ENDEAVOUR Mining CEO Ian Cockerill said speculation in June linking his company with Barrick Mining made no sense because he would only be likely to back mergers and acquisitions if they reduced the firm’s political risk. Reuters reported Barrick was weighing an all-share deal to hive off its African assets into Endeavour Mining and then list in London. One of Barrick’s largest mines in Africa is Loulo-Gounkoto in Mali in West Africa. Endeavour has a project in Mali called Kalana which it wrote down for $9.5m in 2025 following a $133.1m impairment the previous year. Responding to a question on M&A, Cockerill said Endeavour was alive to opportunities, but its focus was on exploration.