SYDNEY, KYIV, 2 JUNE 2008 – Almost 90% of the world’s largest mining companies expect to grow through acquisition in the next two years, according to a new global report, The year of the hunters and the hunted, released by Ernst & Young. The report – based on interviews with 70% of the top 40 global mining and metals companies – reflects the sector’s confidence in the boom continuing, with 40% of respondents only able to meet their aggressive growth targets through acquisition.

Michael Elliott, global mining and metals leader at Ernst & Young, says, “The appetite for further transactions is strong and the sector is cash-rich. Resource security concerns are inspiring new acquirers and the credit crunch is providing new challenges for junior mining companies – 2008 will be the year that defines the hunters and the hunted.”

“Despite the global credit market, the rate of consolidation is not only likely to continue but could accelerate in the short-to-medium term, with the possibility of three US$50 billion-plus deals before the end of the year,” says Elliott.

“The credit crunch does not seem to be having a significant impact on the sector. While the cost of debt has soared, we are not aware of any otherwise bankable transactions in the sector that have not been completed because of debt availability issues.”

Even when the liquidity of debt markets was shrinking, the mining sector still proved an attractive sector for lenders with Ernst & Young analysis showing nearly 60% of 2007 loans were made in the second half of the year.

Of particular note in 2007 was the emergence of China in the mining bond market, with Chinese bond issues increasing from just four in 2006 to 28 in 2007, accounting for nearly a third of all mining and metals bonds last year.

The credit crisis is however having an impact on the IPO market in the sector, with the amount listed from IPOs stagnant in the second half of 2007, a trend that has continued into 2008.

“Despite this there is still capital available as evidenced by the US$3 billion raised in the float of Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) in December which was the second largest mining and metals IPO ever.”

More than US$20 billion was raised by mining companies via IPOs in 2007, with the UK, US, Canada and Australia accounting for US$14.7 billion of this or 73% of the total funds raised by the sector last year.

Overall in 2007, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the mining and metals sector reached a record level with 903 deals worth US$210.8 billion completed. The number and value of deals has steadily increased in recent years, up 130% since 2000 (392 deals worth US$38.7 billion).

Ernst & Young expects to see more divestment activity in the market through the rest of 2008 as some companies look to take advantage of high prices and offload non-core assets. Elliott says this will also be driven by the need to pay down acquisition debts, sell-off high cost mines and in some cases forced sales due to competition regulations.

Ernst & Young’s analysis of deal activity in the sector also highlights the increasing globalization of the sector, with a steady increase in crossborder mining deals since 2003.

“In 2003, cross border deals were worth US$17.5 billion and accounted for 38% of all transactions in the mining and metals sector. Last year cross border transactions topped US$122.7 billion and accounted for 58% of all deals by value.”

Similarly the survey results highlight the sector’s increasing risk appetite, with 43% of mining companies surveyed saying there are no territories they would avoid when looking to acquire assets overseas.

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Natalia Partach 
Ernst & Young PR Specialist 
(044) 490 3000 
Natalia.Partach@ua.ey.com

About the report

For “2007 The Year of the Hunters and the Hunted: The Mining & Metals Global Transactions Survey” Ernst & Young surveyed 28 of the top 40 global mining houses, including six of the top 10 by market capitalization. The interviews were carried out in late 2007. The report represents their views on the key challenges and issues involved in making deals in this period of strong commodity prices and sustained commodity demand.

For “2007 The Year of the Hunters and the Hunted: Mergers, Acquisitions and Capital Raising in the Mining and Metals Sector” Ernst & Young examined transactions and financing in the mining and metals sector for 2007, including M&A, IPOs, bonds, loans and project finance.

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