SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): July 13, 2004 (July 9, 2004)
Arch Coal, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-13105 43-0921172
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) Identification No.)
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
Page 1 of 4 pages.
Exhibit Index begins on page 4.
Item 5. Other Events.
On July 9, 2004, Arch Coal, Inc. (the "Company"), announced via press
release that it expects to report earnings per share of approximately $0.20 for
its second quarter ended June 30, 2004, excluding certain charges.
Item 7. Exhibits.
(c) The following Exhibit is filed with this Current Report on Form
8-K:
Exhibit No. Description
99 Press Release dated as of July 9, 2004
Page 2 of 4 pages.
Exhibit Index begins on page 4.
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 hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: July 13, 2004 ARCH COAL, INC.
By: /s/ Janet L. Horgan
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Janet L. Horgan
Assistant General Counsel and
Assistant Secretary
Page 3 of 4 pages.
Exhibit Index begins on page 4.
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
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99 Press Release dated as of July 9, 2004
Page 4 of 4 pages.
Exhibit 99
News from
Arch Coal, Inc.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Deck Slone
Vice President, Investor
Relations and Public Affairs
(314) 994-2717
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Arch Coal Provides Earnings Estimate for Second Quarter
ST. LOUIS (July 9, 2004) - Arch Coal, Inc. announced today that it expects
to report earnings per share of approximately $0.20 for its second quarter ended
June 30, 2004, excluding charges related to the termination of hedge accounting
for interest rate swaps. The company had previously announced that it expected
to earn between $0.20 and $0.30 per share for the quarter, excluding the charges
described above.
Rail service disruptions in both the eastern and western United States
adversely affected the company's expected performance during the second quarter.
"In total, missed shipments and production curtailments resulting from high mine
inventory levels cost the company an estimated $8 million after tax, or $0.13
per share, during the period," said Steven F. Leer, Arch's president and chief
executive officer.
Arch is actively working with the railroads in an effort to improve the
level of rail service in the year's second half, according to Leer.
Arch plans to announce its second quarter results before the market opens
on July 26.
St. Louis-based Arch Coal is one of the nation's largest coal producers and
mines low-sulfur coal exclusively. Through its subsidiary operations in West
Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah, Arch provides the fuel
for approximately 6 percent of the electricity generated in the United States.
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Forward-Looking Statements: Statements in this press release which are not
statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements within the "safe
harbor" provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to, and
expectations and assumptions deemed reasonable by, the company. Because these
forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties,
actual results may differ materially from those projected in the statements.
These expectations, assumptions and uncertainties include: the company's
expectation of continued growth in the demand for electricity; belief that
legislation and regulations relating to the Clean Air Act and the relatively
higher costs of competing fuels will increase demand for its compliance and
low-sulfur coal; expectation of continued improved market conditions for the
price of coal; expectation that the company will continue to have adequate
liquidity from its cash flow from operations, together with available borrowings
under its credit facilities, to finance the company's working capital needs; a
variety of operational, geologic, permitting, labor and weather related factors;
and the other risks and uncertainties which are described from time to time in
the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.