Benzinga - by Stjepan Kalinic, Benzinga Staff Writer.
Fortescue Metals Group (OTCQX:FSUMF), one of the largest global iron miners, is navigating a prolonged turbulence. Its stock declined over 25% year-to-date as the thinning management team grapples with weakening ore prices as it steers the company toward the green energy space.
The year 2023 was marked by substantial executive turnover and personal upheavals for the company's leadership. Notably, CEO and founder Andrew Forrest separated from his spouse, Nicola Forrest, raising concerns as the couple holds a 36% stake in the company through the private investment company Tattarang.
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The executive shake-up started with the departure of Fortescue Future Industries chief financial officer Felicity Gooding last July, triggering an exodus that culminated with the departure of Global Growth Director and Deputy CEO, Julie Shuttleworth, earlier this month.
Shuttleworth, who oversaw operations in Africa and had been with the company for over a decade, is the sixth executive to leave Fortescue in less than a year, raising questions about the company's leadership in a transitional time.
Additionally, Fortescue has been grappling with infrastructure issues, notably the leaking pipeline at its Iron Bridge project. The company announced an 18-month repair plan, setting aside $100 million to address the problem. The pipeline, which is crucial for the project’s operations, has suffered multiple leaks, significantly affecting production and leading to revenue losses. The project, already over budget, has been a source of ongoing financial strain for the company.
This prolonged turbulence has started to affect institutional investor confidence. According to Reuters, the U.S.-based asset manager Capital Group sold 31.6 million shares of Fortescue, valued at nearly half a billion dollars.
Capital Group is Fortescue's third-largest shareholder. Prior to this transaction, it held 244 million shares. Such moves reflect a growing unease among major investors. The company didn't provide any additional information to Benzinga's request for comment.
The combination of falling iron ore prices, executive instability, infrastructure challenges, and waning investor confidence suggests that Fortescue is likely to face another difficult year ahead.
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