| Tue 7 Dec 2004, 15:04 | | Gold Fields shareholders do not approve IAMGold |
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Gold Fields - Gold Fields shareholders do not approve IAMGold transaction
Gold Fields Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Registration number: 1968/004880/06
JSE code: GFI ISIN: ZAE000018123
(`Gold Fields`)
MEDIA RELEASE
GOLD FIELDS SHAREHOLDERS DO NOT APPROVE IAMGold TRANSACTION
Johannesburg, 7 December 2004. The Board of Directors of Gold Fields Limited
(GFI: NYSE and JSE) today announced that the proposed reverse takeover of
IAMGold Corporation (`the transaction`) has not received the required majority
approval by its shareholders. The proposed transaction will therefore not be
completed.
The breakdown of the vote is as follows:
shares voted in favour 170,617,459 (48.23% of total)
shares voted against - 181,955,004 (51.44% of total)
abstentions - 1,154,283 (0.33% of total)
Gold Fields Chief Executive Officer Ian Cockerill said, `This is a disappointing
result, but we respect the decision of our shareholders. Gold Fields has
outstanding assets and people, very profitable operations and a strong balance
sheet. As we have stated before, we have a number of strategic options open to
us. The key elements of our strategy for aggressive earnings growth are those
we announced in May 2004:
- continued organic growth of our existing assets, including through
continual improvements of our operational efficiency;
- acquisitions to diversify geographic, technical and currency risk and to
grow our international portfolio by 1.5 million ounces per year within five
years; and
- exploration for new, high value opportunities in current and new
territories.
The Board will be meeting over the next few days to consider our options. We
will provide the market with an update on our strategic plans aimed at
maximising the value of your company.`
He concluded, `Whilst we were unable to convince a suitable number of
shareholders to vote this transaction through, we respect the outcome and will
continue to press on and do what we have demonstrated so well these past few
years, and that is add value by running good quality mines in a safe, efficient
and profitable manner. And we would urge you to continue to resist tendering
your shares to any subsequent Harmony offer. Today`s vote against IAMGold is
not a vote for the Harmony offer.`
ends
Important Information:
In the United States, Gold Fields Limited (`Gold Fields`) has filed a
Solicitation/Recommendation Statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the `SEC`) on Schedule 14D-9 and holders of the Gold Fields Ordinary
Shares and American Depositary Shares are advised to read it as it contains
important information. Copies of the Schedule 14D-9 and other related documents
filed by Gold Fields are available free of charge on the SEC`s website at
http://www.sec.gov. Any documents filed by Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited,
including any registration statement on Form F-4 (including any prospectus
contained therein) and related exchange offer materials as well as its Tender
Offer Statement on Schedule TO, will also be available free of charge on the
SEC`s website.
The directors of Gold Fields accept responsibility for the information contained
in this document. To the best of their knowledge and belief (having taken all
reasonable care to ensure that such is the case) the information contained in
this document is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely
to affect the import of such information.
Copies of this document are not being made available, and must not be mailed,
forwarded, transmitted or otherwise distributed or sent in or into Australia,
Canada, Japan, the Republic of Ireland or any other jurisdiction in which it is
illegal to make this document available and persons receiving this document
(including custodians, nominees and trustees) must not distribute, forward,
mail, transmit or send it in or into or from Australia, Canada, Japan, the
Republic of Ireland or any such other jurisdiction.
Date: 07/12/2004 02:40:04 PM
Produced by the JSE SENS Department
