"can we interest newcrest in cto?

With 10 million inferred ounces we should either
get a good price or a good laugh

'SYDNEY (Dow Jones)--Newcrest Mining Ltd. (NCM.AU) Chief Executive Ian Smith said Wednesday the gold miner was considering merger and acquisition opportunities among distressed junior miners unable to develop deposits as well as producing companies.

"The next twelve months are rich with opportunities. We have two teams around the world looking at opportunities," he said at a lunch hosted by the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

"One team is looking at early entry, are there are any companies that may find themselves in a distressed position that have a really good resource that they can't develop. That's an opportunity for us to get involved, take over the exploration and deposits that companies can't develop." '