Barrick Split Proposal Puts Nevada Gold Assets in M&A Spotlight

Barrick Mining Corp.’s proposal to hive off its US assets from its sprawling portfolio in riskier countries will pique the interest of rival miners, according to analysts.

A spinoff housing Barrick’s joint-venture interests and the Fourmile discovery in the state of Nevada, as well as a mine in the Dominican Republic, would be attractive to Newmont Corp.and Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd., Jefferies analysts wrote Monday.

“It’s an easier acquisition to execute versus current Barrick because it’s smaller and doesn’t require divesting non-core assets in challenging jurisdictions,” a group of Jefferies analysts including Fahad Tariq wrote.

Neither Newmont ...