• Anglo American has responded sharply, rejecting the MAC claim. CEO Duncan Wanblad has expressed strong disappointment and stresses that the mine has not suffered structural damage

• In addition, he has announced plans to pursue damages through arbitration while moving forward with a new sales process

“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,” stated Wanblad today.

“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.”

Several industry analysts view Peabody's withdrawal as a cautious and prudent response to uncertainty, particularly in a capital-intensive sector facing operational and regulatory headwinds.