Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

x      Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012

 

o         Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the transition period from                  to                  .

 

Commission file number: 1-13105

 

GRAPHIC

Arch Coal, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

43-0921172

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(I.R.S. Employer

of incorporation or organization)

 

Identification Number)

 

One CityPlace Drive, Suite 300, St. Louis, Missouri

 

63141

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (314) 994-2700

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer x

 

Accelerated filer o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o

 

Smaller reporting company o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x

 

At May 10, 2012 there were 212,247,652 shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

Table of Contents

 

 

Page

Part I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

3

Item 1. Financial Statements

3

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

25

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

30

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

31

Part II OTHER INFORMATION

31

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

31

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

35

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosure

35

Item 6. Exhibits

35

 

2



Table of Contents

 

Part I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.      Financial Statements.

 

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

1,039,651

 

$

872,938

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs, expenses and other

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

850,871

 

653,684

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

139,966

 

83,537

 

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

(14,017

)

5,944

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

30,861

 

30,435

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in fair value of coal derivatives and coal trading activities, net

 

(3,613

)

(1,784

)

Other operating income, net

 

(18,498

)

(1,116

)

 

 

985,570

 

770,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

54,081

 

102,238

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(74,772

)

(34,580

)

Interest income

 

1,021

 

746

 

 

 

(73,751

)

(33,834

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

(19,670

)

68,404

 

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

 

(21,079

)

12,530

 

Net income

 

1,409

 

55,874

 

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

(203

)

(273

)

Net income attributable to Arch Coal, Inc.

 

$

1,206

 

$

55,601

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic earnings per common share

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.34

 

Diluted earnings per common share

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.34

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

211,687

 

162,576

 

Diluted

 

211,908

 

163,773

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared per common share

 

$

0.11

 

$

0.10

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

1,409

 

$

55,874

 

Other comprehensive income, net of income taxes:

 

 

 

 

 

Pension, postretirement and other post-employment benefits, reclassifications into net income

 

463

 

573

 

Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities

 

252

 

747

 

Unrealized gains and losses on derivatives, net of reclassifications into net income:

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives

 

1,760

 

9,501

 

Reclassifications of (gains) losses into net income

 

4,825

 

(2,124

)

Total other comprehensive income

 

7,300

 

8,697

 

Total comprehensive income

 

$

8,709

 

$

64,571

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

117,770

 

$

138,149

 

Restricted cash

 

8,866

 

10,322

 

Trade accounts receivable

 

295,012

 

380,595

 

Other receivables

 

66,702

 

88,584

 

Inventories

 

488,686

 

377,490

 

Prepaid royalties

 

18,025

 

21,944

 

Deferred income taxes

 

65,531

 

42,051

 

Coal derivative assets

 

22,043

 

13,335

 

Other

 

96,484

 

110,304

 

Total current assets

 

1,179,119

 

1,182,774

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

7,892,733

 

7,949,150

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other assets

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid royalties

 

90,221

 

86,626

 

Goodwill

 

596,103

 

596,103

 

Equity investments

 

230,519

 

225,605

 

Other

 

176,423

 

173,701

 

Total other assets

 

1,093,266

 

1,082,035

 

Total assets

 

$

10,165,118

 

$

10,213,959

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

294,341

 

$

383,782

 

Coal derivative liabilities

 

9,100

 

7,828

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

357,386

 

348,207

 

Current maturities of debt and short-term borrowings

 

102,356

 

280,851

 

Total current liabilities

 

763,183

 

1,020,668

 

Long-term debt

 

3,967,796

 

3,762,297

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

432,620

 

446,784

 

Accrued pension benefits

 

49,378

 

48,244

 

Accrued postretirement benefits other than pension

 

42,784

 

42,309

 

Accrued workers’ compensation

 

74,012

 

71,948

 

Deferred income taxes

 

982,596

 

976,753

 

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

268,585

 

255,382

 

Total liabilities

 

6,580,954

 

6,624,385

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

 

11,739

 

11,534

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock

 

2,141

 

2,136

 

Paid-in capital

 

3,024,553

 

3,015,349

 

Treasury stock, at cost

 

(53,848

)

(53,848

)

Retained earnings

 

600,230

 

622,353

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(651

)

(7,950

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

3,572,425

 

3,578,040

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

10,165,118

 

$

10,213,959

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

Operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

1,409

 

$

55,874

 

Adjustments to reconcile to cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

139,966

 

83,537

 

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

(14,017

)

5,944

 

Prepaid royalties expensed

 

8,586

 

8,916

 

Employee stock-based compensation expense

 

4,079

 

5,290

 

Amortization relating to financing activities

 

4,288

 

2,442

 

Changes in:

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

 

88,082

 

(53,586

)

Inventories

 

(111,196

)

(12,292

)

Coal derivative assets and liabilities

 

(5,347

)

(1,087

)

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

(66,222

)

(38,054

)

Income taxes, net

 

23,002

 

12,558

 

Deferred income taxes

 

(21,742

)

(1,026

)

Other

 

4,102

 

17,629

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash provided by operating activities

 

54,990

 

86,145

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in restricted cash

 

1,455

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(93,271

)

(38,711

)

Proceeds from dispositions of property, plant and equipment

 

22,105

 

516

 

Purchases of investments and advances to affiliates

 

(5,777

)

(34,419

)

Additions to prepaid royalties

 

(8,262

)

(20,915

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash used in investing activities

 

(83,750

)

(93,529

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Payments to retire debt

 

(1,330

)

 

Net increase in borrowings under lines of credit and commercial paper program

 

34,000

 

3,681

 

Net payments on other debt

 

(5,993

)

(5,161

)

Debt financing costs

 

(100

)

(8

)

Dividends paid

 

(23,327

)

(16,269

)

Issuance of common stock under incentive plans

 

5,131

 

768

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

8,381

 

(16,989

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(20,379

)

(24,373

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

138,149

 

93,593

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

117,770

 

$

69,220

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(unaudited)

 

1. Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Arch Coal, Inc. and its subsidiaries and controlled entities (the “Company”). The Company’s primary business is the production of steam and metallurgical coal from surface and underground mines located throughout the United States, for sale to utility, industrial and export markets. On June 15, 2011, the Company acquired International Coal Group, Inc. (“ICG”), as described in Note 3, “Business Combinations”.  The Company operates 23 mining complexes in West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. All subsidiaries (except as noted below) are wholly-owned. Intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial reporting and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regulations. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal, recurring accruals considered necessary for a fair presentation, have been included. Results of operations for the three period ended March 31, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2012. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and related notes as of and for the year ended December 31, 2011 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

The Company owns a 99% membership interest in a joint venture named Arch Western Resources, LLC (“Arch Western”) which operates coal mines in Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. The Company also acts as the managing member of Arch Western. On April 9, 2012, Delta Housing, Inc., the other member in Arch Western, exercised their contractual right to require us to purchase their membership interests in Arch Western.  The negotiation of this sale and purchase is ongoing and we expect to complete this acquisition by the end of the third quarter.

 

2. Accounting Policies

 

There is no new accounting guidance that is expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

3. Business Combination

 

On June 15, 2011, the Company completed its acquisition of ICG, a leading coal producer.  During the first quarter of 2012, the Company finalized the determination of the fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisition, with no material adjustments to what was recorded as of December 31, 2011.

 

4. Debt

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Indebtedness to banks under credit facilities

 

$

515,300

 

$

481,300

 

6.75% senior notes ($450.0 million face value) due 2013

 

450,809

 

450,971

 

8.75% senior notes ($600.0 million face value) due 2016

 

589,463

 

588,974

 

7.00% senior notes due in 2019 at par

 

1,000,000

 

1,000,000

 

7.25% senior notes due 2020 at par

 

500,000

 

500,000

 

7.25% senior notes due 2021 at par

 

1,000,000

 

1,000,000

 

Other

 

14,580

 

21,903

 

 

 

4,070,152

 

4,043,148

 

Less current maturities of debt and short-term borrowings

 

102,356

 

280,851

 

Long-term debt

 

$

3,967,796

 

$

3,762,297

 

 

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The current maturities of debt include contractual maturities, as well as amounts borrowed that are supported by credit facilities that have a term of less than one year and amounts borrowed under credit facilities with terms longer than one year that the Company does not intend to refinance on a long-term basis, based on cash projections and management’s plans.

 

On April 30, 2012, the Company received commitment letters with lending institutions to refinance certain indebtedness having near-term maturities and to increase the Company’s liquidity in order to execute on key long-term growth initiatives, particularly the development of the Company’s metallurgical coal properties.  As part of the financing package, these lenders have agreed, subject to certain customary conditions, to enter into an amendment to the existing senior secured revolving credit facility which will, among other things, suspend the Company’s compliance with the debt-to-EBITDA ratio and other financial covenants in the existing credit agreement over the next 24 months and replace them with minimum performance targets at levels consistent with the current coal market environment.  We will also receive a $1 billion, six-year term loan facility, which will contain no financial maintenance covenants, and the maximum borrowing capacity of the revolving credit facility will be reduced from $2 billion to $1 billion. The proceeds of the term loan will be used to retire the outstanding $450.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6 ¾% Senior Notes due 2013 issued by Arch Western Finance, LLC (“Arch Western Finance”), the Company’s indirect subsidiary.

 

On May 1, 2012, Arch Western Finance commenced a cash tender offer for any and all of its outstanding $450.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6 ¾% Senior Notes due 2013.  In connection with the tender offer, Arch Western Finance is soliciting consents from the holders of the senior notes for certain proposed amendments to the indenture governing the notes that eliminates most of the covenants and certain default provisions applicable to the senior notes, as well as reduce the minimum notice period in the optional redemption provision of the senior notes from 30 days to three days If Arch Western Finance purchases less than all of the outstanding senior notes in the tender offer, it intends to redeem any senior notes that remain outstanding.  The terms and conditions of the tender offer and consent solicitation are described in an Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement (the “Statement”) and a related Consent and Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”), which have been sent to holders of the senior notes.  The Consent Solicitation expires on May 14, 2012, prior to which the consideration for each $1,000 of principal is $1,002.50. For notes tendered after the expiration of the Consent Solicitation and before May 29, 2012, the end of the tender offer, the consideration for each $1,000 of principal is $972.50.

 

5.  Goodwill

 

An approximate 20% drop in the Company’s stock price during the first quarter of 2012, combined with significant decrease in thermal coal demand during the quarter, indicated that the fair value of the Company’s goodwill could be less than its carrying value. Accordingly, we performed the first step of the two-step goodwill impairment test as of March 31, 2012.  The fair value of all reporting units that have been assigned goodwill exceeded their respective carrying values, so no further testing was necessary. The value of our Black Thunder reporting unit, where $115.8 million of goodwill has been allocated, would be sensitive to future volume variations should thermal markets weaken further, which could cause us to perform step 2 of the test.  The goodwill allocated to certain Appalachia reporting units is particularly sensitive to volatility in the demand for metallurgical coal.  Should metallurgical coal markets weaken, it could cause the fair value of the reporting units to be less than their carrying value, requiring us to perform step 2 of the test for impairment. Additionally, further sustained declines in the Company’s stock price below levels experienced in the first quarter would also require us to perform step-2 of the test for impairment.  Performance of step 2 of the impairment test, which requires a valuation of individual assets and liabilities of the respective reporting units in order to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill could result in an impairment of goodwill.

 

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6. Equity Investments and Membership Interests in Joint Ventures

 

The Company accounts for its investments and membership interests in joint ventures under the equity method of accounting if the Company has the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over the entity. Below are the equity method investments reflected in the condensed consolidated balance sheets:

 

 

 

Knight Hawk

 

DKRW

 

Dominion

 

Tenaska

 

Millennium

 

Tongue

 

 

 

 

 

Holdings,

 

Advanced

 

Terminal

 

Trailblazer

 

Bulk

 

River

 

 

 

 

 

LLC

 

Fuels, LLC

 

Associates

 

Partners, LLC

 

Terminals, LLC

 

Railroad, LLC

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

(“KH”)

 

(“DKRW”)

 

(“DTA”)

 

(“Tenaska”)

 

(“MBT”)

 

(“TRR”)

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

 

$

135,225

 

$

19,715

 

$

16,086

 

$

15,266

 

$

26,324

 

$

12,989

 

$

225,605

 

Investments in affiliates

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advances to (distributions from) affiliates, net

 

(1,801

)

 

925

 

 

2,562

 

675

 

2,361

 

Equity in comprehensive income (loss)

 

5,243

 

(879

)

(1,254

)

 

(557

)

 

2,553

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at March 31, 2012

 

$

138,667

 

$

18,836

 

$

15,757

 

$

15,266

 

$

28,329

 

$

13,664

 

$

230,519

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes receivable from investees:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2011

 

$

 

$

30,751

 

$

 

$

5,059

 

$

 

$

 

$

35,810

 

Balance at March 31, 2012

 

$

 

$

33,561

 

$

 

$

5,031

 

$

 

$

 

$

38,592

 

 

Summarized financial information of the Company’s equity method investees follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

(In thousands)

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed combined income statement information:

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

51,743

 

$

44,470

 

Gross profit

 

2,475

 

6,084

 

Income from operations

 

(376

)

3,643

 

Net income (loss)

 

(2,437

)

2,283

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2012

 

December 31, 2011

 

Condensed combined balance sheet information:

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

$

94,811

 

$

94,645

 

Noncurrent assets

 

361,918

 

332,124

 

Total assets

 

$

456,729

 

$

426,769

 

Current liabilities

 

$

62,260

 

$

51,953

 

Noncurrent liabilities

 

125,350

 

120,494

 

Equity

 

268,918

 

254,161

 

Noncontrolling interest

 

201

 

161

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

456,729

 

$

426,769

 

 

The Company may be required to make future contingent payments of up to $73.0 million related to development financing for certain of its equity investees. The Company’s obligation to make these payments, as well as the timing of any payments required, is contingent upon a number of factors, including project development progress, receipt of permits and construction financing.

 

7. Derivatives

 

Diesel fuel price risk management

 

The Company is exposed to price risk with respect to diesel fuel purchased for use in its operations. The Company anticipates purchasing approximately 75 to 80 million gallons of diesel fuel for use in its operations during 2012. To reduce the volatility in the

 

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price of diesel fuel for its operations, the Company uses forward physical diesel purchase contracts, as well as heating oil swaps and purchased call options. At March 31, 2012, the Company had protected the price of approximately 85% of its expected purchases for the remainder of fiscal year 2012 and 50% of its first quarter of 2013 purchases.

 

At March 31, 2012, the Company had purchased heating oil call options for approximately 59 million gallons for the purpose of managing the price risk associated with future diesel purchases. During the first quarter of 2012 the Company determined, the effectiveness of the heating oil options could not be established as of December 31, 2011 on an ongoing basis.  As a result, the amount remaining in accumulated other comprehensive income of $8.2 million, or $5.2 million net of income taxes, was recorded in earnings, in the “other income, net” line on the condensed consolidated statement of income. The out of period adjustment is not deemed material to prior period results, the expected results of the full 2012 fiscal year or for the trend of earnings of the Company.

 

The Company also purchased heating oil call options to hedge the fuel surcharges on its barge and rail shipments that cover increases in diesel fuel prices. These positions reduce the Company’s risk of cash flow fluctuations related to these surcharges but the positions are not accounted for as hedges. At March 31, 2012, Company held purchased call options for approximately 15.5 million gallons for the purpose of managing the fluctuations in cash flows associated with fuel surcharges on future shipments.

 

Coal risk management positions

 

The Company may sell or purchase forward contracts, swaps and options in the over-the-counter coal market in order to manage its exposure to coal prices. The Company has exposure to the risk of fluctuating coal prices related to forecasted sales or purchases of coal or to the risk of changes in the fair value of a fixed price physical sales contract. Certain derivative contracts may be designated as hedges of these risks.

 

At March 31, 2012, the Company held derivatives for risk management purposes that are expected to settle in the following years :

 

(Tons in thousands)

 

2012

 

2013

 

2014

 

2015

 

Coal sales

 

(3,025

)

(1,117

)

(1,440

)

(720

)

Coal purchases

 

417

 

 

 

 

 

Coal trading positions

 

The Company may sell or purchase forward contracts, swaps and options in the over-the-counter coal market for trading purposes. The Company is exposed to the risk of changes in coal prices on the value of its coal trading portfolio. The estimated future realization of the value of the trading portfolio is $4.3 million of losses in 2012 and $2.2 million of losses in 2013.

 

Tabular derivatives disclosures

 

The Company’s contracts with certain of its counterparties allow for the settlement of contracts in an asset position with contracts in a liability position in the event of default or termination. Such netting arrangements reduce the Company’s credit exposure related to these counterparties. For classification purposes, the Company records the net fair value of all the positions with a given counterparty as a net asset or liability in the consolidated balance sheets. The amounts shown in the table below represent the fair value position of individual contracts, regardless of the net position presented in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. The fair value and location of derivatives reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets are as follows:

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

March 31, 2012

 

 

 

December 31, 2011

 

 

 

Fair Value of Derivatives

 

Asset

 

Liability

 

 

 

Asset

 

Liability

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Derivative

 

Derivative

 

 

 

Derivative

 

Derivative

 

 

 

Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heating oil — diesel purchases

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

$

8,997

 

$

 

 

 

Coal

 

3,256

 

(218

)

 

 

1,109

 

 

 

 

Total

 

3,256

 

(218

)

 

 

10,106

 

 

 

 

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heating oil — diesel purchases

 

12,869

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heating oil — fuel surcharges

 

2,837

 

 

 

 

1,797

 

 

 

 

Coal — held for trading purposes

 

26,945

 

(33,411

)

 

 

15,505

 

(19,927

)

 

 

Coal

 

22,491

 

(6,119

)

 

 

14,855

 

(6,035

)

 

 

Total

 

65,142

 

(39,530

)

 

 

32,157

 

(25,962

)

 

 

Total derivatives

 

68,398

 

(39,748

)

 

 

42,263

 

(25,962

)

 

 

Effect of counterparty netting

 

(30,648

)

30,648

 

 

 

(18,134

)

18,134

 

 

 

Net derivatives as classified in the balance sheets

 

$

37,750

 

$

(9,100

)

$

28,650

 

$

24,129

 

$

(7,828

)

$

16,301

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Net derivatives as reflected on the balance sheets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heating oil

 

Other current assets

 

$

15,707

 

$

10,794

 

Coal

 

Coal derivative assets

 

22,043

 

13,335

 

 

 

Coal derivative liabilities

 

(9,100

)

(7,828

)

 

 

 

 

$

28,650

 

$

16,301

 

 

The Company had a current asset for the right to reclaim cash collateral of $15.0 million and $12.4 million at March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively. These amounts are not included with the derivatives presented in the table above and are included in “other current assets” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

 

The effects of derivatives on measures of financial performance are as follows for the three month periods ended March 31:

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives used in Fair Value Hedging

 

Hedged Items in Fair Value

 

 

 

Loss on Hedged Items In Fair

 

Relationships (in thousands)

 

Hedge Relationships

 

 

 

Value Hedge Relationships

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coal

 

$

 

$

 

Firm commitments

 

$

 

$

 

 

11



Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gains (Losses) Reclassified

 

 

 

Gain (Loss) Recognized in OCI

 

 

 

from OCI into Income

 

Derivatives used in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships

 

(Effective Portion)

 

 

 

(Effective Portion)

 

(in thousands)

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Heating oil — diesel purchases

 

$

 

$

14,258

 

 

 

$

 

$

3,170

(2)

Coal sales

 

2,493

 

1,406

 

 

 

201

 

87

(1)

Coal purchases

 

(202

)

(876

)

 

 

 

(2)

Totals

 

$

2,291

 

$

14,788

 

 

 

$

201

 

$

3,257

 

 

 

 

Gain (Loss) Recognized in

 

 

 

Income (Ineffective Portion

 

 

 

and Amount Excluded from

 

 

 

Effectiveness Testing)

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Heating oil — diesel purchases

 

$

 

$

 

Coal sales

 

 

 

Coal purchases

 

 

 

Totals

 

$

 

$

 

 

 

 

Derivatives Not Designated as

 

 

 

Hedging Instruments

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Coal — unrealized

 

$

7,552

 

$

(1,045

)(3)

Coal — realized

 

3,158

 

(4)

Heating oil — diesel purchases

 

423

 

(4)

Heating oil — fuel surcharges — unrealized

 

$

367

 

$

(4)

 

Location in Statement of Income:

 


(1) — Revenues

 

(2) — Cost of sales

 

(3) — Change in fair value of coal derivatives and coal trading activities, net

 

(4) — Other operating income, net

 

The Company recognized net unrealized and realized losses of $3.9 million and net unrealized and realized gains of $2.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, related to its trading portfolio (including derivative and non-derivative contracts). These balances are included in the caption “Change in fair value of coal derivatives and coal trading activities, net” in the accompanying consolidated statements of income and are not included in the previous table.

 

During the next twelve months, based on fair values at March 31, 2012, gains on derivative contracts designated as hedge instruments in cash flow hedges of approximately $3.2 million are expected to be reclassified from other comprehensive income into earnings.

 

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Table of Contents

 

8. Inventories

 

Inventories consist of the following:

 

 

 

March 31

 

December 31

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Coal

 

$

298,744

 

$

206,517

 

Repair parts and supplies

 

174,747

 

163,527

 

Work-in-process

 

15,195

 

7,446

 

 

 

$

488,686

 

$

377,490

 

 

The repair parts and supplies are stated net of an allowance for slow-moving and obsolete inventories of $13.4 million at March 31, 2012, and $13.1 million at December 31, 2011.

 

9. Fair Value Measurements

 

The hierarchy of fair value measurements prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The levels of the hierarchy, as defined below, give the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs.

 

·              Level 1 is defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets. Level 1 assets include available-for-sale equity securities and coal futures that are submitted for clearing on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

 

·              Level 2 is defined as observable inputs other than Level 1 prices. These include quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted prices for identical assets and liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. The Company’s level 2 assets and liabilities include commodity contracts (coal and heating oil) with fair values derived from quoted prices in over-the-counter markets or from prices received from direct broker quotes.

 

·              Level 3 is defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions.  These include the Company’s commodity option contracts (primarily coal and heating oil) valued using modeling techniques, such as Black-Scholes, that require the use of inputs, particularly volatility, that are rarely observable.  Changes in the unobservable inputs would not have a significant impact on the reported Level 3 fair values at March 31, 2012.

 

The table below sets forth, by level, the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet:

 

 

 

Fair Value at March 31, 2012

 

 

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments in equity securities

 

$

7,936

 

$

7,936

 

$

 

$

 

Derivatives

 

37,750

 

20,177

 

2,068

 

15,505

 

Total assets

 

$

45,686

 

$

28,113

 

$

2,068

 

$

15,505

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives

 

$

9,100

 

$

 

$

6,836

 

$

2,264

 

 

The Company’s contracts with certain of its counterparties allow for the settlement of contracts in an asset position with contracts in a liability position in the event of default or termination. For classification purposes, the Company records the net fair value of all the positions with these counterparties as a net asset or liability. Each level in the table above displays the underlying contracts according to their classification in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet, based on this counterparty netting.

 

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Table of Contents

 

The following table summarizes the change in the fair values of financial instruments categorized as level 3.

 

 

 

Three Months
Ended

 

 

 

March 31, 2012

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

6,211

 

Realized and unrealized losses recognized in earnings, net

 

2,496

 

Realized and unrealized losses recognized in other comprehensive income, net

 

 

Purchases

 

5,261

 

Issuances

 

 

Settlements

 

(727

)

 

 

 

 

Ending balance

 

$

13,241

 

 

Net unrealized gains during the three month period ended March 31, 2012 related to level 3 financial instruments held on March 31, 2012 were $2.8 million.

 

Fair Value of Long-Term Debt

 

At March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the fair value of the Company’s senior notes and other long-term debt, including amounts classified as current, was $3.9 billion and $4.2 billion, respectively. The fair values are based upon observed prices in an active market, and as such are classified as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

10. Stock-Based Compensation and Other Incentive Plans

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company granted options to purchase approximately 1.1 million shares of common stock with a weighted average exercise price of $13.93 per share and a weighted average grant-date fair value of $5.42 per share. The options’ fair value was determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, using a weighted average risk-free rate of .767%, a weighted average dividend yield of 3.16% and a weighted average volatility of 60.18%. The options’ expected life is 4.5 years and the options vest ratably over three years, and provide for the continuation of vesting after retirement for recipients that meet certain criteria. The expense for these options will be recognized through the date that the employee first becomes eligible to retire and is no longer required to provide service to earn all or part of the award.

 

The Company has a long-term incentive program that allows for the award of performance units. The total number of units earned by a participant is based on financial and operational performance measures, and may be paid out in cash or in shares of the Company’s common stock. The Company recognizes compensation expense over the three-year term of the grant. Amounts unpaid for all grants under the plan totaled $7.5 million and $9.6 million as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

 

11. Workers’ Compensation Expense

 

The following table details the components of workers’ compensation expense:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Service cost

 

$

968

 

$

193

 

Interest cost

 

680

 

254

 

Net amortization

 

277

 

(101

)

Total occupational disease

 

1,925

 

346

 

Traumatic injury claims and assessments

 

5,176

 

2,325

 

Total workers’ compensation expense

 

$

7,101

 

$

2,671

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

12. Employee Benefit Plans

 

The following table details the components of pension benefit costs:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Service cost

 

$

7,596

 

$

4,319

 

Interest cost

 

3,980

 

4,131

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(5,538

)

(5,468

)

Amortization of prior service cost (credit)

 

(36

)

47

 

Amortization of other actuarial losses

 

3,571

 

2,140

 

Net benefit cost

 

$

9,573

 

$

5,169

 

 

The following table details the components of other postretirement benefit costs (credits):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Service cost

 

$

549

 

$

405

 

Interest cost

 

491

 

498

 

Amortization of prior service credits

 

(2,995

)

(591

)

Amortization of other actuarial gains

 

(90

)

(598

)

Net benefit cost (credit)

 

$

(2,045

)

$

(287

)

 

13. Earnings per Common Share

 

The following table provides the basis for earnings per share calculations by reconciling basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

 

211,687

 

162,576

 

Effect of common stock equivalents under incentive plans

 

221

 

1,197

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

 

211,908

 

163,773

 

 

The effect of options to purchase 3.0 million and 1.1 million shares of common stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the three month periods ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, because the exercise price of these options exceeded the average market price of the Company’s common stock for these periods.

 

14. Guarantees

 

The Company has agreed to continue to provide surety bonds and letters of credit for the reclamation and retiree healthcare obligations of Magnum Coal Company (“Magnum”) related to the properties the Company sold to Magnum on December 31, 2005. Patriot Coal Corporation (“Patriot”) acquired Magnum in July 2008. The purchase agreement requires Magnum to reimburse the Company for costs related to the surety bonds and letters of credit and to use commercially reasonable efforts to replace the obligations.  If the surety bonds and letters of credit related to the reclamation obligations are not replaced by Magnum within a specified period of time, Magnum must post a letter of credit in favor of the Company in the amounts of the reclamation obligations. As of March 31, 2012, Patriot has replaced $48.9 million of the surety bonds and has posted letters of credit of $16.7 million in the Company’s favor.  At March 31, 2012, the Company had $38.5 million of surety bonds remaining related to properties sold to Magnum.  The surety bonding amounts are mandated by the state and are not directly related to the estimated cost to reclaim the properties.

 

15



Table of Contents

 

Magnum also acquired certain coal supply contracts with customers who have not consented to the contracts’ assignment from the Company to Magnum. The Company has committed to purchase coal from Magnum to sell to those customers at the same price it is charging the customers for the sale. Under the amended coal supply contracts, as amended, Magnum has the ability to buy out of its obligations under the contract at prices that are predetermined for the remainder of the agreement.  Certain other contracts were assigned to Magnum. If Magnum is unable to supply the coal for these coal sales contracts or pay the buy out amount if elected, then the Company would be required to fulfill Magnum’s delivery or payment obligations. The longest of the coal supply contracts extends to the year 2017.  At market prices effective at March 31, 2012, the maximum amount to fulfill Magnum’s obligations under the contracts that have not been assigned over their duration would be approximately $64.1 million, and the cost of purchasing 573 thousand tons of coal to supply the assigned and guaranteed contracts over their duration would exceed the sales price under the contracts by approximately $12.2 million. As the Company does not believe that it is probable that it would have to purchase replacement coal, no losses have been recorded in the consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2012. However, if the Company would have to perform under these guarantees, it could potentially have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations and financial condition of the Company.

 

In connection with the Company’s acquisition of the coal operations of Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) and the simultaneous combination of the acquired ARCO operations and the Company’s Wyoming operations into the Arch Western joint venture, the Company agreed to indemnify the other member of Arch Western against certain tax liabilities in the event that such liabilities arise prior to June 1, 2013 as a result of certain actions taken, including the sale or other disposition of certain properties of Arch Western, the repurchase of certain equity interests in Arch Western by Arch Western or the reduction under certain circumstances of indebtedness incurred by Arch Western in connection with the acquisition. If the Company were to become liable, the maximum amount of potential future tax payments is $16.3 million at March 31, 2012, which is not recorded as a liability in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. Since the indemnification is dependent upon the initiation of activities within the Company’s control and the Company does not intend to initiate such activities, it is remote that the Company will become liable for any obligation related to this indemnification. However, if such indemnification obligation were to arise, it could potentially have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations and financial condition of the Company.

 

15. Contingencies

 

Allegheny Energy Supply (“Allegheny”), the sole customer of coal produced at the Company’s subsidiary Wolf Run Mining Company’s (“Wolf Run”) Sycamore No. 2 mine, filed a lawsuit against Wolf Run, Hunter Ridge Holdings, Inc. (“Hunter Ridge”), and ICG in state court in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on December 28, 2006, and amended its complaint on April 23, 2007. Allegheny claimed that Wolf Run breached a coal supply contract when it declared force majeure under the contract upon idling the Sycamore No. 2 mine in the third quarter of 2006, and that Wolf Run continued to breach the contract by failing to ship in volumes referenced in the contract. The Sycamore No. 2 mine was idled after encountering adverse geologic conditions and abandoned gas wells that were previously unidentified and unmapped. After extensive searching for gas wells and rehabilitation of the mine, it was re-opened in 2007, but with notice to Allegheny that it would necessarily operate at reduced volumes in order to safely and effectively avoid the many gas wells within the reserve. The amended complaint also alleged that the production stoppages constitute a breach of the guarantee agreement by Hunter Ridge and breach of certain representations made upon entering into the contract in early 2005. Allegheny voluntarily dropped the breach of representation claims later. Allegheny claimed that it would incur costs in excess of $100 million to purchase replacement coal over the life of the contract. ICG, Wolf Run and Hunter Ridge answered the amended complaint on August 13, 2007, disputing all of the remaining claims.

 

On November 3, 2008, ICG, Wolf Run and Hunter Ridge filed an amended answer and counterclaim against the plaintiffs seeking to void the coal supply agreement due to, among other things, fraudulent inducement and conspiracy. On September 23, 2009, Allegheny filed a second amended complaint alleging several alternative theories of liability in its effort to extend contractual liability to ICG, which was not a party to the original contract and did not exist at the time Wolf Run and Allegheny entered into the contract.  No new substantive claims were asserted.  ICG answered the second amended complaint on October 13, 2009, denying all of the new claims ICG’s counterclaim was dismissed on motion for summary judgment entered on May 11, 2010.  Allegheny’s claims against ICG were also dismissed by summary judgment, but the claims against Wolf Run and Hunter Ridge were not. The court conducted a non-jury trial of this matter beginning on January 10, 2011 and concluding on February 1, 2011. At the trial, Allegheny presented its evidence for breach of contract and claimed that it is entitled to past and future damages in the aggregate of between $228.0 million and $377.0 million. Wolf Run and Hunter Ridge presented their defense of the claims, including evidence with respect to the existence of force majeure conditions and excuse under the contract and applicable law. Wolf Run and Hunter Ridge presented evidence that Allegheny’s damages calculations were significantly inflated because it did not seek to determine damages as of the time of the breach and in some instances artificially assumed future non-delivery or did not take into account the apparent requirement to supply coal in the future. On May 2, 2011, the trial court entered a Memorandum and Verdict determining that Wolf Run had breached the coal supply contract and that the performance shortfall was not excused by force majeure. ICG and Allegheny filed post-verdict motions in the trial court and on August 23, 2011, the court denied the parties’ motions.  The court entered a final judgment on August 25, 2011, in the amount of $104.1 million, which included pre-judgment interest.  The parties appealed the lower court’s decision to the

 

16



Table of Contents

 

Superior Court of Pennsylvania.  Wolf Run and Hunter Ridge have filed an appeal bond in the amount of $124.9 million.  Briefing is complete and oral argument is scheduled for May 16, 2012.

 

As of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company had accrued $109.8 million and $108.3 million, respectively, for this lawsuit, including interest.  The ultimate resolution of this matter could result in an outcome which may be materially different than what the Company has accrued.

 

In addition, the Company is a party to numerous claims and lawsuits with respect to various matters. The Company provides for costs related to contingencies when a loss is probable and the amount is reasonably determinable. After conferring with counsel, it is the opinion of management that the ultimate resolution of pending claims, other than as noted above, will not have a material adverse effect on the consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity of the Company.

 

16. Segment Information

 

The Company has three reportable business segments, which are based on the major coal producing basins in which the Company operates. Each of these reportable business segments includes a number of mine complexes. The Company manages its coal sales by coal basin, not by individual mine complex. Geology, coal transportation routes to customers, regulatory environments and coal quality are characteristic to a basin. Accordingly, market and contract pricing have developed by coal basin. Mine operations are evaluated based on their per-ton operating costs (defined as including all mining costs but excluding pass-through transportation expenses), as well as on other non-financial measures, such as safety and environmental performance. The Company’s reportable segments are the Powder River Basin (PRB) segment, with operations in Wyoming; the Western Bituminous (WBIT) segment, with operations in Utah, Colorado and southern Wyoming; the Appalachia (APP) segment, with operations in West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland and Virginia.  The Appalachia segment includes the acquired ICG operations in Appalachia, as well as the Company’s previous Central Appalachia segment. The “Other” operating segment represents primarily the Company’s Illinois operations and ADDCAR subsidiary, which manufactures and sells its patented highwall mining system.

 

Operating segment results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 are presented below. Results for the reportable segments include all direct costs of mining, including all depreciation, depletion and amortization related to the mining operations, even if the assets are not recorded at the operating segment level. See discussion of segment assets below. Corporate, Other and Eliminations includes the change in fair value of coal derivatives and coal trading activities, net; corporate overhead; land management; other support functions; and the elimination of intercompany transactions.

 

The asset amounts below represent an allocation of assets used in the segments’ cash-generating activities. The amounts in Corporate, Other and Eliminations represent primarily corporate assets (cash, receivables, investments, plant, property and equipment) as well as unassigned coal reserves, above-market acquired sales contracts and other unassigned assets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

Corporate,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating

 

Other and

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

PRB

 

APP

 

WBIT

 

Segments

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

401,177

 

$

469,058

 

$

144,559

 

$

24,857

 

$

 

$

1,039,651

 

Income (loss) from operations

 

32,543

 

15,835

 

31,241

 

(3,750

)

(21,788

)

54,081

 

Total assets

 

2,263,517

 

4,640,344

 

752,197

 

940,245

 

1,568,815

 

10,165,118

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

41,223

 

76,017

 

18,600

 

3,687

 

439

 

139,966

 

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

(816

)

(13,088

)

 

(113

)

 

(14,017

)

Capital expenditures

 

3,986

 

66,303

 

15,137

 

5,644

 

2,201

 

93,271

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

393,113

 

$

155,439

 

$

324,386

 

$

 

$

 

$

872,938

 

Income from operations

 

46,874

 

26,892

 

54,394

 

 

(25,922

)

102,238

 

Total assets

 

2,244,173

 

683,949

 

710,324

 

 

1,261,532

 

4,899,978

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

41,691

 

20,529

 

21,016

 

 

301

 

83,537

 

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

5,944

 

 

 

 

 

5,944

 

Capital expenditures

 

2,838

 

11,777

 

17,302

 

 

6,794

 

38,711

 

 

17



Table of Contents

 

A reconciliation of segment income from operations to consolidated income before income taxes follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

$

54,081

 

$

102,238

 

Interest expense

 

(74,772

)

(34,580

)

Interest income

 

1,021

 

746

 

Income before income taxes

 

$

(19,670

)

$

68,404

 

 

17. Supplemental Condensed Consolidating Financial Information

 

Pursuant to the indentures governing Arch Coal, Inc.’s senior notes, certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company have fully and unconditionally guaranteed the senior notes on a joint and several basis. The following tables present condensed consolidating financial information for (i) the Company, (ii) the issuer of the senior notes, (iii) the guarantors under the senior notes, and (iv) the entities which are not guarantors under the senior notes (Arch Western Resources, LLC and its subsidiaries, Arch Receivable Company, LLC and the Company’s subsidiaries outside the U.S.):

 

18



Table of Contents

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income

Three Months Ended March 31, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

Guarantor

 

Non-Guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent/Issuer

 

Subsidiaries

 

Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

 

$

498,728

 

$

540,923

 

$

 

$

1,039,651

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs, expenses and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

2,964

 

425,009

 

448,054

 

(25,156

)

850,871

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

1,217

 

100,006

 

38,744

 

(1

)

139,966

 

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

 

(13,201

)

(816

)

 

(14,017

)

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

18,642

 

1,987

 

12,046

 

(1,814

)

30,861

 

Change in fair value of coal derivatives and coal trading activities, net

 

 

(3,613

)

 

 

(3,613

)

Other operating (income) expense, net

 

(3,110

)

(37,700

)

(4,659

)

26,971

 

(18,498

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19,713

 

472,488

 

493,369

 

 

985,570

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from investment in subsidiaries

 

77,312

 

 

 

(77,312

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

57,599

 

26,240

 

47,554

 

(77,312

)

54,081

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(82,096

)

(1,179

)

(11,344

)

19,847

 

(74,772

)

Interest income

 

4,827

 

248

 

15,793

 

(19,847

)

1,021

 

 

 

(77,269

)

(931

)

4,449

 

 

(73,751

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

(19,670

)

25,309

 

52,003

 

(77,312

)

(19,670

)

Benefit from income taxes

 

(22,660

)

 

1,581

 

 

(21,079

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

2,990

 

25,309

 

50,422

 

(77,312

)

1,409

 

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

(203

)

 

 

 

(203

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Arch Coal

 

$

2,787

 

$

25,309

 

$

50,422

 

$

(77,312

)

$

1,206

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

 

$

3,948

 

$

27,242

 

$

54,831

 

$

(77,312

)

$

8,709

 

 

19



Table of Contents

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income

Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

Guarantor

 

Non-Guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent/Issuer

 

Subsidiaries

 

Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

 

$

338,533

 

$

534,405

 

$

 

$

872,938

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Costs, expenses and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

3,279

 

251,884

 

423,323

 

(24,802

)

653,684

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

672

 

43,277

 

39,588

 

 

83,537

 

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

 

 

5,944

 

 

5,944

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

20,336

 

1,883

 

9,913

 

(1,697

)

30,435

 

Change in fair value of coal derivatives and coal trading activities, net

 

 

(1,784

)

 

 

(1,784

)

Other operating (income) expense, net

 

(4,567

)

(27,456

)

4,408

 

26,499

 

(1,116

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19,720

 

267,804

 

483,176

 

 

770,700

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from investment in subsidiaries

 

125,003

 

 

 

(125,003

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

105,283

 

70,729

 

51,229

 

(125,003

)

102,238

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(40,621

)

(714

)

(10,982

)

17,737

 

(34,580

)

Interest income

 

3,742

 

296

 

14,445

 

(17,737

)

746

 

 

 

(36,879

)

(418

)

3,463

 

 

(33,834

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income taxes

 

68,404

 

70,311

 

54,692

 

(125,003

)

68,404

 

Benefit from income taxes

 

12,530

 

 

 

 

12,530

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

55,874

 

70,311

 

54,692

 

(125,003

)

55,874

 

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

 

(273

)

 

 

 

(273

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Arch Coal

 

$

55,601

 

$

70,311

 

$

54,692

 

$

(125,003

)

$

55,601

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total comprehensive income

 

$

66,372

 

$

70,253

 

$

52,949

 

$

(125,003

)

$

64,571

 

 

20



Table of Contents

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

March 31, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

Guarantor

 

Non-Guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent/Issuer

 

Subsidiaries

 

Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

35,196

 

$

308

 

$

82,266

 

$

 

$

117,770

 

Restricted cash-retirement of ICG obligations

 

8,866

 

 

 

 

8,866

 

Receivables

 

46,832

 

20,771

 

295,844

 

(1,733

)

361,714

 

Inventories

 

 

256,896

 

231,790

 

 

488,686

 

Other

 

108,080

 

79,817

 

14,186

 

 

202,083

 

Total current assets

 

198,974

 

357,792

 

624,086

 

(1,733

)

1,179,119

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

29,966

 

6,367,590

 

1,495,177

 

 

7,892,733

 

Investment in subsidiaries

 

8,886,286

 

 

 

(8,886,286

)

 

Intercompany receivables

 

(1,443,557

)

(41,436

)

1,484,993

 

 

 

Note receivable from Arch Western

 

225,000

 

 

 

(225,000

)

 

Other

 

450,008

 

626,788

 

16,470

 

 

1,093,266

 

Total other assets

 

8,117,737

 

585,352

 

1,501,463

 

(9,111,286

)

1,093,266

 

Total assets

 

$

8,346,677

 

$

7,310,734

 

$

3,620,726

 

$

(9,113,019

)

$

10,165,118

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

26,036

 

$

134,697

 

$

133,608

 

$

 

$

294,341

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

98,109

 

110,821

 

159,289

 

(1,733

)

366,486

 

Current maturities of debt and short-term borrowings

 

10,876

 

1,180

 

90,300

 

 

102,356

 

Total current liabilities

 

135,021

 

246,698

 

383,197

 

(1,733

)

763,183

 

Long-term debt

 

3,514,463

 

2,524

 

450,809

 

 

 

3,967,796

 

Note payable to Arch Coal

 

 

 

225,000

 

(225,000

)

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

891

 

142,014

 

289,715

 

 

432,620

 

Accrued pension benefits

 

21,409

 

4,001

 

23,968

 

 

49,378

 

Accrued postretirement benefits other than pension

 

13,731

 

6,272

 

22,781

 

 

42,784

 

Accrued workers’ compensation

 

21,350

 

45,823

 

6,839

 

 

74,012

 

Deferred income taxes

 

905,635

 

76,961

 

 

 

982,596

 

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

150,013

 

64,098

 

54,474

 

 

268,585

 

Total liabilities

 

4,762,513

 

588,391

 

1,456,783

 

(226,733

)

6,580,954

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

 

11,739

 

 

 

 

11,739

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

3,572,425

 

6,722,343

 

2,163,943

 

(8,886,286

)

3,572,425

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

8,346,677

 

$

7,310,734

 

$

3,620,726

 

$

(9,113,019

)

$

10,165,118

 

 

21



Table of Contents

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

December 31, 2011

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Guarantor

 

Non-Guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent/Issuer

 

Subsidiaries

 

Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

61,375

 

$

332

 

$

76,442

 

$

 

$

138,149

 

Restricted cash-retirement of ICG obligations

 

10,322

 

 

 

 

10,322

 

Receivables

 

65,187

 

22,037

 

383,572

 

(1,617

)

469,179

 

Inventories

 

 

207,050

 

170,440

 

 

377,490

 

Other

 

81,732

 

83,122

 

22,780

 

 

187,634

 

Total current assets

 

218,616

 

312,541

 

653,234

 

(1,617

)

1,182,774

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

21,241

 

6,187,658

 

1,524,251

 

 

7,733,150

 

Investment in subsidiaries

 

8,805,731

 

 

 

(8,805,731

)

 

Intercompany receivables

 

(1,457,864

)

7,010

 

1,450,854

 

 

 

Note receivable from Arch Western

 

225,000

 

 

 

(225,000

)

 

Other

 

184,266

 

1,019,948

 

13,156

 

 

1,217,370

 

Total other assets

 

7,757,133

 

1,026,958

 

1,464,010

 

(9,030,731

)

1,217,370

 

Total assets

 

$

7,996,990

 

$

7,527,157

 

$

3,641,495

 

$

(9,032,348

)

$

10,133,294

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

25,409

 

$

175,196

 

$

183,177

 

$

 

$

383,782

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

75,133

 

115,685

 

166,834

 

(1,617

)

356,035

 

Current maturities of debt and short-term borrowings

 

172,564

 

1,987

 

106,300

 

 

280,851

 

Total current liabilities

 

273,106

 

292,868

 

456,311

 

(1,617

)

1,020,668

 

Long-term debt

 

3,308,674

 

2,652

 

450,971

 

 

 

3,762,297

 

Note payable to Arch Coal

 

 

 

225,000

 

(225,000

)

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

877

 

140,861

 

305,046

 

 

446,784

 

Accrued pension benefits

 

19,198

 

4,203

 

24,843

 

 

48,244

 

Accrued postretirement benefits other than pension

 

13,843

 

6,271

 

22,195

 

 

42,309

 

Accrued workers’ compensation

 

17,272

 

48,111

 

6,565

 

 

71,948

 

Deferred income taxes

 

621,483

 

274,605

 

 

 

896,088

 

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

152,963

 

64,795

 

37,624

 

 

255,382

 

Total liabilities

 

4,407,416

 

834,366

 

1,528,555

 

(226,617

)

6,543,720

 

Redeemable noncontrolling interest

 

11,534

 

 

 

 

11,534

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

3,578,040

 

6,692,791

 

2,112,940

 

(8,805,731

)

3,578,040

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

7,996,990

 

$

7,527,157

 

$

3,641,495

 

$

(9,032,348

)

$

10,133,294

 

 

22



Table of Contents

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

Three Months Ended March 31, 2012

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

Guarantor

 

Non-Guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent/Issuer

 

Subsidiaries

 

Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

$

(18,534

)

$

34,078

 

$

39,446

 

$

 

$

54,990

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Change in restricted cash

 

1,455

 

 

 

 

1,455

 

Capital expenditures

 

(1,177

)

(73,657

)

(18,437

)

 

(93,271

)

Proceeds from dispositions of property, plant and equipment

 

 

546

 

21,559

 

 

22,105

 

Purchases of investments and advances to affiliates

 

(3,619

)

(3,488

)

 

1,330

 

(5,777

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additions to prepaid royalties

 

 

(4,818

)

(3,444

)

 

 

(8,262

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash used in investing activities

 

(3,341

)

(81,417

)

(322

)

1,330

 

(83,750

)

Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payments to retire ICG debt

 

 

(1,330

)

 

 

(1,330

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in borrowings under lines of credit and commercial paper program

 

34,000

 

 

 

 

34,000

 

Net proceeds from other debt

 

(5,993

)

 

 

 

(5,993

)

Debt financing costs

 

(54

)

 

(46

)

 

(100

)

Dividends paid

 

(23,327

)

 

 

 

(23,327

)

Issuance of common stock under incentive plans

 

5,131

 

 

 

 

5,131

 

Transactions with affiliates, net

 

(14,060

)

47,315

 

(33,255

)

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

(4,303

)

47,315

 

(33,301

)

(1,330

)

8,381

 

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(26,178

)

(24

)

5,823

 

 

(20,379

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

61,374

 

332

 

76,443

 

 

138,149

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

35,196

 

$

308

 

$

82,266

 

$

 

$

117,770

 

 

23



Table of Contents

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

Guarantor

 

Non-Guarantor

 

 

 

 

 

Parent/Issuer

 

Subsidiaries

 

Subsidiaries

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

$

(75,477

)

$

144,796

 

$

16,826

 

$

86,145

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(900

)

(23,615

)

(14,196

)

(38,711

)

Proceeds from dispositions of property, plant and equipment

 

 

502

 

14

 

516

 

Purchases of investments and advances to affiliates

 

(9,529

)

(24,890

)

 

(34,419

)

Additions to prepaid royalties

 

 

(20,915

)

 

(20,915

)

Cash used in investing activities

 

(10,429

)

(68,918

)

(14,182

)

(93,529

)

Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net decrease in borrowings under lines of credit and commercial paper program

 

 

 

3,681

 

3,681

 

Net proceeds from other debt

 

(5,161

)

 

 

(5,161

)

Debt financing costs

 

 

 

(8

)

(8

)

Dividends paid

 

(16,269

)

 

 

(16,269

)

Issuance of common stock under incentive plans

 

768

 

 

 

768

 

Transactions with affiliates, net

 

95,911

 

(75,893

)

(20,018

)

 

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

75,249

 

(75,893

)

(16,345

)

(16,989

)

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(10,657

)

(15

)

(13,701

)

(24,373

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

13,713

 

64

 

79,816

 

93,593

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

3,056

 

$

49

 

$

66,115

 

$

69,220

 

 

24



Table of Contents

 

Item 2.            Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

Overview

 

Weakness in the U.S. thermal coal markets impacted our first quarter results resulting from an unprecedented build in power generator coal stockpiles year to date, the continued erosion in natural gas prices and relatively soft global metallurgical demand.  We expect U.S. coal consumption for power generation to decline by at least 75 million tons in 2012, as compared to 2011, due to unfavorable weather trends that have reduced power demand and contributed to a natural gas surplus.  These factors have led to an increase in U.S. coal generator stockpiles to date in 2012.  The industry has responded with supply reductions.  Mine Safety and Health Administration data suggests that total domestic production decreased 14 million tons during the first quarter of 2012, and we expect further reductions as 2012 progresses.

 

In response to these market conditions, we further curtailed our production expectations for 2012 and we have taken steps to increase operational efficiency and productivity.  In total, we expect to reduce annual volumes by 25 million tons in 2012 compared to originally planned levels.  In the Powder River Basin, we idled one dragline, and placed another into reclamation efforts, and limited railcar loadings from the West loadout at the Black Thunder mine.  In Appalachia, we delayed the startup of the longwall at the Mountain Laurel mine following the successful transition to the Cedar Grove seam, and closed five thermal operations and further curtailed production at other thermal mines. We are also taking steps to control costs by eliminating discretionary spending, reducing headcount and consolidating operations.  We are controlling capital spending at thermal coal mines and controlling maintenance capital, but we are proceeding with metallurgical coal development projects, namely the Leer mine (previously known as the Tygart mine) in Appalachia, and supporting efforts to expand our coal exporting network.

 

We expect that coal exports will somewhat offset the weakness in domestic markets.  The global cross-border hard coal trade through March is on pace to exceed the 1.2 billion-ton record set in 2011. More than 185 new coal-fueled plants are expected to come online in 2012, resulting in approximately 400 million tons of incremental annual coal demand.  Momentum in global steel markets is also increasing, as steel output grew 6% during the first quarter of 2012 from the fourth quarter of 2011.  We expect to export 12 million tons in 2012.

 

Items Affecting Comparability of Reported Results

 

The comparability of our operating results between the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 is affected by the acquisition of ICG on June 15, 2011. To finance the acquisition, we received net proceeds of $1.3 billion from the sale of our common stock and issued $2.0 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes.

 

Results of Operations

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2011

 

Summary.  Our results during the first quarter of 2012 when compared to the first quarter of 2011 were impacted substantially by our production cutbacks in response to weak market conditions, which offset the impact of higher sales pricing in all regions.

 

Revenues.  Our revenues consist of coal sales and revenues from our ADDCAR subsidiary acquired with ICG. The following table summarizes information about coal sales during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and compares it with the information for the three months ended March 31, 2011:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

Increase (Decrease)

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Amount

 

%

 

 

 

(Amounts in thousands, except per ton data and percentages)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coal sales

 

$

1,039,651

 

$

872,938

 

$

166,713

 

19.10

%

Tons sold

 

35,660

 

36,608

 

(948

)

(2.6

)%

Coal sales realization per ton sold

 

$

29.15

 

$

23.85

 

$

5.30

 

22.2

%

 

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Coal sales increased in the first quarter of 2012 from the first quarter of 2011, due to an increase in the overall average price per ton sold, the result of improved pricing on metallurgical-quality coal sold and the contribution from the ICG operations, including higher-priced metallurgical coal sales volumes, as well as the impact of changes in regional mix on our average coal sales realization. Coal sales revenues attributed to acquired ICG operations were $237.2 million in the first quarter of 2012. These factors were offset by lower demand in all operating segments. We have provided more information about the tons sold and the coal sales realizations per ton by operating segment under the heading “Operating segment results”.

 

Costs, expenses and other.  The following table summarizes costs, expenses and other components of operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and compares it with the information for the three months ended March 31, 2011:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

Increase (Decrease) in Net 
Income

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Amount

 

%

 

 

 

(in thousands, except percentages)

 

Cost of sales

 

$

850,871

 

$

653,684

 

$

(197,187

)

(30.2

)%

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

139,966

 

83,537

 

(56,429

)

(67.5

)

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

(14,017

)

5,944

 

19,961

 

335.8

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

30,861

 

30,435

 

(426

)

(1.4

)

Change in fair value of coal derivatives and coal trading activities, net

 

(3,613

)

(1,784

)

1,829

 

102.5

 

Other operating income, net

 

(18,498

)

(1,116

)

17,382

 

1,557.5

 

 

 

$

985,570

 

$

770,700

 

$

(214,870

)

(27.9

)%

 

Cost of coal sales.  Our cost of sales increased in the first quarter of 2012 from the first quarter of 2011 primarily from the impact of the acquisition of the ICG operations, an increase in transportation costs as a result of the increase in export shipments, and an increase in sales-sensitive costs. We have provided more information about the performance and profitability of our operating segments under the heading “Operating segment results”.

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization.  When compared with the first quarter of 2011, higher depreciation, depletion and amortization costs in 2012 resulted primarily from the acquired ICG operations, partially offset by the impact of lower depreciation and amortization on assets amortized or depleted on the basis of tons produced, processed, or sold.

 

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net.  The fair values of acquired sales contracts are amortized over the tons of coal shipped during the term of the contracts. In the first quarter of 2012, amortization expense related to contracts we acquired in 2009 with the Jacobs Ranch operations in the PRB was offset by amortization income related to the contracts we acquired with the ICG operations. We expect net amortization income of acquired sales contracts, based upon expected shipments, to be approximately $18.0 million in 2012.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses.  Selling, general and administrative expenses were essentially flat when compared with the first quarter of 2011. Our growth in 2012 has resulted in an increase in salary and benefit costs, travel costs, and other professional service fees.  These were offset by a decrease in incentive compensation costs of $2.7 million and the net obligation under the deferred compensation plan of $1.7 million.

 

Other operating income, net.  When compared with 2011, other operating income, net increased in 2012 primarily from a gain of $12.5 million on the sale of non-core business assets, as well contributions from the acquired ICG operations.

 

Operating segment results.  The following table shows results by operating segment for three months ended March 31, 2012 and compares it with the information for the three months ended March 31, 2011:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

Increase (Decrease)

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

$

 

%

 

 

 

(in thousands, except per-ton and percentages)

 

Powder River Basin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tons sold (in thousands)

 

27,215

 

28,830

 

(1,615

)

(5.6

)%

Coal sales realization per ton sold(1)

 

$

13.87

 

$

13.51

 

$

0.36

 

2.7

%

Operating margin per ton sold(2)

 

$

1.15

 

$

1.60

 

$

(0.45

)

(28.1

)%

Adjusted EBITDA(3) (in thousands)

 

$

74,183

 

$

93,716

 

$

(19,533

)

(20.8

)%

Appalachia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tons sold (in thousands)

 

4,666

 

3,592

 

1,074

 

29.9

%

Coal sales realization per ton sold(1)

 

$

88.23

 

$

80.92

 

$

7.31

 

9.0

%

Operating margin per ton sold(2)

 

$

1.97

 

$

16.00

 

$

(14.03

)

(87.7

)%

Adjusted EBITDA(3) (in thousands)

 

$

80,165

 

$

77,986

 

$

3,158

 

4.1

%

Western Bituminous

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tons sold (in thousands)

 

3,261

 

4,186

 

(925

)

(22.1

)%

Coal sales realization per ton sold(1)

 

$

36.77

 

$

34.87

 

$

1.90

 

5.4

%

Operating margin per ton sold(2)

 

$

9.79

 

$

6.36

 

$

3.43

 

53.9

%

Adjusted EBITDA(3) (in thousands)

 

$

50,820

 

$

47,420

 

$

2,422

 

5.1

%

 

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(1)                                  Coal sales prices per ton exclude certain transportation costs that we pass through to our customers. We use these financial measures because we believe the amounts as adjusted better represent the coal sales prices we achieved within our operating segments. Since other companies may calculate coal sales prices per ton differently, our calculation may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by those companies. For 2012, transportation costs per ton were $0.87 for the Powder River Basin, $12.30 for Appalachia and $7.01 for the Western Bituminous region. For 2011, transportation costs per ton were $0.13 for the Powder River Basin, $9.39 for Appalachia and $0.25 for the Western Bituminous region.

 

(2)                                  Operating margin per ton sold is calculated as coal sales revenues less cost of coal sales, depreciation, depletion and amortization and sales contract amortization divided by tons sold.

 

(3)                                  Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income attributable to the Company before the effect of net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization and the amortization of acquired sales contracts. Adjusted EBITDA may also be adjusted for items that may not reflect the trend of future results. Segment Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled to net income at the end of this “Results of Operations” section.

 

Powder River Basin — Segment Adjusted EBITDA decreased in the first quarter of 2012 when compared to the first quarter of 2011, due to the lower sales volumes in the Powder River Basin from the production cutbacks in response to market conditions. Per-ton costs were also higher due to the lower production levels, which offset the impact of slightly higher per-ton selling prices.

 

Appalachia — Segment Adjusted EBITDA increased slightly from the first quarter of 2011 primarily as a result of an increase in the volumes and pricing of metallurgical-quality coal sold. We sold 1.6 million tons of metallurgical-quality coal in the first quarter of 2012 compared to 1.4 million tons in the first quarter of 2011. The volume contributions from the acquired ICG operations were offset by the impact of unfavorable market conditions. The benefit from higher per-ton realizations, net of sales sensitive costs, in the first quarter of 2012 was offset by the impacts of lower production levels and the Mountain Laurel idling, which resulted in an increase on our average per-ton production costs, as well as approximately $7 million in severance and closure related costs.

 

Western Bituminous — Improved Segment Adjusted EBITDA, despite appreciably lower sales volumes, was due to improved pricing resulting from increased export shipments. Operating margins also improved as a result, but export sales also resulted in higher per-ton costs from the cost of moving coal to the point of sale.

 

Net interest expense.  The following table summarizes our net interest expense for three months ended March 31, 2012 and compares it with the information for the three months ended March 31, 2011:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

Increase (Decrease) in Net 
Income

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Amount

 

%

 

 

 

(Amounts in thousands, except percentages)

 

Interest expense, net:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

 

(74,772

)

 

(34,580

)

 

(40,192

)

116.2

%

Interest income

 

 

1,021

 

 

746

 

 

275

 

36.9

 

 

 

$

(73,751

)

$

(33,834

)

$

(39,917

)

118.0

%

 

 

The increase in interest expense during the first quarter of 2012 when compared with the first quarter of 2011 is the result of the ICG acquisition financing.

 

Income taxes.  Our effective income tax rate is sensitive to changes in and the relationship between annual profitability and the deduction for percentage depletion. The following table summarizes our income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and compares it with the information for the three months ended March 31, 2011:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

Increase (Decrease) in Net 
Income

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Amount

 

%

 

 

 

(Amounts in thousands, except percentages)

 

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

 

$

(21,079

)

$

12,530

 

$

33,609

 

268.2

%

 

The income tax provision in the first quarter of 2012 reflects our pretax loss combined with percentage depletion adjustments, including a tax benefit of $5.4  million related to the recognition of tax benefits based on an approved change in accounting method relating to partnership deductions.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Reconciliation of Segment Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income

 

The discussion in “Results of Operations” includes references to our Adjusted EBITDA results. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income attributable to the Company before the effect of net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization and the amortization of acquired sales contracts. Adjusted EBITDA may also be adjusted for items that may not reflect the trend of future results. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA presents a useful measure of our ability to service and incur debt based on ongoing operations. Investors should be aware that our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies. The table below shows how we calculate Adjusted EBITDA.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Reported Segment Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

205,172

 

$

219,122

 

Corporate and other(1)

 

(25,345

)

(27,676

)

Adjusted EBITDA

 

179,827

 

191,446

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

(139,966

)

(83,537

)

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

14,017

 

(5,944

)

Interest expense

 

(74,772

)

(34,580

)

Interest income

 

1,021

 

746

 

(Provision for) benefit from income taxes

 

21,079

 

(12,530

)

Net income attributable to Arch Coal

 

$

1,206

 

$

55,601

 

 


(1)                                  Corporate and other Adjusted EBITDA includes primarily selling, general and administrative expenses, income from our equity investments, the change in fair value of coal derivatives and coal trading activities.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our primary sources of cash are coal sales to customers, borrowings under our credit facilities and other financing arrangements, and debt and equity offerings related to significant transactions. Excluding any significant mineral reserve acquisitions, we generally satisfy our working capital requirements and fund capital expenditures and debt-service obligations with cash generated from operations or borrowings under our lines of credit. The borrowings under these arrangements are classified as current if the underlying credit facilities expire within one year or if, based on cash projections and management plans, we do not have the intent to replace them on a long-term basis. Such plans are subject to change based on our cash needs.

 

On April 30, 2012, we received commitment letters with lending institutions to refinance certain of our indebtedness having near-term maturities and to increase our liquidity in order to execute on key long-term growth initiatives, particularly the development of our metallurgical coal properties.  As part of the financing package, these lenders have agreed, subject to certain customary conditions, to enter into an amendment to our existing senior secured revolving credit facility which will, among other things, suspend our compliance with the debt-to-EBITDA ratio and other financial covenants in the existing credit agreement over the next 24 months and replace them with minimum performance targets at levels consistent with the current coal market environment.  We will also receive a $1 billion, six-year term loan facility, which will contain no financial maintenance covenants, and the maximum borrowing capacity of the revolving credit facility will be reduced from $2 billion to $1 billion. We will use the proceeds of the term loan to retire the outstanding $450.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6 ¾% Senior Notes due 2013 issued by Arch Western Finance, LLC (“Arch Western Finance”), our indirect subsidiary.

 

On May 1, 2012, Arch Western Finance commenced a cash tender offer for any and all of its outstanding senior notes.  In connection with the tender offer, Arch Western Finance is soliciting consents from the holders of the senior notes for certain proposed amendments to the indenture governing the notes that would eliminate most of the covenants and certain default provisions applicable to the senior notes, as well as reduce the minimum notice period in the optional redemption provision of the senior notes from 30 days to three days. If Arch Western Finance purchases less than all of the outstanding senior notes in the tender offer, it intends to redeem any senior notes that remain outstanding.  The terms and conditions of the tender offer and consent solicitation are described in an Offer to Purchase and Consent Solicitation Statement (the “Statement”) and a related Consent and Letter of Transmittal (the “Letter of Transmittal”), which have been sent to holders of the senior notes.  Arch Western Finance’s obligations to accept any senior notes tendered and to pay the applicable consideration for them are set forth solely in the Statement and the Consent and Letter of Transmittal.  This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is not an offer to purchase, a solicitation of an offer to sell, or a solicitation of consents with respect to any securities.  Neither we nor Arch Western Finance is making any recommendation in connection with the tender offer and the consent solicitation.  The Consent Solicitation expires on May 14, 2012, prior to which the consideration for each $1,000 of principal is $1,002.50. For notes tendered after the expiration of the Consent Solicitation and before May 29, 2012, the end of the tender offer, the consideration for each $1,000 of principal is $972.50.

 

Our strategy to maintaining our liquidity in the near term includes a reduction of our dividend from $0.11 to $0.03 per share.

 

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Table of Contents

 

We believe that cash generated from operations and borrowings under our credit facilities or other financing arrangements will be sufficient to meet working capital requirements, anticipated capital expenditures and scheduled debt payments for at least the next several years. We manage our exposure to changing commodity prices for our non-trading, long-term coal contract portfolio through the use of long-term coal supply agreements. We enter into fixed price, fixed volume supply contracts with terms greater than one year with customers with whom we have historically had limited collection issues. Our ability to satisfy debt service obligations, to fund planned capital expenditures, to make acquisitions, to repurchase our common shares and to pay dividends will depend upon our future operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions in the coal industry and financial, business and other factors, some of which are beyond our control.

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Indebtedness to banks under credit facilities

 

$

515,300

 

$

481,300

 

6.75% senior notes ($450.0 million face value) due July 1, 2013

 

450,809

 

450,971

 

8.75% senior notes ($600.0 million face value) due August 1, 2016

 

589,463

 

588,974

 

7.00% senior notes due June 15, 2019 at par

 

1,000,000

 

1,000,000

 

7.25% senior notes due October 1, 2020 at par

 

500,000

 

500,000

 

7.25% senior notes due June 15, 2021 at par

 

1,000,000

 

1,000,000

 

Other

 

14,580

 

21,903

 

 

 

4,070,152

 

4,043,148

 

Less current maturities of debt and short-term borrowings

 

102,356

 

280,851

 

Long-term debt

 

$

3,967,796

 

$

3,762,297

 

 

The Company’s average borrowing level under lines of credit and short term borrowings was approximately $489 million and $60 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

 

The following is a summary of cash provided by or used in each of the indicated types of activities during the three months ended March 31, 2012 and March 31, 2011.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31

 

 

 

2011

 

2011

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Cash provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

$

54,990

 

$

86,145

 

Investing activities

 

(83,750

)

(93,529

)

Financing activities

 

8,381

 

(16,989

)

 

Cash provided by operating activities decreased in the first quarter of 2012 compared to 2011, driven by lower operating income.

 

We used less cash in investing activities in the first quarter of 2012 compared to the amount used in 2011, primarily due to the disposition of non-core assets and a decrease in investments and prepaid royalties in 2012. These factors were offset by an increase in capital expenditures,  we spent approximately $37 million during the first quarter of 2012 on the development of the Leer mine, previously the Tygart Valley mine.

 

Cash provided by financing activities was $8.4 million in the first quarter of 2012, compared to the cash used in financing activities during 2011 of $17.0 million due to an increase in borrowings under lines of credit of $29.3 million, partially offset by an increase in dividends paid of $7.1 million, due to an increase in shares outstanding as a result of the shares issued in 2011 to finance the ICG acquisition and an increase of $0.01 in the dividend rate.

 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

The following table sets forth our ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends for the periods indicated:

 

29



Table of Contents

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31

 

 

 

2012

 

2011

 

Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends(1)

 

0.74x

 

2.84x

 

 


 

(1)                                  Earnings consist of income from operations before income taxes and are adjusted to include only distributed income from affiliates accounted for on the equity method and fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest). Fixed charges consist of interest incurred on indebtedness, the portion of operating lease rentals deemed representative of the interest factor and the amortization of debt expense.

 

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

We manage our commodity price risk for our non-trading, long-term coal contract portfolio through the use of long-term coal supply agreements, and to a limited extent, through the use of derivative instruments. At March 31, 2012, our commitments for 2012 and 2013 are as follows:

 

 

 

2012

 

2013

 

 

 

Tons

 

$ per ton

 

Tons

 

$ per ton

 

Sales Volume (in millions tons)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thermal

 

128 - 134

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Met

 

8 - 8.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

136 - 142.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Powder River Basin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committed, Priced

 

98.5

 

$14.10

 

52.8

 

$

14.98

 

Committed, Unpriced

 

3.4

 

 

 

11.5

 

 

 

Average Cash Cost

 

 

 

$11.50 - $12.50

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Western Bituminous

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committed, Priced

 

13.9

 

$36.32

 

10.3

 

$

39.63

 

Committed, Unpriced

 

0.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average Cash Cost

 

 

 

$24.00 - $27.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appalachia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committed, Priced Thermal

 

9.7

 

$68.02

 

4.2

 

$

64.01

 

Committed, Unpriced Thermal

 

0.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committed, Priced Metallurgical

 

6.0

 

$126.64

 

0.2

 

$

111.13

 

Committed, Unpriced Metallurgical

 

0.3

 

 

 

0.1

 

 

 

Average Cash Cost

 

 

 

$68.00 - $73.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illinois Basin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committed, Priced

 

2.2

 

$41.28

 

1.5

 

$

43.36

 

Average Cash Cost

 

 

 

$ 32.00 - $35.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate (in $ millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D,D&A

 

 

 

$520 - $550

 

 

 

 

 

S,G&A

 

 

 

$125 - $135

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Expense

 

 

 

$290 - $300

 

 

 

 

 

Capital Expenditures

 

 

 

$410 - $440

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are exposed to commodity price risk in our coal trading activities, which represents the potential future loss that could be caused by an adverse change in the market value of coal. Our coal trading portfolio included forward, swap and put and call option contracts at March 31, 2012. With respect to our coal trading portfolio at March 31, 2012 the potential for loss of future earnings resulting from changing coal prices was insignificant. The estimated future realization of the value of the trading portfolio is $4.3 million of losses in the remainder of 2012 and $2.2 million of losses in 2013.

 

30



Table of Contents

 

We monitor and manage market price risk for our trading activities with a variety of tools, including Value at Risk (VaR), position limits, management alerts for mark to market monitoring and loss limits, scenario analysis, sensitivity analysis and review of daily changes in market dynamics. Management believes that presenting high, low, end of year and average VaR is the best available method to give investors insight into the level of commodity risk of our trading positions. Illiquid positions, such as long-dated trades that are not quoted by brokers or exchanges, are not included in VaR.

 

VaR is a statistical one-tail confidence interval and down side risk estimate that relies on recent history to estimate how the value of the portfolio of positions will change if markets behave in the same way as they have in the recent past. While presenting VaR will provide a similar framework for discussing risk across companies, VaR estimates from two independent sources are rarely calculated in the same way. Without a thorough understanding of how each VaR model was calculated, it would be difficult to compare two different VaR calculations from different sources. The level of confidence is 95%. The time across which these possible value changes are being estimated is through the end of the next business day. A closed-form delta-neutral method used throughout the finance and energy sectors is employed to calculate this VaR. VaR is back tested to verify usefulness.

 

On average, portfolio value should not fall more than VaR on 95 out of 100 business days. Conversely, portfolio value declines of more than VaR should be expected, on average, 5 out of 100 business days. When more value than VaR is lost due to market price changes, VaR is not representative of how much value beyond VaR will be lost.

 

During the year ended March 31, 2012, VaR for our coal trading and risk management positions that are recorded at fair value through earnings ranged from under $1.8 million to $4.1 million. The linear mean of each daily VaR was $3.0 million. The final VaR at March 31, 2012 was $2.5 million. We have also entered into positions for risk management purposes for which we could not elect hedge accounting.

 

We are also exposed to the risk of fluctuations in cash flows related to our purchase of diesel fuel. We expect to use approximately 75 million to 80 million gallons of diesel fuel annually in our operations. We enter into forward physical purchase contracts, as well as purchased heating oil options, to reduce volatility in the price of diesel fuel for our operations. At March 31, 2012 the Company had protected the price of approximately 85% of its expected purchases for remainder of fiscal year 2012 and approximately 55% of our purchases for the first quarter of 2013, mostly through the use of the derivative instruments noted above. The heating oil options do not qualify for hedge accounting.  A $0.25 per gallon decrease in the price of heating oil would not result in an increase in our expense related to the heating oil derivatives.

 

We are exposed to market risk associated with interest rates due to our existing level of indebtedness. At March 31, 2012, of our $4.1 billion principal amount of debt outstanding, approximately $515 million of outstanding borrowings have interest rates that fluctuate based on changes in the market rates. An increase in the interest rates related to these borrowings of 25 basis points would result in an annualized increase in interest expense of $1.3 million, based on borrowing levels at March31, 2012.

 

Item 4.            Controls and Procedures.

 

We performed an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2012. Based on that evaluation, our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date.

 

On June 15, 2011, we completed our acquisition of ICG.  While management does not expect significant changes to our financial reporting processes and related internal controls as a result of the ICG acquisition, it will take time for us to fully complete the integration of ICG’s information systems and personnel with ours.  Integration efforts are continuing as of March 31, 2012.

 

There have not been any other significant changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter to which this report relates that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.            Legal Proceedings

 

In addition to the following matters, we are involved in various claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business, including employee injury claims. After conferring with counsel, it is the opinion of management that the ultimate resolution of these claims, to the extent not previously provided for, will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

 

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Permit Litigation Matters

 

Surface mines at our Mingo Logan and Coal-Mac mining operations were identified in an existing lawsuit brought by the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia as having been granted Clean Water Act § 404 permits by the Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”), allegedly in violation of the Clean Water Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. The lawsuit, brought by OVEC in September 2005, originally was filed against the Corps for permits it had issued to four subsidiaries of a company unrelated to us or our operating subsidiaries. The suit claimed that the Corps had issued permits to the subsidiaries of the unrelated company that did not comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and violated the Clean Water Act.

 

The court ruled on the claims associated with those four permits in orders of March 23 and June 13, 2007. In the first of those orders, the court rescinded the four permits, finding that the Corps had inadequately assessed the likely impact of valley fills on headwater streams and had relied on inadequate or unproven mitigation to offset those impacts. In the second order, the court entered a declaratory judgment that discharges of sediment from the valley fills into sediment control ponds constructed in-stream to control that sediment must themselves be permitted under a different provision of the Clean Water Act, § 402, and meet the effluent limits imposed on discharges from these ponds. Both of the district court rulings were appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

 

Before the court entered its first order, the plaintiffs were permitted to amend their complaint to challenge the Coal-Mac and Mingo Logan permits. Plaintiffs sought preliminary injunctions against both operations, but later reached agreements with our operating subsidiaries that have allowed mining to progress in limited areas while the district court’s rulings were on appeal. The claims against Coal-Mac were thereafter dismissed.

 

In February 2009, the Fourth Circuit reversed the District Court. The Fourth Circuit held that the Corps’ jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act is limited to the narrow issue of the filling of jurisdictional waters. The court also held that the Corps’ findings of no significant impact under the National Environmental Policy Act and no significant degradation under the Clean Water Act are entitled to deference. Such findings entitle the Corps to avoid preparing an environmental impact statement, the absence of which was one issue on appeal. These holdings also validated the type of mitigation projects proposed by our operations to minimize impacts and comply with the relevant statutes. Finally, the Fourth Circuit found that stream segments, together with the sediment ponds to which they connect, are unitary “waste treatment systems,” not “waters of the United States,” and that the Corps’ had not exceeded its authority in permitting them.

 

OVEC sought rehearing before the entire appellate court, which was denied in May, 2009, and the decision was given legal effect in June 2009. An appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court was then filed in August 2009. On August 3, 2010 OVEC withdrew its appeal.

 

Mingo Logan filed a motion for summary judgment with the district court in July 2009, asking that judgment be entered in its favor because no outstanding legal issues remained for decision as a result of the Fourth Circuit’s February 2009 decision. By a series of motions, the United States obtained extensions and stays of the obligation to respond to the motion in the wake of its letters to the Corps dated September 3 and October 16, 2009 (discussed below). By order dated April 22, 2010, the District Court stayed the case as to Mingo Logan for the shorter of either six months or the completion of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (the “EPA”) proposed action to deny Mingo Logan the right to use its Corps’ permit (as discussed below). The stay currently remains in effect.

 

On October 15, 2010, the United States moved to extend the existing stay for an additional 120 days (until February 22, 2011) while the EPA Administrator reviewed the “Recommended Determination” issued by the EPA Region 3. By Memorandum Opinion and Order dated November 2, 2010, the court granted the United States’ motion. On January 13, 2011, the EPA issued its “Final Determination” to withdraw the specification of two of the three watersheds as a disposal site for dredged or fill material approved under the current Section 404 permit. The court has been notified of the Final Determination and by order dated March 21, 2011 stayed further proceedings in the case until further order of the court, in light of the challenge to the EPA’s “Final Determination” currently pending in federal court in Washington, DC.  As described more fully below, the federal court in Washington DC, by Memorandum and Opinion and separate Order, each dated March 23, 2012, granted Mingo Logan’s motion for summary judgment, vacated EPA’s Final Determination and found valid and in full force Mingo Logan’s Section 404 permit.  On April 5, 2012, Mingo Logan moved to lift the stay referenced above.  The motion is pending before the court.

 

EPA Actions Related to Water Discharges from the Spruce Permit

 

By letter of September 3, 2009, the EPA asked the Corps of Engineers to suspend, revoke or modify the existing permit it issued in January 2007 to Mingo Logan under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, claiming that “new information and circumstances have arisen which justify reconsideration of the permit.” By letter of September 30, 2009, the Corps of Engineers advised the EPA that it would not reconsider its decision to issue the permit. By letter of October 16, 2009, the EPA advised the Corps that it has “reason to

 

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believe” that the Mingo Logan mine will have “unacceptable adverse impacts to fish and wildlife resources” and that it intends to issue a public notice of a proposed determination to restrict or prohibit discharges of fill material that already are approved by the Corps’ permit. By federal register publication dated April 2, 2010, the EPA issued its “Proposed Determination to Prohibit, Restrict or Deny the Specification, or the Use for Specification of an Area as a Disposal Site: Spruce No. 1 Surface Mine, Logan County, WV” pursuant to Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act, the EPA accepted written comments on its proposed action (sometimes known as a “veto proceeding”), through June 4, 2010 and conducted a public hearing, as well, on May 18, 2010. We submitted comments on the action during this period. On September 24, 2010, the EPA Region 3 issued a “Recommended Determination” to the EPA Administrator recommending that the EPA prohibit the placement of fill material in two of the three watersheds for which filling is approved under the current Section 404 permit. Mingo Logan, along with the Corps, West Virginia DEP and the mineral owner, engaged in a consultation with the EPA as required by the regulations, to discuss “corrective action” to address the “unacceptable adverse effects” identified. On January 13, 2011, the EPA issued its “Final Determination” pursuant to Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act to withdraw the specification of two of the three watersheds approved in the current Section 404 permit as a disposal site for dredged or fill material. By separate action, Mingo Logan sued the EPA on April 2, 2010 in federal court in Washington, D.C. seeking a ruling that the EPA has no authority under the Clean Water Act to veto a previously issued permit (Mingo Logan Coal Company, Inc. v. USEPA, No. 1:10-cv-00541(D.D.C.)). The EPA moved to dismiss that action, and we responded to that motion.

 

Pursuant to a scheduling order for summary disposition of the case, motions and cross-motions for summary judgment by both parties were filed. On November 30, 2011, the court heard arguments from the parties limited only to the threshold issue of whether the EPA had the authority under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act to withdraw the specification of the disposal site after the Corps had already issued a permit under Section 404(a). The court deferred consideration of the remaining issue (i.e. whether the EPA’s “Final Determination” is otherwise lawful) until after consideration of the threshold issue.  On March 23, 2012, the court entered an Order and a Memorandum Opinion granting Mingo Logan’s motion for summary judgment, denying EPA’s cross-motion for summary judgment, vacating the Final Determination and ordering that Mingo Logan’s Section 404 permit remains valid and in full force.  The order entering judgment for Mingo Logan and against EPA is final and appealable.

 

Allegheny Energy Contract Matter

 

Allegheny Energy Supply (“Allegheny”), the sole customer of coal produced at our subsidiary Wolf Run Mining Company’s (“Wolf Run”) Sycamore No. 2 mine, filed a lawsuit against Wolf Run, Hunter Ridge Holdings, Inc. (“Hunter Ridge”), and ICG in state court in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania on December 28, 2006, and amended its complaint on April 23, 2007. Allegheny claimed that Wolf Run breached a coal supply contract when it declared force majeure under the contract upon idling the Sycamore No. 2 mine in the third quarter of 2006, and that Wolf Run continued to breach the contract by failing to ship in volumes referenced in the contract. The Sycamore No. 2 mine was idled after encountering adverse geologic conditions and abandoned gas wells that were previously unidentified and unmapped.

 

After extensive searching for gas wells and rehabilitation of the mine, it was re-opened in 2007, but with notice to Allegheny that it would necessarily operate at reduced volumes in order to safely and effectively avoid the many gas wells within the reserve. The amended complaint also alleged that the production stoppages constitute a breach of the guarantee agreement by Hunter Ridge and breach of certain representations made upon entering into the contract in early 2005. Allegheny voluntarily dropped the breach of representation claims later. Allegheny claimed that it would incur costs in excess of $100 million to purchase replacement coal over the life of the contract. ICG, Wolf Run and Hunter Ridge answered the amended complaint on August 13, 2007, disputing all of the remaining claims.

 

On November 3, 2008, ICG, Wolf Run and Hunter Ridge filed an amended answer and counterclaim against the plaintiffs seeking to void the coal supply agreement due to, among other things, fraudulent inducement and conspiracy. On September 23, 2009, Allegheny filed a second amended complaint alleging several alternative theories of liability in its effort to extend contractual liability to ICG, which was not a party to the original contract and did not exist at the time Wolf Run and Allegheny entered into the contract.  No new substantive claims were asserted. ICG answered the second amended complaint on October 13, 2009, denying all of the new claims. The Company’s counterclaim was dismissed on motion for summary judgment entered on May 11, 2010. Allegheny’s claims against ICG were also dismissed by summary judgment, but the claims against Wolf Run and Hunter Ridge were not. The court conducted a non-jury trial of this matter beginning on January 10, 2011 and concluding on February 1, 2011.

 

At the trial, Allegheny presented its evidence for breach of contract and claimed that it is entitled to past and future damages in the aggregate of between $228 million and $377 million. Wolf Run and Hunter Ridge presented their defense of the claims, including evidence with respect to the existence of force majeure conditions and excuse under the contract and applicable law. Wolf Run and Hunter Ridge presented evidence that Allegheny’s damages calculations were significantly inflated because it did not seek to determine damages as of the time of the breach and in some instances artificially assumed future nondelivery or did not take into account the apparent requirement to supply coal in the future. On May 2, 2011, the trial court entered a Memorandum and Verdict determining that Wolf Run had breached the coal supply contract and that the performance shortfall was not excused by force majeure. The trial court awarded total damages and interest in the amount of $104.1 million. ICG and Allegheny filed post-verdict

 

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motions in the trial court and on August 23, 2011, the court denied the parties’ motions. The court entered a final judgment on August 25, 2011, in the amount of $104.1 million, which included pre-judgment interest. The parties appealed the lower court’s decision to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. Wolf Run and Hunter Ridge have filed an appeal bond in the amount of $124.9 million. Briefing is complete and oral argument is scheduled for May 16, 2012.

 

Saratoga Class Action Matter

 

On January 7, 2008, Saratoga Advantage Trust (“Saratoga”) filed a class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia against ICG and certain of its officers and directors seeking unspecified damages. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, based on alleged false and misleading statements in the registration statements filed in connection with ICG’s November 2005 reorganization and December 2005 public offering of common stock. In addition, the complaint challenges other of ICG’s public statements regarding its operating condition and safety record. On July 6, 2009, Saratoga filed an amended complaint asserting essentially the same claims but seeking to add an individual co-plaintiff. ICG has filed a motion to dismiss the amended complaint. In June 2011, ICG agreed to settle this matter for a total of $1.375 million. On August 1, 2011, the court issued its order preliminarily approving settlement and conducted a settlement fairness hearing on November 14, 2011. The matter is pending Court approval.

 

ICG Eastern

 

On June 11, 2010, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (“WVDEP”) filed suit against ICG Eastern, LLC (“ICG Eastern”) alleging violations of the West Virginia Water Pollution Control/National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“WVNPDES”) and Surface Mine Permits for ICG Eastern’s Birch River surface mine. The WVDEP alleges that ICG Eastern has failed to fully comply with the effluent limits for aluminum, manganese, pH, iron and selenium contained in its WVNPDES permit. The complaint further alleges that violations of the WVNPDES permit effluent limits have caused violations of water quality standards for the same parameters in the streams receiving the discharges from this mine. The WVDEP also alleges that violations of the effluent limits in the WVNPDES permits are also violations of the regulations governing surface mining in West Virginia. ICG Eastern and the WVDEP executed a settlement agreement that will require ICG Eastern to pay a monetary penalty of $0.2 million and accept the imposition of a compliance schedule related to selenium and other water quality parameters. The settlement agreement was submitted to the Webster County Circuit Court on December 30, 2010, was made available for public comment by the WVDEP and was thereafter entered by the court on April 18, 2011. The settlement agreement resolves all of the WVDEP’s claims in the suit. In a supplemental consent decree, WVDEP and ICG negotiated and agreed to a resolution related to certain alleged selenium effluent limit violations beginning after April 5, 2010 which were reserved from the original consent decree due to both administrative appeal board and state circuit court stays. The court approved and entered the supplemental consent decree by order dated November 4, 2011 and filed November 7, 2011.

 

ICG Hazard

 

The Sierra Club, on December 3, 2010, filed a Notice of Intent (“NOI”) to sue ICG Hazard, LLC (“Hazard”) alleging violations of the Clean Water Act and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 at Hazard’s Thunder Ridge surface mine. The NOI, which was supplemented by a revised filing on February 24, 2011, claims that Hazard is discharging selenium and contributing to conductivity levels in the receiving streams in violation of state and federal regulations. On May 24, 2011, the Sierra Club sued Hazard in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky under the Citizens Suit provisions of the Clean Water Act and the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act seeking civil penalties, injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees.  On February 17, 2012, ICG Hazard filed a motion for summary judgment.  Also on February 17, 2012, the Sierra Club filed a competing motion for summary judgment.

 

Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet

 

On December 3, 2010, the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (“Cabinet”) filed suit against Hazard, ICG Knott County, LLC, ICG East Kentucky, LLC and Powell Mountain Energy, LLC (collectively, “KY Operations”) alleging that the KY Operations failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the Kentucky Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (“KPDES”) permits issued by the Cabinet’s Division of Water to the KY Operations. Among the claims lodged by the Cabinet were allegations that contract water monitoring laboratories retained by the KY Operations did not adhere to the practices and procedures required for conducting KPDES monitoring, the contract laboratories failed to properly document and maintain records of the monitoring and the KY Operations submitted quarterly Discharge Monitoring Reports that sometimes contained inaccurate, incomplete and erroneous information. The KY Operations and the Cabinet entered a proposed Consent Judgment contemporaneously with the filing of the complaint that, if approved by the Franklin County (KY) Circuit Court, will require the KY Operations to pay a monetary penalty of $0.4 million, to prepare and implement a Corrective Action Plan that corrects the deficiencies in the respective KPDES monitoring programs, to identify the responsible corporate officers for each KPDES permit and to provide specific detailed information in support

 

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of the Discharge Monitoring Reports to be filed for the fourth quarter 2010 and first quarter 2011. Final resolution of this matter is pending approval by the court. On February 11, 2011, the court entered an order allowing certain anti-mining groups to intervene in the action to contest the validity of the Consent Judgment. The hearing on the entry of the Consent Judgment was held beginning August 30, 2011 and the matter is pending a decision from the court.

 

By letter dated June 28, 2011, Appalachian Voices, Inc., Waterkeeper Alliance, Inc., Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Inc., Kentucky Riverkeeper, Inc., Ms. Pat Banks, Ms. Lanny Evans, Mr. Thomas H. Bonny, and Mr. Winston Merrill Combs (collectively, “Appalachian Voices”) filed a NOI to sue the KY Operations for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. The NOI claims that ICG has violated and continues to violate effluent standards or limitations under the Clean Water Act in reference to KPDES Coal General Permit. The NOI also alleges a lack of diligent prosecution related to the lawsuit filed by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet (as referenced and described above). On October 25, 2011, Appalachian Voices sued the KY Operations in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky under the Citizens Suit provisions of the Clean Water Act seeking civil penalties, injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees.

 

Item 2.            Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

In September 2006, our board of directors authorized a share repurchase program for the purchase of up to 14,000,000 shares of our common stock. There is no expiration date on the current authorization, and we have not made any decisions to suspend or cancel purchases under the program. As of March 31, 2012, there were [                    ] shares of our common stock available for purchase under this program. We did not purchase any shares of our common stock under this program during the quarter ended March 31, 2012. Based on the closing price of our common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on April [    ], 2012, the approximate dollar value of our common stock that may yet be purchased under this program was $XX million.

 

Item 4.            Mine Safety Disclosures

 

The statement concerning mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 104 of Regulation S-K is included in Exhibit 95 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2012.

 

Item 6.            Exhibits.

 

The following is a list of exhibits filed as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:

 

10.1

 

Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement

10.2

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Contract

10.3

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Contract for Non-Employee Directors

10.4

 

Form of Performance Unit Contract

12.1

 

Computation of ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends.

31.1

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of John Eaves.

31.2

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of John T. Drexler.

32.1

 

Section 1350 Certification of John Eaves.

32.2

 

Section 1350 Certification of John T. Drexler.

95

 

Mine Safety Disclosure Exhibit

101

 

Interactive Data File

 

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Signatures

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Arch Coal, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John T. Drexler

 

 

John T. Drexler

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

May 10, 2012

 

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