RE: What's Next ...I agree and I am surprised who surfaced as the acquirer. Xstrata would make the more logical candidate.
I also am disappointed with the decision to cash out now especially at this price because the company had a very tame hedge book for a recently opened mine and commodity prices have been strong coupled with the sufficient inventory of quality undeveloped assets. Cash flow should be very strong in the upcoming quarters and this catalyst alone would likely propel the stock to these levels on its own merit.
My guess why they decided to proceed with the sale was the lack of success in expanding the copper resource in the vicinity of CdM which would be necessary to fund the larger scale projects in the Dominican Republic.
As for stock picks I prefer names of juniors with catalysts and strong balance sheets that has/had lots of cash and stink valuations.
ORV, EDV, AAG, GMN are examples.
I still like Orvana Minerals on this recent pull back and former merchant bank Endeavor Mining is in a very strong position to grow its asset base as it has 380 million total potential cash at its disposal for an acquisition. I also like Andean American Gold's valuation in comparison to its NPV of its Invicta project coupled with the marketplace not putting any valuation on its massive Sinchao deposit.
Gobimin is also under the radar and scheduled to open up its 25% owned fully funded metallurgical coal mine in Jan 2011.