John Thornton, an ex-investment banker at the center of a wave of consolidation in the gold space, has just put his largest rival on the defensive.
Thornton is executive chairman at Barrick Gold Corp, the world’s second-largest gold producer. On Friday, Barrick confirmed it is considering merging with Newmont Mining Corp, the biggest producer, in an all-share zero premium deal that would be the largest ever pulled off in the gold mining industry.