MAJOR mining houses are stalking the former Brett Kebble companies, Randgold & Exploration (R&E) and JCI, ready to pounce as soon as a merger between the two theft-ridden companies is complete.

This emerged after a fiery meeting on Friday at R&E, where angry shareholders almost succeeded in booting the chairman, Investec’s David Nurek, out of the company.

Speaking after the meeting, Peter Gray, CEO of both R&E and JCI, said that “low-key talks” were being held with a number of mining houses keen to buy the mining company that will emerge when the remnants of Kebble’s two firms are stitched together.