Equinox-Orla Merger Creates $18B North American Gold Giant

Equinox Gold and Orla Mining have announced a planned all-stock transaction to create a North American-focused senior gold producer with roughly 1.1 million ounces of annual production and a development pipeline to 1.9 million ounces. Darren Hall, President and CEO of Equinox Gold, and Jason Simpson, President and CEO of Orla Mining, join Kitco Mining’s Paul Harris to discuss the May 13, 2026, deal and what it means for gold-sector consolidation.The transaction is expected to create a company with 23 million ounces of reserves and an expected market capitalization of about $18 billion to $19 billion. Hall said the companies are combining from a position where both are undervalued, while the merger could create a senior-producer profile “which no company on its own could do in the next few years.” Simpson said the timing reflects a push to accelerate value creation, with the combination “propelling us into a senior space.”The discussion covers why now is the right time for gold M&A, how the combined company plans to fund about $2 billion of development projects with projected free cash flow from 2026 to 2030, why U.S. and Canadian exposure matters, and the catalysts ahead at Greenstone, Valentine, Musselwhite, Castle Mountain, Los Filos, and South Railroad.Don’t forget to subscribe to the Kitco Mining & Kitco News YouTube channels to stay up to date on the latest industry news and interviews.00:49 - Why Merge Now04:42 - Leadership And Strategy06:18 - North America Focus09:35 - Exploration Upside12:49 - Funding And Returns15:50 - Debt And Balance Sheet16:53 - Approvals And Timeline21:13 - Synergies And Scale________________________________________________Kitco Mining is dedicated to reporting on the mining industry. Our mandate is to be the top resource for all mining information and news, offering a clear perspective on where the industry is going through breaking news coverage, mining trends, and in-depth reporting, presented with precious, rare earth, base metals, and industry stock prices.Get important precious and base metal updates while on the go with the Kitco Gold LIVE! app - https://applications.kitco.comStay connected with usX - https://x.com/KitcoMiningInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/kitcominingLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/kitco-miningFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/KitcoMiningConnect with the Kitco Mining anchorsPaul Harris - https://x.com/paulharrisgold For more in-depth mining coverage, visit us here - https://www.kitco.com/miningDisclaimer: Videos are not trading advice, and the views expressed may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc.Disclaimer: The views expressed in this podcast are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this podcast do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.