By Tom Weber, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – St. Louis-based Arch Coal Company will be in court today (Monday) over its plans to buy Triton Coal for $364 million.
The Federal Trade Commission is expected to ask a federal judge to block the sale. Arch is the second-biggest coal producer in the U.S.
The FTC, along with six state Attorneys General (including Missouri), have sued, saying the deal would reduce competition and possibly lead to higher electricity rates.
Arch disagrees, saying the sale is pro-competitive. It adds the deal would increase efficiency, which will then benefit customers.