Glencore is being investigated for bribery by U.K. authorities, deepening the legal troubles that threaten the world's biggest commodities trader. The shares fell as much as 8.6% to a three-year low.
Glencore has about a 72% ownership stake in PolyMet Mining, which is seeking to build a $1 billion copper-nickel mine in northern Minnesota. The controversial project, stalled in a permitting battle, would be the state's first nonferrous mine ever built in the state.
The move by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) adds to ongoing corruption probes that Glencore is facing in the U.S. and Brazil, which have scared investors and shaken the company over the past two years. The SFO cast a wide net, saying it's looking into suspicions of bribery by the company, its employees, agents and associated persons.
"This is an obvious negative for the Glencore investment case," said Tyler Broda, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets. "We believe this clearly will hamper sentiment in what remains a complex investment case for investors."
The language of the U.K.'s investigation, albeit with limited detail, suggests it could be wider in scope, Broda wrote in a research note. That potentially raises the penalty, if Glencore is found guilty or reaches a settlement, he said.
The new probe also ramps up pressure on Glencore's billionaire Chief Executive Officer Ivan Glasenberg. He told investors earlier this week to prepare for more leadership changes and hinted that his own departure may come sooner than previously anticipated.
Glencore said it will cooperate with the probe, but didn't provide any further details.
The investigation will be also be a major test for the U.K. prosecutor, which has stumbled with some cases. Three Tesco officials caught up in an accounting scandal were cleared after a pair of trials and the agency has dropped some high-profile probes into individuals at companies including Rolls-Royce and GlaxoSmithKline.