Documents released as part of the recent data leak — the PanamaPapers — show that mining giant BHPBilliton Group allowed two of its British Virgin Islands-based subsidiariesto receive large sums of money, which set off a high risk warning at law firm MossackFonseca, The Guardian reported April 4.
The data, which was secured by German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitungand released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, namesBHP Billiton Finance South Africa Ltd. and BHP Billiton UK Holdings Ltd. as "mandatoryhigh risk."
The diversified miner has been linked to at least 19 BritishVirgin Islands-registered subsidiaries with the aid of the Panamanian law firm.
According to the report, a BHP spokeswoman said that the company"does not engage in aggressive tax planning," and both companies wereunder U.K. tax laws on their worldwide income.