13G Filing: Contrarian Capital and Peabody Energy Corp (BTU)

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All percentages of Common Shares or Preferred Shares (each, as defined below in Item 2(d)) outstanding contained herein are based on (a) 102,631,249 Common Shares, giving effect to the conversion, on a 1.96281385:1 basis, of Preferred Shares held by the Reporting Person, or (b) 19,201,637 Preferred Shares outstanding, based on information available to the Reporting Person.

ITEM 1.

(a)

Name of Issuer: Peabody Energy Corporation (the “Company”).

(b)

Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices: 701 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63101.

ITEM 2.

(a)

Name of Person Filing: Contrarian Capital Management, L.L.C.

(b)

Address of Principal Business Office, or if None, Residence: 411 West Putnam Avenue, Suite 425, Greenwich, CT 06830

(c)

Citizenship: Contrarian Capital Management, L.L.C. was formed in Delaware

(d)

Title of Class of Securities:

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Shares”) Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 (“Preferred Shares”)

(e)

CUSIP Number:

Common Stock: 704551 308 and 704551 100 Series A Convertible Preferred Stock: 704551 209 and 704551 407

ITEM 3. IF THIS STATEMENT IS FILED PURSUANT TO SS.240.13d-1(b) OR 240.13d-2(b) OR (c), CHECK WHETHER THE PERSON FILING IS A:

(a)

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Broker or dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o).

(b)

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Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

(c)

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Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c).

(d)

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Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8).

(e)

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An investment adviser in accordance with ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E);

(f)

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An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F);

(g)

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A parent holding company or control person in accordance with ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G);

(h)

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A savings associations as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813);

(i)

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A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3);

(j)

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Group, in accordance with ss.240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J).

ITEM 4. OWNERSHIP.

Provide the following information regarding the aggregate number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer identified in Item 1.

ITEM 5. OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS.

N/A.

ITEM 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON.

The Company securities disclosed herein are held by funds and accounts advised by the Reporting Person, and each such fund or account has the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of the Company securities held by them; no such fund or account holds in excess of 5% of the Common Shares or Preferred Shares.

ITEM 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY.

N/A.

ITEM 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.

N/A.

ITEM 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP.

N/A.

ITEM 10. CERTIFICATIONS.

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect.

SIGNATURE

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

The original statement shall be signed by each person on whose behalf the statement is filed or his authorized representative. If the statement is signed on behalf of a person by his authorized representative other than an executive officer or general partner of the filing person, evidence of the representative’s authority to sign on behalf of such person shall be filed with the statement, provided, however, that a power of attorney for this purpose which is already on file with the Commission may be incorporated by reference. The name and any title of each person who signs the statement shall be typed or printed beneath his signature.