Basis of Presentation (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2017

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

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 six months endedJune 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017. 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, 2016 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

On January 11, 2016 (the “Petition Date”), Arch Coal and substantially all of its wholly owned domestic subsidiaries (the “Filing Subsidiaries” and, together with Arch Coal, the “Debtors”; the Debtors, solely following the effective date of the Plan, the “Reorganized Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions for reorganization (collectively, the “Bankruptcy Petitions”) under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the U.S. Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri (the “Court”). The Debtors’ Chapter 11 Cases (collectively, the “Chapter 11 Cases”) were jointly administered under the caption In re Arch Coal, Inc., et al. Case No. 16-40120 (lead case). During the Chapter 11 Cases, each Debtor operated its business as a “debtor in possession” under the jurisdiction of the Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and the orders of the Court.

Upon emergence from bankruptcy on October 5, 2016, Arch Coal applied the provisions of fresh start accounting effective October 1, 2016 which resulted in Arch becoming a new entity for financial reporting purposes. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes on or after October 1, 2016 are not comparable to the consolidated financial statements prior to that date. References to “Successor” in the consolidated financial statements and footnotes are in reference to reporting dates on or after October 2, 2016; references to “Predecessor” in the consolidated financial statements and footnotes are in reference to reporting dates through October 1, 2016 which includes the impact of the Plan provisions and the application of fresh start accounting.

Recent Adopted Accounting Guidance and Recent Accounting Guidance Issued Not Yet Effective

Recently Adopted Accounting Guidance

In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-09, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) ("ASU 2016-09"). ASU 2016-09 identifies areas for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, an option to recognize gross stock compensation expense with actual forfeitures recognized as they occur, as well as certain classifications on the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted all provisions of this new accounting standard in the first quarter of 2017 and changed its forfeiture policy to recognize the impact of forfeitures when they occur from estimating expected forfeitures in determining stock-based compensation expense. There was no material impact to the Company's financial statements.

Recent Accounting Guidance Issued Not Yet Effective

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” ASU 2014-09 is a comprehensive revenue recognition standard that will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under current U.S. GAAP and replace it with a principle based approach for determining revenue recognition. ASU 2014-09 will require that companies recognize revenue based on the value of transferred goods or services as they occur in the contract. The ASU also will require additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. ASU 2014-09 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted only in annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods therein. Entities will be able to transition to the standard either retrospectively or as a cumulative-effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. The Company’s primary source of revenue is from the sale of coal through both short-term and long-term contracts with utilities, industrial customers and steel producers whereby revenue is currently recognized when risk of loss has passed to the customer. Upon adoption of this new standard, the Company believes that the timing of revenue recognition related to its coal sales will remain consistent with its current practice. The Company is in the process of reviewing its portfolio of coal sales contracts and the various terms and clauses within each contract. Additionally, the Company is evaluating other revenue streams to determine the potential impact related to the adoption of the standard, as well as potential disclosures required by the standard. The Company will be adopting the standard under the modified retrospective approach.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715) Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. ASU 2017-07 changes the income statement presentation of defined benefit plan expense by requiring separation between operating expense (service cost component) and non-operating expense (all other components, including interest cost, amortization of prior service cost, curtailments and settlements, etc.). The operating expense component is reported with similar compensation costs while the non-operating components are reported in Nonoperating expense. In addition, only the service cost component is eligible for capitalization as part of an asset such as inventory or property, plant and equipment. The Company is currently assessing the impact that adopting this new accounting standard will have on its consolidated financial statements. The ASU is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods therein; early adoption is permitted.