Chinese company completes acquisition of Guyana Goldfields

Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd. (CNW Group/Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd.)
Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd. (CNW Group/Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd.)

Chinese miner, Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd and Canadian miner, Guyana Goldfields Inc (GGI) today  announced the conclusion of their arrangement where Zijin acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Region Seven-based company.

In a release today the two announced the completion of the previously announced statutory plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act.

GGI’s Aurora’s mine is in transition from pit mining to underground mining and hundreds of workers have been laid off as a result. When the large-scale gold miner resumes operations at the Cuyuni-Mazaruni mine it will be under the ownership of the Chinese company.

Pursuant to the Arrangement between Zijin and GGI, Zijin acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of GGI not already owned by Zijin. Each Guyana shareholder is entitled to receive cash consideration of C$1.85 per Share held, the release said.

Further details of the Arrangement are set out in Guyana’s management information circular dated June 26, 2020. Registered Guyana shareholders should send their completed and executed letters of transmittal and certificates representing their Shares to the depositary, TSX Trust Company, in compliance with the instructions contained in the letter of transmittal, as soon as possible in order to receive the consideration to which such shareholders are entitled pursuant to the Arrangement. A copy of the Circular and the letter of transmittal were filed on SEDAR on July 3, 2020 and can be found under Guyana’s profile at www.sedar.com, the release said. The letter of transmittal can also be accessed on Guyana’s website at www.guygold.com.

GGI and Zijin expect the shares to be delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange within one to three business days. Zijin will also apply for Guyana to cease to be a reporting issuer under applicable Canadian securities laws.

Formed in 1993, the release said that Zijin is based in Fujian, China and is a leading global mining company specializing in gold, copper, zinc and other mineral resource exploration and development.