Peabody Energy Corp

NYSE:BTU

Earnings Call Transcript 2019-Q4

[Operator]

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by, and welcome to the Peabody's Fourth Quarter Earnings Conference Call. At this time, all participants are in a listen-only mode. Following today's presentation instructions will be given for the question and answer session. [Operator Instructions]. As a reminder, today's call is being recorded.

And now, I'd like to turn the conference over to Mr. Vic Svec, Head of Investor Relations and Communications. Please go ahead sir.

[Vic Svec, Investor Relations & Communications]

Okay. Thank you, Jack, and good morning, everyone. Thanks very much for joining in BTU's earnings for the fourth quarter and the full year. And so, with us today, we have President and CEO, Glenn Kellow, as well as Interim CFO, Mark Spurbeck. I also believe most of you if not all of you know Director of Investor Relations, Julie Gates.

We do welcome Mark to this key Interim position at CFO. You'll find that he has extensive experience in accounting and finance along with the mining industry. You'll also be seeing him on the road at upcoming conferences and road shows. As is customary during our formal remarks, we'll reference a supplemental presentation and that's available on our website at peabodyenergy.com.

Now on Slide two of the deck, you'll find our statement on forward-looking information. We do encourage you to consider the risk factors that we referenced here, along with our public filings with the SEC. I would also note that we use both GAAP and non-GAAP measures, we do refer you to our reconciliation of those measures in the presentation, as well as our earnings release.

And with that, I'll now turn the call over to Glenn.

[Glenn Kellow, President & CEO]

Thanks Vic, and good morning, everyone. Peabody delivered strong fourth quarter operating performance driven by lower costs across multiple segments and concluded a number of negotiations that were both complex and significant.

During the full year, Peabody advanced initiatives against the difficult backdrop, but ultimately saw a deterioration in both debt and equity prices. Financially, we completed the year with the strong cash and liquidity position.

Within the portfolio, we progressed regulatory process for the proposed PRB/Colorado Joint Venture with Arch to unlock substantial synergies for the benefit of multiple stakeholders.

Our seaborne thermal business again finished with attractive margins with a record year of rail shipments at Wilpinjong and good performance at our Wambo open-cut mines. Its also very pleasing to note that both mines have signed regulatory approval to advance their extension activities, North Goonyella is a challenging environmental opposition.

In seaborne met, the team drive significant reductions in holding costs at the North Goonyella mine. We are now proceeding with the commercial process and to maximizing value and accelerating cash flows in parallel with continued engagement with PMI and our approach to access and develop the Southern Panels.

We saw an improved performance from many of our operations in the fourth quarter and there was several mines have been transition, encouraging progress is being made on the ground. At the organizational level, we enhanced our structure and operating model to increase efficiencies and lower costs.

Finally, on the ESG front, we received prestigious recognition with honors in safety, environmental excellence, leadership, employment and diversity. The company was also named Best for Small to Mid-cap Companies in entire metals and mining sector for ESG metrics, as well as governance in the 2019 institutional investor rankings.

I'll come back to you in a few on the 2020 outlook in more detail. But here is a quick summary for this year. We are targeting improved met coal volumes and costs, lower SG&A, decrease capital expenditures and sharply reduced North Goonyella holding costs in 2020.

Those benefits will be needed to partly offset the current lower pricing we are experiencing across all markets, lower U.S. thermal volumes, and some $200 million in decrease contributions from the closing of the Kayenta and Millennium Mines. Overall, I believe that 2020 challenges will be met with meaningful action.

Also, as announced just this morning, Peabody and Elliott are largest shareholder have reached agreement that includes the addition of several new members to the Peabody Board. From Elliott, Dave Miller an Equity Partner, and Samantha Algaze is a Portfolio Manager, both of whom we've worked with for a number of years.

Darren Yeates is a tenured Coal Industry Executive. We also agreed to add a fourth director with extensive mining operations experience to be jointly selected. Peabody and Elliot had a constructive relationship during the four plus years of involvement in Peabody's capital structure. We are aligned in our objective to create shareholder value. And we look forward to this ongoing relationship.

With that overview, I'll now ask Mark to cover the financial highlights.

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

Good morning, everyone. I'm pleased to be here today. By way of background, I have about 15 years of mining industry experience and has been with Peabody by the last two years. I would like to thank Amy for the smooth transition, and I look forward to meeting many of you in the future.

Let's get right to business starting on slide four. Fourth quarter revenues total $1.12 billion, down 20% from the prior year and lower seaboard metallurgical volume and reduced pricing.

DD&A in the fourth quarter total $122 million versus $176 million in the prior year due to the closure of the Kayenta Mine, as well as lower contract amortization expense and volumes.

Other income statement items of note include a $48 million gain associated with the formation of the United Wambo open-cut joint venture, $250 million in non-cash impairment charges largely related to changes in life of mine assumptions in New Mexico, given lower production volumes from announced plant retirements, as well as an unallocated reserves in the Midwest and Colorado.

A $58 million write-off at North Goonyella primarily related to prior panel development, which we foreshadow at Q3 and the $67 million on mark-to-market loss and post retirement health care liabilities given changes in discount rates.

Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter totaled $205 million compared to $274 million in the prior year. It was primarily due to lower seaborne pricing environments. Adjusted EBITDA includes $89 million in favorable customer settlements, as well as $23 million in severance charges.

Adjusted EBITDA also includes about $12 million in transaction costs. Those are related to the proposed joint venture with Arch. You'll see, we accelerated the number of activities late in the year. These items resulted in a loss and continuing operations, net of income taxes of $290 million and a diluted loss per share of $3.12.

Touching briefly on full year results, revenues declined 17% from the prior year, 2019 loss from continuing operations net of income taxes totaled $188 million along with adjusted EBITDA of $837 million [ph].

Digging into the operating performance. Fourth quarter results were bolstered by solid cost improvements across four of our five offering segments. In fact, seaborne met and seaborne thermal, as well as the midwestern segment reduce per ton cost by 10% versus the prior year.

Within the seaborne thermal segment, fourth quarter export volumes were the highest of the year. We had 3.3 million ton shift at an average realized price of $64.83 per short ton. Export thermal volume of 11.5 million tons came in at the low end of our range, with domestic customer remained strong at 8 million tons delivered last year.

Adjusted EBITDA margins for seaborne thermal totaled 33%, supported by strong cost performance from the Wambo underground. In addition, the Wilpinjong and record railings in 2019.

Moving to the met segment, we saw significant production improvements for both Coppabella and Moorvale. That resulted in the highest quarterly production volumes for the year.

The segment also made great strides in cost performance. Fourth quarter costs excluding North Goonyella declined 15% compared to September year to-date costs per ton. Since we last reported, we have successfully reduced North Goonyella holding costs by about half compared to previous quarters.

For the fourth quarter, spending totaled $17 millions following reduction of the workforce in late October. We are continuing to take steps to further reduce our quarterly run rate.

And finally, our U.S. thermal segment performed well during the quarter, generating adjusted EBITDA of $194 million compared to $144 million in the prior year. Solid PRB cost performance led to the segment earning margins of 23% in the quarter.

In the Midwest, you'll recall that we are centering our portfolio around our core mines, and have previously announced the closure of Cottage Grove and Wildcat Hills, while winding down Somerville.

This has resulted in improved costs, as we benefit from higher productivity and the more favorable mix from the remaining operations. Peabody also concluded negotiations with owners of the power plant previously served by the Kayenta Mine, which resulted in $69 million in income.

The company also achieved a favorable settlement with the PRB customer providing $20 million in incremental income, $15 million that would have been attributed to 2016 through 2018.

On slide five, we ended the year with cash and cash equivalents of $732 million and strong liquidity of $1.28 billion. Fee value remains committed to its long standing financial approach and I would emphasize maintaining financial strength.

As part of this commitment, we'll reduce debt by nearly $50 million in the fourth quarter. In fact, we have reduced total liabilities by some $1.2 billion since mid 2017. Net leverage stands at just point seven times 2019 adjusted EBITDA at gross leverage at 1.6 times.

CapEx totaled $285 million in 2019. That's nearly 30% lower than our guidance that we set out with at the beginning of the year, and is a testament to our ability to adapt to changing conditions.

With that, Glenn will discuss our outlook and targets for 2020.

[Glenn Kellow, President & CEO]

Thank you, Mark. Turning now to slide six. We've outlined several key activities underlying in each of our operating areas. Within seaborne thermal, we expect share production from the United Wambo JV to begin in late 2020.

The JV is intended to optimize mine planning and improved strip ratios, enhance quality and offers the opportunity to extend the life of the surface mine multiple decades. As we work to transition the mine to the JV structure, we would expect some temporary elevation of costs and slightly lower production in 2020 as the Glencore operations ramp up and cutover progresses.

Also a New South Wales. I mentioned earlier the Wilpinjong extension project, which extends the life of one of the premier thermal coal mines in Australia and offers attractive returns.

That projects are important components to our seaborne thermal strategy and are expected to total a combined to $100 million in CapEx for 2020. In seaborne met, we're taking steps to improve our operating performance and reducing the costs.

And our Coppabella and Moorvale mines, we are working through high ratios and our focus is on moving overburden in the most cost effective manner. We've already demonstrated the improved sort of possible at these mines in the fourth quarter.

Our Metropolitan Mine is working to mitigate shorter and narrow panels in current mining zones through a third quarter targeted completion of the project to significantly reduce the active mine footprint to streamline people and product logistics.

At North Goonyella, we've taken substantial actions to lower costs. Holding costs now [Indiscernible] about $24 million for the year and we're in discussions around an additional $16 million per annum or take-or-pay commitments.

We're also now commencing a commercial process to maximize value, accelerate cash flows and reduce costs. This process comes in response to substantial expressions of interest from potential strategic partners, as well as other producers.

Commercial outcomes range from a strategic financial partner or joint venture structure to a complete sale of the asset. The commercial process is running in tandem to that current development plans, the Sixth North panel.

At this point, we are continuing discussions with the Queensland Mine Inspectorate for the ventilation and reentry of Zone B. As we pledge last quarter, no incremental project capital would be committed until Zone B is explored. And of course, as with any major project that will need to be approved by the board.

We will determine the appropriate level if any, and timing of capital expenditures as we reach these points. Moving to U.S. thermal, we're anticipating decision from the FTC in the first quarter regarding the formation of the proposed highly synergistic PRP/ Colorado JV with Arch.

Since June, both companies have deployed broad cross functional teams that have worked diligently to gather and analyze data, quality requests and address FTC questions. Through this extensive process, Peabody alone had produced more than 3.1 million pages of documents, compiled six white papers extended full presentations to the FTC staff and participated in five investigational hearings.

The dataset that was created and delivered to the FTC total more terabytes than the entire library of Congress. We also currently engaged with Arch with permitted integration planning for the proposed JV.

This process has been a tremendous endeavor by both companies, and one that we continue to believe offers extraordinary synergies and the potential to create substantial value for multiple stakeholders.

Moving from the operations and portfolio, let's discuss our key financial elements on slide seven. Our strong cash balances and liquidity levels allow for substantial optionality as we evaluate our financial execution.

As part of their commitment to the second pillar of our financial approach, maintain financial strength, we are now focusing on debt reduction activities. In just the last quarter of 2019, we've reduced debt by about $50 million, and the ultimate pace and quantum of debt reduction will be contingent not only on the industry, but company's specific factors as well.

Our mantra as we entered the 2020 is the deliver within our means, given changes in industry conditions in our operating portfolio. In response, the company has sharply reduce capital expenditures, modified the portfolio and is continuing improvement activities.

In addition, our board has made a decision to sustain dividends, and as you would expect, we do not intend to repurchase stock on the current conditions. We believe these steps essential to enabling long term value creation for the benefit of all stakeholders, including our shareholders.

Turning to slide eight, I'd like to discuss a few guidance settlements for the year, as well as our expectations for the first quarter. Against the backdrop of current macro industry conditions, we're targeting lower 2020 SG&A related to 2018 and 2019.

SG&A is expected to be approximately $135 million and reflects improvements in annualized cost savings, a portion of which is included in our segment guidance. I'll remind you that $50 million is on an annualized number, that half of which we've achieved already. The other half will be implemented through the course of this year.

Capital expenses for 2020 are projected to be approximately $250 million, 12% lower than 2019 actual expenditures and substantially lower original 2019 guidance targets. 2020 CapEx includes $100 million related to the seaborne thermal life extension projects I mentioned earlier.

Within our operating segments, we're expecting increased seaborne met coal volumes and reduce met costs. Met Volumes are projected to be approximately 8.3 million tons and we'll be weighted to the second half of 2020.

Our 2020 U.S. contract position is a strength where we had approximately 96 million tons of PRB coal fully priced. We have the flexibility to produce more, should demand warrant. As is typical, we enter to any given 90 plus percent price, and I'm pleased to be in a position to replicate that again this year.

In addition, following the announced closure of the Kayenta Mine,, and other mines in the Midwest in 2019, Peabody will consolidate the former Midwestern and Western segments into other U.S. Thermal for purpose of segment reporting in 2020 and beyond.

Committed volumes of 20 million tons in 2020 reflect the combined effects of these closures and the strength of their contract book. Overall, U.S. thermal costs are expected to be impacted by the federal coal excise tax, which will disappointingly revert to higher historical rates and as expected to have an approximately $30 million impact on costs relative to 2019.

As we look at the full year, we would expect our earnings profile to be also weighted to the second half of the year. I'd now like to discuss several items specific to the first quarter. Overall, we expect lower first quarter results relative to the $205 million of adjusted EBITDA in the fourth quarter of 2019.

The deltas [Indiscernible] to $89 million in non-recurring settlement income realized in the fourth quarter, approximately $20 million to $30 million in pricing impacts, as well as high seaborne met costs.

We are expecting first quarter met costs to be significantly above our full year guidance of $95 per ton due to an extended long haul moves at the Metropolitan Mine preparation for work on the conveyor system at Shoal Creek, as well as the impact of mine sequencing at the Moorvale Mine.

In regard to Shoal Creek the outages is a part of upgrades of the mines mainline conveyor system. The main North project has been value engineered, includes 13,000 feet of new build structure, build and shoot work to handle increased load capacities, improved overall system reliability, and better match-up our belt lines to our future production capabilities and motion capacity.

In conjunction, we will have an extended several week outages in the first half of the year, while the project requires some downtime, and the minimum capital will be deployed for the new infrastructure, which will we expect to have a 12 to 15 years life.

Before we move to questions, I'd like to reiterate that are expected first quarter results, not indicative of their run rate capabilities, we believe the operational improvements will continue to take off throughout the year.

That's a brief summary of an active year in a fast changing environment. For further discussion, I'd now like to turn the call over for questions. Operator?

[Operator]

[Operator Instructions] We will begin with Michael Dudas with Vertical Research.

[Michael Dudas]

Good morning everybody and welcome, Mark.

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

Thank you.

[Michael Dudas]

First question on North Goonyella. Maybe you can elaborate a little bit more on decision that -- decisions that you're making them this dual track, and maybe a bit more sense on, given all the regulatory issues and discussions on and getting back in line, how quickly is this going to evolve over the next few quarters or into 2021?

[Glenn Kellow, President & CEO]

Thanks, Michael. And job one, as we indicated last quarter was to reduce the holding costs of North Goonyella Mine. You've seen a significantly reduce, but not in the fourth quarter, but the run rate in which we're now down to of about $2 billion a month. The dual track approach, I think, comes about by the fact that we still continue to be in discussions with QMI around where reventilation and ultimate reentry of those -- of Zone B and at that point determining to advance the project for development of the Southern panels.

Over the last three months, we've had quite a number of inquiries and active interest in participating and looking at North Goonyella. And we thought it was best to capture that and work through a structured process around that activity. It could range from taking on board a partner, a strategic partner entering into a joint venture. And I'll remind you, North Goonyella is the only 100% operated mine around mine within the Peabody, Australia, portfolio, through to a potential outright sale of the asset. I would expect to be able to provide further updates through the course of 2020.

[Michael Dus, Vertical Research]

Fair enough. And my follow-up would be regarding on the PRB. That's an impressive amount of terabytes you provided to the U.S. government. So -- and it's encouraging that you -- and maybe anticipate a first quarter decision. Assuming a positive decision how -- it seems like you've had a lot of - how quickly do you guys anticipate you can kind of hit the ground running and start to see or to show and generate some of the opportunities that you guys have been talking about since the beginning of the JV?

[Glenn Kellow, President & CEO]

Yes. I would say that in addition to that, I think the work that we've conducted reinforces the confidence that we have in the synergies that exists between the combination of -- the new combination of assets that we have within the region. I mentioned some of the integration planning and thinking that we were undertaking between Peabody and Arch. And I think some of that is focused on the ability to accelerate the closure type activities that we would indicate. So I think we're certainly first focused on continuing to respond to the FTC, but then we would in the event of a positive decision on that, we're able to move into preparing for close quite quickly.

[Operator]

We'll now move to our next question and that will come from David Gagliano with BMO Capital Markets.

[David Gagliano]

Hi. Thanks for taking my question. Obviously, lot covered in the press releases today. I'm going to try and hit a couple of key ones. Just in terms of the CapEx for 2020, $215 million, if I remember correctly, sustaining CapEx was about $200 million and then, obviously, you flagged the seaborne extension projects, its about $100 million. I think originally, there was a series of projects, including those seaborne mine life extension projects that were going to bring 2020 CapEx close to $400 million, I think. So can you just provide more detail on what's changed in terms of the spending expectations for 2020?

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

Yes, sure, Dave. It's Mark. Well, we're looking at the sustaining CapEx of $150 million. And that's about $1 a ton, and so maybe a little bit low. At the lower end we've been historically, but it's kind of a testament to the company's ability to adapt changing conditions. And then as far as the extension -- the extension capital and the growth capital of $100 million, that's really looking at the seaborne and thermal platform in Australia $60 million for the open-cut joint venture and then $40 million for the web project.

And I'd also mentioned, overall, we do have a smaller portfolio with less mines with the closure of some of the mines. So you can see that number kind of continue down as the company continues, though, to manage that CapEx number in leaner times

[David Gagliano]

Okay. And then just switching gears, I have a kind of three part question here. The PRB, first of all, very impressive cash costs, especially considering the volumes. So, part one is, what are the main drivers behind that and what's behind kind of roughly 6% increase in 2020 cash cost versus the 4Q results. That's the first part. And then on the other part, that North Goonyella costs for the year, I just didn't hear the comment. Can you clarify what you expect the North Goonyella shut down costs to be for the year?

And then the last part of this three-part question, Elliot. Obviously they've been here for a while, commented briefly on the prepared remarks. We've two Elliot representative on the board now including the Head of U.S. restructuring. Can you just comment a little more detail in your view on how those new board members will alter this strategic direction of Peabody? Thanks.

[Glenn Kellow, President & CEO]

So I might take a thread of those questions, but get Mark. Mark, specifically on the PRB we mentioned the federal excise tax increases, which would expect about $0.25 of ton, but that probably -- that covers the majority of that activity. On North Goonyella, I indicated that $2 million run rate for holding costs. In addition to that, $2 million a month a run rate volume costs. In addition to that, we've got $16 million at take-or-pay for the year. We are in active discussions around that numbers that indicated, last quarter we'll be looking to seek to mitigate the take-or-pay costs around that.

They're not within the $95 a ton, of course, for the 2020 metrics. Elliott, and the Elliott additions to the board, we've been working with that team really since the introduction of Elliott, in our capital structure over four years ago, so quite familiar with a team. Had a close relationship with them. And we think they're going to be great additions to the Peabody board.

[Operator]

And now we'll take a question from Mark Levin with Benchmark.

[Mark Levin, Benchmark]

Great. Thanks very much. So, two questions, the first, maybe you can help bridging EBITDA to free cash flow in 2020. I'm thinking about just sort of below the line items, obviously, you laid out CapEx, you laid out cash interest expense, you laid out ARO spending. Is there anything else that's not captured in those items that we need to be mindful of when we're trying to get to a true free cash flow number 2020?

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

Yes, Mark. Thanks for the question. Depending on your price and where you're at, you get your EBITDA number. But the cash numbers that come off of EBITDA. We have cash interest of about $110 million, CapEx of $250 million, reclamation spends probably about $65 million [ph], and then retiree health care will be about $45 million.

[Glenn Kellow, President & CEO]

And last year we always talk in terms of taxes really being quite an advantage for us in the sense that this year again is probably a push from a cash standpoint.

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

Yes, that's right. I mean, there's really no cash tax expense. We really have a mine where we offset from AMT credit refunds, so their net zero for 2020.

[Glenn Kellow, President & CEO]

And we always remind industries of our substantial assets from an NOL position both in the U.S. and Australia.

[Mark Levin, Benchmark]

Got it. Helpful. And then going back to David's question a second ago. And I think your comment on maintenance CapEx being roughly, I think you mentioned the dollar a ton. Is that sustainable into 2021? And then when you think about finishing Wambo and Wilpinjong, is there any additional capital that will need to be spent in 2021? Was that $100 million just all in 2020 and that we're just down to in 2021 maintenance CapEx levels?

[Glenn Kellow, President & CEO]

We'd expect, maybe I'd like to get Mark to chipping on this. Having just gone through extensive budgeting process. So the Wilpinjong extension project, we largely think it'll be done in 2020. But there will be a little bit of spillover into 2021. The Wambo JV though, will continue to go through into 2021. So that's really -- as I ramp-up that project, there will be new equipment associated with that joint venture. So we'll still continue to see the Wambo extension activities incur costs in 2021.

The sustaining capital levels, one thing which their operators have extensively reviewed. Obviously, we've given updated guidance because we've just gone through their budgeting process. And we've got no reason to feel as though to be different for 2021 at this point, but that's something that we work through during the expected to work through during the course of 2020. Put on this, Mark.

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

No, that was great. We'll continue to reassess and we'll look at projects depending on market conditions, but you hit all the highlights.

[Operator]

And now, we'll take a question from Chris Terry with Deutsche Bank.

[Chris Terry, Deutsche Bank]

Hi, Glenn and Mark. My main question just to start with this is around the met coal mix. I noticed on slide 11, 75% of the hard coking coal index, I think it was 80 to 90 was the last update from 2019. Do you expect that -- is that a result of just changes in the mines? And can you get that back to that 80% to 90% range over time without North Goonyella? Thanks.

[Unidentified Company Representative]

Hey, Chris. It's a fair question. So actually, the 80% to 90% would have just been our realizations for coking coal, from a hard coking coal perspective whereas that 75% takes into account PCI sales as well. So on a blended basis across our entire portfolio, we would expect to realize 75% of that hard coking coal price. Whereas our realizations on the hard coking coal benchmark for hard coking coal sales would still be similar to that 85% to 90%. So as we look at the overall mix, about 60% of our 2020 met sales are PCI and about 40% are hard coking coal, which gets you to on for all of those sales 75% of the hard coking coal benchmark price.

[Chris Terry, Deutsche Bank]

Okay. So previously, you got the realization separately for PCI and met coal and now you push it together. Is it correct?

[Unidentified Company Representative]

That's exactly right. Yes. Just trying to simplify things.

[Glenn Kellow, President & CEO]

And in general, it's probably worth noting that we have tried for the benefit of all investors and analysts to simplify our guidance approach this year, hopefully, you like that new format. Give us some feedback as time goes by in the interest of making things as straightforward as possible.

[Chris Terry, Deutsche Bank]

Okay. That makes sense. And then just to finish up from one of the early questions just on the cash flow bridge, I think the only thing that wasn't mentioned was working capital. I just wondered if you could comment on that for 2020? Thanks.

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

Yes. Not expecting significant movement in working capital. There was some inventory build on CMJV, that will help our sales here in 2020, but otherwise nothing significant.

[Glenn Kellow, President & CEO]

And the other piece or element is probably around asset sales from time to time. We have been active around land management or tenement management. So that might be something to add to the mix or think about in the mix.

[Operator]

And Matthew Fields with Bank of America Merrill Lynch has a next question.

[Matthew Fields, Bank of America Merrill Lynch]

Hey, everyone. Hi, Mark. I just have three questions. Your pricing guidance on seaborne thermal is 65 per short ton, which is kind of like right in line with where Newcastle is right now. Is that just sort of assuming -- are we assuming sort of that's priced in kind of regardless of sort of the fluctuations in castle price over the year?

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

Yes, Matt. I think the $55 [ph] that's what our contract price is right now, down a little bit from the last time you saw that number, and that's really because we've added an attractive sales on the API 5, higher and more [ph] quality products.

[Glenn Kellow, President & CEO]

And also that's a short ton basis on a met basis that converts to you'll call it 73 or so which is actually even on a Newcastle basis, a bit above where we find the problem [ph].

[Matthew Fields, Bank of America Merrill Lynch]

Okay. All right. Thanks. And then two more questions. Which bonds did you repurchase in the quarter? And at what average price?

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

Yes. Consistent with our commitment to reduce the debt leverage, debt levels, we're able to go out and reduce that by 50 million, $41 million of that was repurchase of bonds, good capture and better discount on that. Right now we've favoring the 2022, the nearest maturity. I think we bought them back at [Indiscernible].

[Matthew Fields, Bank of America Merrill Lynch]

I'm sorry, you spent $41 million repurchasing 2022?

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

That's correct.

[Matthew Fields, Bank of America Merrill Lynch]

Okay. And then lastly, for me, appreciate the update on the FTC decision expected in first quarter 2020. I guess, we're getting sort of close to the time where you're going to have to have a plan about how to addressed the covenants in the bonds to affect that JV transaction. Is there any updates thinking about how your plan to approach bondholders to get that consent or a refi?

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

Matt, you're right. We're focused 100% on getting an FTC clearance and very hopeful for a positive decision here in the quarter. Its cleared, we have multiple options to accommodate the joint ventures, including what you mentioned the potential consents, but also refinance the debt reduction and some other actions. As you'd expect, not our practice to comment on specifics ahead of a commercial solution.

[Operator]

Now, we're moving to the next question, and that will come from Lucas Pipes with B. Riley, FBR.

[Lucas Pipes, B. Riley, FBR]

Hey, good morning, everybody. Two quick ones. For your Australian cost guidance both seaborne met and then on the thermal side, what's the Australian dollar assumption embedded in that?

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

We have it at 68 [ph].

[Lucas Pipes, B. Riley, FBR]

Very helpful. Thank you. And then just to circle back on North Goonyella, when would you expect the ventilation of Zone B to take place at this point?

[Glenn Kellow, President & CEO]

Well, as we said it's -- it wouldn't advance, it wouldn't occur until we have a appropriate level of engagement and certainty around revitalization and reentry from a Queensland Mine Inspectorate. Those discussions are still ongoing. At that point, if we were to commence the reventilation, reentry process, that in itself would probably be that of three-month activity, perhaps a little bit longer. And we'd indicated last time some costs around $12 million for that area.

[Operator]

Now, we'll move to our next question, and that will come from Karl Blunden with Goldman Sachs.

[Karl Blunden, Goldman Sachs]

Hi. good morning. Thanks for the time. Just a question, as the business is getting focused on, it was like a smaller group of assets over time. Could you comment on your minimum liquidity levels the target that you'd like to have? It's interesting, you do have a lot of liquidity going in. So interested, how much of that excess cash you could use to further reduce debt like you did this last quarter?

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

Yes. The company historically had an $800 million liquidity target number out there, and we've operated for some time above that level. We continue to reassess, but as noted before, we have multiple commercial practices underway, including that joint venture, as well as North Goonyella project, both of which can significantly impact the company's cash flows in the future. So as we get into the year, and we get some resolution on those items, we'll look to fine tune that in the future.

[Karl Blunden, Goldman Sachs]

Got you. But is it fair to assume that could be materially lower than the 800 that you've historically had?

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

I'm sorry, repeat the question.

[Karl Blunden, Goldman Sachs]

Is it fair to assume it could be materially lower than the 800 target that you've historically had?

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

No. I wouldn't make that assumption.

[Karl Blunden, Goldman Sachs]

Okay. Got you. And then, with regard to addressing covenants or refinancing bonds, in the timeframe that needs to happen. You need to get the regulatory approval and then, look to address covenants. Are there possible cash inflows from any of the sale process that you've initiated or JV process or is that something that comes further down the line and we should kind of look at what you currently have from a liquidity standpoint for addressing the covenants?

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

Yes. Certainly, not just clearance we have to allow for the joint venture and get that done underneath the bond indenture. We can do that before we can close the transaction. We want to do that timely as we can.

[Glenn Kellow, President & CEO]

Yes. I think if you're looking at possible asset sales, we do have that as a periodic part of the business. And so, we have surface landholdings, we have reserves. So those types of things occur on a relatively frequent basis. But they're also pretty lumpy and tough to predict exact time frames around that. But your point is well taken as well, that we've got a large cash position, and of course, much larger liquidity position on the balance sheet.

[Operator]

And looks like we'll take a follow-up question from Mark Levin with Benchmark.

[Mark Levin, Benchmark]

I think the first question as I want to get to what the -- with the right liquidity number was. And I also wanted to just see if you change your kind of views about debt and sort of what you think the appropriate leverage metrics and capital structure should look like going forward?

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

Yes, Mark. We recognize our debt levels would be lower, and we're committed to reducing that debt. And, in fact, you saw that progress in the fourth quarter. As Glenn mentioned, the development quantum and pace of the debt reduction is contingent on both the industry and company specific factors.

[Mark Levin, Benchmark]

Okay. Got it. And then next question, AMT tax rates, I don't know if you guys refer to it or mentioned it early in the call, I didn't hear. If you did, I apologize. Is there -- what's left on the tax refund? Is there anything coming in on that -- on that end or expected to?

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

Yes. From an AMT credit perspective. We've collected $46 million in 2019. So there's still about $46 million left to be collected. We collect half of that here in 2020.

[Mark Levin, Benchmark]

Okay. So $23 million model about $23 million at 2020

[Mark Spurbeck, Interim CFO]

Yes, that's right.

[Mark Levin, Benchmark]

Okay, great. Thanks.

[Operator]

And now we'll move to a follow-up from Chris Terry with Deutsche Bank

[Chris Terry, Deutsche Bank]

Yes. Thanks, guys. Just a couple of follow ups from my side. One just on North Goonyella with the dual track approach. Do you think a potential buyer or JV partner will want to see more work on the ventilation done before they'd be interested? Or can you just give a little bit of color on the potential timing on that? And then just secondly, on the overall market conditions, if you could just comment on what you're saying in the early parts of the year in China? And whether this been any impact around ports, et cetera, as a result of the coronavirus? Thanks.

[Glenn Kellow, President & CEO]

Yes. Thanks, Chris. So, just tackling the first one. And I think the feedback we've got from multiple sources around North Goonyella is essentially the quality of the of the hard-coking coal. I think that it's a recognized benchmark type quality. The second is the infrastructure that we that we have. As we talked about, we have multiple reserves as the GM South scene there also is the lowest scene that we've talked about. So really, the way we look at it, all of that is of significant value from our perspective.

With respect to the second question, to date, obviously, there's a great deal of uncertainty around the impact, but we've not seen any direct impact at this stage in terms of our shipments or our loadings. But as, as things play out in terms of potential for court restrictions, really at both ends of the logistics chain, how that could impact on the flow of shipping. That's a little bit too early to predict.

I should point out that we do have a office in China. Our folks are working from home at this point, so that they don't -- they're not required to go into the office along the transportation system. So that's been our approach today. China recalls probably not the first market for us. We've talked about in the past that we've been having the traditional relationship pockets, the trend, Korea, Taiwan, but nonetheless we recognize that China does have an important impact on global trade and in particular around coal movements.

[Vic Svec, Investor Relations & Communications]

Yes. Just from a statistic standpoint, that's just 4% of our revenues from a company perspective. So as Glenn notes, important market small -- much smaller percentage for some other.

[Operator]

And ladies and gentlemen, that's all the time we have for questions. I'll turn the call back over to Mr. Glenn Kellow for closing remarks.

[Glenn Kellow, President & CEO]

Thank you to all today's participants. As we've outlined, we expected to be an active 2020. At our operations we are focused on the basics of dig and deliver. At the financial level, we are insistent on living within our means during leaner times. And within the portfolio we have assumed the low cost reshaping of our business, the best position us for success.

Our employees are the foundation of each of these initiatives. And I would like to express my gratitude, your many contributions to our business. I'd also like to thank you continued investors, their continued interest and support in the years ahead. Operator, that concludes today's call.

[Operator]

Once again, that does conclude your Peabody fourth quarter 2019 earnings conference call. You may now disconnect.