Burson Buchanan Mining: Advising on landmark deals in 2025 and what’s next for 2026
2025 was a tumultuous year for the global mining industry – defined by seismic geopolitical shifts and events, the expansion of U.S. tariffs across global markets and executive reshuffles at some of the major players in the commodities world – all topped off by a dramatic resurgence of M&A across the industry.
Against this dynamic backdrop, precious metals prices leaped to historic heights, with gold smashing through all previous records to reach an unprecedented ~$4,500/oz during the year and silver surging to ~$80/oz over the festive break. Strategic metals including copper, rare earths, as well as base metals, also reached new heights.
Strategic Assets, Scarcity, and the Revival of Large-Cap Deals
Beyond our own impactful work, the industry buzzed with transaction activity in 2025 – from the US$53bn Anglo-Teck merger to Rio Tinto’s acquisition of Arcadium Lithium, accelerating its position in the critical mineral, as well as the captivating ‘will they, won’t they’ saga of BHP’s potential bid for Anglo American.
During Burson Buchanan’s pivotal four-year partnership with ASX/LSE-listed Adriatic Metals, our strategic guidance helped transform a promising exploration company in the rich and historic (but largely untapped) Balkan region into a highly attractive acquisition target, culminating in the US$1.3bn takeover by TSX-listed DPM Metals in September, which saw shareholders quadruple their investment value since Burson Buchanan got involved.
Most recently, we continue to advise ASX-listed Predictive Discovery on its merger with Robex Resources, which received 95% of votes from Robex shareholders in December for the deal, creating a powerhouse West African-focused gold company. Our team provided unparalleled communications guidance, navigating intense competitive tension, including a bidding war with Perseus Mining. This transformative merger will create a combined entity valued at c.$3bn, with annualised production of over 400,000 oz/Au per annum, creating Guinea’s largest gold mining operation, with a strong foothold in the burgeoning African gold mining market.
2025 was an extraordinary year for the Burson Buchanan team, where we guided our clients through complex, high-value transactions across geographical borders, diverse regulatory environments, and international investor bases, consistently setting new benchmarks in a booming commodities market.
Outlook for 2026: Navigating the Next Wave
Looking ahead to 2026, the triple currents of volatile geopolitics, the US narrative of securing critical metals supply in the face of Sino/Russian tensions, and robust investor appetite for tangible assets show no signs of abating. With commodity prices poised to remain strong, driven by demand and ongoing strategic shifts, and M&A activity maintaining its dynamic pace, the stage is set for another year of significant opportunity and strategic manoeuvring. This has already kicked off with a potential Rio Tinto-Glencore merger back in the headlines. Burson Buchanan, with the foundations of access to the principal capital markets of the US, London, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, remains strategically positioned to leverage our deep expertise and proven track record to guide our clients through these evolving landscapes. Looking ahead, we remain focused on providing clients with the guidance and counsel needed to capitalise on the next wave of strategic opportunities.
Connect with Burson Buchanan at Mining Indaba 2026
The Burson Buchanan team will be at Mining Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa, this February. We look forward to engaging with our clients, industry leaders and wider networks, and discussing the opportunities ahead in 2026 and beyond. Get in touch to find out which of our clients will be in attendance and how to connect via Buchanan Mining.
We are also hosting our annual charity Diggers versus Dealers cricket match on Sunday 8 February in Camps Bay, Cape Town. Please contact Romina Fiori if you and your colleagues wish to attend.
Here’s to making 2026 another year of impactful partnerships and extraordinary success.
