Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2015

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

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, Kentucky, Maryland, Virginia, Illinois, Wyoming and Colorado. All subsidiaries are wholly-owned. Intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

On August 4, 2015 we effected a 1-for-10 reverse stock split of our common stock. Each stockholder's percentage ownership and proportional voting power remained unchanged as a result of the reverse stock split. All applicable share data, per share amounts and related information in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto have been adjusted retroactively to give effect to the 1-for-10 reverse stock split.

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 and nine months endedSeptember 30, 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.

The Company incurred a net loss for the years ended 2014, 2013 and 2012 and will report a net loss in the current year as well. Additionally, in 2014 and 2015, the Company has been unable to generate sufficient cash to cover interest expense and capital expenditures. The Company launched subordinated debt exchange offers in July 2015 that, if successful, would have substantially improved the Company’s leverage profile. The exchange offers were terminated on October 27, 2015 as a result of various factors, including the actions of the Company’s term lenders in directing the term loan agent not to execute the required documents as well as highly challenging market conditions.

With the extremely challenging market conditions currently facing the industry, the Company will require a significant restructuring of its balance sheet to continue to operate as a going concern over the long term. The Company is currently in active dialogue with various creditors with respect to restructuring of the Company’s balance sheet. The Company’s mining operations and customer shipments are continuing as normal and the Company has no near-term maturities.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is contingent upon the Company’s ability to restructure its balance sheet with the various creditor parties; there can be no assurance that these efforts will results in any such agreement. The accompanying consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern.