Gold Fields adds C$77M to Founders Metals in Suriname gold push
What's the deal? Gold FieldsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, one of the world's largest gold miners, is investing another C$77 million ($55.7 million) to raise its stake in Suriname explorer Founders MetalsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → to just under 20%. The post-IPO equity deal values Vancouver-based Founders at $703 million.
Where the money goes: The funds help Founders buy out local partner Nana ResourcesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → at the Antino gold project. Nana is selling its 30% interest in Lawa GoldDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, which holds the Antino mineral rights and infrastructure.
The buyout costs $17 million in cash, 13.6 million shares, and up to $21 million in milestone payments. The consolidation gives Founders a royalty-free full interest in the 1,024km² Antino district.
Why now? Founders is stepping up work across one of Suriname's largest contiguous gold land packages. It is running a fully funded 70,000m drill programme in 2026 and has yet to publish an initial resource for Antino.
What's the endgame? Consolidating all of Lawa Gold hands the explorer control of the entire district. Chief executive officer Colin Padget called it "a defining moment for Founders" as "we enter the most important phase of its growth."
Padget described Gold Fields' investment as "a powerful endorsement." Fellow global miner B2GoldDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has also invested in Founders.
Shares in Founders gained 5.7% to C$6.08 in Toronto on Wednesday, against a 52-week low of C$3.08.
The signal: The round sits near the middle of the funding pack by size, but the backing from two major producers points to growing outside confidence in Suriname as a gold frontier before Founders has even released a maiden resource.
Read more: The Northern Miner
Image credit: Founders Metals
