Barrick Gold (ABX) announced that it has reached agreement on the terms of a recommended share-for-share merger of Barrick and Randgold Resources Limited (GOLD).

The merger is subject to approval by both sets of shareholders, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. It is intended that the merger will be implemented by means of a court-sanctioned scheme of arrangement of Randgold Resources and the Randgold shareholders under Article 125 of the companies Law 1991, with the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Randgold being acquired by Barrick. Under the terms of the merger, each Randgold shareholder will receive 6.1280 new Barrick shares for each Randgold share. Following completion of the merger, Barrick shareholders will own approximately 66.6% and Randgold shareholders will own approximately 33.4% of the new Barrick Group on a fully-diluted basis.

The company said, "The Merger will create an industry-leading gold company with the greatest concentration of Tier One Gold Assets in the industry, led by a proven management team of owners. Superior operating metrics, including the highest Adjusted EBITDA margin and the lowest total cash cost position among Senior Gold Peers, will support sustainable investment in growth and shareholder returns." The merger is expected to close by Q1 2019. Following completion of the merger: John Thornton, Executive Chairman of Barrick, will become Executive Chairman of the New Barrick Group; Mark Bristow, Chief Executive Officer of Randgold, will become President and Chief Executive Officer of the new Barrick Group; Graham Shuttleworth, Finance Director and Chief Financial Officer of Randgold, will become Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the new Barrick Group; Kevin Thomson, Senior Executive Vice President, Strategic Matters of Barrick, will become Senior Executive Vice President, Strategic Matters of the new Barrick Group; Two-thirds of the directors of the board of the new Barrick Group will be nominated by Barrick, and one-third will be nominated by Randgold.