China's top coal firms dismiss merger rumors

BEIJING -- China Shenhua Energy Co Ltd and China Coal Energy Co Ltd, the nation's leading coal producers, on Tuesday dismissed reports of a merger.

The two companies said neither they nor their parent companies have been informed on the matter of merger from government departments; meanwhile, neither company has talked with other companies or departments about any merger, according to separate statements by the two companies filed to the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

In the mainland stock market on Tuesday, shares of both companies surged by the daily limit of 10 percent. In Hong Kong, China Shenhua rose more than 3.6 percent; China Coal Energy gained nearly 7.5 percent.

There were rumors last month that China was considering massive mergers and acquisitions of its biggest State-owned enterprises (SOEs) to prevent in-fighting and build industrial giants able to face global competitors. A total of 112 centrally-administered SOEs were said to likely be cut by more than half to 40.

However, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission later said reports about such massive M&As were "unverified".