Loading ...Mining investment bankers say deal-making is starting to flow again as the biggest producers return to the hunt after four years of restraint.
A commodity rout that sent metal prices falling for three years forced many of the mightiest miners to slash investments and sell assets to cut debt. After prices began to rise last year, the industry has started to emerge from its defensive crouch.
Would-be acquirers who suffered from too-rapid or ill-timed expansion say they will largely be returning to their traditional targets: so-called juniors, who take on the risk of exploring and developing projects in the hopes of hooking up with a larger investor.