| Thu 13 Nov 2003, 10:13 | | DETAILED JOINT CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT |
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Avmin/ARMI/HARMONY - DETAILED JOINT CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT
Anglovaal Mining African Rainbow Harmony Gold Mining
Limited Minerals & Exploration Company Limited
(Incorporated in the Investments (Incorporated in the
Republic of South (Proprietary) Limited Republic of South
Africa) (Incorporated in the Africa)
(Registration number Republic of South (Registration number
1993/004580/06) Africa) 1950/038232/06)
(Share code: AIN) (Registration number (Share code: HAR)
(ISIN code: 1997/020158/07) (ISIN code:
ZAE000017141) ("ARMI") ZAE000015228)
("Avmin") ("Harmony")
DETAILED JOINT CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT
INTRODUCTION
The Boards of Avmin, Harmony and ARMI have reached agreement in principle
regarding a range of indivisible transactions which, if implemented, will result
in the creation of the largest black controlled mineral resources company in
South Africa under the leadership of mining entrepreneur, Patrice Motsepe.
The transactions, which are subject to the fulfilment of the conditions
precedent detailed in paragraph 8, are as follows:
Avmin will dispose of its entire 42.2% interest in Avgold Limited ("Avgold") to
Harmony, the consideration for which will be discharged by the issue of new
Harmony shares ("the Avgold Share Disposal");
- Avmin will acquire from the ARM group of companies ("ARM"):
ARM"s entire indirect 13.6% interest in Harmony;
ARM"s 41.5% effective interest in the Modikwa Joint Venture,
the consideration for which will be discharged by the issue of new Avmin shares
to ARM or its nominee (collectively referred to as the "Avmin Acquisitions");
Avmin will acquire the Kalplats platinum discovery and associated mineral rights
from Harmony, the consideration for which will be discharged by the issue of new
Avmin shares (the "Kalplats Acquisition"); and
Harmony will merge its remaining shares in Avmin with the Avmin shares
controlled by ARM, post the above transactions, either through a sale
transaction or a voting pool arrangement ("the ARM Control Structure").
The above transactions are collectively referred to as "the Transaction".
RATIONALE AND PROPOSED NEW STRUCTURE
The Avmin board of directors has completed its review of the strategic direction
and future structure of the Avmin Group referred to at the time of announcing
Avmin"s provisional results on 11 September 2003. The two key objectives of the
review were to:
establish Avmin as a fully empowered mineral resources company, utilising the
Avmin Group"s resources to become a preferred partner-of-choice for new South
African mining ventures; and
build a strong financial base for Avmin to support new mining investments, in
particular its large in-house projects, including the Nkomati nickel mine
expansion.
The Transaction will result in ARM becoming the effective controlling
shareholder of a larger, diversified and empowered Avmin, with significant
holdings in gold, platinum, nickel and ferrous metal assets. As a consequence
Avmin, without placing Harmony"s black economic empowerment credentials at risk,
will be well positioned to secure significant funding (as debt and capital
markets allow) for its existing projects and to participate in further growth
opportunities that the South African mining sector offers, taking advantage of
its unique empowerment status. All parties have agreed that Avmin will change
its name to African Rainbow Minerals Limited.
For a diagrammatic explanation of the resultant Avmin Group structure please
refer to the paid announcement to be published on 14 November 2003.
Gold asset portfolio
Avmin"s gold assets will comprise a holding of 22.2% in Harmony which in turn
will hold a 53.7% interest in Avgold (42.2% from Avmin plus current holding of
11.4% prior to any mandatory offer being made by Harmony to the minority
shareholders of Avgold), forming the fifth largest gold producer globally with
4.3 million ounces of production per annum and with an estimated 470 million
resource ounces.
Harmony has over the past three years upgraded its production base with a range
of quality enhancing acquisitions. The company is currently developing five
mines, which is intended to increase the company"s underground recovery grade by
some 13% over the next four years. The acquisition of 42.2% of Avgold will
further enhance the overall quality of the company"s production base.
Platinum Group Metals ("PGM") portfolio
The Avmin PGM asset portfolio will comprise assets that have the potential of
achieving significant attributable production levels in future years. This
includes the 41.5% indirect interest in the Modikwa Joint Venture and a 55%
interest in the Two Rivers project. Furthermore, the 75% held Nkomati mine is
contemplating a major expansion project which will form part of Avmin"s PGM
asset portfolio.
Ferrous metals asset portfolio
Avmin"s ferrous metals asset portfolio will comprise the iron ore, manganese and
chrome businesses held through its existing 50.3% interest in Assmang Limited.
Assmang"s total product sales for 2003 were:
Metric tons 000"s
Iron ore 5 263
Manganese ore (excluding deliveries to the Cato 1 171
Ridge alloy operation)
Manganese alloys 206
Charge chrome 244
Chrome ore (excluding deliveries to Machadodorp 20
alloy operation)
BOARD OF AVMIN
Following the conclusion of the proposed Transaction, Patrice Motsepe will
become the Chairman of Avmin and Rick Menell will be deputy Chairman.
The Board composition will be reviewed and changes considered to reflect the new
controlling shareholding in Avmin.
THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION
The Avgold Share Disposal
Avmin will dispose of its entire holding of 286 305 263 ordinary shares in
Avgold (42.2%) to Harmony for a consideration to be settled by the issue to
Avmin of 28 630 526 new Harmony shares. This represents a ratio of 1 Harmony
share for every 10.0 Avgold shares based on the 30 day volume weighted average
traded prices.
The Avmin Acquisitions
Avmin will acquire:
ARM"s entire indirect holding of 35 002 396 Harmony shares; and
ARM"s 83% indirect shareholding in the ARM Mining Consortium Limited which in
turn holds 50% in the Modikwa Joint Venture, a joint venture in respect of the
Modikwa Platinum Mine,
for a consideration to be settled by the issue to ARM of 87 750 417 new Avmin
shares at an issue price of R50 per Avmin share.
The Kalplats Acquisition
Avmin will acquire the Kalplats platinum discovery and associated mineral rights
from Harmony to be settled by the issue to Harmony of 2 000 000 new Avmin
shares.
The ARM Control Structure
Harmony will merge its entire holding of 38 789 761 Avmin shares (20.1% post
dilution) remaining after the implementation of the Avmin Acquisitions with the
Avmin shares held by ARM (either through a sale transaction or voting pool
arrangement).
As a result, 63.2% of Avmin will be black controlled.
MANDATORY OFFER TO AVGOLD MINORITIES
Pursuant to the successful implementation of the Avgold Share Disposal, Harmony
will hold in excess of 35% of the issued share capital of Avgold. In terms of
the Securities Regulation Code on Takeovers and Mergers and Rules of the
Securities Regulation Panel ("the Code"), Harmony will be required to extend a
mandatory offer to the other shareholders of Avgold ("the Avgold minority
shareholders") for the remaining 46.3% of Avgold in accordance with the
requirements of the Code. Accordingly Harmony will extend an offer to the
Avgold minority shareholders to acquire all or part of their Avgold shares for
the same consideration as the Avgold Share Disposal.
CHANGE OF CONTROL IN AVMIN AND WAIVER OF MANDATORY OFFER
Pursuant to the successful implementation of the Avmin Acquisitions, ARM, will
hold in excess of 35% of the issued share capital of Avmin. The Securities
Regulation Panel has indicated to ARM and Avmin that it will allow ARM to
dispense with the requirement to extend a mandatory offer to Avmin minority
shareholders, provided a simple majority of the Avmin shareholders excluding
Harmony and ARM in general meeting waive the requirement for a mandatory offer.
Accordingly, as a condition precedent to the Avmin Acquisitions, shareholders of
Avmin will be requested to waive the requirement for a mandatory offer by ARM.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS AND VOTING RESTRICTIONS
Harmony is a material shareholder of Avmin. As a result, the Avgold Share
Disposal and the Kalplats Acquisition are related party transactions in respect
of Avmin in terms of the Listings Requirements of the JSE Securities Exchange,
South Africa ("the Listings Requirements"). Accordingly, Harmony may not vote
its shares in Avmin on the Avmin shareholder resolutions required to approve the
Avgold Share Disposal and the Kalplats Acquisition.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
Implementation of the Transaction will be subject, inter alia, to:
the signature of the requisite legal agreements and such agreements becoming
unconditional;
the obtaining of the necessary regulatory approvals; and
the obtaining of third party and shareholder approvals, to the extent required,
including the waiver, in general meeting, by Avmin minority shareholders of the
requirement for a mandatory offer by ARM.
OPINIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
As the Avgold Share Disposal and the Kalplats Acquisition are related party
transactions, the board of directors of Avmin will appoint an independent
adviser to advise Avmin minority shareholders in respect of the Avgold Share
Disposal and the Kalplats Acquisition as required by the Listings Requirements.
Deutsche Securities (SA) (Proprietary) Limited has been the adviser to the Avmin
board on the restructuring review and the Transaction.
CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT
A further announcement will be made on SENS and in the press as soon as the
requisite legal agreements have been signed and the financial effects finalised.
Accordingly, both Avmin and Harmony shareholders are advised to exercise caution
when trading in their securities until such time as a further announcement is
made which is expected to be at the end of November.
Johannesburg
13 November 2003
Financial adviser and sponsor to Avmin Financial adviser to
Harmony & ARMI and sponsor
to Harmony
Deutsche Securities JPMorgan
Member of the Deutsche Bank Group
Deutsche Securities (SA) (Proprietary) Limited
(Registration number 1995/011798/07)
Member of the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa
Attorneys to Avmin Attorneys to Harmony
Deneys Reitz Attorneys Cliffe Dekker
Attorneys to ARMI
Bowman Gilfillan
Date: 13/11/2003 08:27:51 AM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za
Produced by the JSE SENS Department
