Dec 16 (Reuters) - Equinox Gold Corp EQX.TO :
* EQUINOX GOLD ANNOUNCES FRIENDLY ACQUISITION OF PREMIER GOLD MINES
* EQUINOX GOLD - PREMIER TO SPIN-OUT TO SHAREHOLDERS SHARES OF NEWLY CREATED US-FOCUSED GOLD PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT CO TO BE CALLED I-80 GOLD CORP
* EQUINOX GOLD - TO RETAIN PREMIER'S INTEREST IN HARDROCK PROJECT IN ONTARIO, MERCEDES MINE IN MEXICO, HASAGA & RAHILL-BONANZA PROPERTIES IN ONTARIO
* EQUINOX GOLD CORP - ON CLOSING OF DEAL, EXISTING EQUINOX GOLD & PREMIER SHAREHOLDERS WILL OWN ABOUT 84% AND 16% OF EQUINOX GOLD RESPECTIVELY
* EQUINOX GOLD CORP - ON CLOSING OF DEAL EQUINOX GOLD & EXISTING SHAREHOLDERS OF PREMIER WILL OWN 30% & 70% OF I-80 GOLD, RESPECTIVELY
* EQUINOX GOLD CORP - PREMIER SHAREHOLDERS WILL RECEIVE 0.1967 OF AN EQUINOX GOLD SHARE FOR EACH PREMIER SHARE HELD
* EQUINOX GOLD CORP - PURSUANT TO TRANSACTION, PREMIER SHAREHOLDERS WILL RECEIVE 0.4 OF A SHARE OF I-80 GOLD FOR EACH PREMIER SHARE HELD
* EQUINOX GOLD CORP - I-80 GOLD WILL BE LED BY EWAN DOWNIE
* EQUINOX GOLD - IN CONNECTION WITH PLANNED PUBLIC LISTING PRIOR TO/CONCURRENT WITH DEAL CLOSING, I-80 GOLD INTENDS TO CONDUCT FINANCING OF UP TO $75 MILLION
* EQUINOX GOLD CORP - EQUINOX GOLD HAS COMMITTED TO SUBSCRIBE FOR 30% OF AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF FINANCING UP TO A MAXIMUM SUBSCRIPTION AMOUNT OF $22.5 MILLION
* EQUINOX GOLD CORP - AGREEMENT PROVIDES FOR A C$35 MILLION TERMINATION FEE PAYABLE TO EQUINOX GOLD UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES