Anglo American digs deeper to find savings

Sell-off of assets has failed to arrest decline

JOHANNESBURG/ LONDON • Anglo American PLC’s plans to shut or sell dozens of lossmaking mines have failed to halt a dramatic slide in its share price and it may need to sacrifice stronger parts of the business or raise cash from shareholders to pay down its debt.

The company, which grew from gold fields near Johannesburg to dominate diamond, platinum and, to some extent, iron ore markets, is one of many miners struggling with a fall in commodity prices driven by lower demand from China.

That makes selling assets that much harder.

Anglo’s shares have slumped 11 per cent since it announced the biggest restructuring in its nearly 100-year history on Tuesday, leaving it with a market value of US$ 6.7 billion, down from US$27 billion a year ago.

On Thursday, South Africa, which accounts for half its workforce, raised the alarm over the firm’s target of ending up with just 50,000 workers from 135,000 now, saying Anglo must make plans to save jobs and citing “national imperatives.” Bankers meanwhile were poring over its portfolio to see how it could raise the remaining US$2 billion of the US$4 billion it is seeking by the end of next year.

To survive the drop in commodities prices to multi- year lows, the mining group has already disposed of several noncore assets. This year it sold its stake in building materials company Lafarge Tarmac and two copper mines in Chile.

Its subsidiary Anglo American Platinum, the world’s biggest platinum producer, also sold its labour-intensive South African Rustenburg mine.

Anglo also plans to sell some coal assets in Australia and South Africa, some copper mines and said it would press ahead with the sale of its phosphates and niobium businesses in 2016.

But more disposals were expected beyond 2016, a move that Anglo said would reduce its mines to not more than 25 from 55.

“The divestment program may well be expanded to include better quality, but still ‘non-core’ assets,” Credit Suisse analysts said in a note.

Analysts and bankers said Anglo could sell its stake in Cerrejon coal mine in Colombia, its stake in Samancor — a manganese joint venture with South32 — and a stake in Quellaveco greenfield copper project in Peru.

Anglo could also sell its Minas Rio iron ore mine in Brazil “if anyone is buying iron ore,” a mining sector banker said.

Chief executive Mark Cutifani told investors on Tuesday Anglo would focus on its diamond, platinum and copper businesses as they offered better long-term potential.

Nickel, coal and iron ore would have to show ability to deliver cash or risk being taken out of the company’s portfolio.

An Anglo American spokesman said on Wednesday the company would set out in February what its future portfolio would look like after selling and closing some mines.

Some analysts wondered if platinum would escape the cull. “We are curious as to the likely fates of Minas Rio and Anglo American Platinum, given the supposed emphasis of the new strategy on cash generation,” Shore Capital analysts said.

“We had previously perceived Anglo as the most likely of the diversified majors to go bust. The company is clearly determined to try to survive or go down fighting, but we will have to reserve judgment as to which is likelier for the time being.”