Links, Norton Rose seal DRC mining tie-up

Linklaters and Norton Rose have secured the merger of two mining giants with assets in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Linklaters' AIM-listed client Nikanor is merging with Norton Rose client Katanga to form a $3.3bn (£1.59bn) company that plans to list on the London and Toronto stock exchanges within five months.

Linklaters' team was led by head of mining Charlie Jacobs and corporate partner Robert Cleaver.

Co-advising Nikanor was Stikeman Elliott in Canada and Cains in the Isle of Man.

Norton Rose's team was led by projects partner Jonathan Brufal and Paris-based litigation co-chair Alexander Brabant.

Co-advising Toronto-listed Katanga was Canadian firm Cassels Brock & Blackwell and Appleby in Bermuda. Simmons & Simmons advised investment house RP Capital, which manages several businesses that hold shares in Katanga and Nikanor.