Document:

exv10w74

Exhibit 10.74

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

          This Indemnification Agreement, dated as of October 22, 2008, is made by and between PEABODY
ENERGY CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”) and ALEXANDER C. SCHOCH (the
“Indemnitee”).

RECITALS

          A. The Corporation recognizes that competent and experienced persons are increasingly
reluctant to serve or to continue to serve as directors or officers of corporations unless they are
protected by comprehensive liability insurance or indemnification, or both, due to increased
exposure to litigation costs and risks resulting from their service to such corporations, and due
to the fact that the exposure frequently bears no reasonable relationship to the compensation of
such directors and officers;

          B. The statutes and judicial decisions regarding the duties of directors and officers are
often difficult to apply, ambiguous, or conflicting, and therefore fail to provide such directors
and officers with adequate, reliable knowledge of legal risks to which they are exposed or
information regarding the proper course of action to take;

          C. The Corporation and Indemnitee recognize that plaintiffs often seek damages in such large
amounts and the costs of litigation may be so enormous (whether or not the case is meritorious),
that the defense and/or settlement of such litigation is often beyond the personal resources of
directors and officers;

          D. The Corporation believes that it is unfair for its directors and officers to assume the
risk of huge judgments and other expenses which may occur in cases in which the director or officer
received no personal profit and in cases where the director or officer was not culpable;

          E. The Corporation, after reasonable investigation, has determined that the liability
insurance coverage presently available to the Corporation may be inadequate in certain
circumstances to cover all possible exposure for which Indemnitee should be protected. The
Corporation believes that the interests of the Corporation and its stockholders would best be
served by a combination of such insurance and the indemnification by the Corporation of the
directors and officers of the Corporation;

          F. The Corporation’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of
Incorporation”) and Amended and Restated By-Laws require the Corporation to indemnify its directors
and officers to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”).
The Certificate of Incorporation expressly provides that the indemnification provisions set forth
therein are not exclusive, and contemplates that contracts may be entered into between the
Corporation and its directors and officers with respect to indemnification;

 

 

          G. Section 145 of the DGCL (“Section 145”), under which the Corporation is organized, empowers
the Corporation to indemnify its officers, directors, employees and agents by agreement and to
indemnify persons who serve, at the request of the Corporation, as the directors, officers,
employees or agents of other corporations or enterprises, and expressly provides that the
indemnification provided by Section 145 is not exclusive;

          H. The Board of Directors has determined that contractual indemnification as set forth herein
is not only reasonable and prudent but also promotes the best interests of the Corporation and its
stockholders;

          I. The Corporation desires and has requested Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve as a
director or officer of the Corporation free from undue concern for unwarranted claims for damages
arising out of or related to such services to the Corporation; and

          J. Indemnitee is willing to serve, continue to serve or to provide additional service for or
on behalf of the Corporation on the condition that he is furnished the indemnity provided for
herein.

AGREEMENT

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth below, and
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged,
the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

     Section 1. Generally.

     To the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware:

          (a) The Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee if Indemnitee was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is
or was or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of the Corporation, or while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was
serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee
or agent (which, for purposes hereof, shall include a trustee, partner or manager or similar
capacity) of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity.

          (b) The indemnification provided by this Section 1 shall be from and against expenses
(including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding and any appeal therefrom, but shall only be provided if Indemnitee acted in good faith
and in a manner Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action, suit or proceeding, had no reasonable cause
to believe Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful.

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          (c) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1, in the case of any threatened,
pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in
its favor by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Corporation, or while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving or
has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise,
no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee
shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless, and only to the extent that, the
Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine
upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances
of the case, Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the
Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

          (d) The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement,
conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s conduct was
unlawful.

          Section 2. Successful Defense; Partial Indemnification. To the extent that Indemnitee
has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding
referred to in Section 1 hereof or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, Indemnitee
shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred
in connection therewith. For purposes of this Agreement and without limiting the foregoing, if any
action, suit or proceeding is disposed of, on the merits or otherwise (including a disposition
without prejudice), without (i) the disposition being adverse to Indemnitee, (ii) an adjudication
that Indemnitee was liable to the Corporation, (iii) a plea of guilty or nolo contendere by
Indemnitee, (iv) an adjudication that Indemnitee did not act in good faith and in a manner
Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation,
and (v) with respect to any criminal proceeding, an adjudication that Indemnitee had reasonable
cause to believe Indemnitee’s conduct was unlawful, Indemnitee shall be considered for the purposes
hereof to have been wholly successful with respect thereto.

          If Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Agreement to indemnification by the
Corporation for some or a portion of the expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines or
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf
in connection with any action, suit, proceeding or investigation, or in defense of any claim, issue
or matter therein, and any appeal therefrom but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the
Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of such expenses (including
attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines or amounts paid in settlement to which Indemnitee is entitled.

     Section 3. Determination That Indemnification Is Proper. Any indemnification hereunder
shall (unless otherwise ordered by a court) be made by the Corporation unless a determination is
made that indemnification of such person is not proper in the circumstances because he or she has
not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1(b) hereof. Any such determination
shall be made (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to the

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action, suit or proceeding in question (“disinterested directors”), even if less than a
quorum, (ii) by a majority vote of a committee of disinterested directors designated by majority
vote of disinterested directors, even if less than a quorum, (iii) by a majority vote of a quorum
of the outstanding shares of stock of all classes entitled to vote on the matter, voting as a
single class, which quorum shall consist of stockholders who are not at that time parties to the
action, suit or proceeding in question, (iv) by independent legal counsel, or (v) by a court of
competent jurisdiction.

     Section 4. Advance Payment of Expenses; Notification and Defense of Claim.

          (a) Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by Indemnitee in defending a threatened or
pending civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding shall be paid
by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding within
twenty (20) days after receipt by the Corporation of (i) a statement or statements from Indemnitee
requesting such advance or advances from time to time, and (ii) an undertaking by or on behalf of
Indemnitee to repay such amount or amounts, only if, and to the extent that, it shall ultimately be
determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized by
this Agreement or otherwise. Such undertaking shall be accepted without reference to the financial
ability of Indemnitee to make such repayment. Advances shall be unsecured and interest-free.

          (b) Promptly after receipt by Indemnitee of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or
proceeding, Indemnitee shall, if a claim thereof is to be made against the Corporation hereunder,
notify the Corporation of the commencement thereof. The failure to promptly notify the Corporation
of the commencement of the action, suit or proceeding, or Indemnitee’s request for indemnification,
will not relieve the Corporation from any liability that it may have to Indemnitee hereunder,
except to the extent the Corporation is prejudiced in its defense of such action, suit or
proceeding as a result of such failure.

          (c) In the event the Corporation shall be obligated to pay the expenses of Indemnitee with
respect to an action, suit or proceeding, as provided in this Agreement, the Corporation, if
appropriate, shall be entitled to assume the defense of such action, suit or proceeding, with
counsel reasonably acceptable to Indemnitee, upon the delivery to Indemnitee of written notice of
its election to do so. After delivery of such notice, approval of such counsel by Indemnitee and
the retention of such counsel by the Corporation, the Corporation will not be liable to Indemnitee
under this Agreement for any fees of counsel subsequently incurred by Indemnitee with respect to
the same action, suit or proceeding, provided that (1) Indemnitee shall have the right to employ
Indemnitee’s own counsel in such action, suit or proceeding at Indemnitee’s expense and (2) if (i)
the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been previously authorized in writing by the
Corporation, (ii) counsel to the Corporation or Indemnitee shall have reasonably concluded that
there may be a conflict of interest or position, or reasonably believes that a conflict is likely
to arise, on any significant issue between the Corporation and Indemnitee in the conduct of any
such defense or (iii) the Corporation shall not, in fact, have employed counsel to assume the
defense of such action, suit or proceeding, then the fees and expenses of Indemnitee’s counsel
shall be at the expense of the Corporation, except as otherwise expressly provided by this
Agreement. The Corporation shall not be entitled, without the consent of Indemnitee, to assume the
defense of any claim brought by or in the right of the Corporation or

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as to which counsel for the Corporation shall have reasonably made the conclusion provided for
in clause (ii) above.

          (d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, to the extent that
Indemnitee is, by reason of Indemnitee’s corporate status with respect to the Corporation or any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise which
Indemnitee is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation, a witness or
otherwise participates in any action, suit or proceeding at a time when Indemnitee is not a party
in the action, suit or proceeding, the Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee against all expenses
(including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s
behalf in connection therewith.

     Section 5. Procedure for Indemnification

          (a) To obtain indemnification, Indemnitee shall promptly submit to the Corporation a written
request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably
available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent
Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification. The Corporation shall, promptly upon receipt of such a
request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested
indemnification.

          (b) The Corporation’s determination whether to grant Indemnitee’s indemnification request
shall be made promptly, and in any event within 60 days following receipt of a request for
indemnification pursuant to Section 5(a). The right to indemnification as granted by Section 1 of
this Agreement shall be enforceable by Indemnitee in any court of competent jurisdiction if the
Corporation denies such request, in whole or in part, or fails to respond within such 60-day
period. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a claim
for the advance of costs, charges and expenses under Section 4 hereof where the required
undertaking, if any, has been received by the Corporation) that Indemnitee has not met the standard
of conduct set forth in Section 1 hereof, but the burden of proving such defense by clear and
convincing evidence shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including
its Board of Directors or one of its committees, its independent legal counsel, and its
stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that
indemnification of Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because Indemnitee has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 hereof, nor the fact that there has been an
actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors or one of its committees,
its independent legal counsel, and its stockholders) that Indemnitee has not met such applicable
standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has
or has not met the applicable standard of conduct. The Indemnitee’s expenses (including attorneys’
fees) incurred in connection with successfully establishing Indemnitee’s right to indemnification,
in whole or in part, in any such proceeding or otherwise shall also be indemnified by the
Corporation.

          (c) The Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification under this Agreement
upon submission of a request for indemnification pursuant to this Section 5, and the Corporation
shall have the burden of proof in overcoming that presumption in reaching a determination contrary
to that presumption. Such presumption shall be used as a basis for a

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determination of entitlement to indemnification unless the Corporation overcomes such
presumption by clear and convincing evidence.

     Section 6. Insurance and Subrogation.

          (a) The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of Indemnitee who is or was
or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of the
Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan
or other enterprise against any liability asserted against, and incurred by, Indemnitee or on
Indemnitee’s behalf in any such capacity, or arising out of Indemnitee’s status as such, whether or
not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify Indemnitee against such liability under the
provisions of this Agreement. If the Corporation has such insurance in effect at the time the
Corporation receives from Indemnitee any notice of the commencement of a proceeding, the
Corporation shall give prompt notice of the commencement of such proceeding to the insurers in
accordance with the procedures set forth in the policy. The Corporation shall thereafter take all
necessary or desirable action to cause such insurers to pay, on behalf of the Indemnitee, all
amounts payable as a result of such proceeding in accordance with the terms of such policy.

          (b) In the event of any payment by the Corporation under this Agreement, the Corporation shall
be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee with
respect to any insurance policy, who shall execute all papers required and take all action
necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable
the Corporation to bring suit to enforce such rights in accordance with the terms of such insurance
policy. The Corporation shall pay or reimburse all expenses actually and reasonably incurred by
Indemnitee in connection with such subrogation.

          (c) The Corporation shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts
otherwise indemnifiable hereunder (including, but not limited to, judgments, fines, ERISA excise
taxes or penalties, and amounts paid in settlement) if and to the extent that Indemnitee has
otherwise actually received such payment under this Agreement or any insurance policy, contract,
agreement or otherwise.

     Section 7. Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following
definitions shall apply:

          (a) The term “action, suit or proceeding” shall be broadly construed and shall include,
without limitation, the investigation, preparation, prosecution, defense, settlement, arbitration
and appeal of, and the giving of testimony in, any threatened, pending or completed claim, action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative.

          (b) The term “by reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the Corporation, or while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was
serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee
or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise” shall be broadly construed and shall include, without limitation, any actual or alleged
act or omission to act.

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          (c) The term “expenses” shall be broadly and reasonably construed and shall include, without
limitation, all direct and indirect costs of any type or nature whatsoever (including, without
limitation, all attorneys’ fees and related disbursements, appeal bonds, other out-of-pocket costs
and reasonable compensation for time spent by Indemnitee for which Indemnitee is not otherwise
compensated by the Corporation or any third party, provided that the rate of compensation and
estimated time involved is approved by the Board, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld), actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in connection with either the
investigation, defense or appeal of a proceeding or establishing or enforcing a right to
indemnification under this Agreement, Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware or otherwise.

          (d) The term “judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement” shall be broadly construed and
shall include, without limitation, all direct and indirect payments of any type or nature
whatsoever (including, without limitation, all penalties and amounts required to be forfeited or
reimbursed to the Corporation, as well as any penalties or excise taxes assessed on a person with
respect to an employee benefit plan).

          (e) The term “Corporation” shall include, without limitation and in addition to the resulting
corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a
consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and
authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is
or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving
at the request of such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall
stand in the same position under the provisions of this Agreement with respect to the resulting or
surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its
separate existence had continued.

          (f) The term “other enterprises” shall include, without limitation, employee benefit plans.

          (g) The term “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include, without limitation,
any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on,
or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee
benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries.

          (h) A person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in
the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to
have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in
this Agreement.

     Section 8. Limitation on Indemnification. Notwithstanding any other provision herein
to the contrary, the Corporation shall not be obligated pursuant to this Agreement:

          (a) Claims Initiated by Indemnitee. To indemnify or advance expenses to Indemnitee
with respect to an action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by Indemnitee, except
with respect to an action, suit or proceeding brought to establish or enforce a right to
indemnification (which shall be governed by the provisions of Section 8(b) of this Agreement),
unless such

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action, suit or proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized or consented to by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation.

          (b) Action for Indemnification. To indemnify Indemnitee for any expenses incurred by
Indemnitee with respect to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by Indemnitee to enforce or
interpret this Agreement, unless Indemnitee is successful in establishing Indemnitee’s right to
indemnification in such action, suit or proceeding, in whole or in part, or unless and to the
extent that the court in such action, suit or proceeding shall determine that, despite Indemnitee’s
failure to establish their right to indemnification, Indemnitee is entitled to indemnity for such
expenses; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 8(b) is intended to limit the
Corporation’s obligation with respect to the advancement of expenses to Indemnitee in connection
with any such action, suit or proceeding instituted by Indemnitee to enforce or interpret this
Agreement, as provided in Section 4 hereof.

          (c) Section 16 Violations. To indemnify Indemnitee on account of any proceeding with
respect to which final judgment is rendered against Indemnitee for payment or an accounting of
profits arising from the purchase or sale by Indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 16(b)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor statute.

          (d) Non-compete and Non-disclosure. To indemnify Indemnitee in connection with
proceedings or claims involving the enforcement of non-compete and/or non-disclosure agreements or
the non-compete and/or non-disclosure provisions of employment, consulting or similar agreements
the Indemnitee may be a party to with the Corporation, or any subsidiary of the Corporation or any
other applicable foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, if any.

     Section 9. Certain Settlement Provisions. The Corporation shall have no obligation to
indemnify Indemnitee under this Agreement for amounts paid in settlement of any action, suit or
proceeding without the Corporation’s prior written consent, which shall not be unreasonably
withheld. The Corporation shall not settle any action, suit or proceeding in any manner that would
impose any fine or other obligation on Indemnitee without Indemnitee’s prior written consent, which
shall not be unreasonably withheld.

     Section 10. Savings Clause. If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be
invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall
nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee as to costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including an action by or in the right of
the Corporation, to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Agreement that
shall not have been invalidated and to the full extent permitted by applicable law.

     Section 11. Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in
circumstances in which the indemnification provided for herein is held by a court of competent
jurisdiction to be unavailable to Indemnitee in whole or in part, it is agreed that, in such event,
the Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, contribute to the payment of
Indemnitee’s costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative, in an amount that is just and equitable in the circumstances,

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taking into account, among other things, contributions by other directors and officers of the
Corporation or others pursuant to indemnification agreements or otherwise; provided, that, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, such contribution shall not be required where such
holding by the court is due to (i) the failure of Indemnitee to meet the standard of conduct set
forth in Section 1 hereof, or (ii) any limitation on indemnification set forth in Section 6(c), 8
or 9 hereof.

     Section 12. Form and Delivery of Communications. Any notice, request or other
communication required or permitted to be given to the parties under this Agreement shall be in
writing and either delivered in person or sent by telecopy, telex, telegram, overnight mail or
courier service, or certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to the
parties at the following addresses (or at such other addresses for a party as shall be specified by
like notice):

If to the Corporation:

Peabody Energy Corporation

701 Market Street

St. Louis, MO 63101

Attn: Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer

Facsimile: (314) 342-3419

If to Indemnitee:

Alexander C. Schoch

4545 Forest Park Ave., Apt. 420

St. Louis, MO 63108

Facsimile:

     Section 13. Subsequent Legislation. If the General Corporation Law of Delaware is
amended after adoption of this Agreement to expand further the indemnification permitted to
directors or officers, then the Corporation shall indemnify Indemnitee to the fullest extent
permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as so amended.

     Section 14. Nonexclusivity. The provisions for indemnification and advancement of
expenses set forth in this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights which
Indemnitee may have under any provision of law, the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or
By-Laws, in any court in which a proceeding is brought, the vote of the Corporation’s stockholders
or disinterested directors, other agreements or otherwise, and Indemnitee’s rights hereunder shall
continue after Indemnitee has ceased acting as an agent of the Corporation and shall inure to the
benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of Indemnitee. However, no amendment or
alteration of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws or any other agreement
shall adversely affect the rights provided to Indemnitee under this
Agreement.

     Section 15. Enforcement. The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any
judicial proceeding that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding
and enforceable. The Corporation agrees that its execution of this Agreement shall constitute a
stipulation by which it shall be irrevocably bound in any court of competent jurisdiction in which

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a proceeding by Indemnitee for enforcement of his rights hereunder shall have been commenced,
continued or appealed, that its obligations set forth in this Agreement are unique and special, and
that failure of the Corporation to comply with the provisions of this Agreement will cause
irreparable and irremediable injury to Indemnitee, for which a remedy at law will be inadequate. As
a result, in addition to any other right or remedy Indemnitee may have at law or in equity with
respect to breach of this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to injunctive or mandatory relief
directing specific performance by the Corporation of its obligations under this Agreement.

     Section 16. Interpretation of Agreement. It is understood that the parties hereto
intend this Agreement to be interpreted and enforced so as to provide indemnification to Indemnitee
to the fullest extent now or hereafter permitted by law.

     Section 17. Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents expressly referred to
herein constitute the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the matters
covered hereby, and any other prior or contemporaneous oral or written understandings or agreements
with respect to the matters covered hereby are expressly superceded by this Agreement.

     Section 18. Modification and Waiver. No supplement, modification or amendment of this
Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto. No waiver of
any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other
provision hereof (whether or not similar) nor shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.

     Section 19. Successor and Assigns. All of the terms and provisions of this Agreement
shall be binding upon, shall inure to the benefit of and shall be enforceable by the parties hereto
and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, executors, administrators and legal
representatives. The Corporation shall require and cause any direct or indirect successor (whether
by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all or substantially all of the business or
assets of the Corporation, by written agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the
same extent that the Corporation would be required to perform if no such succession had taken
place.

     Section 20. Service of Process and Venue. For purposes of any claims or proceedings to
enforce this agreement, the Corporation consents to the jurisdiction and venue of any federal or
state court of competent jurisdiction in the states of Delaware and Missouri, and waives and agrees
not to raise any defense that any such court is an inconvenient forum or any similar claim.

     Section 21. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed exclusively by and
construed according to the laws of the State of Delaware, as applied to contracts between Delaware
residents entered into and to be performed entirely within Delaware. If a court of competent
jurisdiction shall make a final determination that the provisions of the law of any state other
than Delaware govern indemnification by the Corporation of its officers and directors, then the
indemnification provided under this Agreement shall in all instances be enforceable to the fullest
extent permitted under such law, notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary.

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     Section 22. Employment Rights. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to create in
Indemnitee any right to employment or continued employment.

     Section 23. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which together shall be deemed to be one
and the same instrument, notwithstanding that both parties are not signatories to the original or
same counterpart.

     Section 24. Headings. The section and subsection headings contained in this Agreement
are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered to be effective as of
the date first above written.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	PEABODY ENERGY CORPORATION

 	 
	 	By:  	                                   /s/ Sharon D. Fiehler
 	 
	 	 	Sharon D. Fiehler 	 
	 	 	Executive Vice President and

Chief Administrative Officer 	 
	 
	 	INDEMNITEE:

 	 
	 	By:  	                                           /s/ Alexander C. Schoch
 	 
	 	 	Alexander C. Schoch 	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

11exv10w12

EXHIBIT 10.12

ANIXTER INC. EXCESS BENEFIT PLAN

RESTATED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2009

     1. History and Purpose: Anixter Inc. (the “Company”) established the Anixter Bros.,
Inc. Excess Benefit Plan effective as of August 1, 1985. The Anixter Bros., Inc. Excess Benefit
Plan has been amended from time to time to reflect Company directives and to comply with changes in
applicable law, including Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”). This restatement, effective January 1, 2009, consolidates all prior amendments, updates
references, makes nonsubstantive changes and renames the Anixter Bros., Inc. Excess Benefit Plan as
the Anixter Inc. Excess Benefit Plan (the “Excess Plan”). The purpose of the Excess Plan is to
provide the benefits which designated participants in the Anixter Inc. Pension Plan (the “Pension
Plan”) would have received under the Pension Plan except for the maximum benefit limitations
prescribed by the Pension Plan and the Code (the “Benefit Limitations”).

     2. Eligibility and Participation: An employee shall be a participant in and entitled
to benefits under the Excess Plan (a “Participant”) if:

	 	(a)	 	He is a participant in the Pension Plan, and
	 
	 	(b)	 	He is designated as a Participant in this Excess Plan by the
Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”).

     3. Amount of Benefit: The amount of the benefit under the Excess Plan shall be the
amount by which (a) below exceeds (b) below:

	 	(a)	 	The amount of the benefit which the Participant (or his
surviving spouse or other beneficiary (a “Beneficiary”)) would have been
entitled to receive under the Pension Plan without regard to the Benefit
Limitations set forth in the Pension Plan and contained herein and without
regard to the additional benefit described in Supplement 3 to the Pension Plan,
if any.

 

 

	 	(b)	 	The amount of the benefit which the Participant (or his
Beneficiary) is entitled to receive under the Pension Plan.

     4. Benefit Payments: Any former Participant who terminated employment with the
Company on or before December 31, 2004, was fully vested in the Excess Plan and received no further
accruals after that date shall have his benefits payable at the same time and in the same manner
and form as the benefits under the Anixter Inc. Pension Plan. Benefit payments to all other
Participants shall be made as follows.

	 	(a)	 	Normal Benefit Commencement Date. Unless a Participant has made a
timely election under subsection (b) below, the payment of benefits under the Excess
Plan will commence on the first day of the month coincident with or next following the
date when a Participant no longer performs services for the Company due to: (i)
Retirement; (ii) Disability; or (iii) if the Participant has made an election to
receive his benefits in the form of a 50% Joint and Survivor Annuity under subsection
(c) below, death. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that a
Participant incurs a separation from service prior to obtaining age fifty-five (55),
payment of his benefit shall not commence until the later of the first day of the month
coincident with or next following the date that such Participant attains age sixty-five
(65), or such other later date as provided herein.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Optional Benefit Commencement Date. A Participant may elect to delay
the normal benefit commencement date specified in subsection (a) above to commence on
the first day of any month after he no longer performs services for the Company due to
an event described in subsections (a)(i) through (a)(iii) above in accordance with this
subsection (b). If eligible to make an election under this subsection (b), a
Participant may elect to delay commencement of benefits to any permissible date up to
his Normal Retirement Date, and such Participant’s monthly benefit amount as of such
commencement date shall be adjusted so as to be Actuarially Equivalent to a Life
Annuity (or Joint and Survivor Annuity, if so

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	 	 	 	elected) commencing on his Normal Retirement Date. To be effective, any such
election of an optional benefit commencement date must meet all of the following
requirements: (i) the election must be made not less than twelve (12) months prior
to the date benefits would have otherwise commenced; (ii) unless a payment relates
to Disability or death, the election must be made before the Participant attains age
sixty (60), and commencement of benefit payments must be deferred for a period of no
less than five (5) years from the date the benefit payments would otherwise have
commenced; and (iii) the election shall not take effect until at least twelve (12)
months after the date on which such election is made.

	 	(c)	 	Form of Payment. The normal form of payment of benefits under the
Excess Plan will be a Life Annuity. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant may
choose to receive his benefits under the Excess Plan in the form of a 50% Joint and
Survivor Annuity for the life of the Participant and any Beneficiary, rather than in
the form of a Life Annuity. If the Participant designates a Beneficiary which is not
an individual, the Beneficiary shall be deemed to have the same life expectancy as the
Participant. In such event, the monthly Joint and Survivor Annuity benefits shall be
adjusted so as to be Actuarially Equivalent to the Participant’s monthly Life Annuity
benefit, and the amount of the survivor annuity shall be fifty percent (50%) of the
Participant’s monthly Joint and Survivor Annuity benefit payable to the Participant.
	 
	 	(d)	 	Cash Out of Small Amounts. Notwithstanding the request of a
Participant or Beneficiary, if the present value of a Participant’s benefit as of his
commencement date is calculated to be less than the applicable dollar amount for
elective deferrals under Code Section 402(g)(1)(B) then in effect (as adjusted for
cost-of-living increases under Code Section 402(g)(4)), the Company shall distribute
the Participant’s benefit in a lump sum to the Participant or Beneficiary as soon as
practicable on or after such Participant’s commencement date.

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	 	(e)	 	Delay in Commencement for Specified Employees. Notwithstanding
anything in this Section 4 to the contrary, if a Participant is a “specified employee”
within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code as of the date he no longer
performs services for the Company due to an event specified in subsections (a)(i)
through (a)(iii) above, no benefit shall be paid from the Excess Plan sooner than the
first day of the month that is at least six (6) months after such date. In such event,
the benefit shall be determined as if payments had commenced as originally provided
herein, and the first payment to the Participant shall include an amount equal to the
sum of periodic payments which would have been paid to such Participant but for the six
(6) month delay required by Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(9) of the Code.
	 
	 	(f)	 	Definitions. The following definitions apply to terms used in this
Section 4:

	 	(i)	 	“Actuarially Equivalent” has the meaning ascribed in Section
1.01 of the Pension Plan.
	 
	 	(ii)	 	“Disability” means the Participant is: (A) unable to engage in
any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable
physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can
be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12)
months; (B) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental
impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last
for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income
replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an
accident and health plan covering employees of the Company; or (C) determined
to be totally disabled by the Social Security Administration or the Railroad
Retirement Board.
	 
	 	(iii)	 	“Joint and Survivor Annuity” means a monthly annuity that is
paid to the retired Participant with a survivor annuity paid during the life of
the surviving spouse or nonspouse beneficiary after the Participant’s death.

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	 	(iv)	 	“Life Annuity” means a monthly annuity that is paid to the
retired Participant for as long as he lives and which does not provide for any
payments to a Beneficiary following the Participant’s death.
	 
	 	(v)	 	“Normal Retirement Date” means the first day of the month
coincident with or next following a Participant’s sixty-fifth (65th)
birthday.
	 
	 	(vi)	 	“Retirement” means a Participant’s “separation from service” as
defined in Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(h)(1)(i) which occurs on or after his
attainment of age fifty-five (55).

     5. Funding: The benefits under the Excess Plan shall be paid from the general assets
of the Company. The Company shall not be required to segregate any assets to be used for payment
of benefits under the Excess Plan.

     6. General Provisions:

	 	(a)	 	Employment Rights. The Excess Plan does not constitute
a contract of employment and participation in the Excess Plan will not give any
employee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company, nor any right
or claim to a benefit under the Excess Plan unless specifically provided by the
Excess Plan.
	 
	 	(b)	 	Interests Not Transferable. The interests of persons
entitled to benefits under the Excess Plan are not subject to their debts or
other obligations and, except as may be required by the tax withholding
provision of the Code, or any state’s income tax act or pursuant to compliance
with a qualified domestic relations order pursuant to the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, may not be voluntarily or
involuntarily transferred, assigned, alienated or encumbered.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Controlling Law. The internal laws of Illinois
excepting any conflicts of law provisions shall be controlling in all matters
relating to the Excess Plan except to the extent superseded by the laws of the
United States.

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	 	(d)	 	Gender and Number. Where the context admits, words in
the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders, the
singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular.
	 
	 	(e)	 	Action by Company. Any action required or permitted by
the Company under the Excess Plan shall be by resolution of its Board or any
persons authorized by resolution of its Board.
	 
	 	(f)	 	Interpretation. This Excess Plan shall be administered
and interpreted by the Board in its discretion, and all Participants shall be
bound by the decision of the Board, which shall be final and conclusive.

     7. Committee Administration.

	 	(a)	 	In General. The Excess Plan shall be administered by
the Anixter Inc. Employee Benefits Administrative Committee or any successor
thereto (the “Committee”), which shall have the sole authority to construe and
interpret the terms and provisions of the Excess Plan and determine the amount,
manner and time of payment of any benefits hereunder. The Committee shall
maintain records, make the requisite calculations and disburse payments
hereunder, and its interpretations, determinations, regulations and
calculations shall be final and binding on all persons and parties concerned.
The Committee may adopt such rules as it deems necessary, desirable or
appropriate in administering the Excess Plan and the Committee may act at a
meeting, in a writing without a meeting, or by having actions otherwise taken
by a member of the Committee pursuant to a delegation of duties from the
Committee. The Committee may, in its discretion, delegate its duties to an
officer or other employee of the Company, or to a committee composed of
officers or employees of the Company. The determination of the Committee as to
any disputed questions arising under this Excess Plan, whether of law or of
fact, or mixed questions of law and fact, including questions of construction
and interpretation, shall be final, binding, and conclusive upon all persons.
No

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	 	 	 	member of the Committee may act, vote, or otherwise influence a decision of
the Committee specifically relating to his benefits, if any, under the
Excess Plan.

	 	(b)	 	Claims Procedure. If the Committee denies a benefit,
in whole or in part, it shall advise the Participant or Beneficiary, as
applicable, of (i) the specific basis or bases for the denial (ii) references
to the specific Excess Plan provisions upon which the denial is based (iii) a
description of any additional material or information that the Participant or
beneficiary needs to process the claim, and an explanation of why that material
or information is necessary; and (iv) a statement of the Excess Plan’s appeal
procedures as hereinafter set forth. Any person dissatisfied with the
Committee’s determination of a claim for benefits hereunder must file a written
request for reconsideration with the Committee within sixty (60) days of the
denial by the Committee. Such person has the right to request, free of charge,
and obtain copies of all documents, records, and other information that was
relied upon by the Committee in denying such person’s benefits or was
submitted, considered, or generated in the course of making the benefit denial,
regardless of whether it was used in denying the claim. This request must
include a written explanation setting forth the specific reasons for such
reconsideration. The Committee shall review its determination within sixty
(60) days, plus an extension for an additional sixty (60) days in special
circumstances, and render a written decision with respect to the claim, setting
forth the specific reasons for such denial written in a manner calculated to be
understood by the claimant. Such claimant shall be given a reasonable time
within which to comment, in writing, to the Committee with respect to such
explanation. The Committee shall review its determination promptly and render
a written decision with respect to the claim. Such decision upon matters
within the scope of the authority of the Committee shall be conclusive,
binding, and final upon all claimants under this Excess Plan. No claimant may
bring any action challenging a decision of the Committee at any time

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	 	 	 	more than one year after the final written decision of the Committee is
rendered.
	 
	 	(c)	 	Indemnity of Committee. To the maximum extent
permitted by applicable law, the Company shall indemnify, hold harmless and
defend the Committee, each member of the Committee, any employee of the
Company, or any individual acting as an employee or agent of any of it (to the
extent not indemnified or saved harmless under any liability insurance or any
other indemnification arrangement) from any and all claims, losses, damages,
liabilities, costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) arising out of any
actual or alleged act or failure to act made in good faith in connection with
the Excess Plan (or any related trust agreement), including expenses reasonably
incurred in the defense of any claim relating thereto

     8. Amendment or Termination: The Company may amend or terminate the Excess Plan at
any time, except that, without the consent of any Participant in the Excess Plan, no such amendment
or termination shall reduce his right to receive any benefit accrued hereunder prior to the date of
such amendment or termination.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this restatement of the Anixter Inc. Excess Benefit
Plan to be executed by its duly authorized officer as of this 23rd day of February,
2009 to be effective as of January 1, 2009.

	 	 	 	 	 
	 	 	Anixter Inc.
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	By:
	 	/s/ Bradd Easton
	 

	 	 	 	 
	 
	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	Title:
	 	Associate General Counsel
	 

	 	 	 	 

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