The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition that Glencore PLC of Switzerland has told Teck Resources that it is willing to bid for the Canadian company's coal assets, which have been valued at $8.2-billion (U.S.). The Globe's Eric Reguly writes that Glencore did not deliver a formal offer; one source described it as an "indication of interest" that could lead to a bid. Teck has opened a data room to provide information on the assets to potential bidders, but the company has yet to receive a formal offer from any potential bidders, suggesting that no deal is imminent. So far, only a group led by Pierre Lassonde, co-founder of gold royalty company Franco-Nevada Corp., has publicly confirmed an interest in buying a stake in Teck's coal business. At a mining conference in Spain last month, Glencore chief executive Gary Nagle did not rule out making an offering for Teck's coal assets, though he made it clear that a merger of the two companies remained his primary goal. Glencore is the world's biggest exporter of thermal coal, which is burned to generate electricity. In April, Teck tried to win shareholder approval to spin off its coal business, but failed to convince two-thirds of them to support the deal.