By Richard (Rick) Mills
For the last decade, Endeavour (EDV: TSX) has been the architect of numerous equity financings and acquisitions in the junior gold sector. Over the years, the company has proven to be a savvy dealmaker, participating in M&A transactions valued at over US$28 billion.

In October 2009, EDV paid US$58.3 million for 55% ownership (average cost of C$0.33/share) of Etruscan Resources (EET-TSX) – a West African gold miner.

A few months later, EDV had acquired 43% of Crew Gold (CRU-TSX) for approximately $135 million at an average cost of 15 cents, whose primary asset is the LEFA Gold mine in Guinea, West Africa.

On August 24th, 2010 the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia approved EDV’s purchase of the remaining 45% of Etruscan common shares.

Suddenly the wily merchant bank is looking like a gold producer but the market seems unsure how to assimilate this news. All summer the stock has oscillated around $2.20 as the institutional investors ask themselves: what does a merchant bank know about running a gold mine and can a leopard change its spots?

From the early evidence, the answers appear to be: quite a bit and yes it can.

The former Etruscan’s producing Youga mine in Burkina Faso has total reserves of 474,000 oz and is currently producing at an annual rate of 80,000 oz with a life of mine (LOM) of 5 years.

Before acquiring Etruscan Endeavour’s analytical team identified Youga as an excellent turnaround story. Currently a program is well under way to improve operations and maximize value for shareholders by reducing costs at the Youga Mine:

• Replace underperforming drill and blast contractor
• Better grade control
• Fuel savings from improved operating efficiencies
• Lower power costs with grid power vs. gensets
• Solve CIL tank sanding problems
• Improve inventory and supply of machine parts
• Higher mill throughputs
• Upgrade management team
• Tighter control on requisitions and spending

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