| Thu 11 Sep 2003, 14:18 | | RANDGOLD RESOURCES INCLUDED IN FTSE |
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RANDGOLD AND EXPLORATION COMPANY LIMITED -
RANDGOLD AND EXPLORATION COMPANY LIMITED
("Randgold & Exploration")
JSE Code: RNG
ISIN: ZAE000008819
Registration number: 1992/005642/06
RANDGOLD RESOURCES INCLUDED IN FTSE 250
London, 11 September 2003 - It was announced yesterday, that with effect from
22 September 2003 Randgold Resources (LSE: RRS) (NASDAQ: GOLD), the London Stock
Exchange and Nasdaq listed gold mining and exploration business, will be
included in the FTSE 250 Index. The company expects that its inclusion in the
index will result in a significant increase in the liquidity of its shares in
the London market.
Inclusion in the index makes Randgold Resources eligible for investment from
tracker funds and may also attract the interest of funds benchmarking themselves
against the FTSE indices. It will also be the only pure gold company in the top
350 companies included in the FTSE UK indices.
"This is a significant step in our capital markets strategy. Membership of the
FTSE 250 will significantly raise our profile in the London market and should
increase demand for our shares," chief executive Dr Mark Bristow said. "It also
strengthens our established position in London, which has re-emerged as the
primary international mining market."
Randgold Resources owns 40% of the Morila mine in Mali, which it discovered and
developed, has advanced projects in Mali and Cote d"Ivoire, and a portfolio of
exploration prospects in those countries as well as Senegal and Tanzania. It
was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1997 and on Nasdaq in 2002. Randgold
Resources recently announced that it had made an indicative merger proposal to
the Ghana-based Ashanti, and the two companies are currently engaged in a mutual
due diligence.
RANDGOLD RESOURCES ENQUIRIES:
Chief Executive
Dr Mark Bristow
+44 779 775 2288
Financial Director
Roger Williams
+44 779 771 9660
Investor & Media Relations
Kathy du Plessis
+27 11 728 4701
Cell: +27 (0) 83 266 5847
randgoldresources@dpapr.com
BACKGROUND ON RANDGOLD RESOURCES:
Randgold Resources is an African gold mining and exploration business
incorporated in the Channel Islands in 1995 and listed on the London Stock
Exchange in 1997 and on Nasdaq in 2002.
It has to date discovered the 7 million ounce Morila deposit in southern Mali,
the 1.5 million ounce Yalea Deposit in western Mali and the 3 million ounce
Tongon deposit in the Cote d"Ivoire. The Company successfully developed the
Morila deposit into one of the world"s largest and highest-margin gold mines
which, in 2002, produced just over 1 million ounces at a total cash cost of
US$74/ounce.
Randgold Resources has advanced feasibility projects at Loulo in Mali and Tongon
in Cote d"Ivoire. In addition, it has a portfolio of prospective exploration
projects in Mali, Cote d"Ivoire, Senegal and Tanzania. Its reserves and
resources currently total some 12 million attributable ounces.
DISCLAIMER:
Statements made in this release with respect to Randgold Resources" current
plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not
historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of
Randgold Resources. These statements are based on assumptions and beliefs in
light of the information currently available. Randgold Resources cautions you
that a number of important risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to
differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and
therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. The potential risks and
uncertainties include, among others, risks associated with: fluctuations in the
market price of gold, gold production at Morila, estimates of reserves and mine
life and liabilities arising from the closure of Syama. For a discussion of
important factors and risks involved in Randgold Resources" business, refer to
Randgold Resources" Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December
2002, which was filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on 27 June
2003. Randgold Resources does not undertake any obligation to update any
forward looking statements discussed in this announcement, whether as a result
of new information, future events or otherwise.
Date: 11/09/2003 11:57:33 AM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za
Produced by the JSE SENS Department
