[2] In November 2018, Contura merged with Alpha Natural Resources to become America's biggest supplier of metallurgical coal.

[5] Alpha reorganized under federal Chapter 11 bankruptcy in July 2017 by splitting into private firms after selling off many assets.

According to ANR CEO Stetson, Contura's takeover offer gave Alpha "access to the ports in eastern Virginia they have expertise and knowledge in the international market that we don’t currently have in-house and a strong balance sheet and great liquidity.

Massey Energy had become a takeover target after suffering large income losses and negative publicity following an explosion at West Virginia's Upper Big Branch mine that killed 29 employees.

[6] Federal regulators and the Mine Safety and Health Administration blamed the explosion on Massey's poor practices; however, the company contested the findings, citing a methane leak.