Barrick
Offer for Equinox Successful — Offer Extended
TORONTO — Barrick
Gold Corporation (NYSE: ABX) (TSX: ABX) (“Barrick”
or “the Company”) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Barrick Canada Inc. (the “Offeror”),
announced today that about 729 million common shares (the “Equinox
Shares”) of Equinox Minerals Limited (TSX: EQN) (ASX: EQN)
(“Equinox”) representing approximately 83% of the outstanding
Equinox Shares on a fully diluted basis have been deposited to the offer (the
“Offer”) by the Offeror to acquire all of
the Equinox Shares at a price of C$8.15 per Equinox Share. All of the
conditions of the Offer have been satisfied and the Offeror
has taken up all such deposited shares and will pay for all such shares by June
6, 2011. Barrick and its affiliates now collectively
own about 747 million Equinox Shares, representing approximately 85% of the
outstanding Equinox Shares on a fully diluted basis.
The Offer has also been extended to enable
the remaining Equinox shareholders to receive prompt payment of C$8.15 (cash)
per Equinox Share. Barrick will take up and pay for
any Equinox Shares validly tendered within three business days of such tender.
The Offeror intends to acquire all Equinox Shares not
tendered to the Offer following its expiry pursuant to a compulsory acquisition
or a subsequent acquisition transaction.
The Offer is now open for acceptance until
5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on June 14, 2011 (the “Expiry Time”),
unless the Offer is further extended. The Offeror
expects to mail a formal notice of extension shortly.
This press release does not constitute an
offer to buy or an invitation to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy
or an invitation to sell, any of the securities of Equinox. Such an offer is only
made pursuant to the Offer and take-over bid circular, the letter of
transmittal, the notice of guaranteed delivery and other related offer
materials which the Offeror has filed (or will file)
with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and mailed (or will mail)
to holders of Equinox Shares. The Offer is not being made to, nor will deposits
be accepted from or on behalf of, Equinox Shareholders in any jurisdiction in
which the making or acceptance of the Offer would not be in compliance with the
laws of such jurisdiction. Furthermore, the information contained in this press
release does not constitute financial product advice. It has been prepared
without reference to the investment objectives, financial situation, taxation
situation and particular needs of any individual Equinox Shareholder. Equinox
Shareholders should consider consulting with their investment, financial,
taxation or other professional advisor before taking any action in relation to
their investment in Equinox.
The Offeror is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Barrick. Its registered
office is Brookfield Place, TD Canada Trust Tower, 161
Bay Street, Suite 3700, P.O. Box 212, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2S1. To obtain a
copy of the report filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities
relating to the acquisition by the Offeror of Equinox
Shares pursuant to the Offer, contact the individuals listed below.
BARRICK
INVESTOR CONTACT:
Deni Nicoski
Vice President, Investor Relations
Tel: (416) 307-7410
Email: dnicoski@barrick.com
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BARRICK
MEDIA CONTACT:
Andy Lloyd
Senior Manager, Communications
Tel: (416) 307-7414
Email: alloyd@barrick.com
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING
INFORMATION
Certain information contained in this
press release, including any information as to our strategy, projects, plans or
future financial or operating performance and other statements that express
management's expectations or estimates of future performance, constitute
"forward-looking statements”. All statements, other than statements
of historical fact, are forwardlooking statements.
The words “believe”, "expect", "will",
“anticipate”, “contemplate”, “target”,
“plan”, “continue”, “budget”,
“may”, “intend”, “estimate” and similar
expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are
necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while
considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant
business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The Company
cautions the reader that such forward-looking statements involve known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual
financial results, performance or achievements of Barrick
to be materially different from the Company's estimated future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by those forward-looking
statements and the forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not
limited to: changes in the worldwide price of gold, copper or certain other
commodities (such as fuel and electricity); inaccuracies or material omissions
in Equinox’s publicly available information or the failure by Equinox to
disclose events or facts which may have occurred or which may affect the
significance or accuracy of any such information; the ability of the Company to
complete or successfully integrate an announced acquisition proposal;
legislative, political or economic developments in the United States, Canada,
Zambia, Saudi Arabia or elsewhere; operating or technical difficulties in
connection with mining or development activities; availability and costs
associated with mining inputs and labor; the risks involved in the exploration,
development and mining business. Certain of these factors are discussed in
greater detail in the Company’s most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information
Form on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian
provincial securities regulatory authorities.
The Company disclaims any intention or
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a
result of new information, further events or otherwise, except as required by
applicable law.