PRECIOUS MINERALS--PAA--Pan American Silver (PAA-TSX; BUY)
Market capitalization: $1,858 mm Enterprise Value: $1,644 mm
Stock decline from March high: -45.6% EV / Total resource $2.44/oz
What they need: Acquisitions of companies with development projects and/or current silver production
Where they are: Peru, Mexico, Argentina
What they should do and why:
Bear Creek Mining (BCM-TSX; EV of $144 million; EV/oz of $0.32/oz silver; down 78% from highs)
Bear Creek's Corani project (362 mm oz; prefeasibility expected by Q1/09) in Peru would be an ideal fit for Pan American as they are familiar and comfortable with Peru, and are looking to leverage their ability to develop and build.