BHP boss Mike Henry sells $18.5m of shares in wake of divorce

Canadian National Railway directors also cleared the romantic relationship between Ms Robinson and Mr Henry after assessing it in terms of potential corporate conflicts. The rail company said steps had been taken to guard against any potential issues around the mega potash project in Saskatchewan.

The divestment leaves Mr Henry with 410,000 shares in BHP. He also has options and rights under incentive plans and awards covering more than 970,000 shares.

Board told of relationship

BHP chairman Ken MacKenzie told The Australian Financial Review at the start of December that he was satisfied measures were taken to avoid any conflicts of interest that could potentially arise as a result of the relationship between Mr Henry and Ms Robinson.

“Mike Henry advised the board of his relationship with Tracy Robinson some months ago, at the outset of the relationship, and appropriate conflict-of-interest controls were put in place,” Mr MacKenzie said.

Mr Henry was born and raised in the Canadian province of British Columbia while Ms Robinson grew up on a farm about 150 kilometres south of Jansen in Saskatchewan.

BHP announced in August 2021 that it would spend $US5.7 billion ($8.7 billion) building a “first stage” mine at Jansen capable of producing 4.35 million tonnes of potash per year.

BHP announced a further $US4.9 billion investment to build the second stage of the Jansen mine in October, and appeared to suggest Jansen would eventually be connected to more than one railway, saying “rail spurs connecting to class 1 rail networks will be constructed”.

BHP has been negotiating with CN and rival rail provider Canadian Pacific (CP) for more than two years over how best to transport potash 1700 kilometres between the Jansen mine in Saskatchewan and ports on Canada’s west coast.

Mr Henry is due to celebrate his fourth anniversary as BHP chief executive on January 1.