21 December 2007
Anglo American acquires majority interest in Foxleigh coal mine
Anglo American plc is pleased to announce the acquisition of a 70% interest in the Foxleigh coal mine joint venture in Queensland, Australia. This investment of US$620 million (1) adds to Anglo American's already substantial and growing coal mining operations in the Bowen Basin, one of the world's premier coal regions.
Foxleigh's current joint venture partners, the Korean steel
company POSCO and the Japanese trading and mining investment
company Itochu, will hold 20% and 10% interests respectively.
Foxleigh currently produces 2.5 million tonnes per annum of PCI
(pulverised coal injection) coal for the steelmaking industry.
Foxleigh has production capacity of 3.3 million tonnes per annum,
which it is expected to reach following completion of rail and port
expansion projects. The Foxleigh mine adjoins Anglo Coal's Capcoal
(German Creek) operations and the associated Lake Lindsay mine
development, offering potential synergies. The mine and surrounding
tenements will be the subject of ongoing exploration and
feasibility studies.
Cynthia Carroll, CEO of Anglo American, said: “The
addition of Foxleigh is in line with Anglo American's strategic
commitment to further grow our coal business in Australia in order
to meet forecast increases in global demand for coal, particularly
in the Asia-Pacific region. Foxleigh's operations and undeveloped
assets are located in one of the world's largest and best developed
coal provinces, with which we are very familiar. I believe Foxleigh
represents a valuable strategic and complementary addition to our
portfolio of coal assets in Australia.”
The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.
(1)Enterprise Value for 70% of the interest in the Foxleigh
mine, at an exchange rate of US$0.86: A$1.00 = A$721 million.
Adjustments will be made at completion date for debt, coal stocks
and typical balance sheet liabilities.
Notes to Editors:
Anglo American plc is one of the world's
largest mining and natural resource groups. With its subsidiaries,
joint ventures and associates, it is a global leader in platinum
group metals and diamonds, with significant interests in coal, base
and ferrous metals, as well as an industrial minerals business and
a stake in AngloGold Ashanti. The Group is geographically diverse,
with operations in Africa, Europe, South and North America,
Australia and Asia. (www.angloamerican.co.uk)
Anglo Coal is a wholly owned division of Anglo
American plc, with significant coal interests in South Africa,
Australia, Canada and Venezuela. In 2006, Anglo Coal's global
production was 95 million tonnes, of which Australia contributed 25
million tonnes (attributable tonnes). Anglo Coal Australia is one
of Australia's leading coal producers with extensive coal mining
interests and prospects in Queensland, New South Wales and
Victoria.
(www.anglocoal.com.au)
United Kingdom
James Wyatt-Tilby, Media Relations
Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8759
Anna Poulter, Investor Relations
Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 2155
South Africa
Pranill Ramchander, Media Relations
Tel: +27 (0)11 638 2592
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