Rio Tinto, Glencore in talks to create $200-plus billion mining giantMining giants Rio Tinto and Glencore are in discussions regarding a potential merger that could create the world's largest mining company with a combined market capitalization exceeding $200 billion, the companies confirmed on Friday.Both firms issued separate press releases acknowledging the talks following earlier media reports.According to the Rio Tinto statement, the discussions are exploring possibilities ranging from a combination of specific assets to a full merger of operations. The current working assumption is that any potential transaction would be structured as a share-for-share acquisition of Glencore by Rio Tinto.No final decision on a deal has been made, and the specific terms of a possible merger remain unclear, the press release noted.Under UK takeover rules, Rio Tinto has until 5:00 p.m. London time on February 5, 2026, to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Glencore or to state that it does not intend to do so.Rio Tinto currently has a market capitalization of approximately $142 billion, while Glencore is valued at around $65 billion.Reports of merger talks between the two companies also surfaced a year ago, but were not confirmed by the parties at the time. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX