Looks like this process has progressed and US listed Peabody is the winner in a smilar deal to what WHC did.
I haven't run the numbers to compare the cost vs Daunia and Blackwater mines.
Peabody to Acquire Tier 1 Australian Metallurgical Coal Assets from Anglo American
- Transforms Peabody into a leading global seaborne metallurgical coal producer with
Tier 1 mines1near the world's strongest steel markets - Transaction represents an attractive 3.1x times enterprise-value-to-2026 EBITDA multiple
- Delivers significant cash flow accretion to Peabody across all time periods
- Positions Peabody to capture substantial synergies and enhance margins
- Enables continuing capital allocation balance between shareholder returns and reinvestment in the portfolio
- Company to host conference call today,Nov. 25, 2024, at11 a.m. EST
ST. LOUIS,Nov. 25, 2024/PRNewswire/ -- Peabody (NYSE: BTU) today announced it has agreed to acquire world-class steelmaking coal assets fromAnglo Americanplc in a transaction that meaningfully accelerates Peabody's strategy to reweight its global coal portfolio toward seaborne metallurgical coal. The transaction is expected to close mid-2025, subject to customary closing conditions.
In consideration for the transaction:
- Peabody has agreed to pay cash of$2,320 million, comprised of cash of$1,695 millionat closing and deferred payments of$625 millionpayable in four annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the completion date.
- Peabody has also agreed to further contingent payments of up to$1.0 billion, subject to potential favorable future events.
- Proceeds toAnglo Americanwould also include$455 millionmade possible by the acquisition of Dawson Mine by PT Bukit Makmur Mandiri Utama in a back-to-back transaction.
"This transformative transaction presents a rare opportunity for Peabody to acquire premier steelmaking coal assets at a compelling valuation as we reweight our portfolio toward seaborne metallurgical coal," Peabody President and Chief Executive OfficerJim Grechsaid. "The transaction is strategically aligned, immediately accretive and highly synergistic, positioning us to better serve the best metallurgical coal demand centers in the world. This transaction gives us a strong foundation to position the company for long-term success."
"We are delighted to agree to the sale of this portfolio of world-class steelmaking coal assets to Peabody, and we look forward to working together with the Peabody team and with our workforce, local communities, government, customers and partners to ensure a successful transition,"Anglo AmericanChief ExecutiveDuncan Wanbladadded.
The acquisition includes four metallurgical coal mines – Moranbah North, Grosvenor, Aquila, and Capcoal – located inAustralia'sBowen Basin, which is widely recognized for the world's highest-quality steelmaking coal. Approximately 80 percent of the mines' output is hard coking coal. The mines are complementary to Peabody's existing Australian platform, including Centurion Mine, and are expected to produce approximately 11.3 million tons of primarily hard coking coal in 2026. The acquired mines have an average mine life greater than 20 years with 306 million tons of marketable reserves and an additional 1.7 billion tons of coal resources.2
The acquisition is expected to transform Peabody's metallurgical coal segment, increasing metallurgical coal production from an estimated 7.4 million tons in 2024 to an expected 21 – 22 million tons in 2026.
(20min delay)