BHP Backtracks Its Comments On Abandoning Anglo American Deal

BHP (NYSE:BHP) has backtracked on remarks by its Chairman, Ken Mackenzie, about "moving on "from its failed $49 billion bid for Anglo American (OTCQX:AAUKF).

During BHP's annual shareholder meeting in Brisbane, MacKenzie had suggested that the Anglo American acquisition was a "nice to have, not a must-do" and indicated that BHP had put the deal behind them, reported The Guardian.

"We thought there was an opportunity here to create something unique and special… But Anglo American shareholders had a different view, and so they moved on. And quite frankly, so have we," he stated.

However, BHP issued a statement clarifying that these comments were not intended to be a formal withdrawal from pursuing the deal under U.K. takeover regulations.

Following a discussion with the U.K. Takeover ...