Statement regarding announcement by Barrick Gold

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION

For immediate release

16th August 2012

African Barrick Gold plc (the "Company" or "ABG")

Statement regarding today's announcement by Barrick Gold Corporation ("Barrick")

The Board of ABG notes the announcement made today by Barrick in which Barrick confirmed that it is in preliminary discussions with China National Gold Group Corporation ("China Gold") regarding its holding in ABG. At this stage, there can be no certainty that these discussions will result in an offer for Barrick's holding in ABG. Should China Gold acquire more than 30% of the voting interest in ABG, it would then be required to make an offer for the whole of ABG's issued ordinary share capital.

The Panel Executive has confirmed to Barrick on an ex parte basis that, in view of Barrick's 73.9 per cent stake in ABG, the 28 day deadline referred to in Rule 2.6(a) of the Code will not apply to China Gold in respect of this announcement.

A further announcement will be made in due course.

Rule 2.10 disclosure

In accordance with Rule 2.10 of the Code, ABG confirms that it has 410,085,499 ordinary shares of 10 pence each in issue and admitted to trading on the main market of the London Stock Exchange under ISIN code GB00B61D2N63.

ENQUIRIES

For further information contact:

African Barrick Gold plc +44 (0) 207 129 7150

Andrew Wray, Head of Corporate Development & Investor Relations

Giles Blackham, Investor Relations Manager

RLM Finsbury +44 (0) 207 251 3801

Charles Chichester

Disclosure requirements of the Code

Under Rule 8.3(a) of the Code, any person who is interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of an offeree company or of any paper offeror (being any offeror other than an offeror in respect of which it has been announced that its offer is, or is likely to be, solely in cash) must make an Opening Position Disclosure following the commencement of the offer period and, if later, following the announcement in which any paper offeror is first identified. An Opening Position Disclosure must contain details of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any paper offeror(s). An Opening Position Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(a) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the commencement of the offer period and, if appropriate, by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the 10th business day following the announcement in which any paper offeror is first identified. Relevant persons who deal in the relevant securities of the offeree company or of a paper offeror prior to the deadline for making an Opening Position Disclosure must instead make a Dealing Disclosure.

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Code, any person who is, or becomes, interested in 1% or more of any class of relevant securities of the offeree company or of any paper offeror must make a Dealing Disclosure if the person deals in any relevant securities of the offeree company or of any paper offeror. A Dealing Disclosure must contain details of the dealing concerned and of the person's interests and short positions in, and rights to subscribe for, any relevant securities of each of (i) the offeree company and (ii) any paper offeror, save to the extent that these details have previously been disclosed under Rule 8. A Dealing Disclosure by a person to whom Rule 8.3(b) applies must be made by no later than 3.30 pm (London time) on the business day following the date of the relevant dealing.

If two or more persons act together pursuant to an agreement or understanding, whether formal or informal, to acquire or control an interest in relevant securities of an offeree company or a paper offeror, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3.

Opening Position Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company and by any offeror and Dealing Disclosures must also be made by the offeree company, by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with any of them (see Rules 8.1, 8.2 and 8.4).

Details of the offeree and offeror companies in respect of whose relevant securities Opening Position Disclosures and Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Takeover Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. You should contact the Panel's Market Surveillance Unit on +44 (0)20 7638 0129 if you are in any doubt as to whether you are required to make an Opening Position Disclosure or a Dealing Disclosure.

A copy of this announcement will be published on our website www.africanbarrickgold.com during the course of the offer period.