South32's debut set to be biggest mining listing globally in 4 years

Melbourne

BHP Billiton's spin-off of South32 debuts on Monday in what is set to be the biggest mining listing globally in four years and a test of whether investors are starting to see value in battered mining shares.

Forecasts for South32's debut price range between A$2.00 and A$3.00 a share. The top end would value the company at A$16 billion (S$17 billion), making it Australia's biggest new listing in 15 years and the biggest mining listing since commodities giant Glencore Plc in 2011.

Dealers and sell-side analysts said that there was strong interest in the shares at the lower end of t…