Filed
by
Barrick Gold Corporation
This
communication is filed pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933,
as
amended.
Subject
company: Placer Dome Inc.
Commission
File Number: 333-129643
Date:
December 12, 2005
PRESS
RELEASE - December 11, 2005
Barrick
and Placer Dome Reach Agreement on Waiver
of
Shareholder Rights Plan
Barrick
Gold Corporation announced today that Barrick and Placer Dome have agreed
that
Placer Dome will waive the application of its shareholder rights plan to
Barrick's offer to acquire the outstanding shares of Placer Dome in order
to
allow Barrick to take up shares of Placer Dome on or after January 16, 2006.
In
connection with this agreement, Barrick intends to extend the expiry date
of its
offer from December 20, 2005 to January 16, 2006.
Barrick
has agreed to withdraw its application before the British Columbia Securities
Commission for a cease trade order in relation to the rights plan and the
hearing scheduled for December 16, 2005 will be cancelled.
“We
are
very pleased to have reached this agreement with Placer Dome which provides
a
definitive date for the satisfaction of a key condition of our bid, and most
importantly allows for the consideration of our offer by Placer Dome
shareholders,” said Greg Wilkins, Barrick President and Chief Executive Officer.
“As a result of the constructive manner in which this agreement has been
reached, the Placer Dome shareholders can now fully consider our offer and
the
benefits of combining our two companies and their respective assets, people
and
projects.”
Barrick
will be sending formal notice of the extension to all Placer Dome shareholders
prior to December 20, 2005.
Barrick
and Placer Dome have also agreed not to proceed with certain
securities regulatory or court actions or proceedings against each
other in respect of matters known to each party as at December 9,
2005.
Barrick’s
vision is to be the world’s best gold company by finding, developing and
producing quality reserves in a profitable and socially responsible
manner.
BARRICK
GOLD CORPORATION
PRESS
RELEASE
About
the Offer
Barrick's
offer was announced on October 31, 2005. Barrick's take-over bid circular
and
related documents were filed with the securities regulatory authorities in
Canada and the United States on November 10, 2005. Placer Dome shareholders
are
advised to read the take-over bid circular as it contains important information
including the terms and conditions of the offer and the procedures for
depositing shares. Additional information about the offer or copies of the
take-over bid circular may be obtained from shareholders' investment advisers,
from RBC Dominion Securities Inc. or Merrill Lynch Canada Inc., who are acting
as Barrick’s Canadian dealer managers, RBC Capital Markets Corporation, or
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, who are acting as
Barrick's U.S. dealer managers, or Kingsdale Shareholder Services Inc. for
Canada (Toll Free 1-866-877-2571) or MacKenzie Partners, Inc. for the United
States and other locations (Toll Free 1-800-322-2885) who are acting as
Barrick’s Information Agents.
On
November 10, 2005, Barrick filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission
(the “SEC”) a Registration Statement on Form F-10 which includes Barrick’s offer
and take-over bid circular. Investors and security holders are urged to read
the
disclosure documents filed by Barrick from time to time with the SEC regarding
the proposed business combination transaction because they contain important
information. The offer and take-over bid circular have been sent to shareholders
of Placer Dome Inc. Investors may also obtain a free copy of the offer and
take-over bid circular and other disclosure documents filed by Barrick with
the
SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
The
offer and take-over bid circular and the other disclosure documents may also
be
obtained free of charge by directing a request to Kingsdale Shareholder Services
Inc. or Mackenzie Partners Inc. at the toll free numbers set out
above.
For
further information:
|
INVESTOR
CONTACT
James
Mavor
Vice
President,
Investor
Relations
Tel:
(416) 307-7463
Email:
jmavor@barrick.com
|
MEDIA
CONTACT:
Vincent Borg
Vice President,
Corporate Communications
Tel: (416) 307-7477
Email:
vborg@barrick.com
|
BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION PRESS
RELEASE