Anglo coal spinoff surges as global supply curbs boost prices

When Anglo American’s South African coal spinoff was listed earlier this month, some shareholders rushed for the exit. Since then, it’s risen 77percent and some investors predict further gains as prices for the most polluting fossil fuel soar.

Thungela Resources tumbled 12percent from its opening trade on June 7 in Johannesburg, with a number of investors -who received shares based on their investment in Anglo -- unwilling or unable to hold a company that directly exposes them to coal. Since then, Thungela’s rally has been more than triple the next best- performer on the FTSE/ JSE Africa All Share Index. Thungela has surged as coal climbed to a 13- year high on stronger demand from Asia. It’s also been helped by skepticism about the long- term future of coal, which is curbing investment in new mines.“The negative perception surrounding coal is exactly the reason it is drawing in investors,” said Ben Davis, an analyst at Liberum Capital in London, adding that Thungela could more than double its current market value. “If investment is not being made in new coal supply and demand remains stable as expected, coal prices will do very well.” The spinoff is the latest in a series of shifts in ownership of coal operations around the world, as the biggest producers offload assets while other investors see it as an opportunity to generate cash from the unloved mines. And it’s not only coal miners. AGL Energy, one of Australia’s biggest greenhouse- gas emitters, will aim to complete work to split off its coal- fired power plants into a separate unit within 12 months.

Thungela sees an opportunity as it expects seaborne coal demand to remain constant for at least a decade. It also has an advantage over South African producers more geared to local consumers because it generates over 80percent of its revenues from shipments to markets including China, India and Pakistan.