms and provisions therein
contained;

          2.  By Amendment to Lease dated October 2, 1995, between Pocahontas
and Ark, the parties thereto amended the Original Lease with regard to the
amount and payment of advance minimum annual rentals and recoupment thereof,
upon terms and conditions therein contained; and

          3.  Pocahontas and Ark have determined and agreed that it is to their
mutual benefit that Ark release and surrender to Pocahontas under the terms set
forth herein all of Ark's rights under Original Lease, as amended, in and to the
Chilton Seam of coal within a certain parcel of land containing 4,423.46 acres,
more or less, as hereinafter described.
<PAGE>
 
                                 TABLE OF AREA
          In Lee Magisterial District of Mingo County, West Virginia
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Tract or Parcel                                                   Total Acres
out of which area is taken                                        (Coal Only)
- --------------------------                                         ---------
<S>                                                               <C>
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 32 - Arthur D. Bright                    1,979.87
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 35 - Arthur D. Bright                       32.50
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 93 - William Kronenwett                     63.99
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 102 - William Kronenwett                   140.98
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 103 - William Kronenwett                   545.62
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 190 - S. B. Robertson                       26.96
                                                                       -----
     Total - Lee Magisterial District                               2,789.92
 
</TABLE>
                                 TABLE OF AREA
        In Magnolia Magisterial District of Mingo County, West Virginia
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Tract or Parcel                                                   Total Acres
out of which area is taken                                        (Coal Only)
- --------------------------                                         ---------
<S>                                                               <C>
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 31-a - Island Creek Min. Co. - 
    Vicie Varney                                                       96.00
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 31-b - Island Creek Min. Co. -              
    Tr. 4                                                              48.29
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 32 - Arthur D. Bright                      904.58
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 37 - Egbert Mills                          140.89
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 41 - R. T. W Duke                          119.78
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 42-a - Arthur D. Bright                     50.00
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 42-b - Arthur D. Bright                     42.00
Pt. United Thacker Tr. No. 359 - Island Creek Min. Co.                232.00
                                                                      ------
     Total - Magnolia Magisterial District                          1,633.54
 
</TABLE>
                                 RECAPITULATION
                                 --------------
<TABLE>
<S>                                                               <C>
Mingo County - Lee Magisterial District                             2,789.92
Mingo County - Magnolia Magisterial District                        1,633.54
                                                                    --------
     Total area included in partial release and surrender
       of lease                                                     4,423.46
 
</TABLE>

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
          WITNESS the signatures and seals as of the date first above written.

                                      ARK LAND COMPANY
                                      By


                                      /s/ Steven E. McCurdy
                                      ------------------------------

                                      Its President


                                      POCAHONTAS LAND CORPORATION
                                      By


                                      /s/ Daniel D. Smith

                                      Daniel D. Smith
                                      President



STATE OF MISSOURI       )
                        ) To wit:
COUNTY OF ST. LOUIS     )

          I, Patricia K. Todaro, a Notary Public of said County, do certify that
Steven E. McCurdy, its President, who signed the writing above, dated as of
February 1, 1996, for said Ark Land Company, has this day in my said County,
before me, acknowledged the said writing to be the act and deed of said
Corporation.

          Given under my hand and official seal this 13 day of February, 1996.


                                      /s/ Patricia K. Todaro
                                      --------------------------------
                                      Notary Public

My commission expires: June 7, 1997.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA  )
                        )  To-wit:
COUNTY OF MERCER        )

          I, Cathy J. Buzzo, a Notary Public of said County, do certify that
Daniel D. Smith, President, who signed the writing above, dated as of February
1, 1996, for said Pocahontas Land Corporation, has this day in my said County,
before me, acknowledged the said writing to be the act and deed of said
Corporation.

          Given under my hand and official seal this 14th day of February 1996.




[SEAL OF NOTARY PUBLIC APPEARS HERE]  /s/ Cathy J. Buzzo
                                      --------------------------------
                                      Notary Public


My commission expires: August 16, 1998.


          This instrument was prepared by Thomas L. Linkous, Attorney at Law,
Bluefield, West Virginia 24701.


C: \Inst\Ark-EnMt. Rel



                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                               AMENDMENT TO LEASE
                               ------------------
                                (Holden No. 25)

     THIS AMENDMENT TO LEASE (the "Amendment") is made and effective this 21st
day of October, 1996 (the "Effective Date"), by and between POCAHONTAS LAND
CORPORATION ("Lessor"), a Virginia corporation, and ARK LAND COMPANY ("Lessee"),
a Delaware corporation;


                                   W I T N E S E T H:
                                   - - - - - - - - - 


     WHEREAS:

     1.   By Lease dated January 31, 1994 (the "Lease"), Lessor leased to 
Lessee, the sole and exclusive right of mining and removing various seams of 
coal upon and within certain parcels or areas of land containing in the 
aggregate 8,364.18 acres, more or less, situated in Logan and Mingo Counties, 
West Virginia;

     2.   By Amendment to Lease dated October 2, 1995, the minimum annual rental
and recoupment provisions of the Lease were modified and amended;

     3.   Pursuant to Section 3.4 of the Lease, the General Manager of Lessor
and Lessee may agree to modify, reduce or suspend the advance minimum annual
rental whenever, in the good faith opinion of the General Manager of Lessor and
Lessee, the quantity of unmined coal remaining which Lessee is or has become
obligated to mine has been reduced or depleted so as to justify such
modification, reduction or suspension; and

     4.   The General Manager of Lessor and Lessee have agreed to reduce the
minimum annual and otherwise modify the Lease all as provided herein.

     NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual promises and
covenants in the Lease and herein, and other good and valuable consideration,
the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree
as follows:
<PAGE>
 
     FIRST: The minimum annual rental provided for in Section 3.1 of the Lease
     -----
for calendar year 1997 shall be reduced to One Million Eight Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($1,800,000.00), payable as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         Due Date                            Quarterly Payment
         --------                            -----------------                  
     <S>                                     <C>
     On or before January 1, 1997               $600,000.00      
     On or before April 1, 1997                 $600,000.00     
     On or before July 1, 1997                  $300,000.00      
     On or before October 1, 1997               $300,000.00
</TABLE> 
      
 
     SECOND: The minimum annual rental provided for in Section 3.1 of the Lease
for calendar year 1998 shall be reduced to Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars
($700,000.00), payable as follows:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

         Due Date                            Quarterly Payment
         --------                            -----------------                  
     <S>                                     <C> 
     On or before January 1, 1998               $200,000.00               
     On or before April 1, 1998                 $200,000.00               
     On or before July 1, 1998                  $200,000.00               
     On or before October 1, 1998               $100,000.00               
</TABLE>

     THIRD: The minimum annual rental provided for in Section 3.1 of the Lease
     -----
for calendar year 1999 and the remaining term of the Lease shall be reduced to
One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00), payable on or before January 1st of
each calendar year.

     FOURTH: Commencing January 1, 1999, each payment of advance minimum annual
     ------
rental hereunder shall be applied as a credit, until recouped, as follows: (a)
first, against production royalties under Section 2.1 and land use tolls under
Section 11.1 payable for mining performed under the Lease during the calendar
year for which such payment of minimum annual rental is made and the following
calendar year; and (b) secondly, during any subsequent year in
<PAGE>
 
which the Lessee shall pay in royalties and/or land use tolls in excess of
$200,000.00, said excess amount shall be recoupable against any prior unrecouped
balance of minimum annual rentals paid under said Lease.

     FIFTH: Except as expressly provided in this Amendment, all other terms
     -----    
and conditions of the Lease shall remain in full force and effect.

     WITNESS the following signatures and seals as of the date first above
     written. Executed in two (2) counterparts.


                         POCAHONTAS LAND CORPORATION
                         By

                         /s/ Daniel D. Smith

                         Daniel D. Smith
                         President



                         ARK LAND COMPANY
                         By


                         /s/ Steven E. McCurdy
                         ----------------------------------


                         Its       President
                            -------------------------------


                                       3
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA  )
                        )  To-wit:
COUNTY OF MERCER        )

               I, Cathy T. Buzzo, a Notary Public of said County, do certify
that Daniel D. Smith, President, who signed the writing above, dated as of
October 21, 1996, for said Pocahontas Land Corporation, has this day in my said
County, before me, acknowledged the said writing to be the act and deed of said
Corporation.

               Given under my hand and official seal this 25th day of 
October, 1996.

                               /s/ Cathy T. Buzzo
   [SEAL APPEARS HERE]         -------------------------
                               Notary Public

My commission expires: August 16, 1998.

STATE OF MISSOURI    )
                     ) To-wit:
COUNTY OF ST. LOUIS  )

               I, Patricia K. Todaro, a Notary Public of said County, do certify
that Steven E. McCurdy, its President, who signed the writing above, dated as of
October 21, 1996, for said Ark Land Company, has this day in my said County,
before me, acknowledged the said writing to be the act and deed of said
Corporation. 

               Given under my hand and official seal this 21 day of Oct., 1996.

                               /s/ Patricia K. Todaro
                               --------------------------
                               Notary Public

My commission expires: June 6, 1997.

               This instrument was prepared by Stephen M. Hopta, Attorney at
Law, Bluefield, West Virginia 24701.

c:\inst\Ark-PLC.H25


                                       4

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 10.6


 
                                LEASE CONTRACT
                                --------------


     THIS LEASE CONTRACT, made and entered into this the 16th day of November,
1988, by and between WILLIAM C. FRANCIS, Agent, for Sally Bailey Francis Heirs,
of Cookeville, Tennessee, Party of the FIRST PART, hereinafter called the LESSOR
and MOUNTAIN LAND AND RECLAMATION, INC. by: JOHN BAUGUES, President, Post Office
Box 1626, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37901, Party of the SECOND PART, hereinafter
called the LESSEE.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                              --------------------

     THAT for and in consideration of the premises and of the rents and
royalties hereinafter reserved and the covenants and agreements hereinafter
contained to be observed by the LESSEE, the LESSOR does hereby let, demise, and
lease unto LESSEE, all of the Seams of coal underlying the hereinafter described
boundaries of land with the exception of the Darby seam of coal previously
leased to Karst-Robbins Coal Co., Inc. of Louellen, Kentucky, by lease dated
31st day of August, 1984; for a period of Twenty (20) years from date hereof, or
until all of the mineable and merchantable coal in said Seams, hereby leased is
exhausted. The LESSEE is to have the exclusive right and privilege to deep mine,
strip and auger all the mineable and merchantable coal on the tract of land
hereinafter described.

     Tract 1: All that tract or parcel of land lying and being in Harlan County,
     --------
     Kentucky, on the waters of Clover Fork of Cumberland River and Bounded and
     described as follows, to-wit:

     All the tract or parcel of land lying and being in Harlan County, Kentucky,
     on the waters of Clover Fork of Cumberland River and bounded and described
     as follows, to-wit: Beginning at three small maples on the North bank of
     said Clover Fork opposite the mouth of Pine Branch; thence with the line of
     Boyd Kelley N. 37.20 E. 2.79 poles to the Southwest corner of the store
     building now used as a residence by J. W. Kelley; N. 17.40 E 8.10 poles to
     a stake



                                      (1)
<PAGE>
 
     in orchard 11 feet north of corner between Boyd Kelley and Wiley Holmes;
     Thence with said Holmes line also with fence N. 17.10 E 14.39 poles to a
     white oak at fence corner; thence with fence and line of Hampton Short N
     17.20 E 14.13 poles to a hickory; N. 15.15 E. 11.79 poles; N. 17 E. 4.61
     Poles, N. 9.45 E. 3.75 poles N. 3.30 W 6.19 poles; N. 13.35 W 3.47 poles;
     N. 8.20 W. 4.08 poles to a stake on a point ridge, two small white oaks
     pointers a corner to the land deeded by J. W. Kelley to James Deering;
     thence with lines of same around the hillside, N. 46.14 E. 30.92 poles to a
     beech; N. 15.57 W 17.14 poles to a lynn; thence N. 9 E. 16.79 poles to a
     stake in a drain a corner to tract conveyed by John Kelley; thence with
     line of same down the hill S 49.30 E. 33.75 poles to three white walnut
     sprouts on the West bank of Big Laurel Branch; thence down same with its
     meanders S. 21.50 W. 4.88 poles; S. 8.45 W. 10.90 poles, S. 54.15 W. 8.70
     poles, S. 1.50 W. 19.54 poles; S. 1.20 E. 10.54 poles, S.. 17.20 W. 4.24
     poles, S. 51.30 W. 6.29 poles, S. 21.50 W. 10.34 poles, S. 3.35 E 7.80
     poles, S. 20 W 5.48 poles, S 30.50 E. 5.47 poles to the County road and
     continuing the same course in all eight poles to Clover Fork; thence down
     same S. 50 W 6.50 poles to the line of tract deeded by Wm. Shuler to Asher
     Coal Mining Company; thence with line of same N. 29 W. 5.35 poles to a
     cross on a rock on top of a high bank, S 33.50 W. 8.53 poles to a cross on
     a rock at fence corner; thence with line of land of Wiley Holmes N 71.25 W.
     6.04 poles, S. 22.15 W 18.22 poles to a small double maple on North bank of
     Clover 'fork; thence down same so as to include the bed of river to the
     lines of tracts deeded by W. F. Hall & Co., to Asher Coal Mining Company
     and by Jerry Lynn, to T. J. Asher, N 67.10 W 19.94 poles to the beginning,
     containing 22.60 acres, and being the same land conveyed to Asher Coal
     Mining Company by deed of John W. Kelly and Lucinda Kelly dated April 24,
     1918, and recorded in Harlan County Clerk's Office, in Deed Book 35, page
     336.

     Tract 2; Beginning at a hickory about 14 inches in diameter standing on
     --------
     East side of Laurel Branch; thence across said branch northwestwardly
     course with the line of the James Deering land to an ash about 10 inches in
     diameter standing in a small drain; thence continuing with said Deering
     line down the hill southwestwardly direction to a stake near the three
     small dogwoods at northwest corner of the tract of land conveyed to Dr. G.
     P. Bailey, by Asher Coal Mining Company, known as the John W. Kelly tract;
     thence down the hill with said Bailey's line a southeastwardly course to a
     stake on west side of said branch and in line of the lands of said Bailey
     and said Deering near three small walnuts; thence up the west side of said
     branch with the line between the lands of said Deering and of the tract
     hereby conveyed to a stake on west side of said branch and near the same;
     thence eastwardly crossing said branch with said Deering line to the
     Beginning.

     This deed is to include and does convey all the right, title, interest and
     claim first party's have or hold reason of Will of Dr G. P. Bailey, in and
     to all the lands he owned on the head waters of Clover Fork and its
     tributaries in Harlan County,


                                      (2)
<PAGE>
 
     Kentucky. Will recorded in Will Book 2, Page 33, January 6, 1927, in Harlan
     County Court, Harlan, Kentucky.

     Tract 3: Being 111.25 acres of land, more or less, lying and being on
     --------
     Clover Fork of Cumberland River, Harlan County, Kentucky, and the same land
     owned by H. J. Short, at the time of his death, and which desceded to the
     grantors hereto, by the law of descent, which is shown by Affidavit of
     Descent duly recorded in Deed Book 66, Page 522, Harlan County Court
     Clerk's Office, and being the same land conveyed to the said H. J. Short by
     deed duly recorded in Deed Book_______, at Page _______, Harlan County
     clerk's office, and bounded and described as follows:

     BEGINNING at two black oaks, on the point of the ridge about 400 feet North
     of James A. Short's house, corner of said short and corner of G. A.
     Eversole lands; thence up and with the crest of said ridge, and said
     Eversole's line same being a conditional line made by and between Isaac
     Kelly and H. J. Short; thence N. 80-00 E. 225 feet; N. 47-00 E. 365 feet;
     N. 54 30 E. 425 feet; N. 52 30 E. 270 feet; N. 65 30 E. 500 feet; N. 84 30
     E. 320 feet; S 87 45 E. 400 feet; S. 89 00 E. 235 feet to a stone marked 
     "U.S." with two chestnut oak pointers; thence down and with the crest of 
     last named ridge, with U.S. painted line leaving Eversole S. 21 30 W. 430
     feet; S. 15 00 W. 110 feet; S. 5)) E 400 feet; S. 6 00 W. 187 feet stone
     marked "U. S."; thence leaving U.S. painted line and with line of Tract
     three, S. 8-20 E. 67.3 feet; S. 13 35 E. 57.2 feet; S. 3 30 E. 102.1 feet;
     S. 9 45 W. 194.5 feet; S 17 20 W 233.1 feet to a white oak, in the field at
     the corner of fence and on top of said ridge; thence leaving the ridge with
     fence N. 72 00 W 740 feet to a stake, at the Southeast corner of the
     graveyard lot; N. 41 30 W 115 feet to a stake, at corner of fence, the N.W.
     corner of the Ballard T. Kelley lands; S 53 00 W. 1345 feet to a stake at
     corner of fence at a drain, about 115 feet S. 80 E. from the southeast
     corner of Bascom Huff, Concrete Block House; thence N. 600 00 E. 214 feet
     to Northeast corner of said Huff's fence; N. 20 00 W. 237 feet to the
     Northwest corner of the fence; S. 60 30 W. 198 feet to the Southwest corner
     of said Huff's fence; N 28 30 W. 258 feet a poplar at the Southeast corner
     of the J. A. Short tract; N. 5 00 E. 70 feet to a stake in a sag; thence N.
     21 30 W. 550 feet to the beginning, containing by survey, 111.25 acres, Run
     on Magnetic Meridian 1930.


                                    ARTICLE I

USE The LESSEE shall have the right to occupy and use so much of the surface of
- ---
said premises as may be required to conduct its mining operations on the
premises and to remove its coal therefrom, but for no other purposes whatsoever.



                                      (3)
<PAGE>
 
                                   ARTICLE II

REFUSE The LESSEE shall have the right to deposit refuse from the mine workings
- ------
of the seams hereby demised upon the surface of the leased premises, but must do
so in accordance with the Reclamation Laws of the Federal Government and the
State of Kentucky, which may be in force from time to time. Said refuse is to be
dumped or deposited on said land so as not to damage the surface any more than
is necessary.


                                   ARTICLE III

MINERAL AND TIMBER RESERVATIONS The LESSOR reserves the right to carry on by
- -------------------------------
himself or agents or assigns, in and upon the leased premises such operations as
the LESSOR may deem proper or convenient for or in connection with the
discovery, extraction, utilization or removal of all natural gas, petroleum,
oil, and other minerals, timber reserved, herein and all other products of the
leased premises not specifically granted to the LESSEE, none of which are to
unreasonably interfere with the rights granted LESSEE herein or any operation of
LESSEE conducted in accordance with those rights.


                                   ARTICLE IV

RESERVATIONS It is distinctly understood between the parties hereto that with
- ------------
the exception of the seams and beds of coal hereby demised and the timber and
surface right hereby granted, the above described land, with all the rights and
appurtenances thereunto belonging, shall be and remain the property of the
LESSOR as fully as if this contract and lease had not been made, with full right
in the LESSOR and his agents of ingress and egress on the premises for the
exercise of said reserved rights, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that all rights reserved to
the LESSOR are to be exercised so as not to unreasonably interfere with the
operation which is carried on by the LESSEE hereunder.




                                      (4)
<PAGE>
 
                                    ARTICLE V

MINIMUM ROYALTY    The LESSEE covenants and agrees to pay to the LESSOR for the 
- ---------------
use and enjoyment of the premises aforesaid, irrespective of the amount of coal
mined, a certain yearly rental of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), per annum,
beginning six (6) months from date mining permit is approved, or Two (2) years
from date of lease, whichever come first, at the office of the LESSOR, to
WILLIAM C. FRANCIS, agent for Sally Baiely Francis Heirs, Cookeville,
Tennessee, 37901. If LESSEE begins to mine coal from the demised premises before
said date, the MINIMUM Royalty from that time is to begin.


                                   ARTICLE VI

ROYALTY    The LESSEE does further agree to pay to the LESSOR upon all coal 
- -------
mined from the premises herein described Eight Percent (8%) of the gross sale 
price of coal, F. 0. B. the tipple or Sales agent or One Dollar and Fifty Cents
($1.50); whichever is greater by the ultimate customer or sales agency, before
tax and sales commission has been deducted, same to be payable on the 20th day
of each month following the month in which said coal is actually mined, a ton as
used herein being equal to 2,000 pounds, however, it is understood and agreed
between the parties hereto that the payment of the royalty for coal actually
mined, as in this Article provided, shall pay pro tanto and be credited upon the
annual Minimum Rents or Royalties hereinbefore provided for in Article V hereof.


                                   ARTICLE VII

STRIKES, RIOTS, ETC.    The LESSOR agrees that if any time the said LESSEE shall
- --------------------
be prevented from carrying out any or all of the covenants herein, by reasons of
riots, strikes, epidemics, fires, failure of railway cars supply, or for any
cause beyond the LESSEE's control, then the said Annual Minimum Royalty herein



                                      (5)
<PAGE>
 
provided for shall be reduced in proportion to the time lost by said
interruptions caused by the said above causes and it is further agreed that the
said Annual Minimum Royalty shall be suspended and abated during such times as
the LESSEE'S mine on the leased premises shall be closed or out of operation.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

STATEMENTS AND WEIGHTS    The LESSEE shall furnish to the LESSOR on or before 
- ----------------------
the 20th day of each month during the term of this lease, a statement showing
the quantity or number of tons of coal mined from his property during the
preceeding month. The LESSOR shall have the right to check the weighing and
measuring of all coal and coal products mined from the premises hereby leased.
The LESSOR shall also have the right at all reasonable times during the usual
business hours to verify the correctness of the weights so certified to him by
the LESSEE.


                                   ARTICLE IX

ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS    The LESSEE shall keep complete and accurate books of
- --------------------
account and record all coal mined from the leased premises, and either shipped
from or used upon said premises, and the said books and records shall at all
reasonable times during the usual business hours be open to the inspection of
the LESSOR, his authorized officer, agents, or assigns, for the purpose of
comparing and verifying the accounts and statements rendered by the LESSEE as
aforesaid.


                                    ARTICLE X

REGULATIONS    The workings by the LESSEE of the mine on the leased premises
- -----------
shall be governed by the following regulations:

           (a)  The LESSEE shall work and mine the coal on the leased premises
                in a diligent, effectual and workmanlike manner, in conformity
                with approved and suitable methods of current mining, and in
WORKINGS        conformity also with all laws and all regulations made by
- --------        authority of law which may
 
                                      (6)
<PAGE>
 
                from time to time be in force in respect of the workings of coal
                mines and the safety of employees therein, and the LESSEE will
WORKINGS        hold the LESSOR free from damage to persons or property
- --------        resulting from the mining operations of the LESSEE hereunder.

           (b)  The LESSEE will be responsible for any pollutions of streams 
                which might result from coal and coal products, slack, dirt, 
                slate, sawdust, and other waste materials deposited by the 
                LESSEE on the leased premises; and the LESSEE shall endemnify 
POLLUTIONS      the LESSOR and hold him harmless from all claims, demands, 
- ----------      judgements, and any other damage which might result from the 
                mining of said coal, against him by reason of any such pollution
                and shall pay all cost and expenses incurred by the LESSOR in 
                defending any such claim.

           (c)  It is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that the
                foregoing indemnification provisions are limited to those
                claims, costs, fines, expenses and damages arising as a
CLAIMS          proximate result of action or inaction by the LESSEE, its agents
- ------          or servants in connection with mining upon the leased premises.

SECURE     (d)  The LESSEE shall at all times keep the workings and works in 
- ------          secure and proper condition, suitable for the immediate 
CONDITION       continuance of mining and shipping coal therefrom to the full 
- ---------       extent of their capacity.  

                                  ARTICLE XI

                TIMBER    The LESSOR reserves all the timber on the leased
                ------
                premises, except such timber as may be required by the LESSEE
                for building roads, tipples, and other structures necessary for
                mining said coal.


                                      (7)
<PAGE>
 
                                   ARTICLE XII

      CONTROL OF EMPLOYEES    The LESSOR shall have no control over the
      --------------------
      employees of the LESSEE or the operation or other works on the leased
      premises.



                                  ARTICLE XIII

      RECOUP In the event the LESSEE shall fail during any year of the term of
      ------
      this lease to mine a sufficient quantity of coal from the leased premises,
      which at the royalty rate for coal actually mined, herein provided for,
      will fully pay the annual Minimum Royalty for such year, as herein set
      out, then and in such event, it is expressly agreed between the LESSOR and
      the LESSEE that the LESSEE shall have the privilege during the next
      suceeding Two (2) years of mining, free from royalties, a sufficient
      quantity of coal over and above the quantity required to yield the said
      annual minimum royalty, to reimburse itself for any deficiency that may
      have occured during said year in which there was such a deficiency.


                                   ARTICLE XIV

      WORKMAN'S COMPENSATION    LESSEE shall operate under the terms and 
      ----------------------
      provisions of the Kentucky Workman's Compensation Act and to that end
      shall procure and keep in full force and effect Workman's Compensation
      Insurance.


                                   ARTICLE XV

      PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE    LESSEE shall procure and keep in full force
      --------------------------
      and effect Public Liability Insurance with coverage limits of not less
      than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) for personal injury per
      person, per accident or occurance and Three Hundred Thousand Dollars
      ($300,000.00) aggregate for personal injury per accident or occurance and
      Twenty-Five



                                      (8)
<PAGE>
 
      Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) property damage per accident or occurance.


                                   ARTICLE XVI

      SURVEYS    The LESSEE agrees to make surveys of the developments carried 
      -------
      on in the mine or mines on said premises from time to time by competent
      engineers at their own cost, and to show all of the same with entries,
      rooms airways, outlets, croplines, and a section of the coal seam with its
      partings at distances of not more than 300 feet apart, along the tunnels,
                                             --------
      entries, and at working faces of rooms, on a map and furnish copies of
      same to LESSOR at Cookeville, Tennessee, at least twice each year, and
      LESSOR'S agents shall have reasonable access at reasonable times during
      the usual business hours to all of such maps retained by LESSEE for
      purposes herein set out.


                                  ARTICLE XVII

      INSPECTION    The LESSOR, his officers, engineers and agents with their
      ----------
      assistances, shall have the right at all reasonable times to enter the
      leased premises and the mines and all works and buildings of the LESSEE
      whether upon or under the surface, in order to inspect, examine, survey,
      or measure the same or any part thereof, or for any lawful purpose; and
      for these purposes the LESSEE shall furnish without cost reasonable means
      of access.


                                  ARTICLE XVIII

      BEGINNING DATE    The LESSEE agrees to begin development of the leased
      --------------
      premises upon receipt of mining permit, and to drive the necessary
      entries, air courses, and passages into the leased premises, such as to
      make their development of their coal mining operation practical and
      possible.





                                      (9)
<PAGE>
 
                                   ARTICLE XIX

      INDEMNIFY LESSOR    The LESSEE shall indemnify the LESSOR against and hold
      ----------------
      him harmless from all loss, damage, claim, or liability caused by the act
      or default of the LESSEE or of any person claiming through or under the
      LESSEE which claim arises from LESSEE'S operation on the leased premises.


                                   ARTICLE XX

      HAULAGE    LESSEE is engaged in the mining and processing of coal from
      -------
      other leaseholds in the vicinity of the subject leasehold, and in carrying
      out its overall mining plans and development, it may desire to transport
      refuse from these other nearby leaseholds and from its washing and
      processing plant on or across the subject leasehold to the refuse area
      designated on the attached map; in such case, the LESSEE may do so, at no
      cost to LESSEE. If merchantable coal has been mined and minimum not being
      paid the wheelage will be Fifteen Cents (l5c) a ton.


                                   ARTICLE XXI

      LIEN    LESSOR shall have a lien upon all the buildings, improvements,
      ----
      fixtures, machinery, appliances and property of all kinds which is owned
      by the LESSEE or which is used in mining, handling, and hauling of the
      coal mined from the leased premises for the payment of all rents,
      royalties, and other monies which may at anytime become due from the
      LESSEE to the LESSOR hereunder; which lien shall be prior and superior to
      any and all other liens on or rights in said buildings, improvements,
      fixtures, machinery, and other property except as by law provided to the
      contrary.


                                  ARTICLE XXII

      LANDLORD REMEDIES    All rents, royalties and other monies which may at
      -----------------
      any time become due from the LESSEE to the LESSOR hereunder shall be
      deemed and treated as rents reserved for the use of the leased premises;
      and the LESSOR shall have in respect thereof all the rights and remedies
      of a Landlord for the recovering of rents under the law of the State of
      Kentucky.

                                     (10)
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE XXIII

      ADDRESS CHANGE    Each of the parties shall keep the other informed of an
      --------------
      address to which any notice provided for in this lease may be sent; and
      any notice shall be deemed effectively given if personally delivered or
      mailed in a sealed wrapper with postage prepaid to such address.


                                 ARTICLE XXIV

      ENGINEERS    The words "Engineer of the LESSOR" whenever used herein shall
      ---------
      mean any engineer whom the LESSOR shall designate as authorized to act for
      him in respect of the particular matter referred to; and such designation
      may be changed from time to time by the LESSOR, and different matters.


                                  ARTICLE XXV

      SUCCESSORS    All the terms, provisions, conditions, covenants,
      ----------
      obligations, reservation, and restriction in this lease contained shall be
      binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors, legal
      representatives and assigns, of the parties hereto respectively.


                                 ARTICLE XXVI

      TERMINATION    At the termination of this lease the LESSEE has the right 
      ----------- 
      to remove all the working tools, instruments used in mining, machinery,
      steel tipples, coal bins, engines, boilers, fans, pumps, ropes, weighing
      scales, rails, and all other personal property placed upon the premises by
      the LESSEE. All other permanent improvements placed upon the premises
      shall become the property of the LESSOR and the LESSEE does not have the
      right to remove such appurtenances. The LESSEE shall not remove the
      property until all rents and royalties and other monies due the LESSOR are
      paid and the agreements of this lease are fully complied with.





                                     (11)
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE XXVII

      TRANSFER    The LESSEE shall not have the right to transfer this lease to
      --------
      any person, partnership, firm or corporation without the written consent
      of the LESSOR having first been obtained. In the event the LESSOR agrees
      that LESSEE may transfer said lease, he agrees that he will not
      unreasonably withhold such permission.


                                  ARTICLE XXVII

      TAXES    The LESSEE further agrees to assess and pay all taxes levied upon
      ----- 
      the improvements, fixtures, and machinery placed on the property by the
      LESSEE and the LESSOR is to pay all taxes levied upon or assessed against
      the real property hereby leased. As long as the lease is in effect the
      coal is to be considered property of the LESSEE and all Taxes levied
      against coal are to be paid by LESSEE.


                                  ARTICLE XXIX

      INTOXICATING LIQUORS    Neither the LESSEE nor the LESSOR shall authorize
      --------------------
      or knowingly permit the introduction, sale or barter of intoxicating
      liquors upon the leased premises, or upon any lands adjacent thereto which
      may be owned or controlled by the LESSEE or by the LESSOR respectively.


                                   ARTICLE XXX

      BREACH    Should any breach of the provisions of this contract be made by
      ------
      LESSEE and the LESSOR shall not avail himself of the right of the
      forfeiture herein provided, such failure to do so shall not be held or
      taken to be a waiver of any other failures, default or defaults thereafter
      occuring.



                                  ARTICLE XXXI

      CANCELLATION    This lease shall at the option of the LESSOR be forfeited
      ------------
      and become null and void:
                               
               (1)  If the LESSEE shall make any assignment for the benefit of
                    creditors or voluntarily go into bankruptcy; or shall suffer
                    any judgement or attachment to


                                     (12)
<PAGE>
 
                    be entered or filed against said premises or any of the
BANKRUPTCY          property thereon and shall not within Sixty (60) Days
- ----------          thereafter either secure or discharge the same;

                    or shall by reason of bankruptcy or insolvency or otherwise
INSOLVENCY          become incapable of fulfilling any of the terms,
- ----------          conditions, and covenents of this lease.
           
             (2)    If the LESSEE does not mine coal from the leased premises
REQUIRED TO         for a period of Sixty (60) Days after Beginning Date, unless
- -----------         he is prevented from doing so for the reasons set out in
MINE COAL           article VII hereof.
- ---------


                                  ARTICLE XXXII

      LESSOR'S OPTION TO CANCEL    Should the LESSEE fail for a period of Thirty
      -------------------------
      (30) Days after royalty shall become due and payable to pay said royalty
      herein provided, or fail to perform any of the covenenants, agreements, or
      stipulations herein contained, then the LESSOR shall have the right and
      option to cancel this lease upon giving the LESSEE Thirty (30) Days
      written notice by Certified Mail of his intention to do so, however, if
      the covenants, agreements, and stipulations complained of by the LESSOR
      are corrected by LESSEE within Thirty (30) Days after notice is received,
      the LESSEE may avoid such forfeiture.


                                 ARTICLE XXXIII

      LESSEE'S RESPONSIBILITY     LESSEE agrees to be responsible and to hold
      -----------------------
      the LESSOR free and harmless from all claims of damage to other property
      or persons resulting from the mining, deposit or dumping of refuse from
      the mines or workings upon the surface of said land.



                                 ARTICLE XXXIV

      RAILROAD WEIGHTS    Railroad weights shall govern all settlements for
      ----------------
      royalty on coal marketed by rail, except any of same that may be mixed
      with coal mined from other properties, and in that event such coal shall
      be weighed on LESSEE'S mine belt or tipple 


                                     (13)
<PAGE>
 
      scales, or by measuring the worked out areas each month by a competent
      engineer to determine the weight and/or tons of coal removed during the
      preceeding calendar month, upon which said royalty is to be paid. Said
      weights are to be certified to the LESSOR by the LESSEE and any such coal
      otherwise marketed shall be settled for on the same weighed basis as that
      for which LESSEE received pay.


                                  ARTICLE XXXV

      CO-MINGLED    It is understood that if coal from the herein leased
      ----------
      premises shall be dumped over the same tipple with coal mined from other
      properties or which may also be owned by or under lease to said LESSEE,
      thereby mixing same and preventing the royalty accounting for such coal on
      the basis of railroad weights, that as to such coal so mixed the LESSEE
      agrees to keep a separate account and use separate and clearly distinct
      check numbers, car or truck numbers for the coal removed from the herein
      leased premises from the check, car, or truck numbers of coal removed from
      other premises and as stated above, settlement for such coal shall be made
      by weighing the coal over the scales at the headhouse or the tipple.


                                  ARTICLE XXXVI

      GENERAL WARRANTY    The LESSOR warrants generally his title to the said
      ----------------
      mineral and does hereby covenant with the LESSEE that he is seized title
      to said mineral; that he has full power, right and authority to lease or
      otherwise alien the same; that same is free and clear of any and all liens
      and encumbrances and that the LESSEE shall have quiet and peaceful
      possession and enjoyment of the said property for the purposes herein set
      out.


           IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the LESSOR has hereunto affixed his signature,
      and the LESSEE has caused this instrument to be executed by Mountain Land
      And Reclamation, Inc., this the day and year first hereinabove written.

                                                       (Executed in Duplicate)


                                     (14)
<PAGE>
 
                                            BY: /s/ William C. Francis AGENT
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            SALLY BAILEY FRANCIS HEIRS


                                            MOUNTAIN LAND AND RECLAMATION, INC.

                                            /s/ John Baugues
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            JOHN BAUGUES              PRESIDENT


This instrument was prepared
by William C. Francis,
Cookeville, Tennessee.

/s/ William C. Francis
- ------------------------

STATE OF TENNESSEE:

COUNTY OF PUTNAM  :

          The foregoing Lease Agreement was produced before me in my said county
and duly acknowledged by WILLIAM C. FRANCIS, Agent for Sally Bailey Francis
Heirs, as LESSOR, therein, on this 16 day of Nov, 1988.


                                         /s/ Betty Brotherton
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         NOTARY PUBLIC, PUTNAM COUNTY, TENNESSEE

My commission expires:

July 27, 1992
- -------------

STATE OF KENTUCKY:

COUNTY OF HARLAN :

          The foregoing Lease Agreement was produced before me in my said county
and John Baugues, President of Mountain Land Reclamation, Inc., a Tennessee
Corporation, duly acknowledged and executed said lease on behalf of the
corporation, on this 21st day of November, 1988.


                                         /s/ Joan S. Yeary
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         NOTARY PUBLIC, HARLAN COUNTY, KENTUCKY

My commission expires:

Jan. 15, 1990
- -------------




                                     (15)
<PAGE>
 
                              [MAP APPEARS HERE]
<PAGE>
 
                               SUPPLEMENTAL LEASE
                               ------------------


THIS CONTRACT, made and entered into this the 16th day of May, 1989, by and
between WILLIAM C. FRANCIS, Agent, for Sally Bailey Francis Heirs, of
Cookeville, Tennessee, Party of the FIRST PART, hereinafter called LESSOR and
MOUNTAIN LAND AND RECLAMATION, INC. by: John Baugues, President, Post Office Box
1626, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901, Party of the SECOND PART, hereinafter called
LESSEE.



                             W I T N E S S E T H:
                             -------------------

THAT, WHEREAS, the LESSOR heretofore, by a certain writing dated the 16th day of
November, 1988, leased to LESSEE, the seams of coal, described in said writing
with the privilege to mine said seams of coal therefrom, said writing is hereby
referred to and made a part hereof as fully as if the same were copied herein at
length.

WHEREAS, the LESSOR owns a tract of land hereinafter described and said LESSOR
desires to add to the said leasehold, now held by LESSEE, and LESSEE desires to
lease, all the mineable and merchantable coal in, on, and under the hereinafter
described tract of land:



                    BEGINNING at the intersection of El Gap Branch with the
                    Clover Fork of the Cumberland River; THENCE with the
                    meanders of El Gap Branch to the top of Little Black
                    Mountain, said mountain being the dividing line between the
                    State of Kentucky and the State of Virginia; THENCE in a
                    westerly direction along the crest of said mountain to the
                    intersection with Pine Branch; THENCE with the western ridge
                    defining the watershed boundary of Pine Branch in a
                    northerly direction to the centerline of the Clover Fork of
                    the Cumberland River; THENCE up the centerline of the Clover
                    Fork to the BEGINNING, and containing approximately 337.81
                    acres more or less.

                    This boundary is listed as tracts #1, #2, and Wright Short
                    on the attached map.


            Except as modified, all terms and conditions of the existing lease 

dated the 16th day of November, 1988, shall remain in full force and effect.


                                      (1)
<PAGE>
 
    IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the LESSOR and LESSEE have hereunto affixed

their signatures.                                   (Executed in duplicate.)

                                     BY: /s/ William C. Francis        AGENT
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                            SALLY BAILEY FRANCIS HEIRS  



                                     MOUNTAIN LAND AND RECLAMATION, INC.
                                     

                                     /s/ John Baugues
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                         JOHN BAUGUES                 PRESIDENT


This instrument was prepared
by William C. Francis,
Cookeville, Tennessee.


/s/ William C. Francis
- ----------------------

STATE OF TENNESSEE:

COUNTY OF PUTNAM  :

          The foregoing Lease Agreement was produced before me in my said 
county and duly acknowledged by WILLIAM C. FRANCIS, Agent for Sally Bailey
Francis Heirs, as LESSOR, therein, on this 16 day of May, 1989.


                                       /s/ Betty Brotherton
                                       ---------------------------------------
                                       NOTARY PUBLIC, PUTNAM COUNTY, TENNESSEE
My commission expires:
July 27, 1992
- ------------------------


STATE OF KENTUCKY:

COUNTY OF HARLAN :

          The foregoing lease agreement was produced before me in my said 
county and John Baugues, President of Mountain Land Reclamation, Inc., a
Tennessee Corporation, duly acknowledged and executed said lease on behalf of
the corporation, on this 6th day of June 1989.

                                          /s/Paula Skidmore
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          NOTARY PUBLIC, HARLAN COUNTY, KENTUCKY

My commission expires:
November 28, 1992
- ----------------------    

                                      (2)
<PAGE>
 
                              [MAP APPEARS HERE]
<PAGE>
 
                               SUPPLEMENTAL LEASE
                               ------------------


     This contract made and entered into this the 25th day of August 1991, by 
and between William C. Francis, Agent, for Sally Bailey Francis Heirs of
Cookeville, Tennessee, Party of the First Part; hereinafter called Lessor and
Mountain Land & Reclamation, Inc. by John Baugues, President, Post Office Box
50603, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37950, Party of the Second Part, hereinafter called
Lessee.


                                  WITNESSETH:
                                  -----------


     That, whereas, the Lessor heretofore, by a certain writing dated 16th day 
of November 1988 and Supplemental Lease dated 16th day of May 1989, leased to
Lessee, the seams of coal, described in said writing with the privilege to mine
said seams of coal therefrom, with the exception of the Darby Seam of coal
previously leased to Karst-Robbins Coal Company, Inc. of Louellen, Kentucky by
lease dated 31st day of August 1984.

     That, whereas, an order was filed in United States Bankruptcy Court by 
Hon. Joe Lee, Chief Judge U.S. Bankruptcy Court on 13th day of August 1991. It
was hereby ordered and adjudged that on the basis of arguments of counsel and
the review of the written motion, with exhibits thereto, as set forth above, the
above mentioned Lease dated August 31, 1984, was terminated prior to Order for
Relief herein, and therefore shall not assumable or assignable, and it is
further ordered and adjudged that the property as set forth in the
aforementioned Lease are and shall be free of any interest of the Debtor, the
Estate of the Debtor and of this proceeding.

     Therefore the Darby Seam of coal is hereby added to the lease dated 16th 
day of November, 1988 and Supplemental Lease dated 16th day of May 1989 and made
a part hereof as fully as if the same were copied herein at length.

     In Testimony whereof, the Lessor and Lessee have hereunto affixed their
signatures.

                                        BY:  /s/ William C. Francis     Agent
                                        -------------------------------------
                                             SALLY BAILEY FRANCIS HEIRS



                                        MOUNTAIN LAND & RECLAMATION, INC.


                                        /s/ John Baugues
                                        -------------------------------------
                                        JOHN BAUGUES          PRESIDENT
<PAGE>
 
This instrument was prepared
by William C. Francis,
Cookeville, Tennessee.


/s/ William C. Francis, Agent
- -----------------------------


STATE OF TENNESSEE:

COUNTY OF PUTNAM  :

     The foregoing Lease Agreement was produced before me in my said county and
duly acknowledged by WILLIAM C. FRANCIS, Agent for Sally Bailey Francis Heirs,
as LESSOR, therein, on this 27th day of August, 1991.

                                                  /s/ Betty Brotherton   
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                         NOTARY PUBLIC, PUTNAM COUNTY, TENNESSEE

My commission expires:
July 27, 92
- ---------------------

STATE OF KENTUCKY:

COUNTY OF HARLAN :

     The foregoing lease agreement was produced before me in my said county and
John Baugues, President of Mountain Land & Reclamation, Inc., a Tennessee
Corporation, duly acknowledged and executed said lease on behalf of the
corporation, on this 5th day of September, 1991.


                                                  /s/ Paula R. Skidmore
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          NOTARY PUBLIC, HARLAN COUNTY, KENTUCKY
My commission expires:

11-28-92
- ----------------------

                                      (2)
<PAGE>
 
                              ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES
                              --------------------


     THIS ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES (the "Assignment"), made and entered into this
the 13 day of September, 1991, by and between Mountain Land & Reclamation
    --
Services, Inc. (also known as Mountain Land and Reclamation, Inc.), a Tennessee
corporation (hereinafter "Assignor") and Ark Land Company, a Delaware
corporation (hereinafter "Assignee").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

          WHEREAS, by Agreement of Purchase and Sale of Assets dated 
September 13, 1991 between Assignor, Assignee and Pine Mountain Coal Company
          --
(hereinafter "Asset Agreement"), Assignor agreed to assign to Assignee, upon the
terms set forth in the Asset Agreement those certain leases identified on
Schedule A, copies of which are attached hereto and incorporated herein by
reference (the "Leases");

     NOW, THEREFORE, for Ten Dollars ($10.00) cash in hand paid and other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, Assignor has bargained and sold and does hereby transfer, assign,
set over, deliver, release and relinquish unto Assignee, its successors and
assigns, all of its right, title and interest in and to the Leases.

     TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Leases and all rights and privileges of Assignor
incident thereto or accruing thereunder together with all rights and privileges
appurtenant thereto, unto Assignee, its successors and assigns forever.

     In consideration of and as an inducement to Assignee to purchase and take
assignment of the Leases, Assignor has made
<PAGE>
 
certain representations, warranties and covenants which are contained in the
Asset Agreement. In lieu of restating all of said representations, warranties
and covenants, Assignor hereby incorporates by reference all of the
representations, warranties and covenants on the part of Assignor contained in
the Asset Agreement, to the same extent as if said representations, warranties
and covenants were specifically set forth herein.

     Assignee covenants and agrees with Assignor to assume all of Assignor's
rights and obligations under the Leases arising on or after the date hereof,
together with such other rights and obligations which Assignee agreed to assume
in the Asset Agreement, to the same extent as if said rights and obligations
were specifically set forth herein.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Assignment as of the
date and year first above written.

                                    MOUNTAIN LAND & RECLAMATION
                                    SERVICES, INC.

                                    By: /s/ John P. Baugues Jr.

                                    Its: PRESIDENT
                                
                             
                                    ARK LAND COMPANY


                                    By: /s/ Steven E. McCurdy

                                    Its: President


                                       2
<PAGE>
 
State of Tennessee )
                   : SS
COUNTY OF  Knox    )
          --------

          The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 11th day of
                                                                   ----
September, 1991, by John P. Baugush Jr. of Mountain Land & Reclamation Services,
                    -------------------
Inc., its President.
          ---------

          My commission expires: 10/17/94.
                                 --------

                          /s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                          ----------------------------
                          NOTARY PUBLIC



COMMONWEALTH OF MISSOURI )
                         : SS
COUNTY OF ST. CHARLES    )
          ---------------

          The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 16th day of
                                                                   --
September, 1991, by Steven E. McCurdy of Ark Land Company, its President.
                    -----------------                          ---------

          My commission expires: 3/4/95.
                                 ------

                             /s/ Shelley J. Mackiewicz
[SEAL OF NOTARY PUBLIC       ------------------------
APPEARS HERE]                NOTARY PUBLIC



THIS INSTRUMENT PREPARED BY:


/s/ John R. Rhorer
- ---------------------------
John R. Rhorer, Jr.
WYATT, TARRANT & COMBS
Lexington Financial Center
250 West Main Street
Lexington, Kentucky 40507
(606) 233-2012




                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULE A
                                   ----------


l.   Lease Contract dated November 16, 1988 by and between William C. Francis,
     agent for Sally Bailey Francis heirs, as lessor and Mountain Land and
     Reclamation, Inc., as lessee.

2.   Supplemental Lease dated May 16, 1989 by and between William C. Francis,
     agent for Sally Bailey Francis heirs, as lessor and Mountain Land and
     Reclamation, Inc., as lessee, supplementing Lease No. 1 above.

3.   Supplemental Lease dated August 25, 1991 by and between William C. Francis,
     agent for Sally Bailey Francis Heirs, as lessor and Mountain Land &
     Reclamation, Inc. as lessee, supplementing Lease No. 1 and 2 above.

4.   Lease Contract dated November 21, 1988 by and between Virgil Eversole
     Estate, by Clark Bailey, executor, as lessor and Mountain Land and
     Reclamation, Inc., as lessee.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                          AMENDMENT TO LEASE CONTRACT

     THIS AMENDMENT is made and entered into this 23rd day of December, 1992, by
                                                  ----        --------     -
and between WILLIAM C. FRANCIS, agent for SALLY BAILEY FRANCIS HEIRS ("Lessor"),

and ARK LAND COMPANY ("Ark"), a Delaware corporation.


                          ****RECITALS****

     By Lease Contract dated November 16, 1988, as amended by a certain
Supplemental Lease dated May 16, 1989 and by Supplemental Lease dated August 25,
1991 (the "Lease Contract"), Lessor leased to Mountain Land and Reclamation,
Inc., predecessor to Ark, all of the coal underlying certain property located in
Harlan County, Kentucky.

     Lessor and Ark wish to amend the Lease Contract in accordance with the
terms set forth in this Amendment.

     For and in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained
in the Lease Contract and in this Amendment, Lessor and Ark agree as follows:

                                     ****

     l.  Effective November 16, 1992, the certain yerly rental provided for in 
Article V ("Minimum Royalty") shall be Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00) 
per year.

     2.  Article VI shall be deleted and shall be replaced to read as follows:

          The LESSEE does further agree to pay to the LESSOR as tonnage royalty
          the greater of six percent (6%) of the gross sale price for each ton
          (2,000 lbs.) of coal mined from the premises and sold to the ultimate
          consumer or One Dollar and Fifty Cents ($1.50) per ton. For purposes
          of calculating tonnage royalties, gross sales price shall be defined
<PAGE>
 
          as the actual price at which the coal mined from the leased premises
          is sold f.o.b. tipple, in an arms-length transaction to the ultimate
          consumer, less costs for transportation from the mine mouth to the
          tipple but without deduction for taxes and sales commission.  Tonnage
          royalties shall be calculated on a clean or washed basis and shall be
          due and payable on or before the 20th day of the month following the
          month in which the coal is mined and sold from the premises.

     3.  Article XIII shall be deleted and shall be replaced to read as follows:

          Minimum Royalties paid pursuant to Article V shall be fully recoupable
          during the term of this Lease against tonnage royalties as they become
          due and payable pursuant to Article VI of the lease.

Lessor and Ark understand and agree that any Minimum Royalties paid and not
recouped as of the effective date of this Amendment may be recouped over the
entire term of the Lease.

     4.  Article XXVI shall be amended to include the following language at the
end of such Article:

          LESSEE shall have the right, without further rent, royalty or charge,
          to enter on and upon the surface of the leased premises after the
          expiration or termination of the lease for the limited purpose of
          conducting, in a timely manner and in accordance with applicable law,
          all reclamation and related work necessary to secure final reclamation
          bond release until such time as final bond release is obtained.

     5.  The first sentence of Article XXVII shall be deleted and replaced to
read as follows:

          The LESSEE shall not have the right to transfer this lease to any
          person, firm or corporation without the written consent of

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
          the LESSOR having first been obtained; provided, however, LESSEE may,
          without the prior written consent of the LESSOR, assign, sublease or
          transfer this lease or any interest herein to the parent or any
          affiliate of the LESSEE.

     6.  This Amendment shall be effective November 16, 1992.

     7.  The Lessor acknowledges receipt of payment of Minimum Royalties due
November 16, 1992 and further acknowledges that no other payments are currently
due and owning from LESSEE to LESSOR under the Lease Contract.

     8.  All terms of the Lease Contract, as amended, shall remain in effect.

     The parties have caused this Amendment to be executed the date set forth on
page one.


                               SALLY BAILEY FRANCIS HEIRS


                               By:    /s/ William C. Francis
                                      ----------------------------------
                                      William C. Francis,
                                      individually and as agent and attorney-in-
                                      fact for Phillip M. Francis, Ann Knott,
                                      Pearl Seymour, Bailey Francis and Boyd
                                      Francis


                               ARK LAND COMPANY


                               By:    /s/ Michael D. Bauersachs
                                      ---------------------------------- 
                               Title: Vice President
                                      ----------------------------------




                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                           AMENDMENT TO LEASE CONTRACT


           THIS AMENDMENT is made and entered into this 1st day of Sept., 1995,
by and between WILLIAM C. FRANCIS, agent for SALLY BAILEY FRANCIS HEIRS
("Lessor"), and ARK LAND COMPANY ("Lessee"), a Delaware corporation.

                             W I T N E S S E T H:


           WHEREAS, by Lease Contract dated November 16, 1988, as variously
amended, Lessor leased to Mountain Land and Reclamation, Inc., predecessor to
Lessee, all of the coal underlying certain property located in Harlan County,
Kentucky (the "Premises").

           WHEREAS, Lessor and Lessee wish to amend the Lease Contract in
accordance with the terms set forth in this Amendment. 

           For and in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants
contained in the Lease Contract and in this Amendment, Lessor and Lessee agree
as follows:

           1. For each and every ton of coal mined and removed from the
Premises, Lessee shall be entitled to deduct from the gross realization upon
which tonnage royalty is calculated a total of Two Dollars ($2.00) per ton as
transportation costs regardless of the method of transporting the coal from the
mine mouth to the tipple and regardless of the actual transportation costs
incurred by Lessee, if any, in transporting the coal from the mine mouth to the
tipple.

           2.  All other terms of the Lease Contract, as amended, shall remain
in effect.
<PAGE>
 
           IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Amendment to be
executed the date set forth above.

                              Sally Bailey Francis Heirs
                       
                              By: /s/ William C. Francis
                                  -----------------------------------------
                              William C. Francis, individually and as agent
                              and attorney-in-fact for Phillip M. Francis, Ann
                              Knott, Pearl Seymour, Bailey Francis and Boyd 
                              Francis



                              Ark Land Company

                              By: /s/ Steven E. McCurdy
                                  -----------------------------------------

                              Its: EXEC. VICE PRESIDENT
                                  -----------------------------------------

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                 [LETTERHEAD OF ARKLAND COMPANY APPEARS HERE]

                                 March 17, 1997



Mr. Clark Bailey, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact for
   William C. Francis,
   Individually and as Agent
   Sally Bailey Francis Heirs
P.O. Box 747
Harlan, KY  40831

           RE:       Lease dated November 16, 1988, as amended (the "Lease") ,
                     between Sally Bai1ey Francis Heirs, as lessors, and Ark
                     Land Company, as lessee (KY-7072)

Dear Mr. Bailey:

           This letter shall confirm our agreement to increase the comprehensive
general liability insurance limit provided for in Article XV of the Lease to the
combined single limit of $1,000,000 for personal injury and property damage. All
other terms of the Lease shall remain in full force and effect.

           Please acknowledge your agreement to the terms of this amendment by
signing this letter in duplicate where indicated below.

                                            Very truly yours,

                                            /s/ Steven E. McCurdy

                                            Steven E. McCurdy


AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED THIS 19th DAY OF March, 1997. 

SALLY BAILEY FRANCIS HEIRS


By:    /s/ Clark Bailey, Jr.
    -------------------------------
    Clark Bailey, Jr.,
    Attorney-in-Fact for
    William C. Francis, individually,
    and as agent for Sally Bailey Francis Heirs

<PAGE>
 
                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.7
                    
  
                                LEASE CONTRACT
                                --------------

            THIS LEASE CONTRACT, made and entered into this the 21st day of
November, 1988, by and between VIRGIL EVERSOLE ESTATE, BY CLARK BAILEY,
EXECUTOR, of Harlan, Harlan County, Kentucky, Party of the FIRST PART,
hereinafter called the LESSOR and MOUNTAIN LAND AND RECLAMATION, INC., with JOHN
BAUGUES as President, Post Office Box 1626, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37901, Party
of the SECOND PART, hereinafter called LESSEE.



                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                              --------------------

     THAT for and in consideration of the premises and of the rents and
royalties hereinafter reserved and the covenants and agreements hereinafter
contained to be observed by the LESSEE, the LESSOR does hereby let, demise, and
lease, unto the LESSEE all of the Seams of coal, with the exception of the
Highsplint seam of coal previously conveyed to United States Coal & Coke
Company, the 17th day of January, 1935.  Recorded in Deedbook 73, Page 477;
underlying the hereinafter described boundaries of land for a period of Twenty
(20) years from date hereof, or until all of the mineable and merchantable coal
in said Seams, hereby leased is exhausted.  The LESSEE is to have the exclusive
right and privilege to deep mine, strip, and auger all the mineable and
merchantable coal on the tracts of land hereinafter described.

     The below descriptions are intended to include the properties owned by
Virgil Eversole Heirs, lying and being at Holmes Mill, in Harlan County,
Kentucky, and more particularly described in the following, to-wit:

                                      (1)
<PAGE>
 
 
THE FIRST TRACT lies east of Breeding's Creek of Clover Fork in Harlan County,
- ---------------
Kentucky and includes Panther Lick Branch purchased from Moran Kelly, etc., by
deed to G. A. Eversole, dated March 4, 1911, and recorded in Deedbook No 22,
Page 348.

THE SECOND TRACT deed Moran Kelly, etc., to G. A. Eversole dated June 21, 1911,
- ----------------
Deedbook No 19, Page 104.  Adjoining the Kelly Tracts on the east, A. H. Kelly
etc., to G. A. Eversole by deed, dated October 19, 1917, and recorded in
Deedbook No 33, Page 412.  The Kelly tract lies on the waters of McLoney Branch
and described in said deed as the second tract.  Tract No. 1, as described in
said deed lies opposite the mouth of Breeding's Creek, in the Little Black
Mountain and is known as the home place of A. H. Kelly.

THE THIRD TRACT in the Big Black Mountain adjoining the A. H. Kelly Second Tract
- ---------------
was purchased from John B. Lewis and etc., by deed to Virgil Eversole, dated
April 25, 1931, recorded in Deedbook 68, Page 598. This deed includes land lying
in the head of Laurel Branch of said Clover Fork River.

THE FOURTH TRACT known as the medly Short Land purchased by G. A. Eversole from
- ----------------
J. M. Short and wife, March 1, 1906, deed recorded in Book No 7, Page 636,
includes land on the east and west side of Med Short Branch of Clover Fork
River. 

THE FIFTH TRACT, deed from W. H. Short to G. A. Eversole dated March 17,
- ---------------
1906, recorded in Deedbook No 9, Page 122, conveys (2.5) two and five tenths
acres owned by said Short lying on Med Short Branch.

THERE is excepted from the SECOND TRACT the Darby or "C" seam of coal that
- -----
underlies the "Burgantown Subdivision", a plat of which is recorded in Map Book
1, Page 110, Harlan County Court Clerk's Office.

THE above five tracts of land lie contiguous to each other. 
- ---

THE following are deeds of release and/or conveyances perfecting the title to
- ---
said combined tracts:
  
                                      (2)
<PAGE>
 
 
     Deed of release, J. B. Lewis and wife to Virgil Eversole dated October 12,
1934, recorded in Deedbook No 73, Page 206. Two small tracts of land lying on
the watershed of Med Short Branch and possibly lapping on the watershed of
Head's Creek and Laurel Branch.  The John B. Lewis' obtained title to the two
tracts of land under what is known as Fish and Dodge Patents.

     The deed of release from the United States Coal and Coke Company to Virgil
Eversole, dated December 15, 1931, and recorded in Deedbook No 70, Page 11 etc.,
and a deed from Virgil Eversole to United States Coal & Coke Company of the same
date.  These two conveyances were made as a compromise to settle a law suit
pending at the time of G. A. Eversole's death against U. S. Coal & Coke Company.

     The deed from J. B. Lewis and wife, J. A. Creech and wife to A. H. Kelly,
dated October 15, 1917, recorded in Deedbook No 33, Page 373, quits claims the
Fish and Dodge Patents title to the land conveyed to G. A. Eversole on McLoney
Branch.

      Deed from J. B. Lewis and wife, and J. A. Creech and wife dated October
15, 1917, recorded in Deedbook No 33, Page 388, quits claims the title under
Fish and Dodge Patents in Panther Lick Branch.

      A parcel of land conveyed LESSOR by B. F. Creech and other, which deed is
recorded in the Harlan County Court Clerk's Office in Deedbook 93, Page 360, to
which deed reference is made for a more particular description.

      The herein described properties were inherited by Virgil Eversole from his
father, G. A. Eversole.  See affidavit of descent, dated December 20, 1930,
recorded in Deedbook 68, Page 147.

THE above references are intended to include Tracts #13 and 14 as shown on the
- ---------
Virgil Eversole inheritance tax return by attached maps.

                                      (3)
<PAGE>
 
 
                                   ARTICLE I

USE    The LESSEE shall have the right to occupy and use so much of the surface
- ---
of said premises as may be required to conduct its mining operations on the
premises and to remove its coal therefrom, but for no other purposes whatsoever.


                                   ARTICLE II

REFUSE    The LESSEE shall have the right to deposit refuse from the mine
- ------
workings of the seams hereby demised upon the surface of the leased premises,
but must do so in accordance with the Reclamation laws of the Federal Government
and the State of Kentucky, which may be in force from time to time. Said refuse
is to be dumped or deposited on said land so as not to damage the surface any
more than is necessary.


                                  ARTICLE III

MINERAL AND TIMBER RESERVATIONS    The LESSOR reserves the right to carry on by
- -------------------------------
himself or agents or assigns, in and upon the leased premises such operations as
the LESSOR may deem proper or convenient for or in connection with the
discovery, extraction, utilization or removal of all natural gas, petroleum,
oil, and other minerals, timber reserved, herein and all other products of the
leased premises not specifically granted to the LESSEE, none of which are to
unreasonably interfere with the rights granted LESSEE herein or any operation of
LESSEE conducted in accordance with those rights.


                                   ARTICLE IV

RESERVATIONS    It is distinctly understood between the parties hereto that
- ------------
with the exception of seams and beds of coal hereby demised and the timber and
surface rights hereby granted, the above described land, with all the rights and
appurtenances thereunto belonging, shall be and remain the property of the
LESSOR as fully as if this contract and lease had not been made, with full right
in the LESSOR and his agents of ingress

                                      (4)
<PAGE>
 
and egress on the premises for the exercise of said reserved rights, PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that all rights reserved to the LESSOR are to be exercised so as not to
unreasonable interfere with the operation which is carried on by the LESSEE
hereunder.


                                   ARTICLE V

MINIMUM ROYALTY    The LESSEE covenants and agrees to pay to the LESSOR for the
- ---------------
use and enjoyment of the premises aforesaid, irrespective of the amount of coal
mined, a certain yearly rental of Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000.00), per
annum, beginning six (6) months from date mining permit is approved or two (2)
years from said date of lease, whichever come first, at the office of the LESSOR
at Post Office Box 747, Harlan, Kentucky, 40831-0747, and if LESSEE begins to
mine coal from the demised premises before said date, the Minimum Royalty is to
begin.


                                   ARTICLE VI

ROYALTY    The LESSEE does further agree to pay to the LESSOR upon all coal
- -------
mined from the premises herein described Eight (8%) of the gross sales price of
coal, F. O. B. the tipple or sales agent or One Dollar and Fifty Cents ($l.50),
whichever is greater, by the ultimate customer or the sales agency, before tax
and sales commission has been deducted, same to be payable on the 20th day of
each month following the month in which said coal is actually mined, a ton as
used herein being equal to 2,000 pounds, however, it is understood and agreed
between the parties hereto that the payment of the royalty for coal actually
mined, as in this Article provided, shall pay protanto and be credited upon the
annual Minimum rents or royalties hereinbefore provided for in Article V hereof.

                                      (5)
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE VII

STRIKES, RIOTS, ETC.    The LESSOR agrees that if at any time the said LESSEE
- -------------------
shall be prevented from carrying out any or all of the covenants herein, by
reasons of riots, strikes, epidemics, fires, fallure of rallway car supply, or
for any cause beyond the LESSEE'S control, then the said annual Minimum Royalty
herein provided for shall be reduced in proportion to the time lost by said
interruptions caused by the said above causes and it is further agreed that the
said Annual Minimum Royalty shall be suspended and abated during such times as
the LESSEE'S mine on the leased premises shall be closed or out of operation.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

STATEMENTS AND WEIGHTS    The LESSEE shall furnish to the LESSOR on or before
- ----------------------
the 20th day of each month during the term of this lease, a statement showing
the quantity or number of tons of coal mined from his property during the
preceeding month. The LESSOR shall have the right to check the weighing and
measuring of all coal and coal products mined from the premises hereby leased.
The LESSOR shall also have the right at all reasonable times during the usual
business hours to verify the correctness of the weights so certified to him by
the LESSEE.


                                   ARTICLE IX

ACCOUNTS AND RECORDS     The LESSEE shall keep complete and accurate books of
- --------------------
account and record all coal mined from the leased premises, and either shipped
from or used upon said premises, and the said books and records shall at all
reasonable times during the usual business hours be open to the inspection of
the LESSOR, his authorized officer, agents, or assigns, for the purpose of
comparing and verifying the accounts and statements rendered by the LESSEE as
aforesaid.

                                      (6)
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE X

          REGULATIONS  The workings by the LESSEE of the mine on the leased
          -----------
          premises shall be governed by the following regulations:



               (a)   The LESSEE shall work and mine the coal on the leased
                     premises in a diligent, effectual and workmanlike manner,
                     in conformity with approved and suitable
WORKINGS             methods of current mining, and in conformity
- --------             also with all laws and all regulations made by
                     authority of law which may from time to time be in force in
                     respect of the workings of coal mines and the safety of
                     employees therein, and the LESSEE will hold the LESSOR free
                     from damage to persons or property resulting from the
                     mining operations of the LESSEE hereunder.

               (b)   The LESSEE will be responsible for any pollutions of
                     streams which might result from coal and coal products,
                     slack, dirt, slate, sawdust, and other waste materials
POLLUTIONS           deposited by the LESSEE on the leased premises; and the
- ----------           LESSEE shall indemnify the LESSOR and hold him harmless
                     from ail claims, demands, judgments, and any other damage
                     which might result from the mining of said coal, against
                     him by reason of any such pollution and shall pay all cost
                     and expenses incurred by the LESSOR in defending any such
                     claim.

                 (c) It is understood and agreed by the parties hereto
                     that the foregoing indemnification provisions
CLAIMS               are limited to those claims, costs, fines, expenses
- ------               and damages arising as a proximate result of action or
                     inaction by the LESSEE, its agents or servants in
                     connection with mining upon the leased premises.

                                      (7)
<PAGE>
 
               (d)   The LESSEE shall at all times keep the workings
SECURE               and works in secure and proper condition, suitable
- ------               for the immediate continuance of mining and shipping
CONDITION            coal therefrom to the full extent of their capacity.
- ---------

                                  ARTICLE  XI   

          TIMBER    The LESSOR reserves all the timber on the leased premises,
          ------
          except such timber as may be required by the LESSEE for building
          roads, tipples, and other structures necessary for mining said coal.



                                  ARTICLE XII

          CONTROL OF EMPLOYEES    The LESSOR shall have no control over the
          --------------------
          employees of the LESSEE or the operations or other works on the
          leased premises.
          
          
                                ARTICLE XIII
          
          RECOUP    In the event the LESSEE shall fail during any year of the
          ------
          term of this lease to mine a sufficient quantity of coal from the
          leased premises, which at the royalty rate for coal actually mined,
          herein provided for, will fully pay the annual Minimum Royalty for
          such year, as herein set out, then and in such event, it is
          expressly agreed between the LESSOR and the LESSEE that the LESSEE
          shall have the privilege during the next succeeding Two (2) years of
          mining, free from royalties, a sufficient quantity of coal over and
          above the quantity required to yield the said annual minimum
          royalty, to reimburse itself for any deficiency that may have
          occurred during said year in which there was such a deficiency
          
          
          
                                ARTICLE XIV
          
          WORKMAN'S COMPENSATION    LESSEE shall operate under the terms and
          ----------------------    
          provisions of the Kentucky Workman's Compensation Act and to that
          end shall procure and keep in full force and effect Workman's
          Compensation Insurance.

                                      (8)
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE XV

PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE    LESSEE shall procure and keep in full force and
- --------------------------
effect Public Liability Insurance with coverage limits of not less than One
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) for personal injury per person, per
accident or occurance and Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) aggregate
for personal injury per accident or occurance and Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars
($25,000.00) property damage per accident or occurance



                                  ARTICLE XVI

SURVEYS    The LESSEE agrees to make surveys of the developments carried on in
- -------
the mine or mines on said premises from time to time by competent engineers at
their own cost, and to show all of the same with entries, rooms, airways,
outlets, croplines, and a section of the coal seam with its partings at
distances of not more than 300 feet apart, along the tunnels, entries, and at
                           --------
working faces of rooms, on a map and furnish copies of same to LESSOR at Harlan,
Kentucky at least twice each year, and LESSOR'S agents shall have reasonable
access at reasonable times during the usual business hours to all of such maps
retained by LESSEE for purposes herein set out.



                                  ARTICLE XVII

INSPECTION    The LESSOR, his 0fficers, engineers and agents with their
- ----------
assistances, shall have the right at all reasonable times to enter the leased
premises and the mines and all works and buildings of the LESSEE whether upon
or under the surface, in order to inspect, examine, survey, or measure the same
or any part thereof, or for any lawful purpose; and for these purposes the
LESSEE shall furnish without cost reasonable means of access.

                                      (9)
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE XVIII

BEGINNING DATE    The LESSEE agrees to begin development of the leased premises
- --------------
upon receipt of mining permit, and to drive the necessary entries, air courses,
and passages in to the leased premises, such as to make their development of
their coal mining operation practical and possible.



                                  ARTICLE XIX

INDEMNIFY LESSOR    The LESSEE shall indemnify the LESSOR against and hold him
- ----------------
harmless from all loss, damage, claim, or liability caused by the act or
default of the LESSEE or of any persons claiming through or under the LESSEE
which claim arises from LESSEE'S operation on the leased premises.



                                   ARTICLE XX

HAULAGE    LESSEE is engaged in the mining and process of coal from other
- -------
leaseholds in the vicinity of the subject leasehold, and in carrying out its
overall mining plans and development, it may desire to transport refuse from
these other nearby leaseholds and from its washing and processing plant on or
across the subject leasehold to the refuse area designated on the attached map;
in such case, the LESSEE may do so, at no cost to LESSEE.  If merchantable coal
has been mined and minimum not being paid the wheelage will be Fifteen Cents
(15 cents) a ton.


                                 ARTICLE XXII

LIEN    LESSOR shall have a lien upon all the building, improvements,
- ----
fixtures, machinery, appliances and property of all kinds which is owned by the
LESSEE or which is used in mining, handling, and hauling of the coal mined from
the leased premises for the payment of all rents, royalties, and other monies
which may at any time become due from the LESSEE to the LESSOR hereunder; which
lien shall be prior and superior to any and all other liens on or rights in said
buildings, improvements, fixtures,

                                      (10)
<PAGE>
 
machinery, and other property except as by law provided to the contrary.



                                  ARTICLE XXII

LANDLORD REMEDIES    All rents, royalties and other monies which may at any time
- -----------------
become due from the LESSEE to the LESSOR hereunder shall be deemed and treated
as rents reserved for the use of the leased premises; and the LESSOR shall have
in respect thereof all the rights and remedies of a Landlord for the recovering
of rents under the law of the State of Kentucky.



                                 ARTICLE XXIII

ADDRESS CHANGE    Each of the parties shall keep the other informed of an
- --------------
address to which any notice shall be deemed effectively given if personally
delivered or mailed in a sealed wrapper with postage prepaid to such address.



                                  ARTICLE XXIV

ENGINEERS   The words "Engineer of the LESSOR" whenever used herein shall mean
- ---------
any engineer whom the LESSOR shall designate as authorized to act for him in
respect of the particular matter referred to; and such designation may be
changed from time to time by the lessor, and different engineers may be
designated by him in respect of different matter.



                                ARTICLE XXV

SUCCESSORS    All the terms provisions, conditions, covenants, obligations,
- ----------
reservations and restriction in this lease contained shall be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the successors, legal representatives and assigns, of
the parties hereto respectively.

          

                                      (11)
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE XXVI

  TERMINATION    At the termination of this lease the LESSEE has the right to
  -----------
  remove all the working tools, instruments used in mining, machinery, steel
  tipples, coal bins, engines, boilers, fans, pumps, ropes, weighing scales,
  railes, and all other personal property places upon the premises by the
  LESSEE. All other permanent improvements places upon the premises shall become
  the property of the LESSOR and the LESSEE does not have the right to remove
  such appurtenances. The LESSEE shall not remove the property until all rents
  and royalties and other monies due the LESSOR are paid and the agreements of
  this lease are fully complied with.



                                 ARTICLE XXVII

  TRANSFER    The LESSEE shall not have the right to transfer this lease to any
  --------
  person, partnership, firm or corporation without the written consent of the
  LESSOR having first been obtained. In the event the LESSOR agrees that LESSEE
  may transfer said lease, he agrees that he will not unreasonable withhold such
  permission.



                                 ARTICLE XXVIII

  TAXES    The LESSEE further agrees to assess and pay all taxes levied upon the
  -----
  improvements, fixtures, and machinery places on the property by the LESSEE and
  the LESSOR is to pay all taxes levied upon or assessed against the real
  property hereby leased.  As long as the lease is in effect the coal is to be
  considered property of the LESSEE and all Taxes levied against coal is to be
  paid by LESSEE.



                                  ARTICLE XXIX


  INTOXICATING LIQUORS    Neither the LESSEE nor the LESSOR shall authorize or
  --------------------
  knowingly permit the introduction, sale or barter of intoxicating liquors upon
  the leased premises, or upon any lands adjacent thereto which may be owned or
  controlled

                                      12
<PAGE>
 
       by the LESSEE or by the LESSOR respectively.



                                  ARTICLE XXX

       BREACH     Should any breach of the provisions of this contract be made
       ------
       by LESSEE and the LESSOR shall not avail himself of the right of the
       forfeiture herein provided, such failure to do so shall not be held or
       taken to be a wavier of any other failures, default or defaults
       thereafter occurring.



                                 ARTICLE XXXI

       CANCELLATION    This lease shall at the option of the LESSOR be forfeited
       ------------
       and become null and void:

                 (1) If the LESSEE shall make any assignment for 
BANKRUPTCY           the benefit of creditors or voluntarily go
- ----------           into bankruptcy; or shall suffer any judgment
                     or attachment to be entered or filed against
INSOLVENCY           said premises or any of the property thereon
- ----------           and shall not within Sixty (60) Days thereafter
                     either secure or discharge the same; or shall
REQUIRED TO          by reason of bankruptcy or insolvency or other-
- -----------          wise become incapable of fulfilling any of
MINE COAL            the terms, conditions, and covenants of this
- ---------            lease.

                 (2) If the LESSEE does not mine coal from the leased premises
                     for a period of Sixty (60) after Beginning Date, unless he
                     is prevented from doing so for the reasons set out in
                     Article VII hereof.



                                 ARTICLE XXXII

        LESSOR'S OPTION TO CANCEL    Should the LESSEE fail for a period of
        -------------------------
        Thirty (30) Days after royalty shall become due and payable to pay said
        royalty herein provided, or fail to perform any of the covenants,
        agreements, or stipulations herein contained, then the LESSOR shall have
        the right and

                                      13
<PAGE>
 
option to cancel this lease upon giving the LESSEE Thirty (30) Days written
notice by Certified Mail of his intention to do so, however, if the covenants,
agreements, and stipulations complained of by the LESSOR are corrected by
LESSEE within Thirty (30) Days after notice is received, the LESSEE may avoid
such forfeiture.



                                ARTICLE XXXIII

LESSEE'S RESPONSIBILITY    LESSEE agrees to be responsible and to hold the
- -----------------------
LESSOR free and harmless from all claims of damage to other property or persons
resulting from the mining, deposit or dumping of refuse from the mines or
workings upon the surface of said land.



                                 ARTICLE XXXIV

RAILROAD WEIGHTS    Railroad weights shall govern all settlements for royalty on
- ----------------
coal marketed by rail, except any of same that may be mixed with coal mined from
other properties, and in that event such coal shall be weighed on LESSEE'S mine
belt or tipple scales, or by measuring the worked out areas each month by a
competent engineer to determine the weight and/or tons of coal removed during
the preceding calendar month, upon which said royalty is to be paid. Said
weights are to be certified to the LESSOR by the LESSEE and any such coal
otherwise marketed shall be settled for on the same weighed basis as that for
which LESSEE received pay.



                                  ARTICLE XXXV

CO-MINGLED    It is understood that if coal from the herein leased premises
- ----------
shall be dumped over the same tipple with coal mined from other properties or
which may also be owned by or under lease to said LESSEE, thereby mixing same
and preventing the royalty accounting for such coal on the basis of railroad
weights, that as to such coal so mixed the LESSEE agrees to keep a separate
account and use separate and clearly

                                      14
<PAGE>
 
distinct check numbers, car or truck numbers for the coal removed from the
herein leased premises from the check, car, or truck number of coal removed from
other premises and as stated above, settlement for such coal shall be made by
weighing the coal over the scales at the headhouse or the tipple.



                                 ARTICLE XXXVI

GENERAL WARRANTY    The LESSOR warrants generally his title to the said mineral
- ----------------
and does hereby covenant with the LESSEE that he is seized in title to said
mineral; that he has full power, right and authority to lease or otherwise alien
the same; that same is free and clear of any and all liens and encumbrances and
that the LESSEE shall have quiet and peaceful possession and enjoyment of the
said property for the purposes herein set out.



     IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the LESSOR has hereunto affixed his signature, and
the LESSEE has caused this instrument to be executed by Mountain Land and
Reclamation, Inc., this the day and year first hereinabove written.

                                                 (Executed in Duplicate)


This investment prepared by:         BY:  /s/ Clark Bailey              EXECUTOR
  Clark Bailey                       -------------------------------------------
  Harlan, Ky. 40831                  VIRGIL EVERSOLE ESTATE               LESSOR


                                     MOUNTAIN LAND AND RECLAMATION, INC.

                                     /s/ John Baugues 
                                     -------------------------------------------
                                     JOHN BAUGUES                      PRESIDENT



                                      (15)
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF KENTUCKY:

COUNTY OF HARLAN:

     I, Joan S. Yeary, Notary Public in and for the State and County aforesaid
do hereby certify that the foregoing Lease Contract from VIRGIL EVERSOLE ESTATE,
by CLARK BAILEY, EXECUTOR, to MOUNTAIN LAND AND RECLAMATION, INC., was produced
to me in my said County and State and was therein before me acknowledged by
VIRGIL EVERSOLE ESTATE, by CLARK BAILEY, EXECUTOR, to be his act and deed and by
John Baugues, President MOUNTAIN LAND AND RECLAMATION, Inc. to be their act and
deed.

     GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND NOTARIAL SEAL, this the 21st day of November, 1988.


                               /s/ Joan S. Yeary
                              --------------------------------------
                              NOTARY PUBLIC - State at Large, Ky.


My commission expires:
15th day of Jan., 1990.  



                                      (16)
<PAGE>
 
                             ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES
                             --------------------

     THIS ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES (the "Assignment"), made and entered into this
the 13th day of September, 1991, by and between Mountain Land & Reclamation
Services, Inc. (also known as Mountain Land and Reclamation, Inc.), a Tennessee
corporation (hereinafter "Assignor") and Ark Land Company, a Delaware
corporation (hereinafter "Assignee").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS, by Agreement of Purchase and Sale of Assets dated September
13, 1991 between Assignor, Assignee and Pine Mountain Coal Company (hereinafter
"Asset Agreement"), Assignor agreed to assign to Assignee, upon the terms set
forth in the Asset Agreement those certain leases identified on Schedule A,
copies of which are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference (the
"Leases");

     NOW, THEREFORE, for Ten Dollars ($10.00) cash in hand paid and other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, Assignor has bargained and sold and does hereby transfer, assign,
set over, deliver, release and relinquish unto Assignee, its successors and
assigns, all of its right, title and interest in and to the Leases.

     TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the Leases and all rights and privileges of Assignor
incident thereto or accruing thereunder together with ail rights and privileges
appurtenant thereto, unto Assignee, its successors and assigns forever.

     In consideration of and as an inducement to Assignee to purchase and take
assignment of the Leases, Assignor has made
<PAGE>
 
certain representations, warranties and covenants which are contained in the
Asset Agreement. In lieu of restating all of said representations, warranties
and covenants, Assignor hereby incorporates by reference all of the
representations, warranties and covenants on the part of Assignor contained in
the Asset Agreement, to the same extent as if said representations, warranties
and covenants were specifically set forth herein.

     Assignee covenants and agrees with Assignor to assume all of Assignor's
rights and obligations under the Leases arising on or after the date hereof,
together with such other rights and obligations which Assignee agreed to assume
in the Asset Agreement, to the same extent as if said rights and obligations
were specifically set forth herein.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Assignment as of the
date and year first above written.

                                    MOUNTAIN LAND & RECLAMATION
                                    SERVICES, INC.

                                    By: /s/ John P. Baugues
                                       ---------------------------
                                    Its: President
                                        --------------------------


                                    ARK LAND COMPANY


                                    By: /s/ Steven E. McCurdy
                                       ----------------------------
                                    Its: President
                                        ---------------------------


                                       2
<PAGE>
 
State of Tennessee        )
                          : SS
COUNTY OF KNOX            )               


      The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 11th day of
September, 1991, by /s/ John P. Bauguesh of Mountain Land & Reclamation
Services, Inc., its President.

      My commission expires: 10/17/94.
                                 
                                           /s/ John P. Bauguesh
                                           ---------------------------------
                                           NOTARY PUBLIC



COMMONWEALTH OF MISSOURI  )
                          : SS
COUNTY OF St. Charles     )

      The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 16th day of
September, 1991, by Steven E. McCurdy of Ark Land Company, its President.

      My commission expires: 3/4/95.


         SHELLEY J. MACKIEWICZ                                         
    NOTARY PUBLIC STATE OF MISSOURI        /s/ Shelly J. Mackiewicz
          ST. CHARLES COUNTY               -------------------------
    MY COMMISSION EXP. March 4, 1995       NOTARY PUBLIC


THIS INSTRUMENT PREPARED BY:



/s/ John R. Rhorer, Jr.
- ----------------------------
John R. Rhorer, Jr.
WYATT, TARRANT & COMBS
Lexington Financial Center
250 West Main Street
Lexington, Kentucky  40507
(606) 233-2012

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
 
                                   SCHEDULE A
                                   ----------

1.   Lease Contract dated November 16, 1988 by and between William
     C. Francis, agent for Sally Bailey Francis heirs, as lessor and Mountain
     Land and Reclamation, Inc., as lessee.

2.   Supplemental Lease dated May 16, 1989 by and between William
     C. Francis, agent for Sally Bailey Francis heirs, as lessor and Mountain
     Land and Reclamation, Inc., as lessee, supplementing Lease No. 1 above.

3.   Supplemental Lease dated August 25, 1991 by and between William C.
     Francis, agent for Sally Bailey Francis Heirs, as lessor and Mountain Land
     & Reclamation,  Inc.  as lessee, supplementing Lease No. 1 and 2 above.

4.   Lease Contract dated November 21, 1988 by and between Virgil Eversole
     Estate, by Clark Bailey, executor, as lessor and Mountain Land and
     Reclamation, Inc., as lessee.



                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                    AMENDMENT TO LEASE CONTRACT           

     THIS AMENDMENT is made and entered into this 23rd day of
December, 1992, by and between THE ESTATE OF VIRGIL EVERSOLE, by and
through its duly appointed Executor, Clark Bailey ("Lessor"), and ARK LAND
COMPANY ("Ark"), a Delaware corporation.

                         ****RECITALS****

     By Lease Contract dated November 21, 1988 (the "Lease Contract"), Lessor
leased to Mountain Land and Reclamation, Inc., predecessor to Ark, all of the
seams of coal (excluding the Highsplint seam of coal conveyed to United States
Coal & Coke Company by deed dated January 17, 1935 recorded in Deed Book 73 at
Page 477 in the Harlan County Clerk's Office) underlying certain property
located in Harlan County, Kentucky.

     Lessor and Ark wish to amend the Lease Contract in accordance with the
terms set forth in this Amendment.

     For and in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained in
the Lease Contract and in this Amendment, Lessor and Ark agree as follows:

                                    ********

     1.  Article VI shall be deleted and shall be replaced to read as follows:

         The LESSEE does further agree to pay to the LESSOR as tonnage royalty
         the greater of six percent (6%) of the gross sale price for each ton
         (2,000 lbs.) of coal mined from the premises and sold to the ultimate
         consumer or One Dollar and Fifty Cents ($l.50) per ton. For purposes of
         calculating tonnage royalties, gross sales price shall be defined as
         the actual price at which the coal mined from the leased premises is
         sold f.o.b.

     
<PAGE>
 
         tipple, in an arms-length transaction to the ultimate consumer, less
         costs for transportation from the mine mouth to the tipple but without
         deduction for taxes and sales commission. Tonnage royalties shall be
         calculated on a clean or washed basis and shall be due and payable on
         or before the 20th day of the month following the month in which the
         coal is mined and sold from the premises.


     2.  Article XIII shall be deleted and shall be replaced to read as follows:

          Minimum Royalties paid pursuant to Article V shall be fully recoupable
          during the term of this Lease against tonnage royalties as they become
          due and payable pursuant to Article VI of the lease.

Lessor and Ark understand and agree that any Minimum Royalties paid and not
recouped as of the effective date of this Amendment may be recouped over the
entire term of the Lease.

     3.  Article XXVI shall be amended to include the following language at the
end of such Article:

          LESSEE shall have the right, without further rent, royalty or charge,
          to enter on and upon the surface of the leased premises after the
          expiration or termination of the lease for the limited purpose of
          conducting, in a timely manner and in accordance with applicable law,
          all reclamation and related work necessary to secure final reclamation
          bond release until such time as final bond release is obtained.

     4.  The first sentence of Article XXVII shall be deleted and replaced to
read as follows:

          The LESSEE shall not have the right to transfer this lease to any
          person, firm or corporation without the written consent of the LESSOR
          having first been obtained; provided, however, LESSEE may, without the

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
          prior written consent of the LESSOR, assign, sublease or transfer this
          lease or any interest herein to the parent or any affiliate of the
          LESSEE.

     5.  This Amendment shall be effective November 16, 1992.

     6.  The Lessor acknowledges receipt of payment of Minimum Royalties due
November 16, 1992 and further acknowledges that no other payments are currently
due and owning from LESSEE to LESSOR under the Lease Contract.

     7.  All terms of the Lease Contract, as amended, shall remain in effect.

     The parties have caused this Amendment to be executed the date set forth on
page one.


                              ESTATE OF VIRGIL EVERSOLE


                              By:/s/ Clark Bailey
                                 ---------------------------
                                  CLARK BAILEY, as Executor



                              ARK LAND COMPANY


                              By:/s/ Michael D. Bauersachs
                                 ---------------------------
                              Title:  Vice  President



                                       3
<PAGE>
 
ARK
LAND
COMPANY

(MAILING ADDRESS)            STEVEN E. McCURDY        (SHIPPING ADDRESS)
P.O. BOX 4187                Executive Vice           956 SOUTH 59TH STREET
FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS   President                BELLEVILLE, ILLINOIS
62208                                                 62223
(618) 236-5920
(618) 236-9086 (FAX)

                                  November 11,1994

   Mr. Clark Bailey
   Executor for the Virgil Eversole Estate
   P.O. Box 270
   Harlan, KY 40831
   PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

        RE:  Lease Contract dated November 21, 1988 between the Virgil Eversole
             Estate, as lessor, and Ark Land Company (predecessor to Mountain
             Land and Reclamation, Inc.), as lessee (KY-7073)

   Dear Clark:

        Thank you for your recent phone call regarding minimum royalties due
   under the above lease. As you indicated, you have agreed on behalf of the
   Eversole Estate to allow Ark to pay all minimum royalties in arrears for the
   remainder of the term of the lease. Therefore, minimum royalties for the
   lease year commencing November 21, 1994 shall be due and payable on or before
   December 21, 1995. Minimum royalties for each year thereafter shall be due
   and payable on or before December 21 of the immediately succeeding lease 
   year. Ark shall be allowed to credit tonnage royalties due in any lease year
   against its minimum royalty obligation for such lease year, and in accordance
   with the terms of the lease, Ark shall be allowed, after payment of its
   minimum royalty obligation for any lease year, to recoup any unrecovered
   balance of minimum royalty over the remaining term of the lease.

        Please sign this letter in duplicate where indicated below if you are in
   agreement with my understanding of this matter and return one original to me.
   I understand that you will also return the check tendered to you for the
   minimum royalty due November 21, 1994 along with this letter agreement. Thank
   you for bringing this matter to my attention.

                                  Very truly yours,


                                  /s/ Steven E. McCurdy

                                  Steven E. McCurdy 

AGREED TO THIS 16th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1994.


/s/ Clark Bailey
- ------------------------------------
Clark Bailey, Executor for the 
Estate of Virgil Eversole

<PAGE>
 
                          AMENDMENT TO LEASE CONTRACT


     THIS AMENDMENT is made and entered into this 26th day of August, 1995, by
and between The Estate of Virgil Eversole, by and through its duly appointed
Executor, Clark Bailey ("Lessor"), and ARK LAND COMPANY ("Lessee"), a Delaware
corporation.


                              W I T N E S S E T H:


     WHEREAS, by Lease Contract dated November 21, 1988, as variously amended,
Lessor leased to Mountain Land and Reclamation, Inc., predecessor to Lessee, all
of the coal (excluding the Highsplint seam of coal) underlying certain property
located in Harlan County, Kentucky (the "Premises").

     WHEREAS, Lessor and Lessee wish to amend the Lease Contract in accordance
with the terms set forth in this Amendment.

     For and in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained in
the Lease Contract and in this Amendment, Lessor and Lessee agree as follows:

     1. For each and every ton of coal mined and removed from the Premises,
Lessee shall be entitled to deduct from the gross realization upon which tonnage
royalty is calculated a total of Two Dollars ($2.00) per ton as transportation
costs regardless of the method of transporting the coal from the mine mouth to
the tipple and regardless of the actual transportation costs incurred by Lessee,
if any, in transporting the coal from the mine mouth to the tipple.

     2. All other terms of the Lease Contract, as amended, shall remain in
effect.
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Amendment to be executed
the date set forth above.


                              Estate of Virgil Eversole


                              By:  /s/ Clark Bailey
                                 ---------------------------
                              Clark Bailey, Executor

                              Ark Land Company

                              By: /s/ Steven E. McCurdy
                                 ---------------------------
                              Its:  Exec.  Vice  President
                                  --------------------------

                                       2

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.8

                          DEED OF LEASE AND AGREEMENT
                          ---------------------------


                                  JUNE 1, 1962

                                      ---


                                    Between


                           DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY
                           ------------------------


                                      and


                             AMHERST COAL COMPANY
                             --------------------
<PAGE>
 
     THIS DEED OF LEASE AND AGREEMENT, Made this 1st day of June, 1962, by
and between DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY, a West Virginia corporation, party of the
first part, sometimes hereinafter called "Lessor" or "Dingess-Rum", and AMHERST
COAL COMPANY, a West Virginia corporation, party of the second part, sometimes
hereinafter called "Lessee" or "Amherst";

     WHEREAS, Amherst is a coal mining tenant of Dingess-Rum on certain lands
situate in Logan and Triadelphia Districts, Logan County, West Virginia, on the
waters of Rum Creek and Buffalo Creek, tributaries of the Guyandot River, under
two leases generally referred to as the "McGregor Lease" and the "Rum Creek
Lease", which said McGregor Lease was first made by Dingess-Rum Coal Company to
McGregor Coal Company by Deed of Lease and Agreement dated August 14, 1911, and
of record in the Office of the Clerk of the County Court of Logan County, West
Virginia, in Deed Book 35 at Page 201, and which Rum Creek Lease was originally
made by Dingess-Rum Coal Company to Rum Creek Coal Company by Indenture of Lease
dated January 1, 1924, and of record in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book 74 at
Page 197, and which leases, as amended and supplemented from time to time, were
successively assigned to Logan County Coal Corporation, sometimes herein called
"Logan County", and the corporate name of Logan County has been changed to the
corporate name "Amherst Coal Company", and said leases, as amended and
supplemented prior to their assignments to Logan County by the agreements next
hereinafter recited and as further amended and supplemented by agreements
between Dingess-Rum and Logan County and/or Amherst next hereinafter recited,
constitute the leases under which Amherst is now a coal mining tenant of 
Dingess-Rum and describe the lands of which Amherst is the coal mining tenant 
of Dingess-Rum:

                                      -1-
<PAGE>
 
Reference is made to:

          1.  Deed dated October 8, 1926, between Dingess-Rum and Lawson Heirs
     Incorporated, parties of the first part, Logan County, party of the second
     part, Altizer Coal Land Company, party of the third part, and Buffalo Eagle
     Collieries Company, party of the fourth part, recorded in said Clerk's
     Office in Deed Book 88 at page 384. (Said deed being followed by exchange
     of all coal in the five tracts described by virtue of the deed dated
     December 23rd, 1927, between Altizer Coal Land Company and Buffalo Eagle
     Collieries Company, parties of the first part, and Dingess-Rum and Lawson
     Heirs Incorporated, as parties of the second part, recorded in said Clerk's
     Office in Deed Book 88, page 381, and of deed dated December 23rd, 1927,
     between Dingess-Rum and Lawson Heirs Incorporated, parties of the first
     part, and Altizer Coal Land Company (party of the second part), recorded in
     said Clerk's Office in Deed Book 283, at page 143, and also deed from
     Lawson Heirs Incorporated to Dingess-Rum, dated December 31, 1936, and of
     record in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book 111, at page 305.)

          2.  Supplemental Indenture of Lease (relating to McGregor Lease) dated
     as of January 1, 1937, between Dingess-Rum as Lessor and Logan County as
     Lessee, recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book 115 at Page 37 et
     seq., and the instruments and agreements therein mentioned (the deed of
     October 12, 1914, from Dingess-Rum and McGregor Coal Company to Board of
     Education, Logan District, mentioned in said Supplemental Indenture, is
     recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book 43 at Page 299, and the Deed
     from Lawson Heirs Incorporated conveying two certain

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
     tracts of land to Lessor, also mentioned in said Supplemental Indenture, is
     dated December 31, 1936, and is recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed
     Book 111 at page 305 et seq.). (The terms and conditions of the McGregor
     Lease are superseded by this lease.)

          3. Supplemental Indenture of Lease (relating to Rum Creek Lease) dated
     as of January 1, 1937, between the same parties, recorded in said Clerk's
     Office in Deed Book 115 at page 53, et seq., and the instruments and
     agreements therein mentioned (the deed recited in Item 2 of the
     Supplemental Indenture between Rum Creek Coal Company, The Pennsylvania
     Company For Insurances On Lives And Granting Annuities, Trustee, and
     Dingess-Rum, recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book 94 at page 483,
     is dated April 11, 1928, instead of April 12, 1928, as recited in said
     Supplemental Indenture, and the Deed of Assignment from Rum Creek Coal
     Company to Logan County Coal Corporation mentioned as Item 4 in said
     Supplemental Indenture is dated May 1, 1930, and is recorded in said
     Clerk's Office in Deed Book 95 at page 257). (The terms and conditions of
     the Rum Creek Lease are superseded by this lease.)

          4. Agreement dated as of January 1, 1937, between Dingess-Rum as
     Lessor and Logan County as Lessee and The Pennsylvania Company For
     Insurances On Lives And Granting Annuities, Trustee, and certain
     Bondholders owning first mortgage sinking fund gold bonds, Series A, 7%,
     due 1942 of Logan County and certain Noteholders owning 3-year secured 7%
     gold notes of Logan County, recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book
     115 at page 62 et seq., said Agreement relating to McGregor Lease and to
     Rum Creek Lease. (Said

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
     bonds and notes have been fully paid and the terms and conditions of said
     Agreement are superseded by this lease.)

          5. Deed between Boone County Coal Corporation, Dingess-Rum, Logan
     County, West Virginia Gas Corporation and Guaranty Trust Company of New
     York, dated January 15, 1938, recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book
     119 at page 318.

          6. Deed and Agreement between Boone County Coal Corporation, Dingess-
     Rum, Lawson Heirs Incorporated, Altizer Coal Land Company, Logan County,
     West Virginia Gas Corporation, Guaranty Trust Company of New York and The
     Pennsylvania Company For Insurances On Lives And Granting Annuities, dated
     August 31, 1940, and recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book 137, page
     265.

          7. Supplemental Lease dated November 14, 1952, by Dingess-Rum to
     Amherst, recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book 223 at page 335.

          8. Supplemental Lease dated February 25, 1953, from Dingess-Rum to
     Amherst, recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book 273 at page 58. (Said
     Supplemental Lease is no longer effective as to the mining of coal, but is
     to continue in effect insofar as the right of Amherst to move No.5 Block
     coal over the leased premises and the premises included in said
     supplemental lease is concerned.)

          9. Deed between Dingess-Rum, Logan County and the Board of Education
     of the County of Logan, dated May 29, 1941, recorded in said Clerk's Office
     in Deed Book 143 at page 57.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
          10. Deed between Dingess-Rum, The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company,
     Logan County and The Pennsylvania Company For Insurance On Lives And
     Granting Annuities, dated September 2, 1942, recorded in said Clerk's
     Office in Deed Book 145 at page 319.

          11. Deed between Dingess-Rum, Appalachian Electric Power Company and
     Logan County dated March 12, 1946, recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed
     Book 171 at page 431.

          12. Deed between Dingess-Rum, The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company
     and Logan County dated October 16, 1948, and recorded in said Clerk's
     Office in Deed Book 200 at page 221.

          13. Agreement between Dingess-Rum, Logan County and Appalachian
     Electric Power Company dated December 8, 1951, and recorded in said Clerk's
     Office in Deed Book 27 at page 46.

          14. Surrender Agreement between Dingess-Rum and Amherst dated February
     25, 1953, and recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book 224 at page 271.
     (This Agreement remains in effect except as specifically modified by this
     lease.)

          15. Deed of Exchange between Dingess-Rum, The Chesapeake and Ohio
     Railway Company and Amherst dated September 27, 1961, and recorded in said
     Clerk's Office in Deed Book 282 at page 379.

          16. Memorandum of Agreement dated December 30, 1941, between Dingess-
     Rum and Logan County, covering payment for

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
     certain areas of unmined Chilton seam of coal, not recorded. (Said
     agreement is not superseded by this lease.)

          17. Letter Agreements between Logan County, Dingess-Rum and The
     Youngstown Mines Corporation dated June 5, 1942, and June 13, 1942,
     relating to the use of 2.2 acres of surface land at the mouth and to the
     north of the second Right Hand Fork of Rum Creek for a refuse dump for
     Logan County, which Agreements are to continue effective according to their
     terms.

          18. Memorandum of Agreement between Dingess-Rum and Logan County dated
     January 5, 1944, and not recorded, granting wheelage rights with respect to
     the No.5 Block seam of coal on the adjoining property of Boone County Coal
     Corporation and providing for the payment of wheelage as therein set forth.
     (Said Agreement being fully covered by the provisions of this agreement is
     hereby declared and agreed to be no longer effective.)

          19. Letter Agreement between Dingess-Rum and Logan County dated
     February 11, 1946, not recorded, granting to Lessee the right to mine about
     6 acres of coal on adjoining property of Dingess-Rum formerly leased to
     Georges Creek Coal Company and also granting to Logan County while mining
     said area the right to haul coal from adjoining land of Boone County Coal
     Corporation to Logan County's tipple at Slagle on the leased premises (this
     Agreement has expired and is no longer effective, the haulage rights with
     respect to No.5 Block seam of coal from adjoining land of Boone County Coal
     Corporation being covered by the terms of this agreement).

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
          20. Agreement dated April 9, 1962, not recorded, between Dingess-Rum
     and Amherst extending the terms of the McGregor and Rum Creek leases for
     one additional year.

     Nothing contained herein is intended to affect or modify such rights as may
be vested in Robert M. Lawson et al or their heirs, lessees or assigns under
those certain Articles of Agreement dated October 2, 1911, between Dingess-Rum
and said Lawson et al, recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book 35 at page
327, with respect to certain transportation rights for coal and timber removed
from the 1450 acre Anthony Lawson survey (situated on the divide between the
waters of Rum Creek and the waters of Spruce Fork of Coal River and adjoining
the lands of Dingess-Rum) over the land of Dingess-Rum to the railroad on Rum
Creek (said 1450 acre tract being now leased to Amherst for coal mining
purposes); and nothing contained herein is intended to affect or modify such
rights as may be vested in Lawson Heirs Incorporated or in Amherst under a
certain coal mining lease from Lawson Heirs Incorporated as lessor to Logan
County as lessee, to which Dingess-Rum was a party, said lease being dated the
1st day of January 1931 and recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book 263 at
page 274; and nothing contained in this paragraph is intended as an impairment
of Amherst's obligation herein contained to pay to Dingess-Rum 3c per gross ton
on coal from said 1450 acre tract brought by Amherst over Dingess-Rum's premises
hereby leased to the railroad on Rum Creek, it being understood that the
additional 1c per ton hereinafter provided is being paid by Amherst for other
considerations; and

     WHEREAS, Amherst and its predecessor lessees have operated said lands for
coal mining purposes and Amherst is now so operating the same and has on the
property of Dingess-Rum extensive facilities for the mining, transporting,
cleaning, grad-

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
ing, drying and otherwise processing, storing, and loading into railroad cars,
of coal, and for the disposal of mine rock, washing and other refuse, including,
but not exclusive of others, tipples, washers, driers, and aerial trams, houses,
shops, warehouses, stores and other accessory buildings, mine tracks, roads,
power lines, sub-stations, and other facilities used in and in connection with
its mining operations; and

     WHEREAS, said McGregor and Rum-Creek leases, as amended and supplemented,
except for the aforesaid agreement between Dingess-Rum and Amherst dated April
9, 1962, extending the terms of said leases for one additional year, would have
expired and terminated on the 31st day of December, 1963, and now expire and
terminate after one additional year, unless renewed and extended, and under the
said McGregor and Rum Creek leases Amherst has the right to renew said leases
and to extend the leasehold estates now held by Amherst thereunder, and it is
the desire of Amherst to continue its coal mining operations and rights of coke
making thereafter on said Dingess-Rum lands and that said leasehold estates be
continued and extended, and it is the desire of Dingess-Rum that Amherst
continue its operations thereafter and that said leasehold estates be continued
and extended, and the parties agree that it is for the best interests of each
that the said leases as so amended and supplemented and the leasehold estates
existing thereunder be merged and consolidated to the end that the lands
comprised by the same shall hereafter constitute a single leasehold to be
operated hereafter under a single deed of lease and agreement, and that it is
for the best interests of each of the parties that the terms and conditions
under which Amherst shall hereafter hold and operate said merged, consolidated,
continued, and extended leasehold be embodied in a single and all-comprehensive
agreement, and that such single and all-comprehensive agreement merge,
consolidate, continue, and extend said

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
leasehold estates and provide the terms and conditions under which Amherst shall
hereafter hold and operate said merged, consolidated, continued, and extended
leasehold estate, and fully supersede the terms and conditions under which
Amherst has heretofore held and operated the McGregor and the Rum Creek
leasehold estates, and fully supersede the said existing McGregor and Rum Creek
lease agreements as they have been supplemented and amended from time to time;
and the parties have, in consideration of the mutual covenants and provisions
herein contained, agreed upon the merger, consolidation, continuation, and
extension of said leasehold estates and the terms and conditions upon which the
lands embodied in the merged, consolidated, continued, and extended leasehold
estate shall be held and operated as herein set forth;


                  NOW, THEREFORE, THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH:

                                      I.

                    MERGER OF LEASES AND LEASEHOLD ESTATES
                    --------------------------------------

     Said McGregor lease and said Rum Creek lease, as each heretofore has been
supplemented and amended, and the leasehold estates existing thereunder, are
hereby merged and consolidated into one lease and one leasehold estate, and as a
merged and consolidated lease and leasehold estate are continued and extended by
this Deed of Lease and Agreement, which may be hereinbefore and hereafter
referred to as "this lease " or as the "Amherst Lease" or as "this agreement";
and which said leasehold estate so merged, consolidated, continued, and extended
may be hereafter referred to as "this leasehold" or the "Amherst Leasehold"; and
Amherst shall hold and operate said merged, consolidated, continued, and
extended leasehold estate upon the terms and conditions herein set forth, and
which terms and con-

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
ditions shall constitute the full and complete agreement of the parties hereto
and shall fully supersede all the terms and conditions heretofore embodied in
the said McGregor lease and the said Rum Creek lease, as each has been
supplemented and amended heretofore, under which Amherst has heretofore held and
operated said McGregor and Rum Creek leasehold estates.


                                      II.

                                   PROPERTY
                                   --------

     In consideration of the terms, conditions, and covenants hereinafter set
out and to be kept and performed by the said Lessee, the said Lessor does hereby
demise, let, and lease unto the said Lessee, for coal mining and the making of
coke and other coal products, and including the right and privilege during the
term hereof to take, operate, transport, prepare, process, and dispose of, as
herein more fully set out, therefrom, all of the coal therein, thereon, and
thereunder, and subject to the exceptions, reservations, covenants, and
conditions hereinafter contained, all that certain tract of land situate and
located on the waters of Rum Creek and Buffalo Creek in Logan and Triadelphia
Districts of Logan County, West Virginia, which is bounded and described as
follows:

     BEGINNING at a point on the left side of Rum Creek approximately 2,000'
above the mouth of the Second Right Hand Fork of Rum Creek, thence running up
said creek

1.  N. 34 degrees 51' E 370.2' to a point; thence

2.  N. 71 degrees 45' E 770' to a point; thence

3.  N 36 degrees 46' E 836.3' to a point; thence

4.  N 35 degrees 05' E 366.27' to a point; then crossing said Rum Creek at right
    angles and up the North Mud Lick Branch

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
 5.  S 50 degrees 39' E 702.32' to a point in said North Mud Lick; thence
     leaving said North Mud Lick
   
 6.  N 2 degrees 40' W 736.84' to a point on the right side of Rum Creek; thence
     up said Rum Creek

 7.  N 33 degrees 58' E 1,360' to a point; thence

 8.  N. 42 degrees 28' E 534.79' to a point; thence

 9.  N. 61 degrees 58' E 247.65' to a point; thence

10.  N 61 degrees 58' E 680.0' to a point; thence

11.  N 2 degrees 30' E 247.57' to a point near Rum Creek; thence

12.  N 67 degrees 39' E 651.2' to a point; thence

13.  N 78 degrees 16' E 273.11' to a point; then crossing Rum Creek

14.  N 14 degrees 35' W 194.05' to a point; thence

15.  N 89 degrees 58' E 634.6' to a point; thence

16.  N 83 degrees 45' E 1,075.9' to a point; thence

17.  S 34 degrees 5' E 333.6' to a point near Rum Creek; thence

18.  S 74 degrees 35' E 840.55' to a point; thence

19.  S 69 degrees 13' E 1,039.' to a point near the mouth of Cub Fork;
     thence leaving Rum Creek and up the mountain

20.  N 40 degrees 27' E 6,972.40' crossing the mountain and through the head of
     Rock House Branch on Dingess Run to a double black pine corner on the main
     ridge between Dingess Run and Spruce Fork; then

21.  S 30 degrees 21' 6" E 255.7' to a set stone on said ridge; thence leaving
     said ridge

22.  S 54 degrees 9' 31" E 7,172.37' to a set stone in the Right Fork of Garland
     Fork; thence back up Garland Fork

23.  S 77 degrees 0' W 114.05 to a set stone with a double apple tree witness;
     thence

24.  N 78 degrees 17' 25 W 1,934.15' to a small maple with a walnut and gum
     witness; thence

25.  S 47 degrees 11' 20" W 1,214.4' to a chestnut oak on a ridge; thence

26.  S 11 degrees 35' W 3,439.18' to a point on the main ridge; thence

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
27.  S 52 degrees 33' E 6,388.2' to a point; thence

28.  S 86 degrees 41' E 1,433.2' to a stake; thence

29.  S 5 degrees 13' 4" W 1,036.6' to a stake; thence

30.  S 31 degrees 45 W 2,530.0' crossing Rum Creek near the head of the hollow
     and up the mountain to a set "T" rail at a stone pile on a ridge; thence

31.  S 43 degrees 8' 36" W 571.63' to a point; thence

32.  N 46 degrees 51' W 150.0' to a point; thence

33.  S 43 degrees 8' 36" W 4,145.04' to a stake; thence

34.  S 79 degrees 10' 49" W 556.45' to a point witnessed on a black oak; thence

35.  S 52 degrees 36' 04" W 454.71' to a point by a chestnut oak; thence

36.  S 43 degrees 02' 30" W 2695.55' to a stake; thence

37.  S 11 degrees 3' E 1,295.05' to a point above the fork of the Right Fork of
     Hinchman Hollow; thence crossing said Right Fork

38.  S 21 degrees 5' W 165.0' to a point in the fork of Right Fork of Hinchman
     Hollow; thence down the right fork of said hollow

39.  S 1 degrees 05' W 825.0' to a point; thence

40.  S 39 degrees 47'40" W 2,013.96' and crossing Hinchman Hollow just below the
     forks to a point on the mountain ridge to a hickory and chestnut oak;
     thence down the ridge between Rum Creek and Buffalo Creek

41.  S 79 degrees 22' W 331.37' to a stake; thence

42.  N 71 degrees 0' W 300.0' to a stake; thence

43.  N 69 degrees 57' 45" W 2,006.24' to a chestnut oak which is gone; still
     following the ridge

44.  N 83 degrees 15' 18" W 4,372.28' to a 30" chestnut at the ridge fork at the
     head of Hinchman Hollow and head of First Right Fork of Rum Creek; thence
     more or less with the main ridge

45.  S 68 degrees 38' 22" W 2,842.14' to a stake on the ridge; thence

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
 
46.  N 82 degrees 57' 31" W 2,227.23' to a point making a common corner between
     the Amherst and Youngstown Mines leases; thence leaving the main ridge and
     with the Youngstown lines

47.  N 39 degrees 57' E 12,639.65' to a point near the head of the Second Right
     Fork of Rum Creek; thence down the Second Right Fork of Rum Creek

48.  N 25 degrees 15' W 645.0'; thence

49.  N 54 degrees 0' W 420.0'; thence

50.  S 88 degrees 50' W 80'; thence

51.  N 49 degrees 40' W 485'; thence

52.  due W 180.0'; thence

53.  N 46 degrees 05' W 200.0'; thence

54.  N 7 degrees 15' W 280.0'; thence

55.  N 24 degrees 0' W 290.0'; thence

56.  N 15 degrees 0'E 130.0'; thence

57.  N 19 degrees 30' W 220.0'; thence

58.  N 3 degrees 40' W 345.0'; thence

59   N 37 degrees 0' W 198.0'; thence

60.  N 24 degrees 30' W 400.0'; thence

61.  N 45 degrees 0' W 400.0'; thence

62.  N 60 degrees 0' W 200.0'; thence

63.  N 84 degrees 35' W 380.0'; thence

64.  S 68 degrees 10' W 785.0'; thence

65.  S 80 degrees 15' W 820.0'; thence

66.  N 83 degrees 0' W 740.0' to a point at the mouth of Buck Lick Branch;
     thence

67.  N 76 degrees 49' W 703.26' to a point; thence

68.  N 66 degrees 22' W 1,702.5' to a point; thence

69.  S 60 degrees 31' W 931.63' to a point; thence leaving the Second Right Fork

70.  N 34 degrees 0' E 811.76' to a point on the mountain side; thence

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
 
71.  S 81 degrees 25' W 765.0' to a point; thence

72.  N 10 degrees 23' E 970.0' to a point; thence down the mountain side

73.  N 79 degrees 37' W 1,470.0' to a point on the Upper Island Creek outcrop on
     the right side of Rum Creek at approximately 2,000' above the mouth of the
     Second Right Fork of Rum Creek; thence with the Upper Island Creek crop
     down Rum Creek and turning up the Second Right Hand Fork of Rum for a
     distance of approximately 2750' to a point on the mountain on the left side
     of the Second Right Fork; thence

74.  S 41 degrees 8' W 260.0' to a point near the said Second Right Fork of Rum
     Creek; thence up said Fork

75.  N 72 degrees 13' 34" W 479.63' to a point near said creek; thence crossing
     said creek

76.  N. 13 degrees 40' E 265.0' to a point; thence back down said creek

77.  S 62 degrees 20' E 487.0'; thence crossing said creek again

78.  S 11 degrees 44' W 179.13' to a point near the creek; thence down said 
     creek

79.  N 48 degrees 35' W 932.67' to a point near the said creek; thence

80.  N 29 degrees 3' W 805.93' down said creek and crossing Rum Creek to a point
     approximately 100' above the forks of Second Right Fork; thence up and
     crossing Rum Creek

81.  N 87 degrees 11' E 553.33' to a point; thence up and crossing said Rum
     Creek again

82.  N 40 degrees 44' E 1133.57' to a point on the left side of Rum Creek;
     thence

83.  N 56 degrees 7' E 245.61' to the POINT OF BEGINNING, and containing
     6,163.563 acres, more or less.

     Said tract of land is shown, bordered in red, as "Amherst Lease" on "MAP
SHOWING AMHERST COAL CO. LEASE FROM DINGESS RUM COAL CO. DEED OF LEASE AND
AGREEMENT DATED JUNE 1,1962", which map is hereto attached and made a part of
this Deed of Lease and Agreement.

     Said tract of land, subject to the reservations and exceptions hereinafter
set forth, is sometimes hereinafter referred to

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
 
as "said lands" or "the leased premises".

     Included in said outer boundary are three parcels consisting of Tract No. 3
containing 1.20 acres, Tract No.4 containing 1.81 acres, and Tract No. 5
containing 11.98 acres, in which Lessor owns only the coal with certain mining
rights. Said three tracts are described in that certain deed dated December 23,
1927, between Altizer Coal Land Company and Buffalo Eagle Collieries Company,
parties of the first part, and Dingess-Rum Coal Company and Lawson Heirs
Incorporated, parties of the second part, recorded in said Clerk's office in
Deed Book 88 at page 381; and also in that certain deed dated October 8, 1926,
between Dingess-Rum Coal Company and Lawson Heirs Incorporated, parties of the
first part, Logan County Coal Corporation, party of the second part, Altizer
Coal Land Company, party of the third part, and Buffalo Eagle Collieries
Company, party of the fourth part, recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book
88 at page 384. In addition to such lands, there is intended to be included in
the leased premises Tract No. 1 containing 10.26 acres and Tract No. 2
containing 3.09 acres, both lying adjacent to and outside of said boundary and
both described in that certain deed bearing date the 23d day of December, 1927,
between Dingess-Rum Coal Company and Lawson Heirs. Incorporated, parties of the
first part, and Altizer Coal Land Company, party of the second part, recorded in
said Clerk's office in Deed Book 283 at page 143. Said two tracts are also
described in the above mentioned deed recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed
Book 88 at page 384. The interests of Lessor in said five tracts are included as
part of the leased premises. Said tracts are shown on the aforesaid map outlined
by red and blue lines.

     Lessor also excepts and reserves to itself, its successors and assigns the
minerals under the surface tract added to the Rum Creek lease by Supplemental
Lease of April 11, 1928, from Dingess-

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
 
Rum to Rum Creek Coal Company, recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book 94
at page 497, which said tract is bounded and described as follows:


     BEGINNING at a point approximately 1800' up the Second Right Fork of Rum
Creek, said point being near the said Creek and being a corner common to two of
the lines of the hereinafter described Orville lease premises; thence up said
Creek

1.   N 72 degrees 13' 34" w 479.63' to a point near said Creek; thence crossing
     the Creek
2.   N 13 degrees 40' E 265.0' to a point; thence down said Creek
3.   S 62 degrees 20' E 487.0' to a point; thence crossing said Creek
4.   S 11 degrees 44' W 179.13' to the beginning, containing 2.49 acres, more or
     less.

     Lessor also excepts and reserves to itself, its successors and assigns, the
No. 2 Gas or Eagle seam of coal surrendered by Amherst to Dingess-Rum by deed
dated February 25, 1953, and recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book 224 at
page 271, and all rights and privileges likewise reserved and excepted therein
by Dingess-Rum, its successors and assigns (it being agreed between the parties
hereto that all such rights excepted and reserved by Dingess-Rum there-in are
preserved and are to remain in full force and effect except as such rights are
modified by any provisions hereof specifically relating to such rights), said
surrendered seam being contained in a tract shown on said map outlined in yellow
and being more particularly bounded and described as follows:

BEGINNING at a point approximately 700' up and in North Mud Lick Hollow of Rum
Creek thence leaving said North Mud Lick

     1.   N 2 degrees 40' W 736.84' to a point on the right side of Rum Creek;
          thence up said Rum Creek

     2.   N 33 degrees 58' E 1,360' to a point; thence

     3.   N 42 degrees 28' E 534.79' to a point; thence

                                      -16-
<PAGE>
 
4.   N 61 degrees 58' E 247.65' to a paint; thence
5.   N 61 degrees 58' E 680.0' to a point; thence
6.   N 2 degrees 30' E 247.57' to a point near Rum Creek; thence
7.   N 67 degrees 39' E 651.2' to a point; thence.
8.   N 78 degrees 16' E 273.11' to a point; then crossing Rum Creek
9.   N 14 degrees 35' W 194.05' to a point; thence
10.  N 89 degrees 58' E 634.6' to a point; thence
11.  N 83 degrees 45' E 1,075.9' to a point; thence
12.  S 34 degrees 05'E 333.6' to a point near Rum Creek; thence
13.  S 74 degrees 35' E 840.55' to a point; thence
14.  S 69 degrees 13' E 1,039' to a point near the mouth of Cub Fork; thence
     leaving Rum Creek and up the mountain
15.  N 40 degrees 27' E 6,972.40' crossing the mountain and through the head of
     Rock House Branch on Dingess Run to a double black pine corner on the main
     ridge between Dingess Run and Spruce Fork; then
16.  S 30 degrees 21' 6" E 255.7' to a set stone on said ridge; thence
     leaving said ridge
17.  S 54 degrees 9' 31" E 7,172.37' to a set stone in the Right Fork of Garland
     Fork; thence back up Garland Fork
18.  S 77 degrees 0' W 114.05' to a set stone with a double apple tree witness;
     thence
19.  N 78 degrees 17' 25" W 1,934.15' to a small maple with a walnut and gum
     witness; thence
20.  S 47 degrees 11' 20" W 1,214.4' to a chestnut oak on a ridge; thence
21.  S 11 degrees 35' w 3,439.18' to a point on the main ridge; thence
22.  S 52 degrees 33' E 6,388.2' to a point; thence leaving the outside boundary
     of the Amherst lease but within the Amherst McGregor lease
23.  S 85 degrees 42' E 8,115.29' to a point common to the McGregor and Paragon
     leases thence with a line between said McGregor and

                                     -17-
<PAGE>
 
     Paragon leases
 24. S 39 degrees 57 w 4,170.0' to a point near the head of the Second Right
     Fork of Rum Creek said point being on the Amherst lease line and with said
     Amherst line down the Second Right Fork of Rum Creek

 25. N 25 degrees 15' W 645.0'; thence
 26. N 54 degrees 0' W 420.0'; thence
 27. S 88 degrees 50' W 80'; thence        
 28. N 49 degrees 40' W 485'; thence (28a) due W 180.0'; thence
 29. N 46 degrees 05' W 200.0'; thence
 30. N 7 degrees 15' W 280.0'; thence
 31. N 24 degrees 0' W 290.0'; thence
 32. N 15 degrees 0' E 130.0'; thence
 33. N 19 degrees 30' W 220.0'; thence
 34. N 3 degrees 40' W 345.0'; thence
 35. N 37 degrees 0' W 198.0'; thence
 36. N 24 degrees 30' W 400.0'; thence
 37. N 45 degrees 0' W 400.0'; thence
 38. S 55 degrees 45' E 5,2l7.50' to a point; thence
 39. S 86 degrees 55' E 285.90' to a point in North Mud Lick Hollow; thence down
     the said hollow
 40. S 59 degrees 52' E 935.51' to the Point of Beginning, containing 2709.877
     acres, more or less.

     Lessor excepts and reserves to itself, its successors and assigns from the
operation of this lease all seams of coal below water level on Rum Creek where
it runs along the front of the lands originally leased by Lessor to Orville Coal
Company in the following described tract of land originally part of the premises
leased by Lessor to Orville Coal Company, said seams below water level having
been originally excepted and reserved from the tract leased by Lessor to Orville
Coal Company and being likewise excepted and reserved in

                                     -18-
<PAGE>
 
said Rum Creek lease, it being agreed that all seams exposed at any point above
Rum Creek along the frontage of the original Orville premises on Rum Creek are
included as part of the leased premises. Said part of said Orville lease
remaining in the leased premises after the surrender of a portion thereof by Rum
Creek Coal Company to Dingess-Rum Coal Company by deed of April 11, 1928, and
recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book 94, page 483 (said deed being Item
2 referred to in the Supplemental Indenture of Lease from Dingess-Rum to Logan
County, dated January 1, 1937, recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Dock 115,
at page 53, the date of April 12, 1928, referred to being erroneous, the correct
date being April 11, 1928), is shown on the map attached hereto outlined in
green lines and is bounded and described as follows:

     BEGINNING at a large sycamore tree on the bank of Rum Creek about 2,000'
above the mouth of 2nd Right Hand Fork, said tree being a corner to what is
known as the Cartwright Tract and the J. L. Chambers Tract, also the beginning
point of the Amherst lease; thence from said BEGINNING

1.   N 34 degrees 51' E 370.2' to a stake corner to said J. L. Chambers Tract;
     and with the lines of the same and up Rum Creek
2.   N 71 degrees 45' E 770.0' to a buckeye; thence
3.   N 36 degrees 46' E 836.3' to a blackjack; thence leaving lines of said J.
     L. Chambers Tract and crossing said tract
4.   N 35 degrees O5' E 366.27' to a rock corner to said J. L. Chambers Tract;
     thence crossing Rum Creek
5.   S 50 degrees 39' E 702.32' to a stake corner to paid J. L. Chambers Tract;
     thence
6.   S 59 degrees 52' E 935.51' to a beech, now gone; thence
7.   S 86 degrees 55' E 285.9' to a sugar tree; thence
8.   S 55 degrees 45' E 5,217.5' to a stake in the second Right Hand Fork of Rum
     Creek; thence down the Fork with its meanders

                                     -19-
<PAGE>
 
 9.  N 60 degrees 0' W 200'; thence

10.  N 84 degrees 3'5 W 380'; thence

11.  S 68 degrees 10' W 785'; thence

12.  S 80 degrees 15' W 820'; thence

13.  N 83 degrees 00 W 740'; thence

14.  N 76 degrees 49 W 703.26' to a beech corner to what is known as the L. D.
     Chambers 19 acre Tract and with the same

15.  N 66 degrees 22' W 1702.5' to a beech; thence

16.  S 60 degrees 31' W 931.63' to a point in the 2nd Right Hand Fork; thence
     leaving said fork

17.  S 34 degrees 00' E 811.76' to a point on the hillside; thence

18.  S 81 degrees 25' W 765.0'; thence

19.  N 10 degrees 23' E 970.0'; thence

20.  N 79 degrees 37' W 1470.0' to a point on the Upper Island Creek outcrop on
     the right side of Rum Creek at approximately 2000' above the mouth of the
     2nd Right Fork of Rum Creek; thence with the Upper Island Creek crop down
     Rum Creek and turning up the Right Hand Fork of Rum for a distance of
     approximately 2750.' to a point on the mountain on the left side of the 2nd
     Right Fork; thence

21.  S 41 degrees 8' W 260' to a point near the said 2nd Right Fork of Rum
     Creek; thence up said fork

22.  N 72 degrees 13' 34" W 479.63' to a point near said creek; thence crossing
     said creek

23.  N 13 degrees 40' E 265' to a point; thence back down said creek

24.  S 62 degrees 20' E 487'; thence crossing said creek again

25.  S 11 degrees 44' W 179.13' to a point near the creek; thence down said
     creek

26.  N 48 degrees 35' W 932.67' to a point near the said creek; thence

27.  N 29 degrees 3' W 805.93' down said creek and crossing Rum Creek to a point
     approximately 100' above the forks of the 2nd Right

                                     -20-
<PAGE>
 
     Hand Fork; thence up and crossing Rum Creek

28.  N 87 degrees 11' E 553.33' to a point; thence up and crossing said
     Rum Creek again

29.  N. 40 degrees 44' E 1133.57' to a point on the left side of Rum Creek;
     thence 

30.  N 56 degrees 7' E 245.61' to the point of BEGINNING and containing 323.529
     acres, more or less.

          This lease is made subject to the reservation of various rights by
Sarah A. Chambers and James L. Chambers, her husband, by that certain deed to
Lessor, dated July 29, 1909, recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed Book No.
32, at page 268, in and to a tract of 93.97 acres, of which a portion,
containing 52.97 acres, lies within the Orville lease premises and was described
in the Indenture of Lease dated July 14, 1916, between Lessor as lessor and
Orvi1le Coal Company as lessee, and recorded in said Clerk's Office in Deed
Book No.48 at page 201. Said portion is bounded and described as follows:

          BEGINNING at the point of beginning in the foregoing description of
the Amherst lease premises, thence with the first, second, third, fourth, and
fifth lines of the said Amherst lease premises, thence leaving said fifth line
at the far end thereof

l.   S 59 degrees 52' E 935.51' to a beech (now gone); thence

2.   S 86 degrees 55' E 285.90' to a sugar tree; thence

3.   S 4 degrees 6' E 553.21' to a point; thence

4.   N 85 degrees 59' W 2465.30' to a point near Rum Creek, thence down said Rum
     Creek

5.   S 59 degrees 20' W 400.94' to a point near said Creek; thence crossing said
     Creek

                                      -21-

<PAGE>
 
6.   S 83 degrees 50' W 230.40' to a point; thence leaving said Creek
7.   N 85 degrees 23' W 299.14' to the Beginning.

Reservations and Exceptions
- ---------------------------

          There is excepted and reserved to the Lessor, its successors and
assigns:

          All of the stone, timber, sand, water, oil, gas, and other minerals,
including such coal on the leased premises as is not leased to Amherst the
Lessee herein -- but excluding all such coal and products therein and thereof as
are leased to Amherst the Lessee herein -- for all purposes except those herein
expressly set forth as being demised to said Lessee, including the right and
privilege of searching for and mining and removing oil, gas, and any other
minerals or products, including, but subject to the provisions hereinafter
relating thereto, the right to mine and remove coal from the area of the No.2
Gas or Eagle seam which was released to the Lessor by the Lessee by Surrender
Agreement dated the 25th day of February, 1953 (but for so long as this lease
shall continue the Lessor will not operate, or permit to be operated by others,
for coal in any seam in any other area of the leased premises), and building
pipe lines and storage tanks, the right and privilege of draining water,
transmitting electrical energy and transporting products, minerals, and goods of
all kinds, over, across, or through the lands hereinabove described; the right
and privilege of using the stone, timber, sand, and water in and on said lands,
and of making excavations and of drilling oil, gas, and water wells, and
erecting buildings, structures, machinery, and improvements, and of
constructing ditches, transmission lines, railroads and other roads, tramways,
tubing, pipe lines, or other means of drainage or transmission over or upon the
surface of said lands, and of selecting and granting rights of

                                      -22-
<PAGE>
 
way therefor, together with the full power of granting rights of ingress and
egress, and such full and free rights as may be necessary or convenient in the
proper development of the leased lands, or other lands, or in the proper
exercise of the rights and privileges hereby excepted and reserved, and the
right to grant and convey from time to time to any railroad or railway company
so much of the land herein described as may be required by such railroad or
railway company for rights of way, or other railroad or railway purposes, and
the right to use or occupy for any lawful purposes, not contrary to any
provision hereof, so much of the surface of said lands as of which the exclusive
use and occupancy by the Lessee is not necessary or needful to the Lessee in its
mining and incidental operations and in the exercise of the rights and
privileges of the Lessee hereunder, and any and all said rights and privileges
shall inure to the benefit of and may be exercised and enjoyed by the Lessor,
its successors and assigns; provided, however, that in the development and
operation of any or all of the interests reserved to the Lessor, including, but
not excluding others, the oil and gas, timber (subject to the Lessee's rights
therein), stone, sand, water, other minerals, and including such coal on the
leased premises as is not leased to the Lessee hereby, and in the exercise of
all other rights and privileges of the Lessor reserved, the Lessor shall, but
subject to the provisions hereinafter set forth relating to the area of the
Eagle or No .2 Gas seam of coal surrendered by the Lessee to the Lessor by
Agreement dated the 25th day of February, 1953, act with due regard for the
rights, requirements, convenience, and safety of the operations of the Lessee
hereunder and in such manner as to not unduly interfere with the mining and
coking and incidental operations of the Lessee and the structures, buildings,
machinery, and equipment of the Lessee; it being understood that the mining of
coal by the Lessee is the primary

                                      23-
<PAGE>
 
utilization of the leased premises; and, in the event of any such interference
between the operations of the Lessee and the operations in respect of the
interests and rights and privileges reserved by the Lessor, the Lessor, its
other lessees, or assigns, shall defer to the Lessee.

          To the end that interference between the operations of the Lessee
("Lessee" including its successors and assigns) and the operations in respect
of the interests, rights, and privileges reserved by the Lessor may be
eliminated or reduced to a minimum, it is agreed that before the Lessor
("Lessor" including its successors and assigns) shall drill any oil or gas well
on the leased premises, the Lessor will submit to the Lessee the proposed
location thereof, and if an oil or gas well at such proposed location will not
unreasonably interfere with the existing or prospective operations of the
Lessee, the Lessee will agree to such location; or, if it appears that such
proposed location will probably interfere with the Lessee's operations, then
the Lessee and the Lessor will agree upon another location as near as is
practicable to the location proposed by the Lessor; and if and when any such
well be drilled and it produce oil or gas in commercial quantities, for so long
as said well shall be maintained and operated in accordance with the laws and
regulations of the State of West Virginia and of the United States, the Lessee
shall have no right to require that said well be plugged, abandoned, or
otherwise disposed of, even though its maintenance and operation may interfere
with some proper use of such location by the Lessee in its operations hereunder;
and before erecting any compressor or pumping station or any lumber mill or
establishing any transformer site or station or erecting any other substantial
building, structure, or installation, the Lessor will submit in writing to the
Lessee the general plans for such building, structure, or installation and the
proposed site or location thereof. If the Lessee is at the time making no use of
the

                                      -24-
<PAGE>
 
proposed site or location and does not reasonably foresee its need to use such
site or location in the future, and the proposed use will not unreasonably
interfere with the Lessee's operations, the Lessee will give its approval of and
consent to the proposed use of such site or location, reserving, however, to the
Lessee the right to move any such building, structure, or installation to
another site or location on the leased premises at the expense of the Lessee,
and without cost to the Lessor, if at any time thereafter the use of such site
or location be necessary to the Lessee for its exercise of its mining or
incidental operations on the leased premises. If at the time the Lessee is not
using such site or location but is of opinion that it will have need therefor in
the future, it may withhold its approval and consent or may qualify its approval
or consent to the end that, if such building, structure, or installation be
placed on such site or location, if and when the use of such location becomes
necessary to the operations of the Lessee, the Lessor will, at its own expense
and without cost or expense to the Lessee, remove such building, structure, or
installation. All installations of the general nature of pipe lines, electric
power lines, telephone and telegraph lines, and comparable installations built
or installed on the leased premises by the Lessor under any such qualified
approval by the Lessee shall be removed or relocated at the sole cost and
expense of the Lessor if at any time they or any of them unreasonably interfere
with the Lessee's mining and incidental operations. The Lessor, recognizing that
the mining of coal by the Lessee is the primary utilization of the leased
premises, and the Lessee, recognizing that the Lessor has reserved rights and
interests, each, will, to the fullest extent practicable, cooperate with the
other in harmonizing their respective uses of the leased premises and in saving
the other from unnecessary expense. But nothing in this paragraph shall apply
to, or limit, the exercise of any rights in the leased premises presently
outstanding in others

                                      -25-
<PAGE>
 
under agreements with, or deeds from, Lessor heretofore made, or to facilities
and installations now or hereafter installed on the leased premises pursuant to
such outstanding rights, but the Lessee shall have the benefit of all exceptions
and reservations with respect to such facilities and installations which have
been made by or for the Lessor in said agreements or deeds.

          It is understood and agreed by and between the parties hereto,
however, that by Surrender Agreement dated the 25th day of February, 1953,
Lessee surrendered and yielded up to Lessor all of Lessee's rights and
privileges to mine and remove coal from the No. 2 Gas seam of coal (sometimes
called the Logan Eagle seam) in all of the areas known as the Paragon tract and
the Cub Fork tract, and a part of the McGregor lease, as shown, bordered in
yellow, on the aforesaid map of the leased premises, and Lessor, its agents and
its other lessees (all sometimes hereinafter included within the word "Lessor"),
may mine and remove the coal from said No. 2 Gas seam on such released areas
whether or not Lessee shall have completed its mining operations in the other
seams of coal in said areas, and Lessor may mine and remove the coal from said
No. 2 Gas seam in said areas without providing or leaving support for any
overlying seam of coal, and Lessee shall not be accountable or responsible to
Lessor for any results, acts, or things which may occur to or in said No. 2 Gas
seam of coal or to Lessor's operations therein in any areas from, by reason, or
because of Lessee's mining operations in any seam or seams of coal overlying the
said No. 2 Gas seam. In, and in connection with, the mining operations of said
No. 2 Gas seam, the Lessor shall have no right to use the surface of said areas
or any of them for any purposes other than such as may be reasonably necessary
for power, drainage, ventilation, communications, and escapeways (but no portal,
tipple, cleaning plants, supply yards, shops, housing or office facilities, or
comparable installations), and if any such in-

                                      -26-
<PAGE>
 
stallation or installations be placed on any of said areas it or they shall be
so located as not to interfere unreasonably with Lessee's mining and incidental
operations in respect of any and all overlying seams of coal.

     The Lessee shall have the right to take and use only for mining and
incidental operations on the leased premises such timber on the leased premises
measuring thirteen inches and under in diameter over the bark two feet from the
ground on the upper side of the tree at the time of cutting and now or hereafter
during the life of this lease standing upon said land, except poplar and black
walnut, but the Lessee shall not have the right to sell any such timber or
products thereof. There is reserved to the Lessor all other timber on the
demised premises, including all poplar and black walnut of any dimensions, but
the Lessor will not take or destroy timber (other than poplar and black walnut)
which at the time measures thirteen inches and under as aforesaid except as may
be reasonably incidental to the conduct of its timber operations or the exercise
of any of its other reserved rights, and will give reasonable advance notice to
Lessee of any such proposed taking or destruction by Lessor or by any person
claiming under Lessor by agreement hereafter made, and Lessor will not sell any
such timber so taken or destroyed unless Lessee shall fail to claim the same.
The Lessee shall not be held accountable for any damage to any timber, including
poplar and black walnut, on the leased premises which is occasioned by Lessee's
mining operations and other activities in connection therewith, including the
construction of roads, tramways, power lines, pipe lines, and any and all other
facilities of the Lessee used or useful in connection with its mining and
incidental operations or for any damage to any such timber by reason of the
location of or combustion of any refuse piles or dumps. At any time when the
Lessee is about to construct

                                     -27-
<PAGE>
 


any road, power line, or other facility which will necessitate the cutting of
timber, it will give the Lessor reasonable notice thereof to enable the Lessor
to promptly remove such timber to be cut, if the Lessor so desires. Or, if the
Lessor does not desire to remove such timber, then at the request of the Lessor,
the Lessee, in removing such timber, will leave the logs so that the Lessor may
recover the same if it so desires; but the Lessee shall be under no obligation
to provide roadways or other facilities by which the Lessor may recover any such
logs, though the Lessor may use the Lessee's roadways therefor; provided, the
Lessor's use shall not unreasonably interfere with the Lessee's use thereof.
The Lessor desires, by following good forestry practices, to develop the
property as a timber property insofar as such may be done without limiting or
interfering in any way with any of the rights of the Lessee hereunder; and the
Lessee is in sympathy with the Lessor's such desire and, to the end of
promoting the attainment of the Lessor's desire, the Lessee will cooperate with
the Lessor by avoiding injury, as far as is reasonably practicable, to the
Lessor's timber interests in the Lessee's exercise of its rights hereunder. This
statement of the Lessee's willingness to cooperate with the Lessor is a
statement of intent only and is not to be taken as any limitation or restriction
on the Lessee's rights to take timber hereunder.

          The rights hereby let to the Lessee are subject to all easements,
exceptions, reservations, terms, conditions, and covenants now outstanding in
other persons, firms, and corporations and binding upon both the Lessor and the
Lessee. But, to the extent of the estates and privileges hereby leased to the
Lessee, the Lessee is hereby granted, and shall be entitled to exercise, the
rights, privileges, and estates, and the benefit of the same excepted or
reserved to the Lessor or to which the Lessor may be entitled with respect to
such exceptions and reservations.

                                      -28-
<PAGE>
 
                                     III.

                                     TERM
                                     ----

          The term of this lease shall be for the period of one hundred (100)
years from the date hereof or until all of the mineable and marketable coal
leased to the Lessee hereby shall have been mined and removed from the leased
premises, whichever shall first occur, unless this lease shall be terminated
sooner pursuant to other provisions hereof.

          Whenever all of the mineable and marketable coal leased to the Lessee
hereby shall have been mined and removed from the leased premises pursuant to
the provisions of this Agreement, then this lease shall cease and terminate,
whether or not the term of years of this lease shall have expired; and at the
expiration of one hundred (100) years after the date hereof this lease shall
cease and terminate even though all of such mineable and marketable coal shall
not have been mined and removed.

          If there be disagreement between the Lessor and the Lessee as to
whether all of the mineable and marketable coal leased to the Lessee hereby has
been mined and removed from the leased premises pursuant to the provisions of
this Agreement, such disagreement shall be submitted to arbitration in the
manner provided by Article XVI hereof.

          For the purposes of this Lease and Agreement, "mineable and marketable
coal" means coal which pursuant to a proper plan of development and in
accordance with good mining practices can be mined and marketed at a profit by
the use of such modern mining and preparation methods and machinery as are
reasonably adapted to the practical, efficient, and economical mining of such
coal. Except as otherwise

                                     -29-
<PAGE>
 
provided in Articles V and VII of this Lease and Agreement, the mineability and
marketability of coal in any area of any seam shall be determined when such area
is first reached in place pursuant to such plan and practices.


                                      IV.

                        RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF LESSEE
                        -------------------------------

     The Lessor, for the duration of this lease, demises and lets unto the
Lessee all such mining rights and privileges in said premises as are vested in
or exercisable by the Lessor and which it has the lawful right to demise and let
to the Lessee, and, subject to the foregoing and the limitations in this lease
set forth (including those applicable to the Eagle or No. 2 Gas seam area
surrendered as aforesaid), the Lessee shall have the superior right to use so
much of the surface of the leased premises and any stratum thereof and of the
stone, the sand and water therein and thereon as may be necessary or convenient
in the exercise of the mining rights herein demised, and without limiting the
generality of the foregoing:


     1.   The right to use and occupy so much of the surface as Lessee deems
to be necessary or convenient for the erection, maintenance, and operation
thereon of plants, tipples, shops, storehouses, merchandise establishments,
warehouses, office buildings, dwelling houses for the housing of employees
employed in connection with coal mining operations of the Lessee as herein set
forth, and all other structures which Lessee may deem to be convenient in
Lessee's coal mining or other operations; and the Lessor shall not operate or
maintain or permit to be operated or maintained by any person, firm, or
corporation, except the Lessee, any merchandising business on the premises which
is competitive with any of Lessee's merchandising and

                                      -30-
<PAGE>
 
incidental commercial activities. (The selling on the leased premises of coal
mined on the leased premises from seams or areas of seams not leased to the
Lessee hereby, or of oil, gas, timber, lumber, or other products of or from the
lands embodying the leased premises, shall not for the purposes hereof be
considered a merchandising business prohibited to Lessor or its other lessees or
assigns.) Incidental commercial operations of any of Lessee's facilities
installed primarily for its own and/or its employees' use shall be considered to
be within such operations permitted to Lessee.

     2.   The right to have and use the surface for the construction, repair,
and maintenance of roads, tramroads, railroads, airways, bucketways, and other
transportation facilities necessary or useful in Lessee's mining and incidental
operations, with the right to change or have changed the location of any road or
transportation facility now or hereafter on the premises.  In locating any such
road or transportation facility the Lessee will give reasonable consideration to
the reserved rights of the Lessor.  The Lessee will use its best efforts to
preserve the private character of all roads and roadways which otherwise might
be used by other persons; but the Lessor will join with the Lessee in granting
to any proper public authority such rights of way as may be appropriate for the
establishment of any public way which may be of service to the Lessee and
others, upon such terms and conditions as in the Judgments of the Lessee and the
Lessor may protect their respective interests.

     3.   The right, to the extent of the Lessor's power to grant the same, to
change, increase, diminish, use, or destroy surface and underground waters; to
discharge upon the premises waters from its mining operations, and to construct,
repair, and maintain drains, drainage-ways, sediment basins, sanitary sewers and
disposal

                                      -31-
<PAGE>
 
plants as may be needed or useful in Lessee's coal mining and incidental
operations.

     4.   The right to construct, maintain, and operate such pipelines,
telephone lines, power lines, tanks, coal washers, and other similar facilities
as may be needed or useful in Lessees coal mining and incidental operations.

     5.   The right to deposit on the surface of the leased premises all refuse
and waste materials produced in connection with Lessee's coal mining operations;
provided, that before such deposits are made the situs or location thereof shall
be subject to the approval of Lessor. In the location and operation of refuse
piles or dumps, the Lessee shall take reasonable care that the streams or
accumulations of water capable of doing flood damage or causing slides or
explosions caused by the impounding of water, are not so obstructed as to create
such hazards, and, when reasonably necessary, will use reasonable care to
provide appropriate drainage.  If the Lessee be of opinion that any drainage is
reasonably necessary, the Lessee shall submit to the Lessor plans for such
drainage at the same time that the Lessee advises the Lessor of a proposed situs
or location of any such pile or dump; and if, when proposing any such situs or
location, the Lessee does not present plans for drainage, and the Lessor be of
opinion that drainage is required, the Lessor and the Lessee will endeavor to
agree upon appropriate drainage. The Lessor shall not unreasonably withhold
approval of the situs or location of any such pile or dump, or of the plans for
drainage where reasonably necessary; and if the Lessee and the Lessor are unable
to agree either in respect of the situs or location of any such pile or dump or
of the necessity of drainage facilities or of the plans of such drainage
facilities where reasonably necessary, the matter shall be submitted to
arbitration as is provided by Article XVI hereof.

                                      -32-
<PAGE>
 
     The Lessee may use such refuse and waste materials for the purpose of
building roads, ramps, or other facilities on the leased premises and on any
other properties operated by the Lessee In connection therewith; and the Lessor
may use such refuse and waste materials for its own purposes; but neither the
Lessee nor the Lessor, without the consent or the other, shall sell such refuse
and waste materials to others.

     6.   In connection with its operations on the leased premises and on other
properties operated by the Lessee in connection therewith, and not otherwise
(except that any tipple or cleaning plant on the leased premises may be used and
the incidental rights herein provided may be had and exercised on a temporary
basis for the processing and loading of coal ordinarily processed and loaded at
any plant of the Lessee elsewhere maintained and operated by the Lessee in the
event of any emergency relating to such other plant or the Lessee), the full and
unrestricted right to transport on, over, under, or through the leased premises
coal mined by the Lessee on lands not included within the leased premises and
mine rock, refuse from cleaning and processing coal, and other refuse, which is
produced by the Lessee in and about and incident to its mining operations on
such other lands; to wash, clean, dry, and otherwise process, load, and sell
such coal produced on other lands at, by, and in facilities of the Lessee on the
leased premises, and to store thereon such coal processed at such facilities;
and subject to the provisions of paragraph 5 of this Article IV, to dispose of
upon the leased premises mine rock and refuse from coal from other lands
processed by Lessee on the leased premises, and rock and refuse from other lands
which is not discarded at a tipple or cleaning plant located off the leased
premises, and to erect on the leased premises and elsewhere any and all such
facilities therefor as my be reasonably appropriate; to

                                      -33-
<PAGE>
 
haul and move mine supplies and materials and equipment over, across, through,
and under the leased premises to and from such other lands; and to transport to
and from such other lands over the leased premises, by any and all such means as
Lessee may find to be useful and convenient, employees and other persons going
to and from such other lands in connection with the Lessee's mining operations
thereon; and for all such purposes to use the demised premises and any part
thereof in connection with the Lessee's operations on such other lands in like
manner as if such other lands were a part of the leased premises.  For such
uses of the leased premises in connection with the Lessee's mining operations on
other lands, the Lessee shall pay to the Lessor the amounts hereinafter provided
for by Article VI hereof. The mine rock and refuse from such other lands may be
commingled with mine rock and refuse from the leased premises and be disposed of
along with mine rock and refuse from the leased premises either on the leased
premises or other premises in respect of which the Lessee has such rights.

     The Lessee shall have the right to move coal from places where mined on the
leased premises over other lands en route to Lessee's tipples and preparation
plants on Dingess-Rum land, but no haulage or wheelage charge shall be made by
Lessor in respect of any such coal mined on Dingess-Rum land by reason of the
fact that following a circuitous route from the place of mining to the place of
processing and/or loading on the leased premises said coal shall have moved over
lands other than those of the Lessor. Except as is hereinafter provided by
Article VII relating to Hinchman Hollow, all coal mined from the leased
premises, except such as is used by the Lessee on the leased premises or sold to
its employees for their domestic use, shall be processed by and shipped from
facilities on the leased premises; provided, however: in the event of any
emergency relating

                                      -34-
<PAGE>
 
to such facilities on the leased premises, on a temporary basis, coal mined from
the leased premises may be processed by and shipped from facilities operated by
Lessee elsewhere.

     7.   The exercise and use of the rights and privileges granted to the
Lessee by this Article IV shall not be restricted to exercise and use by the
Lessee only in connection with the Lessee's mining and incidental operations on
the leased premises, but, subject to the other provisions of this Lease, shall
extend to, and not otherwise except the temporary exercise and use in an
emergency as hereinabove provided, the exercise and use by the Lessee in
connection with Lessee's mining operations on other lands operated by Lessee in
connection therewith and without charge to the Lessee by the Lessor, except as
is provided by Section 6 of this Article IV and Section 6 or Article VI hereof.

     8.   All of the uses, rights, and privileges of the Lessee over, in,
upon, and under the leased premises, except upon a temporary basis in cases of
emergency as herein provided, are only for the mining, hauling, processing, and
shipping of coal and coke from the leased premises and other lands operated for
such purposes by the Lessee in connection with the leased premises and any and
all operations thereof or incidental thereto; and if any disagreement shall
arise between the Lessor and the Lessee as to whether any particular use which
Lessee makes of the leased premises is permitted under the terms of this lease,
such disagreement shall be resolved by arbitration in the manner and with the
effect provided by Article XVI hereof.

                                      -35-
<PAGE>
 
                                      V.

              METHODS, DEVELOPMENT AND WORK, AND RECOVERY OF COAL
              ---------------------------------------------------

     1.   It is recognized that mining operations have hereto-fore been
conducted on the leased premises by Lessee and its predecessor lessees and that
Lessee has fully accounted to the Lessor for all such coal mined, lost, or
abandoned prior to June 1, 1962.

          The worked-out, lost, or abandoned areas in the Chilton seam, the coal
from or in which has been fully accounted for by the Lessee to the Lessor, and
the areas of coal in said seam heretofore surrendered by Lessee to Lessor, are
shown on the map attached hereto and made a part hereof, bearing the legend "Map
Showing Workings In The Chilton Seam On Amherst Lease, June 1, 1962."

          The areas marked in red on said map and designated by the letters A,
B, C, and D have been paid for by the Lessee and are referred to as the
surrendered areas. The coal in such areas is excluded from this lease and
Lessee has no right hereunder to mine the same; it being contemplated that
Lessor and Lessee will enter into a supplemental agreement with respect thereto
at a later time, but the effectiveness of this lease is in no way conditioned
upon the making of such supplemental agreement. It is agreed that during the
period of this lease, Lessor has no right to mine such coal or to grant mining
rights with respect to such coal in said four areas to anyone other than Lessee.
The other areas shown in red and designated by the letters E, F, G, and H have
been paid for by Lessee but are included as coal subject to this lease. Lessee
is under no obligation to conduct mining operations in said Areas E, F, G, and
H, but if it does mine any coal from any of said areas the Lessee shall account
to the

                                      -36-
<PAGE>
 
Lessor for the coal mined at the royalty rates applicable under this lease
taking credit for the full amount heretofore paid by the Lessee for the coal
left in such area and Lessee shall pay the Lessor royalties on coal hereafter
mined from each such area which are in excess of the royalties heretofore paid
for the coal in each such area; it being agreed that each area shall be treated
separately and that all four areas are not to be treated as a group.

          Said map also shows colored in green and for the most part marked
"pillared" the areas of coal in the Chilton seam in which Lessee has completed
its mining operations and fully accounted for the coal therein. Lessee shall
have the right if it so desires to mine additional coal therefrom but shall not
be obligated so to do; and shall pay royalties at the rates herein provided for
such coal as may be hereafter mined from such worked-out areas.

          Said map also shows colored in yellow the areas which Lessee and
Lessor have agreed do not contain mineable and marketable coal. Lessee shall
have the right but not the obligation to mine coal therefrom, and shall pay
royalties at the rates herein provided on any coal which it may hereafter mine
from any of such areas.

          Said map also shows two areas of coal marked "questionable". Whether
such areas contain mineable and marketable coal will be determined by
prospecting to be done hereafter. Lessee agrees to pay the cost of such
prospecting.

          A large uncolored area to the southwest on said map may in part or in
whole contain mineable and marketable coal and such prospecting as may be
required to determine the facts with reference

                                      -37-
<PAGE>
 
to the Chilton seam in said area will be done at the joint expense of the
parties as elsewhere provided in this lease.

          Also attached hereto and made a part hereof is another map showing the
workings of Lessee in the Island Creek seam on the leased premises. Said map
bears the following legend: "Map Showing Workings In The Island Creek Seam On
Amherst Lease, June 1, 1962."

          The areas shown on said map colored in green and for the most part
marked "pillared" have been worked out and Lessee has accounted for the
royalties on the coal mined therefrom. Lessee shall have the right but not the
obligation hereafter to mine coal therefrom, and Lessee shall pay Lessor for any
such additional coal mined therefrom the royalties herein provided.

          Also shown on said map is an area colored in red and designated by
the letter A. Such area contains unmined coal as indicated on the map for which
Lessee has fully accounted to Lessor for the royalties thereon. Lessee shall
have the right but not the obligation hereafter to mine coal from such area and
shall account to Lessor therefor at the royalty rates herein provided, but shall
be entitled to apply as a credit on such royalties the amount of money
heretofore paid by Lessee to Lessor with respect to the coal unmined in such
area.

          Also shown on said map is an area colored in violet (also shown and so
colored on the "Amherst Lease map) which is a barrier pillar 225 feet in width
(except for the tapered portion) along the line adjoining the lands of Kelly-
Hatfield containing 6.503 acres. It is agreed by the parties hereto that the
coal in said barrier pillar is not to be mined by Lessee but is to be left as a
protection for main haulage ways on adjoining premises. Lessee has fully
accounted to Lessor for the coal in such barrier pillar.

                                      -38-
<PAGE>
 
     Lessee has also conducted mining operations in the No. 5 Block seam of coal
on the leased premises, and there are no areas of coal left unmined therein for
which Lessee has heretofore made payment. All the unmined coal contained in said
seam on the leased premises on the date of this lease is included in this lease.

     This lease applies to all seams of coal and all areas thereof on the leased
premises which are not hereinbefore expressly excluded.

     The Lessee covenants that it will diligently continue mining operations on
the leased premises so as to mine all the mineable and marketable coal thereon,
and will conduct all of its operations hereunder in a careful, skilful, and
workmanlike manner and in compliance with the present and any future laws of the
State of West Virginia or the United States and valid rules and regulations of
any subdivision, bureau, or agency thereof, and also according to the rules and
practices of good mining, and with due regard to the value of the leased
premises as a coal property.


     It is fully understood by the Lessor that the Lessee owns or leases and
operates other coal properties, both in the vicinity of the leased premises and
elsewhere, and the development and working of the premises leased hereunder will
be considered to be done in keeping with the terms hereof, provided that, in the
mining and selling of coal from Lessee's coal mining operations as a whole,
the Lessee shall not discriminate against the leased premises, giving
appropriate consideration to the kinds and qualities of coal available on the
leased premises as compared with kinds and qualities of coal on other properties
and the then current market demands for coals of differing qualities and
constituents.

                                      -39-
<PAGE>
 
     The Lessee shall have the exclusive right to physically sever from the
leased premises all of the coal thereon and therein by any and all means and
methods heretofore used, now in use, or hereafter developed and put into use,
and which at the time constitute good mining practices and will reasonably
result in the maximum practical physical recovery of mineable and marketable
coal as herein defined. This agreement does not contemplate or permit the
underground gasification or methods of removal of coal other than the physical
extraction and removal thereof.

     The Lessee shall not be required to mine coal which can be mined only by
strip, auger, or other outside methods, but such coal lying along and near the
outcrop of a seam remaining in place after the completion of underground mining
in adjoining areas (underground mining involves the use of men underground) as
the Lessee may elect to mine, may be mined by Lessee by any such method of
physical extraction as Lessee may elect, upon the payment of the royalty
provided for such mining in Article VI hereof.

     2.   The Lessee shall work and mine the coal, including such coal as the
Lessee my elect to mine under the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1
of this Article V hereof, in accordance with the plan of mining heretofore
adopted by it and approved by Lessor and in accordance with such further general
and detail maps and plans of mining and projections as may be prepared by the
Lessee and submitted by it to the Lessor, and which shall contain such other
data and information as may reasonably be required by the Lessor, and approved
in writing by the Lessor, and no operation shall be commenced or prosecuted
except pursuant to and in conformity with such maps, plans, and projections.

                                      -40-
<PAGE>
 
     No material change in, modification of, or departure from any plans so
approved, shall be made in the development or operation of the mine or mines
except as requested in writing by the Lessee and agreed to and approved in
writing by the Lessor, such request to be accompanied by plans illustrating such
change, modification, or departure and a statement of the reasons therefor. If
the Lessor shall not approve or disapprove any plan, change, or modification
within fifteen (15) days after the submission of same shall have been made to an
officer or engineer of Lessor in person or by mailing to the Lessor at its
United States Post Office address provided for by Article XVII hereof, the
Lessee may again request approval by sending a telegram to Lessor at its said
office address, and which telegram need only call attention to the original
request, and if, after the expiration of five (5) days following the date on
which such telegram is sent, the Lessor shall not have disapproved the request
and shall not have given notice of such disapproval to the Lessee, then such
plan, change, or modification shall be deemed approved by the Lessor. The Lessor
shall not unreasonably withhold approval of any such plan, change, or
modification.

     If, as the Lessee's workings progress, the Lessor believes that any change,
modification, or departure in, of, or from any plans and projections previously
approved should be made, the Lessor may by writing request the Lessee to agree
to such change, modification, or departure. The request shall be accompanied by
plans illustrating the proposed change, modification, or departure and a
statement of the reasons therefor. If the Lessee shall not approve or disapprove
of any such change, modification, or departure within fifteen (15) days after
the submission of the same shall have been made to an officer or engineer of
Lessee in person or by mailing to the Lessee at its United States Post Office
address provided for by Article XVII

                                     -41-
<PAGE>
 
hereof, the Lessor may again request approval by sending a telegram to Lessee at
its said office address, and which telegram need only call attention to the
original request, and if, after the expiration or five (5) days following the
date on which such telegram is sent, the Lessee shall not have disapproved the
request and shall not have given notice of such disapproval to the Lessor, then
such change, modification, or departure shall be deemed approved by the Lessee.
The Lessee shall not unreasonably withhold approval of any such change,
modification, or departure.

     3.   The Lessor, by and through experienced and competent agents and
engineers and at its and their own risk and expense, shall at all reasonable
times have the right to enter the leased premises and all mines and works,
whether below or on the surface of the ground, for all lawful purposes and to
inspect, examine, survey, and measure the leased premises and the mines and any
part thereof to determine whether all the terms of this lease are fully complied
with; and for those purposes to use freely the means of access and the Lessee's
transportation facilities on the leased premises, including the mines and the
workings thereof, without hindrance but at such times and in such manner as not
unreasonably to interfere with the Lessee's operations of the leased premises.
If requested by the Lessee, the Lessor shall give to the Lessee copies of such
surveys as may be made by the persons making such inspections, examinations,
surveys, and measurements for the Lessor. If the Lessor has any objections to or
criticism of Lessee's works or operations, the Lessor shall promptly notify
the Lessee thereof, and if it be found and be promptly reported to the Lessee in
writing that, in the belief of Lessor, in the progress of Lessee's operations
any areas of mineable and marketable coal and/or any pillars which should have
been mined at the time of any such inspection, examination, survey, or
measurement have, by the Lessee, been passed by, with the result that mineable
and marketable coal,

                                      -42-
<PAGE>
 
or pillars, which, under the provisions of this agreement should have then been
removed, have not been removed, it shall be the obligation of the Lessee to
return promptly to any such neglected area or neglected pillars and promptly
remove the coal therefrom; or, failing to do so within a reasonable time, Lessee
shall account for the mineable and marketable coal, or pillars, contained
therein and pay the royalty therefor in like manner as if such mineable and
marketable coal, or pillars, had been mined and removed. If the Lessor and
Lessee disagree in respect of the coal of any such area or areas or of the
conditions relating to the removal of pillars, the differences between Lessor
and the Lessee shall be submitted to arbitration in the manner provided by
Article XVI hereof.

     If at any time hereafter the Lessee shall pay for any coal not mined from a
particular area of any seam, and Lessee shall thereafter mine such coal, the
Lessee shall account for royalties on the coal so mined at the rates and amounts
in effect at time of mining but shall be entitled to credit on such royalties
the total amount of royalties previously paid on the coal in such area until
such amount so paid in advance is so recouped; and royalties on coal mined from
such area in excess of such credit shall be paid by the Lessee to Lessor. Areas
of coal on which the royalty has been so paid shall be identified on a map
attached to a written agreement to be signed by Lessor and Lessee setting out
the quantities of coal involved and the royalties thereon. Lessee shall notify
Lessor in writing in advance of its removal of coal from any such area.

     4.   The obligation of the Lessee to mine and remove the coal from the
leased premises shall be to obtain the maximum practical recovery of all of the
mineable and marketable coal on the leased premises. But the Lessee shall not be
required to develop any portion or area of any seam of coal if, based upon the
results of reasonable

                                     -43-
<PAGE>
 
prospecting by Lessee or by Lessor, such portion or area appears not to contain
a sufficient tonnage of mineable and marketable coal to warrant the development
thereof. And if, in the progress of its mining operations hereunder, the Lessee
encounters an area or areas of any seam of coal which the Lessee believes to be
not mineable and marketable, the Lessee shall promptly notify the Lessor and
request an inspection, and the Lessor shall promptly make such inspection if
access thereto be available. If the Lessor and the Lessee agree that the coal in
any such area or areas is not then mineable and marketable, such area or areas
or such portion or portions thereof as it is so agreed need not be mined or paid
for by the Lessee unless the mining of said area or of a part thereof is
reasonably necessary to protect coal in an area which is mineable and
marketable. But if the Lessor so requests promptly, the Lessee shall leave
access to such area or areas or such portion or portions which the Lessor agrees
or the arbitrators determine need not be mined in the form of entries and air
courses protected by adequate barrier pillars, to the end that the coal in any
such area or areas may be mined and removed later by the Lessee or by others
after the expiration of this lease. The obligation of the Lessee to leave such
access to such areas shall be performed and discharged when the Lessee has left
therefor such timber and other supports as are then in place and adequate
barrier pillars, and the Lessee shall not be obligated to thereafter or
otherwise maintain such access. However, if so requested by Lessor, Lessee will
at Lessor's cost and expense, without profit to Lessee and without charge for
overhead, do such acts and things as Lessor shall direct for the purpose of
maintaining and protecting such access entries and any other access entries and
pillars left in place at request of Lessor. But Lessee shall not be responsible
for the success or failure of such acts and things in maintaining and protecting
such access entries if

                                     -44-
<PAGE>
 
Lessee adheres to the directions given by Lessor. Lessee's obligation to do such
acts and things for Lessor shall end in respect of any mine on the leased
premises when the lessee shall have completed its operations in such mine and
thereafter, but not before, the Lessor may maintain and protect such access by
the use of its own personnel and equipment. The lessee shall not be required to
pay for coal left in place in such barrier pillars at the request of the Lessor.

     The obligation of the Lessee to mine and remove mineable and marketable
coal shall include the obligation to mine and remove pillars, including room,
chain, bleeder, and barrier pillars, which are hereafter or have been heretofore
created by the mining operations of the Lessee outside the areas fully accounted
for and shown on the maps referred to in Section 1 of this Article V, to the
extent that such pillars are not by law or lawful regulations, or by accepted
safety practices, including the maintenance of safeways, required to be left,
and to the extent that such pillars may be removed with reasonable safety and
such removal is not prevented or seriously obstructed by the buckling of the
mine floor, the fall of the mine roof or ceiling, or other conditions beyond the
reasonable control of the Lessee, provided the Lessee has adhered to projections
approved by the Lessor and the projections are such as to enable the prompt
recovery of pillars and pillar extraction is promptly prosecuted in accordance
with such projections; but the Lessee shall not be required to mine or pay for
such pillars as are required to be left or which, under the aforesaid
conditions, cannot reasonably be mined. If the Lessor and the Lessee shall be
unable to agree upon any matter in respect of any such area or the removal of
pillars, their differences shall be submitted to arbitration as provided for in
Article XVI hereof.

     If, at any time prior to the expiration of this lease, the Lessee shall
desire to mine the coal from any such unmined area or

                                      -45-
<PAGE>
 
areas or pillars (other than pillars left at the request of the Lessor as
hereinbefore provided), whether or not the Lessee shall have paid the royalty
upon such unmined coal or pillars, the Lessee shall have such right, but,
subject to the provision hereinafter made in respect of coal not mineable and
marketable when reached but which may become mineable and marketable prior to
the termination of this lease, shall not be required, to do so; and if the
Lessee shall mine such areas or pillars in respect of which the Lessee shall not
have paid the tonnage royalties for coal left in place, the Lessee shall pay
such tonnage royalties when such coal is mined and removed but in respect of any
such unmined areas or pillars for which the Lessee shall have paid royalties on
coal not mined and removed, the Lessee shall account for royalties on the coal
so mined at the rates and amounts in effect at the time of the mining but shall
be entitled to credit on such royalties the total amount paid on the unmined
coal in such area until the full amount thereof is recouped; and royalties on
coal mined from such areas in excess of such credit shall be paid by the Lessee
to the Lessor; provided, however, if coal left in an area because not mineable
and marketable when first reached by the Lessee in the normal course of its
mining operations, by reason of developments in mining methods and machinery and
other applicable factors, becomes mineable and marketable, as defined in this
lease, prior to the termination of this lease, and the ways of access thereto
left in the manner herein provided remain usable or at reasonable expense may be
restored to a usable condition, or other access may be obtained at reasonable
cost, and such coal may be profitably mined and removed by the use of equipment
used or usable by the Lessee in its normal course of operations in other areas
of the leased premises (or if new or additional equipment is required for the
mining of such coal, the Lessee will acquire the requisite new or additional

                                      -46-
<PAGE>
 
machinery for the mining of such coal in such area, if the prospective tonnage
in the area, considering all other relevant factors, economically justifies the
investment in such new or additional machinery), the Lessee shall be obligated
to mine and remove such areas of coal as were, when first reached, left because
not then mineable and marketable as defined in this lease.

          If at any time at the request of the Lessor, the Lessee shall have
left pillars to provide access to coal which Lessor and Lessee agree, or which a
board of arbitration determines, is not mineable and marketable or are required
to be left to support any overlying seam of coal, and thereafter the Lessor
shall conclude that it no longer desires that such pillars be left for the
purposes aforesaid or for any other purpose and shall so advise the Lessee in
writing, then the obligation of the Lessee to mine and remove such pillars shall
be determined by the same standards by which the obligation of the Lessee to
mine coal which was not mineable and marketable when first reached but
thereafter becomes mineable and marketable is determined, all in like manner as
is herein provided. If the Lessee mines and removes any such pillars to the
extent that the coal in such pillars shall not have theretofore been paid for by
the Lessee, the Lessee shall pay the royalty thereon at the rate applicable at
the time of the mining of such pillars.

     5.   The Lessee shall not have the right to mine any coal from any seam
within the statutory distance of any outside boundary of the leased premises
except where the Lessee owns or leases the coal in the came seam on the other
side of said boundary, or has the written consent of all persons in interest in
the same seam on the other side of said boundary.

          Some properties adjoining the leased premises have heretofore been
operated for the mining of coal, some other proper-

                                     -47-
<PAGE>
 
ties adjoining the leased premises are now being operated for the mining of
coal, and still other properties adjoining the leased premises may be operated
for the mining of coal prior to the termination of this lease, and the statutory
boundary barriers will not in all such situations be sufficient to protect the
leased premises and the Lessee's operations thereon against waters from mine
workings on properties adjoining the leased premises. The Lessee may leave in
any and all seams of coal on the leased premises sufficient additional barriers
along said boundary lines as the Lessee may reasonably believe to be necessary
to protect the interests of the Lessor and the Lessee in the leased premises and
the Lessee's operations thereon and thereof; but the Lessee shall not leave on
the leased premises in any seam a total such barrier exceeding fifty (50) feet
in width (including the statutory barrier on the leased premises) without the
consent in writing of the Lessor, which consent in writing the Lessor will not
unreasonably withhold. If the Lessor and the Lessee do not agree that a barrier
exceeding fifty (50) feet in width is reasonably necessary for the purposes
aforesaid, then the matter of the necessity of any such additional width and the
extent thereof may be submitted to arbitration and determined in the manner
provided by Article XVI hereof. For such coal as is left by the Lessee to
provide such protective barriers, to the extent agreed to by the Lessor, or in
the event of arbitration to the extent determined thereby, the Lessee shall not
be required to pay royalty to the Lessor; and if the Lessee desires to leave a
barrier of coal exceeding fifty (50) feet in width in any seam along any
boundary and exceeding the barrier agreed to by the Lessor or determined by
arbitration, then the Lessee may leave such excess barrier but, to the extent of
the excess, the Lessee shall pay the Lessor the royalty thereon. This paragraph
shall not

                                     -48-
<PAGE>
 
apply to that part of the Eagle seam as to which the maintenance or statutory
barriers has been waived in Section 1 of Article VII hereof.

          At the written request of the Lessor, the Lessee will leave barriers
of additional width along such boundary lines of the leased premises in
locations at which the Lessor is of opinion that any such extra barrier is
necessary to protect the property of the Lessor; and the Lessee shall not be
required to pay for any coal left as such barrier at the written request of the
Lessor.

     6.   The Lessee shall so conduct its operations hereunder as not to violate
any rights of lateral or subjacent support, or other rights, not belonging to
any person, firm, or corporation, other than the Lessor or those claiming an
estate hereafter granted by Lessor, who may own the surface of or any other
interest in any part of the leased premises, or who may own adjoining lands or
be a lessee of adjoining lands for coal mining or other purposes; and if there
shall arise any question of damage to any such person, firm, or corporation, or
to any highway or railroad on the premises entitled to any such support, or on
adjoining lands, or to anyone traveling thereon, caused by operations of Lessee,
the Lessee shall end does hereby agree to indemnify and save harmless the Lessor
against all claims and actions for such damages and to assume all responsibility
without claim upon the Lessor except for cooperation in defense of all mining
rights covered by its titles, Lessee bearing all cost and expenses, legal and
otherwise, connected therewith.

     7.   The Lessee shall at all times have employed a competent and
experienced mining engineer, and such engineer shall prepare end keep up to date
a map, or keep up to date a map heretofore prepared, herein called a "surface
map", showing accurately and com-

                                     -49-
<PAGE>
 
pletely the boundaries of the leased premises, the locations of all railroad
tracks, rights of way, roads, power and pipe lines and similar installations and
buildings and improvements on the leased premises. The Lessee shall furnish the
Lessor annually a copy of such surface map upon a scale of 400 feet to the inch,
and during the year ensuing the last furnishing of a copy of such map, shall
furnish the Lessor, in writing, information of any material changes in the
surface map a copy of which was last furnished. Such engineer shall also prepare
and keep up to date a map, or keep up to date a map heretofore prepared, herein
called a "mine map" upon a scale of 200 feet to the inch, for each and every
seam or vein of coal on the leased premises being mined by the Lessee, and such
mine maps shall show the boundaries of the leased premises and all entries,
rooms, working places, shafts, drill holes, the heights of coal, rolls and
faults, prospective openings and operations, and such other information as may
be necessary for the safe and proper conduct of the Lessee's mining operations
hereunder, and such other information as may reasonably be required by Lessor.
The Lessee shall furnish the Lessor a copy of each such mine map complete upon a
scale of 200 feet to the inch, and upon request of the Lessor, not more
frequently than annually, shall furnish the Lessor a such copy of any such mine
map complete and brought up to the date of such request, and each and every six
months, without request, the Lessee shall furnish to the Lessor "take-up maps",
being sections of such mine maps, showing all of the Lessee's coal mining
operations and production for the six months' period immediately ensuing the
date of the respective mine maps or "take-up maps" last furnished. All of such
maps, surface and mine, shall at all reasonable times be subject to inspection
by the Lessor by any qualified and authorized agent.

     8.   In its mining operations, the Lessee shall be required to provide
support for unmined overlying seams of coal only as follows:

                                      -50-
<PAGE>
 
     In mining the Eagle or No. 2 Gas seam, the lessee shall not be required to
leave any coal to support any overlying seams of coal.

     In mining the Cedar Grove or Island Creek seam, except as otherwise herein
provided, support for all of the overlying areas of mineable and marketable coal
of the Chilton seam shall be left until such time as the overlying areas of
mineable and marketable coal of the Chilton seam are severally and successively
mined and removed.

     The Lessee, in mining the Cedar Grove or Island Creek seam, need not leave
coal to support the four areas of the Chilton seam surrendered by the Lessee to
the Lessor by Agreement dated December 30, 1941, and shown on the Chilton seam
map as Parcels A, B, C, and D , or the other four areas paid for and shown on
said Map as Parcels E, F, G, and H.

     As lessee's mining operations in the Cedar Grove or Island Creek seam and
in the Chilton seam proceed, the Lessor and the Lessee will endeavor to agree in
respect of any other areas of the Chilton seam, if there be any such areas, from
which the coal has not been mined and in which the coal is not mineable and
marketable, and to that end may prospect the coal in the Chilton seam as is
hereinafter provided. In respect of any such other areas of the Chilton seam as
the Lessor and the Lessee agree that the Chilton seam does not contain mineable
and marketable coal, the Lessee may mine the Cedar Grove or Island Creek seam
without providing support for the Chilton seam.

     If there are areas of the Chilton seam which, while not mineable and
marketable at the time reached by the Lessee's operations in due course, the
Lessor believes may become mineable

                                     -51-
<PAGE>
 
and marketable in the future, the Lessor may request the Lessee to leave Cedar
Grove or Island Creek coal to support the overlying Chilton seam in the area.
Upon such request of the Lessor, the Lessee shall, if Lessee agrees to Lessor's
request, leave such support of such areas of the Chilton seam; and if and when
the Lessee shall leave any Cedar Grove or Island Creek coal to support the
Chilton seam at the request of the Lessor, the Lessee shall not be liable to the
Lessor for royalty upon such coal of the Cedar Grove or Island Creek seam as may
be left to support the Chilton seam, or any part thereof. However, if the Lessee
shall not agree to the request of the Lessor that coal of the Cedar Grove or
Island Creek seam shall be left to support coal in the Chilton seam, then there
shall be submitted to arbitration the question of whether, taking into account
other developed areas of the Island Creek seam on the leased premises available
for mining by the Lessee and Lessee's market for Island Creek coal, the prospect
that the overlying area of Chilton coal may become mineable and marketable at
some future time economically justifies the leaving of mineable and marketable
coal in the Cedar Grove or Island Creek seam to support the overlying seam of
Chilton coal which is then not mineable and marketable. If the arbitrators
decide such issue in favor of Lessee, then the Lessee may mine and remove the
Cedar Grove or Island Creek coal without leaving support for the overlying
Chilton coal. If the arbitrators decide such issue in favor of Lessor, then the
Lessee shall leave such support and shall not be required to pay the Lessor for
the coal left in place to provide the same.

     If the Lessee leaves coal of the Cedar Grove or Island Creek seam to
support coal of the overlying Chilton seam which is not mineable and marketable
when first reached by the Lessee in the normal course of its mining operations
in the Chilton seam, whether such coal in the Cedar Grove or Island Creek seam
be left at the request of the Lessor and agreement thereto by the Lessee or be
left in compliance

                                      -52-
<PAGE>
 
with a decision of arbitrators, and thereafter, by reason of developments in
mining methods and machinery and other applicable factors, such Chilton seam
coal becomes mineable and marketable, as defined in this lease, prior to the
termination of this lease, then the obligation of the Lessee to mine and remove
the coal from such area of the Chilton seam and the coal from the Cedar Grove or
Island Creek seam which was left to support the Chilton seam shall be determined
by the standards provided by Section 4 of this Article V relating to coal not
mineable and marketable when first reached and to the mining of pillars left at
the request of the Lessor, and the Lessee shall account to the Lessor for the
coal mined at the royalty rates applicable at the time of mining, taking credit
for the full amount, if any, theretofore paid by the Lessee for coal in such
seam or area not mined at the time of payment and pay the Lessor such royalties
after the payments for the coal not mined at the time of payment shall have been
fully recouped.

     In mining the Chilton seam, the Lessee shall not be required to leave any
coal to support any overlying seam.

     The Lessee shall not be required to leave any coal in any seam to support
the No. 5 Block seam, but, in respect of the seams between the Chilton and the
No. 5 Block seams, the Lessee's mining operations shall be so conducted as to
protect unmined areas of the mineable and marketable coal of overlying seams
other than the No. 5 Block seam in like manner as, and to the extent as, is
provided in respect of the protection of the Chilton seam in the mining of the
Cedar Grove or Island Creek seam.

     If, by methods of prospecting for coal other than by core drilling, the
Lessor and the Lessee shall be unable to determine and agree upon the areas, if
any, of the Chilton seam for which sup-

                                     -53-
<PAGE>
 
port by the Cedar Grove or Island Creek seam is to be provided in accordance
with the provisions hereof, then whenever it becomes material to determine
whether any such support for the Chilton seam or any area thereof is proper, the
Lessor and the Lessee, at their joint and equal expense, will do, or cause to be
done, such prospecting by core drilling, including such analyses as constitute
generally accepted methods of coal seam evaluation and such analyses of coal
cores, as reasonably may be required to produce information upon which a
determination may be made.

     In like manner, whenever it becomes material to determine which seams or
areas of seams of coal, if any, between the Chilton seam and the No.5 Block seam
contain mineable and marketable coal and whether any such seams or areas of
seams require support by or from an underlying seam or underlying seams (other
than the Chilton seam in the mining of which the Lessee is not required to leave
support for any overlying seam), if the Lessor and the Lessee shall not be
satisfied by information developed by methods of prospecting for coal other than
by core drilling, the Lessor and the Lessee, at their joint and equal expense,
will do, or cause to be done, such prospecting by core drilling, including such
analyses as constitute generally accepted methods of coal seam evaluation and
such analyses of coal cores, as reasonably may be required to produce
information upon which the determination of all such questions in respect of any
and all seams of coal between the Chilton and the No.5 Block seams may be made.

     If the Lessor and the Lessee shall be unable to agree upon the need, the
manner, or extent of any such core drilling, including such analyses as
constitute generally accepted methods of coal seam evaluation and such analyses
of coal cores, to be done at their joint expense, or the results of prospecting,
including such core drilling

                                     -54-
<PAGE>
 
as may have been done, then either party, at its own immediate expense, may do
or cause to be done such core drilling or such further core drilling as it may
consider to be reasonably necessary to produce information upon which to
determine whether support of an overlying seam is required under any of the
provisions of this lease; and if, after such core drilling or further core
drilling be done by one of the parties, the other party declines to reimburse
the party causing the core drilling to be done one-half of the expense thereof,
then the party causing the core drilling to be done may submit to arbitration
the responsibility of the other party for one-half of the expense thereof, and
for so much of said core drilling as the arbitrators decide to have been
reasonably necessary to obtain such information, the other party shall reimburse
the party causing the drilling to be done one-half of the cost thereof; or the
party desiring core drilling or further core drilling, as the case may be, may
submit to arbitration the need therefor, and such core drilling or further core
drilling as the arbitrators decide to be proper to be done to obtain such
information, shall be done at the joint and equal expense of the parties.

     9.   In any case where it becomes material to determine in advance of
mining whether any seam of coal or area thereof on the leased premises contains
mineable and marketable coal, the prospecting procedures set out in Section 8 of
this Article V shall be followed.

     10.  If the Lessor and the Lessee disagree in respect of any matter arising
under this Article V hereof, whether or not arbitration in respect thereof is
specially mentioned in connection therewith, the disagreement between the Lessor
and the Lessee shall be submitted to arbitration in the manner and with the
effect provided for by Article XVI hereof.

                                      -55-
<PAGE>
 
                                      VI.

            RENTAL, ROYALTIES, AND WHEELAGE AND PROCESSING PAYMENTS
            -------------------------------------------------------

     l.   The Lessee covenants to pay to the Lessor as rent, without demand, at
the Lessor's offices in Huntington, West Virginia, a base tonnage royalty of
thirteen cents (l3c) for each and every net ton of two thousand pounds of clean
coal mined from any seam of coal on the leased premises, other than the Eagle or
No.2 Gas seam, by underground mining methods, and a base tonnage royalty of
fifteen cents (l5c) for each and every net ton of two thousand pounds of clean
coal mined from the Eagle or No.2 Gas seam on the leased premises by underground
mining methods, and twenty-five cents (25c) per such ton of clean coal mined by
strip, auger, or comparable outside mining methods. If and when the average
selling price at the Lessee's loading plants for coal mined from the leased
premises by the Lessee under this Deed of Lease and Agreement shall exceed Five
Dollars and Fifty Cents ($5.50) per net ton of clean coal (meaning the selling
prices by the Lessee before deducting therefrom any selling expense or agents',
brokers', or middlemen's commissions or discounts, or other compensation;
provided that discounts to wholesalers, brokers, or middlemen who place the coal
on their docks or in their yards for re-sale may be deducted; and provided
further that if any coal produced hereunder shall be sold by Lessee to a buyer
who or which is controlled by the Lessee, or in which the Lessee owns as much as
fifty per cent (50%) of the capital stock or invested shares or which is under
common control with the Lessee by reason of ownership by the same person or
persons of as much as or more than one-half (1/2) of the voting stock of the
Lessee and such buyer, and the selling price is less than the fair market value
thereof at the Lessee's loading point at the time of shipment, then the selling
price for the purpose of computing the percentage of royalty thereon shall, at
the Lessor's

                                      -56-
<PAGE>
 
option, be such fair market value thereof), then, in addition to such base
tonnage royalties, the Lessee will pay to the Lessor an additional tonnage
royalty equal to and in the amount of three per cent (3%) of the average selling
price by the Lessee over and above Five Dollars and Fifty Cents ($5.50) per net
ton of clean coal. The Lessor will accept as such average selling price by the
Lessee, such average price as shall be certified by a certified public
accountant selected and paid by the Lessee and acceptable to the Lessor; and the
Lessor shall not be entitled to inspect or audit the Lessee's contracts and
records relating to the sale of the Lessee's coal except in case of litigation
under usual court process. If, pursuant to any provision of this Deed of Lease
and Agreement, the Lessee is required to pay the Lessor for any coal not mined
by the Lessee payment shall be made upon the basis of the tonnage royalty rate
applicable at the time the obligation to pay for such unmined coal arises,
whether such tonnage royalty rate be a base rate as above provided or a base
rate plus three per cent (3%) of the excess of the average selling price by the
Lessee, for coal mined from the leased premises over and above Five Dollars and
Fifty Cents ($5.50) per net ton as aforesaid. Such tonnage royalty shall be paid
on or before the 25th day of each month for all coal mined from the leased
premises during the preceding calendar month, except that payment for coal mined
and stored on the premises may be made at the time as hereinafter provided.
"Clean coal" shall mean the coal loaded into railroad cars or other facilities
for shipment to market and coal used or coked by the Lessee on the premises and
coal sold by the Lessee to employees. A ton of coke sold and shipped, used by
the Lessee, or cold by the Lessee to employees shall be counted as one and one-
half (1-1/2) tons of coal; provided, however, that, if either the Lessor or the
Lessee shall prefer, the coal shall be "weighed or otherwise measured before
coking,

                                     -57-
<PAGE>
 
then the tonnage royalty on coal coked shall be determined by the weight or
measure of the coal before coking. For the purpose of computing the percentage
royalty hereinabove provided, coal produced hereunder by the Lessee and used by
the Lessee on or off the leased premises, or shipped from the leased premises
without being sold, shall be accounted for as having been sold by the Lessee at
the fair market value thereof at the time of use on the leased premises or of
shipment therefrom or from Lessee's processing plant.

     2.   The Lessee further covenants that on or before the 2Oth day of each
calendar month it will furnish to the Lessor a report showing the total quantity
of clean coal taken from the demised premises during the preceding calendar
month, using the weights furnished by the company over whose railroad the coal
is shipped, for all coal so taken and shipped by rail. The quantity of coal
taken hereunder and made into coke or other products of coal upon the premises
shall be determined as hereinabove provided, and all coal used by the lessee in
the operation of its mines and in its operations incidental thereto, and all
coal sold by the Lessee to its employees, shall be ascertained in a reasonably
accurate manner. As a part of such reports, the Lessee will also show the
quantity of such coal brought by the Lessee on the leased premises from other
lands operated by the Lessee in connection therewith and the quantities of such
coal from such other lands commingled with coal produced by the Lessee from the
leased premises.

     3.   It is fully understood and agreed by and between the Lessor and the
Lessee that the Lessee may commingle with coal produced from the leased premises
coal produced by the Lessee from other properties; and the Lessee shall keep
clear and accurate records of the coal mined from the leased premises and of the
coal

                                      -58-
<PAGE>
 
mined from other properties and commingled with the coal mined from the leased
premises in such manner that the quantity of clean coal mined from the leased
premises and the selling price thereof (for examination only by a certified
public accountant as provided by Section 1 of this Article VI) may be.
ascertained at all times, notwithstanding the commingling of such coal with coal
mined from other properties. For the purpose of computing royalty based on
selling price, the price per ton of coal mined hereunder and commingled with
coal mined from other properties shall be the selling price per ton of the
commingled coal.

     4.   The Lessee shall pay to the Lessor as a minimum annual rental for
coal mined on the leased premises the sum of $33,791.00 for each calendar year
until such time as such annual rental shall cease as is hereinafter provided.
Actual tonnage royalties paid by the Lessee to the Lessor upon coal mined by the
Lessee from the leased premises and payments made by the Lessee to the Lessor,
pursuant to the provisions hereof, for coal upon the leased premises not mined
by the Lessee at the time of such payments, shall be applied as a credit upon or
against such minimum annual rental, but payments made by the Lessee to the
Lessor in respect of coal mined by the Lessee from lands other than the leased
premises shall not be credited against such minimum annual rental.

          If the tonnage royalties paid as hereinabove provided in any one
calendar year do not amount to as much as such minimum annual rental, then the
Lessee shall have the privilege of mining during the next two succeeding years,
but not thereafter, free from tonnage royalty, a sufficient amount of coal at
the royalties thereon herein provided above the amount necessary to produce the
minimum annual rental for such succeeding years to reimburse the Lessee for the
deficiency during the next preceding two years; but no payment

                                     -59-
<PAGE>
 
of tonnage royalties in excess of the minimum annual rental for any one year
shall be credited against a deficiency occurring in any subsequent year.

          Payment of the amount necessary to complete the minimum annual rental
for any one year shall be made on or before twenty-five (25) days after the end
of the year.

          Provided, however, that in the event of unavoidable delay in operation
due to strikes of Lessee's employees, accidents, inadequate car supply, or other
causes not within the control of the Lessee, the Lessee shall be released from
the payment of an equitable proportion of the minimum annual rental. Lessee
shall not be entitled to release of any portion of the minimum annual rental for
strikes of its employees lasting thirty (30) days or less; but for strikes of
its employees lasting more than thirty (30) days and causing the complete
shutdown of its operations, the Lessee shall be entitled to a reduction equal to
one-twelfth (1/12) of the minimum annul rental for that year for every thirty
(30) days, and pro rata any fraction thereof, of such strike after the
expiration of the first thirty (30) days thereof.  The Lessee shall not be
entitled to any releases from more than twenty-five per cent (25%) of said
minimum annual rental in any one year because of delay in operation due to
inadequate car supply, however caused. As a condition to such release of minimum
annual rental, the Lessee shall make all reasonable and proper efforts and
demands to procure the necessary transportation to convey from the leased
premises and to market sufficient coal to pay at least the said minimum annual
rental.  Lack of market or low coal prices shall not be considered a cause not
within the control of the Lessee so far as the minimum annual rental is
concerned.  In no event shall the Lessee be released in any one year for more
than fifty per cent (50%) of said minimum annual rental.

                                     -60-
<PAGE>
 
     5.   Whenever the Lessee's mining operations shall have proceeded to the
point of exhaustion of the coal on the leased premises at which the quantity of
the mineable and marketable coal remaining unmined upon the leased premises is
such that the then rate of mining in keeping with good mining practices is
insufficient to produce in any year a total tonnage royalty equal to the stated
minimum annual rental, then at that time. such minimum annual rental shall
cease, and the Lessee shall be required to pay only the tonnage royalty on such
coal as it may thereafter mine and ship, sell or use.

          If the Lessor and the Lessee shall be unable to agree upon the time at
which such minimum annual rental shall cease, the matter in difference shall be
submitted to and determined by arbitration in the manner and with effect as
provided by Article XVI hereof.

     6.   For the right and privilege of transporting coal and refuse produced
by the Lessee from lands other than the leased premises, the transportation of
equipment, supplies, and persons to and from properties operated by the Lessee
in conjunction with the leased premises, and cleaning, drying, processing,
storing, loading, and shipping on and from the leased premises coal mined by the
Lessee from other properties, and of disposing of refuse from such other
properties on lands of the Lessor, and for making all such uses of lands of the
Lessor in connection with the Lessee's operations of other lands as provided by
Section 6 of Article IV of this Deed of Lease and Agreement, and whether or not
specifically mentioned in said section or in this section, any and all uses of
every kind and character of the Lessor' s lands in conjunction with the Lessee's
mining and incidental operations on other lands operated in connection

                                     -61-
<PAGE>
 
with the leased premises, the Lessee shall make to the Lessor payment for any
and all such uses and purposes, sometimes herein called "wheelage and processing
charges", at the respective rates per ton of clean coal:

          Three Cents (3c) per gross ton of all
          clean coal mined from the Lawson lands;

          Ten Cents (10c) per net ton or clean
          No.5 Block coal mined from properties
          other than the leased premises and the
          Lawson lands; and

          Five Cents (5c) per net ton of clean coal 
          for any other coal brought on the Lessor's
          lands from any other property or properties 
          operated by the Lessee.


     7.   In the event the Lessee shall store on the leased premises any coal
mined from the leased premises or mined by the Lessee from other properties,
instead of paying the tonnage royalties on coal mined from the leased premises
at the time the same is mined, or the wheelage and processing charges on coal
mined from other properties at the time or the bringing of such coal on to the
leased premises, the Lessee may pay therefor when such stored coal is shipped or
used, the tonnage royalty rate to be the tonnage royalty rate applicable at the
time the coal is mined and stored; but, in any event, such tonnage royalties and
wheelage and processing charges shall be paid within one (1) year after the time
when such payments would have been made had such coal not been stored. When coal
is stored, it shall be carefully measured in a reasonably accurate manner, and
the tonnage royalties and the wheelage and processing charges shall be paid upon
the basis of such measurement or upon the tonnage basis when shipped or used,
whichever shall be the greater. And if such royalties and charges for such coal
be paid prior to the time at which such coal is shipped or used, and when such
coal is shipped or used it appears that the payment upon the basis of
measurement is less than the payment which would have been due upon the basis

                                     -62-
<PAGE>
 
of the tonnage shipped or used, the Lessee shall then pay to the Lessor the
difference between the amount paid upon the basis or measurement and the amount
payable upon the basis of tonnage shipped or used. In any event, if and when the
Lessee shall store coal, the Lessee shall be liable for the tonnage royalties
and wheelage and processing charges on all coal which is lost through fire or
which is washed away.

     8.   Unless otherwise expressly required by other provisions of this lease,
the Lessee shall not be required to pay for any coal left upon the leased
premises for the reason that it is not mineable and marketable at the time it is
reached in the course of the Lessee' s mining operations and which does not
during the life of this lease become mineable and marketable as elsewhere in
this Deed of Lease and Agreement is provided, or for any mineable and marketable
coal which is required by law to be left in place unmined, which is left in
place unmined at the request of the Lessor, which is left in place for subjacent
support where such subjacent support is required, or which is required to be
left in place and unmined for any other lawful and proper purpose, including the
maintenance of safeways.

     9.   If at any time hereafter the Lessee shall pay for any coal not mined
from a particular area of any seam, and Lessee shall thereafter mine such coal,
the Lessee shall account for royalties on the coal so mined at the rates and
amounts in effect at time of mining but shall be entitled to credit on such
royalties the total sent of royalties previously paid on the coal in such area
until such amount is so recouped; and royalties on coal mined from such area in
excess of such credit shall be paid by the Lessee to Lessor. Payments for coal
not mined may be credited upon minimum annual rental for the year in which paid
but shall not be credited upon the

                                     -63-
<PAGE>
 
minimum annul rental for the year or years in which such coal thereafter may be
mined in whole or in part.

     10.  The Lessee shall keep books of account of the mining, using, and
shipping of coal mined from the leased premises hereunder, and of all coal mined
by the Lessee from other properties and brought on the leased premises for any
purposes as provided by this Deed of Lease and Agreement, and said books shall
be open at all reasonable times for inspection by the Lessor, its agents, and
attorneys and other persons in its behalf, for the purpose of verifying the
reports and statements rendered by the Lessee to the Lessor under the provisions
hereof or for obtaining information as to the mining, using, and shipping of any
of such coal during any such period.

     11.  If at any time the Lessor and the Lessee shall be unable to agree in
respect of the minimum annual rental, tonnage royalties, or wheelage and
processing charges to be paid and made by the Lessee to the Lessor, the matter
in dispute shall be submitted to arbitration in the manner provided by Article
XVI hereof.


                                     VII.

                                HINCHMAN HOLLOW
                                ---------------
 
     1.   Amherst owns a tract of land adjoining the leased premises on the
southern boundary thereof and lying on the waters of Hinchman Hollow Creek
between said boundary and Buffalo Creek and beyond. The Eagle, sometimes called
the No.2 Gas, seam of coal on the leased premises lies below drainage but
outcrops on said tract of land owned by Amherst on Hinchman Hollow.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Deed of Lease and Agreement
contained, Amherst shall have the right and privilege of mining

                                     -64-
<PAGE>
 
said Eagle seam of coal and any other seam of coal on and in Amherst's said
lands on Hinchman Hollow Creek and on and in the leased premises without regard
to said boundary, including the right to resolve all of the coal in any seam
without leaving any statutory boundary pillar on either side of the boundary
line, and including the right to remove and transport coal mined from said Eagle
and any other seam in the leased premises by way of said Hinchman Hollow and to
move therein and therefrom equipment and supplies and personnel.


          Amherst shall have the right to remove coal from the Eagle seam and
any other seam on the leased premises by way of said Hinchman Hollow Creek and
to process and load the same at a point or points off the leased premises, in
which event Amherst shall cause the same to be weighed or measured in a
reasonably accurate manner; and Dingess-Rum shall have access to the plant or
plants at which such coal is weighed or otherwise measured and processed and the
right to inspect and check the facilities by which the coal is processed and
measured.

     2.   Amherst hereby grants to Dingess-Rum, its successors and assigns, a
permanent surface easement for the maintenance of a thirty (30) foot private
roadway for transporting persons and materials over Amherst' s lands on Hinchman
Hollow from the southeasterly boundary line of the leased premises to the public
highway along Buffalo Creek, to provide access to and from the lands of Dingess-
Rum adjoining said lands of Amherst from and to the public highway along Buffalo
Creek. The approximate location of said surface easement is shown on a map or
plat attached hereto and made a part hereof bearing the legend, "Map Showing
Hinchman Hollow Easements Referred To In Agreement Between Dingess Rum Coal
Company And Amherst Coal Company Dated June 1, 1962". If, when said surface

                                     -65-
<PAGE>
 
easement is definitely located, it becomes necessary to move any of Amherst's
houses, Dingess-Rum, at its own expense, will relocate such houses on Amherst's
land if such be practicable; and if relocation be not practicable and it be
necessary to raze any of said houses, then Dingess-Rum will pay Amherst the
reasonable value thereof. Dingess-Rum may install and maintain on said easement,
but within such 30-foot roadway, telephone, telegraph, electric power lines and
pipe lines; and, upon the same terms and conditions as Dingess-Rum may use the
Hinchman Hollow Outlet Easements for the movement of coal as hereinafter
provided, Dingess-Rum may use this roadway as an outlet or a part of an outlet
for the movement of coal.

    Amherst and its grantees, assigns, and licensees, shall have the right to
use said roadway along with Dingess-Rum and to install and maintain on said
easement telephone, telegraph, electric power lines and pipe lines, and to grant
to other persons, firms, and corporations easements over and under and across
said roadway, but such use and easements shall not unduly interfere with the use
thereof by Dingess-Rum and its grantees, assignees, and licensees. In the event
that Amherst shall exercise such right to use such roadway as aforesaid, it
shall bear a reasonable portion of the cost of the construction and maintenance
thereof. If at any time hereafter it should become necessary to the reasonable
utilization of Amherst's property and its coal mining operations on the leased
premises that Amherst occupy said roadway to the exclusion of Dingess-Rum, then
Amherst, at its own expense, shall relocate and build and construct a comparable
roadway in another location equally convenient for use by Dingess-Rum.

                                      -66-
<PAGE>
 
     3.   Amherst hereby grants to Dingess-Rum, its successors and assigns, as
an outlet for the movement of coal, the following easements (sometimes herein
called "Hinchman Hollow Outlet Easements") in, over, and through Amherst's said
lands on and in the vicinity of Hinchman Hollow, such easements or outlets to be
used only at the time, for the term, and for the considerations, all as is
hereinafter set forth.

          (a)  An easement for the movement of coal and for the movement of
machinery, equipment, supplies, and personnel, underground from the outcrop of
the Eagle seam on Amherst's said land to the boundary line between the lands of
Amherst and Dingess-Rum; and this easement shall include the support and
protection of such haulage and passageways by the preservation of such pillars
and barriers of coal as they shall be established and maintained by Amherst in
its own mining operations as provided by Section 1 of this Article VII;
provided, however, that such support and protection shall be provided only if
and when Amherst be so requested by Dingess-Rum as is hereinafter provided. The
location and area at and within which this easement may be used and occupied is
shown as Parcel A on the map or plat hereinbefore referred to as "Hinchman
Hollow Easements", hereto attached and made a part hereof. To preserve to 
Dingess-Rum the availability of the easement on Parcel A as shown on said map
and the necessary protection and support therefor, Amherst will not mine or
remove any coal from the Eagle seam, other than such as has heretofore been
mined and removed, from Parcel A, until Amherst shall have completed its mining
operations in that part of the Eagle seam on the leased premises which is
mineable and removable through Hinchman Hollow, and until Dingess-Rum has
indicated to Amherst that Dingess-Rum does not desire that such easement be
longer protected. When Amherst is of the opinion that its mining of such part of
the Eagle seam on

                                      -67-
<PAGE>
 
the leased premises is within one (1) year of completion, Amherst shall so
notify Dingess-Rum in writing; and if, within sixty (60) days after the date on
which Amherst has given Dingess-Rum such notice, Dingess-Rum shall not have
requested in writing that Amherst protect such easement, Amherst shall not be
obligated further to protect such easement and may mine and remove all of the
coal from said Parcel A; provided, however, that Amherst may at any time mine
and remove such coal from the Eagle seam on said Parcel A as is reasonably
necessary incidental to Amherst's improvement of its haulageways from the
outcrop of the Eagle seam on Amherst's land to and through the property line
between the lands of the parties hereto and into the Eagle seam on the leased
premises. Before making any such improvement of such haulageways, Amherst shall
present the plan therefor to Dingess-Rum, and will not make such improvements
necessitating the mining and removal of coal incidental thereto until the plans
therefor are approved by Dingess-Rum. Dingess-Rum will not unreasonably withhold
approval of such plans as may be presented by Amherst; and if the parties are
unable to agree in respect thereof, the matter in difference shall be submitted
to and determined by arbitration in the manner and with the effect as is
provided by Article XVI hereof.

          (b)  A surface easement over Parcel A for the movement thereover of
coal from any seam overlying the Eagle seam which Dingess-Rum may desire to move
over the Hinchman Hollow Outlet Easements and for the movement thereover of
persons and materials.

          (c)  A surface easement for the installation, maintenance, and
operation, for all proper purposes incident to the mining of coal, of haulage
facilities on and over Parcel B as shown on said map, and for the installation
and operation on Parcel B of a tipple

                                      -68-
<PAGE>
 
and conveyor or comparable facilities, and including facilities for cleaning,
drying, and otherwise preparing coal and for the disposal of mine rock and
refuse, loading facilities, railroad tracks, and other facilities incidental to
the establishment, operation, and maintenance of such facilities. Mine rock and
refuse may be moved over Parcel A and Parcel B and over the roadway provided for
by Section 2 of this Article VII, but no mine rock or refuse shall be piled or
dumped on any of Amherst's lands.

               For so long as this lease shall continue in force and effect,
Dingess-Rum shall not use or occupy said Hinchman Hollow Outlet Easements (as
set forth in this Section 3 of this Article VII) or any of them; and whether or
not Dingess-Rum shall use or occupy said Hinchman Hollow Outlet Easements or any
of them, such Hinchman Hollow Outlet Easements and all use of them shall
terminate and end, and Dingess-Rum shall have no right to use or occupy the same
or any of them after the period of forty (40) years next immediately following
the date on which this lease ceases to be in force and effect.

               When Dingess-Rum shall use and occupy said parcels of land or any
of them, such use and occupancy by Dingess-Rum shall not be exclusive of any
such rights of use or occupancy by Amherst as shall not unreasonably interfere
with the use and occupancy by Dingess-Rum; and Amherst may grant to other
persons, firms, and corporations rights of way and easements over, through, and
under said Parcels A and B for the construction, maintenance, and removal of
telephone lines, electric power lines and pipe lines, and for any other lawful
purpose or purposes, provided such easements and the use thereof do not unduly
interfere with Dingess-Rum's use and occupancy of said Hinchman Hollow Outlet
Easements, and provided further that no such installations be in or through the
No.2 Gas or Eagle seam

                                      -69-
<PAGE>
 
of coal on said Parcel A. The lands of Amherst on which said Hinchman Hollow
Outlet Easements are located are under lease for the exploration for and
production of oil and gas, and one gas well, now producing, is located on
Parcel B, and said Hinchman Hollow Outlet Easements are granted subject thereto,
but Dingess-Rum may exercise all rights hereby granted to it to the extent that
such rights have been reserved to Amherst.

               Dingess-Rum may use and occupy said easements, without charge to
Dingess-Rum, for the removal of any coal on the leased premises which Amherst
has not mined and removed.

               If any of the Eagle seam of coal on the leased premises is not
mineable and marketable at the time it is first reached by Amherst in its
mining operations, and Dingess-Rum believes that it may be mineable and
marketable either before or after the expiration or termination of this lease,
then Amherst will, at the request of Dingess-Rum, leave upon the leased premises
such access, and in such manner, as is provided in Article V hereof, and Amherst
shall not be required to pay royalty for the coal left for the preservation of
such access at such request of Dingess-Rum. Provided, however, that if the coal
to which access has been preserved as herein provided shall become mineable and
marketable upon and under the terms and conditions set forth by section 4 of
Article V hereof prior to the termination of this lease, Amherst will mine and
remove the same in accordance with said provision, and Amherst shall not be
required to leave coal to further preserve such access unless Dingess-Rum
requests that such access be preserved for use by Dingess-Rum in removing coal
from lands of Dingess-Rum other than the leased premises as is hereinafter
provided. If Dingess-Rum

                                      -70-
<PAGE>
 
requests that such access be left on the leased premises and also requests that
Amherst leave such access over and through the Eagle seam on Amherst's land on
Hinchman Hollow, Amherst will do so, and Dingess-Rum shall, after this lease
shall have ended, have the right to use and occupy the easements granted hereby
for the removal of such coal from the Eagle seam on the leased premises without
charge to Dingess-Rum; except, however, for such coal on Amherst's own land as
is left unmined at the request of Dingess-Rum to provide, preserve, and protect
such easement, Dingess-Rum shall pay Amherst tonnage royalty at the same rate
that Amherst is paying Dingess-Rum for coal mined by underground methods by
Amherst from the Eagle seam of coal on the leased premises; and Dingess-Rum
shall have the right, without further charge, to mine and remove from Amherst's
land the coal for which Dingess-Rum has so paid.

               If, after the expiration or termination of this lease, Dingess-
Rum desires to bring out over Amherst's Hinchman Hollow lands coal from the
Eagle seam on lands of Dingess-Rum other than the leased premises, then, at the
request of Dingess-Rum made a reasonable time prior to the time at which Amherst
would otherwise mine and remove the coal necessary to preserve such access, upon
the same terms and conditions, Amherst will leave such access, and Dingess-Rum
may use and occupy such easements therefor; but, in addition to paying Amherst
for the coal left on Amherst's own land at Dingess-Rum's request to provide
Dingess-Rum such access and outlet, Dingess-Rum shall pay Amherst wheelage and
processing charges at the same rate per ton as is provided to be paid by Amherst
to Dingess-Rum in respect of coal of the Eagle seam from lands other than the
leased premises (and the Lawson lands) under the provisions of Article VI
hereof; and if, after the expiration or termination of this lease,

                                      -71-
<PAGE>
 
Dingess-Rum desires to bring out over Amherst's Hinchman Hollow lands coal from
any other seam or seams from lands of Dingess-Rum other than the leased
premises, Dingess-Rum may use the Hinchman Hollow Outlet Easements thereof or
upon payment of wheelage and processing charges at the same rate as Amherst pays
Dingess-Rum for coal from the same seam.

               In any or all the foregoing circumstances, the obligation of
Amherst to leave protection and support for access entries on either the leased
premises or Amherst's own lands, shall be fully complied with and performed when
Amherst shall have left such barrier pillars and such timber and other supports
as are in place at the time Amherst ceases operations in the area; and Amherst
shall not be obligated to thereafter or otherwise maintain such access. However,
if so requested by Dingess-Rum, Amherst will at Dingess-Rum's cost and expense,
without profit to Amherst and without charge for overhead, do such acts and
things as Dingess-Rum shall direct for the purpose of maintaining and protecting
such access entries and any other access entries and pillars left in place at
request of Dingess-Rum. But Amherst shall not be responsible for the success or
failure of such acts and things in maintaining and protecting such access
entries if Amherst adheres to the directions given by Dingess-Rum. Amherst's
obligation to do such acts and things for Dingess-Rum shall end in respect of
any mine on the leased premises the coal from which is removed by way of said
Hinchman Hollow Creek as is provided by this Article VII when Amherst shall have
completed its operations in such mine, and thereafter, but not before, Dingess-
Rum may maintain and protect such access by the use of its own personnel and
equipment.

               Dingess-Rum shall pay all taxes, governmental levies,
assessments, and charges assessed or imposed upon or in respect of all
buildings, structures, improvements, equipment, and

                                      -72-
<PAGE>
 
all other property placed by Dingess-Rum, or left by Amherst for Dingess-Rum's
use, on Parcels A and B, or either of them, and Upon such coal as may be
produced by Dingess-Rum on said Parcel A; and Amherst, its successors and
assigns, shall pay the taxes on the land included within said Parcels A and B
and on the land occupied by the thirty (30) foot roadway.

               Dingess-Rum shall have the right to remove from the Hinchman
Hollow Outlet Easements any and all buildings, installations, machinery,
equipment, and supplies which Dingess-Rum shall have placed upon said outlet
easements at any time.


                                     VIII.

                                     TAXES
                                     -----

          The Lessee shall, during the term hereof, pay all taxes, governmental
levies, assessments, and charges levied, assessed and/or imposed upon or in
respect of the lands hereby leased, upon the leasehold estate hereby created,
upon the buildings, structures, equipment, and other property erected, placed,
kept, or used on said land by the Lessee, upon the coal mined and coke or other
commodity manufactured or produced on said land, and/or upon any trade,
business, or occupation engaged in, conducted, or permitted on said premises by
the Lessee.  All such taxes, governmental levies, assessments, and charges shall
be paid by the Lessee promptly when the same become due and payable, and a
duplicate receipt of payment of property taxes shall be furnished to the Lessor
within ten (10) days after the same is received by Lessee. If the Lessee at any
time believes that any such tax, levy, assessment, or charge is unjust, illegal,
or excessive, it shall have the right, and in the name of the Lessor if
necessary, but only after notice to the Lessor,

                                      -73-
<PAGE>
 
to institute and prosecute such proceedings or take such other steps as it may
be advised, at its own cost and expense, to contest or reduce the same, provided
it act promptly; and it shall not permit a sale or forfeiture of said premises,
of the leasehold estate hereby created, of the improvements and property on said
leasehold, or of any part of said premises, leasehold, improvements, or property
on account of its failure to pay such tax, levy, assessment, and/or charge. In
the event the Lessee does not pay any such tax, levy, assessment, or charge
promptly when the same becomes due and payable, or when, if the Lessee takes
steps to contest or reduce the same, the final determination is made, the Lessor
may pay the same, and all amounts so paid by the Lessor shall be repaid to it by
the Lessee forthwith. If the oil and gas, or any other interest, other than coal
areas not leased to the Lessee hereby, in the leased premises shall be
separately assessed, the Lessee shall not be obligated to pay the taxes on any
such interest so separately assessed; or, if, though not separately assessed,
the assessed value of the leased premises shall be increased because of such oil
and gas or other interest, the Lessee, upon payment of the taxes on the leased
premises, shall be reimbursed by or on account of the Lessor for the taxes
attributable to such increase of the assessed value of the leased premises;
provided, however, that the Lessee shall be under no obligation to pay taxes on
any improvements added to the leased premises by the Lessor or by persons other
than the Lessee claiming by, through, or under the Lessor, or with respect to
any coal mined from the leased premises by the Lessor or any person other than
the Lessee claiming by, through, or under the Lessor; provided further, however,
that if mining operations shall be conducted by the Lessor or any lessee or
licensee of the Lessor, other than the Lessee, on the leased premises for the
production of coal not leased hereby to the Lessee, and, as a result thereof,
the

                                      -74-
<PAGE>
 
leased premises, or any of them, shall be increased in valuation for tax
proposes, the Lessee shall be under no obligation to pay such taxes as are
attributable to such increase in valuation. The obligation of the Lessee to pay
such taxes shall include the taxes for the year in which this Deed of Lease and
Agreement is made and for all years prior thereto and subsequent to the year
1936, if any, for which such taxes have not heretofore been paid.


                                      IX.

                         MAINTENANCE, REPAIR, AND USE
                         ----------------------------
                         OF MINING PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
                         -----------------------------

          Lessee covenants that it will at all times during the term of this
lease keep all buildings, tipples, structures, machinery, and equipment, as well
as its workings underground, in good order and repair and will, from time to
time, make such replacements, renewals, and additions as may be reasonably
necessary to enable the Lessee at all times to perform its obligations hereunder
in an economical manner according to the improvements made from time to time in
the art of coal mining and coal preparation. However, the Lessee shall not be
required to maintain and repair buildings, tipples, and structures which are no
longer needed by the Lessee to carry out its obligations under this Lease and
Agreement, and the such as are no longer useful the Lessee may raze and/or
remove. Likewise, the Lessee may raze and/or remove to another location on the
leased premises any building or structure constituting a part of Lessee's
facilities on the leased premises the removal of which is reasonably necessary
to enable the Lessee to locate or relocate other facilities reasonably necessary
or convenient for the Lessee's operations on the leased premises. And the Lessee
shall not be required to keep on the leased premises all machinery or equipment,
buildings, or structures which at any

                                      -75-
<PAGE>
 
time may be used or erected thereon, it being understood that the Lessee may
dispose of any and all machinery and equipment, buildings or structures, and
other facilities which are obsolete or which are no longer needed and useful to
the Lessee in its performance of its obligations hereunder; may dispose of any
and all machinery and equipment which has been replaced by other machinery and
equipment calculated to serve the purpose of such machinery and equipment so
replaced; and the Lessee may, from time to time, remove machinery and equipment
from the leased premises for use, either temporarily or permanently, on other
properties owned or leased by the Lessee; provided, that the Lessee shall at all
times (except for such temporary periods as may be required for replacement in
case of loss or destruction) have and retain on the leased premises all such
tipples, cleaning plants, buildings, structures, and stationary machinery and
equipment, and on the leased premises and other lands operated by the Lessee in
conjunction with the leased premises all such equipment and supplies, including
mobile underground machinery and equipment used by the Lessee in mining coal
from the leased premises and other lands operated by the Lessee in conjunction
with the leased premises, but excluding mobile underground machinery and
equipment used by the Lessee exclusively for the mining of No.5 Block coal from
lands other than the leased premises, as may reasonably be required to mine and
remove from the leased premises and such other lands so operated by the Lessee
in conjunction with the leased premises and to prepare for market by sizing,
washing, and drying on the leased premises not less than three hundred (300)
tons of clean coal per working hour (a working hour as used herein shall mean an
hour of the shift during which coal production workers are considered as
employed, and not an hour of the time when coal production workers are actually
engaged in mining and loading coal); and, provided further that, beginning with
the calendar year 1964, in the operation of the tipples and cleaning plants on
the

                                      -76-
<PAGE>
 
leased premises not less than 60% of the coal supplied to such plants--excluding
No. 5 Block coal from lands other than the leased premises -- shall, in any
calendar year, come from the leased premises and not more than 40% from other
lands operated by the Lessee in conjunction with the leased premises.

          The Lessee has no present intention to raze, remove, or reduce the
capacity of the tipple, cleaning plant, and other facilities operated in
conjunction therewith on Rum Creek, collectively known as the Slagle tipple.
However, in the event of the destruction of said tipple or any major part
thereof by fire or other catastrophe, and as from time to time parts thereof
become unusable because of wear and tear or because outmoded by newer and more
efficient facilities performing the same functions, replacements need be only of
such capacity as the coal reserves remaining on the leased premises and the
general market for coal of the kind and quality on the leased premises make
economic the installation thereof; Provided, however, that until such time as
the mineable and marketable coal remaining unmined on the leased premises is so
limited by exhaustion that it is not practical, by good mining practices, to
mine and remove from the leased premises as much as two hundred (200) tons of
clean coal per working hour, the replacements shall be of a capacity of not less
than three hundred (300) tons per working hour; but the Lessee shall always
maintain on the leased premises such tipple or tipples and such cleaning plant
or plants and such facilities operated in conjunction therewith as to enable
Lessee to fully comply with and perform its obligations under this lease.

          For the purposes hereof coal mined from the leased premises and
processed and shipped by and from a tipple or tipples of Amherst located
elsewhere than upon the leased premises, as provided by Article VII hereof
relating to Hinchman Hollow and as authorized upon a temporary and emergency
basis in section 6 of Article IV,

                                      -77-
<PAGE>
 
shall be taken and considered as coal processed and shipped from facilities
located upon the leased premises, and the mobile machinery and equipment used by
the Lessee in mining such coal shall be included within such machinery and
equipment as is hereinabove provided to be had and maintained by the Lessee upon
the leased premises and other lands operated by the Lessee in conjunction
therewith.

          If, in any calendar year, beginning with the calendar year 1964, less
than 60% of the coal supplied to such tipples and cleaning plants on the leased
premises, excluding the No. 5 Block coal from lands other than the leased
premises but including as coal supplied to such tipples and cleaning plants on
the leased premises the coal from the leased premises brought out of Hinchman
Hollow and processed and shipped by and from tipples and cleaning plants of
Amherst not located on the leased premises, shall have come from the leased
premises, then on or before the 25th day of January of the next ensuing year the
Lessee will pay to the Lessor, in addition to the minimum rent and tonnage
royalty provided to be paid by the Lessee to the Lessor by Article VI hereof, a
sum of money in amount equal to the additional amount of tonnage royalties which
would have been paid to the Lessor by the Lessee had the Lessee mined from the
leased premises such number of tons of clean coal , including the Hinchman
Hollow coal, as would have constituted 60% of such coal, excluding No.5 Block
coal from lands other than the leased premises, supplied to such tipples and
cleaning plants during such calendar year.

          The Lessee further agrees that it will not, in any calendar year,
beginning with the calendar year 1964, mine and remove from the No.5 Block seam
on lands other than the leased premises more than 40% of the total of all coal
mined and removed from the leased

                                      -78-
<PAGE>
 
premises and other lands operated by the Lessee in conjunction therewith and
processed on the leased premises, but including the Hinchman Hollow coal and
including all No. 5 Block coal; and if in any calendar year the Lessee shall
mine and remove from the No.5 Block seam on lands other than the leased premises
more than 40% of such total, then on or before the 25th day of January of the
next ensuing year the Lessee will pay to the Lessor, in addition to the minimum
rent and tonnage royalty provided to be paid by the Lessee to the Lessor by
Article VI hereof and in addition to such payments, if any, as the Lessee is
required to pay to the Lessor by reason of the Lessee's  failure to mine and
remove from the leased premises not less than 60% of the coal supplied to the
tipples and cleaning plants as provided in the next preceding paragraph hereof,
a sum of money in amount equal to the additional amount of tonnage royalties
which would have been paid to the Lessor by the Lessee had the Lessee mined from
the leased premises and other lands operated by the Lessee in conjunction
therewith 60% of such total. The additional amount of tonnage royalties to be
paid to the Lessor by the Lessee as aforesaid shall be the same percentage of
the total deficiency that coal mined from the leased premises bears to the coal
mined from the leased premises and from lands other than the leased premises
operated in conjunction therewith, excluding No.5 Block coal mined from lands
other than the leased premises, during the year for which such deficiency
existed. If in any year any such deficiency in the production of coal from the
leased premises occurs and during such year the Lessee shall have mined from two
or more seams of coal for which the tonnage royalties are at different rates,
the weighted average royalty on the coal mined from the leased premises during
that year shall be the royalty rate by which the deficiency in tonnage shall be
converted into the sum of money to be paid.

                                      -79-
<PAGE>
 
     No such payment for failure to produce from the leased premises 60% of the
coal supplied to such tipples and cleaning plants, including Hinchman Hollow
coal but excluding the No.5 Block coal from lands other than the leased
premises, all as aforesaid, and no such payment for having produced from lands
other than the leased premises No.5 Block coal in excess of 40% of the total of
all coal mined and removed from the leased premises and other lands operated by
the Lessee in conjunction therewith, all as aforesaid, shall be credited to or
against the minimum rent or tonnage royalty provided to be paid by the Lessee to
the Lessor by Article VI hereof for such calendar year. But at any time within
the two calendar years next ensuing the year for which any such payment has been
made, if and when the actual tonnage royalties have been sufficient to pay the
minimum rent or tonnage royalty for the calendar year and the Lessee has mined
free of royalty all coal which it is entitled to mine free of royalty because of
the payment of the minimum rent or tonnage royalty when actual tonnage
royalties for the year were less than the minimum rent or tonnage royalties
provided by Article VI, then to the extent that coal mined from the leased
premises shall exceed 60% of the coal supplied to the tipples and cleaning
plants on the leased premises -- Hinchman Hollow coal being considered as coal
supplied to such tipples and cleaning plants but No.5 Block coal from lands
other than the leased premises being excluded -- during the said two-year
ensuing period any such payment made for that reason, to the amount thereof,
shall be considered as having been an advance payment of tonnage royalty and,
likewise, any such payment made for the reason that during any calendar year the
Lessee shall have mined and removed from lands other than the leased premises
No.5 Block coal in excess of 40% of the total of all coal mined and removed from
the leased premises and other lands operated

                                      -80-
<PAGE>
 
by the Lessee in conjunction therewith, all as hereinabove provided, shall be
considered as having been an advance payment of tonnage royalty; and the Lessee
may mine from the leased premises free of royalty so much coal as at the royalty
rates then in effect would equal the amount of such advance payments for either
or both of such reasons and causes.

     When, in the course of Lessee's mining operations, the mineable and
marketable coal remaining unmined on the leased premises is so limited by
exhaustion that it is not practical, by good mining practices, to mine and
remove from the leased premises as much as two hundred (200) tons of clean coal
per working hour, the Lessee shall be required to have and retain on the leased
premises and other lands operated in connection therewith in the manner above
provided only so much mobile equipment as is reasonably required to produce a
reasonable output of coal in keeping with the amount of mineable and marketable
coal on the leased premises available at the time.

     In the event the Lessor and the Lessee shall be unable to agree on any
matter arising under the provisions of this Article IX, the matter upon which
they fail to agree will be submitted to and determined by arbitration as is
provided in Article XVI hereof.

     Neither Section 13, Article 4, Chapter 36, nor Section 28, Article 6,
chapter 37 of the Code of West Virginia, nor any similar statute or law now in
effect or that may be hereafter in effect, shall be applicable to any of the
rights and obligations of the parties hereto as such rights and obligations are
herein set forth.

                                      -8l-
<PAGE>
 
                                      x.

                          IMPROVEMENTS, MACHINERY, AND
                          ---------------------------
                           EQUIPMENT AT TERMINATION
                           ------------------------

     Upon the termination of this lease otherwise than by forfeiture, and upon
the payment of all sums due the Lessor or payable to others for the benefit of
the Lessor, all machinery, equipment, supplies, tracks, wires, substations,
transformers, generator sets, fans, tipples, washers, driers, tramways, belts,
and all other property placed upon the leased premises by the Lessee and its
predecessors may be removed from the leased premises at any time within six
months after the date of termination; provided, however, that all houses and
other permanent buildings then upon the leased premises and so much of the water
and sewage systems and electrical facilities as serve such houses and permanent
buildings shall remain upon the leased premises and be the property of the
Lessor.

     Notwithstanding the right of the Lessee, otherwise, to remove the aforesaid
property from the leased premises after the date of the termination of this
lease otherwise than by forfeiture, not less than six (6) months prior to the
time when the Lessee contemplates that this lease will be terminated by the
mining of all the mineable and marketable coal hereby leased to the Lessee on
the leased premises or prior to the expiration of the 100 year term hereof,
whichever shall first occur, the Lessee will give notice in writing to the
Lessor of such contemplated or actual termination. Within sixty (60) days after
the Lessee shall have given the Lessor such notice of either such termination,
the Lessor may, in writing, request of the Lessee that all, or any part, of such
property then on the leased premises (but not including houses and other
permanent buildings, water, sewage, and electrical facilities to be left upon

                                      -82-
<PAGE>
 
the leased premises in any event) be appraised by two competent disinterested
mining and mechanical engineers, one of whom shall be chosen by each of the
parties hereto; and if such request be made, then such appraisal shall be made.
If the appraisers so chosen shall be unable to agree, they shall select a third
competent disinterested mining and mechanical engineer as umpire. The basis of
valuation shall be the value which the property would have if removed from the
leased premises to a location twenty-five (25) miles therefrom prior to any re-
erection, re-assembling, or re-installation thereof, less the cost of so
dismantling the improvements, installations, and steel rail tracks as to make
them movable, and less the cost of transporting the same to such new location.
And the value of such property as fixed by the two appraisers, or by one of such
appraisers and the umpire, upon such basis of value shall be the appraised value
of the property. A written report of such appraisal, and a certificate of the
costs and fees incident thereto, signed by said two appraisers if they agree,
and by one of said appraisers and said umpire if the two appraisers do not
agree, shall be promptly returned to each the Lessee and the Lessor; and the
Lessor, at any time within thirty (30) days from the date of said report of
appraisal, shall have the right and privilege of purchasing said property at the
appraised value thereof, with possession to be delivered at the termination of
this lease. The Lessor's  right and privilege of purchasing said property is to
purchase all or so much thereof as it shall specify (but the right of the Lessor
to purchase less than all of such property shall not extend to the taking of
removable parts of any article or installation); and if purchase is made,
payment shall be made at the time possession of the leased premises is delivered
to the Lessor by the Lessee, subject to the right of

                                      -83-
<PAGE>
 
the Lessee within the time hereinabove provided to remove from the leased
premises all such property of the Lessee as is not purchased by the Lessor.

     If the Lessor shall not request such appraisal within sixty (60) days after
the Lessee shall have given the Lessor notice of the contemplated or actual
termination of this lease or shall not have within thirty (30) days from the
date of the report of appraisal given the Lessee notice in writing that the
Lessor is exercising its right to purchase all or so much of such appraised
property as the Lessor shall elect, the Lessee may remove all of said property,
or so much thereof as the Lessor shall not have elected to purchase, from the
leased premises within six (6) months after the date of termination as is
provided by the first paragraph of this Article x.

     If this lease is terminated by forfeiture, then all property of the Lessee
at the time on the premises which was placed thereon by the Lessee or its
predecessors, other than property intended primarily for the personal use of
Lessee's officers, agents, and employees (such as, by way of illustration but
not exclusive of other property for personal use, automobiles, clothes,
bedclothes, tableware, kitchenware, radios, television sets, and property of any
and all kinds then belonging to employees), shall become and be the property of
the Lessor or its successors or assigns, absolutely and without any obligation
of the Lessor to compensate the Lessee therefor.



                                      XI.

                    ASSIGNMENTS, SUBLETTING, AND MORTGAGING
                    ---------------------------------------

     The Lessee agrees that it will not voluntarily assign this leasehold
estate, either in whole or in part, or permit the same to

                                      -84-
<PAGE>
 
be assigned by operation of law, or sublet the leased premises or any part
thereof, or create, suffer, or permit any lien or encumbrance upon its leasehold
estate, or upon any of its rights and privileges hereunder, or give or transfer
possession of the leased premises or any portion thereof to any other person,
firm, or corporation, except as herein provided, without the consent of the
Lessor in writing first had and obtained.


1.   Assignments
     -----------

     But the Lessor covenants that it will give such consent to any such
assignment; provided, that the assignee be of such financial strength and have
such experience in coal mining or in related mining activities as to give
reasonable assurances that the premises leased hereby will continue to be
successfully operated, and such assignee shall enter into an agreement directly
with the Lessor agreeing to be bound by all of the terms and provisions of this
lease to the same extent as if it were the original lessee hereunder; and
provided, further, that the Lessor need not give such consent until the Lessee
shall have first discharged any and all obligations of the Lessee to the Lessor
then outstanding. In the event of any such assignment to which the Lessor shall
give its written consent, the Lessee shall be released from all liability
thereafter accruing to Lessor under this Deed of Lease and Agreement.


2.   Mortgage or Merger
     ------------------

     Lessee shall not be prohibited, without such consent, from executing
mortgages or deeds of trust upon its leasehold estate and upon all rights of
Lessee hereunder, subordinate, however, to all

                                      -85-
<PAGE>
 
the liens, rights, and estates of Lessor, nor from suffering or permitting sale
or foreclosure under such mortgages or deeds of trust, provided that the
purchaser at such sale or foreclosure shall possess the same financial and
experience qualifications required of an assignee as aforesaid, and shall enter
into an agreement directly with the Lessor agreeing to be bound by all of the
terms and provisions of this Deed of Lease and Agreement to the same extent as
if such purchaser were the original lessee hereunder; nor shall Lessee be
prohibited, without such consent, from merging or consolidating with another
corporation by statutory merger or by sale and purchase whereby the continuing
corporation, if it be not the Lessee, acquires all or substantially all of the
Lessee's assets and assumes Lessee's obligations hereunder and if the
continuing corporation be qualified in like manner as is hereinabove provided in
respect of an assignee. In the event of any such merger or consolidation, if the
Lessee be not the continuing corporation, the Lessor will release the Lessee
from all of the Lessee's obligations to the Lessor which are assumed by the
continuing corporation by an agreement in writing directly with the Lessor.


3.   Subletting
     ----------

     The Lessee will not sublet the demised premises or any part thereof or any
of its rights or privileges hereunder without the written consent of the Lessor.
The Lessee shall not be relieved of any of its responsibilities to the Lessor in
respect of the leased premises or any part thereof or any of its rights or
privileges hereunder sublet by the Lessee except to the extent provided by such
consent of Lessor. The leasing by Lessee of houses to Lessee's employees shall
not be considered to be subletting within the meaning of this

                                      -86-
<PAGE>
 
provision. The mining of coal by the Lessee through contractors shall not be
considered to be subletting by the Lessee within the meaning of this provision,
provided any such contractor be bound to mine in like manner as the Lessee is
required to mine hereunder and that, so far as the Lessor's rights and interests
are concerned, the obligations of the Lessee shall not be modified or
diminished.


                                     XII.

                          RIGHTS-OF-WAY FOR RAILROAD
                          --------------------------

     Lessor covenants and agrees that it will join with Lessee, when requested
so to do by Lessee, in conveying to The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, its
successors, or such other railroad as may serve the leased premises or any other
lands which the Lessee may operate for production of coal in connection with the
leased premises, for a nominal consideration, such rights-of-way for such
railroad tracks, sidetracks, tail tracks, switches, and facilities as may be
reasonably required for the service by any such railroad of the leased premises
and other properties operated by the Lessee in connection therewith. Such 
rights-of-way shall be of such estate or interest as the railroad shall require;
provided, however, that the conveyance shall reserve to the Lessor and the
Lessee, as their interests appear, all minerals underlying the surface of the
land to be occupied by the railroad right-of-way and such appropriate under-
ground, surface, and above-ground rights as will not interfere with or
jeopardize the railroad operations. The Lessor shall be a party to all trackage
agreements with any such railroad, and upon the termination of this lease shall
succeed to the Lessee's rights and interests thereunder; but during the
continuance of this lease the Lessor shall have no obligation to any such
railroad company in respect of any such trackage agreement.

                                      -87-
<PAGE>
 
                                     XIII.

                          INSURANCE AND FIRE CONTROL
                          --------------------------

     1.   The Lessee covenants that it will, during the continuance of this
lease, keep the following buildings, structures, and improvements situate upon
the leased premises insured by solvent fire insurance companies qualified to do
business in the State of West Virginia against loss or damage by fire or
lightning to the full extent of the insurable value thereof -- except, however,
that foundations need not be included or insured -- , with provision that
payment for any loss or damage be to and for the benefit of the Lessee and the
Lessor as their interests may appear:

          All outside or above-ground buildings used or useful for
          stores, offices, theaters, dwellings, garages, workshops,
          and used or useful for other purposes incidental to the
          Lessee's coal mining and incidental operations, and the
          fixed or attached contents thereof, excluding, however, any
          such structure having an insurable value of $1,000 or less,
          and the contents thereof.

          All fixed or stationary outside mining, transporting,
          processing, loading, and refuse handling plants and
          equipment (including moving parts thereof), including, but
          not limited to:

          All tipples, headhouses, and raw coal bins;

          All cleaning plants and the appurtenances thereto, including
          the washers, the driers, the screening plants, all conveyor
          galleries and dumps, the coal and refuse silos, and all
          other facilities physically connected with the cleaning
          plants;

          All substations;

          All aerial tramway installations and appurtenant equipment;

          All fan houses and all slope hoists and appurtenances.

                                      -88-
<PAGE>
 
     It is distinctly understood by and between the parties hereto, however,
that there is excluded from the property required to be insured as aforesaid,
all mobile, unattached, or portable machines, mine cars, mine motors, trucks,
automobiles, and other mobile unattached or portable machinery, equipment,
tools, and supplies, and all steel rails.

     However, it is distinctly understood by and between the parties hereto
that, to the extent that any such insurance as is hereby provided to be carried
by the Lessee is not offered by as many as three solvent fire insurance
companies qualified to do business in the State of West Virginia, at rates not
in excess of those approved by the Insurance Commissioner of West Virginia, or
by such public officer or agency as hereafter may be constituted to perform
comparable functions, the Lessee shall be relieved of its obligation to insure.
If, however, the Lessee, though not obligated to do so, does procure insurance
covering said property, or any of it, against such risks, or any of them, from
any insurer, such insurance shall be for the benefit of the Lessee and the
Lessor as their interests may appear.

     In case of loss or damage to property as hereinabove provided, the loss or
damage shall be adjusted by the Lessee; but when the loss or damage is estimated
to be in an amount in excess of $20,000, the Lessee will adjust such loss in
consultation with the Lessor.

     2.   The Lessee covenants that in case of destruction of or damage to any
of such insured property which is necessary to enable the Lessee to perform its
obligations hereunder, it will cause such destroyed or damaged property to be
replaced or repaired;

                                      -89-
<PAGE>
 
and the Lessor covenants that if the Lessee be not in default in the payment of
any money owing by the Lessee to the Lessor and the Lessor has no reasonable
grounds to believe that the Lessee's financial condition is not such as to give
reasonable assurance of the Lessees ability to discharge all of its obligations
and liabilities to the Lessor, upon assurances in writing by the Lessee that the
Lessee will cause such destroyed or damaged property to be replaced or repaired,
the Lessor will promptly endorse or assign over to the Lessee all of the
Lessor's interest in any proceeds of any such insurance. If any such insured
property which is destroyed or damaged is not necessary to enable the Lessee to
perform its obligations hereunder, but the Lessee gives the Lessor assurances
that the Lessee will use the proceeds of such insurance in otherwise improving
the leased premises or the equipment thereon, then upon the same conditions the
Lessor will promptly endorse or assign over to the Lessee all of the Lessor's
interest in any proceeds of such insurance.

          If, in either of the above circumstances, the Lessor has reasonable
grounds to believe that the Lessee's financial condition is not such as to give
reasonable assurance of the Lessee's ability to discharge all of its obligations
and liabilities to the Lessor, then the Lessor may retain with the Lessee joint
control of such proceeds of insurance for application to the replacement or
repair of such property necessary to enable the Lessee to perform its
obligations hereunder which shall have been destroyed or damaged, or for the
application of such proceeds of insurance to otherwise improving the leased
premises or the equipment thereon, as the case may be.

          If the destroyed or damaged property is not necessary to enable the
Lessee to perform its obligations hereunder and there

                                      -90-
<PAGE>
 
be no need for the use of proceeds of insurance to improve the leased premises
or the equipment thereon, then the proceeds of any such insurance shall be
divided between and paid out to the Lessee and the Lessor in equal shares.

     3.   If, at its sole option, the Lessee shall hereafter carry on the
property hereinabove specified, or any part thereof, any insurance coverage
extended beyond fire and lightning, such as, but not limited to, riot and civil
commotion, the Lessor shall be made a co-insured, and in case of destruction of
or damage to any such property so insured, the proceeds of such extended
insurance coverage shall be used or disposed of in like manner as is hereinabove
provided in respect of insurance against loss or damage by fire or lightning. If
the Lessee at its sole option shall at any time carry such extended coverage
insurance, the Lessee may at any time terminate any and all such extended
coverage.

     4.   The Lessee agrees that if at any time or times it shall fail to
procure and keep in force the insurance herein provided for, or to pay the
premiums thereon, the Lessor shall have the right to procure such insurance and
pay the premiums thereon or to pay the premium upon insurance obtained by the
Lessee but not paid for by it, and all amounts so expended by the Lessor shall
be repaid to the Lessor by the Lessee upon demand and shall be taken and treated
as rent; but nothing herein contained shall be construed as imposing any duty
upon the Lessor to obtain or to pay for any such insurance or as making the
Lessor responsible for any loss suffered because of failure to obtain adequate
insurance.

     5.   When the Lessee shall have, from time to time, procured the insurance
herein provided to be procured by the Lessee, the Lessee shall promptly give the
Lessor information of the property insured, either specifically or in general
terms, the risks

                                      -91-
<PAGE>
 
insured against, and the valuation of the property insured, and, if so requested
in writing by the Lessor, copies of the insurance policies; and if the Lessor is
not satisfied that the insurance so procured by the Lessee complies with the
provisions of this article, the Lessor shall promptly give to the Lessee notice
of the respects in which the Lessor believes that such insurance so procured by
the Lessee does not comply with the provisions hereof; and if the Lessor shall
not promptly designate the matters in respect of which the Lessor contends that
the such insurance does not comply with the provisions hereof, the Lessor shall
be considered to have accepted the insurance procured by the Lessee as fully
complying with all of the provisions of this article. If, thereafter, there
shall occur any change of circumstance affecting the compliance of such
insurance with the provisions hereof, Lessor may give Lessee written notice
specifying the changes which Lessor believes to be required for compliance
herewith, and Lessor shall not be considered to have accepted for the future the
sufficiency of the insurance theretofore procured in so far as the
insufficiencies designated by the Lessor are concerned.


     6.   The Lessor may, but shall not be required to, waive any and all
requirements of such fire and lightning insurance, in respect of all or any of
the property hereinabove designated, if at any time the Lessee desires to become
a self-insurer in respect thereof.

     7.   The Lessee agrees that it will install and continuously maintain in
good working order on the leased premises and other premises operated by the
Lessee in connection therewith, such underground fire fighting equipment as the
Lessee reasonably believes to be adequate to control underground mine fires; and
that it will cause reasonably adequate personnel to be trained in the use and
operation of such equipment.

                                      -92-
<PAGE>
 
     8.   If the Lessor and the Lessee are unable to agree in respect of any
question arising under the provisions of this Article XIII, with reference to
the property to be insured, the value there-of, the availability of insurance
therefor, the maintenance of fire fighting equipment, or the training of
personnel, the matters in difference shall be submitted to and determined by
arbitration in the manner and with the effect as is provided by Article XVI
hereof.


                                      XIV.

                         LIENS FOR RENTS AND ROYALTIES
                         -----------------------------   

     All rents and royalties and other payments herein provided to be made by
the Lessee to, or for the benefit of, the Lessor shall be treated and considered
as rent reserved for the leased premises, and the Lessor shall have a first and
prior lien therefor upon the leasehold estate hereby created and upon all
improvements and property of the Lessee thereon (merchandise intended for resale
and coal loaded into railroad cars or trucks excepted), which lien shall
continue in full force, validity, and effect until discharged by payment,
irrespective of when such rents, royalties, or other payments accrued and became
due to be paid, and shall in no respect be limited to such rents, royalties, or
other payments as shall have accrued within one year. Whenever any such rent,
royalty, or other payment shall be due to, the Lessor and shall remain unpaid
for fifteen (15) days after written notice of default given by Lessor to Lessee,
the movable property of the Lessee upon the leased premises may be distrained
and sold to pay the same, irrespective of when such rent, royalty, or other
payment matured and became due to be paid, or, at the election of the Lessor,
said lien, with respect to the leasehold estate and the improvements thereon,
including movable property of the Lessee, may be enforced by suit or other
proceeding in any

                                      -93-
<PAGE>
 
court of competent jurisdiction, without any requirement of delay or notice,
other than legal process, irrespective of when such rent, royalty or other
payment accrued and became due to be paid; and this remedy of the Lessor shall
in no respect be limited to the recovery of such rents, royalties, or other
payments as shall have accrued within one (1) year or by reason of the fact
that any property of the Lessee on the leased premises be subject to any other
lien created after such property has been brought upon the leased premises. At
any sale made under this Article XIV, the Lessor may become the purchaser of the
property sold, free from any claim or claims of the Lessee. Nothing herein
contained shall prevent Lessee, when not in default in the payment of any sums
due to Lessor, from disposing of or removing from the leased premises worn or
obsolete property, or property not needed in the performance of its obligations
hereunder, or from moving from time to time mobile machinery or equipment on and
off the leased premises; provided there always shall be had on the leased
premises and other lands operated by the Lessee in connection therewith
machinery and equipment of the amount and capacity provided for by Article IX
hereof.

     As of the date hereof, all buildings, machinery, and equipment, including
tipple, cleaning plant, steel rails, wiring, and other installations of every
kind and character attached to the soil, and including also, with a few
exceptions or negligible significance, all mobile and portable machinery and
equipment, on the leased premises used or for use by the Lessee in its
operations on the leased premises and on other lands operated in connection
therewith, are owned outright and fully paid for by the Lessee, free of all
liens, claims, and encumbrances in favor of any person, firm, or corporation
other than Lessor. The Lessee has no present plan or program contemplating the
acquisition of any building, machinery, or equipment on any

                                      -94-
<PAGE>
 
other basis, and all such buildings, machinery, and equipment hereafter brought
on the leased premises by the Lessee for use in its operations hereunder, and
which shall be attached to the soil -- and whether or not of the nature of trade
fixtures -- shall be owned outright by the Lessee and free of liens in favor of
third persons; but this provision shall not preclude the Lessee's acquisition
thereof by contracts pursuant to which payment therefor may be extended over a
period of not to exceed five (5) years following the date of acquisition.
However, as renewals, replacements, and additions of and to mobile and portable
machinery and equipment become necessary, the Lessee may acquire, for use on the
leased premises and on other lands operated in connection therewith, mobile and
portable machinery and equipment by conditional sale, lease-purchase, simple
lease, or other contracts relating to payment and title, with regular suppliers
of such mobile and portable machinery and equipment, upon such terms and
conditions as to payment and title as are at the time in common use in the
bituminous coal mining industry. Provided, that all such contracts between the
suppliers of such mobile and portable machinery and equipment and the Lessee
shall specify that if at any time the Lessor shall become entitled to take
possession of the leasehold estate and of the Lessee's property thereon, and
the Lessor does take such possession, the Lessor shall have the right to succeed
to the rights and interests of the Lessee in such contracts and in the property
to which such contracts relate, and, subject to the rights and interests of the
suppliers of such machinery and equipment, the Lessor's lien provided for
hereby shall attach to such machinery and equipment pursuant to the provisions
of the preceding paragraph of this Article XIV.

                                     -95-
<PAGE>
 
                                      XV.

                              FORFEITURE OF LEASE
                              -------------------

     1.   It is covenanted and agreed and made a condition of this lease that
prompt payment or the rent reserved, including therein and as a part thereof
royalties and all sums of money provided to be paid by the Lessee for taxes,
levies, assessments, insurance premiums, and for any other purpose to or for the
benefit of the Lessor, at the time and place and in the manner in this lease
provided, is of the essence of this contract; that

          If any such rent or royalty or other sum of money to be paid to or for
the benefit of Lessor by the Lessee ass aforesaid, or any part thereof, shall be
due and unpaid for thirty (30) days after any such payment shall become due and
written notice of default has been given to the Lessee by the Lessor; or

          If the Lessee shall wilfully conduct its mining operations in such
manner as to cause waste to the leased premises of such character as not to be
readily remedied by the payment of money and such methods of mining or conduct
are continued for sixty (60) days after the Lessor has by writing demanded
correction thereof, or if money damages shall be agreed upon by Lessee and
Lessor and are not paid by the Lessee within sixty (60) days after the reaching
of such agreement; or

          If the Lessee shall wilfully fail to give to Lessor such maps,
statements, or other information reasonably desired by the Lessor and provided
by this lease and agreement to be given by the Lessee to the Lessor, and shall
continue in such failure for thirty (30) days after the Lessor in writing has
requested the same to be furnished by the Lessee; or

          If the Lessee shall assign or sublet this lease or any part thereof or
shall suffer the sale thereof under foreclosure or mortgage contrary to the
provisions of Article XI hereof; or

                                      -96-
<PAGE>
 
          If the Lessee shall fail to comply with and perform the requirements
of any award or arbitration made pursuant to the provisions of Article XVI
hereof in respect of any matter for which this lease and agreement provides for
such arbitration within thirty (30) days after such award or determination has
become final; or

          If in respect of any dispute for which arbitration is provided by this
lease and agreement the Lessor shall demand arbitration and the Lessee shall
refuse to arbitrate or unreasonably fail to cooperate in bringing arbitration to
a conclusion, or if neither the Lessor nor the Lessee shall demand arbitration,
or if for any other reason, other than the fault of the Lessor, arbitration
shall not be entered into or an award shall not be made, and the Lessor resorts
to legal action and obtains a judgment for money or a decree (including a
declaration of rights in a declaratory judgment action) against the Lessee
requiring the Lessee to do or to refrain from doing any act or thing involved in
such dispute or determining the duties of the Lessee involved in such dispute,
then if the Lessee shall not pay or discharge the money judgment within thirty
(30) days from the time the same becomes appealable or shall not do or refrain
from doing the acts and things as ordered or declared by such judgment or
decree within sixty (60) days after the same becomes appealable, unless the
Lessee shall appeal from such judgment or decree and file a supersedes bond, and
in case of any such appeal, unless the Lessee shall do or refrain from doing the
acts and things as ordered or declared by the appellate court of last resort
within sixty (60) days after the entry by such appellate court of its judgment
or decree;

        If, in respect of any of the foregoing grounds and conditions other than
those calling for the payment of money, full compliance within any time
specified shall be impractical, compliance shall mean the prompt beginning and
expeditious continuance of performance; or

                                      -97-
<PAGE>
 
        If the Lessee shall wilfully deny the Lessor or its agents access to
the leased premises and operations of the Lessee for the inspection thereof and
such denial shall continue for two (2) days after an executive officer of the
Lessor shall have made demand, either in writing or confirmed by writing, upon
an executive officer of the Lessee, then,

        In any such event, the Lessor shall have the right at its option to
terminate and end this lease and the term hereby granted, as well as all of the
right, title, and interest of the Lessee hereunder, without further notice or
demand or legal procedures and to re-enter the leased premises, and the same to
have, repossess, and enjoy as of the Lessor's former estate, together with all
buildings, equipment, machinery, fixtures, tools, and other property of the
Lessee therein and thereon, other than property unrelated to the Lessee's mining
operations, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, and to terminate
this lease -- except as to Lessee's liability for sums of money due and owing to
or for the benefit of Lessor -- and all rights of Lessee hereunder, any former
indulgences of the Lessee by the Lessor to the contrary notwithstanding. And the
Lessor at all times shall have the right of distraint as in Article XIV of this
lease provided and the benefit of other proper proceedings in law or in equity
and all other remedies as now or hereafter provided by law for collection of
rents due and unpaid and for regaining possession of the leased premises. And
the Lessee hereby expressly waives any and all right to recover possession of
said premises, or to reinstate or to redeem or to avoid a forfeiture of this
lease, the rights and privileges herein granted, as permitted or provided under
any provision of the law of West Virginia now in effect or hereafter enacted, or
by any other law, ordinance, regulation, or court decision now or hereafter in
force

                                      -98-
<PAGE>
 
and effect. But nothing contained in the preceding parts of this Article, or
elsewhere in this lease, shall be construed to abridge or waive the right of the
Lessee to resort to appropriate judicial proceedings to test the right of the
Lessor to forfeit this lease.

     A waiver by Lessor of any particular cause of forfeiture shall not prevent
forfeiture for any other cause, or for the same cause occurring at any other
time, nor shall the receipt by Lessor from Lessee, or from any other person,
after the occurrence of any cause of forfeiture of which notice has been given
by Lessor to Lessee, of any royalties, rentals, or other payments theretofore or
thereafter accruing to Lessor, or the continued recognition by Lessor of Lessee
ass its tenant after the occurrence of any cause of forfeiture of which notice
has been given by Lessor to Lessee, be deemed a waiver of Lessor's right to
enforce the forfeiture so long as the cause of forfeiture continues to exist.

     2.   If the Lessee, or any assignee of Lessee, in possession of the leased
premises shall be adjudicated a bankrupt, or shall file a voluntary petition in
bankruptcy, or shall make a general assignment for creditors, or shall be
adjudicated insolvent, or if a receiver shall be appointed for Lessee, or such
assignee, and not be discharged within sixty (60) days after the appointment, or
if proceedings for reorganization of Lessee or such assignee shall be instituted
under the bankruptcy laws of the United States by or against Lessee or such
assignee, Lessor may immediately and at once, without notice, declare the term
hereof at an end, with the same effect as is hereinabove provided.


                                     XVI.

                                  ARBITRATION
                                  ----------- 

     Any dispute, question, or controversy arising under this lease for which
arbitration is herein provided say be submitted to

                                      -99-
<PAGE>
 
arbitration in the following manner: The party demanding arbitration shall give
to the other notice in writing of such demand, naming in such notice a person
selected as an arbitrator by the party giving such notice; the other party shall
within fifteen (15) days after receipt of such notice give notice in writing to
the party demanding such arbitration, naming a person as arbitrator selected by
it. If the party served with the original notice as hereinbefore provided shall
fail within fifteen (15) days to notify the other party of the arbitrator
selected by it, the party giving said original notice may, by notice in writing
served upon the other, request the Judge, or any Judge if more than one, of the
District Court of the United States for the Southern District of West Virginia,
or such tribunal as may at the time be the successor of such Court, to appoint a
second arbitrator, and such Judge may appoint such second arbitrator; the two
arbitrators selected as aforesaid shall within fifteen (15) days after the
appointment of the second arbitrator meet and select a disinterested mining
engineer experienced in coal mining in the general area of the leased premises
and competent to make such examinations and inspections as may be appropriate,
to serve as third arbitrator and fix a time and place for hearing the matter in
dispute, which shall be within fifteen (15) days from the time the third
arbitrator is selected. If the two arbitrators chosen as aforesaid cannot agree
upon the third arbitrator, said Judge may, upon request of the said two
arbitrators or of either of them, appoint the third arbitrator, qualified as
aforesaid. Failing such appointment, the third arbitrator, qualified as
aforesaid, my be appointed, upon the request of the two arbitrators chosen or
upon the request of either of them, by the Judge of the Circuit Court in and for
Logan County, West Virginia. In case, pending any arbitration' under this lease,
any arbitrator,

                                     -100-
<PAGE>
 
or successor, or substitute arbitrator, shall die, or for any reason be unable
or unwilling to act, his successor shall be appointed as he was appointed, and
such successor or substitute arbitrator, as to all matters then pending, shall
act the same as if he had been originally appointed as an arbitrator and if he
deems it necessary to the proper discharge of his responsibilities he examine or
re-examine any witness who may have theretofore been examined. The award of any
two of the three arbitrators so chosen shall be final and binding upon both
parties. Each party shall bear the expense of preparing and presenting its own
case and the expense of its own arbitrator, and shall pay one-half of the 
expense of the third arbitrator. The Lessor and the Lessee covenant that they
will fully cooperate and do all that they reasonably can, respectively to
expedite the decision or award of the arbitrators, to the end that, if
reasonably possible, such award or decision may be made within sixty (60) days
after the appointment of the third arbitrator.

     In respect of matters for which arbitration is herein provided, the
foregoing provisions for arbitration shall be irrevocable, and arbitration and
award hereunder, if demanded by either party, shall be a condition precedent to
the right to maintain any action or suit based upon such matter or matters in
dispute, question, or controversy, unless arbitration fail because of the
inability to obtain a board of arbitration in the manner hereinabove provided,
or, having obtained such board, the board fails to reach a decision or award.

                                     -101-
<PAGE>
 
                                     XVII.

                                   WARRANTY
                                   --------

     The coal rights and interests herein leased are limited to such as the
Lessor possesses and has the lawful right to lease, and Lessor's warranties,
whether express or implied, are limited to such title ass Lessor owns, and,
subject to this limitation and all the rights herein expressly reserved unto the
Lessor otherwise, Lessor warrants that neither it nor any of its officers or
directors has any knowledge or information of any claim adverse to the coal
rights and interests herein leased by the Lessor to the Lessee and that the
Lessee, complying with and keeping and performing the terms, conditions, and
covenants of the lease, by it to be kept and performed, shall have quiet use,
possession, and enjoyment of the said lands for the time and purposes aforesaid;
and that all covenant and conditions herein shall run with the land and be and
remain, for the term of this lease, binding upon the parties hereto, their
successors and assigns. Lessor's liability under this Article shall be limited
as hereinafter in this Article set out. If the title of the Lessor to any part
of the leased premises, or to any of the rights and privileges hereby leased,
shall be lost to the holder of a superior title, by reason whereof any of the
coal which Lessee is required or permitted to mine is lost to Lessee, and the
same (if contested) is so adjudged by the highest court which will accept
jurisdiction to settle the controversy, no royalty shall thereafter be paid to
Lessor by Lessee on account of the coal so lost, and in the event royalty on the
coal so lost has been paid by Lessee to Lessor, Lessor shall repay to Lessee,
without interest, the royalty on the coal so lost to Lessee by reason of such
outstanding superior title, and the minimum annual rental shall be

                                     -102-
<PAGE>
 
reduced from the beginning of this lease in the proportion which the area of the
mineable and marketable coal so lost bears to the total area of mineable and
marketable coal on the leased premises at the date hereof, and any payment of
unrecouped minimum annual rental required to reflect such reduction shall
promptly be made by Lessor to Lessee, and Lessor shall refund to Lessee, with
interest at six per cent (6%) per annum, any taxes which Lessee may have paid
after the date of this Deed of lease and Agreement on the land containing the
coal so lost. Lessor shall have the right, within three (3) months after the
final order in such litigation, to purchase the coal in place so lost, and if so
purchased by Lessor it shall thereupon become a part of the leased premises with
the same effect as if now owned by Lessor in perfect title if, but only if,
Lessee has not completed its mining operations in the immediate vicinity thereof
to such extent that it would be impracticable to mine the same; but should
Lessor elect not to purchase the same or fail within the said three (3) months'
period to purchase the same, Lessee shall have the right to purchase such coal
and to mine the same free of all royalty and wheelage. If neither party
purchases such coal, the Lessor shall indemnify the Lessee against all damages
to others for which the Lessee may be answerable for mining operations conducted
by the Lessee on the disputed premises prior to Lessee's knowledge of such
dispute.

     It is further understood and agreed that the Lessor, at its own expense,
will defend all suits or proceedings whatever, instituted against the Lessor or
Lessee herein, involving the title to the premises hereby leased or any part
thereof.

                                     -103-
<PAGE>
 
                                    XVIII.

                                    NOTICES
                                    -------

     The giving of any notice or the making of any demand on the Lessee under
the provisions hereof, shall be sufficient, if in writing, addressed to the
Lessee at Port Amherst 1, Charleston, Kanawha County, West Virgina, or such
other address as Lessee may hereafter designate in writing, and mailed by
postpaid United States mail. The delivery of any maps, plans, or projections to
the Lessor, and the giving of any notice to Lessor, the making of any demand on
Lessor under the provisions hereof, or the payment of any royalties, rents, or
other sums due hereunder, shall be sufficient if made to Lessor and mailed by
postpaid United States mail addressed to Lessor at 1111 First Huntington
National Bank Building, Huntingtion, West Virginia, or such other address as
Lessor may hereafter designate in writing.


                                     XIX.

     In this Deed of Lease and Agreement all rights and privileges and
responsibilities and liabilities of Dingess-Rum, the Lessor, and of Amherst, the
Lessee, respectively, shall inure to the benefit of or be binding upon their
respective successors and assigns and any and all others in any manner
succeeding to their' respective rights and privileges and responsibilities and
liabilities; provided that nothing in this Article XIX shall waive compliance
by Lessee, its assignees, mortgagees, or sublessees with the provisions of
Article XI hereof relating to assignments, mortgages, mergers, and subletting.


     IN WITTINESS WHEREOF, the said DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY has caused its
corporate name to be signed to two counterpart copies

                                     -104-
<PAGE>
 
hereof by ROLLA D. CAMPBELL, its President, and J. L. CALDWELL McFADDIN, its
Vice President, and its corporate seal to be affixed thereto by James H. Davis
III, its Secretary, all thereunto duly authorized; and the said AMHERST COAL
COMPANY has caused its corporate name to be signed to said two counterpart
copies by HERBERT E. JONES, JR., its President, and its corporate seal to be
affixed thereto by W. F. MILLER, its SECRETARY both thereunto duly authorized;
all as of the day and year first hereinabove written.


Dingess Rum Corporate Seal

                                   DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY

                                             By /s/ Rolla D. Campbell
                                                -------------------------
                                                      Rolla D. Campbell,
                                             
                                                Its President,           and

                                           
Attest: /s/ James H Davis III                
        ----------------------                   
          Its Secretary                      /s/ J. L. Caldwell McFaddin
             -----------------               ----------------------------------
                                                      J. L. Caldwell McFaddin  

                                                Its Vice President.     



                                   AMHERST COAL COMPANY, 

                                        By: /s/ Herbert E. Jones, Jr.,
                                            ----------------------------------
                                                      Herbert E. Jones, Jr.,

                                            Its President.           


Amherst Rum Corporate Seal

Attest: W. F. Miller
       -------------------
       Its Secretary      
           ---------------

                                     -105-
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

COUNTY OF CABELL To-wit:

     I, [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE] a Notary Public of the said County or Cabell,
do certify that ROLLA D. CAMPBELL, who as President signed the writing hereto
annexed bearing date the 1st day of June, 1962, for DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY, a
corporation, has this day in my said county, before me, acknowledged the said
writing to be the act and deed of said corporation.

     My commission expires July 10, 1972 
     Given under my hand and official notorial seal this 
4th day of September, 1962.


Notary Seal

                                             /s/  [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Notary Public for Cabell County 
                                             West Virginia.



STATE OF TEXAS,
COUNTY OF JEFFERSON, To-wit:


     I, Patricia Garlington, a Notary Public of the said County of Jefferson, do
certify that J. L. CALDWELL McFADDIN, who as Vice President signed the writing
hereto annexed bearing date the 1st day of June, 1962, for DINGESS-RUM COAL
COMPANY, a corporation, has this day in my said county, before me, acknowledged
the said writing to be the act and deed of said corporation.

     My commission expires June 1, 1963. 
                           -----------------------
     Given under my hand and official notarial seal this 30th day of August,
1962.


Notary Seal

                                        /s/ Patricia Garlington
                                        ---------------------------------------
                                        Notary Public for Jefferson County, 
                                        Texas.

                                     -106-
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

COUNTY OF Kanawha To-wit:

     I, Garnet Crawford a Notary Public of the said County of Kanawha, do
certify that HERBERT E. JONES, JR., who as President signed the writing hereto
annexed bearing date the 1st day of June, 1962, for AMHERST COAL COMPANY, a
corporation, has this day in my said county, before me, acknowledged the said
writing to be the act of said corporation.

     My commission expires March 31, 1970.

     Given under my hand and official notarial seal this 15th day of August,
1962.

   Notarial Seal

                                         /s/ Garnet Crawford
                                         ---------------------------------    
                                         Notary Public for Kanawha County,
                                         West Virginia



STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA COUNTY OF LOGAN TO Wit:
IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE COUNTY COURT:
                   
The foregoing paper was this the 5th day of September 1962 at 1:26PM, presented
to me in my office, and thereupon, together with a certificate thereunto is
admitted to record.
                    53.75
                    21.50 Map                Teste LUTHER MOUNT CLERK
                    -----
Recording Fee    $  75.25 Pd.                By: /s/ Delano Ellis, Deputy 
                                                -----------------
<PAGE>
 
     This Supplemental Deed of Lease and Agreement made this first day of
January 1968 by and between Dingess-Rum Coal Company, a West Virginia
corporation, party of the first part, hereinafter called "D-R", and Amherst Coal
Company, a West Virginia corporation, party of the second part, hereinafter
called "Amherst ":

     Reference is here made to that certain Deed of Lease and Agreement
(hereinafter referred to as "said lease") dated June 1, 1962 by and between D-R
and Amherst, which is of record in the office of the clerk of the County Court
of Logan County, West Virginia in Deed Book 287, at page 404 et seq., whereby
certain lands of D-R situate on the waters of Rum Creek and Buffalo Creek in
Logan County, West Virginia were leased to Amherst for coal mining purposes for
the time and on the terms and provisions therein set out; and

     Whereas, Amherst desires to add to the coal deposits leased by it under
said lease the Cedar Grove or Island Creek seam (hereinafter called Cedar Grove)
of coal in a tract of 527.78 acres more or less (hereinafter called "said
tract") on said Rum Creek, binding on premises of D-R leased to Amherst under
said lease, and being part of D-R's lands known as its Argyle premises and as
its Georges Creek premises; and D-R is willing to lease such coal on the terms
and conditions herein set out; and

     Whereas, Amherst has conducted mining operations in the Cedar Grove seam
held by it under said lease up to the boundary line between said tract and the
adjoining lands of D-R held by Amherst under said lease, and Amherst has
underground access to the Cedar Grove seam in said tract by extending its said
workings or new workings in said seam in the Paragon Lease premises across said
boundary line, and will not need to provide access
<PAGE>
 
to the Cedar Grove seam on said tract by means of vertical shafts or slopes on
said tract from which coal would be brought to the surface on said tract.

     Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual promises
     ---  ---------
herein contained, and of the sum of One Hundred Dollars cash in hand paid by
Amherst to D-R, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged

     THIS SUPPLEMENTAL DEED OF LEASE AND AGREEMENT WITNESSETH:
     ---------------------------------------------------------

     The parties hereto have agreed, and do hereby agree, as follows:

     ARTICLE I - Additional Property Lease

     D-R does hereby demise, let and lease to Amherst, for the mining of coal
from the Cedar Grove seam only, that certain tract of land situate and located
on the waters of Rum Creek in Logan County, West Virginia, which is bounded and
described as follows:

     Beginning at a double black pine corner, said corner common to Amherst Coal
Company's Cub Fork lease and the northeast corner of the old Georges Creek lease
and being N 30 degrees 21' 06" W 255.70 feet from a set stone, said stone
coordinate values are S 8,913.39 and E 20,703.53 and witness by a locust and
sassafras; thence from said beginning point

1.  N 39 degrees 17' 20" W 1655.00 feet to a 12 inch black oak with two chestnut
and a black oak witness;

2.  N 68 degrees 17' 40" W 1144.55 feet to a set stone with two chestnut
witnesses;

3.  N 33 degrees 09' 45" 453.93 feet to a set stone with a hickory and two
locust witnesses;

4.  S 38 degrees 04' 37" W 8434.96 feet to a point where a beech once stood on
the north bank of Rum Creek; thence up said Creek and on left side thereof

                                     - 2 -
<PAGE>
 
5.   N 83 degrees 45' E 1075.90 feet to a white oak in a small hollow;

6.   S 34 degrees OS' E 333.60 feet to where a pine stood on the north bank of
Rum Creek;

7.   S 74 degrees 35' E 840.55 feet to a point where a beech once stood on the
north bank of said Creek;

8.   S 69 degrees 13' E 1039.00 feet to a stake near the mouth of Cub Fork;
thence leaving said Rum Creek and up the mountain

9.   N 40 degrees 27' E 6972.40 feet to a place of Beginning, and containing
527.78 acres, more or less.

     Said tract is shown on a map attached hereto and made a part hereof,
bearing the following legend:

     Map showing tract of land containing 527.78 acres on Rum Creek, Logan
County, West Virginia, the Cedar Grove seam of coal in which is leased by
Dingess-Rum Coal Company to Amherst Coal Company

                                                 William R. Long, Chief Engineer
                                                 December 7, 1967

     ARTICLE II - General Provisions of Said Lease Apply

     Subject to the special provisions set out in Article III hereof, this
Supplemental Deed of Lease and Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "this
lease") is subject to all the terms, exceptions, reservations, covenants,
conditions, and restrictions set out in said lease to the same extent as if the
coal and tract of land described in Article I hereof had been included in said
lease.  In case any conflict shall arise between the provisions of this lease
and those of said lease, the provisions of this lease shall govern.

     ARTICLE III - Special Provisions

     1.   It is mutually agreed that Amherst will mine said Cedar Grove seam in
said tract by means of entries and air-

                                     - 3 -
<PAGE>
 
courses now or hereafter existing in said seam on adjoining lands of D-R held by
Amherst under said lease and that the coal so mined will be taken to Amherst's
tipple or tipples on lands leased by D-R to Amherst under said lease for
processing; that Amherst shall not be obligated to pay any wheelage or
transportation or dumping charge on such coal; that D-R consents to the crossing
in said Cedar Grove seam of the boundary line between said tract and such
adjoining lands; that D-R waives the maintenance by Amherst in said seam of any
barrier pillar along either side of said boundary line; and that Amherst shall
not have the right under this lease to mine coal from any seam in said tract
other than the Cedar Grove seam.

     2.   A persistent parting of slate or bone in said Cedar Grove seam in said
tract is known to exist and said parting becomes thicker proceeding in a
northwesterly direction from the boundary line between said tract and adjacent
lands of D-R leased to Amherst under said lease toward the headwaters of Dingess
Run.  D-R agrees that Amherst shall not be obligated to mine beyond the line at
which said parting measures as much as twelve inches (12 in.) in thickness into
areas where said parting exceeds twelve inches (12 in.) in thickness; but if
Amherst desires to mine beyond such line into areas where said parting is in
excess of twelve inches (12 in.), Amherst shall have the optional right to do so
subject to the advance written approval of D-R's Chief Engineer of its
projections covering its mining beyond said line, as more fully set out in said
lease.  But nothing in this paragraph 2 shall require Amherst to mine coal from
said seam in said tract which is not mineable and marketable as defined in said
lease.

     3.   Amherst agrees to pay to D-R the same tonnage and percentage royalties
on and for each and every ton of coal mined by it from said Cedar Grove seam on
said tract as are provided

                                     - 4 -
<PAGE>
 
by Article VI of said lease to be paid by Amherst on and for coal mined from the
Eagle or No. 2 Gas seam; but the minimum annual rental provided in paragraph
numbered 4 of said Article VI shall remain unchanged because of anything
contained in this lease.

     4.   Taxes on said tract for 1968 (assessed as of July 1, 1967) and for
subsequent years during which this lease shall remain in effect shall be paid by
Amherst; provided that in the event other seam or seams of coal on said tract
shall be leased to a lessee other than Amherst and coal shall be produced from
such other seam or seams, then Amherst shall pay such portion of the taxes on
the lands common to this lease and such other lease for any year as the
production of coal by Amherst in tons during such year bears to the total
production of coal in tons from such common lands, such apportionment to be made
by D-R's Chief Engineer and certified to Amherst with the data on which it is
made.

     5.   D-R, its lessees, successors, and assigns shall have the right to
remove all or part of the coal from seams in said tract which lie above and/or
below said Cedar Grove seam without regard to the direct effect thereof on
Amherst's mining operations in said Cedar Grove seam and without liability for
any damage which may be caused by the extraction of coal from such other seam or
seams to Amherst's operations in said seam or to its machinery, equipment or
other property on, above, or below the surface of said tract.  But if D-R, its
lessees, successors, or assigns, shall remove all or any part of the coal from
another seam or seams of coal in said tract and such removal causes coal in the
Cedar Grove seam in said tract which otherwise would have been mineable and
marketable no longer to be mineable and marketable, then Amherst shall not be
obligated to mine and remove such coal.

                                     - 5 -
<PAGE>
 
     6.   Amherst shall not have any right to use the surface of the said tract
except for the drilling and maintenance of vertical holes from the surface to
the Cedar Grove seam for carrying electric power lines from the surface to its
workings in said seam and for removing water from said seam, and except for the
maintenance on said surface of necessary electric transmission lines carrying
electric power to said holes or hole and telephone lines with poles and
transformers and of necessary pumps, pipes, water lines, and power lines or
engines serving such pumps, and except for ingress and egress to and from such
holes and other installations mentioned in this paragraph; and all such holes
and other equipment shall be located only at points having the prior written
approval of D-R's Chief Engineer in order to assure that such surface use by
Amherst will interfere as little as reasonably possible with other uses which D-
R might wish to make of such surface or of the seams of coal thereunder other
than the Cedar Grove seam, and when so located, D-R and its lessees shall not
thereafter make any use of the surface of said tract which will unreasonably
interfere with the use of said holes and other equipment by Amherst.

     7.   Amherst shall not have the right to cut or remove any timber growing
on the surface of said tract except as may be necessary in exercising the
surface rights mentioned in paragraph 6 of this Article III; and all timber so
cut by Amherst shall be sawed in usual lengths and placed by Amherst in piles at
points convenient for removal by D-R, to whom such timber, and the logs
therefrom, belong.

     8.   Amherst shall have the right, prior to the end of the term of said
lease, to surrender all of its rights under this lease with respect to said
tract and to said Cedar Grove seam of coal therein only when and after it has
mined and removed

                                     - 6 -
<PAGE>
 
all of the mineable and marketable coal from said seam (except such coal as
Amherst may be excused from mining by paragraphs 2 and 5 of this Article III)
and paid all royalties, taxes and other sums due or accrued to D-R with respect
thereto and has duly performed all of its other obligations hereunder, and
thereafter shall be relieved from paying taxes on said tract which have not been
assessed prior to such surrender and shall likewise thereafter be relieved of
all of its duties and obligations with respect to said tract and the said Cedar
Grove seam therein; provided, however, that within three months after such
surrender, but not thereafter, Amherst may remove from said tract and from the
Cedar Grove seam therein, all machinery, equipment and other property which it
may have brought on or installed on said tract or in said seam therein.

     9.   This lease is made expressly subject to the pipeline easement across
said tract held by Hope Natural Gas Company and to the rights and interests of
other persons outstanding on the date of this lease in persons claiming by,
through, or under D-R.

     Witness the following signatures and seals of the parties hereto affixed by
their respective corporate officers thereunto duly authorized, in duplicate
originals, this the year and date above set out.

                                        DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY


(Dingess-Rum)                           by /s/ Rolla D. Campbell
                                           ----------------------------  
(Corporate Seal)                             Its President



Attest:
                          
                          
 /s/ James H. Davis III
- ---------------------------
   Its Secretary              


                                        AMHERST COAL COMPANY

(Amherst)                               by /s/ Herbert E. Jones, Jr.
                                           ----------------------------  
(Corporate Seal)                             Its President



Attest:
                          
                          
 /s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
- ---------------------------
   Its Secretary              

                                     - 7-
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF FLORIDA

COUNTY OF PALM BEACH, to-wit:

     I, Eula N. Chapman, a Notary Public of said County of Palm Beach, do
certify that ROLLA D. CAMPBELL, who as President signed the writing hereto
annexed bearing date the first day of January, 1968 for DINGESS-RUM COAL
COMPANY, a corporation, has this day in my said county, before me, acknowledged
the said writing to be the act and deed of said corporation.

          Given under my hand and official notarial seal this 18 day of March,
1968

          My commission expires June 5, 1971


(Notarial Seal)


                                   /s/ Eula N. Chapman
                                   ------------------------------------
                                   Notary Public for Palm Beach County
                                   Florida


STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF KANAWHA, to-wit:

     I, Garnet Crawford, a Notary Public of the said County of Kanawha, do
certify that HERBERT E. JONES, JR., who as President signed the writing hereto
annexed bearing date the first day of January, 1968 for AMHERST COAL COMPANY, a
corporation, has this day in my said county, before me, acknowledged the said
writing to be the act and deed of said corporation.

          Given under my hand and official notarial seal this 12th day of March,
1968

          My commission expires  March 31, 1970


(Notarial Seal)

 
                                        /s/ Garnet Crawford
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Notary Public for Kanawha County,
                                        West Virginia

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
                              [MAP APPEARS HERE]


Map showing tract of land containing 527.78 acres on Rum Creek, Logan County, 
West Virginia, the Cedar Grove seam of coal in which is leased by Dingess-Rum 
Coal Company to Amherst Coal Company.

     Wm. R. Long, Chief Eng. December 7, 1967
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA, COUNTY OF LOGAN, TO-WIT:

IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COUNTY COURT:

The foregoing paper was this the 1st day of April 1968, at 9:43 AM, presented to
me in my office, and thereupon, together with a certificate thereunto annexed is
admitted to record.
     
Recording Fee $ 4.25                            Teste: Raymond Chafin, Clerk
               ------------                     
                1.00 (Map)                      By: /s/ Mary H. Bias, Deputy   
               ------------                        ------------------
              $ 5.25 Pd.                
<PAGE>
 
     This supplemental Deed of Lease and Agreement made this first day of June
1973 by and between Dingess-Rum Coal Company, a West Virginia corporation, party
or the first part, hereinafter called "D-R", and Amherst Coal Company, a West
Virginia corporation, party or the second part, hereinafter called "Amherst".

     Reference is here made to that certain Deed of Lease and Agreement
(hereinafter referred to as "said lease") dated June 1, 1962 by and between D-R
as lessor and Amherst as lessee, which is of record in the office of the Clerk
of the County Court of Logan County, West Virginia, in Deed Book 287, at page
404 et seq. whereby certain lands of D-R situate on the waters of Rum Creek and
Buffalo Creek in said Logan County were leased to Amherst for coal mining
purposes for the time and on the provisions therein set out; and

     Whereas, Amherst desires to add to the coal deposits leased by it under
said lease the Chilton seam of coal in a tract of 352.85 acres, more or less
(hereinafter called "said tract"), on said Rum Creek, binding on premises of D-R
leased to Amherst under said lease, and being part of D-R's lands known as its
Dehue premises; and D-R is willing to lease such coal on the terms and
conditions herein set out; and

     Whereas, Amherst has conducted mining operations in said Chilton seam held
by it under said lease and desires to extend the same towards Guyandotte River
but is unable through old entries to reach the unmined reserves held under said
lease and desires to reach the same by entries driven from the outcrop near the
head of the Second Right Hand Fork of Rum Creek (hereinafter called "said Fork")
through the said seam on said tract, and to mine such unmined reserves along
with the Chilton seam coal in said tract,


                            SCHEDULE OF COAL LEASES

                                   EXHIBIT 3
<PAGE>
 
     Now, Therefore, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual promises
herein contained and of the sum of One Hundred Dollars cash in hand paid by
Amherst to D-R, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by D-R,

     THIS SUPPLEMENTAL DEED OF LEASE AND AGREEMENT WITNESSETH:

     ARTICLE 1.  Additional Property Lease

     D-R does hereby demise, let and lease to Amherst, for the mining of the
Chilton seam of coal only, that certain tract of land situate on the waters of
Rum Creek, in said Logan County, which is bounded and described as follows:

     Beginning at a stake at the mouth of Buck Lick Hollow on the
     Second Right Hand Fork of Rum Creek, Logan County, West Virginia,
     thence up said Second Right Hand Fork with the Amherst Coal
     Company calls


     66.  S 83 degrees 00' E 740 feet
     65.  N 80 degrees 15' E 820 feet
     64.  N 68 degrees 10' E 785 feet
     63.  S 84 degrees 35' E 380 feet
     62.  S 60 degrees 00' E 200 feet
     61.  S 45 degrees 00' E 400 feet
     60.  S 24 degrees 30' E 400 feet
     59.  S 37 degrees 00' E 198 feet
     58.  S  3 degrees 40' E 345 feet
     57.  S 19 degrees 30' E 220 feet
     56.  S 15 degrees 00' E 130 feet
     55.  S 24 degrees 00' E 290 feet
     54.  S  7 degrees 15' E 280 feet
     53.  S 46 degrees 05' E 200 feet
     52.  Due East 180 feet
     51.  S 49 degrees 40' E 485 feet
     50.  N 88 degrees 50' E 80 feet
     49.  S 54 degrees 00' E 420 feet
     48.  S 25 degrees 15' E 645 feet to a point near the head of the
                                      Second Right Hand Fork thence
                                      leaving said Fork and angling up
                                      the right side of mountain,
                                      looking up the hollow 
     47A. S 39 57' W 2360 feet to a gap on the top of the ridge between 
                                      the Second Right Hand Fork and 
                                      Boardtree Run thence
     47B. N 50 degrees 45' W 5037.32 feet up and over the Amherst Coal
                                     Company old #39-A 5 Block mine
                                     and down Buck Lick thence
     47C. N 13 degrees 11' E 1770 feet down the hillside to the place
                                     of beginning and containing
                                     352.85 acres, more or less.

                                 -2-
<PAGE>
 
     Said tract is shown on a map attached hereto and made a part hereof,
bearing the following legend:

     "Map showing tract of land containing 352.85 acres on Second
      Right Hand Fork of Rum Creek, Logan County, West Virginia, the
      Chilton seam of coal in which is leased by Dingess-Rum Coal
      Company to Amherst Coal Company.

      Scale - 1" - 1,0008        File A501-6CO
      Date  - May 18, 1973       Ser. No. 3055"

     ARTICLE II.  General Provisions of Said Lease Apply, Except as Noted

     Subject to the special provisions set out in Article III hereof, this
Supplemental Lease and Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "this lease"), is
subject to all of the terms, exceptions, reservations, covenants, conditions and
restrictions set out in said lease to the same extent as if the Chilton seam of
coal in said tract, and said tract described in Article I hereof, had been
included in said lease.  In case any conrlict shall arise between the provisions
of this lease and those of said lease, the provisions of this lease shall
govern.

     ARTICLE III.  Special  Provisions

     1.  It is mutually agreed that Amherst will mine said Chilton seam of coal
in said tract by making entries and haulways from the outcrop or said Chilton
seam near the head of said Fork, to reach and mine the coal in said tract as
well as to reach and mine the coal in said seam in the premises included in said
lease (locally known as the McGregor premises), and the raw coal will be hauled
by truck down the Second Right Hand Fork of Rum Creek and thence up Rum Creek to
its Slagle tipple and cleaning plant; and, if Amherst can later activate and 
re-establish the underground haulways in said seam in the McGregor premises it
may, at its option, use the same for ingress to and egress from the unmined coal
in said seam on the McGregor premises as well as in said seam on said tract. D-R

                                 -3-
<PAGE>
 
hereby consents to Amherst's extending its workings across the boundary line
between said premises and said tract and hereby waives the maintenance of a
barrier pillar on either side of said line, and agrees that Amherst shall not be
obligated to pay any wheelage or transportation or dumping charge on coal mined
from the Chilton seam in said premises or in said tract and taken to the Slagle
tipple either overland by truck or underground by belts or mine cars.

     D-R also agrees that Amherst may establish and operate a haulage road down
said Second Right Hand Fork far hauling Chilton seam coal to the hard road along
Rum Creek subject to the approval of D-R's Chief Engineer as to location,
protection and maintenance thereof.

     2.  Amherst agrees to pay to D-R a tonnage royalty on each and every ton of
coal mined by it from said Chilton seam on said tract equal to four percent (4%)
of the selling price thereof (but in no event less than thirteen cents (13
cents) per ton). D-R and Amherst agree that except for the rate of percentage
royalty, all other provisions of Article VI of said lease relating to tonnage
and percentage royalties shall be applicable to the royalties payable under this
lease; and that the minimum annual rental provided in paragraph numbered 4 of
said Article VI shall remain unchanged because of anything contained in this
lease.

     3.  Taxes on said tract for 1974 (assessed as of July 1, 1973) and for
subsequent years during which this lease shall remain in effect shall be paid
by Amherst; provided that in the event other seam or seams or coal an said tract
shall be under lease to a lessee other than Amherst and coal shall be produced
from such other seam or seams in any calendar year, then Amherst shall pay such
portion of the taxes on the lands common to this lease and such

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
other lease or leases for such year as the production of coal by Amherst bears
to the total production of coal in tons from such common lands, such
apportionment to be made by D-R's Chief Engineer and certified to Amherst with
the date on which it is made; provided, that if The Youngstown Mines Corporation
or successor shall pay all of the property taxes assessed against said tract,
Amherst shall be excused from paying any tax thereon for such year.

     4.   D-R, its lessee, successors, end assigns shall have the right to
remove all or part of the coal from seams in said tract which lie above or below
said Chilton seam without regard to the direct effect thereof on Amherst's
mining operations in said Chilton seam and without liability for damage which
may be caused by the extraction of coal from such other seam or seams to
Amherst's operations in said seam or to its machinery, equipment, or other
property on, above, or below the surface of said tract. But if D-R, its lessees,
successors or assigns shall hereafter remove all or any part of the coal from
another seam or seams of coal in said tract and such removal causes coal in the
Chilton seam in said tract which otherwise would have been mineable and
marketable no longer to be mineable and marketable, then Amherst shall no longer
be obligated to mine and remove such coal.

     5.  Except as provided in paragraph 1 of this Article III with respect to
outcrop openings into the Chilton seam, and haulage roads down the said Fork,
Amherst shall not have the right to use the surface of said tract except for the
drilling and maintenance of vertical holes from the surface to the Chilton seam
for carrying electric power lines from the surface to its workings in said seam
and for removing water from said seam, and except for the maintenance on said
surface of necessary electric transmission lines carrying electric power to said
holes or hole and telephone

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
lines with pole and transformers and of necessary pumps, pipes, water lines, and
power lines or engines serving such pumps, and except for ingress and egress to
and from such holes and other installations mentioned in this paragraph's  and
all such holes and other equipment shall be located only at points having the
prior written approval of D-R's Chief Engineer in order to assure that such
surface use by Amherst will interfere as little as reasonably possible with
other uses which D-R or its lessees might wish to make of such surface or of the
seams of coal thereunder other than the Chilton seam, and when so located, D-R
and its lessees shall not thereafter make any use of the surface of said tract
which will unreasonsbly interfere with the use of said holes and other equipment
by Amherst.

     6.  Amherst shall not have the right to cut or remove any timber growing on
the surface of said tract except as may be necessary in exercising the surface
rights mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 5 of this Article III; and all timber so
cut by Amherst shall be sawed in usual lengths and placed by Amherst in piles at
points convenient for removal by D-R, to whom such timber, and logs therefrom,
belong.

     7.  Amherst shall have the right, prior to the end of the term of said
lease, to surrender all of its rights under this lesse with respect to said
tract and to said Chilton Seam of coal therein only when and after it has mined
and removed all of the mineable and marketable coal from said seam (except such
coal as Amherst may be excused from mining by paragraphs 2 and 5 of this Article
III) and paid all royalties, taxes and other sums due or accrued to D-R with
respect thereto and has duly performed all of its other obligations hereunder,
and thereafter shall be relieved from paying taxes on said tract which have not
been assessed prior to such surrender and shall likewise thereafter be relieved
of all of its

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
duties and obligations with respect to said tract and the said Chilton seam
therein; provided, however, that within three months after such surrender, but
not thereafter, Amherst may remove from said tract and from the Chilton seam
therein, all machinery, equipment and other property which it my have brought on
or installed on said tract or in said seam therein.

     8.  This lease is made expressly subject to all rights and interests of
other parsons in said tract outstanding on the date of this lease claiming by,
through, or under D-R and to the right of D-R hereafter to make similar leases,
grants, and agreements with other persons in lieu of or in addition to those now
outstanding, to which this lease shall likewise be subject.

     9.  Witness the following signatures and seals of the parties hereto
affixed by their respective corporate officers, thereunto duly authorized, in
duplicate originals, this the year and date first above set out.


                                        DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY

Attest:

     
                                        by /s/ Rolla D. Campbell
                                          -------------------------   
                                             Its President
/s/ James H. Davis III
- -------------------------
     Secretary


                                        AMHERST COAL COMPANY

Attest:

                                        By /s/ H. E. Jones, Jr.
                                          -------------------------   
/s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]                Its President          
- -----------------------------
 Secretary

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

COUNTY OF CABELL, to-wit:

     I, Mary K Nash, a Notary Public of said County of Cabell, do certify
that Rolla D Campbell who signed the writing hereto annexed bearing date the
first day of June l973 for DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY, a corporation, has this day
in my said county, before me, acknowledged the said writing to be the act and
deed of said corporation.

     Given under my hand and official notarial seal this 19 day of November,
1973.

     My commision expires June 6 1977.


                                                   /s/ Mary K. Nash
                                             ---------------------------
                                                   Notary Public



STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

COUNTY OF KANAWHA, to-wit:

     I, Doris M. Morris, a Notary Public of said County of Kanawha, do certify
that H. E. James. Jr., who signed the writing hereto annexed bearing date the
first day of June l973 for AMHERST COAL COMPANY, a corporation, has this day in
my said county, before me, acknowledged the said writing to be the act and deed
of said corporation.


     Given under my hand and official notarial seal this 8th day of November,
1973.

     My commission expires May 29, 1979.


                                               /s/ Doris M. Morris
                                             ---------------------------
                                                  Notary Public

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
                              [MAP APPEARS HERE]


MAP SHOWING TRACT OF LAND CONTAINING 352.85 AC. ON SECOND RIGHT HAND FORK OF RUM
CREEK, LOGAN COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA, THE CHILTON SEAM OF COAL IN WHICH IS LEASED
BY DINGESS RUM COAL CO. TO AMHERST COAL CO.



Scale -1"=1,000                                                  File A 501-600
Date 5-18-73                                                       SER NO. 3055

<PAGE>
 
     This Supplemental Deed of Lease and Agreement made this first day of July,
1974, by and between DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY, a West Virginia corporation,
party of the first party, hereinafter called "D-R", and AMHERST COAL COMPANY, a
West Virginia corporation, party of the second part, hereinafter called
"Amherst".

     Reference is here made to that certain deed of lease and agreement
(hereinafter referred to as "said lease",) dated June 1, 1962, by and between D-
R as lessor and Amherst as lessee, which is of record in the office of the Clerk
of the County Court of Logan County, West Virginia in Deed Book 287, at page 404
et seq., whereby certain lands of D-R situate on the waters or Rum Creek and of
Buffalo Creek in said Logan County were leased to Amherst for coal mining
purposes for the time and on the provisions therein set out, and to various
agreements supplementary to said lease; and

     Whereas, Amherst has by deed dated June 18, 1974, made by Harry L. Chambers
and Geraldine M. Chambers, his wife, to Amherst, which is recorded in said
Clerk's office in Deed Book 361, at page 134, purchased the surface of a tract
of land containing about 5.4 acres located on said Rum Creek, the coal in which
is owned by D.R. and, with certain exceptions, is leased to Amherst under said
1ease; and

     Whereas, Amherst desires to add to said lease the Upper Cedar Grove seam of
coal under an adjacent tract of 4.515 acres or land owned by D-R, the coal in
which is not included in said lease, in order to provide access through said
Upper Cedar Grove seam to the outside for its underground workings in said seam,
and has agreed to grant to D-R certain easements over the surface of said 5.4
acre tract.
<PAGE>
 
     Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual promises
and grants herein contained,

     This Supplemental Deed of Lease and Agreement witnesseth:

     ARTICLE I. Additional Property Leased by D-R to Amherst

     D-R does hereby demise, let, and lease to Amherst the coal only in the
Upper Cedar Grove seam in that certain tract of land situate on said Rum Creek
which is bounded and described as follows:

          Beginning at a rock corner on the north side of Rum Creek about 4050'
     upstream from the mouth of the Second Right Hand Fork of Rum Creek, said
     corner being a corner to the J. L. Chambers 93.97 Acre tract;

          Thence N. 60 degrees - 17' E, 585.36' to a point on the south side of
     Rum Creek, said point also being a corner to the Paragon lease;

          Thence with the Paragon lease S. 2 degrees - 40' E. 736.84' to a
     point approximately 700' up in North Mud Lick Hollow;

          Thence leaving said Paragon lease and down North Mud Lick Hollow with
     a line common to the J. L. Chambers 93.97 Acre tract and the Orville lease
     N. 50 degrees -39' W. 702.32' to the BEGINNING, containing 4.515 Acres.

     Said tract outlined in yellow line is shown on a map attached hereto and
made a part hereof, bearing the following 1egend:

          "Map showing in yellow lines tract of 4.515 acres of land
          owned by Dingess-Rum Coal Company, the Upper Cedar Grove
          seam in which is leased to Amherst Coal Company, and showing
          in red lines a tract of 5.4 acres of surface land owned by
          Amherst Coal Company over which certain easement are
          conveyed by Amherst Coal Company to Dingess-Rum Coal
          Company, being located on Rum Creek In Logan County, West
          Virginia.


     Scale:  1" = 1000'                           William R. Long, Chief     
     July 1, 1974                                 Engineer, Dingess Rum Coal 
                                                  Company, Stollings, W. Va." 


     Subject to the special provisions set out in Article III hereof, this
Supplemental Lease and Agreement is made subject to 

                                - 2 -
<PAGE>
 
all the terms, exceptions, reservations, covenants, conditions, and restrictions
set out in said lease (but only prospectively) to the same extent as if the
aforesaid area to Upper Cedar Grove seam of coal had been originally included in
said lease; it being agreed that in case any conflict shall arise between the
provisions of this Supplemental Deed of Lease and Agreement and those of said
lease, the provisions to this lease shall1 govern.

     ARTICLE II.  Outstanding Interests

     The lease hereby made of said Upper Cedar  Grove seam or coal in said tract
of 4.515 acres is subject to the rights of the public in the paved highway
running along Rum Creek, to the rights of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Company in the branch railroad running along Rum Creek, and to all other
outstanding rights of others.

     ARTICLE III.  Easements Granted by Amherst to D-R

     In further consideration of the aforesaid lease of the Upper Cedar Grove
seam in said tract of 4.515 acres, Amherst does hereby grant and convey to D-R,
its successors and assigns, easements for the laying, maintaining, and removal
of pipes to carry gas, water and other liquids, and wires carrying telephone,
telegraph, and electric power (with supporting po1es or towers) and for roads on
and across the aforesaid tract of 5.4 acres at such places as mutually agreed
to between the parties; it being understood that such easements shall not
materially interfere with Amherst's coal operations on the surface of the
aforesaid 5.4 acre tract, which tract is shown on said map in red lines,
reference being made to said deed of June 18, 1974, for a metes and bounds
description thereof.  If, after the location of any such easement and the
construction or installation of facilities or improvements thereon, Amherst
determines that said easements or any part thereof materially interfere with its
prospective coal operations, D-R (or its successors and assigns) shall re-

                                    - 4 -  
<PAGE>
 
move and relocate the same at its sole expense to such other 1ocation on said
tract as shall not materially interfere with such operations.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Deed of
Lease and Agreement to be signed by its corporate officials thereunto duly
authorized and their corporate seals to be attached, in duplicate originals, as
of the day and year first above mentioned.


                                    DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY


                                    by: /s/ Rolla. D. Campbell
                                       ------------------------------- 
                                             President

[SEAL]

Attest:


 /s/ James H. Davis III 
- ------------------------
     Secretary

                                                 AMHERST COAL COMPANY

ATTEST:
                                                 by /s/ H. E. Jones Jr.
                                                   ------------------------
                                                       President
 /s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
- ------------------------------
     Secretary

[SEAL]

                                     - 4 -
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

COUNTY OF CABELL, to-wit:

     I, Mary K Nash, a Notary Public of said County, do hereby certify that
Rolla. D. Campbell, who signed the writing above, bearing date the first day of
July, 1974, for DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY, has this day in my said County, before
me, acknowledged the said writing to be the act and deed of said corporation.

     Given under my hand and notarial seal this 18 day of November, 1974.

     My commission expires June 6 1977.

                                             /s/ Mary K. Nash
                                             -----------------------
                                             Notary Public
[SEAL]

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

COUNTY OF KANAWHA, to-wit:

     I, Doris M. Morris, a Notary Public of said County, do hereby certify
that H. E. James Jr., who signed the writing above, bearing date the first day
of July, 1974, for AMHERST COAL COMPANY, has this day in my said County, before
me, acknowledged the said writing to be the act and deed of said corporation.

     Given under my hand and notarial seal this 5th day of November, 1974.

     My commission expires May 29, 1979.


 
                                   /s/ Doris M. Morris
                                ------------------------
                                   Notary Public

THIS DOCUMENT WAS
PREPARED BY ROLLA D.
CAMPBELL, ATTORNEY AT
LAW

                                    - 5 - 
<PAGE>
 
          THIS LEASE EXCHANGE AGREEMENT, made this 2nd day of July, 1979,
between AMHERST COAL COMPANY, a West Virginia corporation, hereinafter referred
to as "Amherst", ELKAY MINING COMPANY, a West Virginia corporation, hereinafter
referred to as "Elkay", and DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY, a West Virginia
corporation hereinafter  referred to as "Dingess-Rum".

          WHEREAS, under and pursuant to the terms of that certain lease
agreement dated June 1, 1962, of record in the office of the Clerk of the County
Commission of Logan County, West Virginia,  in Deed Book No. 287, at page 404,
hereinafter referred to as the "Amherst Lease", Amherst is Lessee and Dingess-
Rum is Lessor of the coal in the Coalburg and Stockton seams and in any and all
seams of coal situated above said Coalburg and Stockton seams, in that certain
outcrop area A designated "Area 2" on that certain map of Elkay entitled "Map
Showing Data Pertaining To Proposed Lease Area Exchange Between The Elkay
Mining Company And Amherst Coal Company" dated 5-7-79, hereinafter referred to
as the "Elkay Map", a copy of which said map is attached hereto as a part of
this agreement, and

          WHEREAS, under and pursuant to the terms of that certain supplemental
lease agreement dated September 17, 1977, of record in said Clerk's Office in
Deed Book No. 390, at page 656, and all other lease agreements referred to
therein, hereinafter referred to as the "Amended Wade Lease", Elkay is Lessee
and Dingess-Rum is Lessor of the coal in the Coalburg and Stockton seams and in
any and all seams situated above said Coalburg and Stockton seams in those
certain outcrop areas A and B designated "Area 1" on the aforementioned Elkay
map, and

          WHEREAS, said Area 1 and Area 2 are located on the division line
between said Amherst Lease and said amended Wade Lease, and
<PAGE>
 
          WHEREAS, Amherst and Elkay have determined that it would be to the
best interest of all parties hereto that Amherst and Elkay exchange said Areas 1
and 2, and Dingess-Rum has agreed to consent to such exchange.

          NOW, THEREFORE, THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH:  That for and in
consideration of the premises and the rights, benefits and obligations of the
parties hereto, the receipt and sufficiency of all of which is hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree, subject to the terms and provisions
hereof as follows:

          1.  Elkay and Dingess-Rum agree that the coal in the Coalburg and
Stockton seams and in any and all seams of coal located at an elevation above
same, in the aforementioned outcrop Area A and B of Area 1 is hereby deleted
from the aforementioned amended Wade Lease, and that all coal within said seams
of coal in the aforementioned outcrop area A in said Area 2 is hereby included
in and as a part of said amended Wade Lease, all as of the date of this
agreement to the same extent and effect as if said Area 1 had never been
included in said amended Wade Lease and as if said Area 2 had at all times been
included in as a part of said amended Wade Lease; and that said amended Wade
Lease shall otherwise remain in full force and effect and, as so amended, is
hereby in all respects approved, ratified and confirmed.

          2.  Amherst and Dingess-Rum agree that the coal in the Coalburg and
Stockton seams and in any and all seams of coal located at an elevation above
same in said outcrop Area A of said Area 2 is hereby deleted from said Amherst
Lease and that all coal within said seams in said outcrop Areas A and B of said
Area 1 is hereby included in and as a part of said Amherst Lease, all as of the
date of this agreement, to the same extent

                                     - 2 -
<PAGE>
 
and effect as if said Area 2 had never been included in said Amherst Lease and
as if said Area 1 had at all times been included in and as a part of said
Amherst Lease; and that said Amherst Lease shall otherwise remain in full force
and effect, and, as so amended, is hereby approved, ratified and confirmed.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said parties have hereunto caused their respective
corporate names to be signed hereto and their respective corporate seals to be
hereunto affixed by their respective officers duly authorized so to do all as of
the date first hereinbefore written.

                                        AMHERST COAL COMPANY,
                                        a corporation as aforesaid

                                        BY: /s/ H. E. Jones Jr.
                                           ------------------------------------

                                         Its:  President
                                             ----------------------------------

                                        ELKAY MINING COMPANY,
                                        a corporation as aforesaid

                                        BY:  /s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                                           -----------------------------------
                                             
                                         Its:  Vice President
                                             ---------------------------------

                                        DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY
                                        a corporation as a foresaid

                                        BY: /s/ Rolla D. Campbell
                                           -----------------------------------

                                         Its:  President
                                             ---------------------------------

                                                                          [SEAL]

                                     - 3 -
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF KANAWHA, TO-WIT:

     I, Doris M. Morris, a Notary Public in and for the county and state 
aforesaid do hereby certify that H. E. Jones, Jr. who signed the writing hereto
annexed, bearing date the 2nd day of July, 1979, for AMHERST COAL COMPANY, a
corporation, has this day before me in my said county and state acknowledged the
said writing to be the act and deed of said corporation.


    Given under my hand this 19th day of July, 1979.

    My commission expires May 3, 1989.

                                             /s/ Doris M. Morris
                                           --------------------------  
                                                 Notary Public


STATE OF VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF RUSSELL, TO-WIT:

     I, Helen R. Benton, a Notary Public in and for the county and state 
aforesaid do hereby certify that [NAME APPEARS HERE] who signed the writing
hereto annexed, bearing date the 2nd day of July, 1979, for ELKAY MINING
COMPANY, a corporation, has this day before me in my said county, and state
acknowledged the said writing to be the act and deed of said corporation.

    Given under my hand and NOTARIAL SEAL this 2nd day of July, 1979.

    My commission expires Sept. 22, 1980.

                                              /s/ Helen R. Benton
                                            ----------------------------- 
                                              Notary Public

                                     - 4 -
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF CABELL, TO-WIT:

     I, Mary K. Nash, a Notary Public in and for the county and state aforesaid,
do hereby certify that Rolla D. Campbell, who signed the writing hereto annexed
bearing date the 2nd day of July, 1979, for DINGESS RUM COAL COMPANY, a
corporation, has this day before me in my said county and state acknowledged the
said writing to be the act and deed of said corporation.

     Given under my hand this 20th day of July, 1979.

     My commission expires June 6, 1987.
     
                                             /s/ Mary K. Nash
                                           -------------------------------
                                                  Notary Public


This instrument prepared by:

JOHN C. VALENTINE, Attorney
Box 840
Logan, West Virginia 25601
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


                               AMENDMENT OF LEASE
                               ------------------

     THIS AMENDMENT OF LEASE, effective as of the 1st day of January, 1984,
("Effective Date") and executed on the dates hereinafter set forth is by and
between DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY, a West Virginia corporation, whose address is
Post Office Box 386, Huntington, West Virginia  25708, hereinafter called
"Lessor", and AMHERST COAL COMPANY, a West Virginia corporatiqn, whose address
is Lundale, West Virginia  25631, hereinafter called "Lessee."

     WHEREAS, by an instrument entitled "Deed of Lease and Agreement" dated the
1st day of June, 1962, Lessor and Lessee merged, consolidated and extended what
was therein described as the "McGregor Lease" and the "Rum Creek Lease", as each
had theretofore been supplemented and amended, and the leasehold estates
existing thereunder, which instrument was supplemented by an instrument entitled
"Supplemental Deed of Lease and Agreement" dated January 1, 1968, between the
same parties, and was further supplemented by an instrument entitled
"Supplemental Deed of Lease and Agreement" dated the 1st day of June, 1973,
between the same parties, and as supplemented will be hereinafter referred to as
the "Amherst Lease."

                                  WITNESSETH:
                                  -----------

     NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises herein and of the
covenants, terms and conditions of the Amherst Lease to be kept and performed by
the Lessee and Lessor, the parties hereto do hereby supplement and amend the
Amherst Lease as follows:

     1.  Article II of the Amherst Lease, entitled "Property" is hereby amended
by striking the first full paragraph appearing on page 27 and continuing on page
28 in its entirety and substituting therefor the following paragraph:

     "The Lessee shall have the right during the term of this lease to take and
use only for mining and incidental operations on the leased premises such timber
except poplar and black walnut measuring thirteen inches and under in diameter
over the bark two feet from the ground on the upper side of the tree at the time
of cutting.  Lessee shall not have the right to sell any such timber or products
thereof.  Lessor reserves the right to take or destroy all timber on the demised
premises, as may be reasonably incidental to the conduct of its timber
operations or the exercise of any of its other reserved rights, and will give
reasonable advance notice to Lessee of any such proposed taking or destruction
by Lessor or by any person claiming under Lessor. The Lessee shall not be held
accountable for any damage to any timber, including poplar and black walnut, on
the leased premises which is occasioned by Lessee's mining operations and other
activities in connection therewith on the leased premises or on other properties
or lands operated in connection therewith,

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


including the construction of roads, valley fills, drainage facilities,
trainways, power lines, pipe lines, and any and all other facilities of the
Lessee used or useful in connection with its mining and incidental operations on
the leased premises or on other properties or lands operated in connection
therewith or for any damage to any such timber by reason of the location of or
combustion of any refuse piles or dumps if the notice hereinafter reguired is
given to Lessor and such operations and activities are conducted in accordance
with good mining practices. At any time when the Lessee is about to conduct any
mining operation (surface or deep), construction, or build any structure or
facility which will necessitate the cutting of timber, Lessee will give to the
Lessor at least six (6) months written notice of major areas where the timber
thereon must be removed. If Lessor fails to remove the timber from such areas
within six (6) months after such notice is given, the Lessee shall thereafter
have the right to cut and burn or remove such timber without being obligated to
pay for it. Lessee is under no obligation to provide roadways or other
facilities by which the Lessor may recover any such logs, though the Lessor may
use the Lessee's roadways therefor. Lessor's use of Lessee's roadways shall not
unreasonably interfere with the Lessee's use thereof. The Lessor desires, by
following good forestry practices, to develop the property as a timber property
insofar as such may be done without unreasonably limiting or interfering with
any of the rights of the Lessee hereunder. Lessee is in sympathy with the
Lessor's such desire and, to the end of promoting the attainment of the Lessor's
desire, the Lessee will cooperate with the Lessor by avoiding injury, as far as
is reasonably practicable, to the Lessor's timber interests in the Lessee:s
exercise of its rights hereunder. This statement of the Lessee's willingness
to cooperate with the Lessor is a statement of intent only and is not to be
taken as any limitation or restriction on the Lessee's rights to conduct mining
operations (surface or deep) or to take timber hereunder."

     2.  Article III of the Amherst Lease, entitled "Term" appearing on page
29, is hereby amended by adding to the end of the first paragraph thereof the
words, "..., but such termination shall not relieve Lessee of its obligations
arising as a result of its operations hereunder."

     Furthermore, said Article III is hereby amended by striking the words
"...to arbitration..." appearing in the fifth line of the third full paragraph
thereof on page 29 of the Amherst Lease and substituting therefor the words
"... for resolution..."

     3.  Article IV of the Amherst Lease, entitled "Rights and Privileges of
Lessee" appearing on page 30, is hereby amended by striking the first paragraph
thereof in its entirety and substituting therefor the following paragraph:

          "The Lessor, for the duration of this lease, demises and lets unto the
     Lessee all such mining rights and privileges in the leased premises as are
     vested in or

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


     exercisable by the Lessor and which it has the lawful right to demise and
     let to the Lessee, and, subject to the foregoing and the limitations in
     this lease set forth (including those applicable to the Eagle or No. 2 Gas
     seam area surrendered as aforesaid), the Lessee shall have the superior
     right to use free of charge so much of the surface of the leased premises
     (subject to the provisions of Article V, Section 2 and Article VI, Section
     6 hereof), the stone, the sand and water therein and thereon as may be
     necessary or convenient in the exercise of the mining rights herein demised
     in connection with the Lessee's operations on the leased premises and on
     other properties or lands operated in connection therewith (in this lease
     such other properties or lands shall include lands in Logan and Wyoming
     Counties, West Virginia which the Lessee now owns, leases or controls, or
     which the Lessee may hereafter own, lease or control through purchase,
     lease or otherwise) and without limiting the generality of the foregoing:"

     4.  Section 5 of said Article IV, is hereby amended by striking the words
"...to arbitration..." appearing in the last line of the first paragraph of
said section on page 32 of the Amherst Lease and substituting therefor the words
"...for resolution..."

     5.  Section 6 of said Article IV, is hereby amended by striking from the
first paragraph of said section the following language appearing on page 33 of
the Amherst Lease:

     "...and not otherwise (except that any tipple or cleaning plant on the
     leased premises may be used and the incidental rights herein provided may
     be had and exercised on a temporary basis for the processing and loading of
     coal ordinarily processed and loaded at any plant of the Lessee elsewhere
     maintained and operated by the Lessee in the event of any emergency
     relating to such other plant of the Lessee) ..."

     Furthermore, Section 6 of said Article IV is hereby amended by striking the
second paragraph appearing on pages 34 and 35 of said section in its entirety
and substituting therefor the following paragraph:

         "The Lessee shall have the right to move coal from places where mined
     on the leased premises over other lands en route to Lessee's tipples and
     preparation plants, but no wheelage and processing charges shall be made by
     Lessor for any such coal mined on Dingess-Rum lands by reason of the fact
     that following a circuitous route from the place of mining to the place of
     processing and/or loading said coal shall have moved over lands other than
     those of the Lessor.

     6.  Section 7 of said Article IV, appearing on page 35, is hereby amended
by striking said section in its entirety and substituting therefor the following
Section 7:

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


         "7.  The exercise and use of the rights and privileges granted to the
     Lessee by this Article IV shall not be restricted to exercise and use by
     the Lessee only in connection with the Lessee's mining and incidental
     operations on the leased premises, but (subject to the provisions of this
     lease) shall extend to the exercise and use by the Lessee in connection
     with Lessee's mining operations on other lands operated by Lessee in
     connection therewith and without charge to the Lessee by the Lessor, except
     as may be provided in this lease."

     7.  Section 8 of said Article IV, appearing on page 35, is hereby amended
by striking from said section beginning on line two thereof the following
language:

     "... except upon a temporary basis in cases of emergency as herein
     provided,..."

     8.  Section 8 of said Article IV is hereby further amended by striking from
said section the words "...resolved by arbitration..." appearing in lines 10
and 11 on page 35 of the Amherst Lease and substituting therefor the words
"...submitted for resolution... "

     9.  There is hereby added to the Amherst Lease a Section 9 to Article IV as
follows:

         "9.  Lessee shall have the full and unrestricted right as necessary and
     convenient for its coal mining operations on the leased premises and other
     properties operated in connection therewith to enter upon and use the
     surface of the leased premises to construct and operate drains, drainways,
     valley fills, silt ponds and to store and place overburden thereon. Any
     such proposed use of the surface of the leased premises shall become part
     of Lessee's mining plans, subject to the provisions of Section 2 of
     Article V of this lease. In disposing of any such refuse or overburden on
     the leased premises as permitted in this Article IV, Lessee shall comply
     with all laws, rules and regulations promulgated by any governmental
     authority, State or Federal, and shall indemnify Lessor from all claims of
     any third party for damages resulting therefrom and shall, during the term
     of this lease and at all times thereafter, be fully and completely
     responsible for the alteration, modification and/or removal of such
     deposits which shall be required by any governmental agency, including but
     not limited to, the elimination of any fires, drainage or ecological
     problems or other environmental hazards."

     10.  The first paragraph of Section 1 of Article V, entitled "Methods,
Development and Work, and Recovery of Coal" appearing on page 36 of the Amherst
Lease is hereby stricken in its entirety and there is substituted in lieu
thereof the following paragraph:

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


          "It is recognized that mining operations have heretofore been
     conducted on the leased premises by Lessee and its predecessor lessees and
     that Lessee has fully accounted to the Lessor for all such coal mined,
     lost, or abandoned prior to January 1, 1984, (the Effective Date of the
     Amendment of Lease), except for the coal in Lessee's Paragon Mine about
     which the parties acknowledge that there is a dispute between them
     regarding Lessee's obligation to mine the coal remaining therein."

     11.  Said Section 1 of Article V is hereby further amended by striking in
their entirety the third and fourth paragraphs thereof appearing on page 39 and
substituting the following paragraphs:

         "The Lessee covenants that it will diligently conduct and develop its
     mining operations so as to mine all of the mineable and marketable coal
     from the leased premises during the term hereof as is practicable
     considering Lessee's overall mining plans for the leased premises and other
     properties operated in connection therewith.  Lessee shall conduct all of
     its mining operations hereunder in a careful, skillful and workmanlike
     manner according to the rules and practices of good mining and with due
     regard to the value of the leased premises as a coal property.  Lessee in
     conducting its coal mining operations on the leased premises shall comply
     with the present and any future laws and regulations of the United States,
     the State of West Virginia and its political subdivisions.  Lessee shall
     have the right to contest the validity and enforceability of such laws and
     regulations and any alleged violation thereof without violating the
     provisions of this lease or forfeiting any rights or privileges it may have
     hereunder.

         With regard to coal mined from the leased premises or other lands
     operated in connection therewith, Lessee shall have the right to size,
     process, clean, ship and/or load such coal from points (including points
     other than on Lessor's property) as Lessee in its sole discretion shall
     determine as necessary or convenient consistent with its mining plans and
     marketing opportunities.

       Consistent with its mining plans and marketing opportunities, the Lessee
  covenants that it will employ and maintain in good order and repair such
  plants, tipples, loading facilities, machinery and equipment in conjunction
  with its operations on the leased premises and on other lands operated in
  connection therewith to allow for the proper and full development of the
  leased premises so as to enable the Lessee to comply with and perform its
  obligations under this lease.  Subject to its obligations set forth in this
  lease, Lessee may make such replacements, renewals and additions as Lessee may
  determine and Lessee may, during the term of this lease, erect, place,
  dismantle or remove any

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


     such plant and equipment on the leased premises or on its other properties
     operated in connection therewith.

The parties hereto recognize that Lessee may, from time to time, during the term
of this lease be mining on the leased premises or on other lands operated in
connection therewith and there may be times when the Lessee may not be mining on
the leased premises.  Lessee shall have the right to plan its mining operations
on the leased premises and on other lands operated in connection therewith in
such manner as may seem most practical and economical to it consistent with its
mining obligations hereunder.  Lessee shall determine the order in which it will
mine seams of coal on the leased premises and the methods by which such coal
will be mined.  The parties hereto realize that it is in the best interests of
both to obtain from the leased premises the greatest recovery of coal that is
consistent with good mining practices and the market opportunities for such
coal, and that in order to do so the leased premises should be mined so as not
to unreasonably damage or unreasonably make unmineable any seam or part thereof.
Accordingly, Lessee covenants and agrees to develop the leased premises and the
seams thereunder in such a manner as will produce the highest practicable
recovery of coal consistent with economic mining practices and the market for
such coal and that each seam underlying the leased premises will be mined and
operated so as to avoid all unnecessary or unreasonable damage to other seams of
coal thereunder.  Lessee shall have the sole discretion to determine from time
to time the timing of operations hereunder in the mining and selling of coal
from Lessee's coal mining operations on the leased premises and other properties
operated in connection therewith.  Nothing contained herein however shall permit
the Lessee to discriminate against the leased premises in the mining and selling
of coal from the leased premises and other properties operated in connection
therewith.  Lessee shall give appropriate  consideration to the kinds and
qualities of coal available on the leased premises as compared with kinds and
qualities of coal on Lessee's other properties operated in connection therewith
and the Lessee's economic, mining and marketing plans.  The minimum annual
royalties provided in Article VI hereof shall compensate the Lessor for the
periods during which no mining is being conducted by the Lessee on the leased
premises, provided Lessee is otherwise in compliance with its mining obligations
hereunder."

     12.  Section 1 of Article V, is hereby further amended by striking in its
entirety the second full paragraph appearing on page 40 of the Amherst Lease.

     13.  Section 2 of said Article V is hereby amended by striking the second
paragraph thereof appearing on page 41 in its entirety and substituting therefor
the following paragraph:

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


          "No material change in, modification of, or departure from any plans
     so approved, shall be made in the development or operation of any mine
     (other than changes required in the event of an emergency, of which Lessee
     shall immediately notify Lessor) except as requested in writing by the
     Lessee and agreed to and approved in writing by the Lessor, such request to
     be accompanied by plans illustrating such change, modification, or
     departure and a statement of the reasons therefor. If the Lessor shall not
     approve or disapprove any plan, change, or modification within fifteen (15)
     days after the submission of same shall have been made to an officer or
     engineer of Lessor in person or by mailing to the Lessor at its United
     States Post Office address provided for by Article XVIII hereof, the Lessee
     may again request approval by sending a telegram to Lessor at its said
     office address, and which telegram need only call attention to the original
     request, and if, after the expiration of five (5) days following the date
     on which such telegram is sent, the Lessor shall not have disapproved the
     request and shall not have given notice of such disapproval to the Lessee,
     then such plan, change, or modification shall be deemed approved by the
     Lessor. The Lessor shall not unreasonably withhold approval of any such
     plan, change, or modification. The approval of Lessee's mining plans shall
     not impose on Lessor any liability with respect to Lessee's operations
     pursuant thereto."

     14.  Section 3 of said Article V is hereby amended by adding after the
first sentence of the first paragraph appearing on page 42 of the Amherst Lease,
the following language:

     "Lessor shall give Lessee reasonable notice of its intent to make such
     inspection, examination, survey or measurements of the leased premises.
     Lessee shall have the opportunity to have its agent or engineer accompany
     Lessor's representatives.  Lessor shall assume all responsibilities for any
     injury, to any of its agents, engineers, or other persons in its behalf who
     may enter the mines or works of Lessee, or otherwise as a result of its
     rights under this paragraph, unless such injury is caused by the negligence
     of Lessee."

          15.  Section 3 of said Article V is hereby further amended by striking
     from said section the words "...to arbitration..." appearing on lines 11
     and 12 on page 43 of the Amherst Lease and substituting therefor the words
     "...for resolution..."

          16.  Section 4 of said Article V is hereby amended as follows:

     i) by striking from said section the words "...the arbitrators
     determine..." appearing in lines 15 and 16 on page 44 of the Amherst Lease
     and substituting therefor the words "...as may be determined as provided in
     Article XVI hereof... ";

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


     ii) by striking from said section the words "...to arbitration..."
     appearing in line 21 of the first full paragraph on page 45 of the Amherst
     Lease and substituting therefor the words "...for resolution..."; and

     iii) by striking from said section the words "...or which a board of
     arbitration determines... appearing in line 3 of the first full paragraph
     on page 47 of the Amherst Lease and substituting therefor the words "...or
     which is determined pursuant to Article XVI hereof..."

     17.  Section 5 of said Article V is hereby amended as follows:

     i) by striking from said section the words "...to arbitration..." appearing
     in line 20 on page 48 of the Amherst Lease and substituting therefor the
     words "...for resolution...";

     ii) by striking from said section the words "...in the event of arbitration
     to the extent determined thereby..." appearing in lines 22 and 23 on page
     48 of the Amherst Lease and substituting therefor the words "...as may be
     determined as provided in Article XVI hereof..."; and

     iii) by striking from said section the words "...determined by
     arbitration..." appearing in line 27 on page 48 of the Amherst Lease and
     substituting therefor the words "...as may be determined as provided in
     Article XVI hereof...".

     18.  Section 8 of said Article V is hereby amended as follows:

     i) by striking from said section the words "to arbitration... appearing
     in line 13 on page 52 of the Amherst Lease and substituting therefor the
     words "...for resolution as provided in Article XVI hereof ...";

     ii) by striking from said section the words "...the arbitrators decide such
     issue..." appearing in lines 20 and 21 on page 52 of the Amherst Lease and
     substituting therefor the words "...such issue is resolved as provided in
     Article XVI hereof...";

     iii) by striking from said section the words "...the arbitrators decide
     such issue..." appearing in lines 23 and 24 on page 52 of the Amherst Lease
     and substituting therefor the words "...such issue is resolved as provided
     in Article XVI hereof... ";

     iv) by striking from said section the words "...of arbitrators..."
     appearing in line 1 on page 53 of the Amherst Lease and substituting
     therefor the words "...rendered pursuant to Article XVI hereof, ...";
     and

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


     v) by striking from said section lines 9 through 19 appearing on page 55 of
     the Amherst Lease and substituting therefor the following language:

          "...thereof, then the party causing the core drilling to be done may
          submit for resolution as provided in Article XVI hereof the issue of
          the responsibility of the other party for one-half of the expenses
          thereof, and for so much of said core drilling as may be decided
          pursuant to such resolution process to have been reasonably necessary
          to obtain such information, the other party shall reimburse the party
          causing the drilling to be done one-half of the cost thereof; or the
          party desiring core drilling or further core drilling, as the case may
          be, may submit for resolution as provided in Article XVI hereof the
          need therefor, and such core drilling or further core drilling as may
          be decided pursuant to such resolution process to be proper to be done
          to obtain such information, shall be done at the joint and equal
          expense of the parties."

     19.  Section 10 of said Article V appearing on page 55 of the Amherst Lease
is hereby amended by striking said section in its entirety and substituting
therefor the following Section 10:

          "10.  If the Lessor and the Lessee disagree with respect to any matter
     arising under this Article V hereof, whether or not a resolution process is
     specifically mentioned in connection therewith, the disagreement between
     the Lessor and the Lessee shall be submitted for resolution in the manner
     and with the effect provided for by Article XVI hereof."

     20.  Section 1 of Article VI, entitled "Rental, Royalties, and Wheelage and
Processing Payments" appearing on pages 56, 57, and 58 of the Amherst Lease is
hereby stricken in its entirety and there is substituted in lieu thereof the
following Section 1:

          "1.  From and after the Effective Date of the Amendment of Lease,
     Lessee covenants and agrees to pay to Lessor, without demand, for each ton
     of 2,000 pounds of coal mined and sold hereunder from the leased premises,
     a tonnage royalty in an amount equal to,

     i) the greater of three and one-half percent (3 1/2%) of the average
     selling price of such coal or $1.25 per ton of such coal;

     ii) commencing January 1, 1985, the greater of four percent (4%) of the
     average selling price of such coal or $1.25 per ton of such coal;

     iii) commencing January 1, 1990, the greater of five percent (5%) of the
     average selling price of such coal or $1.25 per ton of such coal; and

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


     iv) commencing January 1, 2000 and thereafter, the greater of six percent
     (6%) of the average selling price of such coal or $1.25 per ton of such
     coal, so long as this lease remains in effect.

The sum of $1.25 per ton minimum tonnage royalty shall not be adjusted during
                                 -------  
the term of this lease. The sum of $1.25 regarding minimum annual royalties 
                                                           ------  
shall be adjusted as provided in Section 4 of Article VI hereof.

     All tonnage royalty shall be based on the actual weight of such coal as
shipped and sold. In the event such coal is sized, processed and/or cleaned for
market, then the actual weight of such coal shall be the weight of such coal
after sizing, processing and/or cleaning for market by Lessee. Such weight is to
be determined by any reasonably accurate method by a system selected by the
Lessee, subject to inspection by Lessor. Lessee is not obligated or required to
size, process and/or clean such coal. Coal sold which is shipped by rail or
water transportation shall be paid for by Lessee on the basis of railroad or
barge weights as the case may be. The weight of coal sold which is shipped by
truck or conveyor or by other than rail or water transportation, or used by
Lessee for its own purposes, shall be determined in a manner commonly used in
the coal mining industry.

     The term "average selling price" shall be the actual dollar amount charged
by the Lessee for such coal f.o.b. Lessee's loading points without deduction for
selling expense or agents', brokers', or middlemen's commissions or discounts,
or other deductions of any kind, but reduced by a sum determined by multiplying
the applicable percentage tonnage royalty rate by a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be the price per ton charged by Lessee as provided above and the
denominator shall be one (1) plus the applicable percentage tonnage royalty
rate. For example, assume a tonnage royalty rate of 5% and a price per ton
charged by Lessee of $35.00, the average selling price would be $33.33 derived
as follows:

     $35.00-[0.05[$35.00 divided by (1.00 + 0.05)]] = $33.33

Furthermore, it is specifically understood and agreed, however, that upon any
sale by Lessee to a domestic non-user of coal, which domestic non-user does not
break bulk or take physical delivery of the coal, the average selling price of
such coal shall be increased by an amount equal to five percent (5%) of such
average selling price, provided, however, such increase shall not apply to any
coal sold by Lessee for export beyond the continental limits of the United
States of America.

     In case any of the coal mined from the leased premises shall be sold by
Lessee at other than arms-length, the average selling price shall be calculated
as provided above on the price actually charged by other operator's in arms-
length transactions in the area of the leased premises producing and selling
coal of similar

                                      10
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


quality and quantities under similar circumstances, as determined from the most
accurate and reliable information available.

     The average selling price per ton for coal mined from the leased premises
which is consumed on or off the leased premises by the Lessee in any calendar
month shall be the average price per ton of all coal mined from the leased
premises and sold during such calendar month calculated by dividing the total
dollar sales for all coal sold from the leased premises during such calendar
month by the total number of tons of such coal sold during that calendar month,
but reduced by a sum as determined above.

     The existence of a dispute as to any amount of tonnage royalty due Lessor
shall not relieve Lessee from paying when due the amount not in dispute, and the
receipt of such amount shall not be treated as a waiver by Lessor of any of its
claims with respect to any amounts in dispute.

     If, pursuant to any provisions of this lease, Lessee is required to pay
Lessor for any coal not mined by Lessee, payment shall be made upon the basis of
the tonnage royalty rate applicable during the calendar month the obligation to
pay for such unmined coal arises applied against the weighted average of the
average selling price in effect for such month. Such average selling price shall
be based on the average selling price of coal mined and sold from the leased
premises. If coal is not being mined and sold, such average selling price shall
be based on coal being sold by other operators, as provided above."

     21.  Section 2 of said Article VI is hereby stricken in its entirety and
there is substituted in lieu thereof the following Section 2:

          "2.  Lessee shall submit payment to Lessor on or before the 25th day
     of the month, for tonnage royalties and wheelage and processing charges
     which accrued during the preceding calendar month. At the time of such
     payment, Lessee shall provide to Lessor a written statement showing for
     such month the following information:

          a)  the quantity and average selling price of the coal sold which had
          been produced from the leased premises;

          b)  the amount of tonnage royalty accrued;

          c)  the amount of minimum annual royalties paid but not yet recouped;

          d)  the amount of penalty payments recouped;

          e)  the amount of tonnage royalty payable;

          f)  the number of tons of coal brought onto the leased premises
          subject to a wheelage and processing charge;

                                      11
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


          g)  the amount of wheelage and processing charges payable;

          h)  the number of tons of coal mined from the leased premises which
          were consumed by the Lessee and the average selling price of such
          consumed coal;

          i)  identification of the mine and coal seam from which coal is
          produced on the leased premises;

          j)  tons of coal produced from the leased premises;

          k)  tonnage royalty rate applicable;

          l)  applicable tonnage royalties per ton;

          m)  a summary of coal produced from the leased premises categorized by
          tract identification numbers from tax maps to be supplied by Lessor;
          and

          n)  a list of railroad weights and car numbers applicable to coal
          produced from the leased premises.

Lessee shall keep accurate and correct books and records of such information for
no less than five (5) years. Upon reasonable notice the Lessor shall, at
reasonable times, have access to such books and records for the purpose of
copying and verifying the statements rendered by Lessee to the Lessor under this
provision.

     22.  Section 3 of said Article VI, is hereby amended by striking said
section in its entirety and substituting therefor the following Section 3:

          "3.  In the process of cleaning, preparing, loading, shipping and
     marketing coal mined from the leased premises, the Lessee shall have the
     right to mix and commingle coal mined from the leased premises with coal
     not mined from the leased premises, but in order that the coal mined from
     the leased premises may be properly accounted for and the tonnage royalty
     thereon properly paid to the Lessor, the Lessee shall adopt and follow a
     plan for that purpose which is generally accepted and followed by the coal
     mining industry in like or similar situations which plan shall be approved
     in writing by Lessor's chief engineer, which approval shall not be
     unreasonably withheld. For the purpose of computing tonnage royalty based
     on the average selling price, the price per ton of coal sold hereunder and
     commingled with coal sold from other properties shall be the average
     selling price (as determined above) per ton of the commingled coal. If
     either party hereto has reason to believe that the price per ton of
     commingled coal which contains coal from the leased premises is sold at a
     price significantly greater or less than the true fair market value of the
     coal from the leased premises which is

                                      12
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


     commingled, the party having such belief may request the other party to
     confer with it in good faith in an effort to determine whether or not the
     tonnage royalty paid on the coal from the leased premises which was
     commingled was significantly different from the tonnage royalty which would
     have been paid on the coal from the leased premises commingled had such
     coal sold at what such party believed to be its true fair market value,
     viewed in light of the method used to determine such tonnage royalty and
     Lessee's market opportunities.  If the parties hereto determine
     appropriate, based upon the review described above, an adjustment in the
     tonnage royalty paid shall be made."

     23.  The first paragraph of Section 4 of said Article VI, appearing on page
59 of the Amherst Lease, is hereby stricken in its entirety and there is
substituted in lieu thereof the following language:

          "4.  Lessee shall pay to Lessor a minimum annual royalty (or rental)
     until such time as such minimum annual royalty shall cease as is
     hereinafter provided, as follows:

     i)  For each of the calendar years 1984 and 1985, a sum equal to the
     product of $1.25 per ton multiplied by 320,000 tons.

     ii) For the calendar year 1986 and each calendar year thereafter, a sum
     equal to the product of $1.25 per ton (as such sum of $1.25 per ton may be
     increased or decreased as provided below) multiplied by 400,000 tons.

          Beginning with the calendar year 1987 and for each calendar year
     thereafter during the term of this lease for the purpose of computing
     minimum annual royalty, said amount of $1.25 shall be increased or
     decreased to an amount equal to $1.25 multiplied by a fraction, the
     numerator of which shall be the "Consumer Price Index, All Urban Consumers,
     1967=100", compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of December 31 of
     the preceding year and the denominator of which shall be the CPI-U as of
     December 31, 1985. If for any reason the CPI-U is discontinued, then the
     parties hereto shall select an appropriate substitute therefor. Any
     adjustment made to the said sum of $1.25 under the provisions of this
     paragraph shall only effect minimum annual royalties and shall not affect
                                         ------
     the sum of $1.25 per ton minimum tonnage royalty provided in Section 1 of
                                      -------  
     Article VI."

     24.  The second paragraph of Section 4 of said Article VI, appearing on
pages 59 and 60 of the Amherst Lease, is hereby stricken in its entirety and
there is substituted in lieu thereof the following paragraph:

          "If the tonnage royalties paid as hereinabove provided in any one
     calendar year do not amount to as much as the

                                      13
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                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


     minimum annual royalty for such year, then the Lessee shall have the right
     of mining during any one or more of the next five succeeding calendar
     years, but not thereafter, free from tonnage royalty, a sufficient amount
     of coal at the tonnage royalty rates herein provided above the amount
     necessary to produce the minimum annual royalty for each of such succeeding
     years to reimburse the Lessee for the deficiency between the tonnage
     royalty and the minimum annual royalty paid during that calendar year.  No
     payment of tonnage royalties in excess of the minimum annual royalty for
     any one year shall be credited against a deficiency occurring in any
     subsequent year."

     25.  The fourth paragraph of said Section 4 appearing on page 60 of the
Amherst Lease, is hereby stricken in its entirety and there is substituted in
lieu thereof the following paragraph:

          "During any calendar year that this lease is in effect, if the Lessee
     is prevented for a period of thirty (30) days or more from carrying on its
     mining operations upon the leased premises because of an event or
     occurrence beyond the control of the Lessee such as, without limiting the
     generality of the foregoing, an act of God, war, insurrection, riot, strike
     or other labor disturbance, accident to plant and equipment, unavoidable
     casualty or incident, flood, interruption to transportation, inability to
     obtain or retain a necessary permit, act or order of civil or military
     authority, legislation, regulation or administrative ruling, (any such
     event or events hereinafter referred to as "force majeure", provided,
     however, that lack of market or low coal prices shall not be considered an
     event of force majeure), it shall be relieved from the payment of the
     minimum annual royalty for such calendar year by an amount equal to the
     minimum annual royalty due for such calendar year multiplied by a fraction
     the numerator of which is the number of calendar days during which
     operations are prevented because of force majeure, less thirty (30) days,
     (provided such force majeure occurred for thirty (30) or more consecutive
     calendar days) and the denominator of which shall be 365 days, provided,
     furthermore however, in any event the minimum annual royalty due in any
     calendar year shall not be reduced by more than fifty percent (50%)."

     26.  Section 5 of said Article VI appearing on page 61 of the Amherst
Lease, is hereby amended by striking said section in its entirety and
substituting in lieu thereof the following new Section 5:

          "5.  Whenever the Lessee's mining operations shall have proceeded to
     the point of exhaustion of the coal on the leased premises at which the
     quantity of the mineable and marketable coal remaining unmined upon the
     leased premises is such that the then rate of mining in keeping with good
     mining practices is insufficient to produce in any calendar year a total
     tonnage royalty equal to the minimum annual

                                      14
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


     royalty, then at that time such minimum annual royalty shall cease, and the
     Lessee shall be required to pay only the tonnage royalty on such coal as it
     may thereafter sell or use.  Furthermore, whenever the total unrecouped
     minimum annual royalties and/or penalties shall amount to a sum of money
     which equals the tonnage royalty on all of the remaining mineable and
     marketable coal in the leased premises and for which payment has not been
     made, (such sum computed at the average tonnage royalty rates for the
     calendar year prior to such determination), Lessee shall not thereafter be
     required to pay any further minimum annual royalty, but may mine such
     remaining coal free of tonnage royalty until it shall have mined sufficient
     coal as will, at the tonnage royalty rates in effect at the time the coal
     is mined, reimburse it for the sum of such accumulated unrecouped minimum
     annual royalties and/or penalties as permitted and limited in Section 4 of
     Article VI and Article XXI  respectively of this lease.

          If the Lessor and the Lessee shall be unable to agree upon the time at
     which such minimum annual royalty shall cease, the matter in difference
     shall be submitted for resolution in the manner and with effect as provided
     by Article XVI hereof."

     27.  Section 6 of said Article VI, appearing on page 61 and page 62 of the
Amherst Lease is hereby amended by striking from said section the language
beginning on the third line on page 62 through the end of said section and
substituting therefor the following language:

     "..."wheelage and processing charges," for each ton of raw or clean coal
     shipped which is transported, processed or loaded on the leased premises,
     at the following respective rates per ton for such coal:

          i)  three cents (3 cents) per ton of such coal mined from the Lawson
          lands (i.e. the 1450 acre tract described on page 7 of this lease);

          ii)  ten cents (10 cents) per ton of such coal mined from the No. 5
          Block seam of coal on properties other than the leased premises and
          the Lawson lands; and

          iii)  1/2 of 1% of the average selling price (to be not less than 5 
          cents per ton nor more than 25 cents per ton) of any such other coal
          mined or purchased from any property other than the leased premises,
          provided, however, that no charge shall be made for a) any coal which
          is mined or purchased from any property owned by the Lessor or b) any
          coal mined from the property controlled by the Lessee under that
          certain lease effective January 1, 1984, by and between Kelly-Hatfield
          Land Company and Lessee, containing approximately 747 acres more or
          less, which is transported over or under the leased

                                      15
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


          premises to Buffalo Creek, Logan County, West Virginia, but not
          processed or loaded on the leased premises."

     28.  Section 7 of said Article VI, appearing on page 62 and page 63 of the
Amherst Lease is hereby amended by striking said section in its entirety and
substituting therefore the following Section 7:

          "7.  In the event the Lessee shall store on the leased premises any
     coal mined from the leased premises or brought onto the leased premises by
     the Lessee from other properties, instead of paying the tonnage royalties
     on such coal mined from the leased premises at the time of storage, or the
     wheelage and processing charges on coal mined from other properties at the
     time of the bringing of such coal onto the leased premises, the Lessee may
     pay therefor when such stored coal is sold or used by the Lessee, the
     tonnage royalty rate to be the average tonnage royalty rate applicable
     during the month the coal is stored; but, in any event, such tonnage
     royalties and wheelage and processing charges shall be paid within six (6)
     months after the time when such payments would have been made had such coal
     not been stored, but had been sold. When coal is stored for six (6) months
     or more, it shall be carefully measured in a reasonably accurate manner,
     and the tonnage royalties and the wheelage and processing charges shall be
     paid upon the basis of such measurement. When such coal is sold,
     adjustments (if necessary) in tonnage royalties therefor paid for such coal
     shall be made to reflect the true tonnage royalties due on such coal based
     on its actual weight and the average selling price thereof. Such
     adjustments shall be applied as appropriate to future rent and royalty
     payments which may become due and owing. If no such payments are to become
     due and payable within three (3) months of the last such payment made, any
     payment or refund which may be due either party hereto shall be promptly
     paid by the party owing the same."

     29.  Section 9 of said Article VI, appearing on pages 63 and 64 of the
Amherst Lease is hereby amended by striking the same in its entirety and
substituting in lieu thereof the following Section 9:

          "9.  If at any time hereafter the Lessee shall pay for any coal not
     mined from a particular area of any seam on the leased premises, and Lessee
     shall thereafter mine such coal, the Lessee shall account for the tonnage
     royalties on the coal so mined at the tonnage royalty rates in effect at
     the time such coal is sold but shall be entitled to a full credit on such
     royalties in the total amount of payment previously made on the coal in
     such area until such amount is so recoupede Royalties on coal mined from
     such area in excess of such credit shall be paid by the Lessee to Lessor.
     Lessee may credit such royalties against minimum annual royalties and
     penalties as provided in Article VI and

                                      16
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


     Article XXI of this lease.  Payments for coal not mined may be credited
     upon minimum annual royalties and penalties as provided in Article VI and
     Article XXI of this lease, but shall not be credited upon the minimum
     annual royalty for the year or years in which such coal thereafter may be
     mined in whole or in part."

     30.  Section 10 of said Article VI, appearing on page 64 of the Amherst
Lease is hereby stricken in its entirety.

     31.  Section 11 of said Article VI, appearing on page 64 of the Amherst
Lease is hereby stricken in its entirety.

     32.  Article VII entitled "Hinchman Hollow", of the Amherst Lease is hereby
amended by striking in its entirety Section 1 appearing on pages 64 and 65
thereof.

     33.  Section 3(a) of said Article VII, is hereby amended by striking from
said section the words "...to and determined by arbitration..." appearing in
lines 19 and 20 on page 68 of the Amherst Lease and substituting therefor the
words "...for resolution..."

     34.  Article IX, entitled "Maintenance, Repair, and Use of Mining Plant and
Equipment", appearing on page 75 through page 81 of the Amherst Lease is hereby
stricken in its entirety.

     35.  Article XIII, entitled "Insurance and Fire Control" appearing on page
88 through page 93 of the Amherst Lease is hereby stricken in its entirety and
substituted therefor is a new Article XIII as follows:

     "XIII.  INSURANCE
             ---------

          Lessee carries and maintains combined public liability and property
     damage insurance as of January 1, 1984 in an amount equal to at least
     $20,000,000.00 combined single limit insurance (which is currently subject
     to a self-insured retention (i.e. deductible) of $1,000,000.00). The limits
     of such insurance shall not be altered except upon ten (10) days notice to
     Lessor."

     36.  Article XIV, entitled "Liens for Rents and Royalties" appearing on
pages 93 through 95 is hereby stricken in its entirety and substituted therefor
is a new Article XIV as follows:

     "XIV.  LIENS FOR RENTS AND ROYALTIES
            -----------------------------

          All rents and royalties and other payments herein provided to be made
     by the Lessee to, or for the benefit of, the Lessor shall be treated and
     considered as rent reserved for the leased premises, and the Lessor shall
     have a first and prior lien therefor upon the leasehold estate hereby
     created, and a lien upon all improvements and property of

                                      17
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


     the Lessee thereon which lien shall continue in full force, validity, and
     effect until discharged by payment, irrespective of when such rents,
     royalties, or other payments accrued and became due to be paid, and shall
     in no respect be limited to such rents, royalties, or other payments as
     shall have accrued within one year.  Whenever any such rent, royalty, or
     other payment shall be due to the Lessor and shall remain unpaid for
     fifteen (15) days after written notice of default given by Lessor to
     Lessee, the Lessor may institute legal proceedings in any court of
     competent jurisdiction for the collection of such sums by a sale of the
     movable property of the Lessee on the leased premises, without any
     requirement of delay or notice, other than legal process, irrespective of
     when such rent, royalty or other payment accrued and became due to be paid.
     This remedy of the Lessor shall in no respect be limited to the recovery of
     such rents, royalties, or other payments as shall have accrued within one
     (1) year or by reason of the fact that any property of the Lessee on the
     leased premises be subject to any other lien created after such property
     has been brought upon the leased premises.  At any sale made under this
     Article XIV, the Lessor may become the purchaser of the property sold, free
     from any claim or claims of the Lessee.  Nothing herein contained shall
     prevent Lessee from disposing of or removing from the leased premises any
     of its property."

     37.  Section 1 of Article XV, entitled "Forfeiture of Lease" appearing on
page 96 through page 99 of the Amherst Lease is hereby stricken in its entirety
and substituted therefor is a new Section 1 as follows:

          "1.  It is covenated and agreed and made a condition of this lease
     that prompt payment of the royalties and other sums of money to be paid by
     the Lessee on behalf of the Lessor in the manner provided herein is of the
     essence to this lease.

          If any such royalties or other sums of money to be paid to or for the
     benefit of the Lessor by the Lessee as provided in this lease shall be due
     and unpaid for thirty (30) days after any such payment shall become due and
     written notice of default has been received by the Lessee; or

          If the Lessee shall willfully conduct its mining operations in such
     manner as to cause waste to the leased premises of such character as not to
     be readily remedied by the payment of money and such methods of mining or
     conduct are continued for sixty (60) days after the Lessee has received
     written demand regarding correction thereof, or if money damages shall be
     agreed upon by Lessee and Lessor and are not paid by the Lessee within
     sixty (60) days after the reaching of such agreement; or

                                      18
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


     If the Lessee shall willfully fail to give to Lessor maps, statements, or
other information as may be provided herein to be given by the Lessee to the
Lessor, and shall continue in such failure for thirty (30) days after the Lessee
has received a written request for the same from the Lessor; or

     If the Lessee shall assign or sublet this lease or any part thereof or
shall suffer the sale thereof under foreclosure or mortgage contrary to the
provisions of Article XI hereof; or

     If, in respect of any of the foregoing grounds and conditions other than
those calling for the payment of money, full compliance within any time
specified shall be impractical, compliance shall mean the prompt beginning and
expeditious continuance of performance; then

     In any such event, the Lessor shall have the right to terminate this lease
and the interest of the Lessee hereunder, without further notice or demand or
legal procedures, together with the right to re-enter the leased premises, and
repossess and enjoy the Lessor's former estate, together with all improvements
owned by the Lessee and located thereon, anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding except as to Lessee's liability for sums of money due and owing
to or for the benefit of Lessor, any former indulgences of the Lessee by the
Lessor to the contrary notwithstanding.  And the Lessor at all times shall have
the right of distraint as provided in Article XIV hereof and the benefit of
other proper proceedings in law or in equity and all other remedies as now or
hereafter provided by law for collection of rents due and unpaid and for
regaining possession of the leased premises.  And the Lessee hereby expressly
waives any and all right to recover possession of the leased premises, or to
reinstate or to redeem or to avoid a forfeiture of this lease, the rights and
privileges herein granted, as permitted or provided under any provision of the
law of West Virginia now in effect or hereafter enacted, or by any other law,
ordinance, regulation, or court decision now or hereafter in force and effect.
But nothing contained in the preceding parts of this Article XV, or elsewhere in
this lease, shall be construed to abridge or waive the right of the Lessee to
resort to appropriate judicial proceedings to test the right of the Lessor to
forfeit this lease.

     A waiver by Lessor of any particular cause of forfeiture shall not prevent
forfeiture for any other cause, or for the same cause occurring at any other
time, nor shall the receipt by Lessor from Lessee, or from any other person,
after the occurrence of any cause of forfeiture of which notice has been given
by Lessor to Lessee, of any royalties, rentals, or other payments theretofore or
thereafter accruing to Lessor, or the continued recognition by Lessor

                                      19
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


     of Lessee as its tenant after the occurrence of any cause of forfeiture of
     which notice has been given by Lessor to Lessee, be deemed a waiver of
     Lessor's right to enforce the forfeiture so long as the cause of forfeiture
     continues to exist."

     38.  Article XVI, entitled "Arbitration" appearing on pages 99 through 101
of the Amherst Lease is hereby stricken in its entirety. It is the agreement and
intention of the parties hereto to strike all references to the arbitration
process contained in the Amherst Lease. The parties have attempted to delete all
such references in this Amendment of Lease. Furthermore, there is hereby
substituted for said Article XVI the following new Article XVI to be entitled
"Resolution of Selected Disputes" which shall read as follows:

          "If a dispute arises between the parties regarding the Lessee's mining
     and engineering practices, mine plans, requirement to mine any area of coal
     or any other issue identified in this lease which is to be resolved under
     this Article XVI, then the parties shall submit such dispute for resolution
     to an independent mining engineering consulting firm acceptable to each
     party which is well recognized and established in the Appalachian Coal
     Fields within thirty (30) days after either of them so requests. Notice
     given of such disputes shall state in reasonable detail the issues in
     dispute. The cost of employing such engineering firm shall be borne equally
     by Lessor and Lessee. If the parties hereto are unable to agree on such an
     engineering firm, either party may proceed with the matter in dispute
     before a court of competent jurisdiction.

          Such engineering firm shall make any inspections and examinations of
     the leased premises it determines appropriate. The parties shall cooperate
     with said engineering firm in its investigation and shall supply such
     information and data as it may reasonably request. Said engineering firm
     shall, within thirty (30) days of completing its investigation, submit to
     the parties its written recommendations and opinions with regard to the
     matter in dispute. The parties shall follow such recommendations and
     opinions without delay, unless they should agree otherwise."

     39.  Article XVIII, entitled "Notices" appearing on page 104 of the
Amherst Lease is hereby amended by striking said article in its entirety and
substituting in lieu thereof a new Article XVIII to also be entitled "Notices",
which shall read as follows:

          "All requests, statements, notices and demands to Lessee under this
     lease shall be deemed to be sufficiently given and served if sent by
     certified mail, return receipt requested, to Lessee at Amherst Coal
     Company, Lundale, West Virginia 25631, with a copy sent by certified mail,
     return receipt requested, to Lessee at 1200 First Security Plaza,

                                      20
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


     Lexington, Kentucky  40507, or at such other address(es) as Lessee from
     time to time shall designate in a written notice to Lessor.

          The delivery of any maps, plans, or projections to the Lessor, and the
     giving of any requests, statements, notices, and demands to Lessor under
     the provisions hereof, or the payment of any royalties, rents, or other
     sums due hereunder, shall be sufficient if made to Lessor by post-paid
     United States mail addressed to Lessor at Post Office Box 386, Huntington,
     West Virginia 25708, or such other address(es) as Lessor from time to time
     shall designate in a written notice to Lessee."

     40.  There is hereby added to the Amherst Lease an article to be known as
Article XX entitled "Black Lung-Workmen's Compensation" which shall read as
follows:

"XX  BLACK LUNG-WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION
     ---------------------------------

     "Lessee agrees that it will at all times comply with the provisions of
state and federal laws, rules and regulations thereunder providing black lung
benefits to its existing, past or future employees and their respective
dependents or members of their respective families or households or descendants
or other persons who may have a claim for such benefits arising out of an
employee's employment with Lessee, including, but not limited to, the terms and
provisions of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 (30 U.S. Code
Section 901, et seq.), as now or hereafter from time to time amended, said Act
as so amended being hereinafter referred to as "the Act,"

     As between Lessor and Lessee, Lessee shall be the operator of all coal
mines located on or in the Leased Premises and be considered the "responsible
operator" with respect to any claim for black lung benefits ("benefits") filed
by or on account of any one of its employees or former employees under the Act,
provided, however, that the agreement contained in this sentence is not for the
benefit of, and shall not create any rights, in, any such employees or any
persons or entities not parties to this lease.  Lessor acknowledges that Lessee
may, from time to time, employ contract mine operators to develop this lease and
mine the coal thereunder and Lessee shall require said contract miners to abide
by all federal, state and local laws pertaining to the mining of coal.  Lessee
shall secure or shall require any other person or entity who operates, controls
or supervises a coal mine or performs services or construction at any time on
the Leased Premises or who otherwise may be liable for the payment of benefits
to secure the payment of benefits to or on account of employees or former
employees under the Act in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and
shall provide Lessor upon request, with appropriate certification that Lessee
and each of such other persons or entities has provided security in compliance
with the Act for the payment of benefits. Lessee

                                      21
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


shall notify Lessor immediately in writing of any change or alteration in the
Lessee's status of any such security.

     Lessee hereby agrees to indemnify and save harmless Lessor from any loss,
claims or damage, including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses, which
Lessor may suffer, directly or indirectly, as a result of failure of Lessee or
others who are required to secure the payment of such benefits as required by
this Article to make any payments of benefits, medical benefits and attorneys'
fees under the provisions of the Act.

     Lessee, upon the request of Lessor, shall furnish to Lessor, within a
reasonable time, certifications establishing Lessee's compliance with the terms
and provisions of the Act and the Black Lung Benefits Reform Act of 1977
("Benefits Act"), as from time to time amended.

     Lessee shall pay, when due, all lawful federal excise taxes assessed
against Lessee under the provisions of the Black Lung Benefits Revenue Act of
1981, (26 U.S. Code, Section 4121), as from time to time amended.

     The parties hereto acknowledge that Lessor has reserved certain rights and
has imposed certain requirements with respect to the method of mining of coal
under the terms of this lease solely for the purpose of assuring that all
mineable and merchantable coal is recovered in a lawful and workmanlike manner.
Notwithstanding such reservations and restrictions, it is agreed that, unless
the conduct of Lessee, its agents or employees constitutes a breach of the terms
and conditions of this lease, Lessor shall have no right to operate, control or
supervise the actual extraction and preparation of coal from the leased premises
by Lessee, its agents and/or employees, and Lessor shall have no right to
operate, control or supervise any independent contractor of Lessee performing
services or construction for Lessee upon the leased premises.

     Nothing contained herein shall be construed to shift the liability for any
claim for black lung benefits of Lessor's officers, agents or employees from the
Lessor to the Lessee."

     41.  There is hereby added to the Amherst Lease an Article XXI, entitled
"Recoupment of Penalties", which shall read as follows:

"XXI  RECOUPMENT OF PENALTIES
      -----------------------

     Lessee paid to Lessor penalties in the amount of $422,071.00 for the years
1982 and 1983, and $269,242.00 for the years 1980 and 1981, under the provisions
of Article IX which were deleted from this lease by the Amendment of Lease. It
is the desire of the parties hereto to provide for the recoupment of such
penalties. Accordingly, Lessee shall have the right, in any calendar year to
fully recoup without interest, through calendar year 1994, such sum of
$422,071.00 against tonnage royalties,

                                      22
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


     i)  in an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the tonnage royalties due
in such calendar year in excess of an amount which is equal to the minimum
annual royalty due for such year, provided, however,

     ii) in the calendar year 1985 only, Lessee shall not be entitled to any
recoupment in respect to said sum of $422,071.00 on tonnage royalties in such
year in excess of $500,000, but less than $550,001.00.

     Likewise, Lessee shall have the right, in any calendar year which it mines
1,000,000 tons of coal or more from the leased premises, to fully recoup without
interest, through calendar year 1994, such sum of $269,242.00 against any
tonnage royalty thereafter becoming due in any such year in an amount equal to
fifty percent (50%) of such tonnage royalties."

     42.  There is hereby added to the Amherst Lease an Article XXII, entitled
"Monuments", which shall read as follows:

     "XXII.  MONUMENTS
             ---------

          In connection with its mining operations, Lessee may destroy survey
     markers, naturally occurring physical features showing survey lines and
     other monuments. Lessee agrees to place temporary markers identifying the
     property lines during its mining operations and upon completion of
     reclamation in each area to replace all such markers, physical features and
     monuments with permanent markers."

     43.  There is hereby added to the Amherst Lease an Article XXIII, entitled
"Contract Miners", which shall read as follows:

     "XXIII.  CONTRACT MINERS
      ----    ---------------

          Lessor recognizes the right of Lessee to employ contract miners in
     connection with its mining operations under this lease. Lessee covenants
     and agrees that it will ensure the operations of such contract miners to
     the end that such contract miners will comply with all the terms and
     provisions of this lease. Lessee shall ensure that any such contract miner
     will mine only in accordance with approved plans and projections, and not
     deviate therefrom without the written approval of Lessor's chief engineer.
     Prior to any such contract miner obtaining any environmental (including
     reclamation) permit relating to its operation on the leased premises, the
     Lessee shall discuss with Lessor's chief engineer the idea of Lessee
     obtaining such permits in the Lessee's name. Lessee is not obligated or
     required to obtain such permits in its name, and may require any such
     contractor to obtain such permits. If any such contractor is allowed to
     obtain any permit in its own name, the Lessee, in any contract between the
     Lessee and such contractor, will use its best efforts to have inserted in
     such contract a provision requiring such contractor to transfer or

                                      23
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


     relinquish such permits to Lessee, upon request, at the termination of the
     contract.

          Lessee shall furnish Lessor with a copy of all contracts in respect to
     all contract miners, such contracts to be subject to a confidentiality
     agreement between the parties. Lessor shall have the right at all
     reasonable times to inspect the books and records of all contract miners in
     the same manner and for the same purposes that the Lessor has the right to
     inspect Lessee's books and records as provided in Section 2 of Article VI
     of this lease."

     44.  There is hereby added to the Amherst Lease an Article XXIV, entitled
"Indemnity", which shall read as follows:

          "XXIV.  INDEMNITY
           ----   ---------

          Lessee shall fully protect, indemnify and save harmless Lessor and its
     directors, officers, agents and employees, from any and all claims,
     demands, damages, liabilities, penalties, fines, costs and expenses
     (including reasonable attorney fees) arising out of or in connection with
     any act or omission relating to the operations or other activities of the
     Lessee hereunder, its agents, employees, contractors, sublessees or such
     sublessees' agents, employees or contractors. This indemnity shall not be
     extended to cover any act or omission to act required by Lessor under this
     lease, unless such act or omission to act is the result of the negligence
     of Lessee or a breach by Lessee of the provisions hereunder. This indemnity
     shall survive the termination of this lease."

     45.  A controversy has heretofore developed between Lessee and Lessor
concerning the payment of tonnage royalties in prior years.  The parties have
and do hereby settle such controversy and Lessee will, upon the execution of
this Amendment of Lease, pay to Lessor the sum of $15,000 and Lessor does hereby
release any claims which it may have for unpaid royalties and rents for any year
prior to the Effective Date hereof.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused its corporate
name to be affixed by an officer duly authorized, all in duplicate, on the date
set out below, effective as of the day and year first above written.


ATTEST:                                      DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY


   /s/ James H. Davis III                    By: /s/ Rolla D. Campbell
- -----------------------------                   ------------------------------
Secretary
                                             Title: President
                                                   ---------------------------

                                             Date: Dec 28, 1984
                                                   ---------------------------

                                      24
<PAGE>
 
                                                            CML 0334 AMA RUM AMA
                                                            121884 RWC (MSC1)


ATTEST                                       AMHERST COAL COMPANY
/s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE] 
- ------------------------------               By: Braxton Mullins
Assistant Secretary                             -------------------------

                                             Title: Vice President
                                                   ----------------------

                                             Date: December 18, 1984
                                                  -----------------------

STATE OF FLORIDA )
         ------------ 
COUNTY of PALM BEACH )
          --------

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 28th day of
December, 1984, by Rolla D. Campbell, as President of Dingess-Rum Coal Company,
a West Virginia corporation, on behalf of the corporation.

                                             /s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE] 
                                             ----------------------------------
                                             Notary Public

My Commission Expires: [NOTARY STAMP APPEARS HERE]
 

STATE OF Kentucky )

COUNTY OF Fayette )

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged  before me this 18th day of
December, 1984, by Braxton Mullins, as Vice President of Amherst Coal Company,
a West Virginia corporation, on behalf of the corporation.

                                       /s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE] 
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Notary Public, State of Ky at Large

My Commission Expires: 8 June 1988

This instrument prepared by:
Richard W. Clonch
Attorney at Law
1200 First Security Plaza
Lexington, Kentucky  40507

                                      25
<PAGE>
 
     THIS 1987 SUPPLEMENTAL LEASE AGREEMENT, made as of the 12th day of
November, 1987, by and between DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY, a West Virginia
corporation, (herein referred to as "Dingess-Rum"), Lessor, and ARCH OF WEST
VIRGINIA, INC., a West Virginia Corporation, (herein referred to as "Arch").


                                   RECITALS
                                   --------


     Arch (formerly Amherst Coal Company) is the Lessee of certain coal reserves
(hereinafter referred to as the "Arch Reserves") in Logan County, West Virginia
pursuant to certain agreements with Dingess-Rum. These agreements consist of:
(1) "Deed of Lease Agreement" dated June 1, 1962, (2) "Supplemental Deed of
Lease and Agreement" dated January 1, 1968, (3) "Amendment" dated June 1, 1973,
(4) "Amendment" dated June 1, 1974, and (5) "Amendment of Lease" dated January
1, 1984. By Amended Certificate of Authority for Name Change issued by the
Secretary of State of the State of West Virginia on June 2, 1987, the name of
Amherst Coal Company was changed to Arch of West Virginia, Inc.

     Arch wishes to surrender to Dingess-Rum such portions of the Arch Reserves
as are specified on the map attached hereto and entitled "Map showing coal in
Lower Coalburg seam and all seams above within area outlined in red which is to
be added to the Amended Wade Lease and deleted from the Arch Reserves" so that
the same will be available for lease by Dingess-Rum to Elkay Mining Company.
Arch desires to add to the Arch Reserves under the above-referenced Agreements
certain coal reserves previously
<PAGE>
 
held by Elkay Mining Company under a lease with Dingess-Rum, such reserves
having been surrendered by Elkay Mining Company by a Supplemental Lease
Agreement of even date herewith.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, and
for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of all of
which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree
as follows:

     1.  The parties agree that the coal reserves described on the map entitled
"Map showing coal in Lower Coalburg seam and all seams above within area
outlined in red which is to be added to the Amended Wade Lease and deleted from
the Arch Reserves," attached hereto and made a part of this Agreement, are
hereby deleted from the Arch Reserves and that the coal reserves identified on
the map entitled "Map showing coal in Upper Cedar Grove Seam outlined in red
which is to be deleted from the Amended Lyburn Lease and added to the Arch
Reserve," attached hereto and made a part of this Agreement, are hereby added to
and included in and as a part of the Arch Reserves and said Deed of Lease
Agreement dated June 1, 1962, as amended by the agreements heretofore recited,
all as of the date of this Agreement to the same extent and effect as if the
coal identified on the map entitled "Map showing coal in Lower Coalburg seam and
all seams above within area outlined in red which is to be added to the Amended
Wade Lease and deleted from the Arch Reserves," had never been included in the
Arch Reserves and as if the coal identified on the map entitled "Map showing
coal in Upper Cedar

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
Grove Seam outlined in red which is to be deleted from the Amended Lyburn Lease
and added to the Arch Reserve," had at all times been included in and as a part
of the Arch Reserves and said Deed of Lease Agreement dated June 1, 1962, as
amended by the agreements heretofore recited.

     2.  The aforementioned Agreements by which the Arch Reserves are leased to
Arch, as so amended by this instrument, are validly existing and shall otherwise
remain in full force and effect and are hereby in all respects approved,
ratified and confirmed.

     3.  In the negotiation and preparation of this document, the parties have
been represented by qualified engineers and legal counsel.

     WITNESS the signatures of the parties hereto by their respective corporate
officers or representatives thereto duly authorized, as of the day and year
first above written in triplicate originals.



                               DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY

                               By:  /s/ James H. Davis III
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                               Its: President
                                   ---------------------------------------------


                               ARCH OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC.

                               By:   /s/ Robert W. Shanks
                                    --------------------------------------------
                               Its:  President
                                    --------------------------------------------

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF Kanawha, to-wit:

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 30th day of
November, 1987, by James H. Davis, III, the President of Dingess-Rum Coal
Company, corporation, on behalf of the corporation


[NOTARY SEAL]


     My commission expires 5-7-96.

                           /s/ Terri L. Colebank
                           -------------------------------------
                                    Notary Public

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF Kanawha, to-wit:

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 12th day of
November, 1987, by Robert W. Shanks, the President of Arch of West Virginia,
Inc., a corporation, on behalf of the corporation

          My commission expires July 8, 1992.

                                /s/ Cynthia R. Midkiff
                                --------------------------------   
                                   Notary Public


This document was prepared by Robert D. Fluharty,  Robinson & McElwee, Post
Office Box 1791, Charleston, West Virginia 25326.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
                              [MAP APPEARS HERE]

     Map showing coal in Lower Coalburg Seam and all seams above within area 
outlined in red which is to be added to the Amended Wade Lease and deleted from 
the Arch Reserves
<PAGE>
 
                              [MAP APPEARS HERE]

Map showing coal in Upper Cedar Grove Seam outlined in red which is to be
deleted from the Amended Lyburn Lease and added to the Arch Reserves
<PAGE>
 
     THIS PARTIAL RELEASE AND SURRENDER OF LEASE, executed in duplicate
originals and effective this 6th day of May, 1988, by and between ARCH OF WEST
VIRGINIA, INC., a West Virginia corporation, (herein referred to as "Arch"), as
Lessee, and DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY, a West Virginia corporation, (herein
referred to as "Dingess-Rum"), as Lessor:


                                   RECITALS
                                   --------

     Arch (formerly Amherst Coal Company) is the Lessee of certain coal reserves
(herein referred to as the "Arch Reserves") in Logan County, West Virginia,
pursuant to certain agreements with Dingess-Rum. The agreements consist of: (1)
"Deed of Lease Agreement" dated June 1, 1962, (2) "supplemental Deed of Lease
and Agreement" dated January 1, 1968, (3) "Amendment" dated June 1, 1973, (4)
"Amendment" dated June 1, 1974, and (5) "Amendment of Lease" dated January 1,
1964 (all of which are collectively referred to as the "Dingess-Rum Lease
Agreements"). By Amended Certificate of Authority for Name Change issued by the
Secretary of State of the State of West Virginia on June 2, 1987, the name of
Amherst Coal Company was changed to Arch of West Virginia, Inc.

     Arch wishes to surrender to Dinqess-Rum only such portion of the Arch
Reserve as is identified on the map attached hereto and entitled "Map Showing
Coal In Chilton Seam Which Is To Be Deleted From The Arch Reserves" so that the
same will be available for leasing to other parties by Dinqess-Rum.
<PAGE>
 
     Dingess-Rum wishes to accept Arch's surrender of its Chilton seam coal 
reserves in the area identified on the map attached hereto.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein,
and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
all of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound,
agree as follows :

     1.  The parties agree that the Chilton Seam of coal identified on the map
entitled "Map Showing Coal In Chilton Seam Which Is To Be Deleted From The Arch
Reserves," attached hereto and made a part of this Agreement, is hereby deleted
from the Arch Reserves effective as of the date hereof.

     2.  Dingess-Rum hereby releases Arch from any and all continuing
obligations, covenants, conditions and liabilities arising by reason of the
Dingess-Rum Lease Agreements, insofar only as the same pertain to the area of
the Chilton seam identified on the map attached hereto.

     3.  Dingess-Rum Lease Agreements, as so amended by this instrument, are
validly existing and shall otherwise remain in full force and effect and are
hereby in all respects approved, ratified and confirmed.

     4.  All rights and privileges of Arch derived from the Dingess-Rum Lease
Agreements as so amended by this instrument, are and shall remain dominant and
superior to the right of Dingess-Rum or any assignee, lessee or successor in
interest to Dingess-Rum, to mine or remove coal in the Chilton seam in the

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
area identified on the map attached hereto. Arch reserves the right to
concurrently use the surface and roads on the surrendered area in connection
with the operations of Arch elsewhere on the Arch Reserves. Arch agrees to
exercise its rights in the Arch Reserves and its concurrent rights in the
surrendered area so as not to unreasonably interfere with any existing or future
operation of Dingess-Rum or its assigns, lessees or successors in interest in
the Chilton seam in the area identified on the map attached hereto. Dingess-Rum
hereby agree that, in the event it should sublease all or any part of the
Chilton seam identified on the map attached hereto to any third party, such
lease or other instrument conveying such rights to such third party (and any
recording memorandum of such lease or instrument) shall be expressly subject and
servient to all rights and privileges of Arch derived form the Dingess-Rum Lease
Agreements, as amended by this instrument or any subsequent instrument or
agreement.

     5.  Any recovery of coal from the Chilton seam in the surrendered area by
Dingess-Rum or its assigns, lessees or successors shall be done in such manner
and sequence as to maintain support (if necessary, in the sole opinion of the
Dingess-Rum chief engineer) and to allow the greatest possible recovery of coal
from the Arch Reserves adjacent to and overlying the Chilton seam area hereby
surrendered.

     6.  As consideration for Arch's surrender of the Chilton seam of coal in
the area identified on the map attached hereto, Dingess-Rum agrees to pay to
Arch an overriding royalty of two

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
percent (2%) of the gross sales price for each ton (2,000 lbs.) of coal mined
from the Chilton seam in the area so surrendered by any third party leasing said
area from Dingess-Rum within one year from the date hereof. The overriding
royalty to be paid to Arch by Dingess-Rum shall be calculated in the same manner
as the royalty to be paid to Dingess-Rum by said third party lessee.

     7.  In the negotiation and preparation of this document, the parties have
been represented by qualified engineers and legal counsel.

     WITNESS the signatures of the parties hereto by their respective corporate
officers of representatives thereto duly authorized, as of the day and year
first above written.


                                 ARCH OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC.


                                 By:  /s/ Robert W. Shanks
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                     Its  President
                                         -------------------------------------


                                 DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY


                                 By:  /s/ James H. Davis III
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                     Its  President
                                         -------------------------------------

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF Logan, to-wit:

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 26 day of May,
1988, by Robert W. Shanks, the authorized President of ARCH OF WEST VIRGINIA,
INC., on behalf of the corporation.


                              


     My commission expires January 5, 1994.

                           /s/ Charlene Necessary
                           -----------------------------------------
                                   Notary Public
[SEAL]

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF Cabell, to-wit:


     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 27 day of May,
1988, by James H. Davis, III, the Authorized President OF DINGESS-RUM COAL
COMPANY, on behalf of the corporation.

                              


     My commission expires April 26,1992.

                           /s/ Dave Cox
                           ------------------------------------------
                                   Notary Public

[SEAL]

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
     THIS CORRECTIVE PARTIAL RELEASE AND SURRENDER OF LEASE, effective this 6th
day of May, 1988, by and between ARCH OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC., a West Virginia
corporation, (herein referred to as "Arch"), as Lessee, and DINGESS-RUM COAL
COMPANY, a West Virginia corporation, (herein referred to as "Dingess-Rum"), as
Lessor:

                                    RECITALS
                                    --------

     Arch (formerly Amherst Coal Company) is the Lessee of certain coal reserves
(herein referred to as the "Arch Reserves") in Logan County, West Virginia,
pursuant to certain agreements with Dingess-Rum. The agreements consist of: (1)
"Deed of Lease and Agreement" dated June 1, 1962, of record in Logan County Deed
Book 287, at page 404, (2) "Supplemental Deed of Lease and Agreement" dated
January 1 1968, of record in Logan County Deed Book 319, at page 233, (3)
"Supplemental Deed of Lease and Agreement" dated June 1, 1973, of record in
Logan County Deed Book 414, at page 561, (4) "Supplemental Deed of Lease and
Agreement" dated July 1, 1974, of record in Logan County Deed Book 365, at page
569, and (5) the non-recorded "Amendment of Lease" dated January 1, 1984 (all of
which are collectively referred to as the "Dingess-Rum Lease Agreements") . By
Amended Certificate of Authority for Name Change issued by the Secretary of
State of the State of West Virginia on June 2, 1987, the name of Amherst Coal
Company was changed to Arch of West Virginia, Inc.

     Arch wishes to surrender to Dingess-Rum only such portion of the Arch
Reserve as is identified on the map attached 
<PAGE>
 
hereto and entitled "Map Showing Coal In Chilton Seam Which Is To Be Deleted
From The Arch Reserves" so that the same will be available for leasing to other
parties by Dingess-Rum.

     Dingess-Rum desires to accept Arch's surrender of its Chilton seam coal
reserves in the area identified on the map attached hereto.

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein,
and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of
all of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties, intending to be legally bound,
agree as follows:

     1.  The parties agree that the Chilton Seam of coal identified on the map
entitled "Map Showing Coal In Chilton Seam Which Is To Be Deleted From The Arch
Reserves," attached hereto and made a part of this Agreement, is hereby deleted
from the Arch Reserves as of the effective date hereof.

     2.  Dingess-Rum hereby releases Arch from any and all continuing
obligations, covenants, conditions or liabilities arising by reason of the
Dingess-Rum Lease Agreements, insofar only as the same pertain to the area of
the Chilton seam identified on the map attached hereto.

     3.  Dingess-Rum Lease Agreements, as so amended by this instrument, are
validly existing and shall otherwise remain in full force and effect and are
hereby in all respects approved, ratified and confirmed.

     4.  All rights and privileges of Arch derived from the Dingess-Rum Lease
Agreements as so amended by this instrument,

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
are and shall remain dominant and superior to the right of Dingess-Rum or any
assignee, lessee or successor in interest to Dingess-Rum, to mine or remove coal
in the Chilton seam in the area identified on the map attached hereto. Arch
reserves the right to concurrently use the surface and roads on the surrendered
area in connection with the operations of Arch elsewhere on the Arch Reserves.
Arch agrees to exercise its rights in the Arch Reserves and its concurrent
rights in the surrendered area so as not to unreasonably interfere with any
existing or future operations of Dingess-Rum or its assigns, lessees or
successors in interest in the Chilton seam in the area identified on the map
attached hereto. Dingess-Rum hereby agrees that, in the event it should sublease
all or any part of the Chilton seam identified on the map attached hereto to any
third party, such lease or other instrument conveying such rights to such third
party (and any recording memorandum of such lease or instrument) shall be
expressly subject and servient to all rights and privileges of Arch derived from
the Dingess-Rum Lease Agreements, as amended by this instrument or any
subsequent instrument or agreement.

     5.  Any recovery of coal from the Chilton seam in the surrendered area by
Dingess-Rum or its assigns, lessees or successors shall be done in such manner
and sequence as to maintain support (if necessary, in the sole opinion of the
Dingess-Rum chief engineer) and to allow the greatest possible recovery of coal
from the Arch Reserves adjacent to and overlying the Chilton seam area hereby
surrendered.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     6.  As consideration for Arch's surrender of the Chilton seam of coal in
the area identified on the map attached hereto, Dingess-Rum agrees to pay to
Arch an overriding royalty of two percent (2%) of the gross sales price for each
ton (2,000 lbs.) of coal mined from the Chilton seam in the area so surrendered
by any third party leasing said area from Dingess-Rum within one year from the
date hereof. The overriding royalty to be paid to Arch by Dingess-Rum shall be
calculated in the same manner as the royalty to be paid to Dingess-Rum by said
third party lessee.

     7.  In the negotiation and preparation of this document, the parties have
been represented by qualified engineers and legal counsel.

     WITNESS the signatures of the parties hereto by their respective corporate
officers or representatives thereto duly authorized.



                                  ARCH OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC.


                                  By:   /s/ Ben H. Daud
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                      Its  President
                                          -------------------------------------

                                  DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY


                                  By:  /s/ James H. Davis III
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                       Its  President
                                           ------------------------------------

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF Logan, to-wit:

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 18th day of
October, 1988, by Ben H. Daud, the authorized President of ARCH OF WEST
VIRGINIA, INC., on behalf of the corporation.


     My commission expires Jan 5, 1993.

              [OFFICIAL SEAL APPEARS HERE]    /s/ Ruth Browning
                                             -------------------------------  
                                                     Notary Public


STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF Kanawha, to-wit:



     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 25th day of
October, 1988, by James H. Davis, III, the authorized President of DINGESS-RUM
COAL COMPANY, on behalf of the corporation.

     My commission expires 5-7-96

            [OFFICIAL SEAL APPEARS HERE]      /s/ Terri L. Colebank
                                             ---------------------------------
                                                     Notary Public

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
                              ASSIGNMENT OF LEASE
                              -------------------


     THIS ASSIGNMENT is made and entered into this 15th day of March, 1990 and
is effective the 16th day of March, 1990, by and between ARCH OF WEST VIRGINIA,
INC. ("AOWV"), a West Virginia Corporation, with its address being P.O. Box 149,
Lundale, West Virginia 25631, and PINE CREEK LAND COMPANY ("Pine Creek"), a
Delaware Corporation, with its principal place of business being CityPlace One,
St. Louis, Missouri 63141.

     WHEREAS, by Deed of Lease and Agreement dated June 1, 1962, as amended
("Coal Lease"), Dingess-Rum Coal Company, as Lessor, leased to Amherst Coal
Company, predecessor in interest to AOWV, the coal and certain mining rights
pertaining to a certain tract of land located in Logan County, West Virginia
(the "Leased Property); and

     WHEREAS, AOWV is willing to assign to Pine Creek the right to mine the
Lower Five Block (Clarion) seam of coal and all seams lying above said seam
underlying a small portion of the Leased Property contained in the Coal Lease,
which portion to be assigned is depicted on the map attached hereto as Exhibit
A.

     NON THEREFORE, for and in consideration of Ten Dollars ($10.00) and other
good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby
acknowledged, AOWV does hereby assign, transfer and set over unto Pine Creek all
of its right, title, interest and obligations, except as otherwise stated
herein, in, to and under the above-referenced Coal Lease, as to the right to
mine the Lower Five Block (Clarion) seam of coal and all seams lying above said
seam underlying that tract of land depicted on Exhibit A hereto. Pine Creek
hereby accepts this assignment, agrees to be bound by all of the terms and
conditions of the Coal Lease, and any amendments thereto and, except as to
payment of minimum royalties, assumes and undertakes to perform all obligations
of AOWV under said Coal Lease which arise on or after the effective date of this
assignment.
<PAGE>
 
     This assignment is subject to and contingent upon the consent of the
lessors under the Coal Lease. In the event such consent is not obtained, this
assignment shall have no binding effect on either party hereto.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF the parties hereto have executed this assignment as of
the day and year first above written.

ATTEST:                                 ARCH OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC.



    /s/ W. H. Rose                      By:  /s/John E. Walton
- ---------------------------------          ------------------------------------ 
 W. H. Rose, Assistant Secretary           John E. Walton, Vice President

ATTEST:                                 PINE CREEK LAND COMPANY




/s/Roger L. Nicholson                   By:/s/Steven E. McCurdy
- ---------------------------------          ------------------------------------
Roger L. Nicholson, Secretary              Steven E. McCurdy, President


STATE OF MISSOURI    )
                     )  SS.
COUNTY OF ST. LOUIS  )


     I, the undersigned, a Notary Public, in and for said State and County
aforesaid, do hereby certify that John E. Walton and W. H. Rose, personally
known to me to be the same persons whose names are, respectively, as Vice
President and* Secretary of Arch of West Virginia, Inc., a West Virginia
corporation, subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day
in person and severally acknowledged that they, being thereunto duly authorized,
signed, sealed with the seal of said corporation and delivered the said
instrument as the free and voluntary act of said corporation and as their own
free and voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein set forth. *Assistant

     Given under my hand and notarial seal this 15th day of March, 1990.

             CLARA SUE COLE
     NOTARY PUBLIC STATE OF MISSOURI
            ST. LOUIS COUNTY                 /s/ Clara Sue Cole
     MY COMMISSION EXP. JAN 28, 1994       ----------------------------------  
                                             NOTARY PUBLIC

My Commission Expires: Jan. 28, 1994

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF MISSOURI    )
                     )  SS.
COUNTY OF ST. LOUIS  )

     I, the undersigned, a Notary Public, in and for said State and County
aforesaid, do hereby certify that Steven E. McCurdy and Roger L. Nicholson,
personally known to me to be the same persons whose names are, respectively, as
President and Secretary of Pine Creek Land Company, a Delaware corporation,
subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day in person
and severally acknowledged that they, being thereunto duly authorized, signed,
sealed with the seal of said corporation and delivered the said instrument as
the free and voluntary act of said corporation and as their own free and
voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein set forth.

     Given under my hand and notarial seal this 15th day of March, 1990.

           CLARA SUE COLE
     NOTARY PUBLIC STATE OF MISSOURI            /s/Clara Sue Cole
          ST. LOUIS COUNTY                 -------------------------------------
     MY COMMISSION EXP. JAN. 28, 1994         NOTARY PUBLIC

My Commission Expires: Jan. 28, 1994




THIS DOCUMENT PREPARED BY:



/s/Roger L. Nicholson
- ---------------------------------------- 
Roger L. Nicholson, Counsel
Pine Creek Land Company
CityPlace One
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
(314) 994-2700



id:LND/702

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
                                    CONSENT
                                    -------


     THIS CONSENT AGREEMENT, dated this 27th day of March, 1990, between ARCH OF
WEST VIRGINIA, INC. ("AOWV"), a West Virginia corporation; PINE CREEK LAND
COMPANY ("Pine Creek"), a Delaware corporation; and DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY
("Dingess-Rum"), a West Virginia corporation.

     WHEREAS, by Deed of Lease and Agreement dated June 1, 1962, as amended (the
"Coal Lease"), by and between Dingess-Rum, as Lessor, and Amherst Coal Company,
predecessor in interest to AOWV, as Lessee, Dingess-Rum has leased to AOWV the
right to mine on certain real property located in Logan County, West Virginia
(the "Leased Property"); and,

     WHEREAS, the Coal Lease requires that Lessor's consent is required prior to
assigning or subleasing the Coal Lease or Leased Property; and,

     WHEREAS, AOWV desires to assign its rights to mine the Lower Five Block
(Clarion) seam of coal and all seams lying above said seam underlying a small
portion of the Leased Property contained in such Coal Lease to Pine Creek, which
portion of the Leased Property to be assigned is shown on the map attached as
Exhibit A hereto; and,
<PAGE>
 
     WHEREAS, upon assignment, Pine Creek desires to sublease its rights to mine
the Lower Five Block (Clarion) seam of coal and all seams above said seam
underlying the assigned portion of the Leased Property to M & D Mining, Inc. ("M
& D").

     NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the agreements contained
herein:

     1.   Subject to the conditions hereinafter stated Dingess-Rum consents to
the assignment of the Coal Lease, insofar as it assigns the right to mine the
Lower Five Block (Clarion) seam of coal and all seams lying above said seam
underlying the portion of the Leased Property shown on the map attached hereto
as Exhibit A, to Pine Creek, and Dingess-Rum further consents to the sublease
from Pine Creek to M & D.

     2.   The consent of Dingess-Rum as set forth in Paragraph 1 hereof is
specifically conditioned upon:

          (a)  AOWV, notwithstanding such assignment, shall not be
               released of its obligation to perform all of the terms
               and conditions of the Coal Lease, including that
               portion assigned to Pine Creek as hereinabove
               described; and,

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
          (b)  The granting of such consent shall not relieve AOWV and
               Pine Creek from their obligation to obtain the consent
               of Dingess-Rum to any further or other assignments or
               subletting.

     3.   Pine Creek covenants and agrees with Dingess-Rum and AOWV that it will
perform all of the obligations required of the Lessee in the Coal Lease with
respect to the assigned property, except that AOWV will continue to pay in full
all minimum royalties required under the Coal Lease.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the corporate parties hereto have caused their
     ------------------
corporate names to be hereunto signed by their proper officers thereunto duly
authorized, this day and date first above written.

                               ARCH OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC.

                               By: /s/ J. E. Walton
                                 ----------------------------------- 
                                  Its: Vice President 
                                      ------------------------------
                               PINE CREEK LAND COMPANY

                               By: /s/ Steve E. McCurdy
                                 -----------------------------------  
                                  Its: President 
                                      ------------------------------ 

                               DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY 

                               By: /s/ James H. Davis III
                                 -----------------------------------
                                  Its: President
                                      ------------------------------

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
                           ASSIGNMENT OF LEASES AND
                           ------------------------
                          INTERESTS IN REAL PROPERTY
                          --------------------------

     THIS ASSIGNMENT is made and entered into this 5th day of October, 1990 and
is effective the 1st day of July, 1990 by and between ARCH OF WEST VIRGINIA,
INC., a West Virginia corporation ("Assignor"), and PINE CREEK LAND COMPANY, a
Delaware corporation ("Assignee").

                             W I T N E S S E T H :

     For Ten Dollars ($10.00) and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Assignor does hereby
assign, transfer and set over unto Assignee all of Assignor's right, title,
interest and obligations in, to and under the Leases (as hereinafter defined)
described on Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof. Assignor does
hereby further assign, transfer and set over unto Assignee all of Assignor's
right, title, interest and obligations in, to and under any and all easements,
licenses and other contractual interests affecting or relating to real property
located In Logan and Wyoming Counties, West Virginia. Assignee hereby accepts
this assignment, agrees to be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the
Leases, easement agreements, licenses and other contractual agreements and
assumes and undertakes to perform all obligations of Assignor under said Leases
and other contractual agreements which arise on or after the effective date of
this Assignment.

     In the event said leasehold and other contractual interests held by
Assignor are not assignable without the consent of third parties, such interests
are excepted from this Assignment; provided, however, each such interest shall
be included and become a part of this Assignment effective the date when such
consent is obtained.
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Assignment as of
the day and year first above written.

ATTEST                                       ARCH OF WEST VIRGINIA, INC.



/s/Blair M. Gardner                          By:/s/J. E. Walton
- ----------------------------------------        --------------------------------
Blair M. Gardner, Assistant Secretary           J. E. Walton, Vice President


ATTEST                                       PINE CREEK LAND COMPANY



/s/Roger L. Nicholson                        By:/s/Steven E. McCurdy  
- ----------------------------------------        --------------------------------
Roger L. Nicholson, Secretary                    Steven E. McCurdy, President


STATE OF MISSOURI   )
                    ) SS.
COUNTY OF ST. LOUIS )

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me on this the 5th day of
October, 1990 by J.E. Walton, as Vice President of Arch of West Virginia, Inc.,
a West Virginia corporation, on behalf of the corporation.

                                   /s/Ruth A. Olney
                                ------------------------------------------------
                                Notary Public               Ruth A. Olney
                                               NOTARY PUBLIC STATE OF Missouri
My Commission Expires: 2/15/93                     ST. LOUIS COUNTY
                                               MY COMMISSION EXP. FEB 15, 1993 

                               Book 9, Page 319

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
                               Book 9, Page 320




STATE OF MISSOURI   )
                    )  SS.
COUNTY OF ST. LOUIS )

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me on this the 5th day of
October, 1990 by Steven E. McCurdy as President of Pine Creek Land Company, a
Delaware corporation, on behalf of the corporation.


                                          /s/Ruth A. Olney
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Notary Public
                                                     RUTH A. OLNEY
                                              NOTARY PUBLIC STATE OF MISSOURI
My Commission Expires: 2/15/93                      ST. LOUIS COUNTY

                                             MY COMMISSION EXPIRES FEB. 15, 1993

THIS INSTRUMENT PREPARED BY:



/s/Roger L. Nicholson
- ----------------------------------
Roger L. Nicholson, Counsel
Pine Creek Land Company
CityPlace One
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
(314) 994-2700


JNQ/420

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT A


     1.   Deed of Lease dated January 1, 1931, as amended, between Lawson Heirs,
          Inc. and Arch of West Virginia, Inc. (successor in interest to Logan
          County Coal Corporation).

     2.   Deed of Lease and Agreement dated June 1, 1962, as amended, between
          Arch of West Virginia, Inc. and Dingess-Rum coal Company.

     3.   Sublease Agreement effective November 12, 1987 between Elkay Mining
          Company, Dingess-Rum Coal Company and Arch of West Virginia, Inc.

     4.   Deed of Lease dated August 20, 1948 between S.E. McDonald, et al.
          (Millard McDonald Estate) and Arch of West Virginia, Inc.

     5.   Lease dated June 1, 1983 between the Bruce McDonald Holding Company,
          et al. and Arch of West Virginia, Inc.

     6.   Lease dated March 1, 1978 between Virgie Cook Brown Blankenship, et
          al. (Ed Cook Heirs) and Arch of West Virginia, Inc.

     7.   Articles of Agreement dated May 1, 1914, as amended, between Pardee
          Land Company, a Limited Partnership, and Arch of West Virginia, Inc.

     8.   Lease dated January 1, 1979 between Ann Wittenberg Cooke, et al.
          (Wittenberg Heirs) and Arch of West Virginia, Inc.

     9.   Lease effective January 1, 1984 between Kelly-Hatfield Land Company
          and Arch of West Virginia, Inc.



     STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA, COUNTY OF LOGAN, TO-WIT:
     IN THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION:
     The foregoing paper was this the 19 day of October 1990 
     at 4:01 P.M presented to me in my office, and thereupon, 
     together with a certificate thereunto annexed is admitted to
     record. Recording fee $4.00 PD. Teste: GLEN D. ADKINS,
     County Clerk

                     BY /s/ Vickie Dingess Deputy
                     ---------------------   


                                Book 9, page 321

OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION                              Clerk
WYOMING COUNTY, W. VA. JANUARY 24, 1991 SS-
                       p.m. 1:00                   /s/ D. Michael Forde      
                        
The foregoing writing, together with the certificate 
of acknowledgment thereof thereto annexed, was this 
day admitted to record.
                                                   By /s/ Brenda Deon     Deputy
<PAGE>
 
     THIS AMENDMENT OF PARTIAL RELEASE AND SURRENDER OF LEASE is made and
entered into on this 7th day of January, 1993, by and between DINGESS-RUM COAL
COMPANY, a West Virginia corporation, whose address is P.O. Box 386, Huntington,
West Virginia, 25708, hereinafter called "Lessor", and ARK LAND COMPANY, a
Delaware corporation, whose address is P.O. Box 4187, Fairview Heights, Illinois
62208, hereinafter called "ARK";

                                  WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, by an instrument entitled "Partial Release and Surrender of Lease"
dated the 6th day of May, 1988, by and between the parties hereto or their
predecessors in interest, Ark surrendered to Lessor from a certain Lease dated
June 1, 1962, and amended and supplemented as therein described, which by means
assignments had been assigned to Ark, a certain portion of the Chilton seam of
coal more specifically therein described and reference is being made hereby to
such description (hereinafter "Surrendered Area"); and,

     WHEREAS, in Paragraph 6 of said instrument of May 6, 1988, Ark retained an
overriding royalty of 2% of the gross sales price for all of such coal mined
from the Surrendered Area; and,

     WHEREAS, the Surrendered Area has been returned to Ark by an assignment to
Ark from Rum Creek Coal Sales, Inc. ("Rum Creek"), of a coal lease dated the 6th
day of May, 1988 between Lessor and Rum Creek covering such Surrendered Area;
and

     WHEREAS, it is appropriate to eliminate said 2% overriding royalty by
reason of the reacquisition of such Surrendered Area by Ark.
<PAGE>
 
     NOW, THEREFORE, WITNESSETH that, for and in consideration of the premises,
which are not mere recitations but which form an integral part of this document
and also in consideration of the mutual terms, covenants and agreements
hereinafter set forth to be kept and performed by Ark under the terms of the
Lease, the parties hereto do hereby cancel and terminate the provisions of
Article 6, of said Partial Release and Surrender of Lease.

     Except as herein amended, the parties hereto do hereby ratify and confirm
said Partial Release and Surrender of Lease.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the corporate parties hereto have caused their
corporate names to be hereunto signed and their corporate seals to be hereunto
affixed by their proper officers thereunto duly authorized as of the day and
year first above written.

                                             DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY

                                             By:  /s/ James H. Davis III
                                                 ---------------------------
                                             Title:   President
                                                    ------------------------


                                             ARK LAND COMPANY

                                             By:  /s/ Steven E. McCurdy
                                                 --------------------------- 
                                             Title:   President
                                                    ------------------------


STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF Kanawha, TO WIT:

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 7th day of
January, 1993, by James H. Davis, III, of DINGESS-

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
RUM COAL COMPANY, a West Virginia corporation, on behalf of said corporation.

          My Commission expires January 15, 2002.
                         
[Notarial Seal]                 /s/ Nancy J. Miller
                                -----------------------
                                Notary Public

STATE OF West Virginia,

COUNTY OF Kanawha, TO WIT:

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 7th day of
January, 1993, by Steven E. McCurdy, of ARK LAND COMPANY, a Delaware
corporation, on behalf of said corporation.

          My Commission expires January 15, 2002. 

[Notarial Seal]                 /s/ Nancy J. Miller
                                -----------------------
                                Notary Public


This instrument prepared by:

C. F. Bagley, Esquire
Campbell, Woods, Bagley, Emerson, McNeer & Herndon
Suite 1400, Coal Exchange Building
P.O. Box 1835
Huntington, West Virginia  25719

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
ARK
LAND
COMPANY

(Mailing Address)
P.O. Box 4187
Fairview Heights, Illinois  62208
(618) 236-9033
(618) 236-9086 (Fax)


                               February 24, 1993


Dingess-Rum Coal Company
P.O. Box 189
McConnell, WV  25633

Attn:  Gregory F. Wooten, Vice President

            Re:  Deed of Lease and Agreement dated June 1, 1962, as amended (the
                 "Lease"), between Dingess-Rum Coal Company ("Dingess-Rum") and
                 Ark Land Company ("Ark"), successor to Amherst Coal Company

Gentlemen:

     Dingess-Rum and Ark agree that Ark's sublessee, Arch of West Virginia
("AOWV"), under the above Lease, has mined and removed a portion of the mineable
and merchantable coal by conventional mining methods from the Central Ridge Mine
located on the leased premises. The parties believe that additional coal may
potentially be recovered by pillar extraction methods from the Central Ridge
Mine utilizing an Alpine Breaker Line Support System ("ABLS"). To enhance the
economic feasibility of such mining, Dingess-Rum and Ark agree to amend the
Lease as provided herein:

     1.  During the term of the Lease, and in the event that AOWV procures one
or more ABLS systems for pillar extraction, Ark agrees to pay and Dingess-Rum
shall accept as tonnage royalty only in respect to the pillaring in the
Central Ridge Mine an amount equal to Seventy-Five cents ($.75) for each and
every ton of coal mined by pillar extraction methods; such payments shall be due
as provided in the Lease. In the event AOWV mines less than 100,000 pillared
tons of coal from the Central Ridge Mine by such mining methods, then Ark shall
pay in accordance with paragraph 2 an additional royalty of Twenty-Five cents
($.25) to Dingess-Rum for each and every ton of coal so mined ("Additional
Royalty").

     2.  Ark shall make a determination, in its sole discretion, when it has
extracted all such coal extractable from the Central Ridge Mine utilizing the
ABLS system and, in the event that it
<PAGE>
 
Dingess-Rum Coal Company
February 24, 1993
Page 2


has extracted less than 100,000 pillared tons, it shall pay the Additional
Royalty due under paragraph 1 within thirty (30) days of making such
determination.

     3.  Nothing in this letter agreement shall require Ark to mine the pillars
in the Central Ridge Mine or to pay for coal left in place in such pillars at
the Central Ridge Mine.

     4.  Except as provided herein, this letter agreement shall be governed by
the terms of the Lease, and all terms of the Lease, as amended, shall remain in
effect.

     Please indicate your acceptance to the terms of this letter agreement by
signing this letter in duplicate where indicated below. Please return one fully
executed original to me at the above address.

                                          Very truly yours,

                                    /s/ Michael D. Bauersachs
                                    Michael D. Bauersachs
                                    Vice President


AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED THIS 25th DAY
OF  February, 1993

DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY


By: /s/ Gregory F. Wooten
   ------------------------
Title: VICE PRESIDENT
      ---------------------       
<PAGE>
 
[logo]

                         DINGESS-RUM PROPERTIES, INC.
                              POST OFFICE Box 189

                           McCONNELL, WV 25646-0189
                           TELEPHONE (304) 752-1484
                              FAX (304) 752-4349             GREGORY F. WOOTEN

                                               VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF ENGINEER


                              September 16, 1996



Mr. Steven E. McCurdy, President
Ark Land Company
Cityplace One
St. Louis, Missouri 63141-7056

RE:  COAL SALES AGREEMENTS: CARDINAL OPERATING COMPANY, DECEMBER 21, 1992, AND
CINCINNATI GAS AND ELECTRIC, DATED JANUARY 1, 1995

Dear Steve:

     Reference is made to that certain Lease dated June 1, 1962, by and between
Dingess-Rum Coal Company, now Dingess-Rum Properties, Inc., ("Dingess-Rum") and
Amherst Coal Company, predecessor to Ark Land Company ("Ark"), as amended, (the
"Lease") by which Dingess-Rum leased certain coal properties located in Logan
County, West Virginia to Ark. Ark currently subleases such property to its
affiliate, Apogee Coal Company, dba Arch of West Virginia ("Arch"). Ark's
parent, Arch Mineral Company, and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Arch Coal Sales,
entered into a coal sales agreement (the "Cardinal Agreement") with Cardinal
Operating Company, on December 21, 1992, and a coal sales agreement (the "CG&E
Agreement") with Cincinnati Gas and Electric, dated January 1, 1995.

     We have recently had discussions concerning the sourcing of the coal to be
sold under the Cardinal Agreement and the CG&E Agreement from property demised
by the Lease. In order to induce Ark, and its associated companies, to source
the Cardinal Agreement and the CG&E Agreement from such property, Dingess-Rum is
willing to make the following concessions for the period beginning October 1,
1996 through December 31, 1997:

     1.   Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10, Article V of the Lease,
as amended by the Amendment of Lease dated January 1, 1984, in computing the
"average selling price" as determined
<PAGE>
 
Mr. Steven E. McCurdy
September 16, 1996
Page Two(2)

monthly for the purpose of payment of the tonnage royalty, the realization
received for coal sold under the Cardinal Agreement and the CG&E Agreement will
not be considered, but such average selling price will be determined using all
other coal sold from the property contained in the Lease' during each such
month. Attached is a spreadsheet illustrating such computation.

     2.   The savings to Ark in royalty payments under the computation set forth
in (1) above, shall be determined monthly and Ark shall pay, at the same time as
the monthly royalty payments are made, to D-R an additional royalty equal to
one-half of such savings.

     3.   It is specifically understood that in no event shall the royalty be
less than the $1.25 per ton minimum tonnage royalty provided for in the Lease.

     4.   The terms and conditions of this letter agreement shall supercede the
terms and conditions contained in that certain letter agreement dated August
16,1996, related to the Cardinal Operating Company (the "Cardinal Agreement").

     5.   It is specifically understood that in the event the combined tonnage
from the Cardinal Agreement and the CG&E Agreement that is sourced from the
demised premises is less than 450,000 tons, for the period beginning October 1,
1996 and ending December 31, 1997, then the terms and conditions contained in
this agreement shall not apply and Ark will immediately pay the applicable
tonnage royalty due had this agreement not been in place.

     If the above correctly sets forth our mutual understanding and agreement,
please sign this letter on behalf of Ark and have it signed on behalf of Arch
Mineral Company.


                                    Yours very truly,

                                    /s/ Gregory F. Wooten
                                    -----------------------------------
                                    Gregory F. Wooten
                                    Vice President and Chief Engineer

GFW:mms
<PAGE>
 
Mr. Steven E. McCurdy
September 16, 1996
Page Three(3)

Agreed and Accepted:

Ark Land Company

By:    /s/ Steven E. McCurdy
     -----------------------

  Its: PRESIDENT
     -----------------------    


Arch Mineral Company

By:    /s/ David B. Peugh
     -----------------------    

  Its: VICE PRESIDENT
     -----------------------    
<PAGE>
 
ARK LAND COMPANY
Dingess-Rum Royalty Reduction
June, 1996

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Normal                Excl. C,G&E      C,G&E &                                        1/2
                          Calculation             & Cardinal       Cardinal          Total          Change      Change
                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>                   <C>             <C>              <C>                <C>         <C>
Gross Realization          $  6,513,656.34      $ 3,674,733.87  $ 2,838,922.47   $ 6,513,656.34
Tons Sold                       237,160.29          157,073.94       80,086.35       237,160.29
                       --------------------------------------------------------------------------    
Average Selling Price      $       27.4652      $      23.3949
Less: Percentage 
   Reduction               $       (1.3079)     $      (1.1140)
                       --------------------------------------------------------------------------   
Royalty ASP                $       26.1573      $      22.2809        
                       ==========================================================================
Royalty/Ton @ 5.0% *       $        1.3079      $       1.2500                                      $  0.0579   $    0.0290
                       ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tons Sold                                                                                                        237,160.29
                                                                                                                -------------
AEP CARDINAL / CG&E REDUCTION                                                                                   $  6,865.79

</TABLE>

*  $1.25 minimum royalty applies.
_____________________________________________________________________________

Cumulative Information
                               Cardinal &
                              C,G&E Tons      Reduction $
                           --------------   ----------------
1996
  October
  November
  December                 --------------   ----------------
                                        -                  -    
    Subtotal               --------------   ----------------

1997
  January
  February
  March
  April
  May
  June
  July
  August
  September
  October
  November
  December                 --------------   ----------------
                                        -                  - 
    Subtotal               --------------   ---------------- 
Totals                                  -                  -  Minimum tons of 
                                                              450,000 guaranteed
                           ______________   ________________ 
<PAGE>
 
ARK
LAND
COMPANY

CityPlace One                                              STEVEN E. McCURDY
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63141-7058                                PRESIDENT
(314) 994-2700                            December 4, 1996

Mr. Gregory F. Wooten
DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY
P.O Box 189
McConnell, West Virginia 25633

          RE:  LETTER AGREEMENT DATED DECEMBER 14, 1992, AS AMENDED, BY AND
               BETWEEN PINE CREEK LAND COMPANY, PREDECESSOR TO ARK LAND COMPANY
               ("ARK") AND DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY ("DINGESS-RUM") (AMA-334)

Dear Greg:

     This letter is to request an extension of the term of the minimum royalty
reduction for "rash" coal as set forth in the above-referred letter agreement.
Ark hereby requests an extension of the royalty concession for an additional one
(1) year term from December 14, 1996 through and including December 13, 1997. 

     If you agree with the terms of the foregoing, please signify your agreement
by executing this letter agreement in duplicate and returning one fully executed
original to me.


                                             Very truly yours,

                                             /s/ Steven E. McCurdy
                                             Steven E. McCurdy


SEM/sp

cc:  James H. Davis, II

AGREED AND ACKNOWLEDGED THIS 18TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 1996.

DINGESS-RUM COAL COMPANY

BY:  /s/ Gregory F. Wooten
   --------------------------
ITS: VICE PRESIDENT
    -------------------------

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 10.9

                              AGREEMENT OF LEASE

          AGREEMENT OF LEASE made this 8th day of February, 1983, by and between
SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a West Virginia limited partnership
("Lessor"), and LAWSON W. HAMILTON, JR., ("Lessee").

          WHEREAS, Lessor owns all of the coal underlying and in the property
described in Schedule A and proposes to lease same or that portion of same as
hereinafter described:

         NOW, THEREFORE, THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSETH:

          1.  For and in consideration of the rents and royalties reserved and
to be paid to Lessor by Lessee, and on the terms, conditions, covenants and
agreements set forth herein, Lessor does hereby demise and lease to Lessee for
the purposes hereinafter set forth the land and property mentioned and generally
described in Schedule A attached hereto (including the map attached as a part of
Schedule A).  The land generally described in Schedule A is referred to as
"Leased Premises" and the coal therein as "Leased Coal".

                                SURFACE RIGHTS
                                --------------

          2.  With respect to that portion of the Leased Premises where Lessor
owns the surface and the minerals (other than oil and gas), Lessor grants to
Lessee, for the purpose of mining, removing, gathering, storing, preparing for
market, transporting and shipping coal from the Leased premises and any other
lands whatsoever, such mining rights, auxiliary privileges and easements as may
be necessary and convenient to the Lessee.  Said grant of easements shall be
non-exclusive and shared with Lessor's
<PAGE>
 
other Lessees whether existing or created hereafter.

          Without limiting the generality of this grant of rights incidental and
auxiliary to mining said coal, it is understood that the grant herein of said
coal is made together with the right to mine only the deep mining and punch
mining methods, and, where Lessor has the necessary surface rights, by strip
mining, all the coal without liability for depriving the surface or any strata
of the Leased Premises of lateral or subjacent support; the right to haul
through, over and under the Leased Premises coal produced from the Leased
Premises and from any other lands whatsoever as provided hereinafter and to
store refuse from any coal in the workings and passageways in the Leased
Premises; the right to use so much of the surface of the Leased Premises (where
Lessor owns the surface) and all roadways, power lines, etc., presently located
thereon as Lessee may desire for the creation, maintenance and operation of
mining structures, buildings, cleaning and preparation plants with appurtenant
facilities including, but not limited to tipples, railroad sidings, loading
facilities, shops and offices, and power lines, tracks, tramways and equipment,
and for drainage, ventilation, haulage, refuse dumps and other purposes in
connection with the mining and removal of the Leased Coal and of coal produced
from lands other than the Leased Premises. And the right to use, in connection
with mining operations of the 

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
Lessee on, in or under the Leased Premises, sand, rock, water and other
substances found on, in or under the Leased Premises the removal of which will
facilitate orderly mining and carrying away of the Leased Coal, all insofar as
the Lessor has the right to release without liability for injury or damage that
may result to springs, wells or watercourses in, on or under the Leased
Premises. Lessee covenants that he will at all times during the term of this
lease keep all buildings, tipples, structures, machinery and equipment used in
his operations as well as his workings underground in good order and repair and
will from time to time make such replacements, renewals and additions as may be
reasonably necessary to enable Lessee at all times to perform his obligations
hereunder according to improvements made from time to time in the art of coal
mining and coal preparation.

          With respect to that portion of the Leased Premises where Lessor does
not at the date of this Lease own the surface, or owns the surface subject to
existing easements, public or private, Lessor grants to Lessee the same mining
rights, privileges and easements as Lessor possesses or has the right to utilize
and that this leasehold is subject to all out conveyances of record that may
hereintofore have been made by the Lessor or by its predecessors in title; to
any and all easements of record or apparent on the ground; to such property
rights. if any, as may have been acquired by other parties by adverse
possession; to the rights of parties in possession; to any existing oil and gas
lease or leases made by the Lessor it being understood that in

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
no instance does the Lessor intend or purport to grant to Lessee any right not
possessed by Lessor.

          There is specifically excluded by Lessor the right of Lessee to mine
by what is commonly known as the auger method without the written consent of
Lessor, however, the thin seam mining method or any method similar to the thin
seam mining method is not to be considered auger mining.

          EXCEPTING AND RESERVING, NEVERTHELESS, to the Lessor, its successors
and assigns, all rights not specifically granted herein including, but not
limited to:

          (a) all oil and gas within or underlying the demised premises,
     together with the right to drill and bore for and sink shafts for the
     purpose of testing and exploring for and removing oil and gas, and the
     right to market and remove oil and gas when found and to lay pipe lines and
     erect and install such other structures, machinery or appliances on demised
     premises as may be necessary for the removal of oil and gas.

          (b) the non-exclusive use of existing roads and the right to construct
     and maintain other roads.

          (c) all the dwellings and trailer lots which are situate on the
     demised premises.

          (d) Lessee shall not cut or remove any timber growing on the Leased
     Premises except with the written consent of Lessor.  All timber which shall
     be cut or removed shall be cut in lengths designated by Lessor.  Title to
     all timber, including that cut with permission of Lessor, is reserved to
     Lessor.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
           (e) the surface of said land not required by Lessee for its
      operations, subject, however, to the Lessee's rights given hereunder.

The reserved rights shall be exercised in such a way as not to interfere
unreasonably with the operations, rights and privileges of the Lessee herein
granted.

                               EXCHANGE OF LANDS
                               -----------------

          3.  This Lease is made subject to the right of the Lessor with the
approval of Lessee to make exchanges of small parts or portions of any of the
Leased Premises or of all or any of the veins or seams of coal hereby leased
with the owners of adjoining property or the owners of any seam adjoining the
exterior boundary lines of the Leased Premises for the purpose of consolidating
some of the holdings. If any such exchanges are made, coal acquired by the
Lessor in such exchange shall automatically be included in and become a part of
this Lease and the coal embraced herein exchanged by the Lessor shall
automatically be released and excluded from this Lease. Lessor hereby grants to
the Lessee the right to penetrate any and all seams to the boundary lines of
adjoining properties in which the Lessee has the right to mine coal, but not to
remove coal of adjoining property owners not under lease by Lessee.

                                     TERM
                                     ----

          4.  The initial term of this Lease shall expire February 8, 1988,
except that Lessee shall have the right to terminate this Lease as of the last
day of the sixth calendar

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
month after notice of such termination in writing to the Lessor not less than 30
days prior to such date.  Such termination by the Lessee shall relieve Lessee of
the requirements for making any payments which fall due following the
termination, other than tonnage royalty payments for coal mined prior to the
termination date and any other payments then due.  Lessee shall have options to
renew or extend this Lease, on the same terms and conditions, except as to term
and royalties for three (3) successive five (5) year periods after February 8,
1988 and for additional five (5) year terms commencing with February 8, 2003 as
provided for in paragraph 6 herein, provided Lessee has fully performed his
covenants hereunder, and gives Lessor written notice of his intent to renew not
less than one hundred twenty (120) days before the expiration of each, preceding
term.

          IN CONSIDERATION WHEREOF, the Lessee does hereby covenant, promise and
agree to and with the Lessor as follows:

                               TONNAGE ROYALTIES
                               -----------------

          5.  The Lessee shall pay to the Lessor during each year of the initial
term and each year of any renewal term exercised by Lessee under this Lease as
tonnage royalty for each and every ton of two thousand (2,000) pounds of coal
mined and removed from the Leased Premises and for coal used on the premises,
except such coal as is used by the Lessee in the processing and preparation of
coal for market, the following percentages of the gross sale price, as such term
is hereinafter defined, for each net ton mined and removed from the Leased
Premises during the Lease Year:

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
          (a) Eleven and three fourths Percent (11 3/4%) of the first one
     hundred thousand (100,000) tons mined each Lease Year.

              Ten and three fourths Percent (10 3/4%} of the second one hundred
     thousand (100,000) tons mined each Lease Year.

              Nine and three fourths Percent (9 3/4%) of the third one hundred
     thousand (100,000) tons mined each Lease Year.

              Eight and three fourths Percent (8 3/4%) of the fourth one hundred
     thousand (100,000) tons mined each Lease Year.

              Seven and three fourths Percent (7 3/4%) of the fifth one hundred
     thousand (100,000) tons mined each Lease Year.

              Six and three fourths Percent (6 3/4%) of the sixth one hundred
     thousand (100,000) tons mined each Lease Year.

              Five and three fourths Percent (5 3/4%) of all coal mined in any
     Lease Year in excess of six hundred thousand (600,000) tons.

          (b) As used herein "gross sale price" shall mean the bona fide sales
     price receivable by Lessee for the coal without deduction for selling 
     expenses or commissions less "Allowable Transportation Cost." The term 
     Allowable Transportation Cost shall mean either:

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
                (i) the actual transportation costs incurred by Lessee for
          transportation of the coal outside of the Leased Premises, if such
          transportation is done by unaffiliated third parties or

                (ii) if Lessee transports the coal off the Leased Premises, the
          sum which an unaffiliated third party would charge for transportation
          outside of the Leased Premises.

          (c) if any coal is sold but not at arm's length the royalty shall be
     computed at its fair market value as determined by Lessor's Engineer.

The tonnage royalty shall be paid on the 25th day of each month covering
production of the preceding month.  In addition to the foregoing tonnage
royalties and in the event Lessee shall acquire the right to use the coal
processing facility presently located on the Leased Premises or shall erect a
coal processing facility, Lessee shall pay to Lessor a royalty of 1/2 of 1% of
the gross sales price for each ton of foreign coal (coal not mined on the Leased
Premises) processed through the Bethlehem Steel Corporation coal processing
facility or any other coal processing facility erected on the Leased Premises,
such payment to be made con-

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
currently with tonnage royalty payments heretofore specified. Lessee shall not
be required to process coal through said facility or to make such 1/2 of 1%
royalty payment if Lessee, for any reason, does not process coal through said
facility. Lessee shall have the right to move coal from other lands onto or
across the Leased Premises provided, however, that Lessor shall receive a
wheelage fee for such coal equal to 1/2 of 1% of the gross sale price of said
coal.  If foreign coal is processed through Bethlehem's or any other coal
processing facility on the Leased Premises then the payment to Lessor shall be a
total of 1% of the gross sale price being 1/2% of 1% for wheelage and 1/2% of 1%
for processing foreign coal. It is understood that either through the process
now or heretofore employed in the obtaining of coal mined or by other cleaning
plant or plants later erected thereon, there has already accumulated and will be
produced in the future, certain slate, red dog, refuse and like by-products of
mining and that some commercial salvage or use may be made or obtained  from
said accumulations, present and future, and Lessee is granted the right to sell
or dispose of such products.  It is agreed that the Lessee shall pay to Lessor a
sum equal to 10% of the gross selling price for all such product from all
sources F.O.B. the mine.  Anything contained in the preceding sentence to the
contrary notwithstanding, any coal produced from all sources by using refuse and
like by-products from the Leased Premises shall be paid for in the same manner
and at the same royalty

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
rate as coal mined and produced and shipped from the Leased Premises .

                               MINIMUM ROYALTIES
                               -----------------

6.  The Lessee shall pay to Lessor in respect to each 12-month period (the
"Lease Year"} a minimum annual royalty payable in full on the dates specified
and in the amounts set forth as follows:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

Lease Year              Royalty Amount               Date Payable    
- ----------              --------------               ------------    
<S>                     <C>                          <C> 
No. 1                     $150,000                   February 8, 1983 
No. 1                     $ 50,000                   August 8, 1983   
No. 2                     $ 75,000                   February 8, 1984 
No. 2                     $ 75,000                   May 8, 1984      
No. 2                     $ 75,000                   August 8, 1984   
No. 2                     $ 75,000                   November 8, 1984 
No. 3                     $100,000                   February 8, 1985 
No. 3                     $100,000                   May 8, 1985      
No. 3                     $100,000                   August 8, 1985   
No. 3                     $100,000                   November 8, 1985 
No. 4                     $125,000                   February 8, 1986 
No. 4                     $125,000                   May 8, 1986      
No. 4                     $125,000                   August 8, 1986   
No. 4                     $125,000                   November 8, 1986 
No. 5                     $l50,000                   February 8, 1987 
No. 5                     $150,000                   May 8, 1987      
No. 5                     $150,000                   August 8, 1987   
No. 5                     $150,000                   November 8, 1987 
</TABLE> 
                                                     
          The minimum annual royalty for the first Lease Year shall be due and
payable in two (2} installments, the first of which shall be delivered upon the
execution of this lease in the amount of $150,000 and the second in the amount
of $50,000 shall become due and payable on the 8th day of August, 1983 (the
"Second Payment Date"). Failure to make this payment or any other payment
required to be made by Lessee under the provisions of this lease shall
constitute grounds for forfeiture of this lease and subject to the provisions of
paragraph 17.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
          On the Lease Year beginning February 8, 1984 and for each Lease Year
thereafter during the initial five (5) year term the minimum annual royalty
shall be paid in equal quarterly installments, in advance, on the 8th day of
February, May, August and November of each year in the amounts set forth
hereinabove.

          In the event Lessee shall exercise his right to renew or extend this
lease at the expiration of the initial term or at expiration of a renewal term,
the Lessee shall pay to Lessor for each and every year during each Lease Year of
the first three (3) renewal terms a minimum annual royalty of Seven Hundred
Thousand Dollars ($700,000).  Said minimum annual royalty shall be payable in
advance in equal quarterly payments of One Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars
($175,000) on the 8th day of each February, May, August and November of each
Lease Year commencing February 8, 1988.

          Commencing with February 8, 2003, if this lease is then in existence,
Lessee shall have the option to renew or extend this lease for successive terms
of five (5) years each upon the same terms and conditions except the minimum
annual royalty for each and every year during each Lease Year of any renewal
term shall be the sum of One Million Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,050,000.00)
payable in advance in equal quarterly payments of Two Hundred Sixty-Two Thousand
Five Hundred Dollars ($262,500) on the 8th day of February, May, August and
November of each Lease Year, but after February 8, 2003 this lease shall
terminate when all of the

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
mineable and merchantable coal in the seams in the demised premises shall have
been mined and removed therefrom, and when Lessee shall no longer have need of
the demised premises or any part thereof for the mining or transporting or
processing or handling of coal from other lands or leaseholds.  "Mineable and
merchantable coal" as used herein means coal which can be mined and marketed at
a reasonable profit to Lessee at the time such coal is reached in the course of
Lessee's mining operations by the use of practical and efficient machinery,
facilities, methods and management.

          Such minimum annual royalty may be used as a credit against any
amounts to be paid as tonnage royalties in respect of coal mined during the
Lease Year. Tonnage royalties shall not include any payments made by Lessee for
wheelage or processing costs provided for in paragraph 5. If the Lessee in any
Lease Year shall fail to mine sufficient coal to equal the minimum royalty at
the then current rate of tonnage royalty, Lessee shall have the right during
succeeding Lease Years of mining free from tonnage royalty such an amount of
coal as at the current tonnage royalty will reimburse Lessee for the deficiency
without interest. Lessee shall not be entitled to any credit on the minimum
annual royalty for any succeeding year for tonnage royalties paid in any year in
excess of the minimum annual royalty therefor and no coal shall be mined free of
tonnage royalties in any Lease Year until a sufficient quantity of coal shall

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
 
have been mined in such Lease Year to amount at the then current tonnage royalty
rate to the minimum royalty for the Lease Year.

          If in any Lease Year the Lessee is prevented for any period of thirty
(30) consecutive days from operating its mines by reason of any strike, at the
mine or elsewhere, or by riot, fire, explosion, flood, invasion, act of God or
the public enemy, unavoidable accident, legally enforceable closure orders,
railcar or truck shortage or other causes beyond its control, the obligation on
the part of the Lessee to pay minimum annual royalty shall be suspended for that
portion of said Lease Year except for the first 30 days during which such
conditions shall exist, and not to exceed six (6) months in any one Lease Year,
and payment of minimum annual royalty shall be prorated accordingly. Low prices
of coal or the absence of a market therefor shall not be an excuse for the
nonpayment of the minimum annual rental.

          It is agreed that in the event Lessor enters into a lease agreement
with Fletcher Mining Company ("Fletcher") on a tract of land which is
continguous with the Lease Premises and further, in the event, Lessee does not
terminate this Lease during the first six (6) months of the initial term, then
all royalty payments made by Fletcher pursuant to said lease agreement shall be
credited against any minimum annual royalty which may be due by Lessee to Lessor
in any Lease Year and for which Lessee has failed to mine sufficient coal to
equal the minimum annual royalty for said Lease Year.

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
 
          In the event the lease, if any, with Fletcher is terminated at any
time while this lease is in effect, then the acreage leased to Fletcher shall
automatically be transferred and become a part of the Leased Premises and
subject to all of the terms and provisions of this Lease except that Lessee's
obligation to pay taxes as provided in paragraph 8 shall be increased from
ninety percent (90%) to one hundred percent (100%) per annum.

                                    WEIGHTS
                                    -------

          7.  As to the coal mined on the premises and transported and shipped
by railroad cars, which is not commingled with coal mined from other premises,
the quantity of coal upon which the Lessee shall pay royalty shall be determined
by railroad weights; and, as to the coal mined from the premises and transported
by other means of transportation, and as to coal sold locally, and coal used on
the premises (except that used in processing and preparing coal for market) the
quantity of coal upon which the Lessee shall pay royalty shall be determined by
standardized weight scales to be provided by the Lessee, and according to the
scale books and accounts of the Lessee, or according to any further rule or
regulation which may be prescribed by the Lessor and accepted by the Lessee for
the correct ascertainment and report of the quantity of such coal.

          As to coal mined from the Leased Premises and which shall be
commingled at the tipple or loaded with coal from other premises, payment of
royalty shall be based on railroad weights, but shall be prorated according to
the computed tonnage shown to

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
 
have been mined by various mining techniques from the Leased Premises and other
premises, respectively, during said period or periods, such proration to be
based on mine car weights or on weightometers, if belt conveyors are used,
and/or by engineers' measurements and computations which shall be made according
to usual, customary, modern and accurate methods, or by any other scientifically
reliable and accurate appliance or method if belt conveyers are not used.  Any
method used shall be subject to the approval of Lessor.

          In the event that a variance in weights of coal shall occur between
Lessee and the purchaser of the coal sold by Lessee, then the purchaser's weight
shall control if Lessee is ultimately paid on the basis of the purchaser's
weights.

                                     TAXES
                                     -----

          8.  Commencing with the taxes for the year 1983 (i.e., those levied as
of July 1, 1982) the Lessee shall pay ninety percent (90%) of all taxes, levies,
assessments and other charges imposed by the United States, the State of West
Virginia or any political subdivision thereof, or by any municipal corporation
upon the entire estate of the Lessor in the lands included within the Leased
Premises (except the oil and gas estate hereinafter mentioned) as well as upon
the leasehold estate hereby created, and upon coal mined and produced therefrom
so that the Lessor shall be entirely relieved from such charges.  The Lessee
shall

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
 
also pay all taxes, levies, assessments and other charges, imposed by the United
States, the State of West Virginia, or any political subdivision thereof, or by
any municipal corporation, upon the Lessee, and upon all real estate, plant,
equipment and improvements of the Lessee and upon the mining or severance of the
coal by Lessee in the Leased Premises. If any payment on account of any or all
of the above shall be made in the first instance by the Lessor, the same shall
be repaid by the Lessee to the Lessor upon statement and demand. It is not
intended that the Lessee shall pay nor be required to pay any presently existing
or subsequently incurred Business and Occupation Tax or corporation income tax
or Federal income tax assessed against Lessor, and it is not intended that
Lessee shall pay any taxes attributable to the oil and gas estate.

          If Lessee elects to terminate this Lease after the first six (6)
months of the initial term or provided for in paragraph 4 hereof, the Lessee
shall be relieved of liability for the taxes due for the second half of 1983.

          Taxes for the year 1983 shall be pro-rated with Lessee paying eleven
twelfths (11/12) of ninety percent (9O%) of said taxes.

                             RECORDS OF COAL MINED
                             ---------------------

          9.  Lessee shall keep accurate records of all coal mined and removed
from the Leased Premises and such records shall be subject at all reasonable
times to the inspection of Lessor. Lessee shall keep said records in such
manner as to segregate the

                                      -16-
<PAGE>
 
tonnage of coal mined and removed from the Leased Premises separate and distinct
from the tonnage of coal mined and removed from other portions of Lessee's
mining operations.  Lessee shall only be obligated to keep the records required
in this paragraph for a period of four (4) years at which time Lessee may
transfer any records that it desires to dispose of by delivering said records to
Lessor.

          Lessee shall furnish to Lessor on or before the 25th day of each
calendar month during the term of this Agreement of Lease, a report showing the
quantity of coal mined and removed from the Leased Premises during the preceding
calendar month together with a separate report showing the quantity of coal used
in the processing and preparation of coal for market. Such monthly reports
shall, if required by Lessor, be accompanied by the railway company's
certificate of weights, or the returns of the shipping department or sales agent
of Lessee as to weights. Lessee hereby grants to Lessor, its engineer or agent,
the right to obtain from any railroad on which coal mined hereunder shall be
shipped, or from any barge line, or any person who weighs coal which Lessee may
ship, manifests and other information as to the quantity of coal mined hereunder
and shipped over such railroad or by river, at such time or times as Lessor may
desire such information; and this provision shall constitute full authority to
such railroad, barge line or person to give such information to Lessor, its
engineer or agent.

                                   OPERATION
                                   ---------

          10.  Lessee further covenants that he will conduct any mining 
operation on the Leased Premises in a skillful, efficient

                                      -17-
<PAGE>
 
and workmanlike manner, and in conformity with the present and future laws of
the State of West Virginia, the United States, and the valid regulations of the
various agencies of both now in force or which may hereafter be adopted; employ
machinery and methods that are modern, adequate and efficient; and develop the
property on a sound and accepted engineering plan and according to an approved
system of mining and with due regard to the future value of the Leased Premises
as coal property.  Before commencement of operations in any seam Lessee shall
submit to Lessor a plan of operation in the seam showing in reasonable detail
the method and system under which operations will be conducted in that seam.
Lessor shall within thirty (30) days after the plan of mining has been submitted
to it either approve or disapprove the plan and if no objections are made within
said thirty (30) days, the plan shall be considered approved.  If the Lessor
shall object to the plan submitted by the Lessee, the engineers for the parties
shall attempt to agree upon a satisfactory method and system of mining and if
they fail to agree within thirty (30) days after the objections by Lessor, the
question of a proper plan shall be submitted to arbitration, as provided herein,
but the Lessee shall have the right to commence mining under his plan of
operation and shall be liable to Lessor for any damages which may be found by
the arbitrators to have been suffered by Lessor by reason of an improper plan of
mining. After a plan has been settled by agreement or arbitration, the Lessee
shall not materially depart therefrom without a modification established as the
original plan was established

                                      -18-
<PAGE>
 
and so long as Lessee shall mine according to such plan he shall not be liable
for any injury to the surface or other strata owned by Lessor or for leaving
unmined any coal which the plan shows will be left.  It is recognized by the
parties that the covenant contained in the preceding sentence and anything
herein contained shall not impose any obligation on the part of the Lessee to
proceed with diligence to operate any vein or seam of coal.

                                SURVEYS AND MAP
                                ---------------

          11.  The Lessee shall have a survey of the mine workings made by a 
competent registered mining engineer as the work progresses, and shall keep an
accurate and complete map of the Leased Premises and mine workings on an
appropriate scale which shall be in conformity in all respects with the
requirements of the mining laws of the State of West Virginia, and shall show
all property lines, surface improvements and such natural topography as may
require protection against liability for damages to persons or property. Such
map shall at all times be accessible to the Lessor, its agents or
representatives for inspection; and a true, complete and correct copy of the
same, in duplicate, shall be furnished to the Lessor, without demand, within
thirty (30) days after the first day of January and July of each year.

          The Lessee shall also keep, for each seam, an accurate and complete 
map of the Leased Premises and mine workings on a scale of four hundred (400) 
feet to the inch, or other appropriate

                                      -19-
<PAGE>
 
scales showing in addition to the above-mentioned information, the projection of
the mine development and a true, complete and correct copy of the same shall be
furnished to the Lessor, without demand, within thirty (30) days after the first
day of January and July of each year. The aforesaid maps or copies thereof,
together with the surveys, notebooks and calculations, as well as all
engineering records and data, relative to the Leased Premises and mine workings,
shall be delivered to and become the property of Lessor at the termination of
this Lease or any renewal or extension thereof for any cause whatsoever.

                                   INSPECTION
                                   ----------

          12.  Lessor, its agents, engineers or other person in its behalf, with
their assistants, shall have the right to enter at all reasonable times the said
mines or works of the Lessee, in order to inspect, examine, select samples of
coal, survey or measure the seam or any part thereof, for the purpose of
ascertaining the condition of the mines, the methods practiced, as well as the
amount of coal removed, or for any other lawful purpose. Lessor shall give
Lessee due notice of its intent to make inspections, and opportunity to have
Lessee's agent or engineer accompany the representative of Lessor. Lessor alone
shall be responsible for any injury to any agents, engineers or other persons in
its behalf who may enter said mines or works of Lessee, unless such injury is
caused by the negligence of Lessee.

                                      -20-
<PAGE>
 
                                   INDEMNITY
                                   ---------
                                        
          13.  Lessee specifically agrees that all of his operations on the
demised premises and the transportation of coal over the same will be so
conducted and carried on that Lessor will not be subject to liability for
damages because of pollution or discoloration of the streams on or near the
demised premises or because of interference with the present beds of such
streams or their natural flow; and further agrees that he will protect,
indemnify and save Lessor harmless from any and all damages and expenses of
litigation in respect thereto.

          Lessee shall pay and be solely responsible for any reclamation fee
which may be required to be paid with respect to his coal under (S) 402 of the
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, any tax which may be
imposed with respect to his coal for black lung benefits under (S) 2 of the 
Black Lung Benefits Reform Act of 1977, and all hourly base payments and tonnage
base royalty payments relating to his coal or his employees required to be made
to the UMW Health and Retirement Funds as provided under the National Bituminous
Coal Wage Agreement of 1978 or similar funds provided for under subsequent labor
agreements. Lessee shall furnish to Lessor satisfactory evidence that all such
payments have been timely and properly made and will carry any insurance or
bonds which are necessary to protect Lessor hereunder.

                                      -21-
<PAGE>
 
                                  ASSIGNMENTS
                                  -----------

          14.  Lessee shall not mortgage, assign, convey, Lease, sublet or
transfer the Leased Premises, or any part thereof, or any of his estate therein
or rights hereunder, to any person or persons whomsoever or any corporation
whatsoever, without the consent in writing of Lessor first had an obtained, nor
shall the benefit of this lease or the rights or estate created thereby, pass by
operation of law without such written consent, which written consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld; but in case of assignment, subletting or transfer with
the written consent of Lessor, the transferee shall assume in writing all the
obligations of Lessee herein in a form satisfactory to Lessor.

          Lessor hereby gives its consent to any assignment of this lease to any
company which Lessee owns Fifty-One Percent (51%) or more of its outstanding and
issued capital stock or to Hansford Coal Company or to which substantially all
of the assets of Lessee shall have been conveyed, provided, nevertheless, that
Lessee, and such company, shall in each such case remain liable for and assume
the obligations of Lessee hereunder. It is expressly provided, however, that
Lessee shall have the right to contract with third parties for the mining and
removal of coal from the demised premises, but in such event Lessee shall remain
responsible for compliance with all terms and conditions of this lease.

                          INSOLVENCY, BANKRUPTCY, ETC.
                          ----------------------------

          15.  Lessee shall not permit this Lease or the estate hereby created,
or any interest therein, to be sold under any execution or other legal
proceeding or process whatsoever. The

                                      -22-
<PAGE>
 
assignment or transfer of this Lease, or of the estate and rights created, or
any of them, under judicial process or under judgment or decree or adjudication
of Lessee as a bankrupt, or the discharge of Lessee by any court as an insolvent
debtor, without the written consent of Lessor, may, at the option of Lessor, be
considered and held as an absolute forfeiture of this Lease, and thereupon all
the rights of Lessee hereunder shall at once cease and determine, and Lessor, in
addition to all its other rights and remedies, may at its option, at once resume
possession of the premises, either by legal process or by summary proceedings
without legal process.

                                   INSURANCE
                                   ---------

          16.  Lessee agrees to become and remain a subscriber to the Workmen's
Compensation Fund of the State of West Virginia and to conform to all rules and
regulations relating thereto; to indemnify and save Lessor harmless against all
claims for damages to persons (including death) or to property, arising out of
any act or omission by or on behalf of Lessee occurring on the leased premises
and continuously and at Lessee's expense to carry public liability insurance in
the amount of not less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) for personal
injury or death for one and not less than Two Million Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($2,500,000.00) for personal injury or death of two or more persons
involved in each occurrence, and property damage insurance in the amount of not
less than Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00), with both Lessor and
Lessee named as insureds therein, but without restriction on the Lessor

                                      -23-
<PAGE>
 
as claimant thereunder for any damage done to its property. Copies of all
insurance policies in this lease required shall be furnished to Lessor promptly
upon receipt thereof by Lessee.

                      DEFAULT PROVISIONS
                      ------------------

          17.  If (i) Lessee shall fail or default in the payment of any sums
required to be paid by him hereunder, when and as the same shall become due and
payable and any such default shall continue for a period of fifteen (15) days
after written demand by Lessor for such payment; or (ii) default shall be made
by Lessee in the performance of any other covenant or condition herein contained
to be performed by him and any such default shall continue for a period of sixty
(60) days after written demand by Lessor for the performance thereof (or, if any
default shall not be curable within 60 days, then Lessee shall have commenced to
cure such default as promptly as possible); or (iii) Lessee shall file a
petition in bankruptcy, or make an assignment for the benefit of his creditors,
or consent to the appointment of a receiver of himself or of the whole or any
substantial part of his property, or shall be adjudicated a bankrupt, or an
order, judgment or decree shall not be vacated or set aside or stayed within
sixty (60) days from the date of such appointment, or any such stay shall be set
aside, then Lessor, at its option, may avail itself of all or any of the
following remedies:

          (a) declare a forfeiture of all the right, title and interest of
     Lessee to all the property forming the subject matter of this Lease;

          (b) re-enter and take Possession of the Leased

                                      -24-
<PAGE>
 
     Premises forming the subject matter of this Lease, including all
     improvements and personal property theretofore placed by Lessee in or upon
     the Leased Premises, to complete exclusion of Lessee. Neither any such re-
     entry, taking possession, nor termination of the sublease shall in any wise
     impair the right of Lessor rents royalties or other payments accrued to the
     time of the termination of the lease, or limit any of the remedies for the
     recovery thereof which Lessor otherwise would have had;

          (c) obtain in any court judgment in favor of Lessor and against Lessee
     for the amount of all indebtedness of Lessee to Lessor, including, but not
     limited to, all unpaid payments provided for in this Lease regardless of
     whether the same be matured or unmatured payments;

          (d) the parties acknowledge that they are familiar with the laws of
     the State of West Virginia relating to forfeiture of a lease as set forth
     by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and the parties agree that
     failure of Lessee to make any payment required under this Lease or any
     violation of the covenants and conditions contained in this Lease by Lessee
     shall be ground: for forfeiture of the Lease if Lessee shall fail to cure
     said default within the time periods specified in this paragraph 17
     notwithstanding that Lessor may have an adequate remedy at law for monetary
     damages for certain defaults specified herein.

                                      -25-
<PAGE>
 
                                    REMEDIES
                                    --------

          18.  All rents, royalties and other payments hereinbefore provided to
be paid to Lessor by Lessee shall be deemed, treated and considered as rent
reserved under the contract for the demised premises and Lessor shall have for
the collection thereof all rights and remedies which landlords may have for the
collection of rent reserved upon contract under the present or any future laws
of the State of West Virginia.

          All of the remedies granted to Lessor herein shall be deemed to be
cumulative and the exercise of any remedy shall not be considered as an election
by Lessor of remedies or as a waiver of any other remedy specified in this
article.  Moreover, the specification of remedies in this article 18 shall not
be deemed to exclude Lessor from any other legal or equitable remedy or remedies
which it may have under the laws of the State of West Virginia.  Failure on the
part of Lessor to enforce any of the rights herein granted to it on default for
any period or periods shall not operate as an estoppel or as a waiver against
Lessor, or prevent it at any subsequent time from electing to exercise all or
any of such rights for any subsequent default. In case any provision hereof
shall be unenforceable or enforceable only to a limited extent, the inclusion
herein of such provision shall not affect the validity of any other provision
hereof, and any such provision which is enforceable only to a limited extent may
be enforced to such extent with the same effect as if such provision had
expressly provided in the alternative for the enforcement thereof to the extent
to which such provision may be enforceable.

                                      -26-
<PAGE>
 
                          REMOVAL OF LESSEE'S PROPERTY
                          ----------------------------

          19.  No property placed on the premises by Lessee shall be removed by
him during the existence of the Lease, except in the ordinary course of
business. At the termination of the lease, and provided Lessee is not in default
as to, or in violation of, any requirement of the lease, Lessee may remove
within the following twelve (12) months any of the property of whatsoever kind
or character, theretofore placed on the Leased Premises by Lessee. If Lessee
elects to remove part of his property then he shall be obligated to remove the
part of said property removed in its entirety from the Leased Premises.
Otherwise than as stated in the immediately preceding sentence all property
placed on the Leased Premises by Lessee shall remain thereon at the termination
of the lease, and shall be and become the property of the Lessor.

                                  ARBITRATION
                                  -----------

          20.  Lessor and Lessee mutually covenant and agree that in case of any
disagreement or dispute between the parties hereto as to any of the covenants
and agreements or conditions of this Lease, or as to the performance or non-
performance thereof, all such disagreements and disputes, including any
obligation to pay rent or royalty, shall be submitted to arbitration pursuant to
the provisions of Section 1 of Article 10 of Chapter 55 of the West Virginia
code, it being specifically hereby agreed that a judgment may be entered in any
court of competent jurisdiction on any arbitration award, and that the
arbitration proceeding shall be

                                      -27-
<PAGE>
 
the exclusive remedy. Any such arbitration shall be conducted as follows: one
arbitrator shall be chosen by Lessor and one by Lessee within ten (10) days
after notice in writing from either party to the other, and the two so chosen
shall select a third arbitrator within five (5) days after their selection. In
the case of the failure of either party to select an arbitrator within said
period of ten (10) days such arbitrator may be selected by the chief judge of
the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of West
Virginia upon the application of the party not so failing. In case the two so
chosen are unable to agree upon a third arbitrator within five (5) days after
their own selection, the third arbitrator shall be appointed by said chief judge
upon the application of either or both of the parties. The award of the
arbitrators shall be made in writing within thirty (30) days from the final
submission of the controversy to the arbitrators, and one copy thereof shall be
furnished to each of the parties hereto. Such award, if concurred in by all or a
majority of said arbitrators, shall be final and conclusive on the parties as to
the controversy submitted to arbitration. The arbitrators shall determine the
costs of the arbitration, including reasonable compensation to the arbitrators,
and by whom such costs shall be paid. Such costs may be assessed against either
the Lessor or the Lessee, or against both. Pending an award by the arbitrators
as to any disagreement or dispute submitted to arbitration, no action shall be
taken by either Lessor

                                      -28-
<PAGE>
 
or Lessee as to the matter is disagreement or dispute which will in any way tend
to interfere with compliance with the arbitration award; but except as may have
been hereinbefore specifically provided to the contrary, this provision shall
not restrict Lessee's right to continue mining during the pendency of the
arbitration proceedings.

                                    NOTICES
                                    -------

          21.  All requests, statements, notices and demands to Lessor under
this Lease shall be deemed to be sufficiently given and served for all purposes
if sent by certified mail to it at P. O. Box 969, Charleston, West Virginia,
25324, or at such other address as Lessor from time to time by written notice to
Lessee may prescribe.

          All requests, statements, notices and demands to Lessee under this
Lease shall be deemed to be sufficiently given and served for all purposes if
sent by certified mail to Lessee at P.O. Box 175, Hansford, WV 25103, or at such
other address as Lessee from time to time by written notice to Lessor may
prescribe.

                            SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
                            ----------------------

          22.  This Lease shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto and, subject to the provisions contained in Article 14 hereof,
upon and to their respective successors and assigns.

                                    HEADINGS
                                    --------

          23.  The headings to the various sections hereof are not intended as
part of the text hereof, as an indication of the

                                      -29-
<PAGE>
 
contents of any section, or as an indication that the subject matter indicated
by the heading will not also be part of another section.  They are only inserted
for the sake of convenience.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Lessor has caused this Lease to be signed in its
limited partnership name by its Managing General Partner and Lessee has caused
this Lease to be signed all as of the day and year first above written.

                                    LESSOR:

                                    SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED
                                    PARTNERSHIP


                                    By /s/ J. S. Stevens III
                                      ------------------------
                                       Managing General Partner


                                    LESSEE:


                                    By /s/ Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr.
                                       Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr.

                                      -30-
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF KANAWHA, to-wit:


          The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 10th day of
February, 1983, by Jay S. Stevens, III, Managing General Partner of Shonk Land
Company Limited Partnership, on behalf of the limited partnership.


                              /s/ Barbara Dawn Hagan
                             -------------------------
                                    Notary Public

          My commission expires June 6, 1988.
                               -----------------------


STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF KANAWHA, to-wit:

          The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 10th day of
February, 1983, by Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr.



                              /s/ Barbara Dawn Hagan
                             -------------------------
                                    Notary Public

          My commission expires June 6, 1988.
                               -----------------------


<PAGE>
 
                            LAWSON W. HAMILTON, JR.
                                 P. 0. BOX 175
                         HANSFORD, WEST VIRGINIA 25103

TELEPHONE; (304) 949-5118
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                October 7, 1987



          Mr. Jay Stevens
          Shonk Limited Land Company Limited Partnership
          P.0. Box 969
          Charleston, West Virginia  25326

          Dear Jay:

          In compliance with the terms of our Agreement of February 8, 1983,
          I wish to inform you of my desire to renew and/or extend the
          Agreement for an additional five (5) year term commencing with
          February 8, 1988.

                                            Best regards,

                                            /s/ Lawson

          LWH,Jr/nls
<PAGE>
 
                        AMENDMENT OF AGREEMENT OF LEASE
                        -------------------------------

     THIS AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT OF LEASE entered into this 9th day of March,
1989, by and between SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a West Virginia
limited partnership, hereinafter referred to as "Lessor", and LAWSON W.
HAMILTON, JR., hereinafter referred to as "Lessee";

                             W I T N E S S E T H:
                             -------------------

     WHEREAS, Shonk Land Company Limited Partnership and Lawson W.Hamilton, Jr.
entered into a certain Agreement of Lease on the 8th day of February, 1983,
whereby Shonk Land Company leased certain real estate and the rights to mine
coal therefrom to Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr., a copy of which Agreement of Lease is
attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and hereby incorporated by reference; and

     WHEREAS, Shonk Land Company Limited Partnership and Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr.
are desirous of amending said Agreement of Lease to provide for a separate
tonnage royalty for all coal sold by Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr. for an "actual sale
price", as defined herein, of less than Thirty Dollars ($30.00) per ton and to
provide for the renewal thereof;

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the above, the parties hereto hereby
amend said Agreement of Lease as follows:

     1.   The last sentence of the Section 4 is hereby amended to read as
follows:
<PAGE>
 
          "Lessee shall have options to renew or extend this Lease, on the same
          terms and conditions, except as to term and royalties, for four (4)
          successive five (5) year periods after February 8, 1988 and for
          additional five (5) year terms commencing on February 8, 2008 as
          provided for in the Section 6 herein, provided Lessee has fully
          performed his covenants hereunder, and gives Lessor written notice of
          his intent to renew not less than one hundred and twenty (120) days
          before the expiration of each preceding term."

     2.   Section 5, Paragraph 1 is hereby amended by striking "gross sales
price, as such term is hereafter defined" as it appears on page 6 of the
Agreement of Lease and inserting "gross sale price or actual sale price, as the
case may be, as such terms are hereinafter defined."

     3.   Section 5, Subparagraph (a) is hereby amended by inserting the
following after the subparagraph heading (a) and before the first word thereof:
"The following percentages are based upon the gross sale price of tons of coal
as such term is hereafter defined:"

     4.   Section 5, subparagraph (b) is hereby amended by inserting the
following before the first sentence thereof:

          "As used herein, 'actual sales price' shall mean the bona fide sale
price receivable by Lessee for the coal without deduction for selling expenses,
commissions, transportation costs

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
and any other costs and expenses."

     5.   Section 5 is hereby amended by inserting the following after
Subparagraph (c) thereof as an additional Subparagraph (d):

          "(d)  In the event the actual sale price for the above-described coal
is less than Thirty Dollars ($30.00) per ton, Lessee shall pay to Lessor an
alternative tonnage royalty in lieu of the tonnage royalties set forth in
Subparagraph (a) hereinabove in the amount of six percent (6%) of the actual
sale price, as such term is defined hereinabove, for each net ton of such coal.
Any additional royalties set forth hereinafter in Section 5 for wheelage,
processing fees or other royalties and fees shall be determined by reference to
the gross sales price of such coal and not be referenced to the actual sales
price thereof.

     6.   The fourth paragraph of Section 6 (also being the second paragraph on
page 11) is hereby amended to read as follows:

          "In the event Lessee shall exercise his right to renew or extend this
          Lease at the expiration of the initial term or after the expiration of
          a renewal term, the Lessee shall pay to Lessor for each and every year
          during each Lease Year of the first three renewal terms a minimum
          annual royalty of Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($700,000.00), said
          minimum annual royalty being paid in advance in equal quarterly
          payments of One Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
          Dollars ($175,000.00) on the 8th day of each February, May, August and
          November of each Lease Year thereof, and the Lessee shall pay to
          Lessor for each and every year during each Lease Year of the fourth
          renewal term a minimum annual royalty of One Million Fifty Thousand
          Dollars ($1,050,000.00), which minimum annual royalties shall be
          payable in advance in equal quarterly payments of Two Hundred Sixty-
          Two Thousand and Five Hundred Dollars ($262,500.00) on the eighth day
          of each February, May, August and November of each Lease Year thereof.

     7.   The fifth paragraph of Section 6 (also identified as the third
paragraph on page 11) is hereby amended to change the date "February 8, 2003"
wherever appearing therein to "February 8, 2008".

     8.   The parties hereto acknowledge that Lessee has renewed the Agreement
of Lease until February 8, 1993 and Lessee hereby agrees to renew said Agreement
of Lease for an additional five (5) year term commencing February 8, 1993, and
hereby notifies Lessor of such intent pursuant to Section 5 of the Agreement of
Lease.

     9.   In the event that said Agreement of Lease and this Amendment of
Agreement of Lease between the parties hereto shall be assigned, conveyed,
leased, sublet or otherwise transferred, Lessor and Lessee agree that this
Amendment of Agreement of Lease

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
to the extent it may provide for royalties to be reduced to six percent (6%)
shall be null and void with respect to any such transferee but that in all other
respects the Agreement of Lease and this Amendment of Agreement of Lease shall
remain in full force and effect.

     10.  The parties hereto expressly understand and agree that the royalties
set forth in the above amendments to Sections 5 and 6 of the Agreement of Lease
regarding tonnage royalties and minimum annual royalties shall be credited in
the manner set forth in Section 6, Subparagraph 7 (also being the second
paragraph on page 12) of the Agreement of Lease.

     11.  The parties hereto covenant and agree that the entire understanding
between the parties hereto shall be represented by that certain Agreement of
Lease dated the 8th day of February, 1983, as amended by this Amendment of
Agreement of Lease, which Amendment shall be effective as of the 1st day of
July, 1988, and which Agreement of Lease shall remain in full force and effect
except to the extent said Agreement of Lease is amended hereby. In the event
that the terms and conditions of this Amendment of Agreement of Lease are held
to be in conflict with the terms and conditions of the Agreement of Lease, the
terms and conditions of the Agreement of Lease shall control.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Lessor has caused its names to be signed hereto by
its Senior Managing General Partner, and the Lessee has executed this instrument
and affixed its hand and seal

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
thereto, all in duplicate, on this the ______ day of ________, 1989.

                                   SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


                                   By: /s/ J.S. Stevens, III
                                      -------------------------------------
                                       Its Senior Managing
                                       General Partner


                                       /s/ Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr.
                                   -------------------------------------
                                   LAWSON W. HAMILTON, JR.

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF KANAWHA, to-wit:

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 9th day of March,
1989, by J.S. Stevens, III, Senior Managing General Partner of Shonk Land
Company Limited Partnership. 

     My commission expires 10-23-94.


[NOTARY PUBLIC SEAL APPEARS HERE]
                                       /s/ Barbara Blake
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                   Notary Public

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF KANAWHA, to-wit:

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this ___ day of ______,
1988, by Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr..

     My commission expires ________________________.


                                   ----------------------------------------
                                   Notary Public

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
                           SECOND AMENDMENT OF LEASE

     This Second Amendment of Lease, is made and entered into this 1st day of
April 1992 by and between SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a West
Virginia limited partnership, hereinafter referred to as "Lessor" and ARK LAND
COMPANY, hereinafter referred to as "Lessee":

                                   WITNESSETH

     The following recitals are herein agreed:

     1.   Lessor and Lessee, entered into a certain Agreement of Lease, dated
December 20, 1989, hereinafter the "Lease" or the "Ark Lease", wherein Lessor
leased certain property and the right to mine coal therefrom to Lessee.

     2.   The initial term of the Lease expires on December 31, 1992 subject to
Lessee's rights to renew.

     3.   Lessor and Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr., entered into an Agreement of Lease
on the 8th day of February, 1983, wherein Lessor leased certain other property
and right to mine coal therefrom to Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr., (hereinafter
referred to as the "Hamilton Lease").

     4.   On July 30, 1989, Lessee acquired the Hamilton Lease, as amended, by
assignment from said Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr., with the consent of Lessor.

     5.   On the 1st day of September, 1989, the Lessee herein subleased a
portion of the Hamilton Lease, as amended, to Red Warrior Coal Company ("Red
Warrior") conditioned upon the consent of Lessor, which was obtained on December
11, 1989.

     6.   On the 19th day of September,  1990,  the Lessee herein subleased a
portion of the Hamilton Lease, as amended, to Catenary Coal Company
("Catenary"), conditioned upon the consent of Lessor, which was obtained on
February 6, 1991.

     7.   The Ark Lease presently provides in Section 4.2 that Guaranteed
Minimum Royalty ("GMR") paid by Ark may be used, subject to certain limitations
described therein, as a credit against amounts paid by Ark as production
royalties for coal mined from the property leased in the Ark Lease or the
Hamilton Lease. Ark desires to amend the Hamilton Lease in certain respects
related to such cross-recoupment.

     8.   The amendment of the Hamilton Lease is of benefit to Ark.

     9.   Therefore, the parties desire to modify and amend the Hamilton Lease.
<PAGE>
 
     10.  The Lessor, in exchange for such renewal of the Ark Lease by Ark
contemporaneously herewith, is willing to modify and amend the Hamilton Lease.

     NOW THEREFORE, based on the foregoing recitals the mutual covenants and
conditions herein contained the parties agree that the Hamilton Lease be and is
amended as follows:

     1.   In the event Ark does not hereafter renew the Ark Lease for a term
commencing after December 31, 1998, to the extent there is any GMR (as defined
in the Ark Lease) which has not been recouped by December 31, 1998, then in such
event, Ark, after December 31, 1998, may recoup against production royalty due
under the Hamilton Lease such previously un-recouped GMR from the Ark Lease.
Such right of recoupment shall be subject to the following restrictions:

          a.  Such right of recoupment against production royalties on the
Hamilton Lease shall exist only after minimum royalties have been paid under the
Hamilton Lease.  Such right of recoupment shall not be applicable against
royalties due for wheelage, processing or for other reasons.

          b.  The aforesaid right of recoupment applies only in the event Ark
does not hereafter renew the Ark Lease for a term commencing after December 31,
1998.  If Ark renews the Ark Lease beyond December 31, 1998, then upon
expiration of such subsequent term, Ark shall have no right to use such
unrecouped GMR, unless Shonk subsequently agrees to the same by written
Amendment to the Hamilton Lease.

          c.  Such right of recoupment shall be and remain subject to the five-
year period of recoupment as described in Section 4.2 of the Ark Lease.

          d.  The amendment herein set forth is restricted to Ark and its
permitted Sublessees, and in the event this Lease if further assigned, subleased
or transferred in any way, whether by operation of law or by Sublessee of Ark,
this provision shall be void unless specifically agreed to by Lessor at the time
of such transfer.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, The Lessor has caused its name to be signed hereto by
its Managing General Partner and Ark has executed this instrument by a corporate
officer, thereunto duly authorized, all in duplicate, the day and year first
above written.

                                   LESSOR:

                                   SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                   By: /s/ J. S. Stevens, III
                                      -------------------------------------
                                      J.S. Stevens, III
                                      Its Managing General Partner
<PAGE>
 
                                   LESSEE:

                                   ARK LAND COMPANY

                                   By: /s/ Michael D. Bauersachs
                                      -------------------------------------
                                   Its:  Vice President

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF KANAWHA, To-Wit:

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 2nd day of April,
1992, by J. S. Stevens, III, Managing General Partner of SHONK LAND COMPANY
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP.

                                       /s/ Barbara Blake
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                   NOTARY PUBLIC

My Commission Expires: 10-23-94

                                   [NOTARY PUBLIC SEAL APPEARS HERE]

STATE OF MISSOURI,

COUNTY OF ST. CHARLES, To-Wit:

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 1st day of April,
1992, by Michael D. Bauersachs, as Vice President of ARK LAND COMPANY.

                                       /s/ Shelley J. Mackiewicz
                                   ----------------------------------------
                                   NOTARY PUBLIC

My Commission Expires: 3/4/95
<PAGE>
 
AMENDMENT OF LEASE

          This Amendment of Lease, is made and entered into this 31 day of
October, 1992, by and between SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a West
Virginia limited partnership ("Lessor"), and ARK LAND COMPANY, a Delaware
corporation ("Lessee" or "Ark"):

                                   WITNESSETH

The following recitals are herein agreed:

          1.  Lessor and Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr., entered into an Agreement of
Lease dated February 8, 1983 (the "Hamilton Lease"), wherein Lessor leased
certain property and the right to mine coal therefrom to Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr.

          2.  On July 30, 1989, Ark acquired the Hamilton Lease, as amended, by
assignment from Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr., with the consent of Lessor.

          3.  Lessor and Ark entered into a certain Agreement of Lease, dated
December 20, 1989 (the "Ark Lease"), wherein Lessor leased certain other
property and the right to mine coal therefrom to Ark.

          4.  On September 1, 1989 Ark subleased a portion of the Hamilton
Lease, as amended, to Red Warrior Coal Company ("Red Warrior") conditioned upon
the consent of Lessor, which was obtained on December 11, 1989.

          5.  On September 19, 1990 Ark subleased a portion of the Hamilton
Lease, as amended, to Catenary Coal Company ("Catenary"), conditioned upon the
consent of Lessor, which was obtained on February 6, 1991.

          6.  The Ark Lease was amended to extend the term by that certain First
Amendment to Lease, dated March 1, 1992.

          7.  The Hamilton Lease was amended by that certain Second Amendment to
Lease dated March 1, 1992.
<PAGE>
 
          8.  The Hamilton Lease and Ark Lease, as both have been amended, are
sometimes referred to collectively as the "Leases."

          9.  Ark is considering constructing and operating a dragline upon
either or both of the Leases.

          10.  Ark, or its parent or affiliates, is considering purchasing a
contract (or contracts) from a coal producer to baseload the proposed dragline
operation.

          11.  To enhance the economic feasibility of mining the property leased
by Ark under both the Leases, the parties have agreed to modify the production
royalty obligations of Ark, subject to the terms and conditions contained
herein.

          NOW THEREFORE, based on the foregoing recitals, and the mutual
covenants and conditions contained in the Ark Lease and the Hamilton Lease, the
parties agree as follows:

          Section 1.  Beginning on the execution of this Amendment, Ark will
receive the following reduction in production royalties payable pursuant to
Section 5 of the Hamilton Lease, as amended, and pursuant to Section 5 of the
Ark Lease, as amended.

          For all tons mined under the Leases, after calculation of the
production royalty required under the Ark Lease or the Hamilton Lease, as both
have been amended both previously and herein, Ark will receive a reduction in
the production royalty in the amount of $.20 per ton. This reduction shall
continue until such reductions total Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) or is
sooner terminated as herein provided.

          Lessor will have the right to recoup all of, or a portion of, the
$5,000,000 royalty concession in the following described manner; provided


                                     - 2 -
<PAGE>
 
however that Ark shall not be required to refund any amounts in excess of the
royalty reductions actually taken. The parties agree that Thirty Million
(30,000,000) tons of coal (the "Excess Amount") are likely to be recoverable by
the dragline method in excess of conventional mining methods (which are
estimated to recover Ten Million (10,000,000) tons) for a total of Forty Million
(40,000,000) tons. If, by the dragline operation, Ark mines the Excess Amount,
then Ark shall not be required to refund any of the $5,000,000 royalty
concession to Lessor. If Ark does not mine the entire Excess Amount, then in
accordance with the terms below, Lessor shall receive a refund in the proportion
that the amount that Ark has not mined bears to such Excess Amount. An example
of the above calculation is attached as Exhibit 1. The tonnages stated in this
Section 1 are not to be construed as stipulations or representations as to the
actual recoverable tonnage and are for the sole and limited purpose of
determining whether Lessor is entitled to a refund as stated above and to
establish a method or formula to determine the extent of such refund.

          If Ark places a dragline operation on the Hamilton Lease or Ark Lease,
but closes its dragline operation without mining the Excess Amount, Ark shall
then either (i) open another mine or mines on the property leased under either
of the Leases, or (ii) refund the proportionate amount of the unrecovered
$5,000,000 as described above. Ark shall have 90 days after closing (i.e.
permanently ceasing to operate) the dragline to determine whether it desires to
open a new mine or mines. If Ark does not give notice of such intention during
the said 90 days, and Ark does not open such mine within one year after closing
the dragline, then Ark shall forthwith refund the remaining proportionate
amount.


                                     - 3 -
<PAGE>
 
          If Ark opens such additional mine or mines after closing the dragline
operation, then for coal mined from such new mines, in addition to production
royalty, Ark shall pay to Lessor an additional royalty of $.25 per ton until
such time as the proportionate amount of $5,000,000 which must be refunded as
described above, has in fact been refunded to Lessor. If after opening such mine
or mines, mining terminates without Lessor having recovered the proportionate
part of the $5,000,000 due it, then upon cessation of all mining, Ark shall
forthwith pay the balance in a lump sum.

          Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions if: (i) Ark takes any
of said $.20 per ton reductions after execution hereof and on or before February
28, 1993, the Board of Directors of Ark's sublessee and of Arch Mineral
Corporation have failed to approve the construction of a dragline on either of
the Leases; or (ii) if such approval for the construction is obtained but Ark
does not place an operating dragline on the Lessor's property within three (3)
years from the Effective Date (such date three (3) years after the Effective
Date being hereinafter referred to as the Termination Date), then upon the first
to occur of such events, Ark shall fully and immediately refund in lump sum the
total of the $.20 per ton reductions previously and actually taken by Ark.

          Section 2.  The Leases contain certain rights for Ark to extend the
respective lease terms of each Lease. Upon the approval of the Board of
Directors of Ark's Sublessee and the Board of Directors of Arch Mineral
Corporation for the construction of a dragline on either of the Leases, which
approval must be obtained, if at all, on or before February 28, 1993, Ark will
forthwith in writing extend the Hamilton Lease for twenty (20) additional lease
years from the date of the Board approval obtained pursuant to this


                                     - 4 -
<PAGE>
 
Section 2 or until the exhaustion of all mineable and merchantable surface
mineable coal leased by the Hamilton Lease, whichever is shorter. (Ark will have
the right, but not the obligation to extend the Ark Lease as provided in the Ark
Lease.) Ark will have the right to obtain further extensions as provided for in
the Hamilton Lease after such extended term expires. Any and all such extended
terms shall expire upon exhaustion of all mineable and merchantable coal leased
by the Hamilton Lease.

          Section 3.  (a) In the event Ark, its parent or affiliates, on or
before February 28, 1993, acquires from a non-affiliated coal producing third
party a contract to supply coal to a domestic utility (excluding metallurgical
or export sales), or enters into a new contract to supply such coal which amends
or replaces an existing contract supplied by a non-affiliated coal producing
third party and Ark, its parent or affiliates, have paid good and valuable
consideration to such non-affiliated coal producing third party (collectively
the "Purchased Contract"), Ark will have an additional royalty adjustment as
described below subject to the following conditions: (i) the Purchased Contract
described above is acquired by Ark, its parent or affiliates after the date of
the execution of this Amendment, and (ii) within 90 days of acquiring such
Purchased Contract, Ark specifically identifies such Purchased Contract for the
purpose of taking such deduction. As used herein, "specifically identifies"
shall mean written notice stating that Ark elects to treat the contract as a
Purchased Contract; identifies the parties thereto, and the term and tonnages to
be supplied thereunder. If not prohibited by such Purchased Contract, Ark will
provide Lessor a true copy thereof.

          If the above conditions are met, then for coal mined from either of
the Leases and sold pursuant to any such Purchased Contract, Ark will pay


                                     - 5 -
<PAGE>
 
to Lessor, in lieu of the Production Royalty provided in the applicable Lease,
Production Royalty based on a Base Gross Selling Price defined as Twenty-Five
Dollars ($25.00) subject to the deductions contained in the applicable Lease,
and subject to premium and penalty adjustments paid or incurred under the
Purchased Contract. Each quarter the Base Gross Selling Price shall be adjusted
upward or downward in the same percentage that the price paid pursuant to such
Purchased Contract has been adjusted during the immediately preceding adjustment
period under the Purchased Contract. After Five (5) years from the
identification of such Purchased Contract in accordance with the preceding
paragraph, the then existing Base Gross Selling Price shall increase by One
Dollar ($1.00) and shall be adjusted quarterly as set forth above. After Seven
(7) additional years, the then existing Base Gross Selling Price shall increase
by another One Dollar ($1.00) and shall be adjusted quarterly as set forth
above.

          (b)  Ark, its parent or affiliates, may acquire other Purchased
Contracts in like manner as in 3(a) within two (2) years of the Effective Date,
provided however that the Base Gross Selling Price shall be and remain, during
the term of such other Purchased Contract, Twenty Seven Dollars ($27.00) subject
to the deductions contained in the applicable Lease, and subject to premium and
penalty adjustments in such other Purchased Contract. Beginning with the
Effective Date, each quarter the Base Gross Selling Price shall be adjusted
upward or downward in the same manner (on a dollar for dollar basis) that the
price paid pursuant to the first Purchased Contract acquired by Ark, its parent
or affiliates has been adjusted during the immediately preceding adjustment
period under such first purchased Contract. Upon acquisition of such other
Purchased Contract the Base Gross Selling price


                                     - 6 -
<PAGE>
 
thereunder shall be $27.00 plus the adjustments incurred in the Base Gross
Selling Price from the Effective Date under the first Purchased Contract
acquired pursuant to Section 3(a). After so establishing the Base Gross Selling
price under such other Purchased Contract it shall thereafter be adjusted
quarterly in accordance with the changes in price pursuant to the terms of such
other Purchased Contract, provided that such other Purchased Contract shall not
be adjusted by One Dollar ($1.00) after Five (5) years and the subsequent Seven
(7) years respectively as contained in Section 3(a).

          (c)  If Ark pays the Production Royalty reduced as set forth in this
Section 3, and if the current Cincinnati Gas & Electric contract is displaced by
such Purchased Contract, then notwithstanding the foregoing, through December
1995, the first 350,000 tons per year mined from the Leases shall be deemed sold
to Cincinnati Gas & Electric, and such tons shall bear the production royalty
contained in the applicable Lease prior to this Amendment, provided however that
Ark shall be entitled to the deduction of $.20 per ton in accordance with
Section 1 above.

          (d)  If Ark, its parent or affiliates, acquire or seek to acquire
another Purchased Contract or Contracts after two (2) years from the Effective
Date then the parties shall negotiate in good faith for a royalty reduction
consistent with the purpose of this Section 3.

          Section 4.  If after three (3) years from the Effective Date, Ark has
not constructed a dragline on Lessor's property, and Ark has taken royalty
adjustments as described in Section 3 for Purchased Contracts, then Ark shall
immediately refund the difference between the production royalty payable under
the Leases and the Production Royalty paid pursuant to the terms of Section 3
herein.


                                     - 7 -
<PAGE>
 
          Section 5.  If after three (3) years from the identification of such
Purchased Contract, the coal mined from the Leases does not supply all of the
tonnages actually shipped under such Purchased Contract, and if coal is shipped
under the Purchased Contract from a source other than the Leases, then Ark will
pay production royalty calculated pursuant to Section 3 hereof (on all tons
actually mined from the Leases only to the extent that tons mined by Ark or its
lessees supply the Purchased Contract from a source other than the Leases),
based upon the average weighted actual gross selling price received by Ark
(subject to deductions allowable under the applicable Lease and herein) of coal
mined and sold from the Leases. It is understood that this Section 5 does not
apply to all tons mined from the Leases, but only to the difference between
those tons which are actually shipped under the Purchased Contract and those
tons which are shipped on the Purchased Contract from the Leases. This
obligation shall continue during the term of the Hamilton Lease or such
Purchased Contract, whichever is shorter.

          Section 6.  Nothing contained in this Amendment shall require Ark to
place a dragline upon the properties leased by the Leases.

          Section 7.  This Amendment shall expire unless on or before February
28, 1993, the Board of Directors of Ark's sublessee and its parent, Arch Mineral
Corporation, shall have approved the expenditure of capital for the construction
of a dragline on the property leased by the Hamilton Lease or Ark Lease. Ark
shall immediately notify Lessor in writing of such Board of Director approval
and deliver the Lease extension described in Section 2 hereof.

          Section 8.  This Amendment is conditioned upon and shall not be
effective until this Amendment is approved by both the General Partners of 


                                     - 8 -
<PAGE>
 
          Lessor and the Board of Directors of Ark. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the terms contained in Section 1 hereof are effective immediately,
Ark and Lessor will use their best efforts to obtain such approvals on or before
February 28, 1993 and within ten (10) days respectively. Upon such approval,
each party shall immediately provide the other party with a certificate signed
by an officer or general partner of such entity reflecting such requisite
approval. The date on which both parties have both received such Board and
Partnership approvals shall be the "Effective Date."

          Section 9.  This Amendment is binding upon each of the parties, their
respective permitted successors and assigns.

          Section 10.  Except as amended hereby, all other terms of the Leases,
as amended, remain in effect.


                                   SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


                                   By: /s/ J. S. Stevens, III
                                      -----------------------------------
                                   Its:  Managing General Partner
                                       ----------------------------------


                                   ARK LAND COMPANY


                                   By: /s/ Steven E. McCurdy
                                      -----------------------------------
                                   Its:  President
                                       ----------------------------------


id:003101




                                     - 9 -
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT 1

EXAMPLE 1
- ---------

Assuming, for example, that Ark mines 22,000,000 tons of coal by the dragline
method, then:


    1.  Ark has mined 12,000,000 tons in excess of the amount mineable by
        conventional mining methods determined by subtracting the conventional
        method amounts (10,000,000) from the amount actually mined.

                         22,000,000 - 10,000,000 = 12,000,000

    2.  Subtract the 12,000,000 tons in excess of the amount mineable by
        conventional methods from 30,000,000 tons (Excess Amount).

                         30,000,000 - 12,000,000 = 18,000,000

    3.  If Ark does not open a new mine (which would increase the 22,000,000
        tons actually recovered) then the proportion of excess coal not mined
        (in excess of conventional methods) bears to the Excess Amount of
        30,000,000 is determined.

                         18,000,000  =  .60
                         ----------
                         30,000,000

    4.  Multiply the proportion determined in 3 above by $5,000,000 to
        determine the amount which Ark is required to refund.

                        .60  x  $5,000,000 = $3,000,000


EXAMPLE 2
- ---------

Assuming, for example, that Ark mines 50,000,000 tons, it will owe no refund to
Lessor because it mined the entire Excess Amount.


EXAMPLE 3
- ---------

Assuming, for example, that Ark mines 5,000,000 tons, it will owe $1,000,000
because it failed to mine any of the Excess Amount and took the reduction of
$.20 per ton
<PAGE>
 
                              AMENDMENT OF LEASE

          This Amendment of Lease, is made and entered into this 5th day of
December, 1992, by and between SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a West
Virginia limited partnership ("Lessor"), and ARK LAND COMPANY, a Delaware
corporation ("Lessee" or "Ark"):

                                   WITNESSETH

          The following recitals are herein agreed:

          1.  Lessor and Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr., entered into an Agreement of
Lease dated February 8, 1983 (the "Hamilton Lease"), wherein Lessor leased
certain property and the right to mine coal therefrom to Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr.

          2.  On July 30, 1989, Ark acquired the Hamilton Lease, as amended, by
assignment from Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr., with the consent of Lessor.

          3.  Lessor and Ark entered into a certain Agreement of Lease, dated
December 20, 1989 (the "Ark Lease"), wherein Lessor leased certain other
property and the right to mine coal therefrom to Ark.

          4.  On September 1, 1989 Ark subleased a portion of the Hamilton
Lease, as amended, to Red Warrior Coal Company ("Red Warrior") conditioned upon
the consent of Lessor, which was obtained on December 11, 1989.

          5.  On September 19, 1990 Ark subleased a portion of the Hamilton
Lease, as amended, to Catenary Coal Company ("Catenary"), conditioned upon the
consent of Lessor, which was obtained on February 6, 1991.

          6.  The Ark Lease was amended to extend the term by that certain First
Amendment to Lease, dated March 1, 1992.

          7.  The Hamilton Lease was amended by that certain Second Amendment to
Lease dated March 1, 1992.

          8.  The Hamilton Lease and Ark Lease, as both have been amended, are
sometimes referred to collectively as the "Leases."
<PAGE>
 
          9.  Ark is considering constructing and operating a dragline upon
either or both of the Leases.

          10.  Ark, or its parent or affiliates, is considering purchasing a
contract (or contracts) from a coal producer to baseload the proposed dragline
operation.

          11.  To enhance the economic feasibility of mining the property leased
by Ark under both the Leases, the parties have agreed to modify the production
royalty obligations of Ark, subject to the terms and conditions contained
herein.

          NOW THEREFORE, based on the foregoing recitals, and the mutual
covenants and conditions contained in the Ark Lease and the Hamilton Lease, the
parties agree as follows:

          Section 1.  Beginning on the execution of this Amendment, Ark will
receive the following reduction in production royalties payable pursuant to
Section 5 of the Hamilton Lease, as amended, and pursuant to Section 5 of the
Ark Lease, as amended.

             For all tons mined under the Leases, after calculation of the
production royalty required under the Ark Lease or the Hamilton Lease, as both
have been amended both previously and herein, Ark will receive a reduction in
the production royalty in the amount of $.20 per ton. This reduction shall
continue until such reductions total Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) or is
sooner terminated as herein provided.

             Lessor will have the right to recoup all of, or a portion of, the
$5,000,000 royalty concession in the following described manner; provided
however that Ark shall not be required to refund any amounts in excess of the
royalty reductions actually taken. The parties agree that Thirty Million
(30,000,000) tons of coal (the "Excess Amount") are likely to be recoverable

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
by the dragline method in excess of conventional mining methods (which are
estimated to recover Ten Million (10,000,000) tons) for a total of Forty Million
(40,000,000) tons. If, by the dragline operation, Ark mines the Excess Amount,
then Ark shall not be required to refund any of the $5,000,000 royalty
concession to Lessor. If Ark does not mine the entire Excess Amount, then in
accordance with the terms below, Lessor shall receive a refund in the proportion
that the amount that Ark has not mined bears to such Excess Amount. An example
of the above calculation is attached as Exhibit 1. The tonnages stated in this
Section 1 are not to be construed as stipulations or representations as to the
actual recoverable tonnage and are for the sole and limited purpose of
determining whether Lessor is entitled to a refund as stated above and to
establish a method or formula to determine the extent of such refund.

             If Ark places a dragline operation on the Hamilton Lease or Ark
Lease, but closes its dragline operation without mining the Excess Amount, Ark
shall then either (i) open another mine or mines on the property leased under
either of the Leases, or (ii) refund the proportionate amount of the unrecovered
$5,000,000 as described above. Ark shall have 90 days after closing (i.e.
permanently ceasing to operate) the dragline to determine whether it desires to
open a new mine or mines. If Ark does not give notice of such intention during
the said 90 days, and Ark does not open such mine within one year after closing
the dragline, then Ark shall forthwith refund the remaining proportionate
amount.

             If Ark opens such additional mine or mines after closing the
dragline operation, then for coal mined from such new mines, in addition to
production royalty, Ark shall pay to Lessor an additional royalty of $.25 per
ton until such time as the proportionate amount of $5,000,000 which must be

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
refunded as described above, has in fact been refunded to Lessor. If after
opening such mine or mines, mining terminates without Lessor having recovered
the proportionate part of the $5,000,000 due it, then upon cessation of all
mining, Ark shall forthwith pay the balance in a lump sum.

             Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions if: (i) Ark takes
any of said $.20 per ton reductions after execution hereof and on or before
February 28, 1993, the Board of Directors of Ark's sublessee and of Arch Mineral
Corporation have failed to approve the construction of a dragline on either of
the Leases; or (ii) if such approval for the construction is obtained but Ark
does not place an operating dragline on the Lessor's property within three (3)
years from the Effective Date (such date three (3) years after the Effective
Date being hereinafter referred to as the Termination Date), then upon the first
to occur of such events, Ark shall fully and immediately refund in lump sum the
total of the $.20 per ton reductions previously and actually taken by Ark.

          Section 2.  The Leases contain certain rights for Ark to extend the
respective lease terms of each Lease. Upon the approval of the Board of
Directors of Ark's Sublessee and the Board of Directors of Arch Mineral
Corporation for the construction of a dragline on either of the Leases, which
approval must be obtained, if at all, on or before February 28, 1993, Ark will
forthwith in writing extend the Hamilton Lease for twenty (20) additional lease
years from the date of the Board approval obtained pursuant to this Section 2 or
until the exhaustion of all mineable and merchantable surface mineable coal
leased by the Hamilton Lease, whichever is shorter. (Ark will have the right,
but not the obligation to extend the Ark Lease as

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
provided in the Ark Lease.) Ark will have the right to obtain further extensions
as provided for in the Hamilton Lease after such extended term expires. Any and
all such extended terms shall expire upon exhaustion of all mineable and
merchantable coal leased by the Hamilton Lease.

          Section 3.  (a) In the event Ark, its parent or affiliates, on or
before February 28, 1993, acquires from a non-affiliated coal producing third
party a contract to supply coal to a domestic utility (excluding metallurgical
or export sales), or enters into a new contract to supply such coal which amends
or replaces an existing contract supplied by a non-affiliated coal producing
third party and Ark, its parent or affiliates, have paid good and valuable
consideration to such non-affiliated coal producing third party (collectively
the "Purchased Contract"), Ark will have an additional royalty adjustment as
described below subject to the following conditions: (i) the Purchased Contract
described above is acquired by Ark, its parent or affiliates after the date of
the execution of this Amendment, and (ii) within 90 days of acquiring such
Purchased Contract, Ark specifically identifies such Purchased Contract for the
purpose of taking such deduction. As used herein, "specifically identifies"
shall mean written notice stating that Ark elects to treat the contract as a
Purchased Contract; identifies the parties thereto, and the term and tonnages to
be supplied thereunder. If not prohibited by such Purchased Contract, Ark will
provide Lessor a true copy thereof.

          If the above conditions are met, then for coal mined from either of
the Leases and sold pursuant to any such Purchased Contract, Ark will pay to
Lessor, in lieu of the Production Royalty provided in the applicable Lease,
Production Royalty based on a Base Gross Selling Price defined as Twenty-Five
Dollars ($25.00) subject to the deductions contained in the applicable Lease,
and subject to premium and penalty adjustments paid or incurred under the

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
Purchased Contract. Each quarter the Base Gross Selling Price shall be adjusted
upward or downward in the same percentage that the price paid pursuant to such
Purchased Contract has been adjusted during the immediately preceding adjustment
period under the Purchased Contract. After Five (5) years from the
identification of such Purchased Contract in accordance with the preceding
paragraph, the then existing Base Gross Selling Price shall increase by One
Dollar ($1.00) and shall be adjusted quarterly as set forth above. After Seven
(7) additional years, the then existing Base Gross Selling Price shall increase
by another One Dollar ($1.00) and shall be adjusted quarterly as set forth
above.

             (b)  Ark, its parent or affiliates, may acquire other Purchased
Contracts in like manner as in 3(a) within two (2) years of the Effective Date,
provided however that the Base Gross Selling Price shall be and remain, during
the term of such other Purchased Contract, Twenty Seven Dollars ($27.00) subject
to the deductions contained in the applicable Lease, and subject to premium and
penalty adjustments in such other Purchased Contract. Beginning with the
Effective Date, each quarter the Base Gross Selling Price shall be adjusted
upward or downward in the same manner (on a dollar for dollar basis) that the
price paid pursuant to the first Purchased Contract acquired by Ark, its parent
or affiliates has been adjusted during the immediately preceding adjustment
period under such first purchased Contract. Upon acquisition of such other
Purchased Contract the Base Gross Selling price thereunder shall be $27.00 plus
the adjustments incurred in the Base Gross Selling Price from the Effective Date
under the first Purchased Contract acquired pursuant to Section 3(a). After so
establishing the Base Gross Selling price under such other Purchased Contract it
shall thereafter be adjusted quarterly in accordance with the changes in price
pursuant to the

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
terms of such other Purchased Contract, provided that such other Purchased
Contract shall not be adjusted by One Dollar ($1.00) after Five (5) years and
the subsequent Seven (7) years respectively as contained in Section 3(a).

             (c)  If Ark pays the Production Royalty reduced as set forth in
this Section 3, and if the current Cincinnati Gas & Electric contract is
displaced by such Purchased Contract, then notwithstanding the foregoing,
through December 1995, the first 350,000 tons per year mined from the Leases
shall be deemed sold to Cincinnati Gas & Electric, and such tons shall bear the
production royalty contained in the applicable Lease prior to this Amendment,
provided however that Ark shall be entitled to the deduction of $.20 per ton in
accordance with Section 1 above.

             (d)  If Ark, its parent or affiliates, acquire or seek to acquire
another Purchased Contract or Contracts after two (2) years from the Effective
Date then the parties shall negotiate in good faith for a royalty reduction
consistent with the purpose of this Section 3.

          Section 4.  If after three (3) years from the Effective Date, Ark has
not constructed a dragline on Lessor's property, and Ark has taken royalty
adjustments as described in Section 3 for Purchased Contracts, then Ark shall
immediately refund the difference between the production royalty payable under
the Leases and the Production Royalty paid pursuant to the terms of Section 3
herein.

          Section 5.  If after three (3) years from the identification of such
Purchased Contract, the coal mined from the Leases does not supply all of the
tonnages actually shipped under such Purchased Contract, and if coal is shipped
under the Purchased Contract from a source other than the Leases, then

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
Ark will pay, on a number of tons actually mined and sold from the Leases 
equivalent to the number of tons supplied under the Purchased Contract by Ark or
its Lessees from sources other than the Leases, subject to deductions allowable
under the applicable Lease and herein, production royalty calculated pursuant
to Section 3 hereof, or production royalty based upon the average gross selling
price of all tons of coal mined and sold from the dragline mine on either of the
Leases for that month pursuant to sales on the spot market, whichever is 
greater. "Sales on the spot market" shall mean sales made under purchase orders
or agreements of less than one year of duration. 

          Section 6.  Nothing contained in this Amendment shall require Ark to
place a dragline upon the properties leased by the Leases.

          Section 7.  Ark and its lesses shall have the right, without further 
rent, royalty or charge, to enter on and upon the surface of the premises 
covered by the Ark Lease and/or the Hamilton Lease after the expiration or 
termination of such leases for the limited purpose of conducting, in a timely 
manner and in accordance with applicable law, all reclamation and related work 
necessary to secure final reclamation bond release until such time as final bond
release is obtained.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, after the expiration or
termination of such Leases, Ark shall give reasonable notice to lessor prior to
any entry upon the premises, shall not interfere with any then existing lessee
and shall continue to be bound by Sections 10 (to the extent applicable), 13 and
16 of the Hamilton Lease and Sections 9 (to the extent applicable), 12 and 15
of the Ark Lease despite the expiration or termination of said Leases in other
respects.

          Section 8.  This Amendment shall expire unless on or before February
28, 1993, the Board of Directors of Ark's sublessee and its parent,

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
Arch Mineral Corporation, shall have approved the expenditure of capital for the
construction of a dragline on the property leased by the Hamilton Lease or Ark
Lease. Ark shall immediately notify Lessor in writing of such Board of Director
approval and deliver the Lease extension described in Section 2 hereof.

          Section 9.  This Amendment is conditioned upon and shall not be
effective until this Amendment is approved by both the General Partners of
Lessor and the Board of Directors of Ark. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
terms contained in Section 1 hereof are effective immediately, Ark and Lessor
will use their best efforts to obtain such approvals on or before February 28,
1993 and within ten (10) days respectively. Upon such approval, each party shall
immediately provide the other party with a certificate signed by an officer or
general partner of such entity reflecting such requisite approval. The date on
which both parties have both received such Board and Partnership approvals shall
be the "Effective Date."

          Section 10.  This Amendment is binding upon each of the parties, their
respective permitted successors and assigns.

          Section 11.  Except as amended hereby, all other terms of the Leases,
as amended, remain in effect.

                                          SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                          By: /s/ J. S. Stevens, III

                                          Its: Managing General Partner


                                          ARK LAND COMPANY

                                          By: [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]

                                          Its: President




                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT 1


EXAMPLE 1
- ---------

Assuming, for example, that Ark mines 22,000,000 tons of coal by the dragline
method, then:


     1.  Ark has mined 12,000,000 tons in excess of the amount mineable by
         conventional mining methods determined by subtracting the conventional
         method amounts (10,000,000) from the amount actually mined.

                     22,000,000 - 10,000,000 = 12,000,000

     2.  Subtract the 12,000,000 tons in excess of the amount mineable by
         conventional methods from 30,000,000 tons (Excess Amount).

                     30,000,000 - 12,000,000 = 18,000,000

     3.  If Ark does not open a new mine (which would increase the 22,000,000
         tons actually recovered) then the proportion of excess coal not mined
         (in excess of conventional methods) bears to the Excess Amount of
         30,000,000 is determined.

                                  18,000,000      =  .60
                              ------------------
                                  30,000,000

     4.  Multiply the proportion determined in 3 above by $5,000,000 to
         determine the amount which Ark is required to refund.

                        .60  x  $5,000,000 = $3,000,000


EXAMPLE 2
- ---------

Assuming, for example, that Ark mines 50,000,000 tons, it will owe no refund to
Lessor because it mined the entire Excess Amount.


EXAMPLE 3
- ---------

Assuming, for example, that Ark mines 5,000,000 tons, it will owe $1,000,000
because it failed to mine any of the Excess Amount and took the reduction of
$.20 per ton
<PAGE>
 
                                LEASE EXTENSION

           THIS LEASE EXTENSION ("Agreement") is made and entered into this 16
day of February, 1993 between SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP ("Shonk") a
West Virginia limited partnership, and ARK LAND COMPANY ("Ark"), a Delaware
corporation.

                             ******RECITALS******

           Shonk and Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr. entered into an Agreement of Lease
dated February 8, 1983, as amended (the "Lease"), wherein Shonk leased certain
property and the right to mine coal therefrom to Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr.


           On July 30, 1989, Ark acquired the Lease by assignment from Lawson W.
Hamilton, Jr. with the consent of Shonk.


           Shonk and Ark desire to extend the term of the Lease as provided
herein.                             ******

           NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

           1.  The term of the Lease shall be extended for a term of twenty (20)
additional lease years from the date of approval of the dragline capital
expenditure by the Board of Directors of Ark's Sublessee and the Board of
Directors of Arch Mineral Corporation or until exhaustion of all mineable and
merchantable surface mineable coal from the property covered by the Lease,
whichever is shorter. Ark will have the right to obtain further extensions as
provided for in the Hamilton Lease after such extended term expires.  Any and
all such extended terms shall expire upon exhaustion of all mineable and
merchantable coal leased by the Hamilton Lease.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
           2.  All terms of the Lease, as amended, shall remain in effect.

           The parties have caused this Aqreement to be executed the day and
year set forth above.


                                    SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED
                                    PARTNERSHIP


                                    By: /s/ J. S. Stevens, III
                                       ------------------------------------ 
                                    Title: Managing General Partner
                                          ---------------------------------


                                    ARK LAND COMPANY


                                    By: [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                                       ------------------------------------
                                    Title: Vice President
                                          ---------------------------------


STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA        )
                              )  SS.
COUNTY OF KANAWHA             )

           I, the undersigned, a Notary Public, in and for said State and County
aforesaid, do hereby certify that J. S. Stevens, III, personally known to me to
                                  ------------------
be the same person whose name is as Managing General Partner of SHONK LAND
                                    ------------------------
COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a West Virginia limited partnership, subscribed to
the foregoing instrument, appeared before me this day in person and acknowledged
that he, being thereunto duly authorized, signed, sealed with the seal of said
corporation and delivered the said instrument as the free and voluntary act of
said corporation and as his own free and voluntary act, for the uses and
purposes therein set forth.

           Given under my hand and notarial seal this 16th day of February,
1993.


                                    /s/ Barbara Blake
                                    ---------------------------------------
                                    Notary Public

My Commission Expires: 10-23-94                          [SEAL OF NOTARY PUBLIC 
                                                              APPEARS HERE]     

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF ILLINOIS       )
                        )  SS.
COUNTY OF ST. CLAIR     )

           I, the undersigned, a Notary Public, in and for said State and County
aforesaid, do hereby certify that Michael D. Bauersachs, personally known to me
                                  ---------------------
to be the same person whose name is as Vice President of ARK LAND COMPANY, a
                                       --------------
Delaware corporation, subscribed to the foregoing instrument, appeared before me
this day in person and acknowledged that he, being thereunto duly authorized,
signed, sealed with the seal of said corporation and delivered the said
instrument as the free and voluntary act of said corporation and as his own free
and voluntary act, for the uses and purposes therein set forth.


           Given under my hand and notarial seal this 15th day of February,
1993.

                                    /s/ Johnna Huggins
                                    ---------------------------------------
                                    Notary Public
My Commission Expires:                                 [SEAL OF NOTARY PUBLIC
                                                            APPEARS HERE]     


THIS DOCUMENT PREPARED BY:


/s/ Miriam Rogers Singer
- --------------------------------
Miriam Rogers Singer, Counsel
Ark Land Company
P.O. Box 4187
Fairview Heights, IL  62208
(618) 236-9033


                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                      MODIFICATION OF AMENDMENT OF LEASES
                      -----------------------------------

        THIS MODIFICATION OF AMENDMENT OF LEASES (the "Amendment"), is made and
entered into this the 4th day of August, 1994, by and between SHONK LAND COMPANY
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a West Virginia limited partnership ("Lessor") and ARK LAND
COMPANY, a Delaware corporation ("Lessee" or "Ark").

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

        WHEREAS, Lessor and Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr. entered into an Agreement of
Lease dated February 8, 1983 (the "Hamilton Lease"), wherein Lessor leased
certain property and the right to mine coal therefrom to Lawson W. Hamilton,
Jr.; and

        WHEREAS, on July 30, 1989, Ark acquired the Hamilton Lease, as amended,
by assignment from Lawson W. Hamilton, Jr., with the consent of Lessor; and

        WHEREAS, Lessor and Ark entered into a certain Agreement of Lease, dated
December 20, 1989 (the "Ark Lease"), wherein Lessor leased certain other
property and the right to mine coal therefrom to Ark; and

        WHEREAS, The Hamilton Lease and Ark Lease, as both have been variously
amended from time to time, are sometimes referred to collectively as the
"Leases" and the property leased under the Hamilton Lease and the Ark Lease is
sometimes referred to as the "Premises"; and

        WHEREAS, Ark subleased the Premises to Catenary Coal Company
("Catenary"), with the consent of Lessor; and

        WHEREAS, Catenary is considering constructing and operating a coal
preparation facility on the premises (the "Preparation Plant"); and

        WHEREAS, To enhance the economic feasibility of constructing and
operating the Preparation Plant, the parties have agreed to modify the
production royalty obligation of Ark,
<PAGE>
 
subject to the terms and conditions contained herein.

        NOW, THEREFORE, based on the foregoing recitals, and the mutual
covenants and conditions contained in the Ark Lease and the Hamilton Lease, the
parties agree as follows:

                                   SECTION 1
                                   ---------

        1.1  A new Lease Year under the Hamilton Lease shall begin effective
January 1, 1995.Each Lease Year thereafter shall commence on January 1 and
terminate on December 31 of each calendar year.

        1.2  The minimum annual royalty payable under the Hamilton Lease shall
be prorated to account for the shortened Lease Year as follows: On November 8,
1994, Ark shall pay to Lessor the sum of One Hundred One Thousand Nine Hundred
Twenty-Three Dollars and Eight Cents ($101,923.08) as minimum annual royalty for
the remainder of the current Lease Year. Commencing January 1 1995, Ark shall
pay to Lessor the sum of Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($700,000.00), payable
in advance, in equal quarterly payments of One Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand
Dollars ($175,000.00) on the first day of January, April, July and October of
each Lease Year. Commencing January 1, 2008, Ark shall pay to Lessor the sum of
One Million Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,050,000.00), payable in advance, in equal
quarterly payments of Two Hundred Sixty-Two Thousand Five Hundred Dollars
($262,500.00) on the First day of January, April, July and October of each Lease
Year.

                                   SECTION 2
                                   ---------

        2.1  Ark shall be entitled to a royalty deduction as follows:

        2.1.1  Commencing January 1,1995, and continuing thereafter through
December 31, 1995, Ark shall be entitled to deduct $.50 per ton for all tons of
coal mined and removed
              
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
under the Leases, or either of them, and processed through the Preparation Plant
after calculation of the production royalty required under the Ark Lease or the
Hamilton Lease, as both have been amended previously and herein amended.

        2.1.2  For the purposes of this Agreement, "Preparation Plant" as
referred to herein shall mean a modern and efficient coal processing facility
designed, constructed or expanded so as to permit the eventual capacity to wash
coal mined and removed from both surface and underground operations as
contemplated by this Agreement.

        2.1.3  Commencing January 1,1996, and continuing thereafter through
December 31, 1999, Ark shall be entitled to deduct $.40 per ton for all tons of
coal mined and removed under the Leases, or either of them, and processed
through the Preparation Plant after calculation of the production royalty
required under the Ark Lease or the Hamilton Lease, as both have been amended
previously and herein amended.

        2.1.4  Commencing January 1, 2000, and continuing thereafter through
December 31, 2002, Ark shall be entitled to deduct $.30 per ton for all tons of
coal mined and removed under the Leases, or either of them, and processed
through the Preparation Plant after calculation of the production royalty
required under the Ark Lease or the Hamilton Lease, as both have been amended
previously and herein amended.

        2.1.5  Commencing January 1, 2003, and continuing thereafter through
December 31, 2004, Ark shall be entitled to deduct $.20 per ton for all tons of
coal mined and removed under the Leases, or either of them, and processed
through the Preparation Plant after calculation of the production royalty
required under the Ark Lease or the Hamilton Lease, as both have been amended
previously and herein amended.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
       2.1.6  Commencing January 1, 2005, and continuing thereafter through
December 31, 2005, Ark shall be entitled to deduct $.10 per ton for all tons of
coal mined and removed under the Leases, or either of them, and processed
through the Preparation Plant after calculation of the production royalty
required under the Ark Lease or the Hamilton Lease, as both have been amended
previously and herein amended.

       2.2   Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if during any
Lease Year the total royalty reduction taken under Section 2.1 shall equal the
sum of Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($600,000.00), then all further royalty
reductions pursuant to Section 2.1 shall abate for the remainder of the Lease
Year, provided, however, that the royalty reduction provided for in Section 2.1
shall recommence in the next succeeding Lease Year.

       2.3   Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if the total
royalty reductions taken under Section 2.1 shall equal the sum of Three Million
Dollars ($3,000,000.00), then all further royalty reductions pursuant to Section
2.1 shall immediately cease and terminate.

       2.4   Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if on or before
December 31, 2000, Ark shall not have in operation a deep mine on either the
Hamilton Lease or the Ark Lease (the "Additional Mines"), then all further
royalty reductions pursuant to Section 2.1 shall immediately cease and
terminate.

                                   SECTION 3
                                   ---------

       3.1   Commencing January 1, 2001, and continuing through December 31,
2001, and for each calendar year thereafter, Ark shall mine and remove no less
than Three Hundred Sixty Thousand (360,000) clean tons of coal from the
Additional Mines, or either or them. This requirement shall hereinafter be
referred to as the "Minimum Tonnage Requirement."


                                       4
<PAGE>
 
       3.2   If Ark fails to mine and remove the Minimum Tonnage Requirement in
any lease year as set forth in Section 3.1, then Ark shall not, in any
succeeding Lease Year, be entitled to take the royalty reduction provided for in
Section 2.1 and Section 2.1 shall become null and void and to have no effect in
any subsequent Lease Year regardless of the amount of coal mined and removed
from either of the Leased Properties.

       3.3   The Minimum Tonnage Requirement provided for in this Section 3
shall not be deemed to be cumulative.

                                   SECTION 4
                                   ---------

       4.1   Effective on the date on which coal is first processed through the
Processing Plant, Ark shall pay to Lessor the sum of five and three-quarters
percent (5.75%) of the gross sales price, as defined by the Leases, as amended,
for all Rash Coal, as hereinafter defined, mined, not cleaned, and sold pursuant
to the terms of the Leases.

       4.2   For purposes of calculating the royalty due Lessor under this
Section 4, the term "Rash Coal" shall mean any coal mined and sold pursuant to
the terms of the Leases having an average gross selling price per ton of less
than Fifteen Dollars ($15.00), as defined pursuant to the terms of the Leases.

       4.3   All royalty deductions and adjustments provided for in the Leases,
as previously amended and as amended herein, shall apply to royalties payable on
Rash Coal.

       4.4   All coal sold pursuant to Sections 4.1 and 4.2 will not be included
as part of the tonnage requirement schedules provided for in Section 5 of the
Hamilton Lease.

                                   SECTION 5
                                   ---------

       This Amendment shall be binding upon each of the parties and their
     respective permitted


                                       5
<PAGE>
 
successors and assigns.
                                   SECTION 6
                                   ---------

       Except as amended hereby, all other terms of the Leases, as amended,
remain in effect. 
       
       IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed
the day and year set forth above.

                                    SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


                                     By: [SIGNATURE ILLEGIBLE]
                                        -------------------------------
                                          Its: Managing General Partner


                                    ARK LAND COMPANY


                                     By: [SIGNATURE ILLEGIBLE]
                                        -------------------------------
                                         Its: Exec. Vice President


                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                                LETTER AGREEMENT
                                ----------------

     This binding Letter Agreement effective the 1st day of October, 1995, by
and between SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP ("Shonk") and ARK LAND
COMPANY ("Ark").

     WHEREAS, Shonk leases to Ark coal properties in Boone and Kanawha County,
West Virginia through lease documents commonly known by the parties as Shonk I
(Hamilton Lease); and

     WHEREAS, the parties are currently involved in binding arbitration to
resolve several issues in dispute and desire to settle these issues amicably
outside the current litigation. These issues relating to arbitration are
described in various documents exchanged by the parties since September, 1994;
and

     WHEREAS, the purpose of this Letter Agreement is to establish and bind the
parties to a settlement of the arbitration issues and all leases, amendments and
agreements heretofore entered into by the parties shall remain in full force and
effect, except as herein specifically modified.

     THEREFORE, in consideration of the above recitals and the mutual promises
and covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, Ark and Shonk agree as follows:

          1.  Ark shall keep and not be required to repay the disputed
$933,243.65.

          2.  Ark shall continue to receive credit for the Dragline Deduction
and Preparation Plant Deduction as a direct deduction from production royalty
under the Shonk I and Shonk II Leases. The parties agree that the deductions for
the dragline and 
<PAGE>
 
preparation plant shall be applied in a manner identical to that set forth in
the September 25, 1995 Ark Royalty Report.

          3.  Effective October 1, 1995 Ark shall not be entitled to include
transloading fees as Allowable Transportation Cost for coal which is trucked,
transloaded and sold F.O.B. barge. As to any other coal trucked, transloaded,
and sold F.O.B., any other destinations Ark shall be entitled to deduct
transloading as an allowable transportation cost if such transloading is
incurred after the loading of the coal on the initial barge. Shonk will not be
required to pay any alleged past due amount to Ark associated with and for any
claimed transloading expenses.

          4.  Ark shall be entitled to deduct all Allowable Transportation Cost
outside the leased premises, except as specifically set forth herein.

          5.  Ark shall, upon execution of this document, deliver to Shonk
$200,000.00 as payment for all disputed past royalty amounts claimed by Shonk in
the arbitration.

          6.  Effective October 1,1995 the Shonk I Lease shall be deemed to be
amended to create three (3) different categories of royalty calculations based
on the "gross sales price" as defined therein, which are as follows:

               A.  Gross sales price equal to or less than $15/per ton (rash
                   coal).

                   Fixed royalty rate of 5.75%.

                   "Allowable Transportation Cost" as defined in the Shonk 1
                   Lease agreement may be deducted before calculating the
                   royalty.

                   The $15/ton coal (rash coal) shall not be included in the
                   amount of tonnage used for the graduated tonnage rate
                   designated in the Shonk I Lease.


                                       2
<PAGE>
 
               B.  Gross sales price greater than $15/ton but equal to or less
                   than $30/ton.

                   Fixed rate royalty of 6%.

                   No deductions except the Dragline Deduction and Preparation
                   Plant Deduction where applicable.

                   Coal sold for a gross sales price greater than $15.00 but
                   equal to or less than $30.00 per ton shall not be included in
                   the amount of tonnage used for the graduated tonnage rate
                   designated in the Shonk I Lease.

               C.  Gross Sales price greater than $30/ton.

                   Included in graduated royalty rates described in Shonk I
                   Lease.

                   Allowable Transportation Cost as defined in the Shonk I Lease
                   may be deducted before calculating the royalty.

The parties also agree that for the purposes of this Section gross sales price
shall be determined on a monthly weighted average by customer by order.

          7.   The parties agree that effective October 1,1995 production
royalties under the Shonk I and Shonk II Leases shall be paid and deductions
taken on "sold" tons. The parties also agree that royalty adjustments due to
increases or decreases in gross sales price as a result of quality premiums or
penalties shall be made at the royalty rate in effect at the time the coal was
sold. Ark agrees to make a good faith estimate of any premium/penalty for the
month coal is sold and pay royalties at the rate then in effect on the gross
sales price adjusted for the estimated premium or penalty.

          8.   The allocation of transportation expenses between in-lease and
outside of lease is inherently one of a factual nature. Therefore, the parties
hereto agree that the allocation of said expenses and the corresponding amount
per ton to be added back to

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
gross sales before the royalty calculation will be calculated on a yearly basis
based upon the actual transportation contract entered by Ark's sublessee for
transportation of the coal from the lease. This determination will be made prior
to the first royalty report of each year. Ark agrees to provide sufficient
information and documentation to enable Shonk to verify such rate. However, the
parties hereto agree that the amount to be added back to gross sales per ton in-
lease transportation for the remainder of 1995 will be $0.80 per ton and shall
remain at such rate until such time as the transportation contract is amended.

          9.   The parties agree that for the purposes of the quarterly
adjustments of the Base Gross Selling price under the AEP/Cardinal Contract
identified pursuant to the December 5,1992 Amendment of Leases any changes in
price under the AEP/Cardinal Contract shall be determined on an F.O.B. Barge
basis regardless of the actual point of delivery.

          10.  This Letter Agreement shall be effective as of October 1, 1995
and all payments and calculations made with respect to coal sold after said date
shall incorporate the provisions of this Agreement. Except as provided herein,
the parties agree that all amounts due to Shonk and/or Ark on the disputed
arbitrable issues have been fully paid through October 1,1995 and that all
issues raised pursuant to the Simpson & Osborne Audit dated August 31,1994 shall
be deemed to be resolved. The parties also hereby agree that as of the date
hereof the Shonk I Lease is in full force and effect and there exist


                                       4
<PAGE>
 
under the lease no known default, or known event, which with the passage of time
or giving of notice, or both, may constitute a default, and all notices of
default heretofore given are withdrawn.


                                           ARK LAND COMPANY


                                           By: [SIGNATURE ILLEGIBLE]
                                              ----------------------
                                           Title: President



                                           SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED 
                                           PARTNERSHIP


                                           By: [SIGNATURE ILLEGIBLE]
                                              ----------------------

                                           Title: Managing Senior Partner


[NOTARY SEAL APPEARS HERE]

STATE OF MISSOURI   ,
         -----------

COUNTY OF ST. LOUIS , to wit:
          ----------

       The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 1st day of
                                                                ---
October, 1995, on behalf of ARK LAND COMPANY, by David Peugh, its President.
- -------                                          -----------      ---------

       My commission expires 9-1-96.
                             ------

                                                [SIGNATURE ILLEGIBLE]
                                                ---------------------
                                                Notary Public


                                       5
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF KANAWHA, to wit:

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 27th day of
                                                              ----
October, 1995, on behalf of SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, by 
- -------
J.S. Stevens III, its Managing General Partner.
- ----------------      ------------------------
     
     My commission expires 10-23-04.
                          ---------

                                                  /s/ Barbara Blake
                                                  ------------------------
                                                  Notary Public

                                                  [NOTARY SEAL APPEARS HERE]



                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                                   AGREEMENT
                                   ---------

      THIS AGREEMENT made this 27th day of November, 1996 by and between ARK
                               ----        --------
LAND COMPANY, a Delaware corporation. and SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED
PARTNERSHIP, a West Virginia limited partnership.

      WHEREAS, Ark is the Lessee on certain tracts of land owned by Shonk
pursuant to a Lease dated February 8. 1983, known as the Hamilton or Shonk I
Lease. and a Lease dated December 20. 1989 known as the Shonk II or Ark Lease:

      WHEREAS, Ark is desirous of obtaining certain concessions pertaining to
the above-mentioned leases; and

      WHEREAS, Shonk is willing to grant said concessions if Shonk is also
granted certain concessions as to said Leases: and

      WHEREAS, the parties wish to memorialize their agreement and the various
concessions:

      NOW, THEREFORE, WITNESSETH, the following Agreement:

      1.  The parties agree to enter into an amendment of the Shonk II Lease
which is attached hereto as Exhibit AA and incorporated herein by this reference
and agree to abide by the terms and conditions contained therein.

      2.   Shonk agrees to allow Ark (and its lessee) and American Electric
Power to relocate the 138 KV power line presently located on Shonk's property to
a the new location and according to the terms of that certain Memorandum of
Understanding attached hereto as Exhibit BB and incorporated herein by this
reference and the attached map. Shonk will have no obligation as to any cost or
expense of this relocation, and Ark agrees to indemnify Shonk for
<PAGE>
 
any such cost or expense of said relocation.

      3.  Shonk will allow Ark (or its lessee Catenary Coal) to dispose of used
tires on Shonk's property according to the terms of that certain Consent and
Indemnification Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit CC which includes the
attendant attorney's opinion. surface owner s consent and regulatory consent
letter.

      4.  The above-mentioned Leases and any other agreements between the
parties other than as amended above shall remain in full force and effect.

      5.  The individuals executing this Agreement verify that they have full
corporate authority in the case of Ark, and full partnership authority in the
case of Shonk, to execute and enter into this Agreement.

      6.  The parties agree to execute the attached agreements which constitute
exhibits to this Agreement simultaneous with its execution of this Agreement.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF. Shonk has caused this Agreement to be signed in
its partnership name by its Managing General Partner and Ark has caused this
Agreement to be signed by a duly authorized person, all of the day and year
first above written.



                                        SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED
                                        PARTNERSHIP, a West Virginia
                                        limited partnership


                                        By: /s/ J. S. Stevens, III
                                           --------------------------
                                        Its: Managing General Partner


                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                                                    ARK LAND COMPANY, a Delaware
                                                    corporation
                                        
                                                    By: [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                                                       -------------------------

                                                          Its:    President
                                                              ------------------

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF KANAWHA, to-wit:

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 13th day of
December 1996, by J. S. Stevens, III, Managing General Partner of Shonk Land
Company Limited Partnership, a limited partnership. 

     My commission expires April 8, 2002.

                           /s/ Dena Ann Belisle
                          ---------------------
                              NOTARY PUBLIC
- -------------------------
[OFFICIAL SEAL OF NOTARY 
 PUBLIC APPEARS HERE]
- -------------------------

STATE OF MISSOURI,

COUNTY OF ST. LOUIS, to-wit:


The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 27th day of November,
1996, by Steven E. McCurdy, President of Ark Land Company, a Delaware
corporation.
 
     My commission expires  5/14/2000

                            /s/ Johnna Huggins
                           --------------------
                               NOTARY PUBLIC
                                                        ------------------------
                                                        [OFFICIAL SEAL OF NOTARY
                                                          PUBLIC APPEARS HERE]
                                                        ------------------------
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT AA


                                LEASE AMENDMENT
                                ---------------


      THIS LEASE AMENDMENT, made and entered into this ____ day of ______, 1996,
by and between SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a West Virginia limited
partnership ("Lessor") and ARK LAND COMPANY, a Delaware corporation ("Lessee" or
"Ark").

     WHEREAS, Lessor and Ark entered into an Agreement of Lease dated December
20, 1989 (known as the Shonk II Lease and/or the Ark Lease), wherein Lessor
leased certain property and the right to mine coal therefrom to Ark; and

     WHEREAS, the Shonk II Lease has been amended on previous occasions of which
the lease and its amendments are collectively referred to as the "Lease"; and

     WHEREAS, the Lessor and Ark desire to once again amend the Shonk II Lease;
 and

     WHEREAS, the parties wish to memorialize said amendment subject to the
terms and conditions contained herein.

     NOW, THEREFORE, based on the foregoing recitals and mutual covenants and
the conditions contained in the Shonk II Lease and this Amendment, the parties
agree as follows:

     l.   Effective January 1, 1997, Paragraph 4.1 of the Shonk II Lease shall 
be amended to and the minimum royalty shall be amended as follows:
           
           4.1   Lessee agrees to pay the Lessor as a guaranteed minimum
                 royalty (GMR) the sum of One Million Twenty Thousand Dollars
                 ($1,020,000.00) for each and every lease year during the term
                 of this Lease. As used herein, a lease year shall mean from
                 January 1st to December 31st of each year. The GMR for each
                 and every lease year shall be due and payable in equal monthly
                 installments of Eighty-Five Thousand Dollars ($85,000.00)
                 payable on the 25th day of each month during the term of this
                 Lease.
<PAGE>
 
     2.    Effective upon the date of this Amendment, Ark hereby releases to 
Lessor, and Lessor hereby accepts from Ark, all of the coal in all seams below
the Coalburg Seam of coal in Tract One (1) of the Shonk II Lease. Tract One (1)
of the Shonk II Lease is more particularly shown on the map attached hereto as
Exhibit A. The result of this release is that the Shonk II Lease will have no
applicability or effect as to the above-mentioned coal.

     3.    All other terms and conditions of the Shonk II Lease and its 
amendments shall remain in full force and effect.

     4.    This Amendment is binding upon each of the parties, their respective
successors and assigns.

     5.    The individuals executing this Agreement verify that they have full
corporate authority in the case of Ark, and full partnership authority in the
case of Shonk, to execute and enter into this Amendment.
<PAGE>
 
                                               LESSOR:

                                               SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED
                                               PARTNERSHIP, a West Virginia 
                                               limited partnership


                                               By:_________________________
                                             
                                                  Its:_____________________


                                               LESSEE:


                                               ARK LAND COMPANY, a West Virginia
                                               corporation
 
 
                                               By:_____________________________
                                                  
                                                  Its:_________________________

STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA,

COUNTY OF KANAWHA, to-wit:

     The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this _____ day of 
______, 1996, by J. S. Stevens, III, Managing General Partner of Shonk Land
Company Limited Partnership, a limited partnership.

     My commission expires __________________.


                           ________________________
                                NOTARY PUBLIC

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF _________________,

COUNTY OF_________________, to-wit:

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this ____ day of _________,
1996, by _______________, _________________, of Ark Land Company, a West
Virginia corporation.

     My commission expires ___________________.


                           ______________________
                               NOTARY PUBLIC

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT BB


                          MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING

     THIS AGREEMENT, made this ___ day of __________, 1996, between SHONK LAND
COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, ARK LAND COMPANY, CATENARY COAL COMPANY AND
APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY (hereinafter called "Appalachian"), will serve as
the agreement whereby the parties hereto have agreed to the terms by which
Appalachian will relocate a section of its Baileysville-Kanawha electric
transmission line in order to accommodate mining plans of Catenary Coal Company.

     Whereas, Shonk Land Company and its lessees, through Agreement dated
January 19, 1953, of record in the Boone County, West Virginia Clerk's office in
Deed Book 76 at page 53 and in the Kanawha County, West Virginia Clerk's office
in Deed Book 1038 at page 357 and through Agreement dated December 1, 1953, of
record in the Boone County, West Virginia Clerk's Office in Contract Book 26, at
page 1, granted Appalachian Electric Power Company (predecessor in title to
Appalachian Power Company) an easement to construct, erect, operate and maintain
a line or lines for the purpose of transmitting electric or other power in, on,
along, over, through or across their lands; and,

     Whereas, Catenary Coal Company, sublessee of Shonk Land Company, has
requested that Appalachian relocate a portion of its Baileysville-Kanawha
electric transmission line covered by the above two referenced Agreements to
accommodate the mining of coal; and,

     Whereas, Catenary Coal Company has agreed the total cost of said relocation
shall be borne by Catenary Coal Company; and,

     Whereas, Appalachian has agreed to relocate its said facilities to
accommodate said mining of coal as shown on Exhibit "A" attached hereto:

     It is agreed between the parties hereto that:

     l. Appalachian will relocate its Baileysville-Kanawha electric transmission
line as shown on Exhibit "A" no later than ________ to accommodate the mining of
Catenary Coal Company, and Shonk Land Company agrees to the new location on its
lands as shown on Exhibit "A".

     2. Subsequent to the completion of the physical relocation of said
electric transmission line, the parties hereto agree that the existing two
Agreements cited above will be amended in so far as the centerline of the
easement is concerned but otherwise the terms and conditions of said two
Agreements shall remain in full force and effect. Appalachian shall prepare a
supplemental right of way Agreement to accomplish the amendment which shall be
executed by the parties hereto and recorded in the Clerk's Offices.

     3. The total cost of said relocation shall be borne by Catenary Coal 
Company.
<PAGE>
 
     IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Memorandum of
Understanding as of the day and year first above written


                                          SHONK LAND COMPANY LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                          By:___________________________

                                          Its:__________________________

                                          ARK LAND COMPANY

                                          By:___________________________

                                          Its:__________________________

                                          CATENARY COAL COMPANY

                                          By:___________________________

                                          Its:__________________________

                                          APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY

                                          By:___________________________
                                                     Vice-President
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT A
                          Memorandum of Understanding





                              [MAP APPEARS HERE]
<PAGE>
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT CC

                     Consent and Indemnification Agreement


     THIS CONSENT AND INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and
effective this the 31st day of July, 1996, by and between Arch Mineral
Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Arch"), Ark Land Company, a Delaware
Corporation ("Ark") and Catenary Coal Company, a Delaware corporation
("Catenary") and Shonk Land Company Limited Partnership, a West Virginia Limited
Partnership ("Shonk").

     WHEREAS, Shonk has leased certain coal and mining rights located in Kanawha
County, West Virginia to Ark, and, with the consent of Shonk, Ark has subleased
such coal and mining rights to Catenary; and

     WHEREAS, such coal and mining rights are hereinafter referred to as the
"Premises"; and

     WHEREAS, Ark is a wholly owned subsidiaries of Arch; and

     WHEREAS, Catenary is a wholly owned subsidiary of Catenary Coal Holdings,
Inc., and Catenary Coal Holdings, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Arch; and

     WHEREAS, Catenary desires to dispose of waste tires used in conjunction
with its mining operations on the Premises; and

     WHEREAS, Shonk has agreed to consent to such disposal on the express
condition that Arch and Ark indemnify and save Shonk harmless from and against
any and all liabilities, losses, claims, damages or demands which arise out of
or are attributable to the disposal by Catenary of waste tires on the Premises.

     NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and
conditions set forth herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as
follows:

     1.    Upon execution of this Agreement, Shonk shall execute the Surface
Owner's Consent, in the form of Exhibit 1, attached hereto and made a part
hereof.

     2.    Arch, Ark and Catenary shall indemnify and hold harmless Shonk from
and against any losses or damages (a) arising out of or attributable to
Catenary's failure to dispose of waste tires in full and strict compliance with
all statutes, rules, regulations and
<PAGE>
 
requirements of any federal, state or local governmental authority or agency
governing the disposal of waste tires on the Premises, including, but not
limited to, that certain Memorandum of Understanding dated November 10, 1994, by
and between the Office of Waste Management of the West Virginia Division of
Environmental Protection, and the Office of Mining and Reclamation of the West
Virginia Division of Environmental Protection and (b) arising out of or related
to any future remedial actions with respect to the existence of any such waste
tires placed on or under the Premises by Catenary and required to be taken by
any federal, state or local governmental authority or agency pursuant to any
future statutes, rules, and regulations governing the disposal of waste tires on
the Premises, regardless of whether Catenary shall have complied with all
statutes, rules, and regulations of any federal, state or local governmental
authority or agency governing the disposal of waste tires on the Premises now
existing or existing at the time of any such disposal.

     4.    Upon execution of this Agreement, Arch shall deliver to Shonk the
Opinion of Jeffry N. Quinn, Esq., in the form of Exhibit 2, attached hereto and
made a part hereof.

     5.    This Agreement and the exhibits attached hereto constitute the entire
agreement and understanding of the parties in respect to the transaction
contemplated hereby. All prior agreements, arrangements and understandings of
the parties relating to the subject matter hereof are hereby superseded, and
this Agreement shall not be modified, supplemented or changed in whole or in
part other than by an agreement in writing signed by all parties hereto or their
respective successors or assigns.

     6.    This Agreement shall be binding and shall inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto, their successors and assigns.

     7.    This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed a original and all of which together shall constitute one
agreement.
<PAGE>
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day 
first above written.


                                          Arch Mineral Corporation

                                          By:___________________________

                                          Its:__________________________



                                          Ark Land Company

                                          By:___________________________

                                          Its:__________________________


                                          Catenary Coal Company

                                          By:___________________________

                                          Its:__________________________


                                          Shonk Land Company Limited Partnership

                                          By:___________________________

                                          Its:__________________________
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       Exhibit 1


                            Surface Owner's Consent


     Shonk Land Company Limited Partnership, a West Virginia Limited Partnership
hereby certifies that Catenary Coal Company shall be allowed to place waste
tires, as defined by that certain Memorandum of Understanding dated 
November 10, 1994, by and between the Office of Waste Management of the West
Virginia Division of Environmental Protection, and the Office of Mining and
Reclamation of the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection, on that
certain property owned by Shonk Land Company and encompassed by West Virginia
Surface Mining Permit No.3024-90 and 3004-95.


                               Shonk Land Company Limited Partnership

                               By:  _________________________

                               Its: _________________________

STATE OF ________________ )
                          )  SS.
COUNTY OF _______________ )

     Sworn to and subscribed before me this ___ day of July, 1996 by
____________________________ as ___________________________ of Shonk Land
Company Limited Partnership, a West Virginia limited partnership, on behalf of
said limited partnership.


                               _________________________________
                               Notary Public
                               My Commission Expires:
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       Exhibit 2

                                 July 31, 1996



Shonk Land Company Limited Partnership
P.O. Box 969
Charleston, WV 25324

Gentlemen:

      I have acted as counsel to Arch Mineral Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("Arch"), Ark Land Company, a Delaware Corporation, and Catenary
Coal Company ("Catenary"), a Delaware corporation, in connection with the
Consent and Indemnification Agreement, dated July 31, 1996 (the "Agreement"), by
and between Arch, Catenary and Shonk Land Company Limited Partnership ("Shonk").

      This opinion is being delivered pursuant to Section 4 of the Agreement.
Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein are defined as
set forth in the Agreement.

      I have participated in the preparation of, and have reviewed executed
copies of the Agreement, have reviewed the Exhibits attached thereto, and have
familiarized myself with Catenary's plan for disposal of waste tires on the
Premises. As to questions of fact material to the opinions expressed herein, I
have, when relevant facts were not independently established by me examined and
relied upon the representations of the officers or other representatives of
Arch, Catenary, Ark Land Company, or of public officials. Having regard for the
foregoing considerations and such other considerations as I deem relevant, I am
of the opinion that, upon Shonk's consent to Catenary's disposal of waste tires
on the Premises and after all necessary revisions to Catenary's permit,
Catenary's plan for disposal of waste tires on the Premises conforms to all
requirements of any federal, state or local governmental authority or agency
governing the disposal of waste tires on the Premises, including but not limited
to, that certain Memorandum of Understanding dated November 10, 1994, by and
between the Office of Waste Management of the West Virginia Division of
Environmental Protection, and the Office of Mining and Reclamation of the West
Virginia Division of Environmental Protection.

      The opinions set forth herein are rendered only to you and are solely for
your benefit in connection with the Agreement. The opinions set forth herein may
not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or relied upon by any other
person for any purpose without our prior written consent. 
<PAGE>
 
Shonk Land Company Limited Partnership
July 31, 1996
Page 2



      This opinion letter is governed by, and shall be interpreted in accordance
with, the legal Opinion Accord (the "Accord") of the ABA Section of Business Law
(1991). As a consequence, it is subject to a number of qualifications,
exceptions, definitions, limitations on coverage and other limitations, all as
more particularly described in the Accord, and this Opinion Letter should be
read in conjunction therewith.

                               Very truly yours,



                               Jeffry N. Quinn
<PAGE>
 
                     Consent and Indemnification Agreement

     THIS CONSENT AND INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and
effective this the 31st day of July, 1996, by and between Arch Mineral
Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("Arch"), Ark Land Company a Delaware
Corporation ("Ark") and Catenary Coal Company, a Delaware corporation
("Catenary") and Shonk Land Company Limited Partnership, a West Virginia Limited
Partnership ("Shonk").

     WHEREAS, Shonk has leased certain coal and mining rights located in Kanawha
County, West Virginia to Ark, and, with the consent of Shonk Ark has subleased
such coal and mining rights to Catenary; and

     WHEREAS, such coal and mining rights are hereinafter referred to as the
"Premises"; and

     WHEREAS, Ark is a wholly owned subsidiaries of Arch; and

     WHEREAS, Catenary is a wholly owned subsidiary of Catenary Coal Holdings,
Inc., and Catenary Coal Holdings Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Arch; and

     WHEREAS, Catenary desires to dispose of waste tires used in conjunction
with its mining operations on the Premises, and

     WHEREAS, Shonk has agreed to consent to such disposal on the express
condition that Arch and Ark indemnify and save Shonk harmless from and against
any and all liabilities, losses, claims, damages or demands which arise out of
or are attributable to the disposal by Catenary of waste tires on the Premises.

     NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants and
conditions set forth herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as
follows:

     1.   Upon execution of this Agreement, Shonk shall execute the Surface
Owner's Consent, in the form of Exhibit 1, attached hereto and made a part
hereof.

     2.   Arch, Ark and Catenary shall indemnify and hold harmless Shonk from
and against any losses or damages (a) arising out of or attributable to
Catenary's failure to dispose of waste tires in full and strict compliance with
all statutes, rules, regulations and
<PAGE>
 
requirements of any federal, state or local governmental authority or agency
governing the disposal of waste tires on the Premises, including, but not
limited to, that certain Memorandum of Understanding dated November 10,1994, by
and between the Office of Waste Management of the West Virginia Division of
Environmental Protection, and the Office of Mining and Reclamation of the West
Virginia Division of Environmental Protection and (b) arising out of or related
to any future remedial actions with respect to the existence of any such waste
tires placed on or under the Premises by Catenary and required to be taken by
any federal, state or local governmental authority or agency pursuant to any
future statutes, rules, and regulations governing the disposal of waste tires on
the Premises, regardless of whether Catenary shall have complied with all
statutes, rules, and regulations of any federal, state or local governmental
authority or agency governing the disposal of waste tires on the Premises now
existing or existing at the time of any such disposal.

      4.  Upon execution of this Agreement, Arch shall deliver to Shonk the
Opinion of Jeffry N. Quinn, Esq., in the form of Exhibit 2, attached hereto and
made a part hereof.

      5.  This Agreement and the exhibits attached hereto constitute the entire
agreement and understanding of the parties in respect to the transaction
contemplated hereby. All prior agreements, arrangements and understandings of
the parties relating to the subject matter hereof are hereby superseded, and
this Agreement shall not be modified, supplemented or changed in whole or in
part other than by an agreement in writing signed by all parties hereto or their
respective successors or assigns.

      6.  This Agreement shall be binding and shall inure to the benefit of the
parties hereto, their successors and assigns.

      7.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed a original and all of which together shall constitute
one agreement.
<PAGE>
 
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the day
first above written.


                                    Arch Mineral Corporation                   
                                                                               
                                    By: [SIGNATURE ILLEGIBLE]                  
                                       --------------------------              
                                                                               
                                    Its: Vice President                        
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                    Ark Land Company                           
                                                                               
                                    By: [SIGNATURE ILLEGIBLE]                  
                                       --------------------------              
                                                                               
                                    Its: President                             
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                    Catenary Coal Company                      
                                                                               
                                    By: [SIGNATURE ILLEGIBLE]                  
                                       --------------------------              
                                                                               
                                    Its: Vice President                        
                                                                               
                                                                               
                                    Shonk Land Company Limited Partnership     
                                                                               
                                    By: J. S. Stevens, III                     
                                       --------------------------              
                                                                               
                                    Its: Managing General Partner               
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       Exhibit 1

                            Surface Owner's Consent


     Shonk Land Company Limited Partnership, a West Virginia Limited Partnership
hereby certifies that Catenary Coal Company shall be allowed to place waste
tires, as defined by that certain Memorandum of Understanding dated November
10, 1994, by and between the Office of Waste Management of the West Virginia
Division of Environmental Protection, and the Office of Mining and Reclamation
of the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection, on that certain
property owned by Shonk Land Company and encompassed by West Virginia Surface
Mining Permit No.3024-90 and 3004-95.


                               Shonk Land Company Limited Partnership

                               By:  __________________________

                               Its: __________________________


                                     
STATE OF West Virginia        ) 
                              ) SS.
COUNTY OF ___________________ )

     Sworn to and subscribed before me this ___ day of July, 1996 by
___________________________ as   __________________________ of Shonk Land
Company Limited Partnership, a West Virginia limited partnership, on behalf of
said limited partnership.


                                           ___________________________________
                                           Notary Public         
                                           My Commission Expires: 
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       Exhibit 2

                                 July 31, 1996



Shonk Land Company Limited Partnership
P.O. Box 969
Charleston, WV 25324

Gentlemen:

           I have acted as counsel to Arch Mineral Corporation, a Delaware
corporation ("Arch"), Ark Land Company, a Delaware Corporation, and Catenary
Coal Company ("Catenary"), a Delaware corporation, in connection with the
Consent and Indemnification Agreement, dated July 31,1996 (the "Agreement"), by
and between Arch, Catenary and Shonk Land Company Limited Partnership ("Shonk").

           This opinion is being delivered pursuant to Section 4 of the
Agreement. Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein are
defined as set forth in the Agreement.

           I have participated in the preparation of, and have reviewed executed
copies of the Agreement, have reviewed the Exhibits attached thereto, and have
familiarized myself with Catenary's plan for disposal of waste tires on the
Premises. As to questions of fact material to the opinions expressed herein, I
have, when relevant facts were not independently established by me examined and
relied upon the representations of the officers or other representatives of
Arch, Catenary. Ark Land Company, or of public officials.  Having regard for the
foregoing considerations and such other considerations as I deem relevant, I am
of the opinion that, upon Shonk's consent to Catenary's disposal of waste tires
on the Premises and after all necessary revisions to Catenary's permit,
Catenary's plan for disposal of waste tires on the Premises conforms to all
requirements of any federal, state or local governmental authority or agency
governing the disposal of waste tires on the Premises, including, but not
limited to, that certain Memorandum of Understanding dated November 10, 1994, by
and between the Office of Waste Management of the West Virginia Division of
Environmental Protection, and the Office of Mining and Reclamation of the West
Virginia Division of Environmental Protection.

          The opinions set forth herein are rendered only to you and are solely
for your benefit in connection with the Agreement. The opinions set forth herein
may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose or relied upon by any other
person for any purpose without our prior written consent.
<PAGE>
 
Shonk Land Company Limited Partnership
July 31, 1996
Page 2



     This opinion letter is governed by, and shall be interpreted in accordance
with, the legal opinion Accord (the "Accord") of the ABA Section of Business Law
(1991). As a consequence, it is subject to a number of qualifications,
exceptions, definitions, limitations on coverage and other limitations, all as
more particularly described in the Accord, and this Opinion Letter should be
read in conjunction therewith.

                                         Very truly yours,

                                         

                                         Jeffry N. Quinn

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.10


UNITED STATES                                                      SERIAL NUMBER
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                                               W-72989
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

                                   COAL LEASE

This lease, is entered into on August 10, 1981, by the United States of America,
the lessor, through the Bureau of Land Management, and

Medicine Bow Coal Company
500 North Broadway.
St. Louis, Missouri 63102

the lessee, and shall become effective on September l, 1981.

Sec. 1. STATUTES AND REGULATIONS  This lease is issued pursuant and subject to
the terms and provisions of the Mineral Leasing Act of February 25, 1920, 41
Stat. 437, as amended, 30 U.S.C. Sections 181-287, hereafter referred to as the
Act, and of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C.
Section 1201 et seq., the Federal Coal Leasing Amendments Act of 1976, as
amended, 90 Stat. 1083-1092, and in the case of acquired lands, the Mineral
Leasing Act for Acquired Lands of September 7, 1947, as amended, 30 U.S.C. 351-
359 et seq. This lease is also subject to all regulations of the Secretary of
the Interior (including, but not limited to, 30 CFR Part 211 and Chapter VII and
43 CFR Group 3400), and to all regulations of the Secretary of Energy
promulgated pursuant to Section 302 of the Department of Energy Organization Act
of 1977, 42 U.S.C. Section 7152, which are now in force or (except as expressly
limited herein) hereafter in force, and all of such regulations are made a part
hereof.

WITNESSETH:

Sec. 2. RIGHTS OF LESSEE  The lessor, in consideration of any bonus paid ( or to
be paid if deferred), rents and royalties and other conditions hereinafter set
forth, hereby grants and leases to the lessee the exclusive right and privilege
to mine and dispose of all surface minable coal in the following described
tracts (leased lands) situated in the State of Wyoming, County of Carbon:

6th Principal Meridian, Wyoming

T. 23 N., R. 83 W.,
sec. 4, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, S 1/2N 1/2, and S 1/2 (All);
sec. 6, lots 1 to 7, inclusive, S 1/2NE 1/4, SE 1/4NW 1/4, E 1/2SW 1/4,
and SE 1/4 (All);
sec. 18, lots 1 to 4, inclusive, E 1/2, and E 1/2W 1/2 (All);
sec. 30, lots 3 and 4, E 1/2, and E 1/2SW 1/4.

T. 24 N., R. 83 W.,
sec. 30, lots 2, 3, and 4, S 1/2NE 1/4, SE 1/4NW 1/4, E 1/2SW 1/4,
and SE 1/4;
sec. 32, All.

T. 23 N., R. 84 W.,
sec. 12, All;
sec. 24, E 1/2NE 1/4NE 1/4.

T. 24 N., R. 84 W.,
sec. 36, NE 1/4, E 1/2NW 1/4, and E 1/2SE 1/4.

containing 4,442.66 acres, more or less and, subject to the conditions,
limitations, and prohibitions provided in this lease and in applicable acts and
regulations, the right to construct on the leased lands all works, buildings,
structures, equipment, and appliances which may be necessary and convenient for
the mining and preparation of the coal for market, and subject to the conditions
herein, provided, to use so much of the surface as may reasonably by required in
the exercise of the rights and privileges herein granted for a period of 20
years and so long thereafter as the condition of continued operation is met.
<PAGE>
 
Sec. 3. DILIGENT DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUED OPERATION - The lessee shall engage
in the diligent development of the coal resources subject to the lease. After
diligent development is achieved, the lessee shall maintain continued operation
of the mine or mines on the leased lands. The terms "diligent development" and
"continued operation" are defined in the applicable regulations in Titles 10, 30
and 43 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Sec. 4. BOND - The lessee shall file with the appropriate Bureau of Land
Management office a lease bond in the amount of $25,000.00, for the use and
benefit of the United States, to insure payment of deferred bonus payments,
rentals, and royalties and to insure compliance with all other items of this
lease, the regulations and the Act (except for reclamation within the area
covered by a surface mining permit issued under the permanent regulatory program
by the regulatory authority) and, if appropriate, for the protection of the
interests of the surface owners on the leased lands. An increase in the amount
of the lease bond may be required by the lessor at any time during the life of
the lease to reflect changed conditions.

Sec. 5. RENTAL - An annual rental of $3.00 for each acre or fraction thereof
shall be paid in advance on or before the anniversary date of this lease. This
section shall not be subject to revision except in the course of lease
readjustment.

Sec. 6. PRODUCTION ROYALTY - The lessee shall pay a production royalty of 12.5
percent of the value of coal produced by strip or auger mining methods. The
value of coal shall be determined as set forth in the regulations in 30 CFR 211.
Production royalties paid for a calendar month shall be reduced by the amount of
any advance royalties paid under this lease to the extent that such advance
royalties have not been used to reduce production royalties in a previous month.
However, production royalties payable after the 20th year of the lease shall not
be reduced by advance royalties paid during the first 20 years of the lease.
Production royalties shall be payable the final day of the month succeeding the
calendar month in which the coal is sold, unless otherwise specified in 30 CFR
211. The royalty rates provided in this section shall not be subject to revision
except in the course of lease readjustment.

Sec. 7. ADVANCE ROYALTY - Upon request by the lessee the District Mining
Supervisor may accept, for a total of not more than 10 years, the payment of
advance royalties in lieu of the condition of continued operation consistent
with the regulations in 43 CFR 3473 and 30 CFR 211. The advance royalty shall be
based on a percent of the value of a minimum number of tons which shall be
determined in the manner established by the regulations in 43 CFR 3473.

Sec. 8. METHOD OF PAYMENTS - The lessee shall make rental payments to the
appropriate Bureau of Land Management (BLM) office until production royalties
become payable. Thereafter, all rentals, production royalties and advance
royalties shall be paid to the appropriate office of the United States
Geological Survey.

Sec. 9. EXPLORATION PLAN - The lessee shall not commence any exploration, except
casual use, on the leased lands without an approved exploration plan.
Exploration plans for leased lands covered by an approved mining permit shall be
submitted to the Regional Director of the Office of Surface Mining in accordance
with the regulations in 30 CFR Chapter VII. Exploration plans for leased lands
not covered by an approved mining permit shall be submitted to the District
Mining Supervisor in accordance with the regulations in 30 CFR 211.

Sec. 10. MINING PLAN - In accordance with the regulations in 30 CFR 211 and
Chapter VII, the lessee shall submit a mining and reclamation plan not more than
three years after the effective date of this lease. Mining operations shall not
commence until after the mining and reclamation plan is approved. The mining and
reclamation shall be conducted in accordance with the approved mining and
reclamation plan. Exploration activities which were not included in the approved
mining and reclamation plan require submittal of exploration plans in accordance
with Section 9 of this lease.

Sec. 11. LOGICAL MINING UNIT (LMU) - This lease is automatically considered to
be an LMU. This LMU may be enlarged, adjusted or diminished in accordance with
the applicable regulations in Titles 10, 30 and 43 of the Code of Federal
Regulations. The mining plan for the LMU shall require that the reserves of the
LMU will be mined within a period of 40 years in accordance with 30 CFR 211 and
43 CFR 3400.0-5. The definition of LMU and LMU reserves 
<PAGE>
 
and other applicable conditions are set forth in the regulations in 43 CFR
3400.0-5 and 3475, 30 CFR 211, and Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

Sec. 12. OPERATIONS ON LEASED LANDS - (a) In accordance with conditions of this
lease, the exploration and mining and reclamation plans, the permit issued
pursuant to 30 CFR Chapter VII, and all applicable acts and regulations, the
lessee shall exercise reasonable diligence, skill, and care in all operations on
leased lands. (b) The lessee shall minimize to the maximum extent possible
wasting of the coal deposits and other mineral and nonmineral resources,
including, but not limited to, surface resources which may be found in, upon, or
under such lands.

Sec. 13. SPECIAL STATUTES - The lessee shall comply with the provisions of the
Federal . Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1151-1175) and the Clean Air
Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.).

Sec. 14. AUTHORIZATION OF OTHER USES AND DISPOSITION OF LEASED LANDS - (a) The
lessor reserves the right to authorize other uses of the leased lands by
regulation or by issuing, in addition to this lease, leases, licenses, permits,
easements, or rights-of-way, including leases for the development of minerals
other than coal under the Act. The lessor may authorize any other uses of the
leased lands that do not unreasonably interfere with the exploration and mining
operations of the lessee, and the lessee shall make all reasonable efforts to
avoid interference with such authorized uses. (b) The lessor reserves the right:
(i) to sell or otherwise dispose of the surface of the leased lands under
existing law or laws hereafter enacted insofar as said surface is not necessary
for the use of the lessee in the extraction and removal of the coal therein, or
(ii) to dispose of any resource in such lands if such disposal will not
unreasonably interfere with the exploration and mining operations of the lessee.
(c) If the leased lands have been or shall hereafter be disposed of under laws
reserving to the United States the deposits of coal therein, the lessee shall
comply with all conditions as are or may hereafter be provided by the laws and
regulations reserving such coal.

Sec. 15. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY CLAUSE - The lessee will comply with all provisions
of Executive Order No. 11246 of September 24, 1965, as amended, and the rules,
regulations and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.

Sec. 16. CERTIFICATION OF NONSEGREGATED FACILITIES - By entering into this
lease, the lessee certifies that he does not and will not maintain or provide
for his employees any segregated facilities at any of his establishments, and
that he does not and will not permit his employees to perform their services at
any location under his control where segregated facilities are maintained. The
lessee agrees that a breach of this certification is a violation of the Equal
Opportunity clause of this lease. As used in this certification, the term
"segregated facilities" means, but is not limited to, any waiting rooms, work
areas, rest rooms and wash rooms, restaurants and other eating areas, time
clocks, locker rooms and other storage or dressing areas, parking lots, drinking
fountains, recreation or entertainment areas, transportation, and housing
facilities provided for employees which are segregated by explicit directive or
are in fact segregated on the basis of race, color, religion, or national
origin, because of habit, local custom, or otherwise. Lessee further agrees that
(except where lessee has obtained identical certifications from proposed
contractors and subcontractors for specific time periods) lessee will obtain
identical certifications from proposed contractors and subcontractors prior to
award of contracts or subcontracts exceeding $10,000 which are not exempt from
the provisions of the Equal Opportunity clause; that lessee will retain such
certifications in lessee's files; and that lessee will forward the following
notice to such proposed contractors and subcontractors (except where proposed
contractor or subcontractor has submitted identical certifications for specific
time periods). Notice to Prospective Contractors and Subcontractors of
Requirement for Certification of Nonsegregated Facilities. A Certification of
Nonsegregated Facilities, as required by the May 9, 1967, order (32 F.R. 7439,
May 19, 1967) on Elimination of Segregated Facilities, by the Secretary of
Labor, must be submitted prior to the award of a contract exceeding $10,000
which is not exempt from the provisions of the Equal Opportunity clause.
Certification may be submitted either for each contract and subcontract or for
all contracts and subcontracts during a period (i.e., quarterly, semiannually,
or annually).

Sec. 17. EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES - The lessee shall pay all wages due persons
employed on the leased lands at least twice each month in lawful money of the
United States. The lessee shall grant all miners and other employees complete
freedom to purchase goods and services of their own choice. The lessee shall
restrict the work-day to not more than 8 hours in any one day for underground
workers, except in case of emergency. The lessee shall employ no person under
the age of 16 years in any mine below the surface. If the laws of the State in
which the mine is situated require the employment, in a 
<PAGE>
 
mine below the surface, of persons of an age greater than 16 years, the lessee
shall comply with those laws.

Sec. 18. MONOPOLY AND FAIR PRACTICES - The lessor reserves full authority to
promulgate and enforce orders and regulations under the provisions of Sections
30 and 32 of the Act (30 U.S.C. Section 187 and 189) necessary to insure that
any sale of the production from the leased lands to the United States or to the
public is at reasonable prices, to prevent monopoly, and to safeguard the public
welfare, and such orders and regulations shall upon promulgation be binding upon
the lessee.

Sec. 19. TRANSFERS -

 X   This lease may be transferred in whole or in part to any person, 
- ---                                                                   
     association or corporation qualified under 43 CFR 3472.1-1 to hold a lease.

___  This lease may only be transferred in whole or in part to another public
     body, or to a person who will mine the coal on behalf of and for the use of
     the public body, or to a person for the limited purpose of creating a
     security interest in favor of a lender who agrees to be obligated to mine
     the coal on behalf of the public body. The transferee must be qualified
     under 43 CFR 3472.

___  This lease may only be transferred in whole or in part to other small
     businesses qualifying under 13 CFR 121 and 43 CFR 3472.2-2(c).

Any transfer of this lease in whole or in part is subject to the procedures and
requirements for approval in the relevant regulations in 43 CFR 3400. A transfer
will become effective on the first day of the month following its approval by
the authorized officer, or, if the transferee requests, the first day of the
month of the approval.

Sec. 20. RELINQUISHMENT OF LEASE - The lessee may file a relinquishment of the
entire lease, a legal subdivision or aliquot part thereof, but not less than 10
acres, or any bed of the coal deposits therein. The relinquishment shall be
filed in triplicate with the authorized officer. Upon the determination by the
authorized officer that the public interest shall not be impaired, that all
accrued rentals and royalties have been paid and that all of the obligations of
the lessee under the regulations and the lease terms have been met, the
relinquishment shall be accepted effective the date filed.

Sec. 21. NONCOMPLIANCE - Any failure to comply with the conditions of this
lease, the approved exploration and mining and reclamation plans, the
regulations, or applicable acts shall be dealt with in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the regulations.

Sec. 22. WAIVER OF CONDITIONS - The lessor reserves the right to waive any
breach of the conditions contained in this lease, except the breach of such
conditions as are required by the Act, but any such waiver shall extend only to
the particular breach so waived and shall not limit the rights of the lessor
with respect to any future breach; nor shall the waiver of a particular breach
prevent cancellation of this lease for any other cause, or for the same cause
occurring at another time.

Sec. 23. READJUSTMENT OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS - (a) The lease is subject to
readjustment on the 20th year after the effective date and on each 10th year
thereafter. In order that the lease may be readjusted as close as possible to
the dates when it becomes subject to readjustment, the lessor may propose the
terms of readjustment of any conditions of this lease, including rental and
royalty rates, before the 20th year after the effective date and before each 10-
year interval thereafter. The authorized officer shall notify the lessee whether
he intends to readjust the terms and conditions of the lease and, if he intends
to readjust, the nature of the readjustments in accordance with the regulations
in 43 CFR 3451. Unless the lessee, within 60 days after receipt of the proposed
readjusted terms, files with the lessor an objection to the proposed readjusted
conditions or relinquishes the lease as of the effective date of the
readjustment, the lessee shall be deemed conclusive to have agreed to such
conditions.

(b) If the lessee files objections to the proposed readjusted conditions, the
existing conditions shall remain in effect until there has been an agreement
between the lessor and the lessee on the new conditions to be incorporated in
the lease, or until the lessee has exhausted his rights of appeal under Section
31 of this lease, or until the lease is relinquished, except that the authorized
officer may provide in the notice of readjusted lease terms that the
readjustment or any part thereof is effective pending the outcome of the appeal.
If the readjusted royalty provisions are subsequently rescinded or amended, the
lessee shall be permitted to credit any excess royalty payments against
royalties subsequently due to the lessor.
<PAGE>
 
Sec. 24. DELIVERY OF PREMISES - Upon termination of this lease for any reason or
relinquishment of a part of this lease, the lessee shall deliver to the lessor
in good order and condition all or the appropriate part of leased lands.
Delivery of the leased lands shall include underground timbering and such other
supports and structures as are necessary for the preservation of the mine or
deposit, and shall be in accordance with all other applicable provisions of the
regulations including 30 CFR 211 and Chapter VII, for the completion of
operations and abandonment.

Sec. 25. PROPRIETARY INFORMATION - Geological and geophysical data and
information, including maps, trade secrets, and commercial and financial
information which the lessor obtains from the lessee shall be treated in
accordance with 43 CFR Part 2, 30 CFR 211.5 and other applicable regulations.
Total lease reserve figures developed from this information will not be
confidential.

Sec. 26 LESSEE'S LIABILITY TO LESSOR - (a) The lessee shall be liable to the
United States for any damage suffered by the United States in any way arising
from or connected with the lessee's activities and operations under this lease,
except where damage is caused by employees of the United States acting within
the scope of their authority. (b) The lessee shall indemnify and hold harmless
the United States from any and all claims arising from or connected with the
lessee's activities and operations under this lease. (c) In any case where
liability without fault is imposed on the lessee pursuant to this section, and
the damages involved were caused by the action of a third party, the rules of
subrogation shall apply in accordance with the law of the jurisdiction where the
damages occurred.

Sec. 27. INSPECTIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS - (a) All books and records maintained
by the lessee showing information required by this lease or regulations must be
kept current and in such manner that the books and records can be readily
checked at the mine, upon request, by the Regional Director or District Mining
Supervisor or their representative. (b) The lessee shall permit any duly
authorized officer or representative of the lessor at any reasonable time (1) to
inspect or investigate the leased lands, the exploration and mining and
reclamation operations, and all surface and underground improvements, works,
machinery, and equipment, and all books and records pertaining to the lessee's
obligations to the lessor under this lease and regulations; and (2) to copy, and
make extracts from any such books and records.

Sec. 28. UNLAWFUL INTEREST - No member of, or Delegate to, Congress, or Resident
Commissioner after his election or appointment, either before or after he has
qualified and during his continuance in office, and no officer or employee of
the Department of the Interior, except as provided in 43 CFR 7.4(a)(3), shall
hold any share or part in this lease or derive any benefit therefrom. The
provisions of Section 3741 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, 43 U.S.C.
Section 22, and the Act of June 25, 1948, 62 Stat. 702, as amended, 18 U.S.C.
Sections 431-433, relating to contracts, enter into and form a part of this
lease insofar as they may be applicable.

Sec. 29. APPEALS - The lessee shall have the right to appeal (a) under 43 CFR
3000.4 from an action or decision of any official of the Bureau of Land
Management, (b) under 30 CFR 290 from an action, order, or decision of any
official of the United States Geological Survey, or (c) under applicable
regulations from any action or decision of any other official of the Department
of the Interior arising in connection with this lease, including any action or
decision pursuant to Section 23 of this lease with respect to the readjustment
of conditions.

Sec. 30. DEFERRED BONUS - This lease is issued subject to the payment of
$184,828.80 by the lessee as a deferred bonus. Payment of the deferred bonus by
the lessee shall be made on a schedule specified in Section 31 (Special
Stipulations) of this lease.

Sec. 31. SPECIAL STIPULATIONS - In addition to observing the general obligations
and standards of performance set out in the current regulations, the Lessee
shall comply with and be bound by the following special stipulations. These
stipulations are also imposed upon the Lessee's agents and employees. The
failure or refusal of any of these persons to comply with these stipulations
shall be deemed a failure of the Lessee to comply with the terms of this lease.
The Lessee shall require his agents, contractors and subcontractors involved in
activities concerning this lease to include these stipulations in the contracts
between and among them. These stipulations may be revised or amended, in
writing, by the mutual consent of the Lessor and the Lessee at any time to
adjust to changed conditions or to correct an oversight. The Lessor may amend
these stipulations at any time without the consent of the Lessee in order to
make them consistent with any new federal or state statutes and the regulations
promulgated under authority or new statutes.

     (a) The Lessee shall return the surface of the leased lands to native range
for livestock grazing, wildlife habitat and public recreation. Reclaimed areas
will be fenced to exclude livestock and big game 
<PAGE>
 
animals until new vegetation is established to the satisfaction of the
Authorized Officer.

     (b) As determined by the Authorized Officer, the lessee will develop new,
reliable water facilities to replace existing water facilities on public lands
disturbed or destroyed by mining.

     (c) Range improvements on the leased lands will not be disturbed without
prior written permission of the Authorized Officer. As determined by the
Authorized, Officer, range improvements which are disturbed by the Lessee will
be restored as soon as practicable.

     (d) The Lessee will protect all survey monuments, witness corners,
reference monuments, and bearing trees against destruction, obliteration, or
damage during operations on the lease area. If any monuments, corners, or
accessories are destroyed, obliterated, or damaged by this operation, the Lessee
will hire an appropriate county surveyor or registered land surveyor to
reestablish or restore the monuments, corners, or accessories, at the same
location, using surveying procedures in accordance with the "Manual of Surveying
Instructions for the Survey of the Public Lands of the United States," and will
record the survey in the appropriate county records, with a copy sent to the
Authorized Officer.

     (e) The Lessee will be responsible for identification of alluvial valley
floors (AVFs) consistent with Office of Surface Mining (OSM) definitions and
will design the mine and reclamation plan to provide protection of the
identified AVFs as required by OSM. All stipulations concerning compliance with
the requirements of The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30
U.S.C. 1201 et seq.) will be included in the document approving the mine plan.

     (f) CULTURAL RESOURCES - (1) Before undertaking any activities that may
disturb the surface of the leased lands, the lessee shall conduct a cultural
resource intensive field inventory in a manner specified, by the authorized
officer of the BLM or of the surface managing agency (if different) on portions
of the mine plan area and adjacent areas, or exploration plan area, that may be
adversely affected by lease-related activities and which were not previously
inventoried at such a level of intensity. The inventory shall be conducted by a
qualified professional cultural resource specialist (i.e., archeologist,
historian or historical architect, as appropriate), approved by the authorized
officer of the surface managing agency (BLM if the surface is privately owned),
and a report of the inventory and recommendations for protecting any cultural
resources identified shall be submitted to the Regional Director of the Office
of Surface Mining (or the District Mining Supervisor if activities are
associated with coal exploration outside an approved mining permit area) and the
authorized officer of the BLM or the surface managing agency (if different). The
lessee shall undertake measures, in accordance with instructions from the
Regional Director (or the District Mining Supervisor if activities are
associated with coal exploration outside an approved mining permit area), to
protect cultural resources on the leased land. The lessee shall not commence the
surface disturbing activities until permission to proceed is given by the
Regional Director (or the District Mining Supervisor if activities are
associated with coal exploration outside an approved mining permit area).

(2) The lessee shall protect all cultural resource properties within the lease
area from lease-related activities until the cultural resource mitigation
measures can be implemented as part of an approved mining and reclamation plan
or exploration plan.

(3) The cost of conducting the inventory, preparing reports, and carrying out
mitigation measures shall be borne by the lessee.

(4) If cultural resources are discovered during operations under this lease, the
lessee shall immediately bring them to the attention of the Regional Director
(or the District Mining Supervisor if activities are associated with coal
exploration outside an approved mining permit area), or the authorized officer
of the surface managing agency if the Regional Director, or District Mining
Supervisor, as appropriate, is not available. The lessee shall not disturb such
resources except as may be subsequently authorized by the Regional Director (or
the District Mining Supervisor if activities are associated with coal
exploration outside an approved mining permit area). Within two (2) working days
of notification, the Regional Director (or the District Mining Supervisor if
activities are associated with coal exploration outside an approved mining
permit area) will evaluate or have evaluated any cultural resources discovered
and will determine if any action may be required to protect or preserve such
discoveries. The cost of data recovery for cultural resources discovered during
lease operations shall be borne by the surface managing agency unless otherwise
specified by the authorized officer of the BLM or of the surface managing agency
(if different).

(5) All cultural resources shall remain under the jurisdiction of the United
States until ownership is determined under applicable law.
<PAGE>
 
     (g) PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES - (1) Before undertaking any activities that
may disturb the surface of the leased lands, the lessee shall contact the Bureau
of Land Management to determine whether the authorized officer will require the
lessee to conduct a paleontological appraisal of the mine plan and adjacent
areas, or exploration plan areas, that may be adversely affected by lease-
related activities. If the authorized officer determines that one is necessary,
the paleontological appraisal shall be conducted by a qualified paleontologist
approved by the authorized officer of the surface managing agency (BLM if the
surface is privately owned), using the published literature and, where
appropriate, field appraisals for determining the possible existence of larger
and more conspicuous fossils of scientific significance.  A report of the
appraisal and recommendations for protecting any larger and more conspicuous
fossils of significant scientific interest on the leased lands so identified
shall be submitted to the authorized officer of the surface managing agency (BLM
if the surface is privately owned). When necessary to protect and collect the
larger and more conspicuous fossils of significant scientific interest on the
leased lands, the lessee shall undertake the measures provided in the approval
of the mining and reclamation plan or exploration plan.

(2) The lessee shall not knowingly disturb, alter, destroy or take any larger
and more conspicuous fossils of significant scientific interest, and shall
protect all such fossils in conformance with the measures included in the
approval of the mining and reclamation plan or exploration plan.

(3) The lessee shall immediately bring any such fossils that might be altered or
destroyed by his operation to the attention of the Regional Director or the
District Mining Supervisor, as appropriate. Operations may continue as long as
the fossil specimen or specimens would not be seriously damaged or destroyed by
the activity. The Regional Director or the District Mining Supervisor, as
appropriate, shall evaluate or have evaluated such discoveries brought to his
attention and, within five (5) working days, shall notify the lessee what action
shall be taken with respect to such discoveries.

(4) All such fossils of significant scientific interest shall remain under the
jurisdiction of the United States until ownership is determined under applicable
law. Copies of all paleontological resource data generated as a result of the
lease term requirements will be provided to the Regional Director or the
District Mining Supervisor, as appropriate.

(5) The cost of any required salvage of such fossils shall be borne by the
United States.

(6) These conditions apply to all such fossils of significant scientific
interest discovered within the lease area whether discovered in the overburden,
interburden, or coal seam or seams.

     (h) In order to protect existing raptor nests, no surface occupancy will be
allowed on the lands described below. Any exceptions for support facilities such
as telephone lines, powerlines, etc. may be allowed only with prior written
permission of the Authorized Officer.

          T. 23 N., R. 83 W., 6th P.M.

               sec. 30, S1/2S1/2NE1/4, N1/2SE1/4, N1/2S1/2SE1/4.

     (i) The lessee shall comply with all valid and applicable laws and
regulations of Federal, State, and local governmental authority.

DEFERRED BONUS PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

     Total amount of bid $231,036.00

1/5 in the amount of $46,207.20 was submitted on date of sale. (Balance is due
and payable in equal installments on the first four anniversary dates of the
lease).

1/5 in the amount of $46,207.20 due on September 1, 1982

1/5 in the amount: of $46,207.20 due on September 1, 1983

1/5 in the amount of $46,207.20 due on September 1, 1984

1/5 in the amount of $46,207.20 due on September 1, 1984
<PAGE>
 
                               THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                               By [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                                     Signing Officer

                                 Associate State Director
                                     (Title)


WITNESS TO SIGNATURE OF LESSEE      August 10, 1981
[SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]            MEDICINE BOW COAL COMPANY  BLM, pc
                               By:  Dana Coal Company, Managing Venturer
                                    By: [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                                    (President: (Signature of Lessee)


                                         (Signature of Lessee)

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 10.11

                       AMENDED AND RESTATED MINING LEASE
                       ---------------------------------


     THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED MINING LEASE, made and entered into effective as
of the  13th day of  December, 1988, by and between ROCK SPRINGS ROYALTY
COMPANY, a Utah corporation (hereinafter called "Lessor"), and ARK LAND COMPANY,
a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called "Lessee"),

                                  WITNESSETH:
                                  ----------

RECITALS:
- --------

     A.   Lessor and Lessee are parties to the certain Lease Agreement dated
August 12, 1974, as amended (the "Ark Lease Agreement"), granting Lessee the
exclusive right and privilege to mine and dispose of strip coal from the
following described lands in Carbon County, Wyoming:

     Township 22 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M.
     ------------------------------------------

          Section 5:     All
 
     Township 23 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M.
     ------------------------------------------

         Section 17:     All
         Section 19:     All
         Section 29:     All
         Section 31:     All
         Section 33:     Wl/2SW1/4, SWl/4NW1/4.

     B.  By the certain Addendum to Lease Agreement dated June 1, 1983 (the "Ark
Amendment"), Lessor and Lessee amended the Ark Lease Agreement to include, in
addition to the above lands described in the Ark Lease Agreement, the following
described lands in Carbon County, Wyoming:

     Township 22 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M.
     ------------------------------------------

     Township 23 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M.
     ------------------------------------------

          Section 9:     That portion of the Nl/2NW1/4 lying to the North and
                         West of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, and only
                         insofar as mining operations do not interfere with the
                         railroad's right-of-way.
          Section 17:    NWl/4, Wl/2NEl/4

     Township 23 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M.
     ------------------------------------------

          Section 33:    NWl/4NW1/4, Wl/2E1/2W1/2

     Township 22 North, Range 82 West,  6th P.M.
     -------------------------------------------

          Section 13:    All
          Section 24:    NEl/4NW1/4, Nl/2NE1/4
<PAGE>
 
     Township 23 North, Range 82 West, 6th P.M.
     ------------------------------------------

         Section 25:  All,

said lands described in the Ark Lease Agreement and the Ark Amendment being
hereinafter referred to as "Tract 1 of the Leased Premises."

    C.   Lessor and Hanna Basin Coal Company, a Utah corporation ("Hanna")
entered into the certain Lease Agreement dated April 1, 1974, as amended (the
"Hanna Lease Agreement"), granting Hanna the exclusive right and privilege of
mining and disposing of the strip coal from the following described lands in
Carbon County, Wyoming:


     Township 24 North, Range 83 West. 6th P.M.
     ------------------------------------------

          Section 29:    NWl/4NW1/4, S1/2N1/2, N1/2SW1/4,
                         NW1/4SE1/4, Sl/2S1/2
          Section 31:    Lots 1-4, El/2W1/2, E1/2
          Section 33:    All
 
     Township 23 North, Range 84 West, 6th P.M.
     ------------------------------------------

          Section 1:     Lot 1, SEl/4NE1/4, SE1/4
          Section 11:    El/2NEl/4, SW1/4NEl/4, SEl/4
          Section 13:    El/2, NWl/4, E1/2SW1/4, NW1/4SW1/4
          Section 25:    Sl/2, Sl/2NW1/4
          Section 35:    E1/2, SW1/4, SWl/4NW1/4.
 
     Township 23 North, Range 83 West, 6th P.M.
     ------------------------------------------

          Section 5:     Lots 1-4, S1/2N1/2, Sl/2
          Section 7:     Lots 1-4, E1/2W1/2, E1/2
          Section 9:     All
          Section 17:    All
          Section 19:    Lots 1-4, El/2W1/2, E1/2
          Section 29:    All
          Section 31:    Lots 1-4, El/2W1/2, E1/2
          Section 33:    All

     Township 24 North, Range 84 West, 6th P.M.
     ------------------------------------------
     
          Section 25:    SEl/4, S1/2NEl/4, E1/25W1/4, 
                         NW1/4SW1/4, S1/2NW1/4, NW1/4NW1/4.

     D.   By the certain Assignment of Lease dated April 1, 1974, Hanna assigned
its interest in the Hanna Lease Agreement to Medicine Bow Coal Company
("Medicine Bow"), a joint venture between Hanna and Dana Coal Company, a
Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Lessee ("Dana").

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
    E.   By the certain Addendum to Lease Agreement dated June 1, 1975 (the
"Hanna Amendment") , Lessor and Medicine Bow amended the Hanna Lease Agreement
to include, in addition to the above lands described in the Hanna Lease
Agreement, the following described lands in Carbon County, Wyoming:

    Township 23 North, Range 83 West, 6th P.M.
    ------------------------------------------

         Section 3:      All
         Section 15:     All
         Section 21:     All,

said lands described in the Hanna Lease Agreement and the Hanna Amendment being
hereinafter referred to as "Tract 2 of the Leased Premises" and Tract 1 of the
Leased Premises and Tract 2 of the Leased Premises being hereinafter sometimes
collectively referred to as the "Leased Premises".

    F.   By Assignment and Relinquishment of Joint Venture Interest of even date
herewith, Hanna has assigned and relinquished to Medicine Bow all of its
interest in Medicine Bow.

    G.   Lessor and Lessee have agreed to restate and amend the Ark Lease
Agreement and the Hanna Lease Agreement, each as amended (collectively, the
"Prior Leases") , and to combine the Prior Leases into a single agreement
containing certain modified and amended terms, but in doing so the original
effective dates of the Prior Leases shall remain, so that this Amended and
restated Mining Lease shall henceforth be the effective lease of the Leased
Premises between the parties hereto, effective as of August 12, 1974 as to Tract
1 of the Leased Premises and as of April 1, 1974 as to Tract 2 of the Leased
Premises.

    NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows:

AGREEMENT:
- ---------

    SECTION 1:      RIGHTS GRANTED TO LESSEE:
    ---------       ------------------------

    1.1(a)    Lessor, for and in consideration of the sum of $10.00, cash in
hand paid, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, and of
the payments to be made and the covenants to be performed by Lessee as
hereinafter provided and upon the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth,
hereby grants to Lessee the exclusive right and privilege of mining and
disposing of the strip coal from Tract 1 of the Leased Premises; provided,
however, that nothing herein contained shall give Lessee any right to mine or
remove any coal other than the coal which can profitably be removed by strip
mining methods and which lies between the surface and 150 feet vertically below
the surface of Tract 1 of the Leased Premises, and provided further that the
locations in which said strip mining shall be done shall be approved by an
authorized representative of Lessor

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
before any mining is commenced with the view of preventing interference with or
damage to any pole and wire line or any structures whatsoever existing upon
Tract 1 of the Leased Premises .

         (b) It is recognized that instances may exist from time to time during
the term hereof when Lessee may determine that it is economically feasible for
Lessee to remove coal below the 150-foot level; therefore, Lessor hereby grants
Lessee the exclusive right and privilege of mining and disposing of the strip
coal in Tract 1 of the Leased Premises below the 150-foot level, to and
including the 200-foot level; provided, however, that nothing contained herein
shall give Lessee any right to mine and remove coal below the 200-foot level;
provided further, that Lessee shall use good surface mining practices in mining
below the 150-foot level so as not to impair the ability of Lessor to conduct
future underground mining operations at appropriate levels below the 200-foot
level; and, provided further, that Lessor's judgment regarding impairment of its
ability to mine below the 200-foot level shall govern, but approval by Lessor of
Lessee's intended mining operations may not be unreasonably withheld.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, Lessee shall have the right to mine by the
strip mining method below the 200-foot level, to and including the 300-foot
level, and mine by the auger mining method above and below the 200-foot level,
to and including the 300-foot level, in the W 1/2 W 1/2 and the W 1/2 E 1/2 W
1/2 of Section 33, Township 23 North, Range 81 West, 6th P.M.  Lessee agrees to
pay to Lessor royalty and other payments on auger coal as provided for in
SECTION 4 herein.  In administering auger coal payments, the term "strip coal"
- --------- 
shall be considered to be synonymous with the term "auger coal".

          (c) Lessor hereby grants to Lessee the exclusive right and privilege
of mining by any method now known or which may hereafter be developed and
disposing of any and all coal which may be found in Tract 2 of the Leased
Premises.

    1.2  It is agreed that the Lessor and its affiliates and their respective
lessees, licensees, successors and assigns may use the leased premises for all
purposes not inconsistent with the rights granted hereunder, including, among
other things, the right to prospect for, drill for, mine and remove from the
leased premises all minerals (other than strip coal in Tract 1 of the Leased
Premises and all coal in Tract 2 of the Leased Premises) including, but not
limited to, oil, gas, and coal recoverable by mining operations below the depths
herein specified in Tract 1 of the Leased Premises, together with all rights of
ingress and egress, and Lessee shall so conduct its operations hereunder as not
to interfere unreasonably with such use; provided, however, that such use of the
leased premises by Lessor and its affiliates and their respective lessees,
licensees, successors and assigns, shall not unreasonably interfere with the
mining operations of Lessee.

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
    1.3  It is further agreed that all valuable products other than coal which
are produced from the leased premises by Lessee in the performance of its mining
operations hereunder shall be and remain the property of Lessor and its
affiliates.

    1.4  The aforesaid rights are granted without covenants of title or to give
possession or for quiet enjoyment and are subject to all outstanding rights and
easements respecting the use of the leased premises and the right of Lessor or
its affiliates to renew and extend the term of such rights and easements;
provided, however, that Lessor hereby specially warrants the title to the
interests herein granted in Tract 1 of the Leased Premises against defects
caused or suffered by Lessor subsequent to August 12, 1974 and hereby specially
warrants the title to the interests herein granted in Tract 2 of the Leased
Premises against defects caused or suffered by Lessor subsequent to April 1,
1984, and warrants that it is the sole holder of the title to the interests
herein granted, except as stated herein, and that its subsidiaries, affiliates,
parents or related companies do not have any ownership interest in the interests
herein granted of any nature whatsoever.

SECTION 2:  SURFACE OF LEASED PREMISES:
- ---------   --------------------------

    2.1  (a)  Lessor, Lessee, their respective predecessors in interest, and
various other parties owning rights to mine coal from the Leased Premises have
entered into certain Surface Owner's Agreements, Right of way Easements, and
other agreements with Palm Livestock Company, a Wyoming corporation ("Palm"),
and other parties owning portions of the surface of the Leased premises,
including but not limited to the agreements listed on Exhibit A attached hereto
(all of which agreements, whether or not listed on Exhibit A, being hereinafter
referred to as the "Prior Surface Agreements").

         (b) Lessee and Palm are parties to the certain Surface Use and Damage
Agreement dated March 6, 1986 (the "Ark-Palm Surface Agreement").

         (c) Lessor and Lessee recognize and confirm that the Ark-Palm Surface
Agreement supersedes the Prior Surface Agreements and that neither Lessor nor
Lessee has any outstanding obligations to Palm under the Prior Surface
Agreements.

    2.2  Lessee agrees that at no time will it commence operations of any nature
on any portions of the leased premises not then subject to the Ark-Palm Surface
Agreement unless Lessee has acquired, in forms acceptable to Lessee and Lessor
(Lessor's acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld), such agreements or
consents of the respective surface owner or owners, other than Lessor and its
affiliates, as are necessary to enable strip mining operations to proceed.
Lessor agrees, at Lessor's

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
expense, to cooperate with Lessee in securing such  surface owner agreements or
consents.

SECTION 3:  EFFECTIVE DATE - TERM:
- ---------   ---------------------

     This lease shall take effect on the date which it bears and, unless sooner
terminated as herein provided, shall remain in full force and effect for a term
of five (5) years and so long thereafter as merchantable coal is being mined and
removed from the leased premises in paying quantities.  Notwithstanding any
provision hereof to the contrary, Lessee shall have the right to enter the
Leased Premises for the purpose of conducting reclamation until all reclamation
work required by Lessee's permits has been completed.

SECTION 4:  ROYALTY AND OTHER PAYMENTS:
- ---------   --------------------------

    4.1   Lessee shall make payments of advance royalty in the amount of
$64,576.75 per month to Lessor each month from the date hereof to August 12,
1989.  The total amount of such payments from the date hereof to August 12, 1989
shall be $516,614.00.  Following payment of such total amount, Lessee's
obligation to pay advance royalty shall terminate.

    4.2   (a)  All amounts paid Lessor by Lessee pursuant to subsection 4.1
hereof and all amounts heretofore paid Lessor pursuant to subsections 4.l
through 4.6, inclusive, of the Lease Agreement dated August 12, 1974 between
Lessor and Ark Land Company, as advance royalty, without interest, shall be
credited against any production royalty which may accrue to Lessor pursuant to
the provisions hereof on account of (1) coal mined from Tract 1 of the Leased
Premises and (ii) coal mined from Tract 2 of the Leased Premises to satisfy
"Existing Contracts." Existing Contracts are defined as the certain contracts
dated effective January 1, 1988 between Arch Mineral Corporation and Kansas
Power & Light Company, and the contract dated effective February 1, 1983 between
EDCO and Iowa Public Service Company. The tonnages remaining to be produced and
sold under the Existing Contracts on the effective date hereof will be
considered Existing Contract tonnages for purposes of this Section 4.2 if the
time periods for producing such tonnages are extended and stretched-out.

          (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3, if merchantable coal
is not mined and removed from the Leased Premises in paying quantities during
any lease year commencing with the fifth anniversary of the effective date
hereof and ending on the  15th anniversary of the effective date hereof, this
lease shall not terminate if Lessee pays to Lessor, as minimum royalty, the sum
of $100,000.00 on or before 15 days after the end of the lease year during which
mining in paying quantities did not occur.  All amounts paid as minimum royalty
shall be credited, without interest, against production royalty payable for coal
mined thereafter during the term of this lease.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
     4.3  Payments of advance royalty and minimum royalty shall be forwarded by
Lessee to the following lock-box address:

              Rock Springs Royalty Company
              Department 310
              Denver, CO 80281-0310

     4.4  If, because of force majeure, Lessee is unable to conduct mining
operations at their mines or to sell coal therefrom, and if Lessee promptly
gives to Lessor written notice of such force majeure, then the obligations of
Lessee to mine coal or to pay advance royalty hereunder shall be suspended
during the continuance of such force majeure; provided, however, that the effect
of such force majeure is eliminated insofar as possible with all reasonable
dispatch.  The term "force majeure" as used herein shall mean any causes beyond
the control and without fault or negligence of Lessee, such as acts of God, acts
of public enemy, insurrections, riots, civil commotions, strikes, labor
disputes, labor or material shortages, fires, explosions, flood, breakdowns of
or damage to plants, equipment or facilities, interruptions to transportation,
embargoes, orders or acts of the civil or military authority, or other causes of
a similar or dissimilar nature which wholly or partly prevent the mining,
loading and/or sale of coal by Lessee.

     4.5  Subject to credits as provided in Section 4.2 hereof, on or before the
fifteenth day of each calendar month during the term hereof, Lessee shall pay to
Lessor a production royalty on coal mined from the leased premises during the
preceding calendar month.  The amount of such royalty shall be as follows:

          (a) In respect of coal mined from either Tract 1 of the Leased
Premises or Tract 2 of the Leased Premises to satisfy the Existing Contracts (as
hereinabove defined) , an amount per ton of coal mined from the leased premises
during the preceding calendar month equal to 12.5% of the average gross sales
price per ton of coal received by Lessee f.o.b. cars at point of shipment during
the preceding calendar month.

     (b)  In respect of coal mined from Tract 2 of the Leased Premises to
satisfy "spot sale" and "test burn" commitments to which Lessee is contractually
obligated on the effective date hereof, the sum of $0.47 per ton for each ton of
2,000 pounds of coal mined from Tract 2 of the Leased Premises during the
preceding calendar month.

     (c)  In respect of coal mined from either Tract 1 of the Leased Premises or
Tract 2 of the Leased Premises during the period of two (2) years from the
effective date hereof to satisfy "New Contracts" (as hereinafter defined) the
sum of $0.47 per ton for each ton at 2,000 pounds of coal mined during the
preceding calendar month.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
     (d)  In respect of coal mined from either Tract 1 of the Leased Premises or
Tract 2 of the Leased Premises from and after the second anniversary of the
effective date hereof to satisfy "New Contracts" (as hereinafter defined) , an
amount per ton of coal mined from the Leased Premises during the preceding
calendar month equal to 10% of the average gross sales price per ton of coal
received by Lessee f.o.b. cars at point of shipment during the preceding
calendar month.

     (e)  "New Contracts" are defined as coal sales agreements, whether for 
long-term sales or spot sales, made and entered into by Lessee after the
effective date hereof and extensions and renewals of Existing Contracts (as
hereinabove defined) after their respective current termination dates (March
1989 for the Kansas Power & Light contract and January 1993 for the Iowa Public
Service Company Contract) , provided that tonnages remaining to be produced and
sold under the Existing Contracts on the effective date hereof will be
considered Existing Contract tonnage for purposes of this Section 4.5 if the
time periods for producing such tonnages are extended and stretched-out.

     4.8  All payments to Lessor of production royalty hereunder shall be
forwarded by Lessee to the following lock-box address:

              Rock Springs Royalty Company
              Department 310
              Denver, Colorado 80281-0310

Each payment shall be accompanied by a statement of the total amount of coal
mined during the month for which payment of royalty is made, such statement to
be certified to by the proper officer of Lessee and to show in detail the
weights making up such total amount in accordance with Section 6.

SECTION 5:  LESSEE TO PAY TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS:
- ---------   -----------------------------------

    Lessee, in addition to paying the royalty and other compensation herein
stipulated, shall pay before delinquent all taxes and assessments levied or
assessed on or after the effective date hereof, upon the minerals in place or
mineral rights which are the subject of this lease, and Lessee shall, commencing
with the effective date of this agreement, pay before delinquent any production,
severance, license, or similar taxes assessed upon or on account of the mining
of strip coal from Tract 1 of the Leased Premises and coal from Tract 2 of the
Leased Premises, and all taxes levied or assessed upon all structures,
improvements, equipment, and other property erected, constructed, installed
and/or used by Lessee in connection with the exercise of rights herein granted.
Lessee, upon payment of such taxes and assessments, shall promptly furnish
Lessor with satisfactory evidence of such payment.

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 6:  BASIS FOR DETERMINING AMOUNT OF COAL MINED:
- ---------   ------------------------------------------

    The amount of coal mined from the leased premises shall be the sum of the
following weights:

         (a) The carload weights of all said coal loaded into railroad cars for
shipment;

         (b) The weight of all said coal sold and transported from the mines or
tipple by truck or other conveyance; and

         (c) The weight of all said coal used in the conduct of mining
operations and as camp, house or other building fuel.

SECTION 7:  INSPECTION AND SURVEY OF MINE:
- ----------  ------------------------------

    Lessor, through its authorized representatives, shall at all times have the
right to enter and inspect any mine on the leased premises, whether a strip pit
or underground workings, and to make, at its own expense, any survey that it may
deem necessary, either for the purpose of checking the amount of coal mined (as
provided below) or for an examination of reclamation procedures and the physical
condition of the property.  Lessee will furnish, free of expense to Lessor, a
competent engineer to assist in the work of making any such survey.  In the
event any question arises as to the accuracy of Lessee's records of the amount
of coal removed during a particular month from the leased premises, Lessor may
make a survey of any mine or portion thereof from which coal shall have been
removed hereunder during said month, within one (1) year after the end of said
month, and twenty-seven (27) cubic feet of space (which amount is understood and
agreed to be net of mining losses) shall be deemed to be the space from which
one (1) ton of 2,000 pounds of coal has been removed, and the amount of coal
removed from such portion, as determined by such survey adjusted to take into
account "partings" removed and wasted, shall, at the option of Lessor, be
considered the true amount removed during said month notwithstanding any former
statements or payments of royalty, and thereupon, if such option be exercised,
the accounts relating to royalty accruing to Lessor for said month under this
lease shall be adjusted in accordance with the tonnage so determined .

SECTION 8:  CONDUCT OF MINING OPERATIONS:
- ----------  -----------------------------

    8.1  In the conduct of Lessee's mining operations on the leased premises,
Lessee shall fully conform and comply with presently effective statutes,
regulations or local ordinances covering reclamation and restoration of the
leased premises. Lessee shall be obligated to modify such reclamation and
restoration procedures from time to time to comply with statutes, ordinances or
regulations, becoming effective after the date hereof, or to the extent
modifications are required by the enactment of such new statutes, ordinances,
the development

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
of new regulations, or new interpretations of presently effective statutes,
regulations or ordinances.  Lessee shall promptly furnish to Lessor a copy of
all maps, mining plans or plans for the restoration of the leased premises or
the lands covered by such leases which Lessee is required to file from time to
time with any competent governmental authority.

    8.2  The installation, development and working of any mine on the leased
premises shall be of such a nature as will admit of moving through the mine
openings of all workable coal in the leased premises, and no portion of the coal
in said premises shall be abandoned until Lessee shall have given to Lessor an
opportunity to make an examination of the proposed abandonment and of passing
upon the same before operations are suspended by Lessee and Lessee will comply
with any reasonable request made by Lessor as to further mining of coal proposed
to be abandoned provided, however, that Lessee's determination to abandon, if
based upon sound engineering and mining practices, as demonstrated to Lessor, is
to be conclusive.

    8.3  Lessee shall use waste material excavated from Tract 1 of the Leased
Premises in refilling the excavations caused by its strip mining operations.
Such refilling shall be done, so far as practical, as the operations progress.
Upon terminating strip mining in each section of Tract 1 of the Leased Premises
from which it would be possible to make an entry for underground mining of coal,
Lessee, to the extent permitted by applicable governmental regulations, shall
leave exposed not less than 700 lineal feet of the coal seam along the high wall
so as to permit access to coal seams for underground mining purposes.

    8.4  Lessee agrees to replace any private or public roads across the leased
premises which have been detoured due to mining operations.  The foregoing
obligations of Lessee shall be performed in accordance with directions of
authorized representatives of Lessor.

    8.5  Lessee will furnish free to Lessor, at least once during each six (6)
month period during the term of this lease, and at more frequent intervals at
the reasonable request of Lessor, a map showing the extent of all workings as of
the date of issue and indicating the boundaries of the leased premises.

    8.6  Lessee shall furnish Lessor with copies of drill logs of all test holes
made, together with maps showing the location of such test holes and copies of
analyses of all coal found, and shall permit representatives of Lessor to be
present when such test holes are made, and to examine the samples removed
therefrom.

SECTION 9:  ACCESS TO BOOKS AND ACCOUNTS:
- ---------   ----------------------------

    Authorized representatives of Lessor shall have free and full access to
those accounts, books and records of Lessee that

                                     -10-
<PAGE>
 
reflect the actual tons of coal mined, removed, sold and used from the leased
premises.  Lessee shall furnish to Lessor's representatives all reasonable
assistance they may require in the examination of said accounts, books and
records, and shall also furnish all other reasonable assistance and all
statements of coal mined from the leased premises or to check the physical
condition of the property.

SECTION 10:  DISPOSAL OF WASTE, SLACK, REFUSE AND MINE WATER:
- ----------   -----------------------------------------------

    Lessee shall make such provision for the disposal of waste, slack, refuse
and mine water from any mine on the leased premises that the same shall not be a
nuisance to or injure the lands of Lessor or of others, nor obstruct any stream,
right of way or other means of transportation or travel on the lands of Lessor
or others, and Lessee shall indemnify and hold harmless Lessor from and against
any and all liability, loss, damage, claims, demands, costs and expenses
resulting from the disposal of such waste, slack, refuse and mine water.

SECTION 11:  LIENS:
- ----------   -----

    Lessee shall fully pay for all machinery, equipment and materials joined or
affixed to the leased premises and shall pay in full all persons who perform
labor upon said premises and shall not permit or suffer any liens of any kind or
nature to be enforced against said premises for any work done or machinery,
equipment or materials furnished at the request or on behalf of Lessee; and
Lessee shall indemnify and hold harmless Lessor and any owners of the surface or
portions of the leased premises from and against any and all liens, claims,
demands, costs and expenses in any way connected with or growing out of such
work done, or machinery, equipment or materials furnished.

SECTION 12:  EMPLOYER'S LIABILITY AND WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION LAWS -- INDEMNITY:
- ----------   -----------------------------------------------------------------

    12.1 Lessee, in the operation and development of the leased premises, shall
comply with applicable Federal and State laws regarding Employer's Liability,
Workmen's Compensation and Workmen's Insurance, and Lessee shall indemnify and
hold harmless Lessor from and against the payment of any and all damages,
claims, costs and expenses resulting from the requirements of such laws and from
and against any and all claims, costs and expenses under any claim of
subrogation provided for by said laws or otherwise.

    12.2  Lessee agrees, at its sole cost and expense, to take out and keep in
effect during the term of this agreement insurance of such kind and amount as
will enable it to carry out all of the provisions of this agreement and shall,
upon request of Lessor, submit the policies of insurance to Lessor for
inspection.  Lessee may maintain a program of self insurance in lieu of all or a
portion of the foregoing coverage.  Upon the

                                     -11-
<PAGE>
 
settlement of any suits or claims arising hereunder, Lessee shall secure a
release of Lessor from all liability in connection therewith.

SECTION 13:  ASSUMPTION OF RISK -- INDEMNITY:
- ----------  --------------------------------

    13.1  Lessee assumes all risk of loss of or damage to buildings or contents
on the leased premises, and of or to other property brought thereon by Lessee or
by any other person with the knowledge or consent of Lessee, and of or to
property in proximity to the lease premises when connected with or incidental to
the occupation thereof, and any incidental loss or injury to the business of
Lessee, where such loss, damage, destruction or injury is caused by, or results
from, operations of Lessor, whether such loss or injury be the result of
negligence on the part of Lessor or negligence or misconduct on the part of any
officer, servant or employee of lessor, or otherwise.

    13.2 Lessee agrees to hold Lessor and its officers, agents, employees,
lessees, licensees, and invitees harmless from and to indemnify them and each of
them against any and all loss, damage, claims, demands, and causes of action,
including all costs and expenses incident thereto, for injury to or death of
persons whomsoever, or loss of or damage to property whatsoever, including
claims, demands, and causes of action to which any insurer may be subrogated,
arising out of, resulting from, or in any way connected with operations
conducted under this lease, the condition of the leased premises (except any
condition caused by any operations of the Lessor on the leased premises), or
arising by failure of the Lessee to perform any covenant herein contained.

SECTION 14:  LESSOR TO BE GIVEN NOTICE OF LITIGATION:
- ----------   ---------------------------------------

    Lessee shall promptly notify Lessor in writing of the institution of any
litigation involving the rights granted by this lease, and, in the event Lessor,
in its judgment, is interested therein in any way, it may, at its option, enter
into the conduct of such litigation of the extent of its interest.

SECTION 15:  DEFAULT BY LESSEE:
- ----------   -----------------

    15.1 If Lessee shall breach or be in default as to any of the covenants in
this Agreement, Lessor shall notify Lessee of such breach or default by a
writing addressed to Lessee at 200 North Broadway, St. Louis, Missouri 63102 or
at such other addresses as Lessee may from time to time designate in writing. If
Lessee shall fail or neglect within sixty (60) days after giving of such notice
to commence promptly and in good faith to correct the breach or default
complained of, and thereafter to continue diligently its efforts to correct such
default, Lessor, at its option, may declare this lease forfeited and terminated
without waiver of any claim for damages arising out of or resulting from said
breach or default.

                                     -12-
<PAGE>
 
    15.2 A waiver by lessor of a particular breach of covenant or covenants
shall not be deemed or held to be a waiver of or to affect any subsequent breach
or to impair its right resulting therefrom.

SECTION 16:  SURRENDER OF PROPERTY:
- ----------   ---------------------

    Upon termination of this lease for any cause, Lessee shall immediately quit
and surrender possession of the leased premises without delay or hindrance
subject to the provisions of Section 17 hereof, and Lessor shall have the right
immediately upon such termination to enter upon the leased premises and to take
immediate possession thereof without declaration of forfeiture, act of re-entry
or process of law.

SECTION 17:  REMOVAL OF LESSEE'S PROPERTY:
- ----------   ----------------------------

    Upon termination of this lease and for a period not exceeding one hundred
eighty (180) days thereafter, Lessee shall have the right to remove from the
leased premises all tools, machinery or other equipment which Lessee may own and
shall, within said period, upon notice from Lessor, remove the same and leave
the leased premises in good order and condition, except that Lessee shall not
remove or impair any supports, mine props, or mine timbers which may be
necessary for the protection of any openings at such mine or mines.  No tools,
machinery or other equipment belonging to Lessee shall be removed from the
leased premises so long as Lessee shall be indebted in any manner to Lessor
under any obligation arising under this lease.

SECTION 18:  ASSIGNMENT:
- ----------   ----------

    Lessee may assign its entire interest in this lease to any corporations to
which it, at the same time, transfers all or substantially all of its corporate
properties, or to an affiliate (meaning a corporation which controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with the corporation making the
assignment); provided, however, that each such assignment shall be evidenced by
execution of an instrument of assignment, an executed counterpart of which shall
be delivered to Lessor, under which the assignee shall expressly assume and
agree to perform each and all of the obligations and covenants of Lessee
proposed to be assigned thereunder and provided, further, that no such
assignment shall in any way affect or modify the obligations and covenants of
Lessee hereunder, it being understood and agreed that, notwithstanding any such
assignment, or any subsequent assignment pursuant to this section, all
obligations of Lessee to the Lessor hereunder shall be and remain enforceable by
the Lessor, its successors and assigns, against Lessee.  Lessee may not
otherwise assign any part of its interest in this lease or sublet the leased
premises in whole or in part, except to a trustee, insurance company, bank or
similar financial institution to secure a bona fide loan or other

                                     -13-

<PAGE>
 
indebtedness of Lessee, without the prior written consent of Lessor, which
consent may not be unreasonably withheld.  Any transfer or assignment of this
lease or a subletting of any part of the leased premises not authorized by this
section, whether voluntary, by operation of law or otherwise, without the
consent in writing of the Lessor, shall be absolutely void and, at the option of
the Lessor, shall terminate this lease.

SECTION 19:  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS:
- ----------   ----------------------

    Without waiver of the provisions of Section 18 hereof, this lease shall
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns.

SECTION 20:  MEMORANDUM FOR RECORDING:
- ----------   ------------------------

    The parties contemplate and agree that they will execute for recording
purposes a brief memorandum of this lease in order to avoid the necessity for
either party to file for record a complete copy of this entire agreement between
the parties.

SECTION 22:  NOTICES:
- ----------   -------

    All notices or communications directed to Lessor hereunder shall be
addressed to:

              Rock Springs Royalty Company
              P.O. BOX 1257
              Englewood, Colorado 80150-1257

    All notices or communications directed to Lessee hereunder shall be
addressed to:

              Ark Land Company
              200 North Broadway
              St. Louis, Missouri 63102

Either party may at any time by written notice to the other party change the
address to which notices, communications, or payments shall be sent.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this agreement in
duplicate the day and year first above written.

                                   ROCK SPRINGS ROYALTY COMPANY


(SEAL)

                                   By: /s/ Eugene A Lang
                                      -----------------------------  
                                        President


ATTEST:



    /s/ Kenneth R. Oldham
- -----------------------------
                    Secretary

                                     -14-
<PAGE>
 
                                        ARK LAND COMPANY

(SEAL)

                                        By: /s/ Steve E. McCurdy
                                           -------------------------------  
ATTEST:                                           President


    /s/ David Onuscheck
- -----------------------------
                    Secretary

                                     -15-

<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT A
                                   ---------
                               Prior Agreements
                               ----------------

          1.   Surface Owner's Agreement dated March 5, 1971 between Palm
Livestock Co. ("Palm"), Union Pacific Railroad Company, and others, filed for
recording on April 12, 1971 and recorded in Book 558 at Page 353 of the records
of the County Clerk, Carbon County, Wyoming; as amended by Amendment to Surface
Owner's Agreement dated August 18, 1978 between Palm and Rocky Mountain Energy
Company ("RME"); and as amended by Amendment to Surface Owner's Agreements dated
October 15, 1982 between Palm and Rock Springs Royalty Company ("RSRC").

          2.   Surface Owner's Agreement dated August 17, 1978 between Palm and 
RME, as amended by Amendment to Surface Owner's Agreements dated October 15,
1982 between Palm and RSRC.

          3.   Surface Owner's Agreement dated September 28, 1982 between Palm
and Medicine Bow Coal Company.

          4.   Right-of-Way Easement dated February 28, 1970 between Palm and 
Arkel Land Company; as assigned to Ark Land Company ("Ark") by Agreement of 
Assignment dated July 28, 1970, filed for recording on January 28, 1972 and
recorded in Book 572 at Page 158 of the records of the County Clerk, Carbon
County, Wyoming.

          5.   Easement and Option dated August 25, 1970 between Palm and Energy
Development Co., filed for recording on September 18, 1970 and recorded in Book
551 at Page 226 of the records of the County Clerk, Carbon County, Wyoming.

          6.   Agreement dated March 19, 1971 between Palm Livestock Co. and 
Arch Mineral Corporation ("Arch") and Addendum thereto dated June 23, 1971 
between Palm and Ark, both as referred to in the Notice of Execution of 
Agreement filed for recording on August 7, 1972 and recorded in Book 577 at Page
258 of the records of the County Clerk, Carbon County, Wyoming.

          7.   Right-of-Way Easement dated July 12, 1971 between Palm and Ark, 
as referred to in the Notice of Execution of Agreement filed for recording on
August 7, 1972 and record in Book 577 at Page 258 of the records of the County
Clerk, Carbon County, Wyoming.

          8.   Lease dated August 6, 1971 between Palm and Arch and Addendum 
thereto dated September 28, 1971, both as referred to in the Notice of Execution
of Agreement filed for 
<PAGE>
 
recording on August 7, 1972 and recorded in Book 577 at Page 258 of the records 
of the County Clerk, Carbon County, Wyoming; as amended by Addendum to Lease
dated February 3, 1975 between Palm and Arch.

          9.   Easement dated August 20, 1971 between Palm and Arch, as referred
to in the Notice of Execution of Agreement filed for recording on November 19, 
1971 and recorded in Book 569 at Page 273 of the records of the County Clerk, 
Carbon County, Wyoming.

          10.  Right of Way Easement dated September 18, 1974 between Palm and 
Arch, filed for recording on October 21, 1974 and recorded in Book 611 at Page 
452 of the records of the County Clerk, Carbon County, Wyoming.

          11.  Right of Way Easement dated June 10, 1974 between Palm and Ark.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
STATE OF COLORADO                  )          
                                   )   ss.
CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER          )      


          The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 13th day of 
December, 1988, by Eugene A. Lang and Kenneth R. Oldham, as President and 
Secretary, respectively, of Rock Springs Royalty Company, a Utah corporation, on
behalf of such corporation.

                      Witness my hand and official seal.

                                                  /s/ Aideen H. Karger,
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Aideen H. Karger,
                                                  Notary Public

My commission expires June 22, 1992

(SEAL)


STATE OF COLORADO                  )          
                                   )   ss.
CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER          )      

          The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 13th day of 
December, 1988, by Steven E. McCurdy and David Onuscheck, as President and 
Secretary, respectively, of Ark Land Company, a Delaware corporation, on behalf 
of such corporation.

                      Witness my hand and official seal.

                                                  /s/ Aideen H. Karger,
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                  Aideen H. Karger,
                                                  Notary Public

My commission expires June 22, 1992

(SEAL)
<PAGE>
 
                       [LETTERHEAD OF ARK LAND COMPANY]


                                 June 23, 1994

VIA UPS EXPRESS
- ---------------

Mr. Robert See
Union Pacific Resources
P.O. Box 7
Fort Worth, TX 76101-0007

     RE:  LEASE DATED DECEMBER 13, 1988 BY AND BETWEEN ROCK SPRINGS ROYALTY
          COMPANY AND ARK LAND COMPANY (M-37)

Dear Mr. See:

     This Letter Amendment shall confirm the agreement between Rock Springs 
Royalty Company and Ark Land Company to amend and modify that certain Amended 
and Restated Mining Lease dated December 13, 1988, by and between Rock Springs 
Royalty Company and Ark Land Company (the "Lease"). The following property, 
together with all appurtenant mining rights pertaining to Tract 1 of the Lease, 
is hereby added to the Lease:

          The Northwest Quarter (NW 1/4) of Southwest Quarter (SW 1/4) of the
          Northwest Quarter (NW 1/4) of Township 22 North, Range 81 West,
          Section 9, Sixth Principal Meridian, Carbon County, Wyoming.

     All other terms and conditions of the Lease shall remain in full force and 
effect.

     Please signify your agreement to the terms of the Letter Amendment by 
executing both originals of this Letter Amendment. Return one original to me in 
the enclosed, self-addressed envelop and keep the other original for your files.

                                             Sincerely,


                                             /s/ Steve McCurdy
                                             Steve McCurdy
                                             Executive Vice President

AGREED AND ACCEPTED TO THIS 29th DAY OF JUNE, 1994.

ROCK SPRINGS ROYALTY COMPANY


By: /s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
    -----------------------------
Its:VICE PRESIDENT
    -----------------------------
<PAGE>
 
      [MAP DEDICTING AREA ADDED TO ARK COAL LEASE APPEARS HERE]



<PAGE>
 
                            AMENDMENT AND AGREEMENT

     This Amendment and Agreement is made and effective this the 1st day of
January, 1996 (the "Effective Date"), by and between ARK LAND COMPANY, a
Delaware corporation ("Ark" or "Lessee") and ROCK SPRINGS ROYALTY COMPANY, a
Utah corporation ("Rock Springs" or "Lessor").

                             W I T N E S S E T H:

     WHEREAS, by Coal Lease Agreement dated May 3, 1991, by and between Rock
Springs and Ark, Rock Springs leased to Ark the exclusive right and privilege of
exploring for, mining, removing and selling certain coal which may be found in
and underlying certain property in Carbon County, Wyoming ("H-64"); and

     WHEREAS, by Amended and Restated Mining Lease dated December 13, 1988, by 
and between Rock Springs and Ark, Rock Springs leased to Ark the exclusive right
and privilege of mining and disposing of certain coal which may be found in and 
underlying certain property in Carbon County, Wyoming ("M-37"); and 

     WHEREAS, Ark desires to obtain a reduction in production royalties to be 
payable to Rock Springs pursuant to H-64 and M-37 for a six (6) year period 
commencing January 1, 1996, and Rock Springs is willing to grant such temporary 
royalty reduction, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

     NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual promises and 
covenants contained herein and in H-64 and M-37, respectively, and other good 
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is acknowledged
by the parties, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

     1.   Section 2 of H-64 entitled EFFECTIVE DATE - TERM - OPTION is hereby 
                                     ------------------------------
deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

     "Section 2.  EFFECTIVE DATE - TERM - OPTION
                  ------------------------------

          This Lease shall take effect on the date which it bears and, unless
     sooner terminated as herein provided, shall remain in full force and effect
     for a primary term of three (3) years, and so long thereafter as coal is
     being continuously mined and removed from the Leased Premises in commercial
     quantities.

<PAGE>
 
          In the event continuous mining has not commenced by the end of the
     three (3) year primary term, then Lessee is also granted the right at its
     sole option to extend the term of this lease for a term of two (2) years,
     and so long thereafter as coal is being continuously mined and removed from
     the Leased Premises in commercial quantities. Lessee may exercise such
     right by notifying Lessor in writing on or before the third anniversary
     date of this Lease of its election to extend the term of said Lease for two
     (2) years, and so long thereafter as coal is being continuously mined and
     removed from the Leased Premises in commercial quantities, and forwarding
     with such written notice bonus consideration in the amount of Eleven Cents
     ($0.11) per ton for all recoverable strip coal tons in and underlying the
     Leased Premises as hereinafter defined. If Lessee fails to exercise its
     option to extend the term of this Lease in a timely manner, then the option
     granted to Lessee shall automatically terminate without notice to Lessee;
     and all rights of Lessee arising out of this Lease shall terminate.

          Upon termination of this Lease for any reason, Lessee shall have the
     right to enter the Leased Premises to conduct reclamation until final
     release of all reclamation bonds affecting the Leased Premises."

     2.   Section 4 of H-64 entitled PRODUCTION ROYALTY is hereby deleted in its
                                     ------------------
entirety and replaced with the following:

     "SECTION 4. PRODUCTION ROYALTY
                 ------------------

          Lessee shall pay to Lessor for all coal mined and removed from the 
     Leased Premises a production royalty calculated as follows:

          (i)    On all coal mined and removed by strip mining and Archveyor(TM)
                 or other highwall mining methods and sold from the Leased
                 Premises during the primary term of three years, a production
                 royalty equal to Twelve and One-Half Percent (12.5%) of the
                 Gross Sales Price FOB mine per ton (of 2,000 pounds);

          (ii)   On all coal mined and removed by strip mining and Archveyor(TM)
                 or other highwall mining methods and sold from the Leased
                 Premises from May 3, 1994, through December 31, 1995, a
                 production royalty equal to Ten Percent (10%) of the Gross
                 Sales Price FOB mine per ton (of 2,000 pounds);

          (iii)  On all coal mined and removed by strip mining methods and sold
                 from the Leased Premises from January 1, 1996 through December
                 31, 2001, a production royalty equal to Eight Percent (8%) of
                 the Gross Sales Price FOB mine per ton (of 2,000 pounds);

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
          (iv)   On all coal mined and removed by the Archveyor or other
                 highwall mining methods and sold from the Leased Premises from
                 January 1, 1996 through December 31, 2001, a production royalty
                 equal to Ten Percent (10%) of the Gross Sales Price FOB mine
                 per ton (of 2,000 pounds);

          (v)    On all coal mined and removed by strip mining and Archveyor(TM)
                 or other highwall mining methods and sold from the Leased
                 Premises from January 1, 2002 and so long thereafter as coal is
                 being continuously mined, a production royalty equal to Ten
                 Percent (10%) of the Gross Sales Price FOB mine per ton (of
                 2,000 pounds);

          (vi)   Gross Sales Price is defined to mean the actual price received
                 by Lessee for the sale of coal FOB the mine."

     3.   Section 4.5(d) of M-37 is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced
          with the following:

          "(d)(1) In respect of coal mined from either Tract 1 of the Leased
          Premises or Tract 2 of the Leased Premises from and after the second
          anniversary of the effective date hereto until December 31, 1995 to
          satisfy "New Contracts" (as hereinafter defined), (i) an amount per
          ton of coal mined from the Leased Premises during the preceding
          calendar month equal to ten percent (10%) of the average gross sales
          price per ton of coal received by Lessee f.o.b. cars at point of
          shipment during the preceding calendar month for all coal mined and
          removed by strip mining methods; and (ii) an amount per ton of coal
          mined from the Leased Premises during the preceding calendar month
          equal to ten percent (10%) of the average gross sales price per ton of
          coal received by Lessee f.o.b. cars at point of shipment during the
          preceding calendar month for all coal mined and removed by the
          Archveyor(TM) or other highwall mining method.

          (d)(2) In respect of coal mined from either Tract 1 of the Leased
          Premises or Tract 2 of the Leased Premises from and after January 1,
          1996 through December 31, 2001 to satisfy "New Contracts" (as
          hereinafter defined), (i) an amount per ton of coal mined from the
          Leased Premises during the preceding calendar month equal to eight
          percent (8%) of the average gross sales price per ton of coal received
          by Lessee f.o.b. cars at point of shipment during the preceding
          calendar month for all coal mined and removed by strip mining methods;
          and (ii) an amount per ton of coal mined from the Leased Premises
          during the preceding calendar month equal to ten percent (10%) of the
          average gross sales price per ton of coal received by Lessee f.o.b.
          cars at point of shipment during the preceding calendar month for all
          coal mined and removed by the Archveyor(TM) or other highwall mining
          method, to satisfy "New Contracts" (as hereinafter defined).

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
          (d)(3) In respect of coal mined from either Tract 1 of the Leased 
          Premises or Tract 2 of the Leased Premises from and after January 1,
          2002 to satisfy "New Contracts" (as hereinafter defined), (i) an
          amount per ton of coal mined from the Leased Premises during the
          preceding calendar month equal to ten percent (10%) of the average
          gross sales price per ton of coal received by Lessee f.o.b. cars at
          point of shipment during the preceding calendar month for all coal
          mined and removed by strip mining methods; and (ii) an amount per ton
          of coal mined form the Leased Premises during the preceding calendar
          month equal to ten percent (10%) of the average gross sales price per
          ton of coal received by Lessee f.o.b. cars at point of shipment during
          the preceding calendar month for all coal mined and removed by the
          Archveyor(TM) or other highwall mining method."

     4.   The parties acknowledge that Rock Spring's affiliate, Union Pacific 
Resources Company, shall be entitled to apply a portion of the amount by which 
any production royalty payment is reduced by virtue of Section 2 or Section 3 of
this Amendment and Agreement to all sums due and owing Ark's parent, Arch 
Mineral Corporation, under that certain Services Agreement of even date herewith
by and between Arch Mineral Corporation and Union Pacific Resources Company to 
the extent and as specifically set forth in such Services Agreement. In the 
event Arch Mineral Corporation is in default as to compliance with the terms of 
the aforesaid Services Agreement and, after receiving notice of such default 
from Union Pacific Resources Company fails to cure said default within thirty 
(30) days thereafter, the production royalty reduction provided for in Section 3
or Section 5 of the is Amendment and Agreement shall be of no further force and 
effect and the royalties payable under H-64 and M-37 shall be as provided for 
under said leases on the date immediately preceding the Effective Date.

     5.   It is the intent of the parties that the use of the Archveyor(TM) or 
other highwall mining methods shall not prevent Rock Springs from subsequent 
highwall access to the lands described in H-64 and M-37 for the purpose of 
mining additional reserves from such lands by underground mining methods. 
Accordingly, to the extent permitted by applicable governmental regulations, Ark
shall leave solid coal barriers of not less than 400 lineal feet along the 
highwall faces so as to permit access to the coal seams for underground mining 
operations. Ark and Rock Springs shall agree on the number of such solid coal 
barriers

                                       4


<PAGE>
 
that will be left in the highwall faces prior to Ark commencing or continuing 
Archveyor(TM) mining operations or other highwall mining activities.

     6.   The following provision is added to H-64 and the last sentence of 
Section 8.3 of M-37 is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following 
provision:

          "Upon terminating strip mining in each section of the Leased Premises
          from which it would be possible to make an entry for underground
          mining of coal, Lessee shall, at the election of Lessor and to the
          extent permitted by applicable governmental regulations and Lessee's
          permit requirements, leave exposed not less than 700 lineal feet of
          the coal seam along the highwall so as to permit access to coal seams
          for underground mining purposes."

     7.   All other terms and provisions of H-64 and M-37, respectively, remain
unchanged and shall remain in full force and effect.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement on the date 
first written above.


                                        ARK LAND COMPANY


                                        By:  /s/ Steven E. McCurdy
                                           -----------------------------
                                        Its: President
                                            ----------------------------

                                        
                                        ROCK SPRINGS ROYALTY COMPANY

                                        By:  /s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                                           -----------------------------
                                        Its: Vice President
                                            ----------------------------

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
    ROCK SPRINGS ROYALTY COMPANY, P.O. BOX 7, FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76101-0007



                               February 20, 1996

Mr. Steven E. McCurdy
Ark Land Company
CityPlace One
Creve Coeur, Missouri 63141

     RE:  RIGHT TO USE ARCHVEYOR (TM) OR OTHER HIGHWALL MINING METHODS UNDER
          COAL LEASE AGREEMENT DATED MAY 3, 1991, BY AND BETWEEN ROCK SPRINGS
          ROYALTY COMPANY ("RSRC") AND ARK LAND COMPANY ("ARK") ("H-64") AND
          AMENDED AND RESTATED MINING LEASE DATED DECEMBER 13, 1988, BY AND
          BETWEEN RSRC AND ARK ("M-37" AND TOGETHER WITH H-64 THE "LEASES").

Dear Mr. McCurdy:

     By Amendment and Agreement made and effective January 1, 1996, by and
between RSRC and Ark, RSRC and Ark modified and amended the Leases to provide
for, among other things, a reduction in the production royalties payable under
each of the Leases for coal mined by strip mining methods under each of the
Leases for a term of six (6) years commencing on January 1, 1996. In drafting
the Amendment and Agreement, a distinction was made in the royalty provisions of
both of the Leases between strip coal and coal that can be removed by Archveyor
(TM) or other highwall mining methods. You have pointed out that this
distinction may create an ambiguity as to Ark's continued right to mine and
remove coal under the Leases by the Archveyor (TM) method.

     This is to acknowledge that by execution of the Amendment and Agreement,
RSRC did not and does not intend in any way to limit the existing right of Ark
to mine and remove coal under the Leases by Archveyor (TM) or other highwall
mining methods, which rights have always been deemed to be encompassed by the
right to mine by strip mining or other surface mining methods. RSRC acknowledges
and agrees that, notwithstanding anything in the Leases to the contrary, for
purposes of Ark's right to mine and remove coal pursuant to the Leases (but not
for purposes of payment of production royalty thereon) the term "strip coal"
shall be deemed to include coal that can be mined and removed by Archveyor (TM)
or other highwall mining methods; that Ark shall have the full and complete
right to mine and remove coal pursuant to the Leases by Archveyor (TM) or other
highwall mining methods to the extent, including any depths specified in the
Leases, applicable therein to strip coal; and that RSRC shall not exercise any
rights reserved under the Leases in such a manner as to unreasonably interfere
with Ark's right to mine and remove any coal leased to Ark under the Leases by
Archveyor (TM) or other highwall mining methods.

<PAGE>
 
Mr. Steven E. McCurdy
Page 2
February 20,1996



     RSRC further agrees that it will negotiate in good faith for an amendment
or amendments to the Leases granting Ark the right to mine and remove coal by
Archveyor (TM) or other highwall mining methods at additional depths not
inconsistent with any prior rights granted to third parties, upon mutually
acceptable terms.



                                    ROCK SPRINGS ROYALTY COMPANY

                                    By: /s/ [SIGNATURE APPEARS HERE]
                                       ----------------------------
 
                                    Its: Vice President
                                        ---------------------------

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED THIS THE 20TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1996.

ARK LAND COMPANY

By: /s/ STEVEN E. McCURDY
   --------------------------  

Its: President
    -------------------------  

<PAGE>
 
                                                               EXHIBIT 10.12


                             EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                             --------------------


    THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, made and effective as of the 1st day of March,
1992, between ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Employer"),
and STEVEN F. LEER ("Employee"),

    WITNESSETH THAT:

    WHEREAS, Employer is engaged in the business of mining and selling coal;
and

    WHEREAS, Employee is an experienced executive and has been appointed
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Employer.


    NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto do agree as follows:

    1.  Employment: Term: Duties. Employer hereby employs Employee and
        ------------------------
Employee hereby agrees to be employed by Employer for a period commencing
March 1, 1992 and ending December 31, 1994. Thereafter this Agreement shall
be renewed automatically from year to year unless at least sixty (60) days prior
to the end of the initial term or any renewal term either party shall notify
the other in writing that this Agreement shall terminate as of the end of
such initial or renewal term. Employee shall serve as President and Chief
Executive Officer or such other executive position as may be mutually agreed
upon by Employer and Employee during the term of this Agreement. Employee
shall be responsible for the management of Employer's business, and Employee
shall be privy to all executive decisions affecting the business and operations
of Employer. Employee shall be elected as a director of Employer, and Employee
will perform his management responsibilities subject to the superintending
control of the Board of Directors. Employee will devote his entire business
time and attention to the performance of his duties as an executive employee
of Employer.

    Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions hereof, Employer shall have
the right to assign Employee, with his consent, to other executive duties
or offices with





<PAGE>
 
Employer or, without his consent, to the office of consultant of Employer;
provided, however, that no such assignment shall affect Employee's right
to receive the compensation and all other benefits provided to him under
the terms of this Agreement.

     2.  Compensation. In consideration for his services and subject to
         -------------
the due performance thereof, Employer will pay to Employee a base annual
salary at the rate of Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) per
year. This salary rate is the minimum rate that shall be paid and will be
subject to annual review and to such increases, if any, as the Board of
Directors may from time to time determine. In addition, Employee shall receive
fringe benefits as provided in Section 3.

     3.  Fringes. Employee shall participate in all fringe benefit programs
         --------
of Employer, now existing or hereafter established during the term hereof,
on the same basis as other executive employees of Employer, including the
Arch Mineral Corporation 1991 Incentive Compensation Plan. Employer shall
cause the Arch Mineral Corporation 1991 Incentive Compensation Plan to be
maintained in a manner so that Employee shall be entitled to receive an
annual bonus up to an amount equal to 100% of his base salary. The amount
of bonus actually received by Employee shall depend upon the achievement
by the Company of certain return on equity goals to be established by the
Board of Directors on an annual basis. In the event Employee's bonus calculated
pursuant to the terms of the Arch Mineral Corporation 1991 Incentive
Compensation Plan shall be less than $50,000 for any year during the original
term of this Agreement, Employee shall nonetheless receive a minimum bonus
of $50,000 for such year.

     Pursuant to the terms of Employer's Thrift Plan, an employee does not
become fully vested until participating in the Plan for five years. If for
any reason Employee's employment shall be terminated prior to the time he
is fully vested in



                                      2
<PAGE>
 
Employer's Thrift Plan, Employer shall pay to Employee such additional cash 
compensation as necessary to compensate Employee for the economic effect of not 
fully vesting on an after tax basis.

     4.  Termination for Cause.  No termination of Employee's employment
         ---------------------
hereunder shall be deemed to be for cause unless such termination is on account 
of (a) any material and uncorrected breach by Employee of the terms of this 
Agreement; (b) any willful fraud or dishonesty of Employee involving the 
property or business of Employer; (c) a deliberate or willful refusal or failure
of Employee to comply with any major corporate policy of Employer which is 
communicated to Employee in writing; or (d) Employee's conviction of any felony 
if such conviction shall result in his imprisonment.

     No termination of this Agreement by Employee shall constitute a voluntary 
termination of Employee if it shall be on account of any prior material (and 
uncorrected) breach of this Agreement by Employer.

     5.  Death or Disability.  In the event of the death of Employee while
         -------------------
employed hereunder, all benefits accrued or payable to the date of his death 
shall be paid to his estate or in accordance with Employee's written beneficiary
designation last filed with the Employer by the Employee. If Employee by reason 
of physical or mental illness shall be unable to perform his employment duties 
hereunder, on a continuing basis and for a period in excess of one year, his 
employment shall be terminated and he shall be entitled to receive all benefits 
then accrued or payable hereunder. No termination on account of death or 
disability shall be deemed to be a voluntary termination or a termination for 
cause.

     6.  Confidential Information.  Employee, both during the term hereof and 
         ------------------------
thereafter, will not, directly or indirectly, use for himself or use for, or 
disclose to, any party other than Employer, or any subsidiary of Employer, any 
secret or confidential information or data regarding the business of Employer or
its subsidiaries or any secret or confidential information or data regarding the
business or property of Employer or its subsidiaries or regarding any secret or 
confidential apparatus,


                                       3




<PAGE>
 
process, system, or other method at any time use, developed or investigated
by or for Employer or its subsidiaries, whether or not developed, acquired,
discovered or investigated by Employee. At the termination of Employee's
employment or at any other time Employer or any of its subsidiaries may
request, Employee shall promptly deliver to Employer all memoranda, notes,
records, plats, sketches, plans or other documents made by, compiled by,
delivered to, or otherwise acquired by Employee concerning the business
or properties of Employer or its subsidiaries or any secret or confidential
product, apparatus or process used, developed, acquired or investigated by
Employer or its subsidiaries.

     7.  Non-Waiver of Rights. The failure to enforce at any time any of
         ---------------------
the provisions of this Agreement or to require at any time performance by
the other party of any of the provisions hereof shall in no way be construed
to be a waiver of such provisions or to affect either the validity of this
Agreement, or any part hereof, or the right of either party thereafter to
enforce each and every provision in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement.

     8.  Invalidity of Provisions. The invalidity or unenforceability of
         -------------------------
any particular provision of this Agreement shall not affect the other
provisions hereof, and this Agreement shall be construed in all respects
as if such invalid or unenforceable provisions were omitted.

     9.  Assignment. This Agreement shall be freely assignable by Employer
         ----------
and shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon, Employer, its successors
and assigns; but, being a contract for personal services, neither this
Agreement nor any rights hereunder shall be assigned by Employee.

     10. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance
         --------------
with and governed by the laws of the State of Missouri.






                                      4
<PAGE>
 
     11.  Amendments. No modification, amendment or waiver of any of the
          ----------
provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing specifically
refering hereto and signed by the parties hereto.

     12.  Notices. Any notice to be given by either party hereunder shall
          -------
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if delivered or
mailed, certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, as follows:

     TO ARCH:  Arch Mineral Corporation
               Suite 300, CityPlace One
               St. Louis, Missouri 63141
               Attention: General Counsel


and to Employee at his address as it appears on the payroll records of
Employer, or to such other address as may have been furnished to the other
party by written notice.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be executed as of the day and year first above written in the City of
St. Louis, State of Missouri.




                      ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
                      ("Employer")

                      By: /s/ Michael O. McKown
                          Michael O. McKown
                          Vice President-Human Resources


                          /s/ Steven F. Leer
                          Steven F. Leer ("Employee")







                                      5

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 10.13


                             CONSULTING AGREEMENT

     This Consulting Agreement is effective as of September 1, 1992 between ARCH
MINERAL CORPORATION, a Delaware Corporation, CityPlace One, Suite 300, St.
Louis, Missouri  63141 (Arch) and RONALD E. SAMPLES, 5 Dogwood Lane, Ladue,
Missouri 63124 (CONSULTANT).

                             --------------------
     Arch is in the business of mining and selling coal.
     
     CONSULTANT is an experienced person in the mining industry and has retired
from Arch.

     Arch desires to utilize CONSULTANT's services, and CONSULTANT desires to
provide such services.

                             --------------------

     IN CONSIDERATION of the mutual promises and conditions contained herein,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
     
                         SECTION 1. SCOPE OF SERVICES
                         ----------------------------

     1.1  CONSULTANT agrees to provide services as designated by Arch and Arch
agrees to accept and pay for those services as set forth in this Agreement.
"Services" shall mean CONSULTANT's advising, counseling, recommending and
assisting Arch in any aspect of coal mining or in exploring for, developing,
preparing, storing, loading, unloading, transporting, selling, using or
otherwise handling or dealing in coal or in any matter relating thereto in which
CONSULTANT has knowledge, experience or expertise. "Services" shall be provided
in any state in which Arch may now or hereafter elect to acquire coal reserves
or conduct coal mining operations or have business of any manner.
<PAGE>
 
     1.2  CONSULTANT shall also serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Arch and shall serve ln that capacity in a non-executive capacity with such
authority as designated by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Arch.

     CONSULTANT shall make Services available to Arch for a minimum of one
hundred (100) days per Contract Year, when and as requested by Arch. CONSULTANT
shall not be required to provide Services (but may consent to provide same
hereunder) to the extent that same are requested by Arch on the basis of a
request made less than 48 hours before the time of the need for same. CONSULTANT
shall not be required to render Services during vacation periods. As an
independent Contractor, CONSULTANT shall have no established work schedule nor
will it be necessary for CONSULTANT to obtain permission from Arch to be absent
from Arch's office location.

     Arch agrees to provide CONSULTANT adequate facilities and support services
for the performance of CONSULTANT's obligations.

     1.3  Nothing herein shall be construed to require Arch to request or
utilize the Services. However, regardless of whether Arch uses CONSULTANT's
Services, Arch shall pay CONSULTANT the minimum retainer fee set forth below so
long as this Agreement is in effect.

                                SECTION 2. TERM
                                ---------------
     This Agreement shall be in effect for one year commencing September 1, 1992
and ending August 31, 1993, unless otherwise amended or extended.

     CONSULTANT or Arch may terminate this Agreement at any time if CONSULTANT
becomes unable to provide the services because of physical or mental disability
or death. A Contract Year is defined as twelve (12) consecutive calendar months
beginning on September 1.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                            SECTION 3. COMPENSATION
                            -----------------------

     As full payment for all Services under this Agreement, Arch shall pay to
CONSULTANT the following: 

     (a) an annual retainer fee of One Hundred Twenty-five Thousand Dollars
($125,000) to be paid on September 15 of any Contract Year. It is understood
that the retainer fee shall be paid in equal monthly installments beginning on
September 15, 1992. Arch shall be obligated to pay this fee regardless of
whether Services are requested by Arch. If the Agreement is terminated because
of the death of the CONSULTANT, or if the CONSULTANT becomes physically or
mentally disabled as determined by a physician appointed by Arch and Arch
terminates the Agreement after September 1, but before September 15, Arch shall
pay the CONSULTANT (or his estate if deceased) the annual Retainer due for that
Contract Year, but shall not be obligated for any further payments. 

     (b) if CONSULTANT renders Services in excess of one hundred (100) days per
year then Arch shall pay CONSULTANT One Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Dollars
($1,250) per day for each day of Services performed for the remainder of any
Contract Year.
     
     (c) an amount equal to all of the CONSULTANT's reasonable out-of-
pocket expenses paid in providing the Services.  It is understood that those
expenses to be reimbursed by Arch shall be those which are authorized by Arch's
agent and which are permitted under the terms of Arch's Corporate Policy
regarding such expenses.

     Arch shall remit payments to CONSULTANT for all amounts due under this
Agreement upon the basis of invoices sent by CONSULTANT to Arch within the first
ten (10) days of each calendar month following the calendar month for which same
are due. Such invoice shall set forth the number of days of Services provided by
CONSULTANT for the month and for the Contract Year

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
to date through the end of the month. CONSULTANT shall support invoices for out-
of-pocket expenses with receipts and other documentation reasonably required by
Arch. Payments by Arch shall be made within twenty (20) days after Arch receives
CONSULTANT's expense report and any attached invoices related thereto.

                        SECTION 4. TAXES AND INSURANCE
                        ------------------------------

     4.1  Arch shall not withhold any taxes for CONSULTANT. CONSULTANT shall be
responsible for the payment of any taxes which might be owed as the result of
the services provided under this Agreement.

     4.2  Except for those benefits derived from CONSULTANT's Employee Benefit
Plan as a retiree of Arch, CONSULTANT shall be responsible for his own
insurance, workers compensation and other benefits.

     4.3  Nothing herein shall be construed to limit or diminish any of
CONSULTANT's rights, privileges or duties under any employee benefit plan of
Arch pursuant to which CONSULTANT may be entitled.

                          SECTION 5. INDEMNIFICATION
                          --------------------------

     CONSULTANT agrees to indemnify and defend Arch from all liability and
claims of liability to third parties resulting from, or in connection with, the
providing of Services by CONSULTANT under the terms of this Agreement.

                       SECTION 6. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
                       ---------------------------------

     It is the intention of the parties that CONSULTANT shall perform all
Services in the capacity of an independent contractor and nothing contained
herein is to be construed to be inconsistent therewith. CONSULTANT shall not be
considered an employee of Arch but shall always act in the

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
capacity of an independent contractor, and as such, Arch shall not exercise
control as to the manner or method by which CONSULTANT shall perform Services
under this Agreement. The Services shall be performed in such place or places as
Arch may, from time to time, designate.

            SECTION 7. AGENT OF ARCH FOR PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT
            ------------------------------------------------------

     The CEO of Arch or any person designated by him shall be the agent of Arch
for the purpose of this Agreement (Arch's Agent). Arch shall have the right to
designate another person instead of the CEO as Arch's Agent upon written notice
to CONSULTANT. Arch's Agent shall administer this Agreement on behalf of Arch
including, but not limited to, requests for Services, approval of invoices, and
oversight of the covenant not to compete in this Agreement. CONSULTANT
acknowledges that he has no actual authority to bind Arch without the prior
written authorization of the CEO or his designee as set forth herein, and that
notwithstanding the fact that he may continue to serve as Chairman of Arch's
Board of Directors that he is not an executive officer of Arch. In all cases, in
dealing with third parties, CONSULTANT shall disclose the fact that he has no
actual or apparent authority to bind Arch especially where it may otherwise
appear to such third parties.

                      SECTION 8. COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE
                      ----------------------------------

     During the term of this Agreement, CONSULTANT shall not knowingly, directly
or indirectly participate in activity, including the sale of coal, which is in
competition with Arch or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, or otherwise
attempt to obtain business Arch has or is attempting to negotiate. CONSULTANT
also agrees not to render Services to any competitor of Arch or to provide
information to any other company engaged in litigation in which Arch is involved
or in which Arch takes an interest in the outcome thereof. Before undertaking
any work or other activities which might violate the provisions of this section,
CONSULTANT shall fully disclose to Arch's Agent the

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
circumstances of such work or other activity.

                          SECTION 9. CONFIDENTIALITY
                          --------------------------

     CONSULTANT shall hold confidential any activities performed for Arch under
this Agreement.

                         SECTION 10. NON-ASSIGNABILITY
                         -----------------------------

     The performance of the Services under this Agreement is personal to
CONSULTANT and shall not be assigned.

                              SECTION 11. NOTICES
                              -------------------

     Any notice or communication provided for in this Agreement shall be in
writing and given by either delivering the notice in person or by registered or
certified mail, postage prepaid, or by fax to the address listed below:

     If to Arch:

                 Arch Mineral Corporation
                 CityPlace One
                 Suite 300
                 St. Louis, Missouri  63141
                 Attention: CEO
                 PHONE: (314) 994-2900
                 FAX:  (314) 994-2919

     If to CONSULTANT:

                 Ronald E. Samples
                 5 Dogwood Lane
                 Ladue, Missouri  63124
                 PHONE:  (314) 993-3631

Each party may designate in writing a new mailing address for notices. Notice by
mail is deemed given as of the time of the postmark on the envelope.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                           SECTION 12. GOVERNING LAW
                           -------------------------

          This Agreement is deemed to be made under the laws of the State of
Missouri, and for all purposes, including interpretation, performance and
enforcement, shall be construed in accordance with the laws of that state,
without giving effect to the principles of conflict of laws.

                         SECTION 13. SECTION HEADINGS
                         ----------------------------

          Section headings have been inserted in this Agreement for convenience
of reference only and do not in any way affect the meaning of any provision
hereof.

                      SECTION 14. SURVIVAL OF OBLIGATIONS
                      -----------------------------------

          All remedial, indemnification, and other obligations provided in this
Agreement shall survive the termination, cancellation, or expiration of this
Agreement.

                         SECTION 15. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
                         ----------------------------

          This Agreement represents the entire agreement between the parties,
and there are no other covenants, promises, agreements, conditions or
understanding either oral or written between them. Neither party may modify this
Agreement except by written agreement.

          The parties have signed this Agreement as of the date entered on page
one.

ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION                            CONSULTANT
                             
By  /s/ Michael O. McKown                  By  /s/ Ronald E. Samples
     Title  VP-HR                                    Ronald E. Samples
                                                     5 Dogwood Lane
                                                     Ladue, Missouri 63124

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
October 6, 1992


Ronald E. Samples
5 Dogwood Lane
Ladue, Missouri 63124

Re:       Letter Amendment No. 1 to the September 1, 1992 Consulting Agreement
          ----------------------                                              
          between Arch Mineral Corporation ("Arch") and Ronald E. Samples
          ("Consultant") ("Agreement")

In consideration of the mutual terms and conditions contained in the Agreement,
the parties agree that Section 5 entitled "Indemnification" as set forth on page
four of the Agreement is deleted in its entirety.

All other terms and conditions of the Agreement remain in effect.

ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION                          CONSULTANT
                                    
By  /s/  Michael O. McKown                        /s/ Ronald E. Samples
    Michael O. McKown, Vice                       Ronald E. Samples
    President-Human Resources

<PAGE>
 
     Ronald E. Samples
     5 Dogwood Lane
     Ladue, Missouri 63124

Re:  Letter Amendment No. 2 to the September 1, 1992 Consulting Agreement
     ----------------------                                              
     between Arch Mineral Corporation ("Arch") and Ronald E. Samples
     ("Consultant") ("Agreement")

In consideration of the mutual terms and conditions contained in the Agreement,
the parties agree to amend the Agreement as follows:

1.   The term of the Agreement is extended for one (1) year beginning September
     1, 1993 and ending August 31, 1994.

2.   All references to the minimum number of 100 days per Contract Year for
     services are reduced from 100 days to 80 days per Contract Year.

3.   The annual retainer fee of $125,000 per Contract Year set forth in Section
     3(a) is reduced to $100,000 per Contract Year.

4.   All references to $1,250 per day for those services in excess of the
     minimum number of days per year is reduced to $1,000 per day for each day
     of services performed in excess of 80 days per Contract Year.

5.   This Letter Amendment No. 2 is effective September 1, 1993.

6.   All other terms and conditions of the Agreement remain in effect.

ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION                        CONSULTANT
                                   
/s/ Michael O. McKown                           /s/ Ronald E. Samples
Michael O. McKown                               Ronald E. Samples
Vice President-Human Resources

<PAGE>
 
July 27, 1994



Ronald E. Samples
5 Dogwood Lane
Ladue, Missouri 63124


Re:  Letter Amendment No. 3 to the September 1, 1992 Consulting Agreement
     ----------------------                                              
     between Arch Mineral Corporation ("Arch") and Ronald E. Samples
     ("Consultant") ("Agreement")


In consideration of the mutual terms and conditions contained in the Agreement,
the parties agree to amend the Agreement as follows:

1.   The term of the Agreement is extended for one (1) year beginning September
     1, 1994 and ending August 31, 1995.

2.   All references to the minimum number of 80 days per Contract Year for
     services are reduced to 60 days per Contract Year.

3.   The annual retainer fee shall be $75,000 per Contract Year.

4.   Section 3(b) of the Agreement is further amended to provide that Arch shall
     continue to pay Consultant $1,000 per day for each day of services
     performed in excess of 60 days per Contract Year.

5.   This Letter Amendment No. 3 is effective September 1, 1994.

6.   All other terms and conditions of the Agreement remain in effect.

ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION                          CONSULTANT
                                                    
By  /s/ Michael O. McKown                         /s/ Ronald E. Samples
    Michael O. McKown                             Ronald E. Samples
    Vice President-Human Resources

<PAGE>
 
August 7, 1995



Ronald E. Samples
The Landings on Skid Way Island
24 Dame Kathryn Drive
Savannah, Georgia 31411


Re:  Letter Amendment No. 4 to the September 1, 1992 Consulting Agreement
     ----------------------                                              
     between Arch Mineral Corporation ("Arch") and Ronald E. Samples
     ("Consultant") ("Agreement")

In consideration of the mutual terms and conditions contained in the Agreement,
the parties agree to amend the Agreement as follows:

1.   The term of the Agreement is extended for one (1) year beginning September
     1, 1995 and ending August 31, 1996.

2.   All references to the minimum number of days per Contract Year for services
     are reduced to 40 days per Contract Year.

3.   The annual retainer fee shall be $50,000 per Contract Year.

4.   Section 3(b) of the Agreement is further amended to provide that Arch shall
     continue to pay Consultant $1,000 per day for each day of services
     performed in excess of 40 days per Contract Year.

5.   This Letter Amendment is effective September 1, 1995.

6.   All other terms and conditions of the Agreement remain in effect.

ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION                      CONSULTANT

By  /s/ Michael O. McKown                     /s/ Ronald E. Samples
    Michael O. McKown                         Ronald E. Samples
    Vice President-Human Resources

<PAGE>
 
                               September 5, 1996



Ronald E. Samples
The Landings on Skid Way Island
24 Dame Kathryn Drive
Savannah, Georgia 31411


Re:  Letter Amendment No. 5 to the September 1, 1992 Consulting Agreement
     ----------------------                                              
     between Arch Mineral Corporation ("Arch") and Ronald E. Samples
     ("Consultant") ("Agreement")


In consideration of the mutual terms and conditions contained in the Agreement
and other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereby agree to the
following:

1.   Subject to the termination provisions in the Agreement, the term of the
     Agreement is extended until 11:59 p.m. on March 30, 1997.

2.   This Letter Amendment is effective as of August 31, 1996.

3.   All other terms and conditions of the Agreement, as amended, remain in full
     force and effect.



ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION                          CONSULTANT


By  /s/ Jeffry N. Quinn                           /s/ Ronald E. Samples
    Jeffry N. Quinn                               Ronald E. Samples

<PAGE>
 
                                March 30, 1997



Ronald E. Samples
#2 Kertrel Lane
Savannah, Georgia  31411


Re:  Letter Amendment No. 6 to the September 1, 1992 Consulting Agreement
     ----------------------                                              
     between Arch Mineral Corporation ("Arch") and Ronald E. Samples
     ("Consultant") ("Agreement")


In consideration of the mutual terms and conditions contained in the Agreement
and other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereby agree to the
following:

1.   Subject to the termination provisions in the Agreement, the term of the
     Agreement is extended until 11:59 p.m. on June 30, 1997.

2.   The retainer fee for the period March 31, 1997 through June 30, 1997 shall
     be $7,000.

3.   This Letter Amendment is effective as of March 31, 1997.

4.   All other terms and conditions of the Agreement, as amended, remain in full
     force and effect.



ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION                       CONSULTANT


By  /s/ Jeffry N. Quinn                        /s/ Ronald E. Samples
    Jeffry N. Quinn                            Ronald E. Samples


<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 10.14


                                    FORM OF
                                AT WILL EMPLOYEE
                        RETENTION / SEVERANCE AGREEMENT


     AGREEMENT by and between Arch Mineral Corporation ("The Company"), and
________  (the "Executive"), dated as of the 4th day of April, 1997.

     The Company wishes to assure that it will have the continued dedication of
the Executive, notwithstanding any uncertainties regarding Executive's status as
a result of the Merger of Arch Mineral Corporation ("Arch") and Ashland Coal,
Inc. ("Ashland Coal") pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of
April 4, 1997 (the "Merger").  The Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board") believes it is imperative to diminish the inevitable distraction of the
Executive by virtue of the personal uncertainties and risks created by the
Merger, to encourage the Executive's full attention and dedication to the
Company and to a successful transition, and to provide the Executive with
compensation arrangements in the event of a termination of Executive's
employment by the Company without "Cause" (as defined herein) or by Executive
for "Good Reason" (as defined herein), at any time during the term hereof, which
provide the Executive with individual financial security and which are
competitive with those of other corporations and, in order to accomplish these
objectives, the Board has caused the Company to enter into this Agreement.

     NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS:

     1.  Certain Definitions.
         --------------------

     (a) The "Effective Date" shall be the effective date of the Merger,
provided, however, that if the Executive's employment is terminated by the
Company without "Cause" or if Executive is assigned by the Company to a new job
assignment which is not a Comparable Position prior to the date on which the
Merger occurs, and the Executive can demonstrate that such termination or
reassignment by the Company was in contemplation of the Merger, then for all
purposes of this Agreement the ''Effective Date" shall mean the date immediately
prior to the date of such termination or reassignment, as the case may be.

     (b) "Cause" means (i) the failure by Executive substantially to perform
Executive's duties with the Company in Executive's current position or a
Comparable Position, (ii) the willful misconduct or gross negligence of
Executive, or (iii) the failure by Executive substantially to perform
Executive's duties under this Agreement.

     (c) "Comparable Position" means employment of Executive by the Company in a
new job assignment which is consistent with Executive's abilities, in the
Company's sole discretion, which has a salary midpoint at least equal to 85% of
the salary midpoint of Executive's current job assignment.

     (d) "Company" as used in Section 1(c) shall mean Arch, Ashland Coal, the
company surviving the Merger, Ashland Inc. and any of their respective
subsidiaries and divisions and, subject to Section 10(b) hereof, their
respective successors.
<PAGE>
 
     (e) "Good Reason" means (i) any purported termination by the Company of
Executive's employment for Cause which is finally determined by an independent
arbiter or judicial finding not to be for Cause, (ii) the assignment of
Executive, without Executive's specific written consent, to a new job assignment
which is not a Comparable Position, (iii) any failure by the Company to comply
with and satisfy the requirements of Section 3 or Section 12(b) of this
Agreement, or (iv) any other reason which the Company and Executive shall agree
in writing shall constitute Good Reason.

     2.  Agreement Period.  The Company hereby agrees to provide to Executive
         ----------------                                                    
the benefits and protections described herein, in consideration of the services
provided to the Company by Executive after the date of this Agreement and of the
agreements of Executive herein, for the period commencing on the Effective Date
and ending on the earlier to occur of (a) the first anniversary of the Effective
Date, or (b) the first day of the month coinciding with or next following
Executive's retirement in accordance with any retirement plan or program of the
Company (the "Agreement Period").

     3.  Terms of Employment.
         --------------------

     (a) Position and Duties.  During the Agreement Period, the Company agrees
         -------------------                                                  
to employ Executive in Executive's position immediately preceding the Effective
Date or in a Comparable Position and, excluding any periods of vacation and/or
sick leave to which Executive is eligible, Executive agrees to devote
Executive's full business time and attention to the business and affairs of the
Company, to discharge the responsibilities assigned to Executive hereunder, to
use Executive's reasonable best efforts to perform faithfully and efficiently
such responsibilities, and to assist in a smooth and successful transition after
the Merger.

     (b)  Compensation.
          ------------ 

          (i) Base Salary and Benefits. During the Agreement Period, Executive
              ------------------------
shall receive a base salary ("Base Salary") at a monthly rate at least equal to
the highest monthly base salary paid to Executive by the Company during the 90-
day period immediately preceding the Effective Date and shall participate in the
Company's salaried employee benefit plans in accordance with Company practices.

          (ii) Relocation.  If Executive agrees to be based more than fifty (50)
               ----------                                                       
miles from Executive's current location, Executive shall be entitled to
relocation benefits under the Company's relocation plan, which shall include
provision for gross-up for taxes on relocation payments and a relocation bonus
in an amount equal to 15% of Executive's Base Salary, payable within 30 business
days after the Executive's actual relocation.  This relocation bonus is in lieu
of the relocation bonus under the Company's relocation plan.


                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     4.  Termination.
         ----------- 

     (a) Termination.  Executive's employment may be terminated at any time
         -----------                                                       
during the Agreement Period by the Company for Cause or any other reason, by the
Executive for Good Reason or any other reason, or upon the occurrence of any of
the following events:

         (i)   Death. This Agreement shall terminate automatically upon
               -----
Executive's death.

         (ii)  Disability. The Company may terminate this Agreement after having
               ----------
established Executive's Disability (pursuant to the definition of "Disability"
set forth below), by giving to Executive written notice of its intention to
terminate Executive's employment. In such a case, Executive's employment with
the Company shall terminate effective on the 30th day after receipt of such
notice (the "Disability Effective Date"), if, within the 30 days after such
receipt, Executive shall not have returned to full-time performance of
Executive's duties. For purposes of this Agreement, "Disability" means
disability which qualifies as a long term disability under the applicable long
term disability policy of the Company which, at least 26 continuous weeks after
its commencement, is determined to be total and permanent by a physician
selected by the Company or its insurers.

     (b) Notice of Termination.  Any termination by the Company for Cause or by
         ---------------------                                                 
Executive for Good Reason shall be communicated by Notice of Termination to the
other party hereto given in accordance with Section 12(b) of this Agreement.
For purposes of this Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" means a written notice
which (i) indicates the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied
upon, (ii) sets forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances claimed
to provide a basis for termination of Executive's employment under the provision
so indicated, and (iii) if the termination date is other than the date of
receipt of such notice, specifies the termination date.

     (c) Date of Termination.  If the Executive's employment is terminated by
         -------------------                                                 
the Company other than for Cause, Death or Disability or by Executive for Good
Reason, the Date of Termination shall be 30 days after delivery of the Notice of
Termination.  If Executive's employment is terminated by reason of Death or
Disability, the Date of Termination shall be Executive's date of death or
Disability Effective Date, as the case may be.  If Executive's employment is
terminated by the Company for Cause or by Executive for other than Good Reason,
the Date of Termination means the date of receipt of the Notice of Termination
or any later date that may be specified therein.

     5.  Obligations of the Company upon Termination.
         --------------------------------------------

     (a) Death.  If, during the Agreement Period, Executive's employment is
         -----                                                             
terminated by reason of Executive's death, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to Executive's legal representatives under this
Agreement, other than those obligations accrued or earned by Executive hereunder
as of the Date of Termination, including, for this purpose: (i) Executive's full
Base Salary through the Date of Termination at the rate in effect on the Date of
Termination, (ii) any accrued vacation pay not yet paid by the Company, and
(iii) any other amounts or benefits owing to Executive under the then applicable
benefit plans or policies of the Company (such amounts and


                                       3
<PAGE>
 
benefits specified in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) are hereinafter referred to as
"Accrued Obligations"). The Company shall pay the amounts specified in clauses
(i) and (ii) within 10 days after the Date of Termination (and in no case later
than 30 days after the Date of Termination) and shall pay the amounts and
benefits in clause (iii) within 10 days when due.

     (b) Disability.  If, during the Agreement Period, Executive's employment is
         ----------                                                             
terminated by reason of Executive's Disability, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to Executive, other than the Accrued Obligations, on
Executive's Disability Effective Date.  Anything in this Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding, Executive shall be entitled after the Disability
Effective Date to receive disability and other benefits at least equal to those
provided by the Company to disabled employees and/or their families in
accordance with such plans, programs and policies relating to Disability, if
any, applicable to Executive at any time during the 90-day period immediately
preceding the Effective Date.

     (c) Termination by the Company for Cause; Termination by Executive for
         ------------------------------------------------------------------
other than Good Reason.  If, during the Agreement Period, Executive's employment
- ----------------------                                                          
shall be terminated by the Company for Cause or by Executive other than for Good
Reason, this Agreement shall terminate without further obligations to Executive,
other than the Accrued Obligations, on the Date of Termination.

     (d) Termination by Executive for Good Reason; Termination by the Company
         --------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Than for Cause, Death or Disability.  If, during the Agreement Period, the
- -----------------------------------------                                       
Company shall terminate Executive's employment other than for Cause, Death or
Disability, or the employment of Executive shall be terminated by Executive for
Good Reason, upon the delivery by Executive to the Company of the release and
waiver described in Section 5(f) hereof, Executive shall be entitled to the
following payments and benefits:

         (i)   the Company shall pay all Accrued Obligations (including a pro
rata portion of Executive's Annual Bonus) to Executive;

         (ii)  the Company shall pay Executive a severance benefit in an amount
equal to twenty-four (24) times the monthly Base Salary being paid to Executive
immediately prior to the Date of Termination, which severance benefit shall be
paid either in one lump sum payment or, if requested by Executive and agreed to
by the Company, in two lump sum payments on such date or dates following the
Date of Termination as may be specified by Executive;

         (iii) the Company will offer Executive the right to extend the medical,
dental and life insurance benefits in which Executive is participating
immediately prior to the Date of Termination, at regular employee rates, for a
continuous period of up to twenty-four (24) months thereafter or until Executive
secures substantially similar coverages under the plans of a new employer,
whichever is sooner, which extension period shall run concurrently with the
extension period under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1985;

         (iv) all of Executive's stock options and incentives will be fully
vested and shall

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
be immediately exercisable for the remainder of the original option term;

         (v) the Company will provide outplacement services to Executive through
a third party provider in accordance with the Company's historic policies and
procedures for comparably situated executive personnel; and

         (vi) all benefits other than those specified above shall cease on the
Date of Termination, including participation in the Company's 401(k) plan and
pension plan.

     (e) Termination by Executive by Electing to Retire Under Enhanced Early
         -------------------------------------------------------------------
Retirement Program.  If, during the Agreement Period, the employment of
- ------------------                                                     
Executive is terminated by Executive electing to retire pursuant to an enhanced
early retirement program offered by the Company, this Agreement shall terminate
without further obligations to Executive, other than the Accrued Obligations, on
the Date of Termination.

     (f) Release and Waiver.  To be eligible for any benefits or payments under
         ------------------                                                    
this Agreement, Executive must sign and deliver to the Company a Separation and
Release Agreement, under which Executive agrees to release the Company, its
directors, officers and employees, anyone claiming through the Company, and its
shareholders, from any and all claims, charges, and causes of action whatsoever
which Executive may have by reason of Executive's employment with and
termination by the Company.  Said claims or causes of action include, but are
not limited to, suits for employment discrimination under Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. (S) 1981, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, and any
and all relevant state and/or municipal statutes; claims or causes of action for
public policy violation, civil actions relating to negligence, age
discrimination under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, and any
and all relevant state and/or municipal statutes; claims or causes of action for
discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and any and
all relevant state and/or municipal statutes; claims or causes of action for
discrimination under the Rehabilitations Act of 1973; claims or causes of action
under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, and any and all relevant state
and/or municipal statutes; claims or causes of action for wrongful discharge,
and claims or causes of action for breach of any alleged employment contract,
both written and oral, arising out of Executive's employment with the Company;
claims or causes of action for defamation or intentional infliction of emotional
distress, interference with contract or prospective business relationship, and
for breach of any covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

     6.  Non-Exclusivity of Rights.  Nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or
         -------------------------                                             
limit Executive's continuing or future participation in any benefit, bonus
incentive or other plan or program provided by the Company or any of its
affiliated companies and for which Executive may qualify, nor shall anything
herein limit or otherwise affect such rights that Executive may have under any
stock option or other agreements with the Company.  Amounts which are vested
benefits or which Executive is otherwise entitled to receive under any plan or
program of the Company at or subsequent to the Date of Termination shall be
payable in accordance with such plan or program.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
     7.  No Setoff; Cooperation.  The Company's obligation to make the payments
         ----------------------                                                
provided for in this Agreement and otherwise to perform its obligations
hereunder shall not be affected by any setoff, counterclaim, recoupment, defense
or other claim, right or action which the Company may have against Executive or
others.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, payment of
severance benefits pursuant to Section 5 hereof is conditional upon Executive's
cooperating fully with the Company in connection with all matters relating to
Executive's employment with the Company and upon Executive doing or saying
nothing derogatory about the Company or its businesses or personnel.

     8.  Confidential Information and Non-Solicitation.
         --------------------------------------------- 

     (a) Confidential Information.  Executive shall hold in a fiduciary capacity
         ------------------------                                               
for the benefit of the Company all secret or confidential information, knowledge
or data relating to the Company and its businesses, which shall have been
obtained by Executive during Executive's employment by the Company and which
shall not be public knowledge (other than by acts by Executive in violation of
this Agreement).  After termination of the Executive's employment with the
Company, Executive shall not, without the prior written consent of the Company,
communicate or divulge any such secret or confidential information, knowledge or
data to anyone other than the Company and those designated by it.  In no event
shall an asserted violation of the provisions of this Section 8 constitute a
basis for deferring or withholding any amounts otherwise payable to Executive
under this Agreement.

     (b) Non-Solicitation.  Executive agrees that, during the Agreement Period
         ----------------                                                     
and for a period of two years after the termination of their employment with the
Company pursuant to Section 5 hereof, Executive will not:

         (i)   solicit, raid, entice or induce any present or prospective 
employee of the Company to be employed by any competitor of the Company;

         (ii)  solicit business for any competitor from, or transact business 
for any competitor with, any person, firm or corporation which was, at any time
during Executive's employment hereunder, a customer of the Company; or

         (iii) assist a competitor in taking such action.

     (c) Remedies.  Executive agrees that any breach or threatened breach or
         --------                                                           
alleged breach or alleged threatened breach by Executive of any provision of
this Section 8 will entitle the Company, in addition to any other legal remedies
available to it, to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to enjoin the
breach or threatened breach or alleged breach or alleged threatened breach, it
being acknowledged and agreed that any such material breach will cause
irreparable injury to the Company and that any damages will not provide adequate
remedies to the Company.  The parties understand and intend that each
restriction agreed to by Executive will be construed as separable and divisible
from every other restriction, and that the unenforceability, in whole or in
part, of any restriction will not affect the enforceability of the remaining
restrictions and that one or more or all


                                       6
<PAGE>
 
of such restrictions may be enforced in whole or in part as the circumstances
warrant.  No waiver of any one breach of the restrictions contained herein will
be deemed a waiver of any future breach. In no event shall an asserted violation
of the provisions of this Section 8 constitute a basis for deferring or
withholding any amounts otherwise payable to Executive under this Agreement.
Executive agrees that upon any breach by Executive of any provision of this
Section 8, the Company shall be entitled to liquated damages in an amount equal
to the severance benefit paid to Executive under this Agreement.  This agreement
to pay liquated damages does not restrict or limit, in any way whatsoever, the
Company from obtaining any other legal remedies available to it.

     9.  Exclusive Remedy.  Executive's rights to severance benefits pursuant to
         ----------------                                                       
Section 5 hereof shall be Executive's sole and exclusive remedy for any
termination of Executive's employment by the Company without Cause or by
Executive for Good Reason. The payments, severance benefits and severance
protections provided to Executive pursuant to this Agreement are provided in
lieu of any severance payments, severance benefits and severance protections
provided in any other plan or policy of the Company, except as may be expressly
provided in writing under the terms of any plan or policy of the Company, or in
a written agreement between the Company and Executive entered into after the
date of this Agreement.  In no event shall Executive be obligated to seek other
employment or take any other action by way of mitigation of the amounts payable
to Executive under any of the provisions of this Agreement.  The Company agrees
to pay, to the full extent permitted by law, all legal fees and expenses which
Executive may reasonably incur as a result of any contest (regardless of the
outcome thereof) by the Company or others of the validity or enforceability of,
or liability under, any provision of this Agreement.

     10.  Statement of Intention.  It is the intention of the parties hereto
          ----------------------                                            
that, prior to the Effective Date, this Agreement shall not create any rights or
obligations in the Executive or the Company, or require any payments by the
Company to Executive, except as expressly provided herein.

     11.  Successors.
          -----------

     (a)  Executive.  This Agreement is personal to Executive and, without the
          ---------                                                           
prior written consent of the Company, shall not be assignable by Executive
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.  This Agreement
shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's legal
representatives.

     (b)  The Company.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
          -----------                                                      
binding upon the Company and its successors.  The Company will require any
successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or
otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the
Company to expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same
manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it
if no such succession had taken place.  As used in this Agreement, "Company"
shall include any successor to its business and/or assets as aforesaid which
assumes and agrees to perform this Agreement by operation of law, or otherwise.


                                       7
<PAGE>
 
     12.  Miscellaneous.
          ------------- 

     (a)  Interpretation.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
          --------------                                                       
accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri, without reference to
principles of conflict of laws. The captions of this Agreement are not part of
the provisions hereof and shall have no force or effect.

     (b)  Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
          -------                                                             
writing and shall be given by hand delivery to the other party or by registered
or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to
Executive at Executive's address on the payroll records of the Company and to
the Company as follows:

          Arch Mineral Corporation
          CityPlace One, Suite 300
          St. Louis, MO  63141

          Att:  Senior Vice President - Law & Human Resources
   
or to such other address as either party shall have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith.  Notice and communications shall be effective
when actually received by the addressee.

     (c)  Severability.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of
          ------------                                                         
this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision of this Agreement.

     (d)  Withholding Taxes.  The Company may withhold from any amounts payable
          -----------------                                                    
under this Agreement such federal, state or local taxes as shall be required to
be withheld pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

     (e)  No Waiver.  The failure of Executive or the Company to insist upon
          ---------                                                         
strict compliance with any provision hereof shall not be deemed to be a waiver
of such provision or any other provision thereof.

     (f)  Entire Agreement.  This Agreement contains the entire understanding of
          ----------------                                                      
the Company and Executive with respect to the subject matter hereof.  This
Agreement may not be amended or modified otherwise than by a written agreement
executed by the parties hereto or their respective successors and legal
representatives.

     (g)  At Will Employment.  Executive and the Company acknowledge that the
          ------------------                                                 
employment of Executive by the Company is "at will" and may be terminated by
either Executive or the Company at any time, for any reason or for no reason
whatsoever.


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Executive and the Company have executed this Agreement
as of the day and year first above written.


                                       8
<PAGE>
 
                         Executive:


                         ______________________________________

                         ______(Name)
 

                         Arch Mineral Corporation:


                         _______________________________________
                         Senior Vice President - Law & Human Resources






                                       9


<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 10.15

                                    FORM OF
                              INDEMNITY AGREEMENT
                              -------------------

          INDEMNITY AGREEMENT, dated as of ____________________, 1997, by and
among Arch Coal Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company" or the
"Indemnitor"), which was formerly known as Arch Mineral Corporation ("AMC"), and
______________________________________________ (the "Indemnitee").

                                R E C I T A L S

          The Indemnitee is a director and/or officer of the Company and/or an
Affiliate Indemnitee (as hereinafter defined).  Indemnitor and the Indemnitee
recognize the increased risk of litigation and other claims being asserted
against directors and officers in today's environment.

          The Bylaws of the Company require the Company to indemnify its
directors and officers as currently provided therein, and the Indemnitee is
willing to serve as a director and/or officer of the Company in part in reliance
on such provisions.  The Bylaws of the Indemnitor permit Indemnitor to purchase
and maintain insurance or to furnish similar protection or make other
arrangements (any such insurance, protection or arrangement, an "Indemnification
Arrangement") on behalf of the Indemnitee against personal liability (including,
but not limited to, providing for Advanced Amounts as hereinafter defined)
asserted against the Indemnitee or incurred by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in
such capacity as a director or officer of such Indemnitor or as an Affiliate
Indemnitee, or arising out of the Indemnitee's status as such, whether or not
Indemnitor would have the power to indemnify the Indemnitee against such
liability under the provisions of this Agreement or under the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), as it may then be in effect.

          In part to provide the Indemnitee with specific contractual assurance
of substantial protection against personal liability (regardless of, among other
things, any amendment to or revocation of the aforementioned provisions of any
of the Indemnitor's Bylaws or any change in the composition of the Indemnitor's
Board of Director or control of such Indemnitor), the Indemnitor desires to
enter into this Agreement.  DGCL Section 145(f) expressly recognizes that the
indemnification provisions of the DGCL are not exclusive of any other rights to
which a person seeking indemnification may be entitled under the Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws of the Indemnitor, or an agreement providing for
indemnification, or a resolution of stockholders or directors, or otherwise, and
the Bylaws of the Indemnitor expressly recognize that the indemnification
provisions of such Bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of, and shall not
affect, any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification may be
entitled under any agreement, and this Agreement is being entered into pursuant
to the Bylaws of the Indemnitor, as permitted by the DGCL.

          In order to induce the Indemnitee to serve as a director and/or
officer of the Company and in consideration of the Indemnitee's so serving, the
Indemnitor desires to hold harmless and indemnify the Indemnitee and to make
arrangements pursuant to which the Indemnitee may be advanced or reimbursed
expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in certain proceedings, in every case to the
fullest extent authorized or permitted by the DGCL, or any other applicable law,
or by any amendment thereof or other statutory provisions authorizing or
permitting such indemnification which are adopted after the date hereof (but, in
the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits
the Indemnitor to provide broader indemnification rights than the DGCL, or other
applicable law, permitted Indemnitor to provide prior to such amendment).
<PAGE>
 
     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and of the
Indemnitee's continuing to serve the Company as a director and/or officer, the
parties hereby agree as follows:

     1.   Indemnification.  To the fullest extent allowed by law, the Indemnitor
          ---------------                                            
shall hold harmless and indemnify the Indemnitee, the Indemnitee's executors,
administrators or assigns against any and all expenses, liabilities and losses
(including, without limitation, investigation expenses, expert witnesses' and
attorneys' fees and expenses, judgments, penalties, fines, amounts paid or to be
paid in settlement, any interest, assessments, or other charges imposed thereon
and any federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed as a result of actual or
deemed receipt of any payment hereunder) actually incurred by the Indemnitee
(net of any related insurance proceeds or other amounts received by the
Indemnitee or paid by or on behalf of Indemnitor on the Indemnitee's behalf in
compensation of such expenses, liabilities or losses) in connection with any
actual or threatened action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative or in arbitration, to which the Indemnitee is a
party or participant or is threatened to be made a party or participant
("Proceeding"), as a plaintiff, defendant, respondent, witness or otherwise,
based upon, arising from, relating to or by reason of the fact that the
Indemnitee: (a) is, was, shall be or shall have been a director and/or officer
of the Company, or (b) is or was serving, shall serve, or shall have served at
the request of the Company as a director, officer, partner, trustee, fiduciary,
employee or agent ("Affiliate Indemnitee") of another foreign or domestic
corporation or non-profit corporation, cooperative, partnership, joint venture,
trust, employee benefit plan, or other incorporated or unincorporated enterprise
or (c) is, was, shall be or shall have been a director and/or officer of Ashland
Coal, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("ACI"), or AMC, during the period from and
after the date on which Indemnitee became an officer and/or director of ACI or
AMC through and until the Effective Time of the merger of AMC Merger Corporation
with and into ACI, pursuant to which ACI became a wholly owned subsidiary of AMC
and AMC's name was changed to Arch Coal, Inc.; or in any way arising from,
relating to or connected with any action or omission to act taken by the
Indemnitee in any of the foregoing capacities; provided, however, that, except
as provided in Section 9(b) hereof, Indemnitor shall indemnify the Indemnitee in
connection with a Proceeding initiated by the Indemnitee only if such Proceeding
(or part thereof) was authorized by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors
of Indemnitor.

          The Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to such
indemnification under this Agreement upon submission of a written claim pursuant
to Section 4 hereof.  Thereafter, the Indemnitor shall have the burden of proof
to overcome the presumption that the Indemnitee is so entitled.  Such
presumption shall only be overcome by a judgment or other final adjudication,
after all appeals and all time for appeals has expired ("Final Determination"),
which is adverse to the Indemnitee and which establishes (i) that the
Indemnitee's acts were committed in bad faith, or were the result of active and
deliberate dishonesty, and were material to the cause of action so adjudicated
and (ii) that the Indemnitee in fact personally gained a financial profit or
other advantage to which he was not legally entitled.  If the Indemnitee is not
wholly successful in any Proceeding but is successful on the merits or
otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such
Proceeding, the Indemnitor agrees to indemnify the Indemnitee to the maximum
extent permitted by law against all losses and expenses incurred by the
Indemnitee in connection with each successfully resolved claim, issue or matter.
Neither the failure of the Indemnitor (including its Board of Directors, legal
counsel or stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement
of such Proceeding that indemnification of the Indemnitee is proper in the
circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by Indemnitor
(including its Board of Directors, its legal counsel or its stockholders) that
the Indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct, shall be a
defense to any action or create a presumption that the Indemnitee has not met
the applicable standard of conduct.  The purchase, establishment or maintenance
of any Indemnification Arrangement shall not in any way diminish, restrict,
limit or adversely affect the rights and obligations of the Indemnitor or of the
Indemnitee under this Agreement, except as expressly provided herein, and the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee
shall not in any way diminish, restrict, limit or adversely affect the
Indemnitee's right to indemnification from the Indemnitor or any other party or
parties under any other Indemnification Arrangement, the Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws of the Indemnitor, or the DGCL.

          2.  Period of Limitations.  No legal action shall be brought and no
              ---------------------                                          
cause of action shall be asserted by or on behalf of Indemnitor or any affiliate
of Indemnitor against the Indemnitee, Indemnitee's spouse, heirs, executors, or
personal or legal representatives after the expiration of two years from the
date of accrual of such cause of action, or such longer period as may be
required by applicable law under the circumstances.  Any claims or cause of
action of the Indemnitor or its affiliate shall be extinguished and deemed
released unless asserted by the timely filing of a legal action within such
period; provided, however, that if any shorter period of limitations is
otherwise applicable to any such cause of action the shorter period shall
govern.

          3.  Insurance.  Subject only to the provisions of this Section 3, as
              ---------                                                       
long as the Indemnitee shall continue to serve as a director and/or officer of
Indemnitor (or shall continue at the request of Indemnitor to serve as an
Affiliate Indemnitee) and, thereafter, as long as the Indemnitee shall be
subject to any possible Proceeding by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee was
a director and/or officer of the Company and/or AMC and/or ACI (or served in any
of said other capacities), the Indemnitor shall, unless no such policies are
available in any market, purchase and maintain in effect for the benefit of the
Indemnitee, one or more valid, binding and enforceable policies (the "Insurance
Policies") of directors' and officers' liability insurance ("D&O Insurance")
providing adequate liability coverage for the Indemnitee's acts as a director
and/or officer of the Indemnitor or as an Affiliate Indemnitee.  Indemnitor
shall promptly notify the Indemnitee of any lapse, amendment or failure to renew
said policy or policies or any provision thereof relating to the extent or
nature of coverage provided thereunder.  In the event the Indemnitor does not
purchase and maintain in effect said policy or policies of D&O Insurance
pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3, Indemnitor shall, in addition to
and not in limitation of the other rights granted the Indemnitee under this
Agreement, hold harmless and indemnify the Indemnitee to the full extent of
coverage which would otherwise have been provided for the benefit of the
Indemnitee pursuant to the Insurance Policies.

          4.  Claims for Payment.  The Indemnitee shall have the right to
              ------------------                                         
receive from the Indemnitor on demand or, at the Indemnitee's option, to have
the Indemnitor pay promptly on the Indemnitee's behalf, in advance of a Final
Determination of a Proceeding, all amounts payable by the Indemnitor pursuant to
the terms of this Agreement as corresponding amounts are expended or incurred by
the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding or otherwise (such amounts so
expended or incurred being referred to as "Advanced Amounts").  In making any
claim for payment by the Indemnitor of any amount, including any Advanced
Amount, pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall submit to the
Indemnitor a written request for payment (a "Claim") which includes a schedule
setting forth in reasonable detail the dollar amount expended

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
(or incurred or expected to be expended or incurred). Each item on such schedule
shall be supported by the bill, agreement, or other documentation relating
thereto, a copy of which shall be appended to the schedule as an exhibit.

          Where the Indemnitee is requesting Advanced Amounts, the Indemnitee
must also provide an undertaking to repay such Advanced Amounts if a Final
Determination is made that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification
hereunder.

          5.  Section 16(b) Liability.  Indemnitor shall not be liable under
              -----------------------                                       
this Agreement to make any payment in connection with any claim made against the
Indemnitee for an accounting of profits made from the purchase or sale by the
Indemnitee of securities of Indemnitor within the meaning of Section 16(b) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and amendments thereto, or similar
provisions of any state statutory law or common law.

          6.  Continuation of Indemnity.  All agreements and obligations of the
              -------------------------                                        
Indemnitor contained herein shall continue during the period the Indemnitee is a
director and/or officer of Indemnitor (or is serving at the request of
Indemnitor as an Affiliate Indemnitee) and shall continue thereafter so long as
the Indemnitee shall be subject to any possible Proceeding by reason of the fact
that the Indemnitee was a director or officer of Indemnitor or served as such an
Affiliate Indemnitee.

          7.  Successors; Binding Agreement.  This Agreement shall be binding
              -----------------------------                                  
on, and shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by, the Indemnitor's
successors and assigns and by the Indemnitee's personal or legal
representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees,
devisees and legatees.  Indemnitor shall require any successor or assignee
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to
all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of Indemnitor, by written
agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitor and to the
Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same
manner and to the same extent that Indemnitor would be required to perform if no
such succession or assignment had taken place.

          8.  Notification and Defense of Claims.  Promptly after receipt by the
              ----------------------------------                                
Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding, the Indemnitee
shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against Indemnitor under this
Agreement, notify Indemnitor of the commencement thereof, but the failure to so
notify Indemnitor will not relieve the Indemnitor from any liability that it may
have to the Indemnitee.  With respect to any such Proceeding:

              (a)  Indemnitor shall be entitled to participate therein at its
          own expense;

              (b)  Except with prior written consent of the Indemnitee, the
          Indemnitor shall not be entitled to assume the defense of any
          Proceeding; and

              (c)  Indemnitor shall not settle any Proceeding in any manner that
          would impose any penalty or limitation on, or in any way be adverse
          to, the Indemnitee without the Indemnitee's prior written consent.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
The Indemnitee shall not settle any Proceeding with respect to which the
Indemnitee has received indemnified amounts or Advanced Amounts without the
Indemnitor's prior written consent, nor will the Indemnitee unreasonably
withhold consent to any proposed settlement.

          9.  Enforcement.  (a)  Indemnitor has entered into this Agreement and
              -----------                                                      
assumed the obligations imposed on Indemnitor hereby in order to induce the
Indemnitee to act as a director and/or officer of the Company or as an Affiliate
Indemnitee and acknowledges that the Indemnitee is relying upon this Agreement
in continuing in such capacity.

              (b)  All expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with
the preparation and submission of the Indemnitee's request for indemnification
hereunder shall be borne by the Indemnitor. In the event the Indemnitee has
requested payment of any amount under this Agreement and has not received
payment thereof within thirty (30) days of such request, the Indemnitee may
bring any action to enforce rights or collect moneys due under this Agreement,
and, if the Indemnitee is successful in such action, the Indemnitor shall
reimburse the Indemnitee for all of the Indemnitee's fees and expenses in
bringing and pursuing such action. If it is determined that the Indemnitee is
entitled to indemnification for part (but not all) of the indemnification so
requested, expenses incurred in seeking enforcement of such partial
indemnification shall be reasonably prorated among the claims, issues or matters
for which the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification and the claims, issues
or matters for which the Indemnitee is not so entitled. The Indemnitee shall be
entitled to the advancement of such amounts to the full extent contemplated by
Section 4 hereof in connection with such Proceeding.

          10.  Separability. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement
               ------------                                                  
shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever,
(i) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of
this Agreement (including, without limitation, all portions of any sections or
subsections of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable, that are not by themselves invalid, illegal or
unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and (ii) to
the fullest extent possible, the provisions of any section or subsections of
this Agreement containing any such provisions held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent of the
parties that the Indemnitors (or any of them) provide protection to the
Indemnitee to the fullest extent enforceable.

          11.  Miscellaneous.  No provision of this Agreement may be modified,
               -------------                                                  
waived or discharged unless such modification, waiver or discharge is agreed to
in writing  signed by the Indemnitee and an officer of the Indemnitor designated
by the Board of Directors of Indemnitor. No waiver by either party at any time
of any breach by the other party of, or of compliance with, any condition or
provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed
a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same time or
at any prior or subsequent time.  The validity, interpretation, construction and
performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of
Delaware, without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.
The Indemnitee may bring an action seeking resolution of disputes or
controversies arising under, or in any way related to, this Agreement in the
state or federal court jurisdiction in which the Indemnitee resides or in which
the Indemnitee's place of business is located and in any related appellate
courts, and the Indemnitor hereby consents to the jurisdiction of such courts
and to such venue.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
          12.  Notices.  For the purposes of this Agreement, notices and all
               -------                                                      
other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall
be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, as
follows:

               If to the Indemnitee:


               If to the Company:  Arch Coal, Inc.
                                   Suite 300
                                   CityPlace One
                                   St. Louis, Missouri 63141

or to such other address as either party may have furnished to the other in
writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall
be effective only upon receipt.

          13.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
               ------------                                                
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

          14.  Effectiveness; Termination.  This Agreement shall be effective as
               --------------------------                                       
of the "Effective Time," as defined in that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger
(the "Merger Agreement") dated as of April 4, 1997 by and among ACI, AMC and AMC
Merger Corporation.  If the Merger Agreement is terminated prior to the
Effective Time, this Agreement shall not become effective and shall be void and
of no force or effect.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Agreement to be
executed as of the day and year first above written.

                                 ARCH COAL, INC.


                                 By:
                                    -----------------------------------
                                 Name:
                                      ---------------------------------
                                 Title:
                                       --------------------------------


                                 INDEMNITEE


                                 --------------------------------------

                                       6

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.16

                       1993 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
                                 PLAN DOCUMENT
<PAGE>
 
                           ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
                       1993 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
                       --------------------------------

1.   PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
     -------------------

     The purpose of the Plan is to provide an opportunity for key employees of
     the Company to earn annual cash compensation awards through achievement of
     performance goals.

2.   DEFINITIONS
     -----------

     A.   "AVERAGE BUDGETED COSTS" are the Company budgeted costs for the plan
          year and subsequent four plan years as approved by the Board.

     B.   "AWARD" or "INCENTIVE COMPENSATION AWARD"  means that amount of Award
          earned by a Participant for a Plan Year in accordance with Section 5.

     C.   "BASE SALARY" means all cash pay earned by a Participant from the
          Company for his or her personal services while a Participant during a
          Plan Year, plus any amount contributed by the Participant under a
          salary reduction arrangement pursuant to the Arch Mineral Corporation
          Employee Thrift Plan for such year, but less any Award or bonus earned
          or received during such year.

     D.   "BUDGETED COSTS" are the Company budgeted costs for the Plan Year as
          approved by the Board.

     E.   "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

     F.   "CEO" means Chief Executive Officer of the Company.

     G.   "COMPANY" means Arch Mineral Corporation.

     H.   "CORPORATE PARTICIPANT" means a Participant employed at Arch Mineral
          Corporation or a non-coal producing subsidiary or division thereof.

     I.   "DIVISION" means a coal producing division or Subsidiary of a Unit
          Subsidiary.

     J.   "DIVISION PARTICIPANT" means a participant employed at a coal
          producing division or subsidiary of a coal producing Unit Subsidiary.

     K.   "INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE AWARD" is the portion of the maximum potential
          award which is based on the individual performance of the Participant.

     L.   "LOST TIME ACCIDENT RATE" is the rate defined under Part 50 of Title
          30 of the Code of Federal Regulations.  Participants responsible for
          multiple mines will be rated using a weighted average Lost Time
          Accident Rate.

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
     M.   "QUANTITATIVE AWARD" is the portion of the maximum potential award
          which is based on the achievement of various measurable goals.
          Aggregate award limitations for the Plan Year may also limit the
          quantitative award.

     N.   "MAXIMUM POTENTIAL AWARD"  shall mean the maximum award to which a
          Participant may be entitled to receive in a Plan Year under the Plan.
          The Maximum Potential Award shall consist of two parts:  (i) the
          Individual Performance Award; and (ii) the Quantitative Award.

     O.   "NET INCOME"  shall mean the net income of the Company (without
          reduction for dividends, if any, or other distributions, if any, to
          shareholders) as determined by its independent accountants in
          accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently
          applied and as reported in the Company financial statements for the
          Plan Year.  Adjustments to net income may be approved by the Board in
          its sole discretion for items not deemed by the Board to be under
          management control or to add or eliminate items or events which
          distort the actual results for a Plan Year.

     P.   "PARTICIPANT" means an employee who has been nominated by the CEO and
          approved by the Board to participate in the Plan.

     Q.   "PLAN" means the Arch Mineral Corporation 1993 Incentive Compensation
          Plan.

     R.   "PLAN YEAR" means the calendar year.

     S.   "RETURN ON EQUITY" means a percentage determined by dividing the
          Company's net income (as reported on its audited financial statements)
          by the average of the Shareholder Common Equity at the beginning and
          at the end of the Plan Year (as reported on its audited financial
          statements) and multiplying by 100.  Adjustments, if any, may be
          approved by the Board in its sole discretion for items not deemed by
          the Board to be under management control.

     T.   "TOTAL COST PER TON" is the total cash and non-cash budgeted cost per
          ton per mine as approved by the Board prior to the beginning of a Plan
          Year. Total Cost includes all cash and non-cash costs except contract
          amortization, operating taxes, royalties and non-controllable
          transportation cost. Direct administration is also included but
          Corporate/ACS administration is not. The Total Cost Per Ton amount
          will not be modified for budget adjustments made during a Plan Year.
          Participants responsible for multiple mines will be rated using a
          weighted average Total Cost Per Ton.

     U.   "TOTAL TONS SOLD" is the Total Tons Sold per mine as approved by the
          Board prior to the beginning of a Plan Year.  If a Division has not
          budgeted total tons sold for each of its mines, the total tons sold
          per mine shall be the ratio of the budgeted total tons produced for
          the mine as compared to the budgeted total tons produced for all of
          the mines in the Division.  Total Tons Sold will not be modified for
          budget adjustments made during a Plan Year.  Participants responsible
          for multiple mines will be rated using a weighted average Total 

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
          Tons Sold.

     V.   "UNIT SUBSIDIARY" means a large coal producing Subsidiary of the
          Company that consists of two or more coal producing Divisions.

     W.   "UNIT SUBSIDIARY PARTICIPANT" means a participant who is employed at a
          coal producing Unit Subsidiary of the Company.

3.   ELIGIBILITY
     -----------

     Five levels of participation in the Plan are hereby established.  Levels
     may be modified, added or subtracted from time to time by the Board.

     A.   New Participants may only enter the Plan with prior approval from the
          Board. Maximum Potential Awards will be prorated using the ratio of
          days the Participant is in the Plan compared to the total days in a
          Plan Year.

     B.   Participants will cease to be participants in the Plan effective the
          date they no longer hold a position which has been approved by the
          Board as a participating position.

     The following levels are initially set in the Plan as stated in Attachment
     A.

Prior to the beginning of each Plan Year, the  Board shall approve the employees
of the Company who shall participate in the Plan for such Plan Year.

4.   MAXIMUM POTENTIAL AWARD
     -----------------------

The Maximum Potential Award is a percentage of the base salary of the
participant and is different for each level of participation in the Plan.  The
Maximum Potential Award may be modified from time to time by the Board.  Any
modifications shall be made prior to the beginning of the Plan Year.

The Maximum Potential Award base salary percentage for each level of
participation is as follows:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                               Maximum Potential Award
          Level             As Percentage of Base Salary
          -----             ----------------------------
          <S>               <C>     
          I                          100%
          II                          70%
          III                         50%
          IV                          35%
          V                           15%
</TABLE> 

A participant's Maximum Potential Award is subject to the following:

     A.   If a participant's Individual Performance Rating Percentage (see
          Section 5A) is less than 70, the Participant is not eligible to
                  --
          receive any award for the Plan Year.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     B.   The aggregate of Awards earned in any Plan Year under this Plan shall
          not exceed 7.5% of the Net Income of the Company (without reduction
          for dividends, if any, or other distributions, if any, to
          shareholders), as determined by its independent accountants in
          accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently
          applied and as reported in the Company financial statements for the
          Plan Year.  Awards shall be reduced pro-rata among all Participants
          receiving awards based upon the ratio of the Participant's award
          before the 7.5% of net income limitation to the aggregate of all
          awards before the 7.5% of net income limitation.

5.   AMOUNT OF AWARD
     ---------------

A Participant's Award under this Plan shall be the sum of two parts; an
Individual Performance Award calculated pursuant to Section 5(A) and a
Quantitative Award calculated pursuant to Section 5(B).  Provided however, the
aggregate of all awards for any Plan Year will not exceed the net income
limitations provided by Section 4(B).

A Participant's level of participation in the Plan will determine how much of
his/her annual award will be based on Individual Performance Criteria (5A) and
how much will be based on Quantitative criteria (5B). The chart below shows the
allocation by Plan Level. These percentages may be modified from time to time by
the Board. Any modifications shall be made prior to the beginning of the Plan
Year.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                    Individual     Quantitative
                    Performance     Measurement
     Level           Criteria         Criteria
     -----           --------         --------
     <S>            <C>            <C>           
                                              
     Level I             0%              100% 
     Level II            0%              100% 
     Level III          20%               80% 
     Level IV           25%               75% 
     Level V            25%               75% 
</TABLE>

Attachment A reflects these percentages as the maximum percentage of base pay a
Participant can receive under each part.

     A.   Part 1 of the Award shall be an Individual Performance Award.  At the
          beginning of each Plan Year the Company President and Chief Executive
          Officer or the Participant's immediate supervisor will meet with each
          participant to set Individual Performance Goals for such year. The
          goals established will be documented on a 1993 Incentive Compensation
          Plan Goals form for the year. This document must be signed by the
          Participant as acknowledgment of what is expected and approved by the
          Participant's immediate supervisor, the Company Vice President-HR and
          the Company President and Chief Executive Officer.

          The performance of the Participant for such Plan Year will be
          evaluated with respect to the performance goals established at the
          beginning of the Plan Year. A performance rating for each Participant
          will be determined. The Individual Performance Award, if any, earned
          by the Participant will be based 

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
          on the rating. The evaluation of a Participant's performance in
          achieving his/her goals will be subjective and the Performance Rating
          Percentage, as determined by the President/CEO of the Company and
          approved by the Board, shall be conclusive. The percentage of the
          Individual Performance Award earned will be based on the following
          chart. These percentages may be modified from time to time by the
          Board. Any modifications shall be made prior to the beginning of the
          Plan Year.

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
               Performance Rating        Percentage of Individual
                  Percentage             Performance Award Earned
                  ----------             ------------------------
               <S>                       <C>  
                  Less than 70                       -0-  
                   70-74                             30% 
                   75-79                             44% 
                   80-84                             58% 
                   85-89                             72% 
                   90-94                             86% 
                   95-and above                     100%  
</TABLE> 

A minimum Performance Rating Percentage of 70% will be required for any award to
be earned for a Plan Year.

     B.   Part 2 of the Award shall be a Quantitative Award. Quantitative Awards
          will be determined upon the achievement of various measurable goals.
          These goals will be established prior to the beginning of each Plan
          Year. Participant's awards will be based upon the achievement of
          different goals, depending on whether the Participant is a Corporate
          Participant, Subsidiary Participant or a Divisional Participant and
          the position held. The following chart shows the weighting each goal
          has in the determination of each Participant's potential Quantitative
          Award. These weightings may be modified from time to time by the
          Board. Any modification shall be made prior to the beginning of the
          Plan Year.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                     GOALS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Return On    Total Cost      Total     Lost Time
Participant          Equity    Per Ton Sold   Tons Sold   Accidents   Total
- -----------          ------    -------------  ---------   ---------   ----- 
<S>                <C>         <C>            <C>         <C>         <C>
Corporate
Participant            100%                                             100%
                             
Unit Subsidiary              
President               80%           10%          6%          4%       100%
                                                                    
Other Unit                                                          
Subsidiary                                                          
Participants            50%           25%         15%         10%       100%
                                                                    
Division                                                            
President               50%           25%         10%         15%       100%
                                                                    
Other                                                               
Division                                                            
Participants            25%           50%         10%         15%       100%
</TABLE>

     __________________________________________________________________
     Attachment B reflects these percentages as the maximum percentage of Base
     Pay a Participant can receive for each goal.

          1.   RETURN ON EQUITY GOAL

               Prior to the beginning of each Plan Year, the Board shall set a
               Hurdle and Target level for Return On Equity to be achieved by
               the Company. The portion of a Participant's award determined by
               Return On Equity will be multiplied by the product of the
               following formula.  The result will equal the portion of award
               based upon Return On Equity.

                    Formula = 20% + [(A-H)/(T-H) * 80%]
                    Where:
                         A = Actual Return on Equity
                         H = Return on Equity Hurdle Rate
                         T = Return on Equity Target Rate
               The Actual Return on Equity must equal or exceed the Hurdle
               Return on Equity before an award will be earned under this
               section.

               The average of the beginning of the year equity and the end of
               the year equity will be used in  determining the actual return on
               equity.

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
          2.   TOTAL COST PER TON SOLD GOAL

               Prior to the beginning of the Plan Year, the Board shall set a
               Total Cost per Ton Sold goal for each captive and contract mine.
               The Total Cost Per Ton Sold Goal will equal the amount approved
               by the Board in the final Budget for the Plan Year unless
               otherwise directed by the Board.  The portion of a Participant's
               award based upon Total Cost Per Ton Sold Goal will be determined
               by the following formula.

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
          Actual Cost Per Ton                     Percentage of Goal Earned
          -------------------                     -------------------------
          <S>                                     <C> 
          If A = B                                          50%

          If A less than B                             The Lesser of:
                                                  .50+(50* (1 - A/B))or 110%

          If A greater than B                          .50-(25* (A/B-1))
                                                    but no less than zero
</TABLE> 

               Where:
                    A = Actual Total Cost Per Ton
                    B = Budgeted Total Cost Per Ton

          Formulas will be reviewed annually before the beginning of the Plan
          Year to determine the appropriateness for the Plan Year.

     3.   TOTAL TONS SOLD GOAL

          Prior to the beginning of the Plan Year, the Board shall set a Total
          Tons Sold Goal for each captive and contract mine. The Total Tons Sold
          amount will equal the amount approved by the Board in the final Budget
          for the Plan Year unless otherwise directed by the Board. The portion
          of a participant's award based upon Total Tons Sold Goal will be
          determined by the following formula.

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
          Actual Cost Per Ton                     Percentage of Award
          -------------------                     -------------------
          <S>                                   <C> 
          If A = B                                        50%

          If A greater than B                       The Lesser of:
                                                .50+(5*(A/B-1)) or 110%

          If A less than B                          .50-(2.5*(1-A/B))
                                                 but no less than zero
</TABLE> 

          Formulas will be reviewed annually before the beginning of the Plan
          Year to determine the appropriateness for the Plan Year.

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
          4.   LOST TIME ACCIDENT RATE GOAL

               Prior to the beginning of the Plan Year, the Board shall set a
               Target Lost Time Accident Rate Goal for each captive mine.  The
               portion of a Participant's award based upon the Lost Time
               Accident Rate Goal will be determined by the following chart:

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
               Lost Time Accident Rate              Percentage of Goal Earned
               -----------------------              -------------------------
          <S>                                       <C> 
          Better Than Targeted Rate                           100%
          Better Than Targeted Rate by 10% or more            110%
          Lags Targeted Rate by less than 10%                  75%
          Lags Targeted Rate by more than 10%                   0% 
</TABLE> 

               The Targeted Lost Time Accident Rate must be better than the
               prior Plan Year incident rate by at least 10% (if possible) and
               must at least equal the most recently published National Average
               Incident Rate for similar operations.

               No awards will be earned under this section for any participant
               of a Division, if the Division incurs a fatality during the Plan
               Year.

     C.   ADDITIONAL RULES

          1.   In no event can the awards determined by the attainment of the
               goals established in Sections 5(B)2, 5(B)3 and 5(B)4 exceed 100%
               of the Maximum Potential Award achievable under Sections 5(B)2,
               5(B)3 and 5(B)4.

          2.   The goals established in Sections 5(B)2, 5(B)3 and 5(B)4 for
               Participants who possess responsibility for multiple mines will
               equal the weighted average composite goal of the mines they are
               responsible for. The goals for Unit Subsidiary Participants shall
               equal the weighted average composite goal of all Divisions of the
               Unit Subsidiary.

          3.   If a person ceases to be a Participant prior to receiving an
               award for a Plan Year (other than for death or disability) the
               Board shall determine in its discretion to what extent, if any,
               an Award shall be payable under the Plan.

          4.   The Board shall approve any and all payments under this Plan and
               reserves the discretionary right to adjust, modify or eliminate
               any awards which would otherwise be payable under the Plan.

          5.   Awards determined under this section will only be earned if:
               A.   They are approved by the Board.
               B.   The participant continues to be employed by the Company or
                    one of its subsidiaries through the day the approved awards
                    are actually paid.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
          Any rights a participant may have to receive an award will be
          forfeited if the participant's full-time employment is terminated
          prior to the actual date of payment.

     6.   Any misrepresentations or manipulations of the numbers used in the
          determination of a Quantitative Award by a Plan participant will
          jeopardize 100% of that individual's award for the Plan Year and, at
          the Board's discretion, the Subsequent Plan Year. The Board reserves
          the right to modify any calculations that have been found to be
          manipulated to arrive at equitably quantified results.

6.   PAYMENT OF AWARD
     ----------------

     The Incentive Compensation Award, if any, earned in accordance with Section
     5 shall be paid in cash by the Company to the Participant within 30 days
     after approval by the Board.

7.   DEFERRAL OF AWARD
     -----------------

     Prior to the beginning of a Plan Year, a Participant may elect in writing
     to defer all or a portion of his/her award earned during the Plan Year.
     The election must include:

          1.   The amount or portion of the award to be deferred.
          2.   How long the award should be deferred.

     Once the election is made, it shall be binding until the expiration of the
     elected deferral period. Deferred awards will become general obligations of
     the Company and will accrue simple interest using the monthly Wall Street
     Journal prime rate. Deferred amounts plus accrued interest will be paid to
     the participant in a lump sum within 30 days of the expiration of the
     elected deferral period.

8.   DEATH OR DISABILITY
     -------------------

     In the event of a Participant's or Prior Participant's death or permanent
     and total disability prior to receiving his Award, such Award shall be paid
     to the Participant or Prior Participant or the Participant's or Prior
     Participants designated beneficiary (or to his estate in the event the
     Participant or Prior Participant dies without previously having designated
     in writing to the Company a beneficiary), as soon as practicable after the
     end of the fiscal year in which such event occurs.

9.   AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
     ------------------------------------

     The Board reserves the right to terminate or amend the Plan, in whole or in
     part, at any time and from time to time, provided that no amendment or
     termination shall adversely affect any previously earned Award.

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
10.  TERMINATION OF THE PLAN
     -----------------------

     The Plan shall remain in effect and Awards hereunder may be earned on and
     after January 1, 1993, until the Plan shall be terminated by the Board.


     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Plan this 25th day of
     May, 1993.


     ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
     

     By:  /s/ Michael O. McKown


ATTEST:


/s/  Jeffry N. Quinn

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
1993 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
ATTACHMENT A


                              INITIAL PLAN LEVELS

LEVEL 1

1.   Company President and CEO.

LEVEL 2

1.   Direct reports to the Company President and CEO.

     a.   The Direct report must hold a position at the Vice President level or
          above.

2.   Unit Subsidiary Presidents of Apogee Coal Company and Catenary Coal
     Holdings Company.

LEVEL 3

1.   Division Presidents of Apogee Coal Company and Catenary Coal Holdings
     Company.

     a.   This would include Arch of Illinois, Arch of West Virginia, Arch of
          Kentucky, Arch of Wyoming and Catenary Coal Company.

2.   Subsidiary Presidents of Arch Coal Sales Company and Arkland and Geology.

3.   Company full VPs not in Level 2.

LEVEL 4

1.   Coal Producing Divisional VPs and Mine Managers directly responsible for
     five year Average Budgeted Costs exceeding $20MM per year.

2.   Apogee Coal Company's and Catenary Coal Holdings Company's VP of
     Operations, VP of Accounting and Finance, and VP of Engineering (if
     applicable).

3.   Subsidiary Presidents of R&H Service and Supply and Arch Transportation
     Company.

4.   Certain Subsidiary VPs, Corporate VPs, AVPs and Directors (see Attachment
     C).

<PAGE>
 
ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
1993 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
ATTACHMENT B   1 OF 2

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         PERCENTAGE OF AWARD BASED ON EACH CRITERIA    
CRITERIA              LEVEL 1   LEVEL 2   LEVEL 3   LEVEL 4   LEVEL 5  
- --------              -------   -------   -------   -------   -------  
<S>                   <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>      
CORPORATE                                                              
- ---------                                                              
PARTICIPANT:                                                           
- ------------                                                           

INDIVIDUAL              0.00%     0.00%    20.00%    25.00%    25.00%  
PERFORMANCE                                                            
                                                                       
RETURN ON EQUITY      100.00%   100.00%    80.00%    75.00%    75.00%  
                      -------   -------   -------   -------   -------  
     TOTAL            100.00%   100.00%   100.00%   100.00%   100.00%  
                      =======   =======   =======   =======   =======  

SUBSIDIARY                                                             
- ----------                                                             
PARTICIPANT:                                                           
- ------------                                                           
                                                                       
INDIVIDUAL                        0.00%    20.00%    25.00%    25.00%  
PERFORMANCE                                                            
                                                                       
RETURN ON EQUITY                 80.00%    40.00%    37.50%    37.50%  
                                                                       
TOTAL COST PER                   10.00%    20.00%    18.75%    18.75%  
TON SOLD                                                               
                                                                       
TOTAL TONS SOLD                   6.00%    12.00%    11.25%    11.25%  
                                                                       
LOST TIME ACCIDENT                4.00%     8.00%     7.50%     7.50%  
RATE                              -----     -----     -----     -----  
                                                                       
     TOTAL               N/A    100.00%   100.00%   100.00%   100.00%  
                         ===    =======   =======   =======   =======  

DIVISIONAL                                                             
- ----------                                                             
PARTICIPANT:                                                           
- ------------                                                           
                                                                       
INDIVIDUAL                                 20.00%    25.00%    25.00%  
PERFORMANCE                                                            
                                                                       
RETURN ON EQUITY                           50.00%    18.75%    18.75%  
                                                                       
TOTAL COST PER                             20.00%    37.50%    37.50%  
TON SOLD                                                               
                                                                       
TOTAL TONS SOLD                             4.00%     7.50%     7.50%  
                                                                       
LOST TIME ACCIDENT                          6.00%    11.25%    11.25%  
RATE                                        -----    ------    ------  
                                                                       
     TOTAL               N/A       N/A    100.00%   100.00%   100.00%  
                         ===       ===    =======   =======   =======  
</TABLE> 

<PAGE>
 
ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
1993 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
ATTACHMENT B  2 OF 2

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                            MAXIMUM % OF BASE PAY EARNED BY CRITERIA

CRITERIA                LEVEL 1   LEVEL 2   LEVEL 3   LEVEL 4   LEVEL 5 
- --------                -------   -------   -------   -------   ------- 
<S>                     <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>     
MAXIMUM AWARD AS        100.00%    70.00%    50.00%    35.00%    25.00% 
A % OF BASE PAY                                                         
                                                                        
CORPORATE                                                               
- ---------                                                               
PARTICIPANT:                                                            
- ------------                                                            
                                                                        
INDIVIDUAL                0.00%     0.00%    10.00%     8.75%     6.25% 
PERFORMANCE                                                             
                        100.00%    70.00%    40.00%    26.25%    18.75% 
RETURN ON EQUITY        -------    ------    ------    ------    ------  
                                                                        
     TOTAL              100.00%    70.00%    50.00%    35.00%    25.00% 
                        =======    ======    ======    ======    ======  

SUBSIDIARY                                                              
- ----------                                                              
PARTICIPANT:                                                            
- ------------                                                            
                                                                        
INDIVIDUAL                          0.00%    10.00%     8.75%     6.25% 
PERFORMANCE                                                             
                                                                        
RETURN ON EQUITY                   56.00%    20.00%    13.13%     9.38% 
                                                                        
TOTAL COST PER                      7.00%    10.00%     6.56%     4.69% 
TON SOLD                                                                
                                                                        
TOTAL TONS SOLD                     4.20%     6.00%     3.94%     2.81% 
                                                                        
LOST TIME ACCIDENT                  2.80%     4.00%     2.62%     1.87% 
RATE                                -----     -----     -----     -----  
                                                                        
     TOTAL                 N/A     70.00%    50.00%    35.00%    25.00% 
                           ===     ======    ======    ======    ======  

DIVISIONAL                                                              
- ----------                                                              
PARTICIPANT:                                                            
- ------------                                                            
                                                                        
INDIVIDUAL                                   10.00%     8.75%     6.25% 
PERFORMANCE                                                             
                                                                        
RETURN ON EQUITY                             25.00%     6.56%     4.69% 
                                                                        
TOTAL COST PER                               10.00%    13.13%     9.38% 
TON SOLD                                                                
                                                                        
TOTAL TONS SOLD                               2.00%     2.62%     1.87% 
                                                                         
LOST TIME ACCIDENT                            3.00%     3.94%     2.81% 
RATE                                          -----     -----     ----- 
                                                                        
     TOTAL                 N/A       N/A     50.00%    35.00%    25.00% 
                           ===       ===     ======    ======    ====== 
</TABLE> 

<PAGE>
 
ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION             
1993 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN     
ATTACHMENT C                         
                                     
                                     
CRITERIA FOR CORPORATE AVP AND DIRECTOR'S PLACEMENT BETWEEN LEVEL 4 AND LEVEL 5.
                                     
1.   External Equity                 
                                     
     Comparison between Position Grade midpoint to External Total Pay at the
     75th percentile.                
                                     
2.   Internal Equity                 
                                     
     If the position is unique to the Company and accurate external comparisons
     can not be made, the position will be slotted in the level where other
     equivalent positions in the Company have been placed.
                                     
3.   Organizational Reporting Tier   
                                     
     Tier meaning CEO is Tier 1; Direct reports Tier 2 and so on.
                                     
     Must be at least Tier 4 to be placed in ICP Level 4 and at least Tier 5 to
     be placed in ICP Level 5.

4.   Level 4 should include only those individuals who have a discrete
     functional area of responsibility.

5.   Level 4 should include only those individuals who potentially have
     responsibility for at least $20MM in annual expenditures.

Employees in positions not meeting criteria for participation in the plan could
be selected for participation if the following conditions are met:

     A.   The employee's current position is at least Grade 12 and a manager
          title.

     B.   The employee has been identified as a high potential individual.

     C.   Employee's performance rating for the most current rating period was
          commendable or higher.

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
LEVEL 5

1.   Coal Producing Division VPs and Mine Managers directly responsible for five
     year Average Budgeted Costs less than $20MM per year.

2.   Divisional VPs and Managers of Contract Operations with Average Budgeted
     Costs exceeding $20MM per year.

3.   Apogee Coal Company's and Catenary Coal Holdings Company's Top Employee
     Relations position.

4.   Other Company AVPs and Directors not in Level 4.

5.   Other employee's who meet certain additional criteria (See Attachment C).

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
                  AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
                       1993 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN


     1.   The chart set forth at the end of the second paragraph of Section 5 is
hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced by the following chart:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  Individual   Quantitative  
                                 Performance    Measurement 
          Level                    Criteria      Criteria   
          -----                    --------      --------   
          <S>                    <C>           <C>          
          Level I                    10%            90% 
                                                        
          Level II                   20%            80% 
                                                        
          Level III                  20%            80% 
                                                        
          Level IV                   25%            75% 
                                                        
          Level V                    25%            75%  
</TABLE>

     2.   Attachment B to the 1993 Incentive Compensation Plan is hereby deleted
in its entirety and the material attached hereto and labeled "Arch Mineral
Corporation, 1993 Incentive Compensation Plan, Revised Attachment B" is hereby
adopted and incorporated into the 1993 Incentive Compensation Plan.

     3.   As amended the Arch Mineral Corporation 1993 Incentive Compensation
Plan shall remain in full force and effect in all respects.
<PAGE>
 
ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
1993 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
ATTACHMENT B  1 OF 2


                           PERCENTAGE OF AWARD BASED ON EACH CRITERIA

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CRITERIA                   LEVEL 1   LEVEL 2   LEVEL 3   LEVEL 4   LEVEL 5
- --------                   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------  
<S>                        <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
CORPORATE PARTICIPANT:
- ----------------------
 
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE       10.00%    20.00%    20.00%    25.00%    25.00%
 
RETURN ON EQUITY             90.00%    80.00%    80.00%    75.00%    75.00%
                            ------    ------    ------    ------   ------- 
 
       TOTAL                100.00%   100.00%   100.00%   100.00%   100.00%
                            ======    ======    ======    ======   =======
 
SUBSIDIARY PARTICIPANT:
- -----------------------
 
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE                 20.00%    20.00%    25.00%    25.00%
 
RETURN ON EQUITY                       60.00%    40.00%    37.50%    37.50%
 
TOTAL COST PER TON SOLD                10.00%    20.00%    18.75%    18.75%
 
TOTAL TONS SOLD                         6.00%    12.00%    11.25%    11.25%
 
LOST TIME ACCIDENT RATE                 4.00%     8.00%     7.50%     7.50%
                            ------    ------    ------    ------   ------- 
 
       TOTAL                  N/A     100.00%   100.00%   100.00%   100.00%
                            =====     ======    ======    ======   ======= 
 
DIVISIONAL PARTICIPANT:
- -----------------------
 
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE                           20.00%    25.00%    25.00%
 
RETURN ON EQUITY                                 50.00%    18.75%    18.75%
 
TOTAL COST PER TON SOLD                          20.00%    37.50%    37.50%
 
TOTAL TONS SOLD                                   4.00%     7.50%     7.50%
 
LOST TIME ACCIDENT RATE                           6.00%    11.25%    11.25%
                            ------    ------    ------    ------   ------- 
 
       TOTAL                  N/A       N/A     100.00%   100.00%   100.00%
                            ======   =======    ======    ======   =======
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
1993 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
ATTACHMENT B  2 OF 2


                           MAXIMUM % BASE PAY EARNED BY CRITERIA

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CRITERIA                   LEVEL 1   LEVEL 2   LEVEL 3   LEVEL 4   LEVEL 5
- --------                   -------   -------   -------   -------   -------  
<S>                        <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
MAXIMUM AWARD AS A %
       OF BASE PAY          100.00%    70.00%    50.00%    35.00%    25.00%
 
CORPORATE PARTICIPANT:
- ----------------------
 
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE       10.00%    14.00%    10.00%     8.75%     6.25%
 
RETURN ON EQUITY             90.00%    56.00%    40.00%    26.25%    18.75%
                            ------     -----     -----     -----   -------
 
       TOTAL                100.00%    70.00%    50.00%    35.00%    25.00%
                            ======     =====     =====     =====   =======
 
SUBSIDIARY PARTICIPANT:
- -----------------------
 
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE                 14.00%    10.00%     8.75%     6.25%
 
RETURN ON EQUITY                       42.00%    20.00%    13.13%     9.38%
 
TOTAL COST PER TON SOLD                 7.00%    10.00%     6.56%     4.69%
 
TOTAL TONS SOLD                         4.20%     6.00%     3.94%     2.81%
 
LOST TIME ACCIDENT RATE                 2.80%     4.00%     2.62%     1.87%
                            ------     -----     -----     -----   -------
 
       TOTAL                  N/A      70.00%    50.00%    35.00%    25.00%
                           ======      =====     =====     =====   =======
 
DIVISIONAL PARTICIPANT:
- -----------------------
 
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE                           10.00%     8.75%     6.25%
 
RETURN ON EQUITY                                 25.00%     6.56%     4.69%
 
TOTAL COST PER TON SOLD                          10.00%    13.13%     9.38%
 
TOTAL TONS SOLD                                   2.00%     2.62%     1.87%
 
LOST TIME ACCIDENT RATE                           3.00%     3.94%     2.81%
                            ------     -----     -----     -----   -------
 
       TOTAL                  N/A       N/A      50.00%    35.00%    25.00%
                           ======    ======      =====     =====   =======
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.17

                           ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION
                          DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN


          WHEREAS, Arch Mineral Corporation ("Company") previously adopted the
Arch Mineral Corporation Employee Thrift Plan (the "Thrift Plan"); and

          WHEREAS, the Company desires to supplement the benefits payable under
the Thrift Plan to certain of its key employees through the adoption of an
unfunded plan;

          NOW, THEREFORE, this Arch Mineral Corporation Deferred Compensation
Plan ("Plan") is hereby adopted to read as follows:

          1.   DEFINITION OF TERMS.  Certain words and phrases are defined when
               --------------------                                            
first used in later paragraphs of this Agreement.  In addition, the following
words and phrases when used herein, unless the context clearly requires
otherwise, shall have the following respective meanings:

               (a) CODE:  The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended or as it
                   -----                                                        
may be amended from time to time.

               (b) COMPANY:  Arch Mineral Corporation.
                   --------                           

               (c) COMPENSATION:  Compensation, as defined in Section 2.6 (or
                   -------------                                             
any successor provision) of the Thrift Plan.

               (d) EFFECTIVE DATE:  The date of the execution of this Plan.
                   ---------------                                         

               (e) ELECTION OF DEFERRAL:  A written notice filed by each 
                   ---------------------                                  
Participant with the Company specifying the amount of deferral.

               (f) EMPLOYEE:  A person employed by the Company.
                   ---------                                   

               (g) PLAN YEAR:  The calendar year.
                   ----------                    

               (i) PARTICIPANT:  An Employee who has satisfied the eligibility
                   ------------                                               
requirements of Section 2.
<PAGE>
 
               (j) RETIREMENT ACCOUNT:  Book entries maintained by the Company 
                   -------------------                                  
on behalf of each Participant, reflecting Deferred Amounts and Additions
thereon; provided, however, that the existence of such book entries and the
Retirement Account shall not create and shall not be deemed to create a trust of
any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and the Participants
or their beneficiaries.

               (k) THRIFT PLAN:   The Arch Mineral Corporation Employee Thrift
                   ------------                                               
Plan.

          2.   ELIGIBILITY.  On and after the Effective Date, the Company may,
               ------------                                                   
in its sole discretion, by notice in writing designate any highly paid key
employee who is a participant in the Thrift Plan as a Participant in this Plan.

          3.   DEFERRED COMPENSATION.  Commencing on the Effective Date, and
               ---------------------                                        
continuing through such date as a Participant's participation in the Thrift Plan
ends, each Participant hereunder shall be entitled to elect to defer into his
Retirement Account any amounts which he would otherwise be entitled to defer in
accordance with Sections 4.1 and 4.2 of the Thrift Plan if the Participant's
Compensation was not limited in accordance with the limitation on compensation
set forth in Code Section 401(a)(17). Further, a Participant's Retirement
Account shall be credited with an amount equal to the Company matching
contributions which would have been made under Section 4.4 of the Thrift Plan if
the Participant's deferrals into his Retirement Account had been contributed to
the Thrift Plan and the limitations under Code Section 401(a)(17) had not
applied to Company matching contributions.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     The amount selected for deferral by the Participant pursuant to an Election
of Deferral is the "Annual Deferral Sum." The amounts of Compensation and
Company matching contributions which are actually deferred are hereinafter
collectively referred to as "Deferred Amounts." The Deferred Amounts shall be
credited to the Participant's Retirement Account as of the date contributions
under Sections 4.1, 4.2 and 4.4 (or any successor provisions) of the Thrift Plan
are credited to the Participant's account in the Thrift Plan.

     4.   ADDITIONS TO DEFERRED AMOUNTS.  The Company hereby agrees that it
          ------------------------------                                   
will credit Deferred Amounts in the Employee's Retirement Account with additions
thereon ("Additions") from and after the dated Deferred Amounts are credited to
the Retirement Account. Additions to Deferred Amounts shall accrue commencing on
the date the Retirement Account first has a positive balance and shall continue
up to the date the entire balance in the Retirement Account has been
distributed. Additions shall be calculated:

                     [OPTION 1 - HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT]

at a rate computed as if Deferred Amounts had been invested in the same
investment funds which the Participant's accounts under the Thrift Plan are
invested.

                         [OPTION 2 - FLUCTUATING RATE]

at a rate per annum equivalent to the prime rate, as of the date the first
Deferred Amount is credited to the Participant's Retirement Account (or first
business day thereafter). The prime rate shall initially be established at the
rate quoted in the Wall Street Journal or, in the absence of quotation therein,
as quoted in a similar publication. The prime rate shall be

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
determined by the same means and shall be adjusted on the first business day
after each January 1 thereafter.  Additions shall be compounded annually at the
end of each Plan Year.

          5.   ELECTION TO DEFER COMPENSATION.  The Participant may elect an
               -------------------------------                              
Annual Deferral Sum hereunder by filing an Election of Deferral, at the same
time and in the same manner as deferrals are elected in the Thrift Plan.  Such
deferrals may also be changed or suspended in accordance with the rules in
Section 4.6 of the Thrift Plan for changes in and suspensions of Thrift Plan
contributions.

          6.   DISTRIBUTIONS.  The Company will distribute benefits under this
               --------------                                                 
Plan to a Participant (or his beneficiaries under the Thrift Plan) as soon as
practicable after such Participant's termination of employment with the Company.

          7.   OFFSET FOR OBLIGATIONS TO COMPANY.  If, at such time as a
               ----------------------------------                       
Participant becomes entitled to benefit payments hereunder, the Participant has
any debt, obligation or other liability representing an amount owing to the
Company, and if such debt, obligation, or other liability is due and owing at
the time benefit payments are payable hereunder, the Company may offset the
amount owing it against the amount of benefits otherwise distributable
hereunder.

          8.   NO TRUST CREATED.  Nothing contained in this Plan, and no action
               -----------------                                               
taken pursuant to its provisions shall create, or be construed to create, a
trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and the
Participants, or any other persons.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
          9.   BENEFITS PAYABLE ONLY FROM GENERAL CORPORATE ASSETS; UNSECURED
               --------------------------------------------------------------
               GENERAL CREDITOR STATUS OF PARTICIPANT.
               ---------------------------------------

          a.   The payments to the Participant or any beneficiary hereunder
shall be made from assets which shall continue, for all purposes, to be a part
of the general, unrestricted assets of the Company; no person shall have any
interest in any such assets by virtue of the provisions of this Plan. The
Company's obligations hereunder shall be an unfunded and unsecured promise to
pay money in the future. To the extent that any person acquires a right to
receive payments from the Company under the provisions hereof, such right shall
be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company;
no such person shall have nor acquire any legal or equitable right, interest or
claim in or to any property or assets of the Company.

          b.   In the event that, in its discretion, the Company purchases an
insurance policy or policies insuring the lives of the Participants (or any
other property), to allow the Company to recover the cost of providing benefits,
in whole or in part, hereunder, neither the Participants, nor their
beneficiaries have any rights whatsoever therein or in the proceeds therefrom.
The Company shall be the sole owner and beneficiary of any such insurance policy
and shall possess and may exercise all incidents of ownership therein. No such
policy, policies or other property shall be held in any trust for the
Participants or any other person nor as collateral security for any obligation
of the Company hereunder.

          10.  NO CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT.  Nothing contained herein shall be
               --------------------------                                   
construed to be a contract of employment for any term of years, nor as
conferring upon the Participant the right to continue to be employed by the
Company in his present capacity, or in any capacity. It is expressly understood
by the parties hereto that is Plan relates to the

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
payment of deferred compensation for the Participant's services, and is not
intended to be an employment contract.

          11.  BENEFITS NOT TRANSFERABLE.  Neither the Participants, nor their
               --------------------------                                     
beneficiaries shall have any power or right to transfer, assign, anticipate,
hypothecate or otherwise encumber any part or all of the amounts payable
hereunder. No such amounts shall be subject to seizure by any creditor of any
such beneficiary, by a proceeding at law or in equity, nor shall such amounts be
transferable by operation of law in the event of bankruptcy, insolvency or death
of the Participants, or their beneficiaries. Any such attempted assignment or
transfer shall be void.

          12.  CLAIMS.  A person who believes that he is being denied a benefit
               -------                                                         
to which he is entitled under the Plan (hereinafter referred to as a "Claimant")
may file a written request for such benefit under the procedures set forth in
Section 15 of the Thrift Plan. The claim shall be processed under such
procedures.

          13.  AMENDMENT.  The Company reserves the right to amend or terminate
               ----------                                                      
the Plan at any time, by action of its board of directors.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Plan to be executed
and effective as of January 1, 1996.

                                   ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION



                                   By:_________________________

                                   Title:______________________

                                       6

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 10.18




                                ARCH COAL, INC.
                DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR DIRECTORS' FEES

1.   PURPOSE.

     The purpose of this Deferred Compensation Plan For Directors' Fees
     (effective as of the Effective Date, the "Plan") is to provide each
     Director of Arch Coal, Inc. with an opportunity to defer some or all the
     director's retainer and meeting fees, as well as any per diem compensation
     for special assignments, which may be payable to the Director for future
     services to be performed by him or her as a member of any committee
     thereof, as a means of saving for retirement or other purposes.

2.   DEFINITIONS.

     The following definitions shall be applicable for purposes of the Plan:

     (a)  "Accounting Date" means each December 31, March 31, June 30, and
          September 30.

     (b)  "Beneficiary" means the person, persons, entity, entities or the
          estate of a Participant (or Beneficiary) which the Participant (or,
          where applicable a surviving Beneficiary) designates on Participant's
          Notice of Election Form (Exhibit A) to receive the undistributed
          portion of a Participant's Compensation Account, if any, upon the
          Participant's (or Beneficiary's) death or such person or entity as
          becomes entitled to such benefits pursuant to the terms of this Plan.

     (c)  "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

     (d)  "Compensation Account" means the account to which the Director's
          Deferred Compensation is credited, together with income accrued
          thereunder, and which is established pursuant to Section 5.

     (e)  "Common Stock" means the common stock, $0.01 par value, of the
          Company.

     (f)  "Company" means Arch Coal, Inc.

     (g)  "Deferred Compensation" means the annual retainer and meeting fees, as
          well as any per diem compensation for special assignments, earned by a
          Director for his or her service as a member of the Board during a
          calendar year or portion thereof which is deferred pursuant to an
          Election.

     (h)  "Director" means any director of the Company who is not an employee of
<PAGE>
 
          the Company or one of its subsidiaries and who is separately
          compensated for his or her services on the Board, or any committee
          thereof.

     (i)  "Disability" shall have the same meaning as the term "disability" in
          Rule 16a-1(c)(3) of the regulations under the Securities Exchange Act
          of 1934.

     (j)  "Effective Date" shall mean the "Effective Time" of the "Merger" under
          the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 4, 1997, among Arch
          Mineral Corporation, Ashland Coal, Inc., and AMC Merger Corporation.

     (k)  "Election" means a Participant's delivery of a written Notice of
          Election in the form of Exhibit A to the Corporate Secretary of the
          Company electing to defer payment of all or a portion of his or her
          compensation as a Director.

     (l)  "Fair Market Value" means, as of any specified date (or, if a weekend
          or holiday, the next preceding business day), the closing price of the
          Common Stock, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange Composite
          Tape.

     (m)  "Participant" means a Director who has elected, under the terms and
          conditions of the Plan, to defer payment of all or a portion of his or
          her compensation as a Director.

     (n)  "Payment Commencement Date" means, with respect to annual
          installments, January 2 of the first year of deferred payment selected
          by a Director in his or her Election and, with respect to quarterly
          installments, the first business day of the calendar quarter of
          deferred payment selected by a Director in his or her Election.

     (o)  "Plan" means this Arch Coal, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan For
          Directors' Fees.

     (p)  "Prime Rate of Interest" means the rate of interest quoted by
          Citibank, N.A. as its prime commercial lending rate on the last day of
          each calendar quarter.

     (q)  "Stock Unit(s)" means the share equivalents credited to a
          Participant's Compensation Account pursuant to Section 6.

     (r)  "Termination" means retirement from the Board or termination of
          service as a Director for any other reason.

3.   ELIGIBILITY.

     Any Director who is separately compensated for his or her services on the
     Board, or on any committee of such Board, shall be eligible to participate
     in the Plan.
<PAGE>
 
4.   ADMINISTRATION.

     Full power and authority to construe, interpret, and administer the Plan
     shall be vested in the Board. Decisions of the Board shall be final,
     conclusive and binding upon all parties. Day-to-day administration of the
     Plan shall be the responsibility of the Company's Human Resources
     Department. Said Human Resources Department may modify any forms provided
     for herein or authorize new forms for use under this Plan as Senior
     Management of the Company may from time to time deem necessary or
     appropriate so long as any such modified or new forms are not otherwise
     inconsistent with the terms and provisions of this Plan.

     Notwithstanding the terms of an Election made by a Participant hereunder,
     the Board may, in its sole discretion, change the terms of such Election,
     on its own initiative or, upon the request of a Participant or his or her
     representative, or a Participant's Beneficiary or such Beneficiary's
     representative, upon a demonstration by or on behalf of the Participant of
     substantial financial hardship as a result of the Disability of the
     Participant. The amount of any such distribution shall be limited to the
     amount deemed necessary by the Board to alleviate or remedy the
     Participant's hardship arising from such Disability.

5.   COMPENSATION ACCOUNT.

     Upon election to participate in the Plan, there shall be established a
     Compensation Account for the Participant to which shall be credited his or
     her Deferred Compensation on the date it would have been paid but for the
     deferral. Funds credited to a Compensation Account shall remain a part of
     the general funds of the Company and nothing contained in this Plan shall
     be deemed to create a trust or fund of any kind or create any fiduciary
     relationship. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to give any
     Participant any ownership or other proprietary, security or other rights in
     any funds, stock or assets owned or possessed by the Company, whether or
     not earmarked for the Company's own purposes as a reserve or fund to be
     utilized by the Company for the discharge of its obligations hereunder. To
     the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments or
     distributions from the Company under this Plan, such right shall be no
     greater than the right of any unsecured creditor of the Company.

6.   ELECTION TO DEFER.

     Upon his or her election to participate, the Participant shall either elect
     to have the Deferred Compensation in his or her Compensation Account
     credited on each Accounting Date with (1) an amount based on the Prime Rate
     of Interest quoted on such Accounting Date, or (2) a number of Stock Units
     or (3) a combination of both.

     Pursuant to the Stock Unit election, each Stock Unit shall represent one
     hypothetical share of Common Stock and shall entitle the Participant to
     receive
<PAGE>
 
     benefits as hereinafter provided. The number of Stock Units credited to
     such electing Participant shall be determined by dividing each amount of
     Deferred Compensation which such Participant has elected to convert to
     Stock Units by the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the
     day on which such Deferred Compensation is credited to the Participant's
     Compensation Account or, in the case of amounts already deferred, as of the
     effective date of such election as provided in Section 7. Fractional units
     shall be credited to the Participant as a result of the foregoing
     calculation.

     In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split,
     recapitalization or reclassification of securities, reorganization,
     combination or exchange of shares or other similar changes in Common Stock,
     appropriate adjustments shall be made in the Stock Units credited to
     Participants in the same manner as shares of Common Stock represented by
     such Stock Units would have been adjusted had such shares been outstanding.
     Stock Units credited to a Participant shall additionally be adjusted to
     take into consideration all dividends which would have been declared and
     paid with respect to a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number
     of hypothetical shares represented by such Stock Units to the extent the
     record date for such dividends is subsequent to the time that such Stock
     Units are credited to such Participant's Compensation Account. Dividend
     equivalents taken into account for these purposes shall be credited to such
     Participant's Compensation Account as of the payment date of the related
     dividends in the form of additional whole or fractional Stock Units. The
     number of Stock Units credited to a Participant for this purpose shall be
     equal to the amount of cash dividends which would have been so declared and
     paid divided by the Fair Market Value of a Stock Unit as of the dividend
     payment date.

7.   MANNER OF ELECTION.

     Any Director wishing to participate in the Plan must deliver to the
     Corporate Secretary of the Company a written notice, on the Notice of
     Election Form substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A, electing to
     defer payment of all or a portion (in 25 percent increments) of his or her
     compensation as a Director (an "Election"). A Director may elect to
     participate in the Plan by filing such Election: (a) with respect to
     Directors' fees payable for any calendar year by filing on or before
     December 31 of the preceding calendar year; and (b) with respect to
     Directors' fees payable for all or any portion of a calendar year after
     such Director's initial election, or any subsequent re-election if
     immediately prior thereto he or she was not serving as a Director, within
     30 days subsequent to such election or re-election.

     An effective Election may not be revoked or modified, except as to changes
     in the
<PAGE>
 
     designation of Beneficiary and as otherwise stated herein, with respect to
     Directors' fees payable for the calendar year or portion of a calendar year
     for which such Election is effective and such Election, unless terminated
     or modified as described below, shall apply to Directors' fees payable with
     respect to each subsequent calendar year. An effective Election may be
     terminated or modified for any subsequent calendar year by the filing, as
     described above, of either a new Election, in regard to modifications, or a
     Notice of Termination of Deferrals, substantially in the form attached as
     Exhibit B, in regard to terminations, on or before the December 31
     immediately preceding the calendar year for which such modification or
     termination is to be effective. Except for payment periods commencing on a
     Director's death, retirement or Disability, a Director's designation of the
     applicable payment period with respect to his or her existing deferrals may
     not provide for any distribution from the Compensation Account within the
     first six months after the Election or any modification thereto. A
     Director's designation shall be forever binding upon the Director, and with
     respect to any and all deferrals for subsequent calendar years, cannot be
     changed except as provided in Section 4. Not earlier than six months after
     the date of a Director's Election and provided any change in election does
     not occur within six months of any other change in election, a Director may
     elect to change an existing selection as to the investment alternative in
     effect with respect to his or her existing account (in 25 percent
     increments) by filing with the Corporate Secretary of the Company a Notice
     of Change in Investment Alternative, substantially in the form attached as
     Exhibit C, at least fifteen (15) days prior to the commencement of the
     quarter in which the Director desires the change to become effective. The
     revision will be deemed effective as of the first business day of the next
     quarter subsequent to the filing of such Notice of Change in Investment
     Alternative.

8.   ADJUSTMENT OF DEFERRED COMPENSATION ACCOUNT.

     As of each Accounting Date, the Compensation Account for each Director
     shall be adjusted for the period, or applicable portion thereof, elapsed
     since the preceding Accounting Date as follows:

     (a)  FIRST, the account shall be charged with any distribution made during
          the period in accordance with Sections 9 and 10 below;

     (b)  SECOND, the account shall be credited with the amount, if any, of
          Director's fees deferred during the period in accordance with an
          effective Election under Section 7 above; and

     (c)  FINALLY, the average account balance shall be credited with an amount
          based on the Prime Rate of Interest quoted on such Account Date or the
          number of Stock Units held in such account shall be credited with
          additional Stock Units representing the dividend equivalents paid with
          respect to the Stock Units credited to such account on any dividend
          payment date during 
<PAGE>
 
          such quarterly period, or a combination of both, for the quarterly
          period ending on such Accounting Date for the actual number of days
          elapsed.

9.   MANNER OF PAYMENT.

     A Director's Compensation Account will be paid to the Director or, in the
     event of his or her death, to a Beneficiary, in accordance with the
     Director's Election, all such payments to be made in cash. If a Director
     elects to receive payment of his or her Compensation Account in
     installments, the payment period shall not exceed twenty (20) years
     following the date of the Director's Termination. The amount of any
     installment payment shall be determined by multiplying (i) the balance in
     the Director's Compensation Account on the date of such installment by (ii)
     a fraction, the numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is
     the number of remaining unpaid installments. In the event that different
     payment periods are approved for a single Participant provided herein, the
     foregoing formula will be applied separately to the relevant portions of
     the Compensation Account for such Participants which are subject to
     separate payment periods. Amounts held pending distribution pursuant to
     this Section 9 shall continue to be credited with an amount based on the
     Prime Rate of Interest or a number of Stock Units, or a combination of
     both, pursuant to Section 6 above.

10.  PAYMENT COMMENCEMENT DATE.

     Payments of amounts deferred pursuant to a valid Election shall commence
     (i) with respect to annual installments, on the January 2 of the first year
     of deferred payment selected by a Director in his or her Election and (ii)
     with respect to quarterly installments, on the first business day of the
     first calendar quarter of deferred payment selected by a Director in his or
     her Election. If a Director dies prior to the first deferred payment
     specified in an Election, payments shall commence on the first payment date
     so specified.

11.  BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION.

     A Director may designate, on a Notice of Election Form in the form attached
     as Exhibit A, any person to whom payments are to be made if the Director
     dies before receiving payment of all amounts due hereunder. A designation
     of Beneficiary will be effective only after the signed Election is filed
     with the Corporate Secretary of the Company while the Director is alive and
     will cancel all designations of Beneficiary signed and filed earlier. In
     the absence of an effective Beneficiary designation, a Participant's (or
     Beneficiary's, in the case of the death of a Beneficiary receiving
     benefits) surviving spouse, if any, or, if none, his or her children, if 
     any, per stirpes, or, if none, the Participant's estate, will be the 
          --- -------                            
     Beneficiary. A Beneficiary receiving benefits in accordance with the Plan
     may designate a beneficiary who will be entitled to receive, where
     applicable, the remaining benefits due the Beneficiary after the
     Beneficiary's death. If a designated Beneficiary should survive a

<PAGE>
 
     Participant but die (or, if a trust, terminate) before all benefits have
     been paid to the Beneficiary, the remainder of the payments shall be made
     as the Beneficiary may designate or, absent a properly executed Beneficiary
     designation, to the Beneficiary's estate or, if a trust, to the
     Beneficiaries in distribution of the trust.

12.  MERGERS/ACQUISITIONS

     In the event of any merger or acquisition involving the Company and/or a
     Subsidiary of the Company and another entity which results in the Company
     being the survivor or the surviving direct or indirect parent corporation
     of the merged or acquired entity, the Committee may grant Stock Units under
     the provisions of the Plan in substitution for stock units held by
     Directors of such other entity under any plan of such entity immediately
     prior to such merger or acquisition upon such terms and conditions as the
     Committee, in its discretion, shall determine and as otherwise may be
     required by the Code to ensure such substitution is not treated as the
     grant of a new Stock Unit for tax or accounting purposes.

     In the event of a merger or acquisition involving the Company in which the
     Company is not the surviving corporation, the acquiring corporation shall
     either assume the Company's rights and obligations under the Plan,
     including if required, by substituting stock units under the acquiring
     corporation's plans, or if none, securities for such outstanding Stock
     Units. In the event the acquiring corporation elects not to assume or
     substitute for such outstanding Stock Units, the Board shall provide that
     any Stock Units or other Deferred Compensation shall be deemed immediately
     payable to the Participant or his Beneficiary, as the case may be, at their
     election as of a date prior to such merger or consolidation. Any Deferred
     Compensation which is neither assumed by the acquiring corporation nor paid
     prior to the date of the transaction shall be paid effective as of the
     effective date of the transaction.


13.  INALIENABILITY OF BENEFITS.

     The interests of the Participants and their Beneficiaries under the Plan
     may not in any way be voluntarily or involuntarily transferred, alienated
     or assigned, nor subject to attachment, execution, garnishment or other
     such equitable or legal process.

14.  GOVERNING LAW.

     The provisions of this Plan shall be interpreted and construed in
     accordance with the laws of the State of Missouri.

15.  AMENDMENTS.

     The Board may amend, alter or terminate this Plan at any time without the
     approval of the Participants.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                                ARCH COAL, INC.
                DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR DIRECTORS' FEES

                            NOTICE OF ELECTION FORM
                            -----------------------


I, ____________________________, an eligible Director for purposes of the Arch
Coal, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan For Directors' Fees (the "Plan"), hereby
elect to participate in the Plan and make the following elections with respect
to compensation which hereinafter becomes due to me for services as a Director
of Arch Coal, Inc. (the "Company").

I. AMOUNT OF DEFERRED COMPENSATION

I hereby elect to defer my compensation for services as a Director as follows
(indicate from 0 to 100%, in 25% increments):

     _____________%  Directors' Fees and other Compensation

II. FORM OF PAYMENT OF DEFERRED COMPENSATION (CHECK ONE)

I hereby elect the following payment period designated below, which term shall
hereinafter be applicable to each subsequent year in which I elect to defer any
Directors' Fees payable to me:

__________  Lump Sum payable on the January 2 following the earlier of my
            termination of service as a Director or death.

__________  Lump Sum payable on January 2, ________, or, if earlier, the January
            2 nineteen (19) years following the earlier of my termination of
            service as a Director or death.

_________   In _______ annual OR _______ quarterly installments (not to extend
            beyond the 20th anniversary of my termination of service) commencing
            upon my termination of my service as a Director with all
            installments unpaid at my death payable in a lump sum to the
            applicable Beneficiary named below commencing (PLEASE SELECT ONE):
                                                                         ---

     ______    90 days after my death
     ______    1 year after  my  death
     ______    2 years after my death
<PAGE>
 
_________   In _______ annual OR _______ quarterly installments (not to extend
            beyond the earlier of the 20th anniversary of my termination of
            service) commencing upon my termination of my service or death as a
            Director, with all installments unpaid at my death payable annually
            or quarterly, as the case may be, to the Beneficiary named below.


III. FORM OF INVESTMENT ALTERNATIVE

I hereby elect to have my future Deferred Compensation Account with the Company
deemed to be invested in the following manner (indicate from 0 to 100%, in 25%
increments--in front of each item):
                        ----       

_________   Based on the Prime Rate of Interest quoted by Citibank, N.A. at the
            end of each quarter.

_________   By making a hypothetical investment in Common Stock with the
            assumption of automatic dividend reinvestment in the form of stock
            equivalents.

IV.  BENEFICIARY SELECTION (OPTIONAL)

I hereby elect to have any amounts credited to my Deferred Compensation Account
that are payable on account of my death paid to the following Primary
Beneficiary or Beneficiaries:

Primary:


_________________                  ___________________
NAME                               RELATIONSHIP

_________________
ADDRESS

If the named Primary Beneficiary predeceases me, the following person is
designated as Contingent Beneficiary to receive any such unpaid deferred fees:

Contingent:


_________________                  ___________________
NAME                               RELATIONSHIP

_________________
ADDRESS
<PAGE>
 
     I understand that this Election applies to compensation to be earned
subsequent to the date of this Election and in each succeeding calendar year
until the calendar year following the one in which I file a revised Election or
a written Notice of Termination of Deferrals. With respect to each such year to
which this Election applies, the Election becomes irrevocable as of midnight on
December 31 of the immediately preceding calendar year. I understand that the
Deferred Compensation will be paid to me as provided in Section 9 of the Plan. I
further understand that my initial designation as to the applicable payment
period shall be forever binding during my participation in the Plan and cannot
be changed without the prior approval of the Board.

     I understand that in executing this Election, I agree to be bound by the
terms and conditions of the Plan and agree that such terms and conditions shall
be binding upon my Beneficiaries, distributees and personal representatives.

     I also understand that any compensation deferred by me represents a
contractual obligation of the Company to make future payment in the form elected
and that the Company will not be required to reserve or otherwise set aside
funds to meet said obligations.


                                             ___________________________
                                             Signature of Director

                                             ___________________________
                                             Date
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                      NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF DEFERRALS
                      ----------------------------------


Attn: Corporate Secretary
Arch Coal, Inc.
CityPlace One, Suite 300
St. Louis, Missouri 63141

                                Arch Coal, Inc.
                          Deferred Compensation Plan
                       for Directors' Fees (the "Plan")
                       --------------------------------


Dear Sir/Madam:

     Pursuant to the provisions of the Plan, I hereby terminate my Election to
defer under the Plan effective as of January 1, 19___.

DATE: _____________  SIGNATURE: _______________________________
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT C

                                ARCH COAL, INC.
                DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN FOR DIRECTORS' FEES

                  NOTICE OF CHANGE IN INVESTMENT ALTERNATIVE
                  ------------------------------------------


     I, ____________________________, an eligible Director for purposes of the
Arch Coal, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan For Directors' Fees (the "Plan"),
hereby elect to have that portion of my Deferred Compensation Account with the
Company as of _____________, 19____, deemed hereafter invested in the following
manner (indicate from 0 to 100%, in 25% increments--in front of each item):
                                                                ----       

________  Based on the Prime Rate of Interest quoted by PNC Bank, National 
          Association at the end of each quarter.

________  By making a hypothetical investment in Common Stock with the
          assumption of automatic dividend equivalents in the form of stock
          equivalents.

     With respect to future compensation which becomes due to me and which I
elect to defer, I hereby elect to have that portion of my Deferred Compensation
Account with the Company deemed invested in the following manner (indicate from
0 to 100%, in 25% increments--in front of each item):
                                          ----       

_______   Based on the Prime Rate of Interest quoted by PNC Bank, National 
          Association at the end of each quarter.

_______   By making a hypothetical investment in Common Stock with the
          assumption of automatic dividend equivalents in the form of stock
          equivalents.



                                        _________________________
                                        Signature of Director

                                        _________________________
                                        Date

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 10.20

                ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION ERISA FORFEITURE PLAN
                ----------------------------------------------

        Background. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code") sets
        ----------
limits on the maximum allocations that an employee of Arch Mineral Corporation
(the "Corporation") and its subsidiary corporations may receive under the Arch
Mineral Corporation Employee Thrift Plan ("Thrift Plan"). Because of these
limitations, a portion of the company matching contribution which would
otherwise be made in respect of contributions made to the Thrift Plan by certain
individuals may be reduced. In response to this situation, the Corporation's
Board of Directors adopted a resolution authorizing the officers of the
Corporation to establish an "ERISA Forfeiture Plan" to reimburse affected
individuals for matching benefits they would have otherwise received under the
Thrift Plan absent the limitations imposed by the Code. The resolution also
authorized the officers of the Corporation to allow affected individuals the
opportunity to defer receipt of amounts reimbursable under the ERISA Forfeiture
Plan.

        Implementation of ERISA Forfeiture Plan. Beginning with the 1996
        ---------------------------------------
calendar year, individuals who are required to forego company matching
contributions otherwise due to them under the Thrift Plan as a result of the
Code limitations shall be reimbursed in cash for the value of such company
matching contributions without any "gross up" for tax purposes. Such
reimbursement shall occur each calendar year shortly after the determination of
the amount by which company matching contributions have been limited for such
calendar year.

        Deferral of Cash Reimbursements. Amounts payable under this program may
        -------------------------------
be deferred pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan which has also been
approved by the Board of Directors.

        These procedures are established effective January 1, 1996.

                                                ARCH MINERAL CORPORATION



                                                By:    /s/ Jeffry N. Quinn
                                                       -------------------

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 21.1

                                                                      Page     1
                                                                      05/07/1997
Subsidiaries of
Arch Mineral Corporation
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION> 
                                                         %Owned      %Owned
Subsidiary                                              By Parent    Overall
- ------------------------------------------              ---------    -------
<S>                                                     <C>          <C>   
ACS Coal Sales Company                                     100.00     100.00
                                                                     
AMC Merger Corporation                                     100.00     100.00
                                                                     
Apogee Coal Company                                        100.00     100.00
                                                                     
Arch Coal Sales Company, Inc.                              100.00     100.00
                                                                     
  Big Sandy Terminal, Inc.                                 100.00     100.00
                                                                     
  Great Lakes Coal & Dock Company                          100.00     100.00
                                                                     
Arch Energy Resources, Inc.                                100.00     100.00
                                                                     
Arch International, Inc.                                   100.00     100.00
                                                                     
Arch Reclamation Services, Inc.                            100.00     100.00
                                                                     
Ark Land Company                                           100.00     100.00
                                                                     
Catenary Coal Holdings, Inc.                               100.00     100.00
                                                                     
  Arch of Wyoming, Inc.                                    100.00     100.00
                                                                     
  Catenary Coal Company                                    100.00     100.00
                                                                     
  Cumberland River Coal Company                            100.00     100.00
                                                                     
    United States Coal Company                             100.00     100.00
                                                                     
  Lone Mountain Processing, Inc.                           100.00     100.00
                                                                     
Energy Development Co.                                     100.00     100.00
                                                                     
Paint Creek Terminals, Inc.                                100.00     100.00
                                                                     
R & H Service and Supply Co.                               100.00     100.00
</TABLE>


<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 23.4

                        CONSENT OF JOHN T. BOYD COMPANY

We hereby consent to the reference to us and to the description of our 
undertakings as set forth under the caption "The Merger - Background of the 
Merger" in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus of Ashland Coal, Inc. and Arch Mineral
Corporation, which Proxy Statement/Prospectus is part of the Registration 
Statement on Form S-4 of Arch Mineral Corporation.


                                       JOHN T. BOYD COMPANY
                                       /s/ Ronald L. Lewis

May 28, 1997


<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 23.5
 
Salomon Brothers Inc
Seven World Trade Center
New York, New York 10048

212-783-7000

                                              -------------------------
                                                       Salomon Brothers
                                                       -------------------------



                        CONSENT OF SALOMON BROTHERS INC
                        -------------------------------


     We hereby consent to the use of our name and to the description of our 
opinion letter, dated the date of the Proxy Statement/Prospectus referred to 
below, under this caption "The Merger - Opinion of Financial Advisor to the 
Ashland Coal Board of Directors" in, and to the inclusion of such opinion letter
as Appendix B to, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus of Ashland Coal, Inc. and Arch 
Mineral Corporation, which Proxy Statement/Prospectus is part of the 
Registration Statement on Form S-4 of Arch Mineral Corporation. By giving such 
consent, we do not thereby admit that we are experts with respect to any part of
such Registration Statement within the meaning of the term "expert" as used in, 
or that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under, 
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the 
Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.


                                       SALOMON BROTHERS INC

                                       By /s/ Matt R. Wole III
                                          --------------------
                                            Managing Director


New York, NY
May 28, 1997


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Salomon Brothers Inc & Worldwide Affiliates
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlanta . Bangkok . Beijing . Boston . Chicago . Frankfurt . Hong Kong . London
               Los Angeles . Madrid . Melbourne . Mexico . Milan

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 23.6

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form
S-4 No. 333-00000) and related Proxy Statement of Ashland Coal, Inc. and 
Prospectus of Arch Mineral Corporation of our report dated January 22, 1997, 
with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Ashland 
Coal, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December
31, 1996, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



                                            /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Louisville, Kentucky
May 28, 1997

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.7




                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS


As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the use of our report 
(and to all references to our firm) included in or made a part of this 
registration statement.


/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP


St. Louis, Missouri
   May 22, 1997


<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 23.8

 
                              DIRECTOR'S CONSENT
   (excerpted from Arch Coal, Inc.'s Directors' and Officers' Questionnaire)



     I consent to being named as a director of Arch Coal, Inc. in the Form S-4 
(filed in connection with the combination of Arch Mineral Corporation and 
Ashland Coal, Inc.) and in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be included therein
and filed with the SEC, and to serve in the capacity indicated in the Proxy 
Statement/Prospectus as of the Effective Time of the merger (contemplated by the
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 4, 1997, among Arch Mineral 
Corporation, AMC Merger Corporation and Ashland Coal, Inc.).


Date:  April 24, 1997                  /s/ Robert A. Charpie
       --------------                  -------------------------------
                                       Signature

                                       Robert A. Charpie
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Please Print Name Here

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 23.9

 
                              DIRECTOR'S CONSENT
   (excerpted from Arch Coal, Inc.'s Directors' and Officers' Questionnaire)



     I consent to being named as a director of Arch Coal, Inc. in the Form S-4 
(filed in connection with the combination of Arch Mineral Corporation and 
Ashland Coal, Inc.) and in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be included therein
and filed with the SEC, and to serve in the capacity indicated in the Proxy 
Statement/Prospectus as of the Effective Time of the merger (contemplated by the
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 4, 1997, among Arch Mineral 
Corporation, AMC Merger Corporation and Ashland Coal, Inc.).


Date:  April 28, 1997                  /s/ Paul W. Chellgren 
       --------------                  -------------------------------
                                       Signature

                                       Paul W. Chellgren 
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Please Print Name Here


<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 23.10

 
                              DIRECTOR'S CONSENT
   (excerpted from Arch Coal, Inc.'s Directors' and Officers' Questionnaire)



     I consent to being named as a director of Arch Coal, Inc. in the Form S-4 
(filed in connection with the combination of Arch Mineral Corporation and 
Ashland Coal, Inc.) and in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be included therein
and filed with the SEC, and to serve in the capacity indicated in the Proxy 
Statement/Prospectus as of the Effective Time of the merger (contemplated by the
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 4, 1997, among Arch Mineral 
Corporation, AMC Merger Corporation and Ashland Coal, Inc.).


Date:  April 28, 1997                  /s/ Thomas L. Feazell  
       --------------                  -------------------------------
                                       Signature

                                       Thomas L. Feazell  
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Please Print Name Here



<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 23.11

 
                              DIRECTOR'S CONSENT
   (excerpted from Arch Coal, Inc.'s Directors' and Officers' Questionnaire)



     I consent to being named as a director of Arch Coal, Inc. in the Form S-4 
(filed in connection with the combination of Arch Mineral Corporation and 
Ashland Coal, Inc.) and in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be included therein
and filed with the SEC, and to serve in the capacity indicated in the Proxy 
Statement/Prospectus as of the Effective Time of the merger (contemplated by the
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 4, 1997, among Arch Mineral 
Corporation, AMC Merger Corporation and Ashland Coal, Inc.).


Date:  May 6, 1997                     /s/ Juan Antonio Ferrando 
       --------------                  -------------------------------
                                       Signature

                                       Juan Antonio Ferrando 
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Please Print Name Here




<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 23.12

 
                              DIRECTOR'S CONSENT
   (excerpted from Arch Coal, Inc.'s Directors' and Officers' Questionnaire)



     I consent to being named as a director of Arch Coal, Inc. in the Form S-4 
(filed in connection with the combination of Arch Mineral Corporation and 
Ashland Coal, Inc.) and in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be included therein
and filed with the SEC, and to serve in the capacity indicated in the Proxy 
Statement/Prospectus as of the Effective Time of the merger (contemplated by the
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 4, 1997, among Arch Mineral 
Corporation, AMC Merger Corporation and Ashland Coal, Inc.).


Date:  April 29, 1997                  /s/ Robert Hintz 
       --------------                  -------------------------------
                                       Signature

                                       Robert Hintz
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Please Print Name Here



<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 23.13

 
                              DIRECTOR'S CONSENT
   (excerpted from Arch Coal, Inc.'s Directors' and Officers' Questionnaire)



     I consent to being named as a director of Arch Coal, Inc. in the Form S-4 
(filed in connection with the combination of Arch Mineral Corporation and 
Ashland Coal, Inc.) and in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be included therein
and filed with the SEC, and to serve in the capacity indicated in the Proxy 
Statement/Prospectus as of the Effective Time of the merger (contemplated by the
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 4, 1997, among Arch Mineral 
Corporation, AMC Merger Corporation and Ashland Coal, Inc.).


Date:  April 30, 1997                  /s/ Thomas Marshall   
       --------------                  -------------------------------
                                       Signature

                                       Thomas Marshall
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Please Print Name Here



<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 23.14

 
                              DIRECTOR'S CONSENT
   (excerpted from Arch Coal, Inc.'s Directors' and Officers' Questionnaire)



     I consent to being named as a director of Arch Coal, Inc. in the Form S-4 
(filed in connection with the combination of Arch Mineral Corporation and 
Ashland Coal, Inc.) and in the Proxy Statement/Prospectus to be included therein
and filed with the SEC, and to serve in the capacity indicated in the Proxy 
Statement/Prospectus as of the Effective Time of the merger (contemplated by the
Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of April 4, 1997, among Arch Mineral 
Corporation, AMC Merger Corporation and Ashland Coal, Inc.).


Date:  April 28, 1997                  /s/ J. Marvin Quin 
       --------------                  -------------------------------
                                       Signature

                                       J. Marvin Quin
                                       -------------------------------
                                       Please Print Name Here



<PAGE>
 
                                                                  Exhibit 24.1



                              POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, John R. Hall, a director
of Arch Mineral Corporation (the "Company"), hereby constitute and appoint
Steven F. Leer and Jeffry N. Quinn my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for me and
in my name, place and stead, in my capacity as a director of the Company,
to execute a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the issuance of
shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to the Agreement and Plan
of Merger, dated April 4, 1997, among the Company, AMC Merger Corporation
and Ashland Coal, Inc., and any and all amendments to the Registration
Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other
documentation in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and
authority to do 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 I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.




           Signature                              Date
           ---------                              ----

      /s/ John R. Hall                        April 9, 1997
- -------------------------------                    --
         John R. Hall




<PAGE>
 
                                                                  Exhibit 24.2



                              POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, James R. Boyd, a director
of Arch Mineral Corporation (the "Company"), hereby constitute and appoint
Steven F. Leer and Jeffry N. Quinn my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for me and
in my name, place and stead, in my capacity as a director of the Company,
to execute a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the issuance of
shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to the Agreement and Plan
of Merger, dated April 4, 1997, among the Company, AMC Merger Corporation
and Ashland Coal, Inc., and any and all amendments to the Registration
Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other
documentation in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and
authority to do 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 I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.



           Signature                              Date
           ---------                              ----

      /s/ James R. Boyd                        April 9, 1997
- -------------------------------                     --
         James R. Boyd




<PAGE>
 
                                                                  Exhibit 24.3



                              POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Douglas H. Hunt, a director
of Arch Mineral Corporation (the "Company"), hereby constitute and appoint
Steven F. Leer and Jeffry N. Quinn my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for me and
in my name, place and stead, in my capacity as a director of the Company,
to execute a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the issuance of
shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to the Agreement and Plan
of Merger, dated April 4, 1997, among the Company, AMC Merger Corporation
and Ashland Coal, Inc., and any and all amendments to the Registration
Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other
documentation in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and
authority to do 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 I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.



           Signature                              Date
           ---------                              ----

      /s/ Douglas H. Hunt                     April 14, 1997
- -------------------------------                     --
         Douglas H. Hunt




<PAGE>
 
                                                                  Exhibit 24.4



                              POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, James L. Parker, a director
of Arch Mineral Corporation (the "Company"), hereby constitute and appoint
Steven F. Leer and Jeffry N. Quinn my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for me and
in my name, place and stead, in my capacity as a director of the Company,
to execute a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the issuance of
shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to the Agreement and Plan
of Merger, dated April 4, 1997, among the Company, AMC Merger Corporation
and Ashland Coal, Inc., and any and all amendments to the Registration
Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other
documentation in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and
authority to do 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 I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.



           Signature                              Date
           ---------                              ----

      /s/ James L. Parker                     April 14, 1997
- -------------------------------                     --
         James L. Parker




<PAGE>
 
                                                                  Exhibit 24.5



                              POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Ronald Eugene, a director
of Arch Mineral Corporation (the "Company"), hereby constitute and appoint
Steven F. Leer and Jeffry N. Quinn my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for me and
in my name, place and stead, in my capacity as a director of the Company,
to execute a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the issuance of
shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to the Agreement and Plan
of Merger, dated April 4, 1997, among the Company, AMC Merger Corporation
and Ashland Coal, Inc., and any and all amendments to the Registration
Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other
documentation in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and
authority to do 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 I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.



           Signature                              Date
           ---------                              ----

   /s/ Ronald Eugene Samples                  April 9, 1997
- -------------------------------                    --
       Ronald Eugene Samples




<PAGE>
 
                                                                  Exhibit 24.6



                              POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Steven F. Leer, a director
of Arch Mineral Corporation (the "Company"), hereby constitute and appoint
Steven F. Leer and Jeffry N. Quinn my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact
and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for me and
in my name, place and stead, in my capacity as a director of the Company,
to execute a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the "Registration Statement")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the issuance of
shares of Common Stock of the Company pursuant to the Agreement and Plan
of Merger, dated April 4, 1997, among the Company, AMC Merger Corporation
and Ashland Coal, Inc., and any and all amendments to the Registration
Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other
documentation in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and
authority to do 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 I might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes, may
lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.



           Signature                              Date
           ---------                              ----

      /s/ Steven F. Leer                      April 9, 1997
- -------------------------------                    --
         Steven F. Leer





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