FACTBOX-Chinese investments in Australian resources

May 6 (Reuters) - OZ Minerals (OZL.AX) chief executive Andrew Michelmore, who masterminded the sale of the world's No.2 zinc miner to Chinese state entity Minmetals, is stepping down to head Minmetals' Australian business.

Following are some of the major Chinese investments in Australia over the last year:

May 1, 2009 - Chinese state-owned China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group (CNMC) agrees to a deal to take a majority stake in Australian rare earths miner Lynas Corp Ltd (LYC.AX) for A$252 million ($185.7 million). CNMC will buy 700 million new Lynas shares at 36 Australian cents each to gain a 51.66 percent stake, Lynas says.

Feb 24, 2009 - Chinese steel mill Hunan Valin Iron and Steel says it will pay A$1.2 billion for a 16.5 percent stake in Fortescue Metals Group (FMG.AX), Australia's third-largest iron ore miner. The deal makes Valin the miner's No. 2 shareholder and gives it a seat on the Fortescue board.

Feb 12, 2009 - Chinese state-owned aluminium group Chinalco will invest $19.5 billion in miner Rio Tinto (RIO.AX) (RIO.L) in a deal that will secure resource supplies for China and help cut Rio's debts, Rio says. As part of the biggest overseas investment by a Chinese company, Chinalco will spend $12.3 billion on stakes of up to 50 percent in nine of Rio's mining assets.

It will also buy $7.2 billion of bonds convertible into shares of the world's largest aluminium maker, second-largest iron ore miner and a top-five copper producer.

Chinalco, the parent of listed Aluminum Corp of China Ltd (Chalco) (2600.HK)(601600.SS)(ACH.N), will potentially double its stake in Australia and London-listed Rio to 18 percent.

Feb 5, 2009 - Australia clears China's Shenzhen Zhongjin Lingnan Nonfemet 000060.SZ to buy a controlling stake in outback zinc miner Perilya (PEM.AX), making it the latest Chinese firm to eye Australian mine assets. Zhongjin, China's third-largest zinc producer, and Perilya say the approval by Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board will allow the Chinese group to proceed with a A$45.5-million offer to buy a 50.1 percent stake in Perilya, a medium-sized zinc and lead miner wrestling with low metals prices and undergoing a major revamp to boost profitability.

Sept 22, 2008 - Australia gives approval for Chinese metals trader Sinosteel to buy up to a 49.9 percent stake in iron ore prospector Murchison Metals Ltd (MMX.AX). Sinosteel, China's largest ferrous metals trader, was required under Australian law to seek government permission for any stake in an Australian company of more than 15 percent.

Sept 16, 2008 - Chinese state-owned trading firm Sinosteel completes its acquisition of Australian iron ore prospector Midwest Corp after U.S.-based fund Harbinger Capital sold its 15.2 percent stake in Midwest. Harbinger, which had previously opposed the deal, sells its holding for A$6.38 a share giving Sinosteel 98.5 percent control of Midwest.

Aug 15, 2008 - China Shenhua Energy Co Ltd, the world's most valuable coal producer, has agreed to pay A$300 million for a licence to explore for coal in Australia, New South Wales state government says. China Shenhua will explore an area of about 190 square kilometres (73 square miles) in the coal-mining region of Gunnedah, northern New South Wales state, where there is thought to be shallow thermal coal resources.

March 31, 2008 - China's top nickel refiner, Jinchuan Group Ltd, has secured government approval for its 11 percent stake in Australian nickel producer Fox Resources Ltd (FXR.AX), Fox says. By agreeing to buy 18.8 million shares at a premium issue price of A$0.95, Jinchuan becomes Fox's largest shareholder.

March 7, 2008 - Chinese state-controlled Sinopec Group agrees to buy a 60 percent interest in troubled oil producer AED Oil Ltd (AED.AX) for A$600 million, marking China's first oil acquisition in resource-rich Australia. Source: Reuters (Writing by Jijo Jacob)