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Barrick Gold Corp weighs sale of $1.9-billion Acacia Mining stake: sources

TORONTO/VANCOUVER — Barrick Gold Corp, the world’s largest gold producer, is weighing a sale of its majority stake in African unit Acacia Mining Plc and has approached several South African miners, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Barrick owns 64 per cent of Acacia, a London-listed miner with three producing gold mines in Tanzania: Bulyanhulu, Buzwagi and North Mara. Acacia also has exploration projects in the East African country and other parts of Africa.

Acacia has a market capitalization of 2.23 billion pounds (US$2.93 billion), making Barrick’s stake worth aboutUS $1.9 billion.

Barrick has reached out to South African miners Harmony Gold Mining Co Ltd, Sibanye Gold Ltd, AngloGold Ashanti Ltd, Randgold & Exploration Co and Gold Fields Ltd, as well as some Australian and North American miners, said the sources, who declined to be identified as the matter is not public.

A Barrick Gold spokesman declined to comment.

The talks are at an early stage and there is no assurance a deal will be done, the sources said.

© Thomson Reuters 2016