** U.S.-listed shares of Canadian gold producer Orla Mining OLA.TO, ORLA.N up 3.3% at $14.95 premarket

** Peer Equinox Gold EQX.TO says it will acquire ORLA, creating a North American-focused gold producer with an implied market value of about $18.5 billion

** Existing EQX shareholders will own about 67% of the combined company, while ORLA shareholders will hold the remaining

** Combined company expected to produce about 1.1 million ounces of gold in 2026 from six operating mines across Canada, the United States, Mexico and Nicaragua

** U.S.-listed shares of EQX up marginally at $14.86 premarket

** As of last close, ORLA up 7.4% YTD