ASHLAND COAL INC
S-3/A, 1994-11-17
BITUMINOUS COAL & LIGNITE SURFACE MINING
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<PAGE>
   
    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 16, 1994
                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 33-46856
    
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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

   
                         POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 4
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-3
    

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

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

                               ASHLAND COAL, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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

<TABLE>
<S>                                     <C>
                DELAWARE                               61-0880012
    (State or other jurisdiction of                 (I.R.S. Employer
     incorporation or organization)               Identification No.)
</TABLE>

                             2205 Fifth Street Road
                        Huntington, West Virginia 25701
                                 (304) 526-3333
    (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                  of registrant's principal executive offices)

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

                                 Roy F. Layman
     Administrative Vice President, Law and Human Resources, and Secretary
                             2205 Fifth Street Road
                                 P.O. Box 6300
                        Huntington, West Virginia 25771
                                 (304) 526-3526
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

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

   
    Approximate  date of commencement of proposed  sale to the public: From time
to time after this Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to this Registration Statement
is declared effective.
    

    If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered  on
a  delayed or continuous basis pursuant to  Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, please so indicate.  _X_ Yes  ___ No

- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                                FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(b)(3)
                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 33-46856
P R O S P E C T U S
- - - -----------------

                                 615,000 SHARES
                               ASHLAND COAL, INC.
                                  COMMON STOCK
                               ------------------

    All  of the shares of the par  value $.01 Ashland Coal, Inc. ("Ashland Coal"
or the "Company")  Common Stock offered  hereby (the "Common  Stock") are  being
sold  by certain  shareholders (the "Selling  Shareholders") of  the Company for
their respective accounts. The Company has  agreed (1) to bear certain  expenses
in  connection with  the registration and  sale of  the Common Stock  and (2) if
certain liabilities,  including  those under  the  Securities Act  of  1933,  as
amended  (the "Securities Act")  should be incurred by  a Selling Shareholder or
certain brokers acting on its  behalf as a consequence  of acts or omissions  by
the Company, to indemnify such Selling Shareholder and broker.

    All  or a  portion of  the Common Stock  may be  disposed of  by the Selling
Shareholders hereunder  from  time  to time  in  one  or a  combination  of  the
following   transactions:  (a)   in  transactions   (which  may   involve  block
transactions) on the New York Stock  Exchange or other exchanges, or  otherwise,
at  market prices prevailing  at the time of  sale or at  prices related to such
prevailing market  prices;  or  (b)  in  privately  negotiated  transactions  at
negotiated  prices.  The Selling  Shareholders may  effect such  transactions by
selling the Common Stock to  or through brokers or  dealers and such brokers  or
dealers  may  receive  compensation in  the  form of  discounts,  concessions or
commissions from the Selling Shareholders or the purchasers of the Common  Stock
for  whom such  brokers or dealers  may act  as agent, or  to whom  they sell as
principal, or both (which compensation to a particular broker or dealer might be
in excess of customary commissions or be changed from time to time). The Selling
Shareholders and any brokers, dealers or agents who participate in a sale of the
Common Stock may be deemed "underwriters" within the meaning of Section 2(11) of
the Securities Act and the commissions paid or discounts allowed to any of  such
brokers,  dealers or agents in addition to any profits received on resale of the
Common Stock if any such brokers,  dealers or agents should purchase any  Common
Stock  as a principal may be deemed  to be underwriting discounts or commissions
under the Securities Act.
                            ------------------------

THESE SECURITIES  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   PROSPECTUS.
    ANY  REPRESENTATION   TO   THE   CONTRARY   IS   A   CRIMINAL   OFFENSE.
                           --------------------------

   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              UNDERWRITING
                                                             DISCOUNTS AND      PROCEEDS TO SELLING
                                      PRICE TO PUBLIC         COMMISSIONS         SHAREHOLDERS(1)
<S>                                 <C>                   <C>                   <C>
Per Share.........................        See Text              See Text              See Text
Total.............................         Above                 Above                 Above
<FN>
- - - ------------------------
(1)  The Company has agreed to prepare  and file this Prospectus and the related
    Registration Statement and  supplements and amendments  thereto required  by
    the  Securities  Act  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (the
    "Commission"), to register and  qualify the Common  Stock if required  under
    applicable  Blue Sky laws,  and to deliver  copies of the  Prospectus to the
    Selling Shareholders, in each case at Company expense, estimated at $98,100.
    The  expenses  payable  by  the  Selling  Shareholders,  including   selling
    commissions  and fees and  expenses of counsel  to the Selling Shareholders,
    are not capable of precise estimation by the Company.
</TABLE>
    

   
    On November 9, 1994, the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the
New York Stock Exchange composite tape  was $30.375 per share. The Common  Stock
of the Company is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ACI."
    

   
               The date of this Prospectus is November   , 1994.
    
<PAGE>
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION

    Ashland  Coal has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 under  the Securities  Act (the  "Registration Statement")  relating to  the
securities  offered hereby.  As permitted  by the  rules and  regulations of the
Commission,  this  Prospectus  omits   certain  information  contained  in   the
Registration  Statement  on file  with the  Commission. For  further information
pertaining to the Company  and the shares offered  hereby, reference is made  to
the  Registration Statement and exhibits thereto, which may be inspected without
charge at the office  of the Commission at  450 Fifth Street, N.W.,  Washington,
D.C.  20549. Copies  of the Registration  Statement, including  exhibits, may be
obtained from the Commission at prescribed rates.

    The Company's principal executive offices  are located at 2205 Fifth  Street
Road,  Huntington, West Virginia 25701. Its  telephone number is (304) 526-3333.
The Company  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
Commission.  Such  reports,  proxy  statements  and  other  information  can  be
inspected and  copied  at the  public  reference facilities  maintained  by  the
Commission  at Room 1024,  Judiciary Plaza, 450  Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549, and are available for inspection and copying at the regional offices
in New York (7  World Trade Center,  Suite 1300, New York,  New York 10048)  and
Chicago  (Northwest Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago,
Illinois 60661). Copies  of such material  can be obtained  at prescribed  rates
from  the  Public  Reference  Section  of  the  Commission,  450  Fifth  Street,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Such reports, proxy statements and other information can
also be  inspected at  the offices  of the  New York  Stock Exchange,  20  Broad
Street, New York, New York 10005.

                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

    The  following documents filed with the  Commission pursuant to the Exchange
Act are incorporated into this Prospectus by reference:

    (a) The  Company's Annual  Report on  Form 10-K  for the  fiscal year  ended
December 31, 1993;

    (b) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 5, 1994;

    (c) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 17, 1994;

    (d)  The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March
31, 1994;

    (e) The Company's Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q/A-1  for the quarter  ended
June 30, 1994;

   
    (f)  The  Company's Quarterly  Report  on Form  10-Q  for the  quarter ended
September 30, 1994;
    

   
    (g) The Company's Form 8-A dated July 14, 1988, containing a description  of
the Company's Common Stock; and
    

   
    (h)  All  other reports  filed pursuant  to  Section 13(a)  or 15(d)  of the
Exchange Act since  the end  of the  fiscal year  covered by  the annual  report
referred to in (a) above.
    

    All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to
the  termination of the offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
into this  Prospectus and  to be  a part  hereof from  the date  of filing  such
documents.  Any statement contained  in a document incorporated  or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein  shall be deemed to  be modified or  superseded
for  purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein
(or in any subsequently filed document  which is also incorporated or 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 Prospectus.

    The  Company hereby undertakes  to provide without charge  to each person to
whom this Prospectus has been delivered, on  the written or oral request of  any
such  person, a copy of any or all  of the documents referred to above which may
have been or may be incorporated  into this Prospectus by reference, other  than
exhibits  to such documents (unless  such exhibits are specifically incorporated
by reference into such documents). Requests  for such copies should be  directed
to  Ashland Coal, Inc., Attention: Corporate  Secretary, 2205 Fifth Street Road,
P.O. Box 6300, Huntington, West Virginia 25771, telephone number (304) 526-3333.

                                       2
<PAGE>
                                  THE COMPANY

   
    Ashland   Coal  is  engaged   in  the  mining,   processing,  marketing  and
distribution  of  low-sulfur  bituminous  coal.  The  Company  sells  its   coal
principally to electric utilities in the eastern United States. The Company also
exports  coal, primarily to European customers. Ashland Coal was incorporated in
Delaware in 1975. The Company estimates that its subsidiaries had, as of October
1, 1994, approximately 712 million recoverable tons of proven and probable  coal
reserves  in southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, of which approximately
264 million  tons are  recoverable  using surface  mining methods.  The  Company
estimates  that a substantial portion of this coal has a sulfur content of 1% or
less, some of which is compliance coal.(1)
    

    Demand  for  the  Company's  coal  primarily  depends  on  the  demand   for
electricity  in the  areas serviced  by the  utilities purchasing  the Company's
coal. Demand for electricity in turn  depends on the level of economic  activity
and  other  factors  such  as  temperature  extremes.  The  Company's  customers
frequently combine  nuclear,  natural gas  and  other energy  sources  in  their
generating  operations, and, accordingly, their demand for coal varies depending
on price and transportation, regulatory, and other factors.

    For the  year ended  December  31, 1993,  the  Company and  its  independent
operating  subsidiaries sold approximately 16 million  tons of coal, as compared
to approximately 19.1 and 14.3 million tons sold in 1992 and 1991, respectively.
Approximately 57% of the total  number of tons sold  during 1993 was sold  under
long-term  contracts as compared to  66% for 1992 and  67% for 1991. The balance
was sold on the  spot market (which  includes contracts with  a duration of  one
year  or less). In 1993, the Company sold approximately 2.1 million tons of coal
in the export market, compared to approximately 3.9 million tons in 1992 and 3.8
million tons in 1991. Approximately 61%, 71% and 71% of total revenue for  1993,
1992 and 1991, respectively, were derived from long-term contracts. For the year
ended  December  31,  1993,  the  Company's  independent  operating subsidiaries
produced approximately 14.2 million  tons of coal  as compared to  approximately
16.7  and 12.2 million  tons for 1992  and 1991, respectively.  In addition, the
Company  purchased  for  resale  1.6  million  tons  of  coal  during  1993  and
approximately 2.0 million tons of coal during each of 1992 and 1991.

    Selling  prices for the Company's coal  are based on long-term contracts and
the spot market. Selling prices in many of the Company's long-term contracts are
adjusted for changes  in broad  price indices  and labor  costs, including  wage
rates   and  other  benefits  under  the  United  Mine  Workers-Bituminous  Coal
Operators' Association National  Bituminous Coal Wage  Agreement of 1993  ("Wage
Agreement"),  or  any  successor  agreement.  Some  of  the  Company's long-term
contracts also provide for price adjustment if certain federal and state  levies
on  coal mining and processing  are changed. In addition,  most of the Company's
long-term contracts provide  that the  customer may  vary from  the base  annual
quantity, usually by not more than 15%, the quantity of coal purchased under the
contract  in a  particular year.  In addition,  renegotiation of  contract terms
after execution is not unusual in the industry to accommodate changing market or
operational conditions.

    Coal production  at  the  Company's independent  operating  subsidiaries  is
subject  to a variety of operational, geologic, and weather-related factors that
routinely cause production to fluctuate. Operational factors include anticipated
and unanticipated  events. For  example, the  longwall mining  equipment at  the
Mingo Logan Coal Company ("Mingo Logan") Mountaineer mine 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.  Unanticipated events, such as
the unavailability of  essential equipment because  of breakdown or  unscheduled
maintenance,  would also adversely affect production. Geologic conditions within
mines are not uniform. Overburden ratios at the surface mines sometimes vary, as
do roof and  floor conditions  and seam  thickness in  underground mines.  These
variations can be either positive or negative

- - - ------------------------
(1) Sulfur  content of  1% or less  refers to percentage  by weight. "Compliance
    coal" is coal which emits 1.2 pounds  or less of sulfur dioxide per  million
    BTU upon combustion without the aid of sulfur reduction technology.

                                       3
<PAGE>
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 suppliers  to reach the mine
sites.

    The Company's Hobet Mining, Inc. independent operating subsidiary  ("Hobet")
and subsidiaries of the Company's Dal-Tex Coal Corporation independent operating
subsidiary  ("Dal-Tex") are parties  to the Wage Agreement  with the United Mine
Workers of  America. From  time to  time in  the past,  most recently  in  1993,
strikes  and work stoppages have adversely affected production at the operations
of Hobet and  Dal-Tex, and have  caused disruptions at  their mines.  Currently,
Mingo  Logan, Mingo Logan's Mountaineer Mining  Company and Bearco divisions and
certain contract  miners  are  parties  to  a  National  Labor  Relations  Board
proceeding to determine whether Mingo Logan's employees should be deemed jointly
employed  with the  contract miners'  employees or  whether the  Mingo Logan and
contract miners' employees are employed  by different employers. The outcome  of
the  proceeding would determine  for purposes of  voting on union representation
(if such  vote is  required by  applicable labor  law) whether  the Mingo  Logan
employees  may vote separately,  or will be  required to vote  with employees of
Mingo Logan's contract miners.

    Any one or  a combination  of changing demand,  fluctuating selling  prices,
routine  operational, geologic and weather-related  factors or labor disruptions
may occur at times or in a  manner that causes results of operations to  deviate
from expectations.

                            THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS

   
    Certain  information regarding the Selling Shareholders appears in the table
below. The  Company  has  undertaken  to prepare  and  file  amendments  to  the
Registration  Statement required to keep the Registration Statement effective as
to shares elected to be offered by the Selling Shareholders hereunder until  the
earlier of (i) July   , 1995, or (ii) the date on which all the Common Stock has
been sold by the Selling Shareholders offering such shares.
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      SHARES OF COMMON                                 SHARES OWNED AFTER
                                                     STOCK OWNED AS OF                                   COMPLETION OF
                                                     SEPTEMBER 30, 1994           NUMBER OF               THE OFFERING
                                                 --------------------------         SHARES         --------------------------
SELLING SHAREHOLDER                               NUMBER      % OF CLASS*       BEING OFFERED       NUMBER      % OF CLASS*
- - - -----------------------------------------------  ---------  ---------------  --------------------  ---------  ---------------
<S>                                              <C>        <C>              <C>                   <C>        <C>
YMCA Retirement Fund...........................    145,800            1%              30,000         115,800
Capital Research & Management Company, on
 behalf of SMALLCAP World Fund, Inc............    150,000            1%             150,000
Kemper Technology Fund**.......................     35,000                            35,000
The United Company.............................    400,000            3%             400,000
<FN>
- - - ------------------------
 *Percentages are based upon the aggregate number of 13,720,984 shares of Common
  Stock  outstanding  on  September  30, 1994.  However,  if  all  the Company's
  outstanding Class B and C Preferred Stock were to be converted at the  current
  conversion  rate,  18,307,484 shares  of  Common Stock  would  be outstanding.
  Except where indicated,  the percentage  of Common  Stock owned  by a  Selling
  Shareholder is less than one percent.
**At  the close  of business on  August 26, 1994,  Kemper Environmental Services
  Fund, formerly named as a  selling shareholder, merged into Kemper  Technology
  Fund  with Kemper  Technology Fund being  the surviving  entity. Affiliates of
  Kemper Technology Fund hold  an aggregate of $10  million principal amount  of
  the Company's 9.78% Senior Notes due September 15, 2000.
</TABLE>

    Unless  noted above in the  table, none of the  Selling Shareholders has had
any position, office or other material relationship within the past three  years
with the Company or any of its affiliates.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

    All  or a  portion of  the Common Stock  may be  disposed of  by the Selling
Shareholders hereunder  from  time  to time  in  one  or a  combination  of  the
following transactions: (a) in transactions (which may

                                       4
<PAGE>
involve  block transactions) on the New  York Stock Exchange or other exchanges,
or otherwise, at  market prices  prevailing at  the time  of sale  or at  prices
related  to  such  prevailing  market prices;  or  (b)  in  privately negotiated
transactions at  negotiated prices.  The Selling  Shareholders may  effect  such
transactions  by selling the Common  Stock to or through  brokers or dealers and
such brokers  or dealers  may receive  compensation in  the form  of  discounts,
concessions  or commissions from  the Selling Shareholders  or the purchasers of
the Common Stock for whom such brokers or  dealers may act as agent, or to  whom
they  sell as principal, or  both (which compensation to  a particular broker or
dealer might  be  in  excess  of  customary  commissions).  Any  commissions  or
discounts paid or allowed to brokers, dealers or agents may be changed from time
to  time.  The  Selling Shareholders  and  any  brokers, dealers  or  agents who
participate in a sale  of the Common Stock  may be deemed "underwriters"  within
the  meaning of Section 2(11) of the  Securities Act and the commissions paid or
discounts allowed to any of such brokers,  dealers or agents in addition to  any
profits  received on resale of the Common  Stock if any such brokers, dealers or
agents should purchase  any Common  Stock as  a principal  may be  deemed to  be
underwriting discounts or commissions under the Securities Act.

    If  certain liabilities, including those under the Securities Act, should be
incurred by the Selling Shareholders and certain brokers executing  transactions
on their behalf pursuant to the Plan of Distribution as a consequence of acts or
omissions  by  the Company,  the Company  has agreed  to indemnify  such Selling
Shareholders and brokers for such loss.

                                 LEGAL MATTERS

    Hunton &  Williams, special  counsel to  the Company,  has passed  upon  the
validity of the issuance of the shares of Common Stock offered hereby.

                                    EXPERTS

    The  consolidated financial statements of  Ashland Coal appearing in Ashland
Coal's Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1993, have been
audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report
thereon included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated
financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon  such
report  given  upon the  authority of  such  firm as  experts in  accounting and
auditing.

                                       5
<PAGE>
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  NO  DEALER, SALESPERSON  OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL  HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED  TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR  MAKE ANY  REPRESENTATIONS NOT  CONTAINED IN  THIS PROSPECTUS  IN
CONNECTION  WITH THE OFFERING COVERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS. IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED
BY THE COMPANY.  THIS PROSPECTUS  DOES NOT  CONSTITUTE AN  OFFER TO  SELL, OR  A
SOLICITATION  OF AN OFFER TO BUY, THE COMMON STOCK IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE, OR
TO ANY  PERSON TO  WHOM, IT  IS UNLAWFUL  TO MAKE  SUCH OFFER  OR  SOLICITATION.
NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER
ANY  CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE  HAS NOT BEEN ANY CHANGE IN
THE FACTS SET FORTH IN  THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN THE  AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY  SINCE
THE DATE HEREOF.

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

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    PAGE
                                                    -----
<S>                                              <C>
Available Information..........................           2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
 Reference.....................................           2
The Company....................................           3
The Selling Shareholders.......................           4
Plan of Distribution...........................           5
Legal Matters..................................           5
Experts........................................           5
</TABLE>

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

                                 615,000 SHARES

                               ASHLAND COAL, INC.

                                  COMMON STOCK

                                 --------------
                                   PROSPECTUS
                              -------------------

   
                               NOVEMBER   , 1994
    

- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
                                    PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

   
    The following table sets forth the Company's expenses in connection with the
offering   pursuant  to   this  Registration   Statement  as   amended  by  this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 4:
    

   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                         <C>
Registration Fee..........................................  $  22,775
New York Stock Exchange Additional Listing Fee............      6,825
Blue Sky Fees*............................................      7,500
Legal Fees*...............................................     11,000
Accounting Fees*..........................................      9,000
Printing*.................................................     31,000
Miscellaneous*............................................     10,000
                                                            ---------
  Total...................................................  $  98,100
                                                            ---------
                                                            ---------
<FN>
- - - ------------------------
* Estimated fees and expenses of the Company
</TABLE>
    

ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

    In accordance  with  Delaware law,  the  Company's Restated  Certificate  of
Incorporation, as amended, contains provisions that result in the elimination of
the  personal liability  of directors  to the  Company and  its stockholders for
monetary damages for breaches  of fiduciary duty as  a director, except for  (i)
breach  of a director's duty  of loyalty to the  Company or to the stockholders,
(ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional  misconduct
or  a  knowing  violation  of  law,  (iii)  dividend  or  stock  repurchases  or
redemptions that are  illegal under Delaware  law and (iv)  any transaction  for
which a director receives an improper personal benefit. These provisions pertain
only  to  breaches  of duty  by  directors as  directors  and not  in  any other
capacity, such as  officers. As a  result of the  inclusion of such  provisions,
stockholders  may be  unable to recover  monetary damages  against directors for
actions taken by them that constitute negligence or gross negligence or that are
in violation of  their fiduciary  duty, although it  may be  possible to  obtain
injunctive  or other equitable relief with respect to such actions. If equitable
remedies are found not to be  available to stockholders in any particular  case,
stockholders may not have any effective remedy against the challenged conduct.

    The  Company's  Amended  Bylaws  ("Bylaws")  provide  that  the  Company may
indemnify every person who  is or was  an officer, director  or employee of  the
Company  (or  other  corporation,  which such  person  served  at  the Company's
request) against  expenses (including  attorneys'  fees) and  costs,  judgments,
settlements  and fines incurred in the defense of any claim, including any claim
brought by or in the right of the  Company, to which such person was made  party
by  reason of being  or having been  an officer, director  or employee, provided
such person acted in good faith, in what he or she reasonably believed to be  in
the  best interests of the  Company, and in addition,  in any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable belief that  his or her conduct was unlawful  and,
provided  further, that in the case  of any claim brought by  or in the right of
the Company, no indemnification shall be made in respect of any such claim as to
which such officer, director or employee  shall have been adjudged to be  liable
for  negligence or misconduct in the performance  of his or her duties, unless a
court  shall  determine  such  person  is  fairly  and  reasonably  entitled  to
indemnity.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  any  person  who  has  been wholly
successful on the merits or otherwise shall be entitled to indemnification as  a
matter of right.

    The  Company has entered into  indemnification agreements (the "Agreements")
with its directors  and certain  of its officers.  The Agreements  contractually
obligate  the Company to indemnify  the directors and such  officers to the same
extent provided for  in the  Company's Bylaws and  also require  the Company  to
provide  indemnification beyond that provided for in the Company's Bylaws to the

                                      II-1
<PAGE>
extent permitted by  Delaware law. Among  other things, and  subject to  certain
exceptions,  the Agreements  require the  Company to  indemnify the  director or
officer against all judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and  reasonable
expenses  (including attorneys' fees) incurred by the director or officer in any
proceeding where the director or officer was,  is or is threatened to be made  a
party  by reason of the fact that he  was or is a director, officer, employee or
agent of the Company or was or is  serving at the request of the Company in  any
such capacities with another enterprise. Among other exceptions, the director or
officer  is not entitled to indemnification to the extent that it is determined,
in accordance  with the  Agreement  and applicable  law,  that the  director  or
officer  did not act in good faith and  in a manner he reasonably believed to be
in or not opposed to the best interests  of the Company or, with respect to  any
criminal  proceeding,  that  the director  or  officer had  reasonable  cause to
believe his conduct  was unlawful.  The Agreements also  require, under  certain
circumstances,  advance payment of expenses incurred in investigating, defending
or appealing  any proceeding.  The  rights created  by  the Agreements  are  not
exclusive  of any other rights to which  the director or officer may be entitled
under any provision of law, the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
Bylaws or otherwise.

ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<C>        <C>        <S>
      3.1         --  Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended.*
      4.1         --  Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (Credit Agreement) dated as of April 1,
                      1992, among Ashland Coal, Inc., the Banks listed therein, Continental Bank N.A.,
                      as Agent, and National Westminster Bank PLC, as Co-Agent (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to
                      the Company's Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 6, 1992, and incorporated
                      herein by reference).
      4.2         --  First Amendment to the Credit Agreement dated as of February 1, 1993 (filed as
                      Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Form 8-K dated March 15, 1993, and incorporated
                      herein by reference).
      4.3         --  Amended and Restated Trust Agreement dated as of April 1, 1992, among Ashland
                      Coal, Inc., the Banks signatory thereto, Continental Bank N.A., as Agent,
                      National Westminster Bank PLC, as Co-Agent, and Continental Bank, National
                      Association, as Bid Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's Form 8-K filed
                      with the SEC on April 6, 1992, and incorporated herein by reference).
      4.4         --  Note Agreement dated as of September 15, 1990 (September 15, 1990, Note
                      Agreement), among Ashland Coal, Inc. and the Purchasers named in Schedule I
                      thereto relating to Ashland Coal's $100,000,000 9.78% Senior Notes due September
                      15, 2000 (filed as an Exhibit with the Company's Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on
                      November 13, 1990, and incorporated herein by reference).
      4.5         --  First Amendment Agreement dated as of May 15, 1991, to the September 15, 1990,
                      Note Agreement (filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Form 10-Q filed with the SEC
                      on August 12, 1991, and incorporated herein by reference).
      4.6         --  Second Amendment Agreement dated as of March 1, 1993 to the September 15, 1990,
                      Note Agreement (filed as Exhibit 4.6 to the Company's Form 10-K for the year
                      ended December 31, 1992, filed with the SEC on March 23, 1993, and incorporated
                      herein by reference).
      4.7         --  Composite Conformed Copy of Note Agreement dated as of May 15, 1991 (May 15,
                      1991, Note Agreement), among Ashland Coal, Inc. and the Purchasers named in
                      Schedule I thereto relating to the Company's $22,100,000 of 8.92% Senior Notes,
                      Series A, due May 15, 1996, and $52,900,000 of 9.66% Senior Notes, Series B, due
                      May 15, 2006 (filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Form 10-Q filed with the SEC
                      on August 12, 1991, and incorporated herein by reference).
</TABLE>

                                      II-2
<PAGE>
   
<TABLE>
<C>        <C>        <S>
      4.8         --  First Amendment Agreement to May 15, 1991, Note Agreement dated March 1, 1992
                      (filed as Exhibit 4.8 to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
                      1992, filed with the SEC on March 23, 1993, and incorporated herein by
                      reference).
      4.9         --  Restated Shareholders Agreement among Ashland Oil, Inc. ("Ashland Oil"),
                      Saarbergwerke A.G. ("Saarberg"), Carboex International, Ltd. ("Carboex"), and the
                      Company dated December 12, 1991 (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Company's Form 8-K
                      filed with the SEC on April 6, 1992, and incorporated herein by reference).
     4.10         --  Stockholder Agreement among the Company, The United Company, United Affiliates
                      Corporation, James W. McGlothlin, W.W. McGlothlin, and N.D. Street dated as of
                      April 1, 1992 (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Company's Form 8-K filed with the SEC
                      on April 6, 1992, and incorporated herein by reference).
      5           --  Opinion of Hunton & Williams*
     24.1         --  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP**
     24.2         --  Consent of counsel to the Company (included in Exhibit 5)
     25           --  Powers of Attorney*
<FN>
- - - ------------------------
 * Previously filed with this Registration Statement.
** Filed with this Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement.
</TABLE>
    

                                      II-3
<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

   
    Pursuant  to the requirements of the  Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has  reasonable grounds to  believe that it  meets all of  the
requirements  for filing  on Form  S-3 and  has duly  caused this Post-Effective
Amendment No. 4 to this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Huntington, West Virginia, as of this
16th day of November, 1994.
    

                                      ASHLAND COAL, INC.

                                      By   /s/ William C. Payne

                                         ---------------------------------------
                                          William C. Payne
                                         CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
                                         PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

   
    Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of   the  Securities  Act  of  1933,   this
Post-Effective Amendment No. 4 to this Registration Statement has been signed by
the  following  persons  in the  capacities  indicated  as of  the  16th  day of
November, 1994.
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                  SIGNATURE                                               CAPACITY
- - - ---------------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------------------------------

<C>                                            <S>
/s/ William C. Payne                           Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, Chief Executive
- - - ------------------------------------             Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)
  William C. Payne

/s/ Marc R. Solochek                           Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
- - - ------------------------------------             Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
  Marc R. Solochek

/s/ William M. Gerrick                         Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)
- - - ------------------------------------
  William M. Gerrick
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<S>                            <C>                   <C>
Robert A. Charpie              Director
                                                     By: /s/ Roy F. Layman
Paul W. Chellgren              Director                  ----------------------------
                                                         Roy F. Layman
Thomas L. Feazell              Director                  AS ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
Juan Antonio Ferrando          Director
Robert E. Yancey, Jr.          Director
</TABLE>

    Original powers of attorney authorizing  William C. Payne, Marc R.  Solochek
and Roy F. Layman, and each of them, to sign this Registration Statement on Form
S-3  and amendments thereto on behalf  of the above-named officers and directors
of the registrant have been filed with the Registration Statement as Exhibit 25.

                                      II-4
<PAGE>
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  ITEM                                                             DESCRIPTION
- - - ---------             -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>        <C>        <S>
    24.1          --  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
                                                                    EXHIBIT 24.1

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

   
    We  consent to  the reference  to our  firm under  the caption  "Experts" in
Post-Effective Amendment  No. 4  to  the Registration  Statement (Form  S-3  No.
33-46856)  and related Prospectus of Ashland  Coal, Inc. for the registration of
615,000 shares of its common stock and to the incorporation by reference therein
of our report dated January 28, 1994, with respect to the consolidated financial
statements and schedules  of Ashland Coal,  Inc. included in  its Annual  Report
(Form  10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1993, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
    

                                          /s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

   
Louisville, Kentucky
November 16, 1994
    


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