B08 Metal Ore Mining

Miners hail $17.6b in tax credits – but BHP nickel still on death row

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 15-May-24

Australia’s critical minerals industry has welcomed the federal government’s decision to provide the sector with a 10 per cent production tax credit. However, the budget measure may not ensure the future of BHP’s nickel operations in Western Australia, given that the tax credit will not be availabe until 2027. The potential closure of BHP’s nickel mines, refinery and smelter would result in the loss of about 3,000 jobs; BHP has previously warned that tax credits may not be enough to save the Nickel West business, which is contending with a glut of low-cost nickel produced in Indonesia with Chinese backing.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, NICKEL WEST

Anglo unveils radical restructuring plan

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Original article by Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 25 & 26 : 15-May-24

Anglo American has announced a major restructuring of its global operations in the wake of a spurned takeover approach from BHP. Anglo American intends to focus primarily on its copper and iron ore assets, and CEO Duncan Wanblad says any potential suitors will have to pay an "enormous amount of money" to acquire the company after the two-year overhaul is completed. Amongst other things, Anglo American will sell its coking coal mines in Queensland, demerge its platinum assets and put the Woodsmith potash project in the UK on hold indefinitely.

CORPORATES
ANGLO AMERICAN PLC, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP

Rio investigates third derailment of one of its driverless iron ore trains

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 14-May-24

Rio Tinto has notified rail safety authorities of an incident in which an autonomous iron ore train was derailed about 80km from Karratha early on Monday morning. It is believed to have occurred when the driverless train collided with a set of stationary wagons while it was enroute to port with a shipment of iron ore. Rio Tinto will also commence an internal investigation into the incident. Rio Tinto’s driverless trains have now been derailed three times in the last year. The company began operating autonomous trains in the Pilbara in 2019.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO

Anglo American rejects second, higher BHP takeover offer

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: Online : 14-May-24

BHP CEO Mike Henry says it is disappointing that Anglo American’s board has rejected a revised takeover offer and has not been willing to enter into further discussions. The initial offer had comprised 0.7097 of its shares for every Anglo American share; however, BHP increased this to 0.8132 of its shares last week, valuing the target at $64.4bn. Henry adds that the two companies are a "strategic fit", and the combined group would have a leading portfolio of high-quality assets across a range of commodities.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, ANGLO AMERICAN PLC

High-profile backers give BHP green light for improved Anglo bid

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 7-May-24

Argo Investments’ Andy Forster believes that BHP’s takeover bid for Anglo American makes sense, but he adds that BHP will need to sweeten its bid in order to gain the target’s support. He adds that BHP must adopt a "disciplined" approach to the takeover bid. Wilson Asset Management has also expressed support for BHP’s takeover bid; WAM Leaders Fund portfolio manager Matt Haupt notes that Anglo American’s copper assets will generate synergies for BHP, and he believes that the latter has the capacity to increase its offer by 5-10 per cent.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, ANGLO AMERICAN PLC, ARGO INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX ARG, WILSON ASSET MANAGEMENT, WAM LEADERS LIMITED – ASX WLE

High-profile backers give BHP green light for improved Anglo bid

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 18 : 7-May-24

Argo Investments’ Andy Forster believes that BHP’s takeover bid for Anglo American makes sense, but he adds that BHP will need to sweeten its bid in order to gain the target’s support. He adds that BHP must adopt a "disciplined" approach to the takeover bid. Wilson Asset Management has also expressed support for BHP’s takeover bid; WAM Leaders Fund portfolio manager Matt Haupt notes that Anglo American’s copper assets will generate synergies for BHP, and he believes that the latter has the capacity to increase its offer by 5-10 per cent.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, ANGLO AMERICAN PLC, ARGO INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX ARG, WILSON ASSET MANAGEMENT, WAM LEADERS LIMITED – ASX WLE

BHP needs bid lift for Anglo deal

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Original article by Perry Williams
The Australian – Page: 17 : 1-May-24

Research house Bernstein says BHP’s takeover bid for Anglo American can secure the target’s support at the right price. BHP’s offer comprises 0.7097 of its shares for every share in Anglo American; this valued Anglo’s shares at Stg25.08 at the time the offer was made. Bernstein analysts suggest that BHP’s bid could succeed if its offer is increased to around Stg29 per share. Anglo American deemed BHP’s initial approach to be "opportunistic", and contended that it significantly undervalues the company’s assets. Anglo American has given BHP a deadline of 22 May to make a firm offer or walk away from the proposed deal.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, ANGLO AMERICAN PLC, BERNSTEIN RESEARCH

BHP hunts big game in Africa

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 13 & 17 : 30-Apr-24

BHP’s primary interest in making a takeover bid for Anglo American is the latter’s copper assets, which include the Quellaveco, Los Bronces and Collahuasi projects. The proposed $59.6bn deal would see BHP regain exposure to commodities that it has been seeking to exit for the last decade, such ad diamonds and manganese. BHP has also indicated that it has no desire to hold long-term ownership of Anglo American’s platinum and iron ore assets in South Africa. Nevetheless, BHP is expected to make a sweetened takeover offer for Anglo American. Rivals such as Glencore could also potentially make a bid now that Anglo American is in play.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, ANGLO AMERICAN PLC, GLENCORE PLC

Mining investment pipeline leaks $68bn a year

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Original article by Joe Kelly
The Australian – Page: 6 : 26-Apr-24

Data from the Minerals Council of Australia shows that the value of completed mining projects totalled $21.3bn in 2023, compared with $84bn in 2013. However, the resources project pipeline increased from just 244 in 2017 to 450 in 2023. The MCA’s analysis also shows that the value of resources projects that reached the construction stage totalled $75bn in 2023, down from $255bn in 2013. MCA CEO Tania Constable says government policy settings are responsible for a significant proportion of possible mining investment that is not going ahead.

CORPORATES
MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA

BHP’s bold Anglo American bid

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Original article by Nick Evans
The Australian – Page: 13 & 16 : 26-Apr-24

BHP says that acquiring Anglo American would increase its exposure to ‘future facing commodities’, given that the latter has significant copper assets. Anglo American has advised that its board is considering the Stg31bn ($60bn) offer, which it has described as "unsolicited, nonbinding and highly conditional". BHP’s offer comprises 0.7097 of its shares for every Anglo American share. The bid values the target at Stg25.08 per share, although BHP is effectively proposing to pay Stg16.82 per share because the offer is conditional on Anglo American selling its stakes in Anglo Platinum and Kumba Iron Ore to its current shareholders. Anglo American has given BHP a deadline of 22 May to make a firm offer or walk away from the proposed deal.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, ANGLO AMERICAN PLC, ANGLO AMERICAN PLATINUM CORPORATION, KUMBA IRON ORE LIMITED