South Africa's Gold Fields Ltd's is set to become one of the four biggest gold miners in the world after agreeing to acquire Canada-based Yamana Gold in a $6.7 billion all-share deal, the biggest in the region in years.
Shares in the South Africa-listed mining company fell 20%, though, and investors voiced concern about dilution on a call with Gold Fields CEO Chris Griffith and Yamana CEO Peter Marrone. Yamana shares rose as much as 8.6% on the deal, and were last up 4.2%.
Credit Suisse analysts said the premium Gold Fields agreed to pay for Yamana - 31% above Yamana's latest close - was "considerably higher" than in other recent gold deals.