Mining's Great Game: Are Mega Mergers More Hype Than Hope?
Another day, another rumour of two mining behemoths tying the knot. This time it's Glencore and Rio Tinto whispering sweet nothings in the boardroom, dreaming of a £200 billion resources giant that would dominate the global stage. It’s the kind of news that gets the City buzzing, but forgive me if I don’t rush out to buy a new hat. I’ve seen this film before, and it rarely has a happy ending.
To me, these mega merger proposals sound splendid over a glass of expensive claret. You bolt two giants together, sack half the back office, and announce billions in ‘synergies’. The shareholders cheer, the bankers collect their fees, and everyone goes home happy. The problem is, reality has a rather inconvenient habit of getting in the way.