BUZZ-Australia's Astral Resources tumbles on bid to acquire Maximus Resources

Shares of Astral Resources AAR.AX fall 5% to A$0.1425

Stock posts its worst intraday drop since Jan 28

The miner says it bids to acquire all remaining shares of peer Maximus Resources MXR.AX at an offer price of A$0.073/share valuing co at A$31 mln ($18.88 mln)

Offer price represents a premium of 12.3% of stock's last close

Merged entity will have combined mineral resources of

~1.8 mln ounces of gold - AAR managing director

About 2 mln shares change hands, 1.6x the 30-day avg

AAR last month gained 11.1%, largely in line with MXR's gains of 10.2%

($1 = 1.6418 Australian dollars)