Brazilian metals and energy tycoon Eike Batista has had his sights set on Colombia’s red-hot California gold district for well over a year. In February 2011, Batista’s EBX Group — through Canadian subsidiaries AUX — paid US$1.5 billion for Ventana Gold and its flagship La Bodega-La Mascota deposit, 400 km northeast of Bogota.
On Oct. 19, the Brazilian group looked to consolidate its regional play through bids for Toronto-based explorers Galway Resources (GWY-V) and Calvista Gold (CVZ-T).
There had been speculation mid-year about Batista’s interest in Galway’s California concessions, which are along strike and contiguous to the La Bodega-La Mascota deposit. In September, Galway released its maiden resource estimate on the deposit, which encompassed 2.4 million indicated tonnes grading 5.53 grams gold per tonne for 424,000 contained oz., at a 2-gram gold cut-off. The project holds an additional 3.9 million inferred tonnes averaging 5.38 grams gold for 666,000 contained oz. gold.
Under terms of AUX’s offer, Galway shareholders will receive $2.05 in cash per share, 0.9 of a share in a new company that will hold Galway’s Vetas gold project and a share in a new company that will hold the Victorio tungsten-molybdenum project.
The newly formed companies will be capitalized to the tune of US$18 million and US$12 million, with shareholders accounting for 90% ownership in the Vetas spin-out and 100% in the Victorio spin-out. The price per share represents a 47% premium over the 20-day, volume-weighted average for Galway’s shares.
“We are extremely pleased with this transaction, as we believe it represents great value for shareholders,” Galway president and CEO Robert Hinchcliffe comments, adding that at Vetas and Victorio, “both projects have excellent infrastructure and tremendous geological upside.”
Batista negotiated a 10% stake in the Vetas spin-out, as well as the right to name a representative to the company’s board of directors. Galway’s wholly owned Vetas project consists of the Reina de Oro and Coloro properties, which lie 8 km southeast of California in Colombia’s Vetas gold mining district.
Galway announced results from 28 holes at Vetas on Oct. 11. The program is focused on expanding mineralization at the historic El Volcan mine, as well as testing six newly identified surface anomalies.
Galway made a discovery from surface in hole 61 when it cut 26 grams gold over 4.2 metres at 280 metres depth. The discovery lies 150 metres northeast of high-grade results released by CB Gold (CBJ-V) in September. Ross Beaty’s Lumina Capital holds around a 10% stake in CB Gold, and amassed the second-largest position in Ventana during Batista’s takeover in 2011.
Galway’s shares have popped around 41%, or 63¢, since news of the takeover hit markets on Oct. 19. The company has 126 million shares outstanding and a $274-million press-time market capitalization.
Calvista holds a 1.5 sq. km slice of the California district in its Buenavista and Callejon Blanco prospects. The acquisition makes sense, considering the land lies in the middle of Galway’s California project and Batista’s La Bodega-La Mascota deposit.
On Sept. 26, Calvista announced a resource update on its Buenavista and Callejon Blanco deposits that totalled 4 million indicated tonnes grading 3.49 grams gold and 15.77 grams silver, for 452,218 contained oz. gold and 2.04 million contained oz. silver at a 2-gram gold cut-off.
AUX’s offer for Calvista includes $1.10 in cash per share, as well as monetary considerations for all outstanding options. The price represents a 62% premium on Calvista’s Oct. 18 closing price of 68¢ per share, and a 100% premium on its 10-day, volume-weighted average of 55¢ per share. To date, 26% of Calvista’s shareholders have entered into lock-up agreements and agreed to vote in favour of the deal.
“[The arrangement] is a result of a compelling proposal received by the Board of Directors,” Calvista CEO Mark Haywood states, outlining that the offer recognizes the growth potential in the company’s assets and allows shareholders to realize immediate cash.
Calvista’s shares have leapt 55%, or 38¢, since the offer was tendered on Oct. 19. The company had been on a run after reporting its maiden resource estimate and receiving its environmental permits in May, but the AUX offer premium appeared too much to resist for management. Calvista is a single-asset company with 54 million shares outstanding, and a $57-million press time market cap.
Is Ike Batista going to develop the COLOMBIAN gold rich properties and list the interests on TSX Stock exchange?
If so, when can we expect that the development and mining extraction will take place?
Even at the current price of gold, the AUX gold properties in Colombia represent a great value and it should not be difficult to find Financiers and Banks for raise the necessary funds, for the ultimate development of the gold rich properties.
Is Mr. Ike Batista currently planing the to activate the developments?