Barrick Gold Corporation Annual Information Form
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Barrick Gold Corporation Brookfield Place, TD Canada Trust Tower Suite 3700, 161 Bay Street, P.O. Box 212 Toronto, ON M5J 2S1 Annual Information Form For the year ended December 31, 2017 Dated as of March 23, 2018 BARRICK GOLD CORPORATION ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM TABLE OF CONTENTS GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS .................................................................................................. 4 REPORTING CURRENCY, FINANCIAL AND RESERVE INFORMATION ................................ 10 FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION ............................................................................................ 10 SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION ............................................................................ 13 GENERAL INFORMATION .................................................................................................................. 13 Organizational Structure ................................................................................................................ 13 Subsidiaries .................................................................................................................................... 14 Areas of Interest ............................................................................................................................. 16 General Development of the Business ........................................................................................... 16 History .............................................................................................................................. 16 Strategy ............................................................................................................................. 16 Results of Operations in 2017 ........................................................................................... 18 NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE BUSINESS ........................................................................... 22 Production ...................................................................................................................................... 22 Reportable Operating Segments .................................................................................................... 22 Barrick Nevada ................................................................................................................. 23 Pueblo Viejo (60% basis) ................................................................................................. 24 Lagunas Norte ................................................................................................................... 24 Veladero ............................................................................................................................ 25 Turquoise Ridge (75% basis) ............................................................................................ 26 Acacia Mining plc (63.9% basis) ...................................................................................... 27 Pascua-Lama Project ......................................................................................................... 28 Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources ...................................................................................... 29 Marketing and Distribution ............................................................................................................ 39 Employees and Labor Relations .................................................................................................... 41 Competition ................................................................................................................................... 41 Corporate Social Responsibility .................................................................................................... 41 Operations in Emerging Markets: Corporate Governance and Internal Controls .......................... 42 Board and Management Experience and Oversight .......................................................... 43 Communications ............................................................................................................... 44 Internal Controls and Cash Management Practices .......................................................... 44 Managing Cultural Differences......................................................................................... 45 Books and Records ........................................................................................................... 45 MATERIAL PROPERTIES .................................................................................................................... 45 Cortez Property .............................................................................................................................. 45 Goldstrike Property ........................................................................................................................ 52 Pueblo Viejo Mine ......................................................................................................................... 58 - i - Lagunas Norte Mine ...................................................................................................................... 65 Veladero Mine ............................................................................................................................... 71 Turquoise Ridge Mine ................................................................................................................... 80 EXPLORATION AND EVALUATIONS ............................................................................................... 86 ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................................................................... 91 LEGAL MATTERS .................................................................................................................................. 94 Government Controls and Regulations .......................................................................................... 94 Legal Proceedings .......................................................................................................................... 97 RISK FACTORS ..................................................................................................................................... 110 MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS .............................................................................................................. 129 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS .............................................................................. 129 CAPITAL STRUCTURE ....................................................................................................................... 129 RATINGS ................................................................................................................................................ 132 MARKET FOR SECURITIES .............................................................................................................. 133 MATERIAL CONTRACTS .................................................................................................................. 135 TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS ....................................................................................... 137 DIVIDEND POLICY .............................................................................................................................. 137 DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY ...................................................................... 137 AUDIT COMMITTEE ........................................................................................................................... 147 Audit Committee Mandate ........................................................................................................... 147 Composition of the Audit Committee .......................................................................................... 147 Relevant Education and Experience ............................................................................................ 147 Participation on Other Audit Committees .................................................................................... 148 Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures ............................................................ 148 External Auditor Service Fees ..................................................................................................... 148 INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING AND DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES ............................................................................................................................. 149 NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES .............................................................................................. 150 INTERESTS OF EXPERTS .................................................................................................................. 167 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION .......................................................................................................... 168 - ii - SCHEDULE “A” AUDIT COMMITTEE MANDATE ....................................................................... A-1 - iii - GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS Assay A chemical analysis to determine the amount or proportion of the element of interest contained within a sample, typically base metals or precious metals. Autoclave Oxidation process in which high temperatures and pressures are applied