BHP seeks to break mining’s M&A curse with thorny Anglo deal

The last time BHP Group took a swing at another major miner, it was Rio Tinto back in 2007. That could have been a blockbuster $150-billion takeover, but with metals prices crashing as the financial crisis took hold and with China signaling its discontent, the plan crumbled. Having confirmed its takeover approach for rival Anglo American on Thursday, executives at the world’s biggest digger will be hoping for a better outcome this time — even with one of the most complex deals the industry has seen in years.