BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have announced changes to a planned $US116 billion ($126.87 billion) merger of their iron ore operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
In a move likely aimed at appeasing regulators, the mining companies scrapped plans to jointly market up to 15 per cent of production from their operations.
The companies in June announced a non-binding agreement to tie-up involving all their WA iron ore assets, to unlock production and development synergies worth more than $US10 billion ($10.94 billion).
"Following discussions between the two companies, Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton have decided not to proceed with the joint venture marketing activity," they said in a joint statement said.
"As a result, all production from the proposed joint venture would be marketed separately by Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton."
The companies said the change would "clarify the nature of the joint venture" for customers and emphasise the focus on production synergies.
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