Losses from disposed operations resulting from Patriot Coal Bankruptcy

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]

Losses from disposed operations resulting from Patriot Coal Bankruptcy

Losses from disposed operations resulting from Patriot Coal bankruptcy

On December 31, 2005, Arch entered into a purchase and sale agreement with Magnum to sell certain operations. On July 23, 2008, Patriot acquired Magnum. On May 12, 2015, Patriot and certain of its wholly owned subsidiaries (“Debtors”), including Magnum, filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Subsequently, on October 28, 2015, Patriot’s Plan of Reorganization was approved, including an authorization to reject their collective bargaining agreements and modify certain union-related retiree benefits. As a result of the Plan of Reorganization, the Company became statutorily responsible for retiree medical benefits pursuant to Section 9711 of the Coal Industry Retiree Health Benefit Act of 1992 for certain retirees of Magnum who retired prior to October 1, 1994. In addition, the Company has provided surety bonds to Patriot related to permits that were sold to an affiliate of Virginia Conservation Legacy Fund, Inc. (“VCLF”). Should VCLF not perform required reclamation, the Company would incur losses under the bonds and related indemnity agreements. The Company recognized $116.3 million in losses in 2015 related to the previously disposed operations as a result of the Patriot Coal bankruptcy. An original charge of $149.3 million was recorded in the third quarter of 2015 based on our best estimate at the time. This was subsequently reduced by $33.0 million in the fourth quarter due to revised census data and changes in underlying assumptions related to the retiree medical benefits.