BHP debates improved bid

In talks: Two men stand at Anglo American’s El Soldado copper mine in Chile. BHP’s acquisition of Anglo would be the industry’s biggest deal in over a decade and would create the world’s biggest copper producer. — Reuters

LONDON: With time running out on its US$43bil pursuit of Anglo American Plc, BHP Group faces a critical question: what would it take to draw the smaller company to the negotiating table within the next few days?

BHP’s plan to partially break up and then acquire Anglo has transfixed the mining industry by pitting two of its biggest names against each other in a public tussle.