Global mergers and acquisitions rebounded strongly in 2025, creating new opportunities for the Australian mining industry. Bain & Company’s Global M&A Report 2026 shows that confidence has returned to global dealmaking markets.
Global deal value increased 40 per cent year-on-year to reach $US4.9 trillion. Strategic M&A activity rose 42 per cent over the same period. This sharp uplift signals renewed appetite for growth through acquisition.
Australian miners are well positioned to benefit from this global M&A rebound. Companies can use strategic mining acquisitions to secure high-value assets, expand production pipelines and strengthen long-term market share.
The recovery was broad-based across industries and geographies. Even sectors facing structural pressure pursued transformative deals to reposition for growth.
Strategic Mining Acquisitions Drive Industry Growth
Strategic M&A is reshaping the global mining sector. Companies are pursuing bold transactions to accelerate growth, diversify commodity exposure and enter new jurisdictions.
Mega deals were a key driver of the 2025 surge in global mergers and acquisitions. Transactions accounted for more than 73 per cent of the total increase in deal value. Many of these large-scale deals involved infrequent acquirers willing to take decisive action.
This shift reflects growing boardroom confidence. Mining leaders are prepared to pursue high-impact acquisitions that can redefine their portfolios.
As Bain said “big-bet deals turn out to become make-or-break moves,” underscoring the scale of opportunity and risk. For Australian mining companies, the right acquisition could define the next decade of performance.
AI in M&A Is Transforming Mining Deal Strategy
Artificial intelligence is playing a larger role in mergers and acquisitions strategy. Companies now integrate AI into due diligence, valuation analysis and post-merger integration planning.
“AI’s role in dealmaking is everywhere,” Bain & Company’s report said. “According to our recent survey of more than 300 M&A executives, AI adoption for M&A more than doubled, to 45 per cent of practitioners, and its usage is more widespread across company types and within the M&A value chain.”
Mining companies can apply AI to assess ore body quality, model production outcomes and forecast operational efficiencies. AI-powered tools also identify cost synergies and uncover hidden risks during the due diligence process.
By embedding digital capability into the M&A value chain, miners improve decision speed and strengthen competitive positioning during contested deals.
Capital Allocation and Long-Term Mining Strategy
Mergers and acquisitions must compete with other capital allocation priorities such as dividends, debt reduction and organic expansion. However, strategic mining acquisitions often provide faster entry into high-demand commodities like copper and critical minerals.
Bain noted that strategic deals allow companies to move confidently into new markets, expand operational capabilities and capture synergies that support long-term growth.
Australian miners that balance disciplined capital management with bold strategic M&A may secure premium assets ahead of competitors. As global deal activity accelerates, decisive action will likely separate market leaders from followers.
