16 Aug 2012
NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION
The Board of ABG notes the announcement made today by Barrick in which Barrick confirmed that it is in preliminary discussions with China National Gold Group Corporation ("China Gold") regarding its holding in ABG. At this stage, there can be no certainty that these discussions will result in an offer for Barrick's holding in ABG. Should China Gold acquire more than 30% of the voting interest in ABG, it would then be required to make an offer for the whole of ABG's issued ordinary share capital.
The Panel Executive has confirmed to Barrick on an ex parte basis that, in view of Barrick’s 73.9 per cent stake in ABG, the 28 day deadline referred to in Rule 2.6(a) of the Code will not apply to China Gold in respect of this announcement.
A further announcement will be made in due course.
Rule 2.10 disclosure
In accordance with Rule 2.10 of the Code, ABG confirms that it has 410,085,499 ordinary shares of 10 pence each in issue and admitted to trading on the main market of the London Stock Exchange under ISIN code GB00B61D2N63.
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