M&A

Molyneux and Borg hope it's time to bear fruit in Ecuador

ALEX Molyneux and Brendan Borg have popped up in Ecuador next door to the multimillion ounce high-grade Fruta del Norte project being developed by Newcrest Mining-backed Lundin Gold.

 Entrepreneurial duo have picked up ground next door to Fruta del Norte, Ecuador

Entrepreneurial duo have picked up ground next door to Fruta del Norte, Ecuador

Molyneux and Borg's Tempus Resources is acquiring a prospect called Rio Zarza said to exhibit "strikingly similar geological characteristics" to Fruta del Norte, a five million ounce, circa-8 gram per tonne deposit that's flagged to yield more than 300,000oz per annum at all-in sustaining costs of less than US$550/oz.

Consideration for Rio Zarza (and another exploration prospect called Valle de Tigre), is $100,000 cash and just under 3.5 million shares, resulting in the vendor holding about 8.5% of Tempus.

The vendor, Rodrigo Izurieta, also gets a job, being appointed Tempus' chief operating officer in Latin America.

In tandem, Borg becomes an executive director of Tempus, while Molyneux remains non-executive chairman.

Former investment banker Molyneux has become very active in the ASX resources sector in recent times, with other roles including being non-executive chair of lithium hopeful Argosy Minerals and managing director of lead developer Galena Mining.

He first came to prominence in the space when he was brought in to try and save the embattled Namibia-focused uranium producer Paladin Energy.

Borg, a qualified geologist, was until recently the managing director of Namibia cobalt play Celsius Resources, a junior that did well for a time before losing 90% of its market value over the past 12 months on commodity and project issues.

Tempus, the latin word for "time", started the quarter with A$4.3 million cash, having listed on the ASX in August last year after a $5 million IPO that issued new shares priced at 20c each.

Shares in Tempus were unchanged in early trade at 19c, capitalising the company at $7 million.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining News Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining News Intelligence team.

editions

MiningNews.net Research Report 2024

Access a multi-pronged tool to identify critical risks and opportunities in Australia’s mining industry.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Mining Equities Report 2023

Access an exclusive, inside look on the quarterly mining IPOs and secondary raisings data and mining equities performance tables with an annual Stock Exchange Comparisons supplement.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2023 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 121 jurisdictions globally, built on 11 ‘hard risk’ metrics and an industrywide survey.