Approximately $7.45 billion of debt placed under review
New York, April 17, 2013 -- Moody's Investors Service placed the Baa1 senior unsecured rating
of Barrick Gold Corporation and all rated subsidiary issuers guaranteed
by Barrick under review for possible downgrade.
The review arises from the challenges facing the company on its Pascua
Lama project following the Chilean government's injunction to halt
construction activity on the Chilean side of the project and the uncertainty
this creates with respect to the cost and timing of this project.
The review is also attributable to the flat to declining production profile
in 2013 relative to 2012 and increasing cost base, and likelihood
of greater than expected negative free cash flow particularly given the
high capital expenditure profile in 2013 and possibly 2014. The
recent collapse in gold prices and expected increase in volatility is
also a factor in the review although not the principal driver as our sensitivity
scenarios are run at prices lower than those at which gold is currently
trading. Should the review result in a downgrade, it is not
likely to be more than one notch.
On Review for Possible Downgrade:
..Issuer: Barrick (PD) Australia Finance Pty Ltd
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
Oct 15, 2039, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
Jan 15, 2020, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
..Issuer: Barrick Gold Corporation
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
Nov 15, 2034, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
Apr 1, 2019, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
May 30, 2014, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
May 30, 2016, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
Apr 1, 2022, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
Apr 1, 2042, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
..Issuer: Barrick Gold Finance Company
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
Nov 15, 2034, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
Nov 15, 2014, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
..Issuer: Barrick Gold Financeco LLC
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
Sep 15, 2013, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
..Issuer: Barrick International Bank Corp.
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
Oct 15, 2036, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
Oct 15, 2016, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
..Issuer: Barrick North America Finance LLC
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
Sep 15, 2038, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
Sep 15, 2018, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
May 30, 2021, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
May 30, 2041, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
..Issuer: Placer Dome Inc.
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
Jun 15, 2015, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
Mar 1, 2033, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
....Senior Unsecured Regular Bond/Debenture
Oct 15, 2035, Placed on Review for Possible Downgrade,
currently Baa1
Outlook Actions:
..Issuer: Barrick (PD) Australia Finance Pty Ltd
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
..Issuer: Barrick Gold Corporation
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
..Issuer: Barrick Gold Finance Company
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
..Issuer: Barrick Gold Financeco LLC
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
..Issuer: Barrick International Bank Corp.
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
..Issuer: Barrick North America Finance LLC
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
..Issuer: Placer Dome Inc.
....Outlook, Changed To Rating Under
Review From Stable
RATINGS RATIONALE
The review will focus on steps Barrick can take to improve its cost profile,
the impact of, possible responses to, and timing with respect
to the Pascua Lama situation, and other possible actions that could
support the earnings and cash flow generation profile and minimize the
need for continued incremental increases in debt.
The principal methodology used in this rating was the Global Mining Industry
Methodology published in May 2009. Please see the Credit Policy
page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.
Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Barrick is the world's
largest producer of gold and has positions in copper as well. In
2012, the company produced approximately 7.4 million ounces
of gold and 468 million pounds of copper. The company's operating
mines, reserves, and projects are globally diversified.
The company generated revenues of $14.5 billion in 2012,
with realized gold prices per ounce of $1,669 and realized
copper prices per pound of $3.57.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series
or category/class of debt or pursuant to a program for which the ratings
are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's
rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to the rating action on the support provider and in relation to each particular
rating action for securities that derive their credit ratings from the
support provider's credit rating. For provisional ratings,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to the provisional rating assigned, and in relation to a definitive
rating that may be assigned subsequent to the final issuance of the debt,
in each case where the transaction structure and terms have not changed
prior to the assignment of the definitive rating in a manner that would
have affected the rating. For further information please see the
ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit
support from the primary entity(ies) of this rating action, and
whose ratings may change as a result of this rating action, the
associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity.
Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures,
if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure
to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.
Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to
the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued
the rating.
Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com
for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.
Carol Cowan
VP - Senior Credit Officer
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Brian Oak
MD - Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service, Inc.
250 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10007
U.S.A.
JOURNALISTS: 212-553-0376
SUBSCRIBERS: 212-553-1653
Moody's reviews Barrick's ratings for downgrade