8-K

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)       June 10, 2004

PEABODY ENERGY CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization) 1-16463
(Commission File Number) 13-4004153
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

701 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri		63101
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code	(314) 342-3400

N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

	Item 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.
	Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
SIGNATURE
Press Release

Item 5. Other Events and Regulation FD Disclosure.

On June 10, 2004, Peabody Energy Corporation (“Peabody”) announced via press release that it had signed a definitive agreement to purchase a 25.5 percent interest in the Paso Diablo Mine in Venezuela from RAG Coal International AG for US$37.5 million in cash. A copy of Peabody’s press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

(c) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description of Exhibit
99.1	Press release of Peabody Energy Corporation dated June 10, 2004.

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SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	PEABODY ENERGY CORPORATION
	/s/ Richard A. Navarre
Date: June 15, 2004	Richard A. Navarre
	Executive Vice President and
	Chief Financial Officer

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EX-99.1

	Exhibit 99.1
	PEABODY ENERGY
	NEWS

June 10, 2004

PEABODY ENERGY SIGNS DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT
TO PURCHASE 25.5% INTEREST IN VENEZUELA MINE

     Peabody Energy announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to purchase a 25.5 percent interest in the Paso Diablo Mine in Venezuela from RAG Coal International AG for US$37.5 million in cash. The transaction is expected to be accretive to earnings in the first 12 months.

     Paso Diablo is a 6.5 to 7.0 million tonne-per-year operation that exports coal for electricity generators and steel makers in North America and Europe. On a pro forma basis, the 2003 net earnings contribution for the 25.5 percent ownership would have been approximately US$8 million for the full year. The purchase is subject to certain conditions that, if fulfilled, would lead to an expected closing within the next several months.

Certain statements in this press release are forward looking as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations as of the date of this release. For detailed risk factors, please refer to the company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These factors are difficult to accurately predict and may be beyond the control of the company.