1917 CE
Anglo American Corporation Founded
Ernest Oppenheimer establishes Anglo American Corporation in Johannesburg, South Africa, with initial capital from American and British investors to mine gold and diamonds. #mining #history
Chronological Storyline (35 Milestones)
1926 CE
Acquisition of De Beers Stake
Anglo American acquires a major interest in De Beers, consolidating control over the world's leading diamond mining company. #diamonds #mining
By Minnaert - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4039922
1929 CE
Anglo American Gold Investment Company Formed
Anglo American establishes the Anglo American Gold Investment Company to expand gold mining operations, including the development of the Vaal Reefs mine. #gold #mining
1936 CE
Vaal Reefs Gold Mine Commissioned
The Vaal Reefs gold mine begins production, becoming one of the world's largest gold mines and a key asset for Anglo American. #gold #mining
1945 CE
Diversification into Coal and Base Metals
Anglo American begins expanding beyond gold and diamonds, investing in coal mines and base metal projects in South Africa. #diversification #mining
1955 CE
Entry into Zambian Copperbelt
Anglo American acquires stakes in Zambian copper mines, notably Nchanga and Nkana, becoming a major copper producer. #copper #mining
1960 CE
Expansion into South America
Anglo American establishes operations in Chile and Brazil, beginning exploration for copper and iron ore. #southamerica #mining
1970 CE
Los Bronces Copper Mine Development
Anglo American discovers and begins developing the Los Bronces copper mine in Chile, which becomes one of the world's largest copper operations. #copper #chile
By ErwinWoenckhaus - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32135880
1984 CE
Listing on Johannesburg Stock Exchange
Anglo American Corporation lists on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, increasing its capital base and global profile. #stockexchange #mining
1995 CE
Major Restructuring Begins
Anglo American launches a strategic review, divesting non-core assets and focusing on core mining operations. #restructuring #mining
1998 CE
Merger with Minorco Announced
Anglo American announces a merger with Minorco, a Luxembourg-based mining company, creating a global mining giant. #merger #mining
May 24, 1999 CE
Anglo American plc Formed and Listed
Anglo American plc is created from the merger with Minorco and lists on the London Stock Exchange, with a secondary listing in Johannesburg. #ipo #mining
Jul 1, 2000 CE
Acquisition of Tarmac
Anglo American acquires Tarmac, a UK construction materials company, for £1.2 billion, diversifying into building materials. #acquisition #construction
2001 CE
Acquisition of MBR in Brazil
Anglo American acquires Mineração Brasileiras Reunidas (MBR), a major iron ore producer in Brazil, for $1.5 billion. #ironore #brazil
2002 CE
Full Control of De Beers
Anglo American acquires the remaining shares of De Beers from the Oppenheimer family, taking full control of the diamond giant. #diamonds #acquisition
2004 CE
Divestment of Tarmac
Anglo American sells Tarmac to CRH plc for £1.6 billion, exiting construction materials to focus on core mining. #divestment #mining
2007 CE
Acquisition of Nickel Assets
Anglo American acquires the nickel operations of Xstrata in Sudbury, Canada, and refineries in Norway, boosting nickel production. #nickel #mining
Sep 15, 2008 CE
Global Financial Crisis Impact
The collapse of Lehman Brothers triggers a sharp drop in commodity prices, forcing Anglo American to cut costs and defer projects. #financialcrisis #mining
2009 CE
Cyril Ramaphosa Joins Board
Cyril Ramaphosa, former trade union leader and future South African president, is appointed to the Anglo American board as a non-executive director. #leadership #southafrica
By Lula Oficial - 09.03.2026 - Chegada do Presidente da República da África do Sul ao Palácio do Planalto, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=192739569
2010 CE
Launch of FutureSmart Mining
Anglo American launches FutureSmart Mining, a program integrating digital technology and sustainable practices across its operations. #innovation #mining
Apr 1, 2012 CE
Mark Cutifani Appointed CEO
Mark Cutifani becomes CEO of Anglo American, succeeding Cynthia Carroll, and begins a major cost-cutting and portfolio restructuring. #ceo #leadership
By Lukedoddaa - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=97252409
2013 CE
Amplats Restructuring
Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) announces a restructuring plan, including mine closures and job cuts, amid falling platinum prices. #platinum #restructuring
2014 CE
Sale of Iron Ore Assets in Brazil
Anglo American sells its iron ore operations in Brazil, including the Minas-Rio project, to reduce debt and focus on core commodities. #ironore #divestment
Dec 1, 2015 CE
Major Portfolio Overhaul Announced
Anglo American unveils a radical restructuring, planning to sell 60% of its assets and cut jobs to survive a commodity downturn. #restructuring #mining
Feb 1, 2016 CE
Sale of De Beers Stake Considered
Reports suggest Anglo American may sell its stake in De Beers, but the company ultimately retains it after a recovery in diamond demand. #diamonds #strategy
Sep 1, 2017 CE
Centenary Celebrations
Anglo American marks its 100th anniversary with events highlighting its history and commitment to sustainable mining. #anniversary #mining
2018 CE
Acquisition of Glencore's Coal Assets?
Anglo American acquires Australian coal assets from Glencore for $1.1 billion, expanding its metallurgical coal portfolio. #coal #acquisition
Mar 1, 2020 CE
COVID-19 Pandemic Disruptions
The COVID-19 pandemic leads to temporary mine closures and operational disruptions, with safety protocols implemented across global sites. #pandemic #mining
May 1, 2021 CE
Sale of Cerrejón Coal Mine
Anglo American agrees to sell its 33.3% stake in the Cerrejón coal mine in Colombia to Glencore for $330 million, advancing its exit from thermal coal. #divestment #coal
By Tanenhaus - IMG_0523.JPG, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11408769
Apr 1, 2022 CE
Duncan Wanblad Becomes CEO
Duncan Wanblad succeeds Mark Cutifani as CEO, focusing on copper, crop nutrients, and further portfolio simplification. #ceo #leadership
2022 CE
Commitment to Carbon Neutrality
Anglo American announces a target to achieve carbon neutrality across its operations by 2040, with a $2 billion investment plan. #climatechange #sustainability
May 1, 2023 CE
Sale of Platinum Group Metals Operations
Anglo American announces the sale of a majority stake in its platinum group metals operations to a South African consortium for R27 billion. #platinum #divestment
2023 CE
Expansion of Copper Portfolio
Anglo American invests $5 billion to expand its copper operations in Chile and Peru, aiming to increase annual copper production significantly. #copper #investment
Feb 1, 2024 CE
BHP Bid Rejected
Anglo American rejects a £31 billion takeover bid from BHP Group, citing undervaluation and strategic concerns. #takeover #mining
2024 CE
Focus on Crop Nutrients
Anglo American accelerates development of the Woodsmith polyhalite mine in UK, positioning itself as a key supplier of sustainable crop nutrients. #cropnutrients #mining