Anglo American update on SMC sale process
Summary by AI BETAClose X
|
19 August 2025 |
|
Anglo American update on sale process for steelmaking coal business |
|
|
Anglo American plc ("Anglo American") notes the statement made by Peabody Energy ("Peabody") on 19 August purporting to terminate its November 2024 agreements to acquire Anglo American's steelmaking coal business in Australia.
Anglo American continues to focus on and make good progress towards the safe restart of Moranbah North and firmly believes that the event that occurred on 31 March 2025 at the mine, which forms part of Anglo American's steelmaking coal business, does not constitute a Material Adverse Change ("MAC") under the definitive agreements with Peabody. This belief is reinforced by the lack of damage to the mine or equipment and the clear progress being made within the rigorous and structured regulatory process towards restarting the mine.
Duncan Wanblad, CEO of Anglo American, said: "We are confident in our belief that the event at Moranbah North in March does not constitute a MAC under the sale agreements with Peabody. Our view is supported by the lack of damage to the mine and equipment, as well as the substantial progress made with the regulator, our employees and the unions, and other stakeholders as part of the regulatory process towards a safe restart of the mine. In fact, just in the last week we achieved a further important milestone, with our workforce signing off the risk assessment that underpins the restart strategy. We are therefore very disappointed that Peabody has decided not to complete the transaction.
"Despite our strongly held view, we believe that it would have been better for all parties to avoid a legal dispute. On that basis we have invested significant effort and shown great flexibility over recent months to find a solution for Peabody, including proposing amended terms and technical options. Following Peabody's decision not to proceed with the transaction, we continue to focus on the safe restart of Moranbah North and in delivering value from the entirety of our SMC portfolio. We continue to reserve our rights under the definitive agreements, we are confident in our legal position and will shortly initiate an arbitration to seek damages for wrongful termination."
Duncan Wanblad concluded: "We held a very competitive process to sell this high-quality parcel of steelmaking coal assets in 2024 and the unsolicited inbound interest expressed to us in recent months is testament to the strategic value of these assets and the attractive long-term market fundamentals. We are confident that we will successfully conclude an alternative sales process for value in due course."
For further information, please contact:
|
Media |
|
Investors |
|
UK James Wyatt-Tilby james.wyatt-tilby@angloamerican.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8759
Marcelo Esquivel marcelo.esquivel@angloamerican.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8891
Rebecca Meeson-Frizelle rebecca.meeson-frizelle@angloamerican.com Tel: + 44 (0)20 7968 1374
South Africa Nevashnee Naicker nevashnee.naicker@angloamerican.com Tel: +27 (0)11 638 3189
Ernest Mulibana Tel: +27 (0)82 263 7372
|
|
UK Tyler Broda tyler.broda@angloamerican.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 1470
Emma Waterworth
Michelle West-Russell michelle.west-russell@angloamerican.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 1494
Asanda Malimba asanda.malimba@angloamerican.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8480
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes:
Anglo American is a leading global mining company focused on the responsible production of copper, premium iron ore and crop nutrients - future-enabling products that are essential for decarbonising the global economy, improving living standards, and food security. Our portfolio of world-class operations and outstanding resource endowments offers value-accretive growth potential across all three businesses, positioning us to deliver into structurally attractive major demand growth trends.
Our integrated approach to sustainability and innovation drives our decision-making across the value chain, from how we discover new resources to how we mine, process, move and market our products to our customers - safely, efficiently and responsibly. Our Sustainable Mining Plan commits us to a series of stretching goals over different time horizons to ensure we contribute to a healthy environment, create thriving communities and build trust as a corporate leader. We work together with our business partners and diverse stakeholders to unlock enduring value from precious natural resources for our shareholders, for the benefit of the communities and countries in which we operate, and for society as a whole. Anglo American is re-imagining mining to improve people's lives.
Anglo American is currently implementing a number of major structural changes to unlock the inherent value in its portfolio and thereby accelerate delivery of its strategic priorities of Operational excellence, Portfolio simplification, and Growth. This portfolio transformation is focusing Anglo American on its world-class resource asset base in copper, premium iron ore and crop nutrients - with the sale of our steelmaking coal and nickel businesses agreed, the demerger of our PGMs business (Anglo American Platinum, now Valterra Platinum) completed, and the separation of our iconic diamond business (De Beers) to follow.
Group terminology
In this document, references to "Anglo American", the "Anglo American Group", the "Group", "we", "us", and "our" are to refer to either Anglo American plc and its subsidiaries and/or those who work for them generally, or where it is not necessary to refer to a particular entity, entities or persons. The use of those generic terms herein is for convenience only, and is in no way indicative of how the Anglo American Group or any entity within it is structured, managed or controlled. Anglo American subsidiaries, and their management, are responsible for their own day-to-day operations, including but not limited to securing and maintaining all relevant licences and permits, operational adaptation and implementation of Group policies, management, training and any applicable local grievance mechanisms. Anglo American produces group-wide policies and procedures to ensure best uniform practices and standardisation across the Anglo American Group but is not responsible for the day to day implementation of such policies. Such policies and procedures constitute prescribed minimum standards only. Group operating subsidiaries are responsible for adapting those policies and procedures to reflect local conditions where appropriate, and for implementation, oversight and monitoring within their specific businesses.
Disclaimer
This document is for information purposes only and does not constitute, nor is to be construed as, an offer to sell or the recommendation, solicitation, inducement or offer to buy, subscribe for or sell shares in Anglo American or any other securities by Anglo American or any other party. Further, it should not be treated as giving investment, legal, accounting, regulatory, taxation or other advice and has no regard to the specific investment or other objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any recipient.
Forward-looking statements and third party information
This document includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this document, including, without limitation, those regarding Anglo American's financial position, business, acquisition and divestment strategy, dividend policy, plans and objectives of management for future operations, prospects and projects (including development plans and objectives relating to Anglo American's products, production forecasts and Ore Reserve and Mineral Resource positions) and sustainability performance related (including environmental, social and governance) goals, ambitions, targets, visions, milestones and aspirations, are forward-looking statements. By their nature, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Anglo American or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Anglo American's present and future business strategies and the environment in which Anglo American will operate in the future. Important factors that could cause Anglo American's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, levels of actual production during any period, levels of global demand and product prices, unanticipated downturns in business relationships with customers or their purchases from Anglo American, mineral resource exploration and project development capabilities and delivery, recovery rates and other operational capabilities, safety, health or environmental incidents, the effects of global pandemics and outbreaks of infectious diseases, the impact of attacks from third parties on our information systems, natural catastrophes or adverse geological conditions, climate change and extreme weather events, the outcome of litigation or regulatory proceedings, the availability of mining and processing equipment, the ability to obtain key inputs in a timely manner, the ability to produce and transport products profitably, the availability of necessary infrastructure (including transportation) services, the development, efficacy and adoption of new or competing technology, challenges in realising resource estimates or discovering new economic mineralisation, the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on market prices and operating costs, the availability of sufficient credit, liquidity and counterparty risks, the effects of inflation, terrorism, war, conflict, political or civil unrest, uncertainty, tensions and disputes and economic and financial conditions around the world, evolving societal and stakeholder requirements and expectations, shortages of skilled employees, unexpected difficulties relating to acquisitions or divestitures, competitive pressures and the actions of competitors, activities by courts, regulators and governmental authorities such as in relation to permitting or forcing closure of mines and ceasing of operations or maintenance of Anglo American's assets and changes in taxation or safety, health, environmental or other types of regulation in the countries where Anglo American operates, conflicts over land and resource ownership rights and such other risk factors identified in Anglo American's most recent Annual Report. Forward-looking statements should, therefore, be construed in light of such risk factors and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Anglo American expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking (except as required by applicable law, the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, the UK Listing Rules, the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority, the Listings Requirements of the securities exchange of the JSE Limited in South Africa, the SIX Swiss Exchange, the Botswana Stock Exchange and the Namibian Stock Exchange and any other applicable regulations) to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Anglo American's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Nothing in this document should be interpreted to mean that future earnings per share of Anglo American will necessarily match or exceed its historical published earnings per share. Certain statistical and other information included in this document is sourced from third party sources (including, but not limited to, externally conducted studies and trials). As such it has not been independently verified and presents the views of those third parties, but may not necessarily correspond to the views held by Anglo American and Anglo American expressly disclaims any responsibility for, or liability in respect of, such information.
©Anglo American Services (UK) Ltd 2025. 
TM and 
TM are trademarks of Anglo American Services (UK) Ltd.
Legal Entity Identifier: 549300S9XF92D1X8ME43
RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
Latest directors dealings
- 17 hours ago Savannah Energy
- 18 hours ago Buccaneer Energy PLC
- 19 hours ago Savannah Energy
- 19 hours ago Carclo
- 19 hours ago Schroder Japan Growth Fund