Gold mining company seeks name change

Just under one year after acquiring Saskatchewan’s only gold mining company, Silver Standard Resources Inc. is asking shareholders to approve a name change.

Vancouver-based Silver Standard is seeking approval of a board recommendation that its name be changed to SSR Mining Inc.

Shareholders are expected to vote on the proposal in early May. The timing of the change will be announced at a later date, the company stated Monday in a news release. The company operates the Marigold gold mine in Nevada, the Pirquitas silver mine in Argentina and the Seabee Gold Operation northeast of La Ronge, which it acquired as part of its takeover of Saskatoon-based Claude Resources Inc. last spring for $450 million.

“With gold representing approximately 70 (per cent) of our revenue, the current name does not accurately reflect our business,” Paul Benson, president and CEO of the 70-year-old Vancouver-based company, said in a statement.

“We have evolved from a silverfocused producer to an intermediate precious metals producer...”