Australia’s Fosterville gold mine remains a wanted asset by its Canadian owners, despite their enhanced focus on Canadian assets in the wake of a $US24 billion ($33 billion) merger on Tuesday night.

Fosterville’s owner Kirkland Lake will be absorbed by fellow Canadian miner Agnico Eagle under the merger, which Agnico chief executive Sean Boyd said was designed to create a “Canadian champion” with a market capitalisation of $US24 billion.