Tuesday, August 30, 2011


Peabody Energy, ArcelorMittal and Macarthur Board agree to terms for recommended takeover of Macarthur Coal

St. Louis, Luxembourg, August 30 (07:00 CET) - Peabody Energy (NYSE: BTU) and ArcelorMittal (NYSE: MT) today announced that PEAMCoal has agreed to terms with the Macarthur board for a cash takeover of all outstanding shares of Macarthur Coal for A$16.00 [1] per share, valuing the equity in Macarthur at approximately A$4.8 billion. All participating members of the Macarthur Board recommend that Macarthur shareholders accept the new PEAMCoal offer.
"This is a major step forward in our acquisition process," said Peabody Energy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gregory H. Boyce. "We are pleased to have Macarthur, Peabody and ArcelorMittal moving forward together to urge shareholders to accept this attractive premium. We now look forward to completing this transaction in a timely manner."
Aditya Mittal, CFO and Member of the Group Management Board at ArcelorMittal, said, "Our offer is the only offer before Macarthur shareholders, and we urge them to accept without delay and receive a substantial premium for their investment."
PEAMCoal and Macarthur have entered into an implementation deed, which is attached to this announcement. The improved offer is subject to limited conditions as set out in section 11.7 of PEAMCoal's replacement bidder's statement dated 15 August 2011, including minimum 50.01% acceptances and final regulatory clearance or expiry of the relevant waiting period.
The price to be received by Macarthur shareholders of A$16.00 per share represents a substantial premium of:

  • 44% to A$11.08 per share, the closing price on July 11, the day Peabody and ArcelorMittal's initial approach was disclosed to the market;
  • 48% to A$10.82 per share, the one-month volume-weighted average price (VWAP) to July 11;
  • 41% to A$11.32 per share, the three-month VWAP to July 11; and
  • 33% to A$12.02 per share, the twelve-month VWAP to July 11.
   
 
About Macarthur Coal
 
Macarthur Coal is a leading producer of low-volatile PCI metallurgical coal with production and development assets in the Bowen Basin , Australia , including the Coppabella and Moorvale Joint Venture, Middlemount and Codrilla. It holds total coal reserves of 270 million tonnes and total resources of approximately 2.3 billion tonnes.

About Peabody Energy
 
Peabody Energy is the world's largest private-sector coal company and a global leader in clean coal solutions. With 2010 sales of 246 million tons and nearly $7 billion in revenues, Peabody Energy fuels 10% of U.S. power and 2% of worldwide electricity.
  
About ArcelorMittal
 
ArcelorMittal is the world's leading integrated steel and mining company, with operations in more than 60 countries. In 2010, ArcelorMittal had revenues of US$78 billion and crude steel production of 90.6 million tonnes, representing approximately 8% of world steel output. ArcelorMittal's mining operations produced 47 million tonnes of iron ore and 7 million tonnes of metallurgical coal as well in 2010.

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