Macarthur Coal: Peabody Asking For More Information, Considering Tax Impact

SYDNEY (Dow Jones) Peabody Energy Corp. (BTU) is "working through the impact" of the Australian government's planned tax changes on its bid for Macarthur Coal Ltd. (MCC.AU), Macarthur said Tuesday.

In a statement to the stock exchange, Macarthur said that Peabody had completed its due diligence on its takeover bid Monday but had advised Macarthur that the tax plans had to be factored into its decision.

Peabody in April raised an initial offer for Macarthur, a Queensland-based coal miner, to A$16-a-share. But Macarthur's shares yesterday fell nearly 10% on fears that the government's planned 40% tax on resource industry super profits, unveiled Sunday, would encourage Peabody to reconsider its bid.

Macarthur said it is aware this creates uncertainty for shareholders and it would seek to engage with Peabody on additional information that Peabody has requested and on the tax issue.

By David Fickling, Dow Jones Newswires; [phone]; [e-mail]