TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 1, 2015) -
All amounts expressed in US dollars
Barrick Gold Corporation (NYSE:ABX)(TSX:ABX) ("Barrick" or the "company") announced today that it and certain of its subsidiaries have commenced a cash tender offer (the "Tender Offer") for specified series of outstanding notes (the "Notes"). The terms and conditions of the Tender Offer are described in an offer to purchase (the "Offer to Purchase") and the related letter of transmittal (the "Letter of Transmittal"), each dated today.
The Tender Offer
Barrick, Barrick North America Finance LLC and Barrick (PD) Australia Finance Pty Ltd (together, the "Offerors") are offering to purchase for cash the series of Notes set out in the table below for an aggregate purchase price (including principal and premium) of up to $1,150,000,000, as such amount may be increased by the Offerors, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes from the last applicable interest payment date up to, but not including, the settlement date. The amount of a series of Notes that is purchased in the Tender Offer will be based on the order of priority (the "Acceptance Priority Level") for such series of Notes as set forth in the table below, with 1 being the highest Acceptance Priority Level and 7 being the lowest Acceptance Priority Level. If there are sufficient remaining funds to purchase some, but not all, of the Notes tendered of any series, the amount of Notes purchased in that series will be subject to proration using the procedure more fully described in the Offer to Purchase.
| Title of Security | CUSIP Number | Aggregate Principal Amount Outstanding | Acceptance Priority Level | Reference U.S. Treasury Security | Bloomberg Reference Page | Fixed Spread (basis points) | Early Tender Premium(1) |
| 2.50% Notes due 2018(2) | 067901AN8 067901AM0 C03420AE3 | $127,559,000 | 1 | 1.250% due Nov 15, 2018 | FIT1 | +120 | $30.00 |
| 3.85% Notes due 2022(2) | 067901AL2 067901AJ7 C03420AD5 | $814,894,000 | 2 | 2.250% due Nov 15, 2025 | FIT1 | +300 | $30.00 |
| 4.10% Notes due 2023(2) | 067901AQ1 067901AP3 C03420AF0 | $1,500,000,000 | 3 | 2.250% due Nov 15, 2025 | FIT1 | +325 | $30.00 |
| 4.95% Notes due 2020(3) | 06849UAC9 | $400,000,000 | 4 | 1.625% due Nov 30, 2020 | FIT1 | +190 | $30.00 |
| 4.40% Notes due 2021(4) | 06849RAD4 06849RAF9 U0684TAA4 | $1,350,000,000 | 5 | 1.625% due Nov 30, 2020 | FIT1 | +300 | $30.00 |
| 6.80% Notes due 2018(4) | 06849RAB8 | $500,000,000 | 6 | 1.250% due Nov 15, 2018 | FIT1 | +250 | $30.00 |
| 6.95% Notes due 2019(2) | 067901AB4 | $475,000,000 | 7 | 1.625% due Nov 30, 2020 | FIT1 | +230 | $30.00 |
| (1) Per $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase. The Early Tender Premium is included in the Total Consideration for Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn in the Tender Offer at or prior to the Early Tender Date. |
| (2) Barrick is the applicable Offeror for the 2.50% Notes due 2018, the 3.85% Notes due 2022, the 4.10% Notes due 2023 and the 6.95% Notes due 2019. |
| (3) Barrick (PD) Australia Finance Pty Ltd is the applicable Offeror for the 4.95% Notes due 2020. |
| (4) Barrick North America Finance LLC is the applicable Offeror for the 4.40% Notes due 2021 and the 6.80% Notes due 2018. |
The Tender Offer will expire at midnight, New York City time, on December 29, 2015, unless extended (such date and time, as the same may be extended, the "Expiration Date"). Holders of Notes must validly tender and not validly withdraw their Notes at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 14, 2015 (such date and time, as the same may be extended, the "Early Tender Date"), to be eligible to receive the applicable "Total Consideration", which includes an early tender premium of $30.00 per $1,000 of principal amount of Notes accepted for purchase (the "Early Tender Premium"). Holders of Notes who tender their Notes after the Early Tender Date, but at or prior to the Expiration Date, will be eligible to receive only the applicable "Tender Offer Consideration", which is an amount equal to the Total Consideration minus the Early Tender Premium. The Total Consideration or Tender Offer Consideration, as applicable, will only be paid to holders of tendered Notes to the extent that the applicable Offeror accepts such Notes for purchase.
The Total Consideration or the Tender Offer Consideration, as applicable, for each series per $1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer will be determined in the manner described in the Offer to Purchase by reference to a fixed spread specified for each series of Notes over the applicable yield based on the bid side price of the U.S. Treasury Security specified for each series of Notes on the front page of the Offer to Purchase or in the table above, as calculated by the Dealer Managers at 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 15, 2015. In addition to the Total Consideration or the Tender Offer Consideration, as applicable, accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes accepted for purchase will be paid from the last applicable interest payment date up to, but not including, the settlement date.
Notes may be validly withdrawn at any time at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on December 14, 2015, unless such date and time is extended by the company, but not thereafter unless otherwise required by applicable law. The settlement date for the Tender Offer will follow promptly after the Expiration Date. The Offerors expect the settlement date will be December 30, 2015.
The Tender Offer is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase. If any of the conditions are not satisfied or waived by the Offerors, the Offerors will not be obligated to accept for purchase, purchase or pay for, validly tendered Notes, in each case subject to applicable laws, and may terminate the Tender Offer. The Tender Offer is not conditioned on the tender of a minimum principal amount of Notes.
The Dealer Managers for the Tender Offer are Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and RBC Capital Markets, LLC. Questions regarding the Tender Offer may be directed to Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at +1 800 558-3745 (toll-free) or +1 212 723-6106 (collect), Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC at +1 800 624-1808 (toll-free) or +1 212 761-1057 (collect), or RBC Capital Markets, LLC at +1 877 381-2099 (toll-free) or +1 212 618-7822 (collect). Copies of the Offer to Purchase and the Letter of Transmittal may be obtained from the Information Agent, Global Bondholder Services Corporation at +1 866 470-3800 (toll-free) or +1 212 430-3774 (collect) or in writing at 65 Broadway, Suite 404, New York, NY 10006.
This press release is neither an offer to purchase, nor a solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes or any other securities. The Offerors are making the Tender Offer only by, and pursuant to, the terms of the Offer to Purchase and the related Letter of Transmittal. The Tender Offer is not being made in any jurisdiction in which the making of or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities laws, blue sky laws or other laws of such jurisdiction. None of the Offerors, their respective boards of directors, the Dealer Managers, the Depositary, the Information Agent or the trustees or indenture agents for the Notes makes any recommendation as to whether holders should tender or refrain from tendering their Notes, and no one has been authorized by any of them to make such a recommendation. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to tender their Notes and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender.
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, constitutes "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. The words "expect", "will", "may" 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 the company or the other Offerors in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold, copper or certain other commodities (such as silver, diesel fuel, natural gas and electricity); changes in national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/or changes in the administration of laws, policies and practices, expropriation or nationalization of property, and political or economic developments in Canada, the United States and other jurisdictions in which the company does or may carry on business in the future; risk of loss due to acts of war, terrorism, sabotage and civil disturbances; litigation; and our ability to successfully complete transactions. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect our actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the company. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Specific reference is made to the most recent Form 40-F/Annual Information Form on file with the SEC and Canadian provincial securities regulatory authorities for a discussion of some of the factors underlying forward-looking statements.
The Offerors disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
