BHP’s sweeter $9.6b offer for OZ Minerals wins over board

BETTER BID Daniel Newell

BHP has finally won over the board of takeover target OZ Minerals as the Big Australian looks to expand its portfolio of so-called future-facing commodities.

OZ Minerals emerged from a two-day trading halt on Friday announcing it had received an improved offer of $28.25 a share from BHP, valuing the company at $9.6 billion.

BHP is hoped OZ’s Prominent Hill and Carapeteena copper mines in South Australia can offer synergies with its existing Olympic Dam mine and Oak Dam project.

Copper is seen as a key metal in the energy transition due to its importance in electricity networks, renewable energy and electric vehicles.