Patriot Coal Announces Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2011

ST. LOUIS, July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Patriot Coal Corporation (NYSE: PCX) today reported its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2011.  For the 2011 second quarter, the Company reported record revenues of $632.2 million and record EBITDA of $70.2 million.  Revenues and EBITDA for the year-ago quarter were $539.0 million and $40.6 million, respectively.  For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company reported revenues of $1.2 billion and EBITDA of $118.8 million.  Revenues and EBITDA for the first half of 2010 were $1.0 billion and $85.8 million, respectively.

During the second quarter, the Company recorded an asset retirement obligation of $24.0 million for the planned treatment of certain selenium discharges at the Hobet surface mine, in connection with the submission of a remediation plan related to a previous court ruling.  As a result of this charge, the Company reported a net loss of $12.4 million and net loss per share of $0.14 for the 2011 second quarter.  

"Our improved performance this quarter highlights the potential of Patriot's existing operations and the results of our detailed planning and execution," noted Patriot President and Chief Executive Officer Richard M. Whiting.  "We are nearing a major turning point in the life of our company."  

"Looking to 2012 and beyond, we expect to achieve even stronger operating results as we benefit from our "Met Build-Out" project.  In recent months, we started production at two new met mines – the Gateway Eagle mine in the Rocklick complex and the Workman Branch mine in the Wells complex.  And we have made significant progress constructing the entry slope at Kanawha Eagle's Peerless mine, where we expect to begin production late this year," continued Whiting.  "Further, as 2012 comes more clearly into view, we will see a positive impact from the re-pricing to market levels of 3.5 million tons of Illinois Basin coal currently sold under a legacy customer contract.  Our team is actively managing the sale of these tons, with close to 80 percent of the volume already sold for 2012."

"Turning to the markets, we are encouraged by the strength of the global thermal coal market.  Since our April update, we booked nearly 7 million thermal tons for export through 2014, including sales from each of our basins.  Over half of this volume will be sourced from the Illinois Basin, including tons previously sold under the legacy contract," stated Whiting.  "On the met side, since our April update we contracted an additional 400,000 tons for 2011 delivery.  With the cycle of annual contracting largely completed for 2011, we do not expect the next wave of met contracting to occur before the fourth quarter."

"Our cash flow from operating activities topped $80 million this quarter, more than twice the previous quarterly high of $39 million.  After covering capital expenditures and a litigation settlement, we generated free cash flow of more than $20 million," added Patriot Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mark N. Schroeder.  "This is a clear indication of our future earnings power and cash flow trends, and our ability to continue to grow our business."  

Financial Overview

Commenting further on the second quarter, Schroeder noted, "We are pleased with our record revenues and record EBITDA achieved this quarter.  This marks our third consecutive increase in quarterly EBITDA, led by solid operating performance at our mines, along with higher selling prices.  These stronger results were consistent with our operating and financial plans."

"Costs per ton in both of our segments increased this quarter and for the first six months were at the upper end of our annual guidance.  A number of factors impacted our costs this quarter, including the new metallurgical mines coming on-line, met tons being a larger portion of our total sales mix, higher sales-related costs, and the idling of the Panther longwall for about two weeks for an equipment component upgrade," continued Schroeder.  "While the richer product mix has pressured our per-ton costs, our focus remains on expanding our bottom line through higher-margin business opportunities."

Revenues in the 2011 second quarter were $632.2 million, compared with $539.0 million in the prior year quarter.  Higher revenues in the 2011 quarter compared with the prior year resulted from higher selling prices in 2011, which increased almost $11.00, or 16 percent, over a year ago.  

Sales in the second quarter totaled 8.1 million tons, including 6.1 million tons of thermal and 2.0 million tons of metallurgical coal.  This compares with 6.2 million tons of thermal and 1.9 million tons of metallurgical coal sold in the year-ago quarter.    

EBITDA in the 2011 second quarter was $70.2 million, compared with $40.6 million in the same quarter of 2010.  Higher EBITDA was driven by higher average selling prices.  The 2011 second quarter EBITDA included gains on reserve-related transactions of $9.4 million, compared with $17.8 million in the 2010 second quarter.

Credit and Capital

As of June 30, 2011, the Company had available liquidity of more than $480 million, with a cash balance of $263 million and no borrowings on its revolving credit facility or its receivables securitization program.  

Capital expenditures totaled $40.7 million in the 2011 second quarter.  For 2011, the Company expects capital expenditures to be near $175 million, as Patriot expands its metallurgical coal production capability.  

During the quarter, the Company paid $14.8 million in settlement of litigation in connection with a lawsuit filed prior to the 2007 spin-off.  The settlement did not result in any impact to the Company's statement of operations during the quarter, as Patriot received certain mineral reserves while assuming related liabilities from the plaintiff as part of the settlement.

Safety and Environmental

As a result of the Company's comprehensive safety program, in the first half of 2011 Patriot achieved an accident incidence rate of 2.86 per 200,000 hours worked, nearly a 20 percent improvement compared with the 2010 year.  Additionally, during the quarter three Patriot operations in West Virginia received state-wide Joseph A. Holmes Safety Awards, and Fredrick Collins, Jr., Patriot's Senior Safety Manager, was recognized as a Coal Safety Leader by the Holmes Safety Association.  

In recognition of outstanding reclamation, Patriot operations also received two regional Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) Awards, and the Company's Guyan surface mine in the Logan County complex subsequently won the highest ARRI award, presented to one reclamation project from the submissions of seven different states.

Market Overview

Forecasts continue to point to the sustainability of coal market globalization.  Global seaborne demand for metallurgical coal is expected to increase more than 50 percent from about 250 million metric tonnes in 2010 to nearly 400 million tonnes by 2020.  On the thermal side, global seaborne demand is expected to increase more than 30 percent from 2010 to 2020, to almost 1 billion tonnes.  With supply constraints worldwide, Patriot believes U.S. metallurgical and thermal coal will increasingly be shipped overseas to satisfy the robust global demand.  Eastern U.S. metallurgical and thermal coals, in particular, are well-positioned to participate in these growing export markets.

The Company believes the metallurgical coal market will remain tight.  Patriot's response to these tight met markets is to continue its Met Build-Out project, increasing met production to at least 11 million tons by 2013.  The Company is on track with this expansion plan, which includes acquiring equipment, finalizing permits, and hiring supervisors and hourly employees.  The manageable size of each mine within the Met Build-Out is a distinct advantage, as it allows the Company to methodically increase production in line with sales commitments, and to benefit from its existing operational footprint.  

In thermal markets, the Company expects to see continued opportunities for exports, as Asian markets build more coal-fueled power plants, putting more demand on global supply.  The physical access of U.S. coals to the European thermal market, coupled with numerous coal quality alternatives, should make the U.S. a major ongoing participant in the increasingly global marketplace.  

Patriot expects U.S. coal exports to approximate 100 million tons in 2011.  The Company plans to export approximately 25 percent of its 2011 production, with exports anticipated to expand to more than 10 million tons, or 30 percent, in 2012.

Outlook

For the year 2011, the Company anticipates sales volume of 31 to 32 million tons, including metallurgical coal sales of at least 8 million tons.  For the Appalachia segment, the Company expects cost per ton in the third quarter to be in the mid-$70's, declining to the low-$70's in the fourth quarter.  The full-year cost is expected to average just over $70 per ton, as the met percentage increases to approximately 35 percent by year-end, from 30 percent at the beginning of 2011.  For the Illinois Basin segment, Patriot expects cost per ton for the 2011 year to average $42 to $44.  

Higher cost per ton will result from the new met mines beginning production in 2011, higher sales-related costs, and increased costs related to an anticipated new labor agreement with the UMWA.  Additionally, the third quarter will be impacted by longwall moves at both Federal and Panther, downtime for miner vacations and repairs performed during the vacation periods.

Average selling prices of currently priced tons for the remainder of 2011 and for 2012 are as follows:

The increase in priced 2012 met business compared with the first quarter earnings release includes newly booked Panther-type tons at prices averaging $150 per ton, coupled with the impact of changes in the timing of 2011 and 2012 met deliveries.

Priced thermal business includes 4.1 million tons for the second half of 2011 and 4.7 million tons for 2012 related to legacy contracts priced significantly below the current market.  The Company has around 0.5 million tons of coal remaining to be priced for 2011 delivery.  

Conference Call

Management will hold a conference call to discuss the second quarter results on July 26, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. Central Time.  The conference call can be accessed by dialing 800-700-7860, or through the Patriot Coal website at www.patriotcoal.com.  International callers can dial 612-332-1210 to access the conference call.  A replay of the conference call will be available on the Company's website and also by telephone, at 800-475-6701 for domestic callers or 320-365-3844 for international callers, access code 210390.

About Patriot Coal

Patriot Coal Corporation is a leading producer and marketer of coal in the eastern United States, with 14 active mining complexes in Appalachia and the Illinois Basin.  The Company ships to domestic and international electricity generators, industrial users and metallurgical coal customers, and controls approximately 1.9 billion tons of proven and probable coal reserves.  The Company's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PCX.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that may be beyond our control and may cause our actual future results to differ materially from expectations.  We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements.  Factors that could affect our results include, but are not limited to: price volatility and demand, particularly in higher margin products; geologic, equipment and operational risks associated with mining; changes in general economic conditions, including coal, power and steel market conditions; coal mining laws and regulations; the availability and costs of competing energy resources; legislative and regulatory developments; risks associated with environmental laws and compliance, including selenium-related matters; developments in greenhouse gas emission regulation and treatment; negotiation of labor contracts, labor availability and relations; the outcome of pending or future litigation; changes in the costs to provide healthcare to eligible active employees and certain retirees under postretirement benefit obligations; increases to contribution requirements to multi-employer retiree healthcare and pension plans; reductions of purchases or deferral of shipments by major customers; availability and costs of credit; customer performance and credit risks; inflationary trends; worldwide economic and political conditions; downturns in consumer and company spending; supplier and contract miner performance and the availability and cost of key equipment and commodities; availability and costs of transportation; the Company's ability to replace coal reserves; the outcome of commercial negotiations involving sales contracts or other transactions; our ability to respond to changing customer preferences; failure to comply with debt covenants; the effects of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; and weather patterns affecting energy demand or disrupting coal supply.  The Company undertakes no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.  For additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to materially differ from those projected herein, please refer to the Company's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q reports.

SOURCE Patriot Coal Corporation

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