United Coal Company

VIDEO

UCC Timeline
1970 March - United Coal Company began operations as a small surface mining contractor in West Virginia. June - A second contract operation began in Buchanan County, Va.	1971 September - United acquired its first rail loading facilities known as Wellmore #1 and Wellmore #3. Wellmore #1 was acquired along with the stock of Wellmore Coal Corporation. Wellmore #3 was acquired from Riverside Coal Company. October - National Collieries Inc. was formed as a sales agency for United.	1972 November - Wellmore #2 was acquired from Wise County Coal.

1973 March - Wellmore #4 was acquired from Leetown coal. May - Star Coal Company was purchased. July - Wellmore #5 was leased from Vansant Coal Corporation. November - United purchased assets of Buchanan County Coal Corporation in Big Rock, Va.	1974 January - Wellmore purchased Chris Coal, known as Wellmore #10. February - United began its mine supply sales division – United Supply Company and Unite Inc. August - Wellmore acquired the rail facilities of Norma Mining in Tazewell County, Va., known as Wellmore #11.	1975 April - Wellmore acquired Riverside Coal Company, operating on the Ohio River. December - Wellmore #7, then a state-of- the-art preparation plant, began operation.

1976 June - Wellmore acquired Wellmore #12 on Garden Creek in Buchanan County, Va.	1977 February - United purchased its first Belfry operation in Burnwell, Ky., known as Belfry #1. August - United purchased Crystal Coal Corporation in Big Rock, Va., known as Wellmore #14. December - United purchased Dunavant Enterprises in Hatfield, Ky., known as Belfry #2.	1978 February - United purchased Dal-Tex Coal Corporation, Sharples, W.Va. June - Wellmore #8 began operation.

1979 February - United purchased White Ash Mining, known as Belfry #3. April - United formed a new research and development department. November - United acquired Turquoise Mining Corporation in Paintsville, Ky., known as Belfry #4.	1980 May - United integrated supply chain with acquisition of Birmingham Bolt Company, a leading manufacturer of roof bolts. July - United built its first slope mine, Almore #1. September - United Supply Company expanded to a fourth store in Martin, Ky. December - The company’s coal safety and training center was completed in Grundy, Va.	1981 May - United led coal exports at Hampton Roads from the Norfolk pier. August - Hilltop Energy Corporation began operations in Dorton, Ky. September - United’s Virginia Division acquired Kentucky properties, including Wellmore #17 and Wellmore #18 preparation plants.

1982 January - United Supply Company sold its subsidiary, Unite Inc., to Austin Powder Inc. August - Belfry Coal Corporation purchased Temco Coal Inc. in Johnson County, Ky.	1983 March - United acquired overseas offices known as Unicoal AG.	1984 April - Patrick Coal Corporation, known as Wellmore #20, was acquired. July - United expanded into real estate with the formation of UCC Realty Corporation. August - United sold Birmingham Bolt Company, retaining a minority equity position. October - United diversified into oil and natural gas, opening another new division, United Oil & Minerals Inc., in Austin, Texas.

1985 October – December - United purchased three oil and gas companies: Gold Lake Resources, Expetro Resources Inc., and Macquest Resources Inc.	1986 February - United purchased Virginia Metals Industries located in Orange, Va. United also purchased Magoffin County Coal Company as part of the Tri-State Division. November - United purchased the outstanding 51 percent of Lonesome Pine Fuels Inc.	1987 January - United Coal Company reorganized and created a new parent company, The United Company, to recognize United’s expansion into other businesses. March - United Coal Company purchased Knox Creek Coal Corp., and added reserves to the Virginia Division; United Energy Company (parent company of the oil and gas operations) acquired Star Oil & Gas, Ltd. (Calgary), a Canadian oil & natural gas producer.

1988 April - Belfry purchased assets of Grace Coal Corporation.	1989 December - United Supply Company purchased Central Supply Company. United also purchased the Southwestern Coal Corporation properties.	1990 September - Tri-State Division sold its interest in coal leases in Magoffin County, Ky., and related coal supply agreements.

1992 April - United sold Dal-Tex Coal Corporation to Ashland Coal Inc. June - United sold Wellmore #21, Belfry #8 and Belfry #2 to A. T. Massey Coal Company Inc.	1997 August - The United Company sold United Coal Company to A. T. Massey Coal Company Inc.	2002 March - United Oil & Minerals (UOM) acquired South Texas natural gas assets from El Paso Energy. August - UOM changed its name to United Resources; expanded South Texas natural gas production.

2003 April - United Energy sold stock of Star Oil & Gas to Arc Resources, a large publicly- traded Canadian royalty income trust. December - United Resources sold South Texas natural gas assets to Westport Resources Corporation.	2004 July - The United Company bid to acquire all assets of Horizon Natural Resources in Chapter 11 bankruptcy auction. October - United reacquired United Coal Company name and formed “new” United Coal Company, LLC; United Coal bought permitted reserves in Randolph and Upshur counties, W.Va., and renamed them Carter Roag Coal Company. December - United acquired assets of former Golden Oak Coal Company and Cook & Sons Mining in Letcher County, Ky., and renamed operation Sapphire Coal Company.	2005 January - Production began at Pleasant Hill mine at Carter Roag Coal Company. April - United Coal Company hired five executives from Global Energy Management, planned for expansion to five million clean tons of annual production. June - United Coal Company began North Star One, LLC, a highwall mining joint venture in Raleigh County, W. Va. July - Corporate office of United Coal relocated to Charleston, W.Va., area. October - United Coal Company leased 30 million tons of high volatile Sewell coal reserves at Carter Roag from Natural Resource Partners. November - United Coal acquired certain assets of White Mountain Mining, LLC, Beckley, W.Va., including 60+ million tons of low volatile reserves in the Pocahontas coal seams; renamed operation Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC. December - UCC received first “outside” investment from SJ Strategic Investments, LLC, and Gregory Energy Partners, LLC, private equity investment companies founded by Bristol businessmen John and Joe Gregory.

2006 January - UCC acquired The Rapoca Group, Bristol, Va., including 30+ million tons of mid/high volatile Splashdam, Banner & Hagy seam reserves; renamed operation Wellmore Coal Company, LLC.