Mitsubishi kisses thermal coal goodbye, sells Aussie mines – by Cecilia Jamasmie (Mining.com – December 18, 2018)

http://www.mining.com/

Mitsubishi Corporation is selling its interest in two Australian thermal coal mines for A$750 million ($539 million) to its joint venture partners Glencore and Sumitomo Corp., in a move that marks the end of its involvement in upstream fossil fuels.

The company, which is Japan’s biggest trading house, will sell its 31.4% stake in the Clermont coal mine to GS Coal, the 50-50 joint venture between Glencore and Sumitomo, and its 10% stake in the Ulan coal mine to Glencore.

The Swiss miner and commodities trader said the deal value was $530 million. Glencore noted it would only spend $130 million, mainly on the Ulan asset, while GS Coal will use its own funds for the Clermont stake.

The Clermont deal, expected to be completed in 2019, will bring the Glencore-Sumitomo joint venture’s interest in the mine to about 81.5%, Sumitomo said in a separate statement.

Since 2016, Mitsubishi has been shifting focus toward its non-resources businesses, which range from agricultural machinery to industrial finance and cars.

For the rest of this article: http://www.mining.com/mitsubishi-kisses-thermal-coal-goodbye-sells-aussie-mines-to-jv-partners/