BHP's CEO and chief dealmaker reportedly visited South Africa last week to meet with government officials, fuelling speculation that it may launch another takeover bid for Anglo American.
The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that BHP CEO Mike Henry and the Australian group's chief development officer Catherine Raw, who is in charge of mergers and acquisitions, met with government representatives as well as the Public Investment Corporation PIC last week. The PIC owns more than 7 of Anglo.
After weeks of an acrimonious public battle, BHP abandoned its R900 billion bid at the end of May.
According to UK laws, BHP must wait six months until the end of October before it can launch another takeover bid.
A banker told the FT that it was an 'open secret' that BHP was considering whether to make a bid. Both BHP and Anglo American declined to comment, the FT reported
