PERTH, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In connection with the appointment of voluntary administrators for The Griffin Coal Mining Company Pty Ltd (“Griffin”), a working group (the “Working Group”) of holders (the “Noteholders”) of 2016 9 1/2% Senior Notes (“2016 Notes”) has been formed to discuss certain issues of mutual interest. The Working Group and other holders aligned with it hold a majority of the 2016 Notes.

At the request of the Working Group, Corrs Chambers Westgarth and Caliburn, the Australian legal and financial advisors to the Working Group, have been on the ground in Perth this week engaging in discussions with KordaMentha, the voluntary administrators appointed to Griffin (“KM”), and other key parties to ensure the Noteholders’ interests are protected. Based upon such discussions, the Working Group has formed preliminary recommendations regarding KM, Griffin’s Australian Administration Proceeding and the formation of the Committee of Creditors, which will be selected at the first creditors meeting that is scheduled to be held on January 13, 2010 at 11:30 am Perth time (which is 10:30 p.m. NY time on January 12, 2010). Members of the Working Group and its advisors are available to speak with other interested Noteholders regarding Griffin’s administration proceedings and the group’s preliminary recommendations.

Initial proofs of claim and proxies for Noteholders unable to attend the first creditors’ meeting in person must be filed with KM by 4:00 p.m. Perth time on January 12, 2010 (which is 3:00 a.m. NY time on January 12, 2010). The Working Group has arranged for Naomi Moore, a partner at Bingham McCutchen LLP (U.S. Counsel to the Working Group), and Kirsty Sutherland, a partner at Corrs Chambers Westgarth (Australian Counsel to the Working Group), to act as backup proxy to vote on behalf of Noteholders who are unable to attend the meeting in person.

Bingham McCutchen LLP is available to help Noteholders complete and submit their proxies and initial proofs of claim and to coordinate discussions with interested Noteholders and members of the Working Group. US based Noteholders may contact Jeff Black via email at jeffery.black@bingham.com or via telephone at 212.705.7446. Noteholders based in Asia may contact Naomi Moore via email at naomi.moore@bingham.com or via telephone at 852.3182.1700 or Chris Bland via email at chris.bland@bingham.com or via telephone at 852.3182.1700.