Anglo: decoding Agarwal’s game plan

Anil Agarwal’s increased stake in the mining company is seen as influential but not a precursor to corporate action

Indian billionaire Anil Agarwal took the first opportunity following the expiry of the sixmonth waiting period imposed after his initial investment in Anglo American to up his stake.

Anglo American shares gained 2.5% to R237.70 after Vedanta Resources announced to the London Stock Exchange that its majority shareholder, Volcan Investments, was planning to invest another £1.25bn-£2bn in the company. Depending on the Anglo share price, that could be about 8%-9%.

Volcan is Agarwal’s family trust.

The second investment would bring Volcan’s stake in Anglo to about 20%-21%, as it bought 12.43% in March for about £2bn. It was then obliged to wait six months, and will have to wait another six months if it wishes to buy more Anglo shares, under UK stock exchange rules designed to stop “creeping takeovers”.

Volcan will issue a three-year bond secured by Anglo shares to finance the purchase, but even though it does not have unencumbered ownership, it can still vote the shares.

The latest purchase makes Agarwal Anglo’s biggest shareholder, topping the Public Investment Corp (PIC), which holds 14.5%.

Agarwal, who has not commented in public on the move other than to say in a statement that Volcan considers Anglo to be an attractive investment, is not interested in taking over Anglo American and will not insist on a seat on the board, The Economic Times of India said,

Anglo American