End of Boom Forces Miners to Review $616 Billion of Deals

A proposed spinoff by BHP Billiton Ltd. of about $15 billion in assets signals the start of a new round of disposals as the biggest mining companies adapt to the end of a boom for commodities.

With Anglo American Plc fielding offers on a weekly basis for mines and Rio Tinto Group last month dumping Mozambique coal assets for a fraction of what it paid three years ago, producers are streamlining in the wake of China-led minerals demand that drove record profits as metals prices soared.