De Beers "Could Sell for Just Half its $4.9bn Valuation"
June 10, 25
(IDEX Online) - Anglo American could begin the formal process of selling De Beers, its loss-making diamond division, within weeks - but may have to settle for only half its $4.9bn valuation, according to a Financial Times (FT) report.
Two former CEOs of the UK-based miner - Bruce Cleaver and Gareth Penny - are behind bids to buy it, but they don't have the financing, the FT says.
Anglo said it would be streamlining its business to focus on copper and other core, profitable assets, after a failed buyout bid last year by mining rival BHP.
It has since sold its steelmaking coal, nickel and platinum businesses, but has yet to divest diamonds.
Anglo CEO Duncan Wanblad publicly stated in February that plans to divest De Beers "would be substantively complete" by the end of 2025.
De Beers has a book value of $4.9bn, but weak global diamond demand and competition from lab growns mean it could realize as little as $2.5bn from the sale.
It was valued at $7.6bn in December 2023, before two write-downs by Anglo.
The company is keeping all options, including a potential IPO, open but a direct sale remains the preferred route. It is being advised by Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Centerview.