Arch Coal Increases Profile in Asia; Hires Zhang Shijie to Lead Chinese Marketing Efforts

ST. LOUIS, June 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) today announced that its Arch Coal Asia-Pacific Pte. Ltd. subsidiary has increased its profile in China to help meet growing global demand for metallurgical and thermal coals. Arch has established an office in Beijing's Chaoyang District and hired Zhang Shijie to lead the effort. He will report to Renato Paladino, president of Arch Coal Asia-Pacific.

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"The opening of an office in China is a natural next step as we raise our stake in the seaborne coal trade," said Arch Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Paul A. Lang. "In particular, a Beijing office will be advantageous as we expand our metallurgical coal portfolio with the addition of high-vol A product from our new Leer mine.

"We're pleased Zhang Shijie has joined Arch to foster relationships and identify opportunities in China," said Lang. "He brings a wealth of marketing experience in coal and other commodities and has an excellent business network that will enhance our growing international presence."

Zhang Shijie will facilitate metallurgical and thermal coal transactions and logistics in China.  He has more than 20 years of experience in importing coal, cokes, minerals and metals. Zhang Shijie's linguistic skills include English and Mandarin. He is a graduate of China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing.

Arch Coal Asia-Pacific's new Beijing office is located at Unit 1489, Level 14, China World Office 1, 1 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100004.

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 in 25 countries on five continents. Its network of mining complexes is the most diversified in the United States, spanning every major coal basin in the nation. The company controls a 5.5-billion-ton reserve base of high-quality metallurgical and thermal coals, with access to all 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 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.

SOURCE Arch Coal, Inc.