BlackRock cuts stake in US coal giant after climate pledge

According to Mining News Pro - The world’s largest asset manager now has about 4.87 million shares of Peabody Energy Corp., a 5% stake, according to a regulatory filing Friday. That’s down 14% from the end of December, making it the miner’s sixth-largest holder, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

The move follows BlackRock’s announcement in January that it would put climate change at the heart of its strategy, a plan that includes exiting both debt and equity investments in thermal coal companies in its $1.8 trillion active portfolios. Financial companies around the world are facing increasing pressure to back away from the dirtiest fossil fuel to help fight global warming.

Climate is now a “defining factor” for the global economy, BlackRock Chief Executive Officer Larry Fink told shareholders in his annual letter.

A BlackRock spokesman did not have an immediate comment.

On Wednesday, Peabody’s biggest shareholder — activist investor Elliott Management Corp. — moved to increase control over the mining company. Peabody’s shares are down more than 70% in the past year as the coal industry faces waning demand from utilities and slumping prices.