BHP to End Formal Links with New Spun-off Company - CEO

By Alexis Flynn

LONDON--BHP Billiton (BHP) will hand complete control of its new, demerged entity to shareholders, ending all formal links between the mining giant and the near-$10 billion company that will be created as a result of a spin-off announced Tuesday.

"There will be no attempt to retain control," said Chief Executive Andrew Mackenzie, ruling out the possibility that BHP Billiton could seek to maintain a stake in the new company.

"It will be a 100%, clean separation when we announce it. We have no intention of retaining an equity component," said Mr. Mackenzie. Instead, BHP Billiton's shareholders will receive a proportionate stake in the new company.

BHP Billiton announced its decision to unwind one of the biggest mergers in mining history earlier Tuesday, with plans to spin off most of the mines BHP acquired when it fused with Billiton in 2001 into a new entity, provisionally nicknamed "NewCo."

NewCo's assets--nickel, aluminum, manganese, silver and some coal mines--make up roughly half of BHP Billiton but account for less than 10% of the company's profits. Mr. Mackenzie said he hopes that a leaner BHP Billiton will allow it to hone its focus on the parts of its business that generate the most cash.

Write to Alexis Flynn at [e-mail]

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires