Schroder Salomon Smith Barney (SSSB) has led the placing of shares in BHP Billiton just four months after Goldman Sachs sold a stake in the UK-listed South African mining firm.

The shares were sold by De Beers Consolidated Mines, the South African firm, which disposed of its entire 1.1% stake. De Beers was also connected with the sale of Billiton shares in April. Goldman Sachs ran the sale on behalf of Anglo American, the UK and South African-listed mining group, to fund its takeover of De Beers.