en.Wedoany.com Reported - Canadian gold producer Equinox Gold Corp. (TSX: EQX, NYSE American: EQX) announced on May 13, 2026, that it will acquire Canadian gold mining company Orla Mining Ltd. (TSX: OLA, NYSE American: ORLA) in an all-stock deal plus a nominal cash consideration, forming a North American gold producer with a market capitalization of approximately $18.5 billion. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to shareholder votes from both parties and regulatory approvals.
Equinox Gold is a diversified gold producer headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, founded in late 2017 by renowned mining entrepreneur Ross Beaty, who serves as Chairman. The company operates seven producing gold mines in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Nicaragua, achieving a record gold production of 922,827 ounces in 2025. Its key Canadian assets include the Greenstone Gold Mine in Ontario and the Valentine Gold Mine in Newfoundland and Labrador. Orla Mining Ltd. was incorporated in Alberta, Canada in 2007, also headquartered in Vancouver, with a strategy focused on acquiring, developing, and operating mineral resources. Its primary assets include the Camino Rojo gold-silver mine in Zacatecas, Mexico, the Musselwhite Gold Mine in Ontario, the South Carlin mining district in Nevada, USA, and the Cerro Quema gold project in Panama.
Under the terms of the transaction, each share of Orla Mining will be exchanged for one share of Equinox Gold common stock plus a nominal cash consideration of $0.0001. Upon completion, existing Equinox Gold shareholders will hold approximately 67% of the combined company, while Orla Mining shareholders will hold approximately 33%. The combined company will retain the Equinox Gold name and is expected to produce approximately 1.1 million ounces of gold from six operating mines in 2026, with an operational footprint spanning Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Nicaragua. In the long term, through internal growth from projects such as Greenstone, Valentine, and Camino Rojo, the company's annual production is expected to further increase to between 1.9 million and 2.0 million ounces.
Equinox Gold CEO Darren Hall will remain in his current role, while Orla Mining's current CEO Jason Simpson will assume the position of President. This merger positions the new company as Canada's second-largest gold producer, trailing only Agnico Eagle, and is expected to deliver per-share earnings growth in the quarter immediately following completion.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
