was , see below, OH by the way, The Blairman told this board 3 weeks ago , that it was the last time you could ever buy shares of CXX at 26 cents
Anglo American (AAL.L) has agreed to sell its niobium and phosphates businesses in Brazil to China Molybdenum for $1.5 billion in cash, it said on Thursday, as it seeks to cut debt in a radical restructuring of the global mining group.
Anglo American shares rose more than 3 percent in early trade as analysts said the price was higher than expected and boded well for further deals.
"The proceeds from this transaction ... will enable us to continue to reduce our net debt towards our targeted level of less than $10 billion at the end of 2016," said Anglo's chief executive, Mark Cutifani.
The niobium and phosphates businesses consist of mines, plants, processing facilities, chemical complexes and deposits, with niobium a key ingredient of specialist high-strength steels while phosphate production serves Brazil's domestic market for fertilisers.
"Anglo American is dressing itself up as an attractive takeover target," it said.
The group is selling parts of its business after a commodities rout that has triggered a fight for survival even among heavyweight miners.
As it aims to cut its net debt to less than $10 billion by the end of the year from $12.9 billion at the end of December, the ratio under scrutiny is net debt to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization.
BMO Capital Markets that ratio should shrink to less than three from a previous projection of 3.3.
On first analysis it said the deal could reduce Anglo Amercian's debt sufficiently for it to regain an investment grade credit rating following its downgrade to junk by credit ratings agencies.
The deal is subject to certain approvals and is expected to close in the second half of the year.
Anglo American shares were up 2 percent at 711.8 pence by 0915 GMT, when the FTSE 350 mining sector index <0#.FTNMX1770> was up 0.7 percent.
(Additional reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Susan Fenton, Greg Mahlich
CXX Price at posting:
31.0¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held