* Buys about 19 mln shares at C$3.83
* Share purchase part of debt restructuring pact between cos
* Yamana’s total stake in Aura rise to 18.7 pct
March 23 (Reuters) – Yamana Gold Inc said it increased its stake in Aura Minerals Inc by four-fifths to 18.7 percent by buying about 19 million shares of the mineral exploration company.
Yamana, which bought the shares at a deemed price of C$3.83 apiece, said the shares issuance was related to the debt restructuring agreement between it and Aura, announced on March 6.
Aura, whose assets include the San Andreas mine in Honduras and the Aranzazu coper-gold-silver project in Mexico, currently expects gold production to rise by up to 52 percent in 2011.
Shares of Toronto-based Yamana closed at C$12.45 on Wednesday on the Toronto Stock Exchange, while those of Aura closed at C$3.28. (Reporting by Abhiram Nandakumar; Editing by Prem Udayabhanu) ([email protected]; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800; Reuters Messaging: [email protected])
