Westgold Resources (ASX:WGX,OTCQX:WGXRF) and Karora Resources (TSX:KRR,OTCQX:KRRGF) have inked a deal to merge with the aim of creating a new powerhouse in the gold industry.
‘The prize here is Beta Hunt’s gold potential,’ emphasised Wayne Bramwell, managing director and CEO of Westgold. The combined company will have a production capacity of over 400,000 ounces per year.
“Rarely do you find a gold asset of the quality and potential of Beta Hunt hiding in a nickel belt and drilling is expected to further unlock value at this mine,” he added. “Westgold welcomes the Karora team, shareholders and stakeholders to the Westgold family and looks forward to creating value across two of Western Australia’s most iconic goldfields.”
Westgold is to acquire all of Karora’s issued and outstanding common shares through a statutory plan of arrangement.
Karora shareholders will receive 2.524 Westgold fully paid ordinary shares, AU$0.68 in cash and 0.3 of a share in a new company to be demerged from Karora, dubbed SpinCo, for each Karora share held at the closing of the transaction. This equates to about AU$6.60 per Karora share based on Westgold’s April 5 closing share price on the ASX of AU$2.28.
SpinCo will inherit assets including Karora’s existing 22.1 percent interest in Kali Metals (ASX:KM1,OTC Pink:KLIMF), a 1 percent lithium royalty on certain mining interests held by Kali, the right to receive a deferred consideration payment due to Karora relating to the on-sale of the Dumont asset and AU$6 million in cash.
The deal represents a 10.1 percent premium to Karora’s TSX closing share price of AU$5.995 on April 5, and is an 18.9 percent premium to Karora’s 20 day volume-weighted average price on the TSX.
Upon completion of the transaction, Westgold shareholders will possess a 50.1 percent stake in the combined entity, while former Karora shareholders will hold 49.9 percent. The enlarged Westgold is anticipated to boast a market capitalisation of approximately AU$2.2 billion.
Karora Chairman and CEO Paul Huet anticipates that the merger, with an estimated AU$490 million in synergies, will unlock substantial value for shareholders through optimised operations and enhanced profitability.
“With the combination of Westgold and Karora, we are taking the next step by combining two highly complementary, free cash flow generating asset bases in one of the world’s finest mining jurisdictions to create a premier Western Australian mid-tier gold producer,” he highlighted in a press release.
Shifting trends in Australian mining M&A
This deal marks the latest in a series of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the Australian mining sector this year, and is indicative of a broader trend of consolidation and strategic realignment within the industry.
According to GlobalData’s deals database, the Australian mining industry recorded 62 M&A deals in the fourth quarter of 2023, with their value totaling US$2.8 billion. The largest disclosed deal was the majority acquisition of Azure Minerals by Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (NYSE:SQM), valued at US$900 million.
Despite those numbers, there was a noticeable decline in M&A activity during the period. M&A activity decreased by 35 percent in terms of value compared to the previous quarter and plummeted by 67 percent compared to Q4 2022.
However, investments in Australia’s green metals space are expected to gain momentum as companies seek to capitalise on the country’s vast resources and favorable mining policies. Australia’s stability and investment-friendly environment make it a preferred destination for mining M&A activities.
With lower risks and rich mineral reserves, particularly in Western Australia, the region continues to attract significant investment from both domestic and international players.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.