X0202 3 2007-11-28 0 0001297720 James River Coal CO JRCC 0001133521 STEELHEAD PARTNERS LLC 1301 FIRST AVENUE, SUITE 201 SEATTLE WA 98101 0 0 0 1 See footnotes 0001327721 JOHNSTON JAMES MICHAEL 1301 FIRST AVENUE, SUITE 201 SEATTLE WA 98101 0 0 0 1 See footnotes 0001327722 KLEIN BRIAN KATZ 1301 FIRST AVENUE, SUITE 201 SEATTLE WA 98101 0 0 0 1 See footnotes Common Stock, $.01 par value per share 3250464 I See footnotes The reporting persons are: (i) Steelhead Partners, LLC ("Steelhead"), a registered investment advisor within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(a)(1)(v) under the Exchange Act; and (ii) each of James Michael Johnston and Brian Katz Klein, Steelhead's member-managers. The securities reported on this Form 3 are held directly by: (i) the J-K Navigator Fund, L.P. ("Navigator"), (ii) The J.K. One Fund, L.P. ("One Fund"), (iii) Steelhead Pathfinder Fund, L.P. ("Pathfinder", and collectively with Navigator and One Fund, the "Domestic Funds"), and (iv) Steelhead Offshore, Ltd. (the "Offshore Fund", and collectively with the Domestic Funds, the "Funds") none of which, for Section 16 purposes, is itself the beneficial owner of more than 10% of the issuer's common stock. 1,794,392 shares of common stock reported on this Form 3 are beneficially held by Navigator, 20,000 shares are beneficially held by One Fund, 7,000 shares are beneficially held by Pathfinder, and 1,429,072 shares are beneficially held by the Offshore Fund. Steelhead is the general partner and investment manager of the Domestic Funds and the investment manager of the Offshore Fund. Although none of the Funds is itself the beneficial owner of more than 10% of the issuer's common stock, Steelhead and the other reporting persons may be deemed to beneficially own the securities owned by the Funds insofar as they may be deemed to have the power to direct the voting or disposition of such securities. The reporting persons have elected therefore to file this Form 3 voluntarily to report the Funds' holdings on an aggregate basis, notwithstanding the reporting exemption applicable to registered investment advisors under Rule 16a-1(a)(1)(v) and to control persons under Rule 16a-1(a)(1)(vii). The filing of this Form 3 should not, however, be deemed an admission by any of the reporting persons that such person falls outside the scope of the foregoing exemptions, or that the reporting persons and/or the Funds form a group within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(a)(1). (see footnote 3) continued from footnote 2). Each of Steelhead, Mr. Johnston, Mr. Klein and the Funds expressly disclaims beneficial ownership in these securities, except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interests therein. Steelhead Partners, LLC; By: J. Michael Johnston, its Member-Manager; /s/ J. Michael Johnston 2007-12-05 J. Michael Johnston; /s/ J. Michael Johnston 2007-12-05 Brian K. Klein; /s/ Briian K. Klein 2007-12-05