Walter Energy is a leading producer and exporter of metallurgical coal for the global steel industry with strategic access to high-growth steel markets in Asia, South America and Europe. The company also produces thermal coal, anthracite, metallurgical coke and coal bed methane gas. We trace our roots back to 1946 when Jim Walter began a homebuilding business in Tampa, Florida. Although initially focused on homebuilding, the company Mr. Walter founded later became Jim Walter Corporation and branched out into different businesses, including the 1972 development of four underground coal mines in the Blue Creek coal seam near Brookwood, Alabama. Today, Walter Energy has 15 mines in three countries and produced 11.7 million metric tons of coal with sales of $2.4 billion in 2012.