Peabody Energy Corporation (Peabody) is a coal company. As of December 31, 2011, the Company owned interests in 30 coal mining operations, including an interest in 29 coal operations located in the United States and Australia and a 50% interest in the Middlemount Mine in Australia. Peabody�s operations consist of four principal segments: its three mining segments and its Trading and Brokerage segment. Its three mining segments include Western U.S. Mining, Midwestern U.S. Mining and Australian Mining. Peabody�s fifth segment, Corporate and Other, includes mining and export/transportation joint ventures, energy-related commercial activities, as well as the management of its coal reserve and real estate holdings. Peabody also owns interest in a joint venture mining operation in Venezuela. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it acquired Macarthur Coal Limited.