Anglo American to exit from coal, Ni, platinum: Update

Adds details of Anglo American's latest plan to demerge or sell its assets

UK-South African mining firm Anglo American has announced plans to exit its coal, platinum, nickel and diamond businesses, shortly after rejecting Australian resources firm BHP's latest takeover bid.

Anglo American wants to sell its coking coal business in Australia, which includes the 6.5mn t/yr Moranbah and 5mn t/yr Grosvenor mines in Queensland. The firm also plans to demerge Anglo American Platinum, as well as sell or demerge its De Beers diamond business, it said on 14 May.

Anglo American will also slow investment in its Woodsmith polyhalite fertilizer project in the UK, where it was previously targeting first commercial output in 2027. It is also exploring options for care and maintenance as well as divestment of its nickel assets in Brazil.

The move to "accelerate the delivery of consistently stronger shareholder returns" with the latest plan comes on the back of a takeover bid by BHP.

Anglo American turned down a revised £34bn ($42.7bn) takeover proposal from BHP on 13 May because it "continues to significantly undervalue Anglo American and its future prospects". It earlier rejected BHP's £31bn all-share offer for the same reason.

"The latest proposal from BHP again fails to recognise the value inherent in Anglo American," Anglo American chairman Stuart Chambers said on 13 May. Anglo American shareholders are well positioned to benefit from increasing demand from "future-enabling products", Chambers added.

Copper was the second-highest contributor to Anglo American's earnings last year, accounting for 32pc of its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, after iron ore.

BHP's latest offer represents a total value of around £27.53 per Anglo American ordinary share, including £4.86 in Anglo Platinum shares and £3.40 in Kumba shares, BHP said on 13 May. The takeover proposal came with a requirement for Anglo American to complete two separate demergers of its entire shareholdings in Anglo American Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore — its assets in South Africa — to Anglo American shareholders.

"This leaves Anglo American, its shareholders and stakeholders disproportionately at risk from the substantial uncertainty and execution risk created by the proposed inter-conditional execution of two demergers and a takeover," Anglo American said.

By Reena Nathan