By Scott Murdoch and Anousha Sakoui
(Reuters) -British multinational miner Anglo American (JO:) said on Thursday it “received an unsolicited, non-binding and highly conditional combination proposal” from global mining giant BHP Group (NYSE:).
London-listed Anglo American, which owns 85% of De Beers diamond business, had a market capitalisation of $36.71 billion as of Wednesday’s close, according to LSEG data.
In a statement, Anglo American said its board was reviewing the all-stock buyout proposal from BHP.
“There can be no certainty that any offer will be made nor as to the terms on which any such offer might be made,” the statement said.
BHP declined to comment when asked about earlier reports about preliminary talks with Anglo American.
A deal would be preceded by separate demergers by Anglo American of its entire shareholdings in Anglo American Platinum and Kumba to Anglo American shareholders.
BHP, best-known for mining iron ore, , nickel and metallurgical coal, had a market capitalisation of about $148.71 billion.
If the Anglo American deal came to fruition, it would be the second major acquisition for BHP in about a year after its 2023 purchase of Oz Minerals.
Anglo American said in February it would embark on a review of assets after a 94% plunge in annual profit and a series of writedowns. It has seen a fall in demand for most of the metals it mines and took a $1.6 billion impairment charge on its De Beers diamond business.
The global mining sector has seen a recent slew of merger and acquisitions despite rising concerns around the economic outlook of one of the world’s largest metals buyer, China.
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More broadly, M&A activity has registered an uptick in the first few months of this year, including mega deals.
Both the mining firms have recently identified potash as an important business which would complement their mining operations as food demand grows.
BHP is currently focusing on its Jansen potash project in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan whereas Anglo American has its hopes on the Woodsmith potash mine in Yorkshire.
($1=1.5396 Australian dollars)
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