SINGAPOREAN company Noble Group has dampened suggestions it may still be considering cutting a deal with Macarthur Coal.
''The Noble Group notes there has been speculation in the press and elsewhere of renewed interest on the part of Noble to restart discussions with Macarthur Coal, its advisers, or other parties, regarding a potential merger transaction '' it told the Singapore stock exchange yesterday.
Noble said it had no interest in the concept.
''This is one of those times where there may be a great deal of smoke but there is no fire.''
On Wednesday, Macarthur extended its takeover offer period for Gloucester Coal until May 13.
Gloucester's major shareholder is Noble Group, and Macarthur has been seeking to take over Gloucester in a complex deal that would have delivered it the Middlemount coal mine in Queensland.
The deal would have also given Noble Group a 24 per cent stake in the merged entity.
Macarthur's plans to take over Gloucester were hampered by a bidding war that broke out for Macarthur, which has seen US coal giant Peabody Energy make a $4.07 billion offer.
Noble's shareholders last week rejected the sale of Gloucester to Macarthur.
Shares in Macarthur finished down 26 at $15.47; Gloucester Coal shares were up 10 at $12.15.
AAP
MCC Price at posting:
$15.47 Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
