One of China’s wealthiest tycoons has bought an $800-million stake in Anglo American, a landmark deal in China’s pursuit of African resources, the Financial Times said on Saturday.
Citic Pacific chairperson Larry Yung, China’s third richest man, also known as Rong Zhijian, bought 17-million shares from the Oppenheimer dynasty, Anglo-American’s founding family, the newspaper said.
The surprise purchase of the stake reflected China’s thirst for resources in Africa to fuel its economic expansion, the paper said.
Last week Beijing hosted a summit for 48 African leaders focusing mainly on trade and resources.
The newspaper said Yung’s acquisition came two weeks after London and Johannesburg-listed Anglo appointed a new chief executive, American Cynthia Carroll.
The appointment led to fresh speculation that Anglo, the world’s third biggest mining group by market capitalisation, could be the target of a takeover. – AFP