Anglo American, the world's second-largest mining company, yesterday tried to sell its entire stake in China Shenhua Energy for as much as HK$5.63 billion through a share placement to end its shareholding relationship with the coal giant, market sources said.
The South African-based mining firm was selling 155.612 million Shenhua Energy shares at HK$35.46 to HK$36.19 each, a discount of up to 5.94 per cent to the stock's close of HK$37.70 yesterday, said a sale document obtained by institutional investors from UBS, the sole arranger.
The placement represents 4.58 per cent of Shenhua Energy's existing share capital.
Anglo American would reap a return of at least 3.8 times its investment of US$150 million, made when the mainland's largest coal miner went public in Hong Kong in 2005.
'The mega sell-down shocked me a lot as I thought the two parties would have a strong relationship,' said a fund manager who was asked to take up some shares.
'Despite a small stake in Shenhua, no concrete co-operation materialised for the two firms over the three-year investment,' another fund manager said.
