LONDON (Reuters) – Randgold Resources (RRS.L) said on Tuesday it would mediate in a tax dispute between Tanzania and Acacia Mining (ACAA.L), a firm in which Randgold investors will have a stake if its planned merger with Barrick Gold (ABX.TO) is approved by shareholders.
Randgold Chief Executive Mark Bristow, who will lead the group after the Barrick tie-up, also told Reuters that Barrick could dispose of its Zambian copper mine after the merger.
In Tanzania, the government has accused Acacia, which is 63.9 percent owned by Barrick, of tax evasion and has slapped it with a $190 billion tax charge and banned any exports of unprocessed gold. Acacia denies any wrongdoing.
Barrick shareholders voted on Monday to approve the $6.1 billion all-stock acquisition of Randgold to create the world’s largest gold mining company. Randgold shareholders vote on Wednesday.
“The (merger) transaction legally closes at the end of the year,” Randgold CEO Bristow said.
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