Ann: IRC: Signs Exclusivity Deed for potential acquisition, page-12

Looks like MRP & IRC managements were thinking outside the box and ahead of majors in gold sector:

"A Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, reported on a potential takeover attempt involving the two companies, saying that Barrick would keep Newmont’s Nevada and African mines, while Australia’s Newcrest Mining would take over the Australian operations"...
...

“It would seem to me that it’s a continuation of this wave of consolidation that we’ve seen in the gold sector that began with the Barrick-Randgold merger,” said Colin Cieszynski, chief market strategist at SIA Wealth Management. “If this is true…it would be a sign that managements are seeing value in the sector and are being opportunistic in trying to scoop up assets.

“Clearly, this will be putting pressure on a number of other companies out there – pretty much everybody – to follow suit. This could accelerate the wave of mergers in the sector. We’ve been expecting to see more mergers in the sector anyway.”

Other producers may want to avoid being “left behind,” waiting until the potential purchase prices of other companies rise further, or prized takeover targets get snapped up, Cieszynski explained."

https://www.*****.com/news/2019-02-22/Barrick-Newmont-Report-Seen-As-Sign-Of-Continuing-Consolidation.html