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, 2015

 

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

 

 

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 April 20, 2015 there were 212,662,307 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

24

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 Disclosures

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 Operations

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

Revenues

 

$

677,005

 

$

735,971

 

Costs, expenses and other operating

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of items shown separately below)

 

562,322

 

686,314

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

104,874

 

104,423

 

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

(3,390

)

(3,696

)

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

 

1,220

 

914

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

22,605

 

29,136

 

Other operating (income) expense, net

 

9,086

 

(7,998

)

 

 

696,717

 

809,093

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss from operations

 

(19,712

)

(73,122

)

Interest expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(99,252

)

(96,471

)

Interest and investment income

 

2,373

 

1,843

 

 

 

(96,879

)

(94,628

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Loss before income taxes

 

(116,591

)

(167,750

)

Benefit from income taxes

 

(3,396

)

(43,611

)

Net loss

 

$

(113,195

)

$

(124,139

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Losses per common share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted LPS - Net loss

 

$

(0.53

)

$

(0.59

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding

 

212,660

 

212,171

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared per common share

 

$

 

$

0.01

 

 

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

 

3



Table of Contents

 

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

Net loss

 

$

(113,195

)

$

(124,139

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivative instruments

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss) before tax

 

5,045

 

(229

)

Income tax benefit (provision)

 

(1,817

)

82

 

 

 

3,228

 

(147

)

Pension, postretirement and other post-employment benefits

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss) before tax

 

294

 

(1,847

)

Income tax benefit (provision)

 

(105

)

665

 

 

 

189

 

(1,182

)

Available-for-sale securities

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss) before tax

 

291

 

(2,033

)

Income tax benefit (provision)

 

(104

)

732

 

 

 

187

 

(1,301

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income (loss)

 

3,604

 

(2,630

)

Total comprehensive loss

 

$

(109,591

)

$

(126,769

)

 

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

 

4



Table of Contents

 

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

689,972

 

$

734,231

 

Short term investments

 

249,518

 

248,954

 

Trade accounts receivable

 

198,314

 

211,506

 

Other receivables

 

15,435

 

20,511

 

Inventories

 

240,113

 

190,253

 

Prepaid royalties

 

12,841

 

11,118

 

Deferred income taxes

 

50,414

 

52,728

 

Coal derivative assets

 

14,777

 

13,257

 

Other current assets

 

59,605

 

60,193

 

Total current assets

 

1,530,989

 

1,542,751

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

6,371,335

 

6,453,458

 

Other assets

 

 

 

 

 

Prepaid royalties

 

63,622

 

66,806

 

Equity investments

 

225,030

 

235,842

 

Other noncurrent assets

 

123,964

 

130,866

 

Total other assets

 

412,616

 

433,514

 

Total assets

 

$

8,314,940

 

$

8,429,723

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

167,480

 

$

180,113

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

321,503

 

302,396

 

Current maturities of debt

 

34,368

 

36,885

 

Total current liabilities

 

523,351

 

519,394

 

Long-term debt

 

5,117,982

 

5,123,485

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

404,844

 

398,896

 

Accrued pension benefits

 

14,436

 

16,260

 

Accrued postretirement benefits other than pension

 

34,453

 

32,668

 

Accrued workers’ compensation

 

98,683

 

94,291

 

Deferred income taxes

 

419,064

 

422,809

 

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

141,804

 

153,766

 

Total liabilities

 

6,754,617

 

6,761,569

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 260,000 shares, issued 214,179 shares and 213,791 shares at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively

 

2,145

 

2,141

 

Paid-in capital

 

3,050,216

 

3,048,460

 

Treasury stock, at cost, 1,517 shares at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014

 

(53,863

)

(53,863

)

Accumulated deficit

 

(1,445,020

)

(1,331,825

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

6,845

 

3,241

 

Total stockholders’ equity

 

1,560,323

 

1,668,154

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

8,314,940

 

$

8,429,723

 

 

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

 

5



Table of Contents

 

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

Operating activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

$

(113,195

)

$

(124,139

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to cash used in operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

104,874

 

104,423

 

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

(3,390

)

(3,696

)

Amortization relating to financing activities

 

6,219

 

3,236

 

Prepaid royalties expensed

 

1,674

 

1,803

 

Employee stock-based compensation expense

 

1,760

 

2,333

 

Gains on disposals and divestitures, net

 

(46

)

(15,129

)

Deferred income taxes

 

(3,433

)

(43,698

)

Changes in:

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

 

18,252

 

(27,245

)

Inventories

 

(49,860

)

7,441

 

Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

7,186

 

43,989

 

Income taxes, net

 

40

 

(115

)

Other

 

25,646

 

10,522

 

Cash used in operating activities

 

(4,273

)

(40,275

)

Investing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(22,880

)

(14,454

)

Additions to prepaid royalties

 

(213

)

(591

)

Proceeds from disposals and divestitures

 

46

 

28,195

 

Purchases of marketable securities

 

(101,793

)

(119,176

)

Proceeds from sale or maturity of marketable securities and other investments

 

99,914

 

117,681

 

Investments in and advances to affiliates

 

(1,843

)

(3,242

)

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

(26,769

)

8,413

 

Financing activities

 

 

 

 

 

Payments on term loan

 

(4,875

)

(4,875

)

Net payments on other debt

 

(4,810

)

(4,521

)

Dividends paid

 

 

(2,123

)

Debt financing costs

 

 

(1,957

)

Withdrawals (deposits) of restricted cash

 

(3,532

)

 

Cash used in financing activities

 

(13,217

)

(13,476

)

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(44,259

)

(45,338

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

734,231

 

911,099

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

689,972

 

$

865,761

 

 

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

 

6



Table of Contents

 

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 (the “Company”). The Company’s primary business is the production of thermal and metallurgical coal from surface and underground mines located throughout the United States, for sale to utility, industrial and steel producers both in the United States and around the world. The Company currently operates mining complexes in West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, Wyoming and Colorado.  All subsidiaries 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 months ended March 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015. 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, 2014 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

2.  Accounting Policies

 

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

 

3.  Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

 

The following items are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”):

 

 

 

 

 

Pension,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Postretirement

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and Other

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

 

 

Post-

 

 

 

Other

 

 

 

Derivative

 

Employment

 

Available-for-

 

Comprehensive

 

 

 

Instruments

 

Benefits

 

Sale Securities

 

Income

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Balance at December 31, 2014

 

$

2,550

 

$

2,860

 

$

(2,169

)

$

3,241

 

Unrealized gains (losses)

 

3,535

 

 

(1,603

)

1,932

 

Amounts reclassified from AOCI

 

(307

)

189

 

1,790

 

1,672

 

Balance at March 31, 2015

 

$

5,778

 

$

3,049

 

$

(1,982

)

$

6,845

 

 

The following amounts were reclassified out of AOCI:

 

7



Table of Contents

 

 

 

Amounts Reclassified

from AOCI

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

Line Item in the
Condensed Consolidated

 

Details About AOCI Components

 

2015

 

2014

 

Statement of Operations

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

Derivative instruments

 

$

481

 

$

303

 

Revenues

 

 

 

(174

)

(109

)

Benefit from income taxes

 

 

 

$

307

 

$

194

 

Net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pension, postretirement and other post-employment benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amortization of prior service credits (1)

 

$

2,084

 

$

2,626

 

 

 

Amortization of actuarial gains (losses), net (1)

 

(2,378

)

(779

)

 

 

 

 

(294

)

1,847

 

 

 

 

 

105

 

(665

)

Benefit from income taxes

 

 

 

$

(189

)

$

1,182

 

Net of tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Available-for-sale securities

 

$

(2,797

)

$

(556

)

Interest and investment income

 

 

 

1,007

 

200

 

Benefit from income taxes

 

 

 

$

(1,790

)

$

(356

)

Net of tax

 

 


1 Production-related benefits and workers’ compensation costs are included in inventoriable production costs.

 

8



Table of Contents

 

4.  Divestitures

 

During the first quarter of 2014, the Company entered into agreements to sell an operating thermal coal complex and an idled thermal coal mine in Kentucky and the Company’s ADDCAR subsidiary, which manufactures a patented highwall mining system.  The sales closed in the first quarter of 2014 for total consideration of $45.3 million.  The Company received $26.3 million in cash in the first quarter of 2014, and the remainder was paid in the second and fourth quarters of 2014.  The Company recognized a net pre-tax gain of $13.8 million from these divestitures, reflected in “other operating (income) expense, net” in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.

 

5.  Inventories

 

Inventories consist of the following:

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Coal

 

$

117,180

 

$

71,901

 

Repair parts and supplies

 

122,933

 

118,352

 

 

 

$

240,113

 

$

190,253

 

 

The repair parts and supplies are stated net of an allowance for slow-moving and obsolete inventories of $6.8 million at March 31, 2015 and $6.6 million at December 31, 2014.

 

6.   Investments in Available-for-Sale Securities

 

The Company has invested in marketable debt securities, primarily highly liquid investment grade corporate bonds.  These investments are held in the custody of a major financial institution.  These securities, along with the Company’s investments in marketable equity securities, are classified as available-for-sale securities and, accordingly, the unrealized gains and losses are recorded through other comprehensive income.

 

The Company’s investments in available-for-sale marketable securities are as follows:

 

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet

 

 

 

 

 

Accumulated

 

 

 

Classification

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Unrealized

 

Fair

 

Short-Term

 

Other

 

 

 

Cost Basis

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

Value

 

Investments

 

Assets

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate notes and bonds

 

$

252,673

 

$

2

 

$

(3,157

)

$

249,518

 

$

249,518

 

$

 

Equity securities

 

3,910

 

2,875

 

(2,830

)

3,955

 

 

3,955

 

Total Investments

 

$

256,583

 

$

2,877

 

$

(5,987

)

$

253,473

 

$

249,518

 

$

3,955

 

 

9



Table of Contents

 

 

 

December 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet

 

 

 

 

 

Gross

 

Gross

 

 

 

Classification

 

 

 

 

 

Unrealized

 

Unrealized

 

Fair

 

Short-Term

 

Other

 

 

 

Cost Basis

 

Gains

 

Losses

 

Value

 

Investments

 

Assets

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Available-for-sale:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Corporate notes and bonds

 

$

253,590

 

$

 

$

(4,636

)

$

248,954

 

$

248,954

 

$

 

Equity securities

 

3,910

 

4,125

 

(2,890

)

5,145

 

 

5,145

 

Total Investments

 

$

257,500

 

$

4,125

 

$

(7,526

)

$

254,099

 

$

248,954

 

$

5,145

 

 

The aggregate fair value of investments with unrealized losses that were owned for less than a year was $177.3 million and $163.0 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The aggregate fair value of investments with unrealized losses that were owned for over a year, and were also in a continuous unrealized loss position during that time, was $64.4 million and $86.1 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The unrealized losses in our portfolio are the result of normal market fluctuations. We do not currently intend to sell these investments before recovery of their amortized cost base.

 

The debt securities outstanding at March 31, 2015 have maturity dates ranging from the second quarter of 2015 through the third quarter of 2016.  The Company classifies its investments as current based on the nature of the investments and their availability to provide cash for use in current operations.

 

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 57 to 67 million gallons of diesel fuel for use in its operations during 2015.  To protect the Company’s cash flows from increases in the price of diesel fuel for its operations, the Company uses forward physical diesel purchase contracts and purchased heating oil call options.  At March 31, 2015, the Company had protected the price of approximately 86% of its expected purchases for the remainder of the year with out-of-the-money call options with an average strike price of $3.13 per gallon.  Due to the drop in heating oil pricing, the Company has layered in 19.5 million gallons of at-the-money call options for the second half of 2015 representing 60% of expected purchases at an average strike price of $1.92 per gallon.  Additionally, the Company has protected approximately 37%  of our expected 2016 purchases with out-of-the-money call options.  At March 31, 2015, the Company had purchased heating oil call options for approximately 66 million gallons for the purpose of managing the price risk associated with future diesel purchases.  These positions are not accounted for as hedges.

 

Coal price 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, 2015, the Company held derivatives for risk management purposes that are expected to settle in the following years:

 

(Tons in thousands)

 

2015

 

2016

 

Total

 

Coal sales

 

3,595

 

280

 

3,875

 

Coal purchases

 

1,672

 

60

 

1,732

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

The Company has also entered into a nominal quantity of natural gas put options to protect the Company from decreases in natural gas prices, which could impact coal demand.  These options are not accounted for as hedges.

 

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 $0.3 million of losses during the remainder of 2015 and $1.4 million of gains in 2016.

 

Tabular derivatives disclosures

 

The Company has master netting agreements with all of its counterparties which 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 condensed consolidated balance sheets. The amounts shown in the table below represent the fair value position of individual contracts, and not the net position presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. The fair value and location of derivatives reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets are as follows:

 

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

 

December 31, 2014

 

 

 

Fair Value of Derivatives

 

Asset

 

Liability

 

 

 

Asset

 

Liability

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Derivative

 

Derivative

 

 

 

Derivative

 

Derivative

 

 

 

Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coal

 

$

6,896

 

$

(107

)

 

 

$

6,535

 

$

(2,492

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heating oil — diesel purchases

 

4,079

 

 

 

 

300

 

 

 

 

Coal — held for trading purposes

 

126,397

 

(125,204

)

 

 

96,898

 

(93,272

)

 

 

Coal — risk management

 

16,484

 

(11,094

)

 

 

8,510

 

(3,688

)

 

 

Natural gas

 

1,148

 

(753

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

148,108

 

(137,051

)

 

 

105,708

 

(96,960

)

 

 

Total derivatives

 

155,004

 

(137,158

)

 

 

112,243

 

(99,452

)

 

 

Effect of counterparty netting

 

(136,148

)

136,148

 

 

 

(98,686

)

98,686

 

 

 

Net derivatives as classified in the balance sheets

 

$

18,856

 

$

(1,010

)

$

17,846

 

$

13,557

 

$

(766

)

$

12,791

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

December 31, 2014

 

Net derivatives as reflected on the balance sheets (in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heating oil

 

Other current assets

 

$

4,079

 

$

300

 

Coal

 

Coal derivative assets

 

14,777

 

13,257

 

 

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

(1,010

)

(766

)

 

 

 

 

$

17,846

 

$

12,791

 

 

The Company had a current liability for the obligation to post cash collateral of $0.7 million and $2.4 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. These amounts are not included with the derivatives presented in the table above and are included in “accrued expenses and other current liabilities”, in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.

 

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Table of Contents

 

The effects of derivatives on measures of financial performance are as follows:

 

Derivatives used in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships (in thousands)

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

Gain (Loss) Recognized in
Other Comprehensive
Income(Effective Portion)

 

Gains (Losses) Reclassified
from Other Comprehensive
Income into Income
(Effective Portion)

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

Coal sales

(1)

$

10,265

 

$

(515

)

$

882

 

$

706

 

Coal purchases

(2)

(4,738

)

589

 

(401

)

(404

)

Totals

 

$

5,527

 

$

74

 

$

481

 

$

302

 

 

No ineffectiveness or amounts excluded from effectiveness testing relating to the Company’s cash flow hedging relationships were recognized in the results of operations in the three month periods ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.

 

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments (in thousands)

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

Gain (Loss) Recognized

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Coal — unrealized

(3)

$

(411

)

$

(1,302

)

Coal — realized

(4)

$

1,091

 

$

2,879

 

Natural gas — unrealized

(3)

$

159

 

$

8

 

Heating oil — diesel purchases

(4)

$

(2,365

)

$

(2,963

)

Heating oil — fuel surcharges

(4)

$

 

$

(254

)

 


Location in statement of operations:

(1) — Revenues

(2) — Cost of sales

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

(4) — Other operating income, net

 

Based on fair values at March 31, 2015, gains on derivative contracts designated as hedge instruments in cash flow hedges of approximately $6.3 million are expected to be reclassified from other comprehensive income into earnings during the next twelve months.

 

Related to its trading portfolio, the Company recognized net unrealized and realized losses of $1.0 million and $0.4 million of net unrealized and realized gains during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.  Gains and losses from trading activities are included in the caption “Change in fair value of coal derivatives and coal trading activities, net” in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations, and are not included in the previous tables reflecting the effects of derivatives on measures of financial performance.

 

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8.  Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following:

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Payroll and employee benefits

 

$

49,039

 

$

73,362

 

Taxes other than income taxes

 

111,362

 

114,598

 

Interest

 

77,375

 

30,384

 

Acquired sales contracts

 

11,635

 

12,453

 

Workers’ compensation

 

15,586

 

16,714

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

19,215

 

19,222

 

Other

 

37,291

 

35,663

 

 

 

$

321,503

 

$

302,396

 

 

9.  Debt and Financing Arrangements

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Term loan due 2018 ($1.9 billion face value)

 

$

1,886,971

 

$

1,890,846

 

7.00% senior notes due 2019 at par

 

1,000,000

 

1,000,000

 

9.875% senior notes due 2019 ($375.0 million face value)

 

363,997

 

363,493

 

8.00% senior secured notes due 2019 at par

 

350,000

 

350,000

 

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

 

51,382

 

56,031

 

 

 

5,152,350

 

5,160,370

 

Less current maturities of debt

 

34,368

 

36,885

 

Long-term debt

 

$

5,117,982

 

$

5,123,485

 

 

Financial covenant requirements may restrict the amount of unused capacity available to the Company for borrowings and letters of credit under credit facilities.  The credit facility amendment on December 17, 2013 amended financial maintenance covenants to include only a minimum liquidity test until June, 2015, at which time a maximum secured leverage ratio test takes effect.

 

At March 31, 2015, the available borrowing capacity under the Company’s lines of credit was approximately $179.4 million.

 

10.  Income taxes

 

During the first quarter of 2015, the Company determined it was more likely than not that the federal and state net operating losses it expects to generate in 2015 will not be realized based on projections of future taxable income.  Accordingly, the estimated annual effective rate for the year ended December 31, 2015 includes a valuation allowance.  In applying the estimated annual effective rate to earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2015, the Company increased its valuation allowance by $45.3 million for the federal net operating losses and $2.6 million for the state net operating losses.

 

During the first quarter of 2014, the Company increased its valuation allowance for the portion of the federal and state net operating losses it expected to generate in 2014.  The Company increased its valuation allowance by $21.6 million for the federal net operating losses and $2.2 million for the state net operating losses.

 

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11.  Fair Value Measurements

 

The hierarchy of fair value measurements assigns a level to fair value measurements based on the inputs used in the respective valuation techniques. 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, U.S. Treasury 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 U.S. government agency securities and 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 (coal, natural gas 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, 2015.

 

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:

 

 

 

March 31, 2015

 

 

 

Total

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments in marketable securities

 

$

253,473

 

$

3,955

 

$

249,518

 

$

 

Derivatives

 

18,856

 

7,130

 

2,456

 

9,270

 

Total assets

 

$

272,329

 

$

11,085

 

$

251,974

 

$

9,270

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives

 

$

1,010

 

$

 

$

1,010

 

$

 

 

The Company’s contracts with 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.

 

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

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2015

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Balance, beginning of period

 

$

3,040

 

Realized and unrealized losses recognized in earnings, net

 

(1,347

)

Realized and unrealized gains recognized in other comprehensive income, net

 

1,450

 

Purchases

 

7,783

 

Issuances

 

(1,656

)

Ending balance

 

$

9,270

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

Net unrealized gains of $0.1 million were recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2015 related to level 3 financial instruments held on March 31, 2015.

 

Fair Value of Long-Term Debt

 

At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the fair value of the Company’s debt, including amounts classified as current, was $2.4 billion and $2.7 billion, respectively. Fair values are based upon observed prices in an active market, when available, or from valuation models using market information, which fall into Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

 

12.  Loss Per Common Share

 

The effect of options, restricted stock and restricted stock units equaling 8.3 million shares and 6.9 million shares of common stock were excluded from the calculation of diluted weighted average shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014, respectively, because the exercise price or grant price of the securities exceeded the average market price of the Company’s common stock for these periods. The weighted average share impacts of options, restricted stock and restricted stock units that were excluded from the calculation of weighted average shares due to the Company’s incurring a net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014 were 2.5 million and 0.8 million, respectively.

 

13.  Employee Benefit Plans

 

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

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Service cost

 

$

4

 

$

5,924

 

Interest cost

 

3,570

 

4,364

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(5,764

)

(5,978

)

Amortization of prior service costs (credits)

 

 

(54

)

Amortization of other actuarial losses

 

2,058

 

948

 

Net benefit cost

 

$

(132

)

$

5,204

 

 

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

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Service cost

 

$

233

 

$

444

 

Interest cost

 

335

 

464

 

Amortization of prior service credits

 

(2,084

)

(2,501

)

Amortization of other actuarial losses (gains)

 

(456

)

(170

)

Net benefit credit

 

$

(1,972

)

$

(1,763

)

 

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Table of Contents

 

14.  Commitments and Contingencies

 

The Company accrues for costs related to contingencies when a loss is probable and the amount is reasonably determinable. Disclosure of contingencies is included in the financial statements when it is at least reasonably possible that a material loss or an additional material loss in excess of amounts already accrued may be incurred.

 

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.  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, which consisted of $13.8 million for past damages, and $90.3 million for future damages.  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 Superior Court of Pennsylvania.  On August 13, 2012, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania affirmed the award of past damages, but ruled that the lower court should have calculated future damages as of the date of breach, and remanded the matter back to the lower court with instructions to recalculate that portion of the award. On November 19, 2012, Allegheny filed a Petition for Allowance of Appeal with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and Wolf Run and Hunter Ridge filed an Answer.  On July 2, 2013, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania denied the Petition of Allowance.  As this action finalized the past damage award, Wolf Run paid $15.6 million for the past damage amount, including interest, to Allegheny in July 2013.  Testimony on the future damage award in the lower court concluded on May 19, 2014, and post-trial briefs and responses were submitted on August 8, 2014.  The court held a hearing on this matter

 

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Table of Contents

 

on November 5, 2014 and on February 16, 2015 awarded Allegheny $7.5 million plus interest for the future damages.  On April 6, 2015, the parties entered into a settlement agreement pursuant to which Wolf Run agreed to pay $15 million and both parties agreed to release and discharge the other party from any further contractual liability.  As a result, the Company accrued an additional $2.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 to bring the total amount accrued up to the settlement amount.  The expense associated with the accrual is reflected in the line item “Cost of sales”. In April, the Company idled the Sycamore No. 2 mine, the impact of which will be recorded in the second quarter.

 

In addition, the Company is a party to numerous other claims and lawsuits with respect to various matters. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the Company had accrued $17.3 million and $22.3 million, respectively, for all legal matters, including $17.3 million and $10.1 million, respectively, classified as current.  The ultimate resolution of any such legal matter could result in outcomes which may be materially different from amounts the Company has accrued for such matters.

 

15.  Segment Information

 

The Company’s reportable business segments are based on the major coal producing basins in which the Company operates and may include a number of mine complexes. The Company manages its coal sales by coal basin, not by individual mining complex. Geology, coal transportation routes to customers, regulatory environments and coal quality or type are characteristic to a basin, and, accordingly, market and contract pricing have developed by coal basin. Mining operations are evaluated based on adjusted EBITDA, 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; and the Appalachia (APP) segment, with operations primarily in West Virginia.  The “Other” category combines other operating segments and includes the Company’s coal mining operations in Colorado and Illinois.

 

Operating segment results for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 are presented below. The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA to assess the operating segments’ performance and to allocate resources.  The Company’s management believes that Adjusted EBITDA presents a useful measure of our ability to service existing debt and incur additional debt based on ongoing operations.  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 trans-actions.

 

 

 

PRB

 

APP

 

Other
Operating
Segments

 

Corporate,
Other and
Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

391,206

 

$

223,439

 

$

62,360

 

$

 

$

677,005

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

72,062

 

39,807

 

1,691

 

(31,788

)

81,772

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

44,361

 

48,727

 

10,055

 

1,731

 

104,874

 

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

(1,285

)

(2,105

)

 

 

(3,390

)

Capital expenditures

 

16,969

 

3,385

 

2,642

 

(116

)

22,880

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

358,607

 

$

279,137

 

$

98,227

 

$

 

$

735,971

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

29,819

 

28,427

 

4,132

 

(34,773

)

27,605

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

39,245

 

54,988

 

9,519

 

671

 

104,423

 

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

(789

)

(2,974

)

67

 

 

(3,696

)

Capital expenditures

 

2,094

 

8,156

 

1,801

 

2,403

 

14,454

 

 

A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA to consolidated loss before income taxes follows:

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

81,772

 

$

27,605

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

(104,874

)

(104,423

)

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

3,390

 

3,696

 

Interest expense, net

 

(96,879

)

(94,628

)

Loss before income taxes

 

$

(116,591

)

$

(167,750

)

 

16. Supplemental 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 Receivable Company, LLC and the Company’s subsidiaries outside the United States):

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

 

 

 

Parent/Issuer

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Revenues

 

$

 

$

677,005

 

$

 

$

 

$

677,005

 

Costs, expenses and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of items shown separately below)

 

7,470

 

555,686

 

 

(834

)

562,322

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

1,060

 

103,812

 

2

 

 

104,874

 

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

 

(3,390

)

 

 

(3,390

)

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

 

 

1,220

 

 

 

1,220

 

Asset impairment and mine closure costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

15,439

 

6,243

 

1,448

 

(525

)

22,605

 

Other operating (income) expense, net

 

3,700

 

5,278

 

(1,251

)

1,359

 

9,086

 

 

 

27,669

 

668,849

 

199

 

 

696,717

 

Income from investment in subsidiaries

 

21,050

 

 

 

(21,050

)

 

Income (Loss) from operations

 

(6,619

)

8,156

 

(199

)

(21,050

)

(19,712

)

Interest expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(118,056

)

(6,763

)

(1,275

)

26,842

 

(99,252

)

Interest and investment income

 

8,072

 

19,774

 

1,369

 

(26,842

)

2,373

 

 

 

(109,984

)

13,011

 

94

 

 

(96,879

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

 

(116,603

)

21,167

 

(105

)

(21,050

)

(116,591

)

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

 

(3,408

)

 

12

 

 

(3,396

)

Net income (loss)

 

$

(113,195

)

$

21,167

 

$

(117

)

$

(21,050

)

$

(113,195

)

Total comprehensive income (loss)

 

$

(109,591

)

$

24,407

 

$

(117

)

$

(24,290

)

$

(109,591

)

 

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Table of Contents

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

 

 

 

Parent/Issuer

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Revenues

 

$

 

$

735,971

 

$

 

$

 

$

735,971

 

Costs, expenses and other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of items shown separately below)

 

3,389

 

683,775

 

 

(850

)

686,314

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

1,472

 

102,942

 

9

 

 

104,423

 

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

 

(3,696

)

 

 

(3,696

)

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

 

 

914

 

 

 

914

 

Asset impairment and mine closure costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

19,944

 

7,865

 

1,803

 

(476

)

29,136

 

Other operating (income) expense, net

 

1,593

 

(9,480

)

(1,437

)

1,326

 

(7,998

)

 

 

26,398

 

782,320

 

375

 

 

809,093

 

Loss from investment in subsidiaries

 

(35,347

)

 

 

35,347

 

 

Loss from operations

 

(61,745

)

(46,349

)

(375

)

35,347

 

(73,122

)

Interest expense, net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(113,655

)

(6,324

)

(1,050

)

24,558

 

(96,471

)

Interest and investment income

 

7,601

 

17,651

 

1,149

 

(24,558

)

1,843

 

 

 

(106,054

)

11,327

 

99

 

 

(94,628

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

 

(167,799

)

(35,022

)

(276

)

35,347

 

(167,750

)

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

 

(43,660

)

 

49

 

 

(43,611

)

Net loss

 

$

(124,139

)

$

(35,022

)

$

(325

)

$

35,347

 

$

(124,139

)

Total comprehensive loss

 

$

(126,769

)

$

(36,428

)

$

(325

)

$

36,753

 

$

(126,769

)

 

19



Table of Contents

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

March 31, 2015

 

 

 

Parent/Issuer

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

577,832

 

$

100,430

 

$

11,710

 

$

 

$

689,972

 

Short term investments

 

249,518

 

 

 

 

249,518

 

Receivables

 

10,184

 

10,894

 

197,321

 

(4,650

)

213,749

 

Inventories

 

 

240,113

 

 

 

240,113

 

Other

 

82,714

 

44,828

 

10,095

 

 

137,637

 

Total current assets

 

920,248

 

396,265

 

219,126

 

(4,650

)

1,530,989

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

9,860

 

6,361,096

 

 

379

 

6,371,335

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in subsidiaries

 

7,487,172

 

 

 

(7,487,172

)

 

Intercompany receivables

 

 

2,139,722

 

 

(2,139,722

)

 

Note receivable from Arch Western

 

675,000

 

 

 

(675,000

)

 

Other

 

125,994

 

285,227

 

1,395

 

 

412,616

 

Total other assets

 

8,288,166

 

2,424,949

 

1,395

 

(10,301,894

)

412,616

 

Total assets

 

$

9,218,274

 

$

9,182,310

 

$

220,521

 

$

(10,306,165

)

$

8,314,940

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

12,377

 

$

155,080

 

$

23

 

$

 

$

167,480

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

117,096

 

208,275

 

782

 

(4,650

)

321,503

 

Current maturities of debt

 

24,645

 

9,723

 

 

 

34,368

 

Total current liabilities

 

154,118

 

373,078

 

805

 

(4,650

)

523,351

 

Long-term debt

 

5,081,468

 

36,514

 

 

 

5,117,982

 

Intercompany payables

 

1,946,138

 

 

193,584

 

(2,139,722

)

 

Note payable to Arch Coal

 

 

675,000

 

 

(675,000

)

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

1,000

 

403,844

 

 

 

404,844

 

Accrued pension benefits

 

5,323

 

9,113

 

 

 

14,436

 

Accrued postretirement benefits other than pension

 

4,643

 

29,810

 

 

 

34,453

 

Accrued workers’ compensation

 

10,046

 

88,637

 

 

 

98,683

 

Deferred income taxes

 

419,064

 

 

 

 

419,064

 

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

36,530

 

105,069

 

205

 

 

141,804

 

Total liabilities

 

7,658,330

 

1,721,065

 

194,594

 

(2,819,372

)

6,754,617

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

1,559,944

 

7,461,245

 

25,927

 

(7,486,793

)

1,560,323

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

9,218,274

 

$

9,182,310

 

$

220,521

 

$

(10,306,165

)

$

8,314,940

 

 

20



Table of Contents

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

December 31, 2014

 

 

 

Parent/Issuer

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

572,185

 

$

150,358

 

$

11,688

 

$

 

$

734,231

 

Short term investments

 

248,954

 

 

 

 

248,954

 

Receivables

 

9,656

 

15,933

 

211,043

 

(4,615

)

232,017

 

Inventories

 

 

190,253

 

 

 

190,253

 

Other

 

89,211

 

41,455

 

6,630

 

 

137,296

 

Total current assets

 

920,006

 

397,999

 

229,361

 

(4,615

)

1,542,751

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

10,470

 

6,442,623

 

2

 

363

 

6,453,458

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investment in subsidiaries

 

7,464,221

 

 

 

(7,464,221

)

 

Intercompany receivables

 

 

2,021,110

 

 

(2,021,110

)

 

Note receivable from Arch Western

 

675,000

 

 

 

(675,000

)

 

Other

 

131,884

 

300,058

 

1,572

 

 

433,514

 

Total other assets

 

8,271,105

 

2,321,168

 

1,572

 

(10,160,331

)

433,514

 

Total assets

 

$

9,201,581

 

$

9,161,790

 

$

230,935

 

$

(10,164,583

)

$

8,429,723

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

23,394

 

$

156,664

 

$

55

 

$

 

$

180,113

 

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

 

85,899

 

220,017

 

1,095

 

(4,615

)

302,396

 

Current maturities of debt

 

27,625

 

9,260

 

 

 

36,885

 

Total current liabilities

 

136,918

 

385,941

 

1,150

 

(4,615

)

519,394

 

Long-term debt

 

5,084,839

 

38,646

 

 

 

5,123,485

 

Intercompany payables

 

1,817,755

 

 

203,355

 

(2,021,110

)

 

Note payable to Arch Coal

 

 

675,000

 

 

(675,000

)

 

Asset retirement obligations

 

981

 

397,915

 

 

 

398,896

 

Accrued pension benefits

 

5,967

 

10,293

 

 

 

16,260

 

Accrued postretirement benefits other than pension

 

4,430

 

28,238

 

 

 

32,668

 

Accrued workers’ compensation

 

9,172

 

85,119

 

 

 

94,291

 

Deferred income taxes

 

422,809

 

 

 

 

422,809

 

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

50,919

 

102,461

 

386

 

 

153,766

 

Total liabilities

 

7,533,790

 

1,723,613

 

204,891

 

(2,700,725

)

6,761,569

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

1,667,791

 

7,438,177

 

26,044

 

(7,463,858

)

1,668,154

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 

$

9,201,581

 

$

9,161,790

 

$

230,935

 

$

(10,164,583

)

$

8,429,723

 

 

21



Table of Contents

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

Three Months Ended March 31, 2015

 

 

 

Parent/Issuer

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

$

(114,542

)

$

96,944

 

$

13,325

 

$

 

$

(4,273

)

Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(450

)

(22,430

)

 

 

(22,880

)

Additions to prepaid royalties

 

 

(213

)

 

 

(213

)

Proceeds from disposals and divestitures

 

 

46

 

 

 

46

 

Purchases of marketable securities

 

(101,793

)

 

 

 

(101,793

)

Proceeds from sale or maturity of marketable securities and other investments

 

99,914

 

 

 

 

99,914

 

Investments in and advances to affiliates

 

 

(1,843

)

 

 

(1,843

)

Cash used in investing activities

 

(2,329

)

(24,440

)

 

 

(26,769

)

Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payments on term loan

 

(4,875

)

 

 

 

(4,875

)

Net payments on other debt

 

(2,751

)

(2,059

)

 

 

(4,810

)

Debt financing costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends paid

 

 

 

 

 

 

Withdrawals (deposits) of restricted cash

 

 

 

(3,532

)

 

(3,532

)

Transactions with affiliates, net

 

130,144

 

(120,373

)

(9,771

)

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

122,518

 

(122,432

)

(13,303

)

 

(13,217

)

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

5,647

 

(49,928

)

22

 

 

(44,259

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

572,185

 

150,358

 

11,688

 

 

734,231

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

577,832

 

$

100,430

 

$

11,710

 

$

 

$

689,972

 

 

22



Table of Contents

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

 

 

 

Parent/Issuer

 

Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Non-
Guarantor
Subsidiaries

 

Eliminations

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

$

(150,338

)

$

142,978

 

$

(32,915

)

$

 

$

(40,275

)

Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(492

)

(13,962

)

 

 

(14,454

)

Additions to prepaid royalties

 

 

(591

)

 

 

(591

)

Proceeds from disposals and divestitures

 

26,319

 

1,876

 

 

 

28,195

 

Purchases of short term investments

 

(119,176

)

 

 

 

(119,176

)

Proceeds from sales of short term investments

 

117,681

 

 

 

 

117,681

 

Investments in and advances to affiliates

 

(1,016

)

(2,226

)

 

 

(3,242

)

Cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

23,316

 

(14,903

)

 

 

8,413

 

Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contributions from parent

 

 

 

 

 

 

Payments on term loan

 

(4,875

)

 

 

 

(4,875

)

Debt financing costs

 

(1,957

)

 

 

 

(1,957

)

Net payments on other debt

 

(4,521

)

 

 

 

(4,521

)

Dividends paid

 

(2,123

)

 

 

 

(2,123

)

Transactions with affiliates, net

 

95,067

 

(128,140

)

33,073

 

 

 

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

81,591

 

(128,140

)

33,073

 

 

(13,476

)

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(45,431

)

(65

)

158

 

 

(45,338

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

799,333

 

100,418

 

11,348

 

 

911,099

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

753,902

 

$

100,353

 

$

11,506

 

$

 

$

865,761

 

 

23



Table of Contents

 

Item 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

Overview

 

Our results during the first quarter of 2015 were improved compared to the first quarter of 2014 despite continued weakness in coal markets.  The improvement in results was attributable to higher shipment volumes in the Powder River Basin as railroad service improved; higher pricing in the Powder River Basin due to sales commitments made in periods when market pricing was more favorable; and improved cost performance in our Powder River Basin and Appalachian segments. These favorable trends were offset by the impact of weak metallurgical markets, which led to lower sales volumes and pricing in our Appalachian segment and by low natural gas pricing, which pressured thermal coal sales volumes and prices.

 

We sold 1.5 million tons of metallurgical coal during the first quarter of 2015 compared to 1.6 million tons during the first quarter of 2014.

 

Seaborne coal markets remain challenged, as oversupply continues to pressure global prices for metallurgical and thermal coals. We have limited our forward exposure to the export market at this time, but we have maintained our ability to increase export shipments should fundamentals improve.

 

See further information regarding committed sales in Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

Regional Performance

 

The following table shows results by operating segment for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and compares it with the information for the three months ended March 31, 2014.  The “other” category represents the results of our other bituminous thermal operations: our West Elk mining complex in Colorado and our Viper mining complex in Illinois.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

Powder River Basin

 

 

 

 

 

Tons sold (in thousands)

 

28,471

 

25,666

 

Coal sales per ton sold

 

$

13.48

 

$

12.73

 

Cost per ton sold

 

$

12.52

 

$

12.98

 

Operating margin per ton sold

 

$

0.96

 

$

(0.25

)

Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands)

 

$

72,062

 

$

29,819

 

Appalachia

 

 

 

 

 

Tons sold (in thousands)

 

3,018

 

3,589

 

Coal sales per ton sold

 

$

65.23

 

$

67.70

 

Cost per ton sold

 

$

68.55

 

$

80.80

 

Operating loss per ton sold

 

$

(3.32

)

$

(13.10

)

Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands)

 

$

39,807

 

$

28,427

 

Other

 

 

 

 

 

Tons sold (in thousands)

 

1,619

 

2,102

 

Coal sales per ton sold

 

$

33.42

 

$

28.64

 

Cost per ton sold

 

$

31.21

 

$

27.17

 

Operating margin per ton sold

 

$

2.21

 

$

1.47

 

Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands)

 

$

1,691

 

$

4,132

 

 

This table reflects numbers reported under a basis that differs from U.S. GAAP.  See the “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP measurements” for explanation and reconciliation of these amounts to the nearest GAAP figures.  Other companies may calculate these per ton amounts differently, and our calculation may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures.

 

24



Table of Contents

 

Powder River Basin — Adjusted EBITDA increased over 140% in the first quarter of 2015 when compared to the first quarter of 2014 due to increased shipment volumes, higher pricing, and lower costs.  Railroad service has rebounded from the lows reached in the prior year quarter when extreme weather, derailments, and competing commodities led to significant disruptions in coal haulage from the Powder River Basin.  Pricing improved in the current year quarter primarily due to the annual roll off and replacement of sales orders for 2015 occurring at a time of relatively favorable pricing following the harsh winter last year.  Unit costs are lower due to the increased volume and lower diesel fuel pricing.  Our strategy of protecting against oil price spikes while preserving downside price participation has allowed us to benefit from the decrease in oil pricing this quarter versus the prior year quarter.  See further information regarding diesel fuel hedging strategies in Item 3. “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”

 

Appalachia — Adjusted EBITDA increased 40% in the first quarter of 2015 when compared with the first quarter of 2014 primarily due to a 15% reduction in cost per ton sold, resulting from a shift in production to lower cost operations, particularly at the Leer mine.  Coal sales volumes decreased in the first quarter of 2015 when compared to the first quarter of 2014, primarily due to the sale and idling of two complexes impacting the comparative periods.  Pricing declined in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the first quarter of 2014 across all major quality specifications, but the decline was most pronounced in the metallurgical products.  The price declines were partially offset by a shift in sales mix to a greater percentage of metallurgical sales, and a shift to higher quality products within metallurgical sales.  Unit cost declined in the current quarter compared to the prior year quarter primarily due to the shift in production discussed above, idling of a higher cost production source discussed above, and lower fuel pricing.  Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of 2014 includes gains from the sale of a thermal coal complex and idled thermal coal mine in Kentucky ($16.6 million).

 

Other — Adjusted EBITDA decreased almost 60% due to a 23% reduction in sales volume as a result of lower natural gas pricing and a weakened export thermal market.  Pricing increased in the current year quarter due to the mix of customer shipments offset by an increase in operating cost due primarily to lower production volume.

 

Results of Operations

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2014

 

Revenues.  Our revenues consist of coal sales and revenues from our ADDCAR subsidiary prior to its disposition in the first quarter of 2014.

 

Coal sales.  The following table summarizes information about our coal sales during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and compares it with the information for the three months ended March 31, 2014:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

(Decrease) / Increase

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Coal sales

 

$

677,005

 

$

734,033

 

$

(57,028

)

Tons sold

 

33,108

 

31,357

 

1,751

 

 

On a consolidated basis, coal sales decreased in the first quarter of 2015 from the first quarter of 2014, primarily due to the impact of the reduction in export volume of approximately $89 million, and secondarily due to reduced domestic thermal sales from Appalachia and our Other operating segments of approximately $25 million.  Increased volume and pricing of Powder River Basin domestic sales offset these impacts by approximately $56 million.  See discussion in “Regional Performance” for further information about regional results.

 

Costs, expenses and other.  The following table summarizes costs, expenses and other components of operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and compares it with the information for the three months ended March 31, 2014:

 

25



Table of Contents

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

(Increase) Decrease

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

in Net Loss

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Cost of sales (exclusive of items shown separately below)

 

$

562,322

 

$

686,314

 

$

123,992

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

104,874

 

104,423

 

(451

)

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

(3,390

)

(3,696

)

(306

)

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

 

1,220

 

914

 

(306

)

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

22,605

 

29,136

 

6,531

 

Other operating (income) expense, net

 

9,086

 

(7,998

)

(17,084

)

Total costs, expenses and other

 

$

696,717

 

$

809,093

 

$

112,376

 

 

Cost of sales.  Our cost of sales decreased in the first quarter of 2015 from the first quarter of 2014, due to lower transportation costs on lower export sales volumes (a decrease of approximately $64 million), lower diesel fuel costs (approximately $24 million), and savings associated with sold and idled Appalachian complexes (approximately $18 million and $15 million, respectively).  See discussion in “Regional Performance” for further information about regional results.

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization.  When compared with the first quarter of 2014, depreciation, depletion and amortization costs increased in 2015 due to higher depletion associated with the increase in Powder River Basin volume.  The increase was partially offset by reduction in depreciation and amortization related to mine idlings and dispositions in Appalachia.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses.  Total selling, general and administrative expenses decreased when compared with the first quarter of 2014, due to lower bonus plan accruals and lower benefit costs.

 

Other operating (income) expense, net.  Other operating income, net was a net loss during the first quarter of 2015 compared to net income in the first quarter of 2014.  The prior year quarter reflects the benefit from a net gain on sale of operations of approximately $14 million.

 

Benefit from income taxes.  The following table summarizes our benefit from income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and compares it with the information for the three months ended March 31, 2014:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

Increase

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

in Net Loss

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Benefit from income taxes

 

$

(3,396

)

$

(43,611

)

$

(40,215

)

 

The income tax benefit rate of 2.9% in the first quarter of 2015 decreased from 26.0% in the first quarter of 2014 due to an increase in the percentage of calculated tax benefit subject to a valuation allowance.  See further discussion in Note 10, “Income Taxes”, to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Reconciliation of NON-GAAP measures

 

Segment coal sales per ton sold

 

Segment coal sales per ton sold are calculated as the segment’s coal sales revenues divided by segment tons sold.  The segments’ sales per tons sold are adjusted for transportation costs, and may be adjusted for other items that, due to accounting rules, are classified in “other operating (income) expense, net” on the statement of operations, but relate to price protection on the sale of coal. Segment sales per ton sold is not a measure of financial performance in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  We believe segment sales per ton sold better reflects our revenue for the quality of coal sold and our

 

26



Table of Contents

 

operating results by including all income from coal sales. The adjustments made to arrive at these measures are significant in understanding and assessing our financial condition.  Therefore, segment coal sales revenues should not be considered in isolation, nor as an alternative to coal sales revenues under generally accepted accounting principles.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported segment coal sales revenues

 

$

634,903

 

$

629,953

 

Coal risk management derivative settlements classified in “other (income) expense, net”

 

(971

)

(2,879

)

Transportation costs

 

43,073

 

106,959

 

Coal sales

 

677,005

 

734,033

 

Other revenues

 

$

 

$

1,938

 

 

 

$

677,005

 

$

735,971

 

 

Segment cost per ton sold

 

Segment costs per ton sold are calculated as the segment’s cost of tons sold divided by segment tons sold.  The segments’ cost of tons sold are adjusted for transportation costs, and may be adjusted for other items that, due to accounting rules, are classified in “other (income) expense, net” on the statement of operations, but relate directly to the costs incurred to produce coal. Segment cost of tons sold is not a measure of financial performance in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  We believe segment cost of tons sold better reflects our controllable costs and our operating results by including all costs incurred to produce coal. The adjustments made to arrive at these measures are significant in understanding and assessing our financial condition.  Therefore, segment cost of tons sold should not be considered in isolation, nor as an alternative to cost of sales under generally accepted accounting principles.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reported segment cost of tons sold

 

$

612,758

 

$

680,296

 

Diesel fuel risk management derivative settlements classified in “other (income) expense, net”

 

(1,224

)

(1,879

)

Transportation costs

 

43,073

 

106,959

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization in reported segment cost of tons sold presented on separate line on statement of operations

 

(103,143

)

(103,751

)

Other (other operating segments, operating overhead, etc.)

 

10,858

 

4,689

 

Cost of sales

 

$

562,322

 

$

686,314

 

 

Segment Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income

 

The discussion in “Results of Operations” includes references to our 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. 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.

 

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Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Reported Segment Adjusted EBITDA

 

$

113,560

 

$

62,378

 

Corporate and other

 

(31,788

)

(34,773

)

Adjusted EBITDA

 

81,772

 

27,605

 

Income tax benefit

 

3,396

 

43,611

 

Interest expense, net

 

(96,879

)

(94,628

)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

(104,874

)

(104,423

)

Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net

 

3,390

 

3,696

 

Net loss

 

$

(113,195

)

$

(124,139

)

 

Corporate and other includes primarily selling, general and administrative expenses, asset impairment charges, income from our equity investments and certain changes in the fair value of coal derivatives and coal trading activities.  Corporate and other adjusted EBITDA increased $3.0 million in the first quarter 2015 when compared to the first quarter 2014 due to $6.5 million of reduced expenses recorded in the Statement of Operations line item “Selling, general and administrative expenses”, which is primarily the result of management initiatives to reduce costs, and an increase of $3.1 million in miscellaneous expenses recorded in the line item “Other operating (income) expense, net”.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our primary sources of cash are coal sales to customers, availability under our credit facilities and other financing arrangements, and debt and equity offerings related to significant transactions or refinancing activity. Excluding significant investing activity, we generally satisfy our working capital requirements and fund capital expenditures and debt-service obligations with cash generated from operations, cash on hand or borrowings under our lines of credit. Such plans are subject to change based on our cash needs.  During the market down cycle our focus is preserving liquidity and prudently managing costs, including capital expenditures.  In addition, we regularly evaluate our capital structure and may make debt purchases for cash and /or exchanges for debt or equity from time to time through tender offers, open market purchases, private transactions, or otherwise, or seek to raise additional debt or equity, depending on market conditions and covenant restrictions.

 

We have no meaningful maturities of debt until 2018, and we have suspended or eliminated most financial maintenance covenants that pertain only to our $250 million revolver until June of 2015, when a relaxed, senior secured leverage ratio covenant becomes effective. Until then, only a minimum liquidity covenant of $550 million remains in place.  We had liquidity of $1.12 billion at March 31, 2015, with $939.5 million of that in cash and liquid securities.  We have no borrowings outstanding under our revolving credit agreement at March 31, 2015.

 

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, 2015 and 2014:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(In thousands)

 

Cash provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

$

(4,273

)

$

(40,275

)

Investing activities

 

(26,769

)

8,413

 

Financing activities

 

(13,217

)

(13,476

)

 

Cash used in operating activities during the first three months of 2015 declined to $4.3 million compared to cash used in operating activities of $40.3 million in the first three months of 2014.  The improvement was driven by the increase in our Adjusted EBITDA resulting from improved shipment volumes and pricing in the Powder River Basin, improved productivity in Appalachia and lower diesel fuel pricing.

 

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We used $26.8 million of cash in investing activities during the three months ended 2015 compared to generating $8.4 million of cash in the three months ended 2014, as proceeds from disposals and divestitures decreased $28.1 million.  The divestitures of a Kentucky operation, idled assets, and our ADDCAR subsidiary are reflected in 2014 with no significant divestitures in 2015. Capital expenditures increased approximately $8.6 million primarily related to lease buyouts at our Powder River Basin operations.

 

Cash used in financing activities declined $0.3 million in the three months ended March 31, 2015, as the benefit from the elimination of the dividend on our common stock, and approximately $2.0 million in debt financing costs incurred in the prior year quarter were offset by a $3.5 million increase in restricted cash in the current quarter.

 

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:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

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

 

N/A

 

N/A

(2)

 


(1)                   Earnings consist of income from continuing 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.

 

(2)                                     Total losses for the ratio calculation round to $0.0 million and total fixed charges were $102.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015.  Total losses for the ratio calculation were $65.8 million and total fixed charges were $99.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

 

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Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

We manage our commodity price risk for our non-trading, thermal coal sales through the use of long-term coal supply agreements, and to a limited extent, through the use of derivative instruments.  Sales commitments in the metallurgical coal market are typically not long-term in nature, and we are therefore subject to fluctuations in market pricing.

 

Our sales commitments for 2015 and 2016 were as follows as of April 21, 2015:

 

 

 

2015

 

2016

 

 

 

Tons

 

$ per ton

 

Tons

 

$ per ton

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

 

 

(in millions)

 

 

 

Powder River Basin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committed, Priced

 

105.0

 

$

13.34

 

43.8

 

$

14.39

 

Committed, Unpriced

 

2.8

 

 

 

15.5

 

 

 

Appalachia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committed, Priced Thermal

 

5.3

 

$

56.87

 

2.0

 

$

57.97

 

Committed, Unpriced Thermal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committed, Priced Metallurgical

 

4.4

 

$

78.27

 

0.7

 

$

82.69

 

Committed, Unpriced Metallurgical

 

0.5

 

 

 

0.6

 

 

 

Other Bituminous

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Committed, Priced

 

6.0

 

$

33.60

 

2.8

 

$

34.61

 

Committed, Unpriced

 

0.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are also 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, 2015. The estimated future realization of the value of the trading portfolio is $0.3 million of losses in the remainder of 2015 and $1.4 million of gains in 2016.

 

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. 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 its 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.

 

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.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, VaR for our coal trading positions that are recorded at fair value through earnings ranged from under $0.1 million to $0.8 million. The linear mean of each daily VaR was $0.4 million. The final VaR at March 31, 2015 was $0.4 million.

 

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We are exposed to fluctuations in the fair value of coal derivatives that we enter into to manage the price risk related to future coal sales, but for which we do not elect hedge accounting. Gains or losses on these derivative instruments would be largely offset in the pricing of the physical coal sale.  During the three months ended March 31, 2015, VaR for our risk management positions that are recorded at fair value through earnings ranged from $0.1 million to $0.3 million. The linear mean of each daily VaR was $0.3 million. The final VaR at March 31, 2015 was $0.1 million.

 

We are also exposed to the risk of fluctuations in cash flows related to our purchase of diesel fuel. We expect to use approximately 57 to 67 million gallons of diesel fuel for use in our operations during 2015. 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, 2015, we had protected the price of approximately 86% of its expected purchases for the remainder of the year with out-of-the-money call options with an average strike price of $3.13 per gallon.  Due to the drop in heating oil pricing, we have layered in 19.5 million gallons of at-the-money call options for the second half of 2015 representing 60% of expected purchases at an average strike price of $1.92 per gallon.  Additionally, we have protected approximately 37% of our expected 2016 purchases with out-of-the-money call options.  At March 31, 2015, we had purchased heating oil call options for approximately 66 million gallons for the purpose of managing the price risk associated with future diesel purchases.  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, 2015, of our $5.2 billion principal amount of debt outstanding, approximately $1.9 billion 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 not result in an annualized increase in interest expense based on interest rates in effect at March 31, 2015, because our term loan has a minimum interest rate that exceeds the current market rates.

 

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, 2015.  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. There were no 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.  Also, as a result of historical acquisitions or dispositions by us or other companies in our industry, we may time to time be subject to claims or legal actions, including in respect of certain employee or retiree health or pension benefits.

 

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Table of Contents

 

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 (EPA) proposed action to deny Mingo Logan the right to use its Corps’ permit (as discussed below).

 

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 was 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” then pending in federal court in Washington, DC.

 

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Table of Contents

 

In a Memorandum and Opinion and separate Order, each dated March 23, 2012, the federal court 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.  As described more fully below, EPA appealed that order to the United States Court of Appeals for the DC circuit and by Opinion of the Court dated April 23, 2013, the court reversed the lower court’s order and remanded the matter to the district court for further proceedings.

 

On April 5, 2012, Mingo Logan moved to lift the stay referenced above.  On June 5, 2012, the Court entered an order lifting the stay and allowing the case to proceed on Mingo Logan’s Motion for Summary Judgment.  Shortly thereafter, OVEC filed a motion for leave to file a seventh amended and supplemental complaint seeking to update existing counts and raising two new claims (one, to enforce EPA’s “Final Determination” and, the other, that the Corps’ refusal to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement violates the APA and NEPA).  By Memorandum, Opinion and Order dated July 25, 2012; the Court granted OVEC’s motion and directed the Clerk to file OVEC’s Seventh Amended and Supplemental Complaint.  Mingo Logan filed its Motion for Summary Judgment on August 31, 2012, along with its Answer to the Seventh Amended and Supplemental Complaint and the matter remains 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 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 the 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.

 

On May 11, 2012, the EPA filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.  The court heard oral arguments on March 14, 2013.  By opinion of the court filed on April 23, 2013, the court reversed

 

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Table of Contents

 

the district court on the threshold issue and remanded the matter to the district court to address the merits of our APA challenge to the Final Determination.  On June 6, 2013, Mingo Logan filed a Petition for Rehearing En Banc and by Order filed July 25, 2013, the court denied the petition.

 

On November 13, 2013, Mingo Logan filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the Supreme Court of the United States seeking review of the DC Circuit’s decision.  On March 24, 2014, the Supreme Court denied Mingo Logan’s Petition for Writ of Certiorari and remanded the matter to the federal district court for the District of Columbia for further consideration on the merits of the Final Determination.  On September 30, 2014, the court entered an opinion and order denying Mingo Logan’s motion for summary judgment and granting the government’s motion for summary judgment.  The court upheld the Final Determination finding that EPA’s decision to withdraw the specifications for filling in Oldhouse Branch and Pigeonroost Branch under Mingo Logan’s Section 404 permit was not arbitrary and capricious.  On November 11, 2014, Mingo Logan filed a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Court where it is currently pending.

 

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, which consisted of $13.8 million for past damages, and $90.3 million for future damages.  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.  On August 13, 2012, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania affirmed the award of past damages, but ruled that the lower court should have calculated future damages as of the date of breach, and remanded the matter back to the lower court with instructions to recalculate that portion of the award. On November 19, 2012, Allegheny filed a Petition for Allowance of Appeal with the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and Wolf Run and Hunter Ridge filed an Answer.  On July 2, 2013, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania denied the Petition of Allowance.  As this action finalized the past damage award, Wolf Run paid $15.6 million for the past damage amount, including interest, to Allegheny in July 2013.  Testimony on the future damage award in the lower court concluded on May 19, 2014, and post-trial briefs and responses were submitted on August 8, 2014.  The court held a hearing on this matter on November 5, 2014 and on February 16, 2015 awarded Allegheny $7.5 million plus interest for the future damages.  On April 6, 2015, the parties entered into a settlement agreement pursuant to which Wolf Run agreed to pay $15 million and both parties agreed to release and discharge the other party from any further contractual liability.

 

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, 2015, there were 10,925,800 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, 2015. Based on the closing price of our common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on April 20, 2015, the approximate dollar value of our common stock that may yet be purchased under this program was $11.6 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, 2015.

 

Item 6.  Exhibits.

 

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 W. Eaves.

31.2

 

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

32.1

 

Section 1350 Certification of John W. Eaves.

32.2

 

Section 1350 Certification of John T. Drexler.

95.0

 

Mine Safety Disclosure Exhibit.

101.0

 

Interactive Data File (Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2015 filed in XBRL). The financial information contained in the XBRL-related documents is “unaudited” and “unreviewed.”

 

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.

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

Arch Coal, Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ John T. Drexler

 

 

John T. Drexler

 

 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (On behalf of the registrant and as Principal Financial Officer)

 

 

 

 

 

April 30, 2015

 

36