RE:RE:Well there it is1) If you want underwriters to take that many shares off your hands, you will have to give them a discount enticing enough to do so. It's a negotiation. The underwriters need to make enough money off the deal that would satisfy them as they attempt to sell the shares they purchased from EQX to other buyers. This transaction involves an outright purchase of IAU shares by the underwriters where EQX pockets the proceeds - it's not an attempt to sell the IAU shares on a "best efforts" basis.
2) EQX doesn't disclose the underwriters in the press release, so good question.
3) EQX still owns just under 20% of the company. They are still long a boatload of shares. Why would they wish to help shorters....?
4) Can you provide a link where you discovered why EQX needed the money, because they didn't state it in their press release. In my experience, if it's an equity raise by a company where they issue new shares in their own firm, they usually present a reason why right in the press release (usually a generic explanation like further exploration and development) as existing shareholders want to know the reason for the dilution. However, if a company like EQX sells some / ,most / all shares of another company they own as an asset, there usually isn't even a press release that goes out announcing it - you find out after the fact in the notes of the next quarterly financial statements. I suspect EQX had to issue a PR disclosing this transaction because they (were) an insider entity.