{"id":23331,"date":"2026-03-02T21:22:33","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T21:22:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/23331\/"},"modified":"2026-03-02T21:22:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T21:22:33","slug":"rio-tinto-and-glencore-abandon-200bn-mega-merger-over-valuation-concerns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/23331\/","title":{"rendered":"Rio Tinto and Glencore abandon \u00a3200bn mega merger over valuation concerns"},"content":{"rendered":"

By ANGHARAD CARRICK, BUSINESS NEWS EDITOR<\/a> <\/a> <\/p>\n

Updated: 10:56 EST, 5 February 2026 <\/p>\n

Rio Tinto and Glencore have abandoned plans for a \u00a3200billion mega merger that would have created the world\u2019s largest mining group.<\/p>\n

In a statement, Rio Tinto said it \u2018could not reach an agreement that would deliver value to its shareholders.\u2019<\/p>\n

It is the third failed attempt to merge the commodities giants after talks failed in 2014 and 2024.<\/p>\n

Glencore said the key terms of the potential offer, which would see Rio Tinto retaining both chairman and chief executive, \u2018significantly undervalued\u2019 its contribution to the combined group.<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The \u00a3200bn merger would have created a copper and mining giant\u00a0<\/p>\n

It added that Rio Tinto had not adequately valued Glencore\u2019s copper business and growth pipeline and therefore was \u2018not in the best interests of Glencore shareholders.\u2019<\/p>\n

The proposed tie-up, which was revealed last month, would have created a mining and copper powerhouse with operations all over the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The merger would have been valued at close to \u00a3200billion including cash and debt.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The price of copper, which has multiple uses including in solar panels, has soared to record highs before pulling back.<\/p>\n

While both Glencore and Rio Tinto are big copper producers, analysts had previously warned that a merger could prove difficult.<\/p>\n

Maurizio Carulli, global energy and materials analyst at Quilter Cheviot, said that the integration would be \u2018far from straightforward given the stark differences in corporate culture and the diversity of their asset bases.\u2019<\/p>\n

In its statement today, Glencore said its ‘standalone investment case is strong’ with a ‘well-diversified business across a range of commodities.’\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shares in Glencore plunged 8.5 per cent following the news.<\/p>\n

This is a developing story\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\n Rio Tinto and Glencore abandon \u00a3200bn mega merger over valuation concerns<\/p>\n