Pre my investment life and my parents do not remember, however...

Pre my investment life and my parents do not remember, however BHP use to own NCM, well at least a large proportion of it. Appears it was demerged in 1987 into NCM. We did own shares in NCM from the 1990s. Sold, then repurchased during the gold crisis in the $7-$8 Range. Then sold again - don’t hold currently.

http://www.newcrest.com.au/about-us/history

I doubt BHP would be after NCM. It has no use for the gold assets that produce little free cash flow outside Cadia. Copper credits are marginal. Thus it would be a poor investment for BHP who can maximise cash flow from organic growth via existing undeveloped assets.

One buys NCM as a hedge or protection asset. This doesn’t fit the pillars of BHP, nor would BHP investors be happy with another asset that costs as much as its failed shale ventures and is just as much as a drain on cashflow.