MINING MARKETS & INVESTMENT NEWS — INSIDER TRADING — Vengold adorns execs with options

Vancouver-based Vengold (VEN-T) granted three officers and five directors a total of 2.95 million options in July. The sweetener came just weeks before the company nabbed a further 6.5% interest in the producing Lihir gold mine in Papua New Guinea, a joint-venture with Rio Tinto (RTP-N), Australian-based Niugini Mining and Battle Mountain Gold (BMG-N).

The $133.5-million acquisition raises Vengold’s interest to 19%, making it the largest stakeholder in the group.

Recipients included: Giulio Bonifacio, officer, who was granted 300,000 options at $1.50 to hold 1.1 million; David Davenport, director, who was granted 150,000 options at $1.50 to hold 700,000; Henry Fabila, director, who received 150,000 options at $1.50 to hold 150,000; Robert Gallagher, officer, who received 300,000 options at $1.50 to hold 1.7 million; Glenn Ives, director, who acquired 600,000 options at $1.50 to hold 2.9 million; Brian Kirwin, officer, who acquired 300,000 options at $1.50 to hold 1.1 million; Ian Telfer, director, who obtained 1 million options at $1.50 to hold 5 million; and John Walton, director, who obtained 150,000 options at $1.50 to hold 700,000.

Meanwhile, National Provident Fund of Papua New Guinea, holder of more than 10% of the company, bought 894,000 shares at $1.40 to hold 23.71 million shares.

Other recent transactions reported by the Ontario Securities Commission include the following:

* Black Hawk Mining (BHK-T) — Garth MacRae, director, was granted 100,000 options at 16 cents to hold 200,000; Leo Prendergast, director, was granted 100,000 options at 16 cents to hold 100,000; Colin Benner, director, was granted 100,000 options at 16 cents to hold 850,000 options and 12,023 shares; Gordon Bub, director, was granted 125,000 options at 16 cents to hold 375,000; Joseph Conway, director, was granted 140,000 options at 16 cents to hold 140,000; Ned Goodman, director, was granted 100,000 options at 16 cents to hold 200,000; Thomas Ogryzlo, director, was granted 750,000 options at 16-24 cents to hold 500,000; Ian Shaw, officer, bought 22,051 shares under a plan at 28-37 cents to hold 22,051; and Paul Caldwell, officer, bought 13,387 shares under a plan at 32 cents to hold 74,868 shares.

* Bolivar Goldfields (BVG-T) — Sun Valley Gold Company, holder of more than 10%, sold 448,029 shares indirectly at US30-33 cents to hold 500,000.

* Breakwater Resources (BWR-T) — Dundee Bancorp, holder of more than 10% of the company, bought 1.2 million shares privately and indirectly at 80 cents to hold 4.45 million shares indirectly and 20.44 million shares directly; and Elizabeth Wilkinson, officer, bought 500 shares at 95 cents to hold 2,500.

* Dayton Mining (DAY-T) — Paul Blythe, director, was granted 100,000 options at $1 to hold 100,000; Douglas Donald, director, was granted 100,000 options at $1 to hold 100,000; David Fagin, director, was granted 100,000 options at $1 to hold 100,000; Catherine McLeod-Seltzer, director, was granted 100,000 options at $1 to hold 100,000; Herman Wilton-Siegel, director, was granted 100,000 options at $1 to hold 100,000; Richard Hall, officer, was granted 30,000 options at $1 to hold 575,000; Robert MacDonald, officer, acquired 10,000 shares at 38 cents and was granted 30,000 options at $1 to hold 38,500 shares and 605,000 options; Diane Thomas, officer, was granted 30,000 options at $1 to hold 361,000; Westgate International, holder of more than 10%, acquired 1.25 million convertible debentures indirectly at an unspecified price to hold 1.25 million; and Elliott Associates, holder of more than 10%, acquired 1.25 million convertible debentures indirectly at an unspecified price to hold 1.25 million.

* Farallon Resources (FAN-T) — Scott Cousens, director, sold 172,023 shares privately at 75 cents to hold 40,802; and Jeffrey Mason, director, sold 69,900 shares at $1.05-1.38 to hold 169,550.

* Falconbridge (FAL-T) — Noranda, owner of more than 10%, acquired 254,700 shares at $12.15-12.50 to hold 87.58 million shares.

* Inmet Mining (IMN-T) — Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, holder of more than 10%, acquired 210,000 shares indirectly at $4.70-4.75 to hold 12.49 million shares indirectly.

* Meridian Gold (MNG-T) — Malcolm MacNaught, director, was granted 10,000 options at US$3.31 to hold 20,000; and FMR Corp., owner of more than 10%, sold 175,000 shares indirectly at US$3-3.50 and bought 600 shares indirectly at US$3.28 to hold 8.27 million shares indirectly.

* United Keno Hill Mines (UKH-T) — Dominion Mineral Resources & Sterling Frontier Properties Company of Canada (DS), owner of more than 10%, sold 208,500 shares at 25-35 cents to hold 3.86 million; Robert Granger, director, sold 218,500 shares indirectly at 25-37 cents to hold 3.86 million through DS; and Stephen Powell, director, sold 218,500 shares indirectly at 25-37 cents to hold 3.86 million through DS.

* Viceroy Resource (VOY-T) — Michael Halvorson, director, was granted 50,000 options at $2.75 to hold 209,825; James Kelly, officer, was granted 150,000 options at $2.75 to hold 434,375; Robert Matthews, director, was granted 50,000 options at $2.75 to hold 67,000; Gunther Muller, director, was granted 50,000 options at an unspecified price to hold 116,309; Clynton Nauman, director, was granted 50,000 options at $2.75 to hold 567,000; Catherine Siscoe, officer, was granted 60,000 options at $2.75 to hold 100,000.

* William Resources (WIM-T) — FMR Corp., holder of more than 10%, sold 796,500 shares indirectly at 7-9 cents to hold 6.55 million shares indirectly.