Three Chinese groups eye stake in Fortescue-report

SYDNEY, May 12 (Reuters) - Three Chinese companies, Sinosteel, Chinalco and Baosteel (600019.SS: Quote, Profile, Research), are vying for a stake in Australian iron ore group Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (FMG.AX: Quote, Profile, Research), the Australian newspaper reported on Monday.

In an unsourced report, the paper said U.S. boutique fund Harbinger Capital Partners, a long-term Fortescue investor with a 16 percent stake, was looking to reduce its holding to cash in on Fortescue's strong share price gains.

Any sale to a Chinese group would probably only be for half of Harbinger's stake, given the Australian government's concerns about the level of foreign investment in the sector.

Fortescue, whose shares have tripled in value in little over a year, is expected to begin shipping ore this month, with initial plans to export 45 million tonnes to Chinese steel mills.

The company has a market capitalisation at present of about A$25.7 billion ($24.2 billion). (Reporting by James Thornhill, editing by Richard Pullin)