Private-Equity Mining Deals Seen Rising in 2016 as Majors Sell

The value of private-equity deals in the mining industry will rise this year from $3.2 billion in 2015 as top producers seeking to cut the fat amid a global commodity rout offload unwanted operations, according to U.K. law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner.

“The majors are looking to divest a lot more,” Alexander Keepin, head of mining at BLP, said in a phone interview. “There should be a point where the value expectations of the majors and the cash available from the private-equity groups means that there will be more transactions.”