Arch Coal, Inc. - Announces Extension of Private Debt Exchange Offer

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Arch Coal Inc. ("Arch") (NYSE: ACI) today announced the extension of its pending private offer to exchange (the "2020 Exchange Offer") new 6.25% Trust Certificates due 2021 (the "Trust Certificates") and a cash payment for any and all of its outstanding 7.25% Senior Notes due 2020 (the "2020 Notes").

The 2020 Exchange Offer, previously set to expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on July 31, 2015, has been extended and is now set to expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on August 4, 2015.  The Withdrawal Deadline for the 2020 Exchange Offer has passed and 2020 Notes tendered in the 2020 Exchange Offer may no longer be withdrawn.  As of 5:00 p.m. New York City time on July 31, 2015, approximately $417 million aggregate principal amount of 2020 Notes have been validly tendered pursuant to the 2020 Exchange Offer.

As previously disclosed, Arch has made alternative arrangements on similar economic terms for holders of the 2020 Notes not eligible to participate in the 2020 Exchange Offer (the "Ineligible Holders Offer").  The Ineligible Holders Offer, previously set to expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on July 31, 2015, has also been extended and is now set to expire at 12:00 midnight, New York City time, on August 4, 2015.  As of 5:00 p.m. New York City time on July 31, 2015, approximately $34 million aggregate principal amount of 2020 Notes have been validly tendered pursuant to the Ineligible Holders Offer.

The terms of the 2020 Exchange Offer are set forth in the Confidential Offering Memorandum and Consent Solicitation Statement (the "2020 Exchange Offering Memorandum") and the accompanying Consent and Letter of Transmittal related to the 2020 Exchange Offer (the "Consent and Letter of Transmittal").  The 2020 Exchange Offer is made only by, and pursuant to the terms of, the 2020 Exchange Offering Memorandum and the Consent and Letter of Transmittal, and the information in this news release is qualified by reference thereto.

The offering documents for the 2020 Exchange Offer will be distributed only to holders of 2020 Notes that complete and return a letter of eligibility confirming that they are Eligible Holders (as defined below).  Copies of the eligibility letter are available to holders through the information agent for the 2020 Exchange Offer, Ipreo LLC, at (888) 593-9546 (U.S. toll-free) or (212) 849-3880.

Holders of the 2020 Notes that are not Eligible Holders will not be able to receive the 2020 Exchange Offering Memorandum and the Consent and Letter of Transmittal or to participate in the 2020 Exchange Offer.  However, as described above, Arch is conducting the Ineligible Holders Offer, pursuant to which Arch has made alternative arrangements on equivalent economic terms to the 2020 Exchange Offer for holders ineligible to participate in the 2020 Exchange Offer.  Such holders should contact Investor Relations at Arch by calling (314) 994-2700, and, after furnishing proof that they are not Eligible Holders, will receive information about the Ineligible Holders Offer.

The 2020 Exchange Offer is being made, and the Trust Certificates are being offered and issued, solely to holders of 2020 Notes who are both "qualified institutional buyers" as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and "qualified purchasers" as defined in Section 2(a)(51) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), in a private placement in reliance upon an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.  The holders of 2020 Notes that are eligible to participate in the 2020 Exchange Offer pursuant to the foregoing conditions are referred to as "Eligible Holders."  The Trust Certificates have not and will not be registered under the Securities Act and may not be transferred or resold except as permitted under the Securities Act and other applicable securities laws, pursuant to registration or exemption therefrom.  Additionally, Arch Pass Through Trust (issuer of the Trust Certificates) has not been and will not be registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act, in reliance on the exemption set forth in Section 3(c)(7) thereof. This news release does not constitute an offer to purchase or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities.

U.S.-based Arch Coal Inc. is one of the world's top coal producers for the global steel and power generation industries, serving customers on five continents. Its network of mining complexes is the most diversified in the United States, spanning every major coal basin in the nation.  Arch controls more than 5 billion tons of high-quality metallurgical and thermal coal reserves, with access to major railroads, inland waterways and a growing number of seaborne trade channels.


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 varying 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 potential demands for additional collateral for self-bonding; from our ability to complete our potential exchange offers; from future integration of acquired businesses; and from many 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.

SOURCE Arch Coal Inc.



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