Snakebite Strategy for China's Metals Leader

Minmetals Resources Ltd. owns the planet's second-largest zinc mine as well as sizeable mineral reserves in Laos and Canada. Indeed, the Hong Kong-listed company is a major global player as well as China's largest metals trader.

But in a world of mining elephants, Minmetals has been called a modest beast. That's why some have compared its latest takeover bid to a snake trying to swallow an elephant.