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

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): October 29, 2010 (October 29, 2010)

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))

 

 

     On October 29, 2010, Arch Coal, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release containing its third quarter 2010 financial results and providing guidance on its 2010 forecasted results. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as exhibit 99.1.

     The information contained in Item 2.02 and the exhibit attached hereto shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall they be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

(d) Exhibits

     The following exhibits are attached hereto and filed herewith.

Exhibit
No.				Description
	99.1			Press release dated October 29, 2010.

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 October 29, 2010.

News from
Arch Coal, Inc.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Deck S. Slone
Vice President, Government, Investor and Public Affairs
314/994-2717

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Arch Coal, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2010 Results
Adj. EBITDA increases 67% to $201 million vs. year-ago quarter
Cash flow from operations grows 85% year-to-date
Record quarterly and year-to-date free cash flow generated
Company raises midpoint of 2010 earnings guidance range

Earnings Highlights

		Quarter Ended								Nine Months Ended
In $ millions, except per share data		9/30/10				9/30/09				9/30/10				9/30/09
Revenues		$	874.7			$	615.0			$	2,350.9			$	1,850.6
Income from Operations			98.3				48.3				237.0				94.2
Net Income1			46.7				25.2				111.0				40.6
Fully Diluted EPS			0.29				0.16				0.68				0.28
Adjusted EBITDA2		$	201.1			$	120.6			$	531.9			$	314.4

     ST. LOUIS (October 29, 2010) — Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) today reported third quarter 2010 net income of $46.7 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, compared with net income of $25.2 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, in the prior-year period. Excluding certain charges, third quarter 2010 adjusted net income was $57.4 million, or $0.35 per diluted share. The charges for the third quarter include a pre-tax charge of $10.0 million related to non-cash amortization of coal supply agreements acquired in the Jacobs Ranch transaction as well as a pre-tax expense of $6.8 million related to non-recurring debt extinguishment costs on the redemption of $500 million of Arch Western Resources senior notes due 2013.

     Third quarter 2010 revenues grew 42 percent versus the prior-year quarter on more favorable coal market conditions and the inclusion of Jacobs Ranch volume. Income from operations more than doubled over the same time period and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization (“EBITDA”) increased 67 percent to reach $201 million in the third quarter of 2010.

     “Arch’s strong quarterly financial results were driven by better margins in each of our operating regions compared with a year ago,” said Steven F. Leer, Arch’s chairman and chief executive officer. “The Powder River Basin — which continues to benefit from the acquisition of Jacobs Ranch on Oct. 1, 2009 and its subsequent integration into Black Thunder — realized

higher volume levels, lower cash costs and significant margin expansion. Pricing gains and solid cost control also boosted operating margins in the Western Bituminous Region, despite the temporary outage at Dugout Canyon in the quarter just ended. Moreover, operating margins in Central Appalachia nearly tripled versus a year ago on increased metallurgical coal sales.”

     Adjusted EBITDA rose nearly 70 percent to reach $532 million year-to-date in 2010. Cash flow from operations totaled $457 million for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2010 — an increase of 85 percent over the prior-year period — while capital expenditures equaled $222 million, resulting in record free cash flow of $235 million for the first nine months of 2010.

     “Our strong financial performance to date this year — along with our current expectation for the fourth quarter — has allowed us to raise the midpoint of our 2010 earnings and EBITDA guidance range,” said Leer. “An improving earnings outlook coupled with our commitment to control capital spending levels should result in continued free cash flow generation.”

Key Pillars

     Arch’s overall lost-time safety performance and environmental compliance for the first three quarters of 2010 are both on track to beat the previous company records set last year. Seven operations attained a Perfect Zero — operating without a reportable safety incident or environmental compliance violation — during the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2010.

     Furthermore, on Oct. 16, 2010, the Black Thunder mine in the Powder River Basin surpassed 7 million employee-hours (more than 30 months) without a lost-time incident. The Coal-Mac complex in Central Appalachia also was honored on Oct. 18, 2010 with a national award from the U.S. Department of Interior for protecting the environment.

     “We’re proud of our employees for attaining these milestones and awards, which mark our progress towards the ultimate goal of no reportable safety incidents or environmental violations at any of our operations,” said John W. Eaves, Arch’s president and chief operating officer.

Financial Developments

     In the third quarter of 2010, Arch opportunistically issued $500 million in new senior notes due 2020, and subsequently used the proceeds to redeem a portion of its Arch Western Resources senior notes due 2013. Also during the third quarter, Arch used its free cash flow to repay short-term borrowings and reduce its debt-to-total-capital ratio to 43 percent. At Sept. 30, 2010, the company had $954 million of available liquidity — comprised of $64 million of cash on hand and $890 million under its short-term borrowing facilities.

     “Arch’s successful capital market transaction in the quarter just ended helped to lengthen the maturity profile on $500 million of term debt by seven years, and positions the company well to manage its bond maturities,” said John T. Drexler, Arch’s senior vice president and chief financial officer. “As evidenced in the third quarter, our first priority for free cash flow continues to be debt reduction and liquidity enhancement to further strengthen the balance sheet.”

Operational Results

     “Our consolidated operating margin per ton expanded 10 percent in the third quarter of 2010 versus the second quarter, resulting from improved steam coal customer demand and

continued, effective cost control at our operations,” said Eaves. “In particular, Powder River Basin operating margins improved by nearly 40 percent quarter over quarter — reaching their highest level since mid-2006.”

		Arch Coal, Inc.
		3Q10				2Q10				3Q09
Tons sold (in millions)			43.7				38.1				29.1
Average sales price per ton		$	18.77			$	18.86			$	20.05
Cash cost per ton		$	13.70			$	13.87			$	15.75
Cash margin per ton		$	5.07			$	4.99			$	4.30
Total operating cost per ton		$	15.81			$	16.17			$	18.19
Operating margin per ton		$	2.96			$	2.69			$	1.86

Consolidated results may not tie to regional breakout due to rounding.

Above figures exclude transportation costs billed to customers.

Operating cost per ton includes depreciation, depletion and amortization per ton.

Amortization of acquired coal supply agreements not included in results.

Amounts reflected in this table exclude certain coal sales and purchases which have no effect on company results. For further description of the excluded transactions, please refer to the supplemental regional schedule that can be found at http://investor.archcoal.com.

     When compared with the second quarter of 2010, consolidated operating margin increased 10 percent and sales volume increased nearly 15 percent during the third quarter in response to improved domestic steam coal market conditions. Consolidated average sales price and operating costs per ton declined modestly over the same time period, largely reflecting a higher percentage of Powder River Basin coal in the company’s overall volume mix.

		Powder River Basin
		3Q10				2Q10				3Q09
Tons sold (in millions)			36.1				31.0				21.5
Average sales price per ton		$	12.12			$	11.88			$	12.26
Cash cost per ton		$	9.08			$	9.23			$	10.04
Cash margin per ton		$	3.04			$	2.65			$	2.22
Total operating cost per ton		$	10.44			$	10.67			$	11.31
Operating margin per ton		$	1.68			$	1.21			$	0.95

Above figures exclude transportation costs billed to customers.

Operating cost per ton includes depreciation, depletion and amortization per ton.

Amortization of acquired coal supply agreements not included in results.

     In the Powder River Basin, third quarter 2010 operating margin increased nearly 40 percent versus the second quarter to reach $1.68 per ton. Third quarter sales volume increased versus the prior-quarter period, driven by better rail performance, higher brokered volumes and improved operating efficiencies at the integrated Black Thunder mine. Average sales price rose by $0.24 per ton over the same time period, while operating costs (excluding amortization of acquired coal supply agreements) declined $0.23 per ton, reflecting continued cost controls and the ongoing benefit of acquisition synergies, partially offset by higher sales-sensitive and maintenance costs.

		Western Bituminous Region
		3Q10				2Q10				3Q09
Tons sold (in millions)			4.0				4.0				4.6
Average sales price per ton		$	30.66			$	30.09			$	29.08
Cash cost per ton		$	22.35			$	22.39			$	20.70
Cash margin per ton		$	8.31			$	7.70			$	8.38
Total operating cost per ton		$	27.06			$	26.99			$	25.57
Operating margin per ton		$	3.60			$	3.10			$	3.51

Operating cost per ton includes depreciation, depletion and amortization per ton.

          In the Western Bituminous Region, third quarter operating margin reached $3.60 per ton, an increase of 16 percent versus the second quarter, despite Dugout Canyon’s temporary idling during most of the third quarter. Volumes were flat over the same time period, as increased shipments from the company’s other Utah mines offset lower production at the Dugout Canyon mine. Average sales price rose by $0.57 per ton in the third quarter compared with the prior-quarter period, resulting from a more favorable mix of customer shipments. Operating costs increased $0.07 per ton over the same time period, driven by the outage at Dugout Canyon which offset favorable cost performances at the company’s other Western Bituminous operations.

		Central Appalachia
		3Q10				2Q10				3Q09
Tons sold (in millions)			3.5				3.1				3.0
Average sales price per ton		$	73.20			$	73.96			$	62.44
Cash cost per ton		$	51.09			$	49.19			$	49.32
Cash margin per ton		$	22.11			$	24.77			$	13.12
Total operating cost per ton		$	58.01			$	57.10			$	56.50
Operating margin per ton		$	15.19			$	16.86			$	5.94

Above figures exclude transportation costs billed to customers.

Arch acts as an intermediary on certain pass-through transactions that have no effect on company results. These transactions are not reflected in this table.

          In Central Appalachia, Arch earned $15.19 per ton in operating margin in the third quarter of 2010 compared with $16.86 per ton in the second quarter. Third quarter steam coal volumes rose significantly versus the prior-quarter period on increased customer demand, while metallurgical coal volumes declined slightly. Average sales price per ton declined modestly over the same time period, as a larger percentage of lower-priced steam coal sales in the company’s overall volume mix offset higher pricing on metallurgical coal sales. Operating costs increased $0.91 per ton in the third quarter of 2010 compared with the prior-quarter period, resulting from the region’s production mix during the third quarter.

Coal Market Trends

          U.S. coal markets are set to deliver a much improved performance in 2010 versus 2009.

	•		Electric output was up 4 percent year-to-date through Oct. 23, according to the Edison Electric Institute. For the first nine months of the year, Arch forecasts that coal consumption for electric generation increased 6.5 percent versus the prior-year period.
	•		U.S. coal production declined more than 6 million tons through the first nine months of

			2010, according to MSHA data released to date. Supply in the nation’s largest coal producing region – the southern Powder River Basin – increased 2 million tons, while production in the second largest supply basin – Central Appalachia – declined 12 million tons year-to-date through Sept. 30. In addition, supply from the Gulf Lignite region increased roughly 4 million tons over the same time period, mainly driven by increased demand from mine-mouth coal generation facilities that have come online in 2010.
	•		U.S. coal exports are on pace to reach 80 million tons in 2010, representing an increase of 20 million tons versus 2009. By contrast, Arch expects coal imports into the U.S. to decline by more than 3 million tons in 2010 when compared with last year.
	•		U.S. generator coal stockpile levels have declined meaningfully since 2009. Arch estimates that power plant stockpiles totaled approximately 160 million tons at the end of September 2010 – a 20-percent decline from the year-ago level but still 10 percent higher than the five-year average. On a days-supply basis, Powder River Basin customer inventories remain the lowest in the country and were below the five-year average at the end of September, according to third-party estimates.

Production and Sales Contract Portfolio

          Arch now expects sales volumes from company-controlled operations to be in the range of 155 million to 158 million tons for full year 2010. Included in this volume guidance range are sales into metallurgical coal markets (coking and pulverized coal injection/PCI), which are now projected at around 6 million tons in 2010.

          “Arch has moved up its sales volume range modestly for 2010 given better-than-expected operating synergies in the Powder River Basin and improved rail performance,” Leer said. “While efficiency has improved markedly at our PRB operations, we will continue to follow a market-driven strategy and, ultimately, the market will dictate whether we return any of our idled equipment to active operation in the quarters ahead.”

          In the Powder River Basin, Arch placed 20 million tons of coal for 2011 delivery and 15 million tons for 2012 delivery, at average prices above current annual indices for the region. In Central Appalachia, Arch committed 2.5 million tons of PCI and high-volatile coking coal for 2011 delivery, at blended average net back mine prices in the triple digits. The company also re-priced more than 4 million tons of Western Bituminous coal for 2011 and 2012 delivery, at average prices that are roughly 20 percent above Arch’s third quarter realizations in that region.

          Arch now has uncommitted volumes of 30 million to 40 million tons in 2011, and uncommitted volumes of 70 million to 80 million tons in 2012. These uncommitted volumes include up to 5.5 million tons of coking and PCI coal in 2011. In addition, the company has roughly 15 million tons committed but not yet priced in both 2011 and 2012.

2010 Earnings Guidance

          Arch has raised the midpoint of its 2010 adjusted earnings and EBITDA guidance and maintained its capital spending guidance as follows:

•

Earnings per diluted share on a GAAP basis is now projected to be between

			$1.09 and $1.23, including amortization of coal supply agreements and early debt extinguishment costs. Excluding these charges, adjusted earnings per diluted share would be in the range of $1.25 to $1.40.
	•		Adjusted EBITDA is now forecasted to be in the $750 million to $790 million range.
	•		Capital spending is expected to remain in the $315 million to $335 million range.
	•		Depreciation, depletion and amortization expense (excluding non-cash amortization of acquired coal supply agreements) is projected to be between $372 million and $377 million.

          “With our unpriced sales position and strong operating platform, Arch is poised to deliver in this current coal market up-cycle,” said Leer. “We’re targeting record free cash flow in 2010, and given our relatively modest capital needs, we expect continued growth in this cash flow metric going forward. We’re absolutely focused on leveraging our superior low-cost asset base to create substantial value for our shareholders over the long-term.”

          A conference call regarding Arch Coal’s third quarter 2010 financial results will be webcast live today at 11 a.m. E.D.T. The conference call can be accessed via the “investor” section of the Arch Coal Web site (http://investor.archcoal.com).

          St. Louis-based Arch Coal is the second largest U.S. coal producer, with revenues of $2.6 billion in 2009. Through its national network of mines, Arch supplies cleaner-burning, low-sulfur coal to U.S. power producers to fuel roughly 8 percent of the nation’s electricity. The company also ships coal to domestic and international steel manufacturers as well as international power producers.

Forward-Looking Statements: 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.

# # #

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(In thousands, except per share data)

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2010				2009				2010				2009
		(Unaudited)								(Unaudited)
Revenues
Coal sales		$	874,705			$	614,957			$	2,350,874			$	1,850,609
Costs, expenses and other
Cost of coal sales			651,853				489,290				1,773,464				1,503,937
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			92,857				71,390				269,135				213,078
Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net			10,038				78				26,005				(92	)
Selling, general and administrative expenses			26,999				24,029				89,509				70,770
Change in fair value of coal derivatives and coal trading activities, net			1,832				(3,342	)			12,296				(10,328	)
Gain on Knight Hawk transaction			—				—				(41,577	)			—
Costs related to acquisition of Jacobs Ranch			—				791				—				7,166
Other operating income, net			(7,221	)			(15,617	)			(15,004	)			(28,141	)
			776,358				566,619				2,113,828				1,756,390
Income from operations			98,347				48,338				237,046				94,219
Interest expense, net:
Interest expense			(37,698	)			(29,791	)			(107,906	)			(70,466	)
Interest income			927				399				1,888				7,284
			(36,771	)			(29,392	)			(106,018	)			(63,182	)
Other non-operating expense
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			(6,776	)			—				(6,776	)			—
			(6,776	)			—				(6,776	)			—
Income before income taxes			54,800				18,946				124,252				31,037
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes			7,941				(6,270	)			12,889				(9,590	)
Net income			46,859				25,216				111,363				40,627
Less: Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			(181	)			(31	)			(325	)			11
Net income attributable to Arch Coal, Inc.		$	46,678			$	25,185			$	111,038			$	40,638
Earnings per common share
Basic earnings per common share		$	0.29			$	0.16			$	0.68			$	0.28
Diluted earnings per common share		$	0.29			$	0.16			$	0.68			$	0.28
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic			162,391				155,622				162,384				147,122
Diluted			163,174				156,005				163,128				147,332
Dividends declared per common share		$	0.10			$	0.09			$	0.29			$	0.27
Adjusted EBITDA (A)		$	201,061			$	120,566			$	531,861			$	314,382

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)

		September 30,				December 31,
		2010				2009
		(Unaudited)
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$	63,753			$	61,138
Trade accounts receivable			249,189				190,738
Other receivables			45,590				40,632
Inventories			218,958				240,776
Prepaid royalties			45,129				21,085
Deferred income taxes			33,850				—
Coal derivative assets			10,322				18,807
Other			96,633				113,606
Total current assets			763,424				686,782
Property, plant and equipment, net			3,303,028				3,366,186
Other assets
Prepaid royalties			60,103				86,622
Goodwill			113,701				113,701
Deferred income taxes			323,874				354,869
Equity investments			148,893				87,268
Other			121,763				145,168
Total other assets			768,334				787,628
Total assets		$	4,834,786			$	4,840,596
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable		$	172,281			$	128,402
Coal derivative liabilities			5,721				2,244
Deferred income taxes			—				5,901
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities			200,868				227,716
Current maturities of debt and short-term borrowings			139,334				267,464
Total current liabilities			518,204				631,727
Long-term debt			1,538,470				1,540,223
Asset retirement obligations			323,025				305,094
Accrued pension benefits			64,145				68,266
Accrued postretirement benefits other than pension			45,609				43,865
Accrued workers’ compensation			28,226				29,110
Other noncurrent liabilities			120,058				98,243
Total liabilities			2,637,737				2,716,528
Redeemable noncontrolling interest			10,173				8,962
Stockholders’ Equity
Common stock			1,643				1,643
Paid-in capital			1,731,209				1,721,230
Treasury stock, at cost			(53,848	)			(53,848	)
Retained earnings			529,852				465,934
Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(21,980	)			(19,853	)
Total stockholders’ equity			2,186,876				2,115,106
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity		$	4,834,786			$	4,840,596

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(In thousands)

		Nine Months Ended
		September 30,
		2010				2009
		(Unaudited)
Operating activities
Net income		$	111,363			$	40,627
Adjustments to reconcile to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			269,135				213,078
Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net			26,005				(92	)
Prepaid royalties expensed			26,190				24,140
Employee stock-based compensation expense			9,640				10,253
Amortization of debt financing costs			7,395				5,053
Gain on Knight Hawk transaction			(41,577	)			—
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			6,776				—
Changes in:
Receivables			(48,718	)			63,785
Inventories			21,818				(45,725	)
Coal derivative assets and liabilities			14,116				21,911
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities			20,879				(74,607	)
Deferred income taxes			(7,561	)			(15,165	)
Other			41,219				3,185
Cash provided by operating activities			456,680				246,443
Investing activities
Capital expenditures			(221,583	)			(280,033	)
Proceeds from dispositions of property, plant and equipment			252				806
Purchases of investments and advances to affiliates			(16,740	)			(10,353	)
Additions to prepaid royalties			(23,715	)			(22,874	)
Reimbursement of deposits on equipment			—				3,209
Cash used in investing activities			(261,786	)			(309,245	)
Financing activities
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt			500,000				584,784
Repayments of long-term debt, including redemption premium			(505,627	)			—
Proceeds from the sale of common stock			—				326,452
Net increase (decrease) in borrowings under lines of credit and commercial paper program			(118,337	)			4,345
Net payments on other debt			(9,794	)			(13,276	)
Debt financing costs			(12,630	)			(29,596	)
Dividends paid			(47,121	)			(40,347	)
Issuance of common stock under incentive plans			339				84
Contribution from non-controlling interest			891				—
Cash provided by (used in) financing activities			(192,279	)			832,446
Increase in cash and cash equivalents			2,615				769,644
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			61,138				70,649
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period		$	63,753			$	840,293

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Schedule of Consolidated Debt
(In thousands)

		September 30,				December 31,
		2010				2009
		(Unaudited)
Commercial paper		$	55,716			$	49,453
Revolving credit agreement			—				120,000
Accounts receivable securitization program			79,400				84,000
6.75% senior notes ($450.0 million and $950.0 million face value, respectively)			451,780				954,782
8.75% senior notes ($600.0 million face value)			586,690				585,441
7.25% senior notes ($500.0 million face value)			500,000				—
Other			4,218				14,011
			1,677,804				1,807,687
Less: current maturities of debt and short-term borrowings			139,334				267,464
Long-term debt		$	1,538,470			$	1,540,223

Arch Coal, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
(In thousands)

Included in the accompanying release, we have disclosed certain non-GAAP measures as defined by Regulation G. The following reconciles these items to net income and cash flows as reported under GAAP.

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.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and items excluded to calculate Adjusted EBITDA are significant in understanding and assessing our financial condition. Therefore, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered in isolation nor as an alternative to net income, income from operations, cash flows from operations or as a measure of our profitability, liquidity or performance under generally accepted accounting principles. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA presents a useful measure of our ability to service and incur debt based on ongoing operations. Furthermore, analogous measures are used by industry analysts to evaluate operating performance. In addition, acquisition and financing related expenses are excluded to make results more comparable between periods. 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.

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30,								September 30,
		2010				2009				2010				2009
		(Unaudited)								(Unaudited)
Net income		$	46,859			$	25,216			$	111,363			$	40,627
Income tax expense (benefit)			7,941				(6,270	)			12,889				(9,590	)
Interest expense, net			36,771				29,392				106,018				63,182
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			92,857				71,390				269,135				213,078
Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net			10,038				78				26,005				(92	)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			6,776				—				6,776				—
Costs related to acquisition of Jacobs Ranch			—				791				—				7,166
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest			(181	)			(31	)			(325	)			11
Adjusted EBITDA		$	201,061			$	120,566			$	531,861			$	314,382

Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per common share

Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per common share are adjusted for the after-tax impact of acquisition and financing related costs and are not measures of financial performance in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. We believe that adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per common share better reflect the trend of our future results by excluding items relating to significant transactions. The adjustments made to arrive at these measures are significant in understanding and assessing our financial condition. Therefore, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share should not be considered in isolation, nor as an alternative to net income or diluted earnings per common share under generally accepted accounting principles.

		Three Months Ended
		September 30, 2010
		(Unaudited)
Net income attributable to Arch Coal		$	46,678
Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net			10,038
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			6,776
Tax impact of adjustments			(6,137	)
Adjusted net income attributable to Arch Coal		$	57,355
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding			163,174
Adjusted diluted earnings per share		$	0.35

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow is defined as operating cash flows minus capital expenditures and is not a measure of cash flow in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. We use free cash flow as a measure of our ability to make investments, acquisitions and payments to our debt and equity security holders. Free cash flow should not be considered in isolation, nor as an alternative to cash flows generated from operations.

		Nine Months Ended
		September 30, 2010
		(Unaudited)
Cash provided by operating activities		$	456,680
Capital expenditures			(221,583	)
Free cash flow		$	235,097

Reconciliation of 2010 Targets

Adjusted EBITDA

		Targeted Results
		Year Ended
		December 31, 2010
		Low				High
		(Unaudited)
Net income attributable to Arch Coal, Inc.		$	178,000			$	201,000
Income tax expense			18,700				33,700
Interest expense, net			141,000				136,500
Depreciation, depletion and amortization			372,000				377,000
Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net			33,500				35,000
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			6,800				6,800
Adjusted EBITDA		$	750,000			$	790,000

Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share

		Targeted Results
		Year Ended
		December 31, 2010
		Low				High
		(Unaudited)
Net income attributable to Arch Coal		$	178,000			$	201,000
Amortization of acquired sales contracts, net			33,500				35,000
Loss on early extinguishment of debt			6,800				6,800
Tax impact of adjustments			(14,710	)			(15,257	)
Adjusted net income attributable to Arch Coal		$	203,590			$	227,543
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding			163,000				163,000
Adjusted diluted earnings per share		$	1.25			$	1.40