Updated: June 12, 2020
The mystery buyer for Guyana Goldfields was revealed to be China-based Zijin Mining. The two companies announced the binding arrangement agreement on June 12, where Zijin will acquire Guyana Goldfields for C$1.85 a share in cash.
“The all-cash offer from Zijin represents a significant premium to the amended Silvercorp offer price and is an excellent outcome for Guyana Goldfield’s shareholders,” Guyana Goldfields CEO Alan Pangbourne said. “Zijin is a highly regarded mining company with an impressive track record of successful international acquisitions and operations.
Chairman of Zijin said, “We believe that the Aurora mine is a high-quality gold asset with significant upside potential, which we believe will be highly complementary to Zijin’s existing mining asset portfolio.”
Zijin previously acquired Nevsun Resources in a takeover bid valued at US$1.41 billion back in 2018.
June 11, 2020: Last week, Guyana Goldfields received an offer from a foreign-based mining company to purchase all of its shares that was determined to be a “superior proposal” to the one made by Silvercorp Metals Inc. back in April. The offer valued Guyana Goldfields at C$323 million. Silvercorp. decided not to exercise its “right to match” and will not increase the consideration payable to Guyana Goldfields shareholders.
Following its initial offer, Silvercorp had amended its agreement in May, which valued the company at C$227 million.
The third party, which hasn’t been named, would provide a cash consideration of C$1.85 for each share and has also agreed to provide Guyana Goldfields with a US$30 million secured loan facility to finance ongoing operations of the Aurora gold mine and to fund other liquidity needs of the company.
Based on the closing price of the Silvercorp common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange as of June 3, the new proposal represents a premium of approximately 35% to the implied value of Silvercorp’s proposal.
If Guyana Goldfields terminates the arrangement agreement with Silvercorp. it will receive a termination fee of C$9 million.