Walter Energy Names Paul Blalock Head – Investor Relations

BIRMINGHAM, AL — (Marketwire) — 07/21/11 — (NYSE: WLT) (TSX: WLT), the world–s leading, publicly traded “pure play” producer of for the global steel industry, today named Paul Blalock head – investor relations. Blalock will be the Company–s primary contact for the investment community.

Blalock joins Walter Energy from Clearwire Corporation, a leading provider of wireless broadband services, where he has been vice president – investor relations since 2010. Prior to joining Clearwire, Blalock was senior vice president – investor relations at SIRIUS Satellite Radio. He was vice president – investor relations for Nextel Communications, Inc. from 1995 to 2005 and has spent more than 20 years in investor relations in the telecommunications industry.

He holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville and a Bachelor–s Degree in Economics from Henderson State University.

About Walter Energy

is the world–s leading, publicly traded “pure play” producer for the global steel industry. The Company also produces and , , and . The Company has strategic access to high-growth steel markets in Asia, South America and Europe. Walter Energy had 2010 pro forma revenues of approximately $2.3 billion and employs approximately 4,400 employees and contractors with operations in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom. For more information about Walter Energy, please visit the company website at .