FTSE 100 mining giants in talks over £190bn mega-merger

Core Viewpoint - Glencore and Rio Tinto are in discussions for a £190 billion mega-merger that could create the world's largest mining company, surpassing BHP and establishing a significant presence in the copper market [1][2]. Group 1: Merger Details - The potential merger would value the combined entity at approximately £130 billion on an equity basis, or £190 billion when including debt and cash [3]. - The merger talks involve key executives from both companies, including Rio Tinto's chairman and CEO, and Glencore's chairman and CEO [4]. - The discussions resumed after previous talks collapsed last year, primarily due to disagreements over Glencore's thermal coal business and valuation [7]. Group 2: Market Context - The merger comes at a time when both companies are positioning themselves to benefit from an anticipated boom in the copper industry, especially following the recent merger of Anglo American and Teck Resources [8]. - If the merger is successful, Rio Tinto would gain access to Glencore's 44% stake in the Collahuasi mine in Chile, which is known for its substantial copper reserves [9]. - Copper prices recently reached a record high of $13,387 (£9,978) per tonne, driven by stockpiling in the U.S. amid concerns over potential tariffs, leading to a supply squeeze [9].