News & Media

Arch Coal, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2011 Results

October 28, 2011 at 7:46 AM EDT

Quarterly revenues reach $1.2 billion
Year-to-date adjusted EBITDA expands 22% versus a year ago
Arch generates record free cash flow year-to-date in 2011

Earnings Highlights



Quarter Ended


Nine Months Ended

In $ millions, except per share data


9/30/11


9/30/10



9/30/11


9/30/10











Revenues


$1,198.7


$874.7



$3,057.1


$2,350.9

Income from Operations


92.3


98.3



291.7


237.0

Net Income (1)


19.1


46.7



82.1


111.0

Fully Diluted EPS


0.09


0.29



0.45


0.68

Adjusted Fully Diluted EPS (2)


0.08


0.35



0.88


0.81

Adjusted EBITDA (2)


$211.5


$201.1



$650.7


$531.9











1/- Net income attributable to ACI.

2/- Defined and reconciled under "Reconciliation of non-GAAP measures" in the release.



Arch Coal, Inc., Oct. 28, 2011 -- (NYSE: ACI) today reported net income of $19.1 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2011 compared with net income of $46.7 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2010. Excluding acquisition-related costs and debt retirement fees associated with the purchase of International Coal Group ("ICG") on June 15, as well as non-cash amortization of acquired coal supply agreements, third quarter 2011 adjusted earnings were $0.08 per diluted share.

"As previously announced, our third quarter financial results reflect lower Powder River Basin shipments versus a year ago due to the impact of Midwestern flooding on rail service, as well as reduced profitability at our Mountain Laurel operation in Appalachia as a result of geologic challenges," said Steven F. Leer, Arch's chairman and chief executive officer. "Even with these temporary hurdles, Arch's quarterly EBITDA expanded year-over-year on higher metallurgical coal shipments and better metallurgical coal pricing."

For the first nine months of 2011, Arch generated adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization ("EBITDA") of $651 million, an increase of 22 percent versus the prior-year period. During the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2011, cash flow from operations reached $471 million, while capital expenditures totaled $216 million, resulting in record free cash flow of $255 million.

"Looking ahead, Arch will continue to prioritize and maximize the build out of its metallurgical coal franchise, including accelerating Tygart Valley's longwall startup by six months to mid-2013," said Leer. "We also expect Arch to deliver record export coal shipments in 2011, and will strive to further expand the company's export capabilities to service the growing seaborne coal trade."

"At the same time, we remain committed to following a market-driven strategy and will take steps across our portfolio of mines to optimize sourcing and to match our production levels to market requirements," continued Leer. "One area of noted strength domestically has been the Powder River Basin, where we have signed multi-year contracts for our ultra-low-sulfur coal, supporting our view that the lowest sulfur coals could be advantaged under new emission regulations."

Core Values

Arch operations received 11 national, multi-state and statewide safety awards during the third quarter of 2011. Most significantly, the employees of Sufco mine in Utah and Powell Mountain preparation plant in Appalachia were honored with the U.S. Department of Labor's prestigious Sentinels of Safety awards as the nation's safest operations in their respective categories in 2010. Also during the third quarter, Arch's West Virginia operations were honored with eight statewide safety awards and Sufco employees earned the Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute safety award for a perfect 2010 safety record.

Several of Arch's operations also reached key milestones in safety and environmental performance in the third quarter. In particular, five operations and facilities attained a Perfect Zero - a dual goal of operating without a reportable safety incident or environmental violation - for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2011. "We commend the employees across our operating platform for these accomplishments and for their dedication to our core values," said John W. Eaves, Arch's president and chief operating officer. "This hard work underscores our commitment to achieving a best-in-class safety and environmental record."

Operational Results

"In the third quarter of 2011, Arch's overall operating margin declined modestly relative to the second quarter, principally due to our Appalachian segment," said Eaves. "In particular, the longwall outage and associated geologic challenges at Mountain Laurel, as well as soft thermal coal pricing, offset solid performances from most of our other metallurgical coal mines."

"With the integration of ICG essentially complete, our focus now turns toward executing our plan to maximize the operating performance of our asset base and to increase our profitability," added Eaves. "This includes prioritizing cost-containment efforts, completing several preparation plant upgrades, judiciously allocating capital and right-sizing operations to match currently muted domestic thermal coal demand."




Arch Coal, Inc.




3Q11



2Q11



3Q10










Tons sold (in millions)


39.9



36.7



43.7

Average sales price per ton


$27.87



$24.67



$19.09

Cash cost per ton


$21.59



$17.17



$14.02

Cash margin per ton


$6.28



$7.50



$5.07

Total operating cost per ton


$24.62



$19.75



$16.13

Operating margin per ton


$3.25



$4.92



$2.96










Consolidated results may not tie to regional breakout due to exclusion of other assets, rounding.

Operating cost per ton includes depreciation, depletion and amortization per ton.

Acquired coal supply agreement amortization and other acquisition costs not included in results.

Amounts reflected in this table exclude certain coal sales and purchases which have no effect

on company results. For further description of the excluded transactions, please refer to

the supplemental regional schedule that can be found at http://investor.archcoal.com.


Third quarter 2011 consolidated operating margin declined $1.67 per ton versus the second quarter. Average sales price per ton rose 13 percent, mainly due to an increased percentage of higher-priced Appalachian tons in Arch's overall volume mix. Consolidated operating costs per ton increased 25 percent over the same time period, primarily reflecting increased operating costs in Appalachia and a larger percentage of higher-cost Appalachian tons in the company's overall volume mix.



Powder River Basin



3Q11



2Q11



3Q10










Tons sold (in millions)


28.8



28.0



36.1

Average sales price per ton


$13.62



$13.70



$12.12

Cash cost per ton


$10.68



$10.79



$9.08

Cash margin per ton


$2.94



$2.91



$3.04

Total operating cost per ton


$12.16



$12.26



$10.44

Operating margin per ton


$1.46



$1.44



$1.68










Above figures exclude transportation costs billed to customers.

Operating cost per ton includes depreciation, depletion and amortization per ton.

Amortization of acquired coal supply agreements not included in results.


In the Powder River Basin, third quarter 2011 operating margin per ton expanded slightly versus the second quarter. Lower-than-planned third quarter shipments resulted from rail disruptions associated with the aforementioned flooding in the Midwest. When compared with the second quarter, third quarter 2011 sales price per ton declined, in part due to a larger percentage of Coal Creek tons shipped. Operating costs per ton declined over the same time period, as the company incurred increased repair costs in the second quarter.



Appalachia



3Q11



2Q11



3Q10










Tons sold (in millions)


6.3



3.8



3.5

Average sales price per ton


$86.50



$91.41



$73.20

Cash cost per ton


$67.62



$58.16



$51.09

Cash margin per ton


$18.88



$33.25



$22.11

Total operating cost per ton


$76.62



$66.28



$58.01

Operating margin per ton


$9.88



$25.13



$15.19










Note: Appalachia segment includes ICG operations (excl. Illinois) since June 15, 2011.

Above figures exclude transportation costs billed to customers.

Operating cost per ton includes depreciation, depletion and amortization per ton.

Acquired coal supply agreement amortization and other acquisition costs not included in results.

Arch acts as an intermediary on certain pass-through transactions that have no effect

on company results. These transactions are not reflected in this table.


In Appalachia, third quarter 2011 operating margin per ton declined 61 percent when compared with the second quarter. Third quarter sales volumes rose 2.5 million tons versus the prior-quarter period, benefitting from a full quarter of legacy ICG volumes offset by reduced sales at Mountain Laurel due to the longwall outage. Average sales price declined over the same time period, reflecting a larger percentage of thermal coal shipments in the region's quarterly volume mix, which offset higher pricing of metallurgical coal sales. Third quarter operating costs per ton rose more than 15 percent versus the second quarter, due to the impact of Mountain Laurel's longwall outage and the addition of higher-cost production from former ICG mines.



Western Bituminous Region



3Q11



2Q11



3Q10










Tons sold (in millions)


4.2



4.7



4.0

Average sales price per ton*


$36.09



$35.59



$34.16

Cash cost per ton*


$25.77



$21.75



$25.85

Cash margin per ton


$10.32



$13.84



$8.31

Total operating cost per ton*


$30.29



$26.43



$30.56

Operating margin per ton


$5.80



$9.16



$3.60










*Sales prices and costs in the region are presented f.o.b. point for domestic customers.

Operating cost per ton includes depreciation, depletion and amortization per ton.


Third quarter 2011 operating margin in the Western Bituminous Region fell when compared with the region's record-setting second quarter. While third quarter average sales price per ton increased versus the second quarter, sales volumes declined on lower production levels associated with an additional longwall move and continued weak market demand in the region. Operating costs per ton rose nearly 15 percent over the same time period, partially due to the impact of the additional longwall move.

Coal Market Trends

"The long-term outlook for global coal markets remains strong despite some near-term uncertainty," said Leer. "The seaborne coal trade has grown an average of 5 percent annually during the past five years, and we expect that pace of growth to accelerate into 2015 and beyond. That view is underpinned by the construction of coal-based power plants around the world and the large infrastructure building needs that require increased coal supplies in Asia and South America."

In global steel markets, world crude steel capacity utilization averaged 79 percent in September 2011, roughly 3.5 percentage points higher than the prior-year month. Likewise, U.S. steel capacity utilization has averaged above 75 percent from July through the third week of October, up 5 percentage points versus the same period last year.

In the seaborne coal trade, coal imports into mainland China have continued to keep pace with the record level set in 2010, further underscoring the strength of global coal demand. Year-to-date through August, U.S. coal exports remain on pace to hit near-record levels to serve the structurally undersupplied global coal market. Arch continues to project 106 million tons of domestic coal exports (including overland shipments in North America) during 2011, and believes capacity is in place to expand those shipment levels markedly in 2012.

Domestic power demand in 2011 remains roughly even with last year through the third week of October, according to the Edison Electric Institute. U.S. coal consumption through August has declined due to strong contributions from other fuel sources, including higher hydroelectric power in the western U.S. and increased natural gas generation in the eastern part of the country.

Meanwhile, U.S. coal production year-to-date in 2011 has remained flat versus the same period last year, according to MSHA data and company estimates. Furthermore, Arch forecasts that imported coal supply into the U.S. will fall again in 2011, representing the fourth consecutive year of decline.

U.S. generator coal stockpile levels totaled 145 million tons at the end of September 2011, having declined 30 percent since peaking in November of 2009. Arch estimates that coal stockpiles nationwide totaled 55 days of supply at Sept. 30, in line with the five-year average, and that coal stockpiles at PRB-served power plants were below normal.

Production and Sales Contract Portfolio

Arch now forecasts full year 2011 sales volumes, including brokered tons, to be in the range of 157 million and 160 million tons. The company also now expects to sell between 7.5 and 8.0 million tons into metallurgical coal markets (coking and pulverized coal injection/PCI) in 2011, which primarily reflects lower sales at its Mountain Laurel complex in the second half.




2011


2012


2013




Tons

Price



Tons

Price



Tons

Price















Powder River Basin













Committed, Priced


117.5

$13.60



93.3

$14.49



42.7

$14.91


Committed, Unpriced


0.5




8.4




11.5



Appalachia













Committed, Priced (Coking/PCI)


7.6

$120.55



1.0

$144.67



-

-


Committed, Priced (Thermal)


12.6

$66.56



8.2

$71.01



4.2

$65.81


Western Bituminous Region













Committed, Priced


17.8

$35.61



12.3

$38.94



11.3

$39.05


"Arch has signed attractive commitments for future years that will help expand our profitability here in the United States, while allowing us to more fully participate in the seaborne coal trade," said Eaves. "From signing multi-year domestic commitments of Powder River Basin coal to accelerating low-cost metallurgical coal development projects to expanding our international sales efforts with new offices in London and Singapore, we're positioning the company to excel in a rapidly changing coal market environment."

2011 Earnings Guidance

Arch has maintained or updated its 2011 guidance as follows:

  • Earnings per diluted share on a GAAP basis is now projected to be between $0.69 and $1.14, including advisory, financing and legal fees, severance, amortization of acquired coal supply agreements and other costs stemming from the acquisition of ICG.
  • Excluding the aforementioned charges, adjusted earnings per diluted share would remain in the range of $1.00 to $1.40.
  • Adjusted EBITDA is forecasted to be in the $900 million to $1.0 billion range.
  • Capital spending, excluding acquisitions and new reserve additions, is now expected to be in the $390 million to $410 million range, which is roughly $100 million lower than prior forecasted levels.
  • Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense (excluding non-cash amortization of acquired coal supply agreements) is projected to be between $449 million and $465 million.

"It's our view that ongoing supply constraints domestically and around the world - along with significant growth in energy demand globally - will exert upward pressure on coal prices over the long term," said Leer. "We are managing our business accordingly, including positioning the company to capitalize across the full market cycle."

A conference call regarding Arch Coal's third quarter 2011 financial results will be webcast live today at 11 a.m. E.D.T. The conference call can be accessed via the "investor" section of the Arch Coal website (http://investor.archcoal.com/).

U.S.-based Arch Coal is a top five global coal producer and marketer, with 179 million tons of coal sold pro forma in 2010. Arch is the most diversified American coal company, with mining complexes across every major U.S. coal supply basin. Its core business is supplying cleaner-burning, low-sulfur thermal and metallurgical coal to power generators and steel manufacturers on four continents.

Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains "forward-looking statements" - that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," or "will." Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, particular uncertainties arise from changes in the demand for our coal by the domestic electric generation industry; from legislation and regulations relating to the Clean Air Act and other environmental initiatives; from operational, geological, permit, labor and weather-related factors; from fluctuations in the amount of cash we generate from operations; from future integration of acquired businesses; and from numerous other matters of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. For a description of some of the risks and uncertainties that may affect our future results, you should see the risk factors described from time to time in the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income

(In thousands, except per share data)










Three Months Ended September 30,


Nine Months Ended September 30,


2011


2010


2011


2010


(Unaudited)


(Unaudited)









Revenues

$ 1,198,673


$ 874,705


$ 3,057,139


$ 2,350,874









Costs, expenses and other








Cost of sales

952,850


651,853


2,322,124


1,773,464

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

123,026


92,857


301,746


269,135

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

(12,186)


10,038


(4,753)


26,005

Selling, general and administrative expenses

33,276


26,999


92,750


89,509

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

8,360


1,832


9,248


12,296

Acquisition and transition costs related to ICG

4,694


-


53,360


-

Gain on Knight Hawk transaction

-


-


-


(41,577)

Other operating income, net

(3,613)


(7,221)


(9,019)


(15,004)


1,106,407


776,358


2,765,456


2,113,828

















Income from operations

92,266


98,347


291,683


237,046









Interest expense, net:








Interest expense

(77,694)


(37,698)


(154,523)


(107,906)

Interest income

840


927


2,341


1,888


(76,854)


(36,771)


(152,182)


(106,018)









Other non-operating expense








Bridge financing costs related to ICG

-


-


(49,490)


-

Net loss resulting from early retirement of debt

(1,708)


(6,776)


(1,958)


(6,776)


(1,708)


(6,776)


(51,448)


(6,776)

















Income before income taxes

13,704


54,800


88,053


124,252

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

(5,583)


7,941


5,103


12,889

Net income

19,287


46,859


82,950


111,363

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

(231)


(181)


(822)


(325)

Net income attributable to Arch Coal, Inc.

$ 19,056


$ 46,678


$ 82,128


$ 111,038









Earnings per common share








Basic earnings per common share

$ 0.09


$ 0.29


$ 0.45


$ 0.68

Diluted earnings per common share

$ 0.09


$ 0.29


$ 0.45


$ 0.68









Weighted average shares outstanding








Basic

211,337


162,391


182,898


162,384

Diluted

211,974


163,174


183,850


163,128









Dividends declared per common share

$ 0.11


$ 0.10


$ 0.32


$ 0.29









Adjusted EBITDA (A)

$ 211,459


$ 201,061


$ 650,739


$ 531,861









(A) Adjusted EBITDA is defined and reconciled under "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures" later in this release.





Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands)






September 30,


December 31,



2011


2010



(Unaudited)

Assets




Current assets





Cash and cash equivalents


$ 158,509


$ 93,593

Restricted cash


21,428


-

Trade accounts receivable


342,721


208,060

Other receivables


83,579


44,260

Inventories


346,331


235,616

Prepaid royalties


29,163


33,932

Deferred income taxes


15,795


-

Coal derivative assets


2,595


15,191

Other


107,462


104,262

Total current assets


1,107,583


734,914






Property, plant and equipment, net


7,703,280


3,308,892






Other assets





Prepaid royalties


96,869


66,525

Goodwill


539,963


114,963

Deferred income taxes


9,217


361,556

Equity investments


224,684


177,451

Other


173,665


116,468

Total other assets


1,044,398


836,963

Total assets


$ 9,855,261


$ 4,880,769






Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity





Current liabilities





Accounts payable


$ 293,446


$ 198,216

Coal derivative liabilities


5,824


4,947

Deferred income taxes


-


7,775

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities


379,707


245,411

Current maturities of debt and short-term borrowings


47,156


70,997

Total current liabilities


726,133


527,346

Long-term debt


3,841,330


1,538,744

Asset retirement obligations


415,877


334,257

Accrued pension benefits


16,235


49,154

Accrued postretirement benefits other than pension


88,820


37,793

Accrued workers' compensation


64,421


35,290

Deferred income taxes


880,487


-

Other noncurrent liabilities


277,490


110,234

Total liabilities


6,310,793


2,632,818






Redeemable noncontrolling interest


11,261


10,444






Stockholders' Equity





Common stock


2,135


1,645

Paid-in capital


3,012,628


1,734,709

Treasury stock, at cost


(53,848)


(53,848)

Retained earnings


586,067


561,418

Accumulated other comprehensive loss


(13,775)


(6,417)

Total stockholders' equity


3,533,207


2,237,507

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity


$ 9,855,261


$ 4,880,769

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)







Nine Months Ended September 30,


2011


2010


(Unaudited)

Operating activities




Net income

$ 82,950


$ 111,363

Adjustments to reconcile to cash provided by operating activities:




Depreciation, depletion and amortization

301,746


269,135

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

(4,753)


26,005

Bridge financing costs related to ICG

49,490


-

Net loss resulting from early retirement of debt

1,958


6,776

Write down of assets acquired from ICG

7,316


-

Prepaid royalties expensed

26,880


26,190

Employee stock-based compensation expense

9,019


9,640

Amortization relating to financing activities

9,854


6,630

Gain on Knight Hawk transaction

-


(41,577)

Changes in:




Receivables

(35,874)


(48,718)

Inventories

(23,716)


21,818

Coal derivative assets and liabilities

15,199


14,116

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities

3,742


20,879

Income taxes, net

(21,971)


(1,923)

Deferred income taxes

23,572


(7,561)

Other

25,955


43,907





Cash provided by operating activities

471,367


456,680





Investing activities




Acquisition of ICG, net of cash acquired

(2,894,339)


-

Increase in restricted cash

(5,939)


-

Capital expenditures

(215,899)


(221,583)

Proceeds from dispositions of property, plant and equipment

25,133


252

Purchases of investments and advances to affiliates

(56,827)


(16,740)

Additions to prepaid royalties

(26,135)


(23,715)





Cash used in investing activities

(3,174,006)


(261,786)





Financing activities




Proceeds from the issuance of senior notes

2,000,000


500,000

Proceeds from the issuance of common stock, net

1,267,776


-

Payments to retire debt

(604,096)


(505,627)

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

283,096


(118,337)

Net payments on other debt

(8,792)


(9,794)

Debt financing costs

(114,587)


(12,630)

Dividends paid

(57,470)


(47,121)

Issuance of common stock under incentive plans

1,628


339

Contribution from noncontrolling interest

-


891





Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

2,767,555


(192,279)





Increase in cash and cash equivalents

64,916


2,615

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

93,593


61,138





Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$ 158,509


$ 63,753

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Schedule of Consolidated Debt

(In thousands)








September 30,


December 31,



2011


2010



(Unaudited)




Commercial paper


$ -


$ 56,904

Indebtedness to banks under credit facilities


340,000


-

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


451,132


451,618

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


588,496


587,126

7.25% senior notes due 2020 at par


500,000


500,000

7.00% senior notes due in 2019 at par


1,000,000


-

7.25% senior notes due 2021 at par


1,000,000


-

Other


8,858


14,093



3,888,486


1,609,741

Less: current maturities of debt and short-term borrowings


47,156


70,997

Long-term debt


$ 3,841,330


$ 1,538,744






Restricted cash


$ 21,428


$ -

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

(In thousands)









Included in the accompanying release, we have disclosed certain non-GAAP measures as defined by Regulation G.



The following reconciles these items to net income and cash flows as reported under GAAP.











Adjusted EBITDA
















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.















Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance in accordance with generally accepted accounting





principles, and items excluded to calculate Adjusted EBITDA are significant in understanding and assessing our financial



condition. Therefore, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation nor as an alternative to net income, income



from operations, cash flows from operations or as a measure of our profitability, liquidity or performance under generally



accepted accounting principles. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA presents a useful measure of our ability to service and



incur debt based on ongoing operations. Furthermore, analogous measures are used by industry analysts to evaluate



operating performance. In addition, acquisition related expenses are excluded to make results more comparable



between periods. 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 September 30,


Nine Months Ended September 30,


2011


2010


2011


2010


(Unaudited)


(Unaudited)

Net income

$ 19,287


$ 46,859


$ 82,950


$ 111,363

Income tax expense (benefit)

(5,583)


7,941


5,103


12,889

Interest expense, net

76,854


36,771


152,182


106,018

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

123,026


92,857


301,746


269,135

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

(12,186)


10,038


(4,753)


26,005

Acquisition and transition costs related to ICG

4,694


-


53,360


-

Acquisition related costs - inventory write up *

3,890


-


9,525


-

Bridge financing costs related to ICG

-


-


49,490


-

Net loss resulting from early retirement of debt

1,708


6,776


1,958


6,776

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest

(231)


(181)


(822)


(325)









Adjusted EBITDA

$ 211,459


$ 201,061


$ 650,739


$ 531,861









* Represents the pre-tax impact on cost of sales of inventory written up to fair value in the ICG acquisition. Adjustments made to the provisional fair value of

inventories during the third quarter of 2011 are reflected in the accompanying results assuming the adjustments were made as of the ICG acquisition date.

















Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per common share









Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per common share are adjusted for the after-tax impact of acquisition

related costs and are not measures of financial performance in accordance with generally accepted accounting

principles. We believe that adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per common share better reflect the trend of our future

results by excluding items relating to significant transactions. The adjustments made to arrive at these measures are

significant in understanding and assessing our financial condition. Therefore, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per

share should not be considered in isolation, nor as an alternative to net income or diluted earnings per common share under generally

accepted accounting principles.










Three Months Ended September 30,


Nine Months Ended September 30,


2011


2010


2011


2010


(Unaudited)


(Unaudited)

Net income attributable to Arch Coal

$ 19,056


$ 46,678


$ 82,128


$ 111,038









Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

(12,186)


10,038


(4,753)


26,005

Acquisition and transition costs related to ICG

4,694


-


53,360


-

Acquisition related costs - inventory write up

3,890


-


9,525


-

Bridge financing costs related to ICG

-


-


49,490


-

Net loss resulting from early retirement of debt

1,708


6,776


1,958


6,776

Tax impact of adjustments

701


(6,137)


(29,917)


(11,965)









Adjusted net income attributable to Arch Coal

$ 17,863


$ 57,355


$ 161,791


$ 131,854

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

211,974


163,174


183,850


163,128

















Diluted earnings per share

$ 0.09


$ 0.29


$ 0.45


$ 0.68









Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

(0.06)


0.06


(0.03)


0.16

Acquisition and transition costs related to ICG

0.02


-


0.29


-

Acquisition related costs - inventory write up

0.02


-


0.05


-

Bridge financing costs related to ICG

-


-


0.27


-

Net loss resulting from early retirement of debt

0.01


0.04


0.01


0.04

Tax impact of adjustments

-


(0.04)


(0.16)


(0.07)









Adjusted diluted earnings per share

$ 0.08


$ 0.35


$ 0.88


$ 0.81









Free Cash Flow
















Free cash flow is defined as operating cash flows minus capital expenditures and is not a measure of cash flow in accordance



with generally accepted accounting principles. We use free cash flow as a measure of our ability to make





investments, acquisitions and payments to our debt and equity security holders. Free cash flow should not be





considered in isolation, nor as an alternative to cash flows generated from operations.
















Nine Months Ended September 30,






2011


2010






(Unaudited)





Cash provided by operating activities

$ 471,367


$ 456,680





Capital expenditures

(215,899)


(221,583)













Free cash flow

$ 255,468


$ 235,097













Reconciliation of 2011 Targets








Adjusted EBITDA

















Targeted Results






Year Ended December 31, 2011






Low


High






(Unaudited)





Net income attributable to Arch Coal

132,000


217,000





Income tax expense

7,000


22,000





Interest expense, net

224,000


222,000





Depreciation, depletion and amortization

449,000


465,000





Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

(26,000)


(42,000)





Acquisition and transition costs

62,600


64,600





Financing costs related to ICG

51,400


51,400













Adjusted EBITDA

$ 900,000


$ 1,000,000













Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share
















Targeted Results






Year Ended December 31, 2011






Low


High






(Unaudited)





Net income attributable to Arch Coal

$ 132,000


$ 217,000













Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

(26,000)


(42,000)





Acquisition and transition costs

62,600


64,600





Financing costs related to ICG

51,400


51,400





Tax impact of adjustments

(28,600)


(23,400)













Adjusted net income attributable to Arch Coal

$ 191,400


$ 267,600





Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

191,092


191,092













Diluted earnings per share

$ 0.69


$ 1.14













Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

(0.14)


(0.22)





Acquisition and transition costs

0.33


0.34





Financing costs related to ICG

0.27


0.27





Tax impact of adjustments

(0.15)


(0.13)













Adjusted diluted earnings per share

$ 1.00


$ 1.40





SOURCE Arch Coal, Inc.