@shikapatI do find it strange about 3-5 years back, when NST Acquired EAR. SLR Acquired EGA. Shandong Acquired CDV. RMS acquired SPX, Goldsea attempting to acquire AME etc it was widely talked about and the market was pretty bullish on finding the next company with a project that would be acquired.
Lately we're seeing plenty of transactions in a very short period of time with better valuations. However, instead, this time, the market is full bearish and muted. It's a ashame, because, for many of the recent transactions, there wasn't much buying in the lead up to the announcement of the acquisition so plenty missed out.
But, anyone that analyse the market should/would be able to pick up that almost all companies with well defined open pit constrained resource gets taken out.
I think we have a great resource base, easy low risk resource growth, good mets, good location, access to water, power, port, workforce 2hrs away, access to infrastructure, stared permitting process etc. ticks all the boxes of the trends you see in the aforementioned that would make a project a good acquisition target.
