In fact, this one is ideal. I'll call it early. "OZR to buy...

In fact, this one is ideal. I'll call it early. "OZR to buy Energy America." Ths press report is 14 minutes old:

Initial bids due for Rio Tinto's coal unit-sources 07.09.08,
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Bidders for Rio Tinto Plc (nyse: RTP - news - people )'s U.S. coal unit, Energy America, have a deadline of the end of business Wednesday to lodge interest in the asset, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.

Initial indications of interest were due Wednesday, sources said. A large number of bids were expected for the unit, which Rio Tinto put up for sale in November, one source said.

The unit, estimated to be worth about $4 billion by one analyst, employs about 1,675 people and owns open cut coal mines in the Powder River Basin of Montana and Wyoming.

A Rio Tinto spokeswoman declined comment on Energy America. The company said in June that the sale of the unit was on track to be completed in the third or fourth quarter of this year.

The sale of Energy America is part of Rio Tinto's plan to sell $15 billion worth of assets following its takeover of aluminium producer Alcan.

When Rio Tinto put Energy America up for sale in November, it said it would explore options to sell some or all of the unit. One of the sources said Wednesday that the company's preference was to sell the unit as a whole.

Parties interested could include large international companies, U.S. companies, or private equity, U.S. coal industry analyst Jeremy Sussman at Natixis Bleichroeder said earlier Wednesday.