UPDATE 1-Alpha actively looking at acquisitions--president

(Adds details, quotes, capital markets transaction)

By Haitham Haddadin

NEW ORLEANS, April 7 (Reuters) - Coal producer Alpha Natural Resources Inc (ANR.N) is actively looking for companies and reserves to acquire, President Kevin Crutchfield said on Monday.

"We were actively looking at acquisition opportunities ..." Crutchfield told analysts at the April 6-10 Howard Weil Energy Conference in New Orleans, adding that his company was set to benefit from high coal prices.

Alpha Natural Resources was interested both in acquiring companies and reserves, Vice President and Controller Eddie Neely told Reuters when asked about the planned acquisitions.

Crutchfield said his company has 19 million tons of planned 2009-2010 metallurgical coal production uncommitted and unpriced, as well as 25 million tons of thermal coal production over the same two-year period that was also uncommitted and unpriced.

"Alpha is now leveraging prices in thermal markets," Crutchfield said in his presentation.

Separately, the Abingdon, Virginia-based company on Monday announced that it has closed a public offering of more than 4.18 million shares as well as convertible senior notes, with the proceeds possibly used partly to fund acquisitions.

The aggregate gross proceeds were about $460 million in both offerings, which the company said were significantly oversubscribed.

"We're very pleased with the outcome of this capital markets transaction, which drew tremendous interest and support from the investment community," Mike Quillen, Alpha's chairman and CEO, said in a statement.

"It significantly enhances our liquidity and gives us the means to further our growth plans," the chief executive added.

Alpha intends to use the net proceeds from the offerings for the repurchase of up to $175 million in senior notes due 2012 co-issued by two of its subsidiaries, as well as for other general corporate purposes, which may include acquisitions or investments in businesses, the statement said.

Alpha supplies Appalachian coal to electric utilities, steel producers and heavy industry and is the largest U.S. supplier and exporter of metallurgical coal. Alpha and its subsidiaries operate 58 mines in four U.S. states. (Reporting by Haitham Haddadin; Editing by Andre Grenon)