Barrick Completes Partial Divestment of African Barrick Gold plc Holding

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - March 11, 2014) -

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Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:ABX)(TSX:ABX) ("Barrick" or the "Seller") today announced that, further to its release of March 10, 2014, it has completed the divestment of 41.0 million ordinary shares in African Barrick Gold plc ("ABG") (the "Placing Shares"), representing in aggregate approximately 10.0 percent of the issued ordinary share capital of ABG, at a price of 275 pence per ordinary share (the "Placing"), raising gross proceeds of approximately GBP 113 million (US$188 million).

"ABG has made excellent progress with its Operational Review to increase production and reduce operating and capital costs, and the results to date have been favorably received by the market," said Jamie Sokalsky, Barrick's President and CEO. "Barrick continues to support ABG management as they advance the operational turnaround and make other efforts to improve the business. After this transaction, Barrick will still be a controlling shareholder, but this transaction allows us to realize some liquidity from our holding in ABG in keeping with our disciplined capital allocation framework and our ongoing program to optimize and lower the average cost of our portfolio."

Barrick continues to hold approximately 262 million ordinary shares of ABG, representing approximately 64 percent of the issued ordinary share capital of ABG.

Barrick has undertaken not to dispose of any further ABG ordinary shares without the consent of the Joint Bookrunners for a period of 120 days following completion of the Placing, except that consent shall not be required (i) in the event of an offer for the entire issued share capital of ABG in accordance with the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers or (ii) with respect to a single sale of 10-20 percent of Barrick's remaining shareholding in ABG to a single corporate or strategic purchaser as part of a single transaction, provided that such purchaser agrees to be bound by an equivalent restriction for the remainder of the lock-up period.