Barrick Says Companies Approached It About Other Assets

Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX), which said today it ended talks to sell its African mining unit, has received approaches from companies interested in some of its other assets.

While Barrick, the world’s largest gold producer, will consider new approaches for its African Barrick Gold Plc (ABG) unit if it gets them, the company won’t actively solicit third parties for a sale of the business, Chief Executive Officer Jamie Sokalsky said in a telephone interview today.

“We are being approached by companies, other buyers,” he said.

“If there are opportunities to divest assets that are worth more to someone else than us, we will absolutely take a look at that,” Sokalsky said. Barrick doesn’t “have anything to talk about at the moment.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Liezel Hill in Toronto at lhill30@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Simon Casey at scasey4@bloomberg.net