UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Arch Coal, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)		1-13105 (Commission File Number)		43-0921172 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

CityPlace One
One CityPlace Drive, Suite 300
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
(Address, including zip code, of principal executive offices)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (314) 994-2700

     Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

     o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

     o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

     o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

     o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

Item 8.01 Other Events.

     On April 27, 2006, Arch Coal, Inc. issued a press release announcing that its board of directors had approved a two-for-one stock split of its common stock in the form of a 100% stock dividend. The stock split entitles all stockholders of record on May 5, 2006 to receive a dividend of one share of Arch common stock for every share held on that date. The stock dividend will be distributed on May 15, 2006.

     The board of directors also authorized an increase in the quarterly common stock cash dividend of 50% from $0.08 per share to $0.12 per share (on a pre-split basis). A quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share of common stock (on a post-split basis) will be paid on June 15, 2006 to stockholders of record on June 5, 2006.

     A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is hereby incorporated by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)     Exhibits

     The following exhibit is attached hereto and filed herewith.

Exhibit
No.		Description
99.1		Press release dated April 27, 2006.

Signatures

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Exhibit Index

Exhibit
No.		Description
99.1		Press release dated April 27, 2006.

Exhibit 99.1

News from Arch Coal, Inc.

Media — Kim Link (314) 994-2936

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 27, 2006

Arch Coal Announces Two-For-One Stock Split and 50% Dividend Increase

     ST. LOUIS (April 27, 2006) — Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) today announced a two-for-one split of its common stock in the form of a 100% stock dividend. In addition, the company increased its quarterly dividend (on a pre-split basis) from $0.08 per common share to $0.12 per common share.

     The two-for-one stock split is payable on May 15, 2006 to stockholders of record on May 5, 2006, granting all shareholders one additional common share for every common share of ACI held on that date. Arch Coal has approximately 72 million shares outstanding. Upon completion of the split, Arch Coal will have approximately 144 million shares outstanding.

     The dividend is payable on June 15, 2006 to stockholders of record on June 5, 2006 in the amount of $0.06 per share on a post-split basis.

     More information on the stock split is posted on the Investor section of the company Web site at http://investor.archcoal.com.

     St. Louis-based Arch Coal is the nation’s second largest coal producer, with subsidiary operations in Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia. Through these operations, Arch provides the fuel for approximately 6% of the electricity generated in the United States.

# # #

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” — that is, statements related to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” or “will.” Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. For us, particular uncertainties arise from changes in the demand for our coal by the domestic electric generation industry; from legislation and regulations relating to the Clean Air Act and other environmental initiatives; from operational, geological, permit, labor and weather-related factors; from fluctuations in the amount of cash we generate from operations; from future integration of acquired businesses; and from numerous other matters of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive or regulatory nature. These uncertainties may cause our actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. For a description of some of the risks and uncertainties that may affect our future results, you should see the risk factors described from time to time in the reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.