Horizon Minerals Ltd (ASX:HRZ) and Poseidon Nickel Ltd (ASX:POS, OTC:PSDNF) have announced plans to merge under a Scheme of Arrangement, accelerating the development of a new mid-cap gold producer in Western Australia.
Entity with significant gold, nickel
Under the agreement, Horizon will acquire 100% of Poseidon’s shares and unlisted options, creating a combined entity with significant gold and nickel resources.
The merger will also enable Horizon to access Poseidon’s Black Swan processing infrastructure, fast-tracking gold production from Horizon’s key projects.
The merger will consolidate Horizon’s 1.8 million ounces of gold and Poseidon’s 422,700 tonnes of nickel, alongside a 1,309 square kilometre exploration tenure in the WA Goldfields.
Horizon plans to refurbish and convert Poseidon’s Black Swan nickel processing plant into a gold production facility, providing a lower-cost and faster pathway to production than building new infrastructure.
First gold from Black Swan in 2026
The combined entity aims to become a 100,000-ounce-per-annum standalone gold producer, with first gold from the Black Swan plant expected in mid-2026.
Upon completion of the merger, Horizon shareholders will hold 69.8% of the combined group, while Poseidon shareholders will own 30.2%.
The transaction, supported by both companies' boards, is expected to close in early 2025, subject to customary approvals, including shareholder and court endorsements.
Following the merger, Poseidon will be delisted, and the combined group will continue to trade as Horizon Minerals Ltd under the ticker ASX: HRZ.
Horizon managing director Grant Haywood said: “We believe this proposed merger represents a unique opportunity to unlock the value of our significant gold resource in the WA Goldfields and leverage strategically located processing infrastructure.
“This really is a logical consolidation of complementary assets, delivering a near term and cost-effective processing pathway and creates greater potential for both sets of shareholders to create value from the cashflow generation potential of a long project pipeline and wholly owned processing infrastructure.
Full exposure to commodity portfolio
“Outside gold, the merged nickel and silver assets enhances the respective asset values of both parties and retains full exposure for the combined shareholder group to crystalise value in any future sustained price upturn for these commodities.”
Poseidon Nickel CEO Brendan Shalders added: “The schemes announced today are a pivotal step towards establishing a significant gold business and provides Poseidon shareholders and holders of Poseidon Options with an exciting opportunity to become part of an emerging gold producer at a time when the gold price is at all-time highs.
“There is strong alignment between Poseidon’s strategy and that of Horizon, which is one of the core pillars underpinning this regional consolidation.
“Together we have greater capability to deliver on longer term cashflow generation from cornerstone operations fitting for an emerging mid-tier gold producer.”