BHP says its management team specifically requested investment bank Barrenjoey help with an $8.3 billion bid for OZ Minerals and the request was approved despite a vow that Barrenjoey would not advise BHP on deals because of Ken MacKenzie’s involvement with both companies.

Barrenjoey and Citi were on Monday revealed by Street Talk to be advising BHP on the $8.3 billion bid for OZ, which would help BHP to consolidate Australia’s major copper and nickel mining provinces.