Alliance Holdings is pleased to announce that an interactive tutorial program is now available through the company’s website at http://www.allianceholdings.com/tutorial/index.html. The presentation is designed to make sure that potential and existing Alliance operating companies and their employees all have access to the latest details and benefits of our ESOP program. Segmented into four different tracks, Alliance’s interactive tool addresses the many different perspectives of those considering or involved in our ESOP, in a format that’s easy to understand and use. The viewer is able to navigate at their own pace through each track or with the help of the navigational tool.

The first track of the tutorial provides the basics of employee stock ownership plans including the way they are set up, how they operate, and the tax incentives that may be realized through an ESOP. The second track is specifically designed for existing employee owners in the Alliance family of companies. This track provides insightful answers to questions relating to the unique structure of Alliance Holdings, the definition of a holding company, who is eligible to participate in the Alliance ESOP, annual allocations, and employee vesting.

The third and fourth tracks of the tutorial speak to employers who are looking to partner with Alliance. Companies who do not currently have an ESOP will find many answers to their questions in track three, while track four is designed for companies that currently have an ESOP in place. Both tracks present a number of significant benefits that being a part of the Alliance ESOP would offer.

Development of this tutorial is particularly noteworthy because our ESOP is so uniquely designed that general information available about other types of ESOPs is occasionally not applicable. Unlike other programs, we offer a diversified ESOP, allowing members to participate in the ownership of all of the Alliance companies.