Barrick Gold To Divest Yilgarn South Assets In Western Australia To Gold Fields

(RTTNews) - Canadian gold producer Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX, ABX.TO) announced Thursday that it has agreed to divest its Yilgarn South assets in Western Australia to Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI). The Yilgarn South assets are comprised principally of the Granny Smith, Lawlers and Darlot mines.

In aggregate, these mines produced 452,000 ounces in 2012 at all-in sustaining costs or AISC of $1,137 per ounce and 196,000 ounces in the first half of 2013 at AISC of $1,145 per ounce. Yilgarn South contained proven and probable reserves of 2.6 million ounces, measured and indicated resources of 0.6 million ounces and inferred resources of 1.2 million ounces as at December 31, 2012.

Barrick noted that it will receive total consideration of $300 million for the sale of Yilgarn South, subject to certain closing adjustments.

The agreement is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval by Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board, consent of the Western Australian Minister for Mines for the transfer of the property tenements, and the assignment of certain supply contracts.

Gold Fields will have the option to deliver up to 50 percent of the consideration in its own common shares to Barrick in lieu of the equivalent amount of cash consideration at closing. The shares would be priced based on the five day volume weighted average price, prior to, but not including closing. There are no contractual hold restrictions on the disposition of the shares.

The transaction is expected to close on October 1, 2013.

The company said it will use proceeds for general corporate purposes, including debt repayment, and will be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Barrick maintains its 2013 gold production guidance of 7.0-7.4 million ounces at AISC of $900-$975 per ounce, which are the lowest costs of its senior peer group.