SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Schedule TO

(Rule 14d-100)

TENDER OFFER STATEMENT UNDER SECTION 14(d)(1) OR 13(e)(1) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

JAMES RIVER COAL COMPANY

(Name of Subject Company (Issuer) and Filing Person (as Offeror))

4.50% SENIOR CONVERTIBLE NOTES DUE 2015

(Title of Class of Securities)

470355AF5

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

and

3.125% CONVERTIBLE SENIOR SECURED NOTES DUE 2018

(Title of Class of Securities)

470355AH1

(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)

Peter T. Socha

President and Chief Executive Officer

James River Coal Company

901 E. Byrd Street, Suite 1600

Richmond, Virginia 23219

(804) 780-3000

(Name, address and telephone number of person authorized to receive

notices and communications on behalf of filing persons)

Copies to:

CALCULATION OF FILING FEE

Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results of the tender offer: o

INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT

This issuer tender offer statement on Schedule TO (this “Schedule TO”) is being filed by James River Coal Company, a Virginia corporation (the “Company”), pursuant to Rule 13e-4 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in connection with its offer to exchange (the “Exchange Offers”) (i) up to $31,739,040 aggregate principal amount of its 10.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018 (the “new notes”) for any and all of its outstanding 4.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015 (CUSIP No. 470355AF5) (the “existing 2015 notes”) and (ii) up to $22,704,880 aggregate principal amount of its new notes for any and all of its outstanding 3.125% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018 (CUSIP No. 470355AH1) (the “existing 2018 notes”). The Exchange Offers are made upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Company’s preliminary prospectus (as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Prospectus”) and the related Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”), each of which forms a part of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-189403) initially filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on June 18, 2013, as amended from time to time (the “Registration Statement”).

All of the information set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and Letter of Transmittal, and any supplement or amendment thereto, related to the Exchange Offers hereafter filed by the Company with the SEC, is hereby incorporated by reference into this Schedule TO in answer to Items 1 through 11 of this Schedule TO.

Item 1. Summary Term Sheet.

The information in the Prospectus under the heading “The Exchange Offers” is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2. Subject Company Information.

Item 3. Identity and Background of Filing Person.

Pursuant to General Instruction C to Schedule TO, the following persons are the executive officers and directors of the Company:

The business address and telephone number of each of the above executive officers and directors of the Company is c/o James River Coal Company, 901 East Byrd Street, Suite 1600, Richmond, Virginia 23219; telephone number (804) 780-3000.

Item 4. Terms of the Transaction.

Item 5. Past Contracts, Transactions, Negotiations and Agreements.

The information in the Prospectus under the headings “Summary,” “Description of Other Indebtedness” and “Description of Capital Stock” is incorporated herein by reference.

The Company sponsors certain equity-based compensation plans. See the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed August 13, 2004), the Amendment to the Company’s 2004 Equity Incentive Plan, incorporated herein by reference to Appendix B to the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Form 14A filed with the SEC April 30, 2009 and the Company’s 2012 Equity Incentive Plan (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 9, 2012). For further information regarding the terms of the Company’s equity-based compensation plans and agreements, see Note 7 to the Company’s December 31, 2012 consolidated financial statements (incorporated herein by reference to such Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, filed with the SEC on March 8, 2013). The information in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 4, 2013, under the headings “Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans” and “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” is also incorporated herein by reference.

With respect to the existing 2015 notes, the Company entered into an Indenture, dated as of November 20, 2009, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (including the form of 4.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2015), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 25, 2009. With respect to the existing 2018 notes, the Company entered into an Indenture, dated as of March 29, 2011, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (including the form of 3.125% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 29, 2011. With respect to the Company’s 10.00% Convertible Senior Notes due 2018, the Company (i) entered into an Indenture, dated as of May 22, 2013, by and among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (including the Form of Note), incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 22, 2013, and (ii) will enter into a Supplemental Indenture, to be dated as of the settlement date for the exchange offers, by and among the Company, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee, the form of which is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to the Registration Statement.

Item 6. Purposes of the Transaction and Plans or Proposals.

Item 7. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

Item 8. Interest in Securities of the Subject Company.

Item 9. Persons/Assets, Retained, Employed, Compensated or Used.

Item 10. Financial Statements.

The following financial statements and information are incorporated herein by reference:

Copies of the financial statements incorporated herein by reference pursuant to this Item 10 can be obtained at no cost by telephone request at (804) 780-3000 or by written request by mail at: James River Coal Company, 901 East Byrd Street, Suite 1600, Richmond, Virginia 23219, Attention: Investor Relations. For more information, see the Prospectus under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”

Item 11. Additional Information.

Item 12. Exhibits.

Item 13. Information Required by Schedule 13E-3.

Not Applicable.

SIGNATURE

After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

INDEX TO EXHIBITS