How can investors benefit from mining sector mergers?

MoneyWeek article: Soaring commodity prices have left the mining industry awash with cash, encouraging firms to join in with the mergers and acquisitions boom that has set the rest of the equity markets alight. But who will be next to enter the consolidation race? And should investors target bidders or targets?

Soaring commodity prices have left the mining industry awash with cash, encouraging firms to join in with the mergers and acquisitions boom that has set the rest of the equity markets alight. This week saw US group Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (NYSE:FCX) buy Phelps Dodge (NYSE: PD) for $25.9bn in a deal that will see Freeport overtake BHP Billiton (ASX:BHP) as the world's largest publicly traded copper producer, with combined annual revenue of $16.6bn (although Grupo Mexico may yet pitch in with a rival bid).

It's an abrupt change of status for Phelps Dodge; less than six months ago, the company was a potential predator in a protracted six-way bidding fight for control of Canadian nickel producers Falconbridge and Inco (NTC:INCLF). It offered $40bn for control of both firms, but was thwarted by the deeper pockets of its rivals. Swiss mining group Xstrata (LON:XTA) took Falconbridge, while Brazil's CVRD picked up Inco. Ever since then, Phelps Dodge has been a sitting duck, with either Freeport or Grupo Mexico expected to pounce at any time.

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Graham Buck

Graham has spent the past three years as a cash management editor at Deutsche Bank. Graham started off as a Risk Management Professional editor at Perspective Publishing for two years, then became a writer at The Treasurer for 5 years and then an editor at gtnews.com for 5 years. He then freelanced for 5 years where he reported on corporate treasury issues, risk management, insurance/reinsurance and pensions. Graham has a degree in English Literature from the University of Bristol and he has contributed to MoneyWeek’s share tips.