Placer Dome accepts Barrick's sweetened $10.4B US takeover bid

Placer Dome has accepted a takeover bid by Barrick Gold after the Toronto-based mining company boosted its offer by more than 12 per cent to $10.4 billion US.

Barrick (TSX:ABX) also said it will extend its offer by three more days to Jan. 19.

If the transaction is completed, it will make Barrick the biggest gold company in the world, taking over the top spot from U.S.-based Newmont Mining Corp.

Immediately following the announcement, Vancouver-based Goldcorp (TSX:G) confirmed that it will acquire some of Placer Dome's assets from Barrick for about $1.48 billion US after the deal is completed. That's about $135 million US more than originally agreed.

The assets include the company's interest in the Campbell, Porcupine and Musselwhite mines in Ontario, as well as a 50 per cent interest in the La Coipa gold and silver mine in Chile and a 40 per cent interest in the Pueblo Viego project in the Dominican Republic.

Goldcorp said it expects production to increase more than 50 per cent once it acquires the Placer Dome assets.

"This will have a dramatic impact on Goldcorp going forward," CEO Ian Telfer said in a conference call with analysts.

Placer Dome CEO Peter Tomsett said the deal "provides Place Dome shareholders an attractive premium for their shares and an ongoing stake in a dynamic and growing company."

Barrick CEO Greg Wilkins said the company will implement an integration plan "to capture the substantial synergies as soon as possible and achieve value creation for all shareholders."

Barrick unveiled its $9.2 billion US bid on Oct. 31.

• Oct. 31, 2005: Barrick seeks Placer Dome in $9.2B US takeover bid

As recently as Nov. 29, Wilkins maintained that the offer would not be raised.

• Nov. 29, 2005: Barrick won't raise Placer Dome bid 'one iota': CEO

However, as of one day ago, fewer than one per cent of Placer Dome shareholders had tendered their shares.

The offer allows shareholders to choose whether they want to take $22.50 US in cash per share or 0.8269 of a Barrick share and five cents in cash.

The transaction is conditional on Barrick acquiring at least two-thirds of the company's shares.

Vancouver-based Placer Dome (TSX:PDG) can still consider superior offers, but Barrick has the right to match them.

The agreement also provides for the payment by Placer Dome of a breakup fee of about $260 million US, under certain circumstances, should the deal not go ahead.

Shares of Barrick closed down nine cents at $31.66 while shares of Placer Dome slipped 33 cents to $26.07 on the TSX. Goldcorp shares ended the day up $1.10 to $24.25.