Peabody Energy Corporation amended elements of its 2013 agreement with the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) to resolve outstanding Patriot Coal retiree healthcare benefit issues. Patriot was sold off in pieces last fall after filing for bankruptcy protection in May. Peabody has agreed to pay $75 million to the Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association (VEBA) as part of a three-party agreement between the UMWA and Patriot Coal.

The agreement will improve Peabody's expected 2017 cash flow by $70 million.