| Fri 18 Jun 2004, 8:24 | | Disposal by Lonmin of its stake in AngloGold Ashan |
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Lonmin Plc - Disposal by Lonmin of its stake in AngloGold Ashanti Limited
Lonmin Plc
(Incorporated in the United Kingdom)
Share code : LON
ISIN code : GB0031192486
(`Lonmin`)
Disposal by Lonmin of its stake in AngloGold Ashanti Limited
Not for release, publication or distribution in or into the United States,
Canada, Japan, France, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland
The bookbuilding process in connection with the offering by Lonmin Plc
(`Lonmin`), of existing ordinary shares in AngloGold Ashanti Limited (`AngloGold
Ashanti`), which was announced on 17th June 2004 (the `Offering`), has now
closed.
An aggregate of 6.94 million ordinary shares in AngloGold Ashanti amounting to
2.63% of the issued share capital of AngloGold Ashanti has been sold in the
Offering at a price of US$29.50 per ADS (each ADS representing one ordinary
share), and South African Rand 193.94 per ordinary share. Settlement of
purchases of ADSs will be on 23rd June 2004 and settlement of purchases of
ordinary shares will be on 25th June 2004. Lonmin will receive gross proceeds
of approximately US$204.7 million.
Following the merger of AngloGold Limited (`AngloGold`) and Ashanti Goldfields
Company Limited (`Ashanti`), Lonmin held 10.44 million shares in the combined
group, AngloGold Ashanti. Lonmin`s shareholding in Ashanti is shown as a fixed
asset investment in Lonmin`s 2003 financial statements at a Directors` valuation
of US$200 million. The investment made no contribution to Lonmin`s attributable
net income in the year ended 30 September 2003 as Ashanti did not pay any
dividends for the years ended 31 December 2002 or 2003.
On 4th June, Lonmin disposed of 3.5 million AngloGold shares for US$113.8
million.
The disposal is in line with Lonmin`s stated intention to realise the value of
its stake in AngloGold Ashanti. The proceeds will be used to reduce Lonmin`s
borrowings in the short term.
Cazenove & Co. Ltd and J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd. acted as joint book runners
of the Offering. Cazenove has advised Lonmin in relation to the disposal of its
stake in AngloGold Ashanti.
Contacts:
Lonmin
Anthony Cardew/Olivia Gallimore - CardewChancery
+44 20 7930 0777
Cazenove
Michael Wentworth-Stanley/Jonathan Wilcox
+44 20 7588 2828
JPMorgan
Ian Hannam/Arjun Khullar
+44 20 7325 1000
This announcement has been issued by, and is the sole responsibility of, Lonmin.
Members of the general public are not eligible to take part in this Offering.
In the United Kingdom, this announcement, in so far as it constitutes an
invitation or inducement to participate in the Offering, is directed exclusively
at persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments
who fall within article 19(5) (investment professionals) of the Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2001 (as amended) (the
`Order`) or are persons falling within article 49(2)(a) to (d) (high net worth
companies, unincorporated associations etc) of the Order (all such persons
together being referred to as `relevant persons`). This announcement, in so far
as it constitutes an invitation or inducement to participate in the offering,
must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any
investment or investment activity to which this announcement or the Offering
relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with
relevant persons. As regards all persons other than relevant persons, the
details of the Offering and bookbuilding set out in this announcement are for
information purposes only.
Cazenove & Co. Ltd and J.P. Morgan Securities Ltd. are acting for Lonmin Plc and
no one else in connection with the offer and will not be responsible to any
other person for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients,
or for providing advice in relation to the proposed offer.
This announcement is not an offer for sale of the securities in the United
States, and the securities may not be sold in the United States absent
registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of
1933, as amended. Any public offering of the securities to be made in the
United States will be made by means of a prospectus that may be obtained from
Lonmin and that will contain detailed information about AngloGold Ashanti and
its management, as well as financial statements.
This announcement is not for distribution directly or indirectly in or into the
United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, France, New Zealand or the Republic of
Ireland. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the
solicitation of an offer to buy or acquire ordinary shares in the capital of
AngloGold Ashanti in the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, France, New
Zealand or the Republic of Ireland or any jurisdiction in which such an offer or
solicitation is unlawful. No public offering of securities will be made in the
United Kingdom or the Republic of South Africa.
18 June 2004
Sponsor
Cazenove
Date: 18/06/2004 08:00:03 AM
Produced by the JSE SENS Department
