Anglo’s Go-To Banker Drives Teck Deal After Seeing Off BHP

Centerview Partners LLC banker James Hartop has his own badge to get into Anglo American Plc’s headquarters near London’s diamond district. Rival advisers wait to be called in. It’s a symbol of the dealmaker’s bond with the century-old miner, and his crucial role in protecting it – most recently just last year when BHP Group made a $49 billion bid for its smaller rival.

That relationship meant that Hartop took the lead for Anglo as it negotiated with the Canadian miner Teck Resources Ltd., according to people with knowledge of the negotiations. The deal, which would create a $50 billion copper giant, is one of the largest in the sector in years.