UPDATE 1-High River says debt facilities assigned to Severstal

April 20 (Reuters) - High River Gold Mines Ltd (HRG.TO) said two credit facilities that were in default have been assigned by Standard Bank Plc (SBKJ.J) to Russia's OAO Severstal (CHMF.MM), which owns about 53 percent stake in the Canadian gold miner.

The total amount outstanding under the two loans is about $27 million, the company said, adding that the facilities assigned to Severstal continue to be in default.

High River, which has operations in Russia and West Africa, also said it appointed Chief Financial Officer Steven Poad to the board of directors on an interim basis.

Shares of the company closed at 13.5 Canadian cents Monday on the Toronto Stock Exchange. (Reporting by Richa Dubey in Bangalore; Editing by Deepak Kannan)