Coronado Global Resources Inc. (ASX:CRN) is understood to have pulled out of the contest to buy BHP Group Limited (ASX:BHP)'s Queensland coal mines. Sources say that the country's largest miner, BHP, received high-priced bids for its two coal mines Daunia and Blackwater when they landed on 09 August 2023. A source said one of the competitors among the six shortlisted parties had dropped out of the competition, and insiders were pointing to Coronado on 10 August 2023.

It comes after DataRoom reported that there had been talk Coronado was slowing in its pursuit of the coal mines in the final stage of the race. Other parties contending for the assets are Whitehaven Coal, advised by UBS and Bank of America; Peabody Energy, advised by Goldman Sachs; Yancoal, advised by RBC; Stanmore Coal; and BUMA. Earlier, the expectation was that the mines were set to sell for a combined $3 billion-$5 billion ($4.5 billion -$7.5 billion).

The Macquarie Capital-advised BHP is considering a sale of the assets separately. Whitehaven's focus is Daunia, sources say, while Coronado's focus was believed to be Blackwater, with its own Curragh open-cut coal mine 30km to the north in central Queensland. But this week Coronado, which has mines in Australia and the US, delivered a disappointing earnings result.