Northern Star Resources, an Australian gold producer, agreed to merge with Saracen Mineral, a gold growth company with three mines on the doorstep of Kalgoorlie, in a $12bn deal. Upon implementation of the scheme, Northern Star shareholders will own 64% of the combined entity and Saracen shareholders will own the remaining 36%. “This is one of the most logical and strategic M&A transactions the mining industry has seen. The savings, the synergies and the growth opportunities it will generate make the transaction extremely compelling. In short, it is a unique opportunity for Saracen shareholders unlikely to be replicated via any other avenue,” Raleigh Finlayson, Saracen Mineral Managing Director.