Anglo-Teck merger momentum is building after an EU filing signaled a smooth competition review. Regulators are treating the case as “simplified,” which usually means few concerns.
EU review points to a fast clearance track
A European Commission filing indicates the Anglo-Teck merger is expected to receive EU antitrust approval. The case is being handled under the Commission’s simplified procedure.
Reuters reported the Commission’s formal competition decision is due on February 10, 2026. That date matters because it sets a clear near-term timeline for one of the mining sector’s biggest consolidation moves.
Simplified handling is not automatic approval, but it is a strong signal. The Commission uses this track when it does not see the deal creating “significant competition problems.” In those situations, it typically runs a routine Phase I check.
A second EU track: the Foreign Subsidies Regulation
Alongside classic antitrust, the Anglo-Teck merger is also being assessed under the EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR). Reuters cited an expected FSR decision date of February 3, 2026, which comes a week before the antitrust deadline.
The FSR is designed to address situations where non-EU financial support could distort competition inside the EU. Under the rules, some mergers must be notified when EU turnover hits €500 million and foreign financial contributions exceed €50 million over three years.
This creates a practical reality for large cross-border deals. The Anglo-Teck merger is not only about market shares. It is also about how capital and state-linked financing move through supply chains.
Why copper is driving the Anglo-Teck merger logic
The Anglo-Teck merger would create what Reuters described as the world’s fifth-largest copper company. Copper is central to grids, EVs, and data centers, so scale carries strategic value.
The Anglo-Teck merger also fits a broader pattern. Mining groups are trying to lock in long-life assets while grades decline and permitting grows harder. That pressure tends to reward big balance sheets.
Copper’s role is not only industrial. It is also geopolitical. Governments now treat supply resilience as a policy goal. That mindset can shape merger reviews, even when overlaps look modest.
Canada has already cleared the deal
One major hurdle is already behind the companies. Canada has approved the Anglo-Teck merger, and Reuters described the process as unusually fast for a transaction of this size.
Canada’s approval matters for two reasons.
First, it reduces the number of “hard stops” that can derail the Anglo-Teck merger. Second, it shifts attention to other jurisdictions, especially the EU, where copper’s strategic status can raise sensitivity.
What “simplified procedure” really implies
The Commission’s simplified procedure is meant for deals that are unlikely to raise competition concerns. The EU has also pushed reforms to streamline reviews for unproblematic cases.
For the Anglo-Teck merger, simplified treatment suggests regulators currently see limited risk of:
Higher prices due to reduced rivalry.
Reduced output or investment.
Harm to downstream buyers that rely on steady concentrates.
Still, the Commission can ask questions, seek market feedback, and impose remedies if facts change. A “simple” case can also become more complex if third parties raise credible concerns.
What could still change before February 10
Even with a favorable signal, the Anglo-Teck merger faces three watchpoints.
1) Concentration narratives in copper
Copper is politically sensitive. If customers argue the Anglo-Teck merger could tighten contract terms, regulators may probe harder. That risk is higher if other copper deals move in parallel.
2) FSR scrutiny and disclosure burden
FSR reviews can create heavy information demands. Companies may need to detail foreign financial contributions across many entities. That compliance load can affect timing and negotiation leverage.
3) Remedies and behavioral commitments
Even if competition issues look small, regulators can seek commitments. In mining, that can include supply assurances, reporting, or constraints on exclusivity.
The bottom line
The Anglo-Teck merger is now on a credible path to EU clearance, with a February 10, 2026 competition decision and a February 3, 2026 foreign-subsidies milestone.
If the EU green-lights the Anglo-Teck merger as expected, it would strengthen the case for a wider copper consolidation cycle. It would also show how modern dealmaking must clear both antitrust and subsidy-related scrutiny.