BlackRock pushed Anglo to extend talks with BHP, FT reports
Business
BlackRock pushed Anglo to extend talks with BHP, FT reports
(Reuters) - Anglo American (AAL.L), opens new tab was pressed by key shareholders including BlackRock (BLK.N), opens new tab to extend talks with BHP Group (BHP.AX), opens new tab over its proposed 38.6 billion pound ($49.18 billion) mining merger, the Financial Times reported on Saturday.
BHP, the world's biggest listed mining group, now has until May 29 to make a firm bid for Anglo American or it will be forced to walk away for at least six months under the UK's takeover rules after it was granted a one-week extension on Wednesday.
BlackRock was among a handful of investors that encouraged meaningful negotiations with BHP, the FT said, citing people close to the situation.
Two other significant shareholders, Ninety One and Sanlam Investments, also backed the decision to extend talks, despite concerns about a deal structure that requires Anglo to spin off its stakes in its South African platinum and iron ore units, the newspaper added.
Ninety One and Sanlam Investments did not respond to a Reuters' request for comment.
U.S.-based asset manager BlackRock owns a 9.6% stake in Anglo, according to LSEG data, and is also a BHP shareholder.
BHP will stand firm on the structure and value of its latest takeover proposal, focusing instead on allaying its target's concerns around execution risks over the coming week, Reuters reported on Thursday.
The FT said that according to people familiar with BHP’s thinking there was only scope for "smaller, creative structures to better share the risks".
