London De Beers HQ to house Anglo American

De Beers is enjoying healthy sales in the Far East and US.

Anglo American Plc has selected the historic De Beers diamond  building as its preferred option for a new London headquarters, Business Live reports.

According to people with knowledge of the plan, the company will modernise the infamous Charterhouse Street site before then transferring its staff and operations from its current premises near Buckingham Palace.

The proposed development is subject to Anglo American Plc getting planning and regulatory approvals for the project.

Anglo American took its De Beers staff out of the Charterhouse office earlier this year ahead of the plan to revamp the site. Anglo American, who owns 85 percent of De Beers, plans to move the staff out of the premises before selling the property.

The relocation is part of a wider restructuring to raise billions in asset sales and to cut a debt burden that almost saw the company plummet following the collapse in commodity prices in 2015.

Anglo American’s lease on its current headquarters at Carlton House Terrace expires in 2020.

SOURCE:http://www.professionaljeweller.com/london-de-beers-hq-house-anglo-american/