| Mon 21 Nov 2005, 15:22 | | Gold Fields To Combine Bolivar Gold With Its Inter |
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Gold Fields To Combine Bolivar Gold With Its International Asset Portfolio
Gold Fields Limited
(Registration Number 1968/004880/06)
("Gold Fields")
Share Code: GFI
ISIN: ZAE000018123
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
Gold Fields To Combine Bolivar Gold With Its International Asset Portfolio
Johannesburg, Toronto; November 21, 2005: Gold Fields Limited (Gold Fields)
(NYSE and JSE: GFI) and Bolivar Gold Corp. (Bolivar) (TSX: BGC) today entered
into an agreement by which Gold Fields will combine, through a court approved
plan of arrangement, all of the outstanding securities of Bolivar with its
international asset portfolio for a total cash consideration of approximately
US$330 million (approximately ZAR 2.2 billion).
Bolivar shareholders will receive C$3.00 per common share. This consideration
equates to a premium of 40.9% over the volume weighted average trading price of
Bolivar over the prior 30 trading days and a premium of 18.6% on the closing
price on Friday, November 18, 2005.
The holders of common share purchase warrants of Bolivar shall be offered the
following cash consideration:
Share Purchase Warrant Offer Price Per
Warrant
(C$ per warrant)
BGC.WT, expiry 17 March 2008 (C$1.10 strike price) 1.90
BGC.WT.A, expiry 25 August 2008 (C$1.75 strike price) 1.25
BGC.WT.B, expiry 23 December 2009 (C$3.25 strike price) 0.40
The consideration offered to holders of the BGC.WT and BGC.WT.A warrants
represents C$3.00 per common share less the strike price of the warrants. The
consideration offered to the BGC.WT.B warrants represents a premium equal to the
premium payable to common shareholders, based on the most recent closing price.
In accordance with the trust indenture, the transaction will trigger the
redemption of the convertible debentures at C$1,095.25 in cash per C$1,000
principal amount, for a total amount of US$24.1 million, included in the total
purchase consideration referred to above.
The transaction requires approval by 662/3% of Bolivar shareholders and warrant
holders of which Gold Fields currently owns approximately 11% of the common
shares and approximately 32% of the BGC.WT.A warrants. Completion of the
transaction is also subject to the execution of a definitive agreement by
November 30, 2005, approval of the South African Reserve Bank and certain other
regulatory approvals.
The Board of Directors of each company has resolved to approve the transaction.
The Board of Directors of Bolivar has appointed an independent committee to
oversee the process, including inter alia, an application for exemption from the
requirement to seek an independent valuation of Bolivar, failing which, an
independent valuation will be obtained. The recommendation of Bolivar"s Board of
Directors is supported by a fairness opinion from its financial advisor, GMP
Securities Ltd.
It is anticipated that the transaction will be concluded in January 2006.
Bolivar, which is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, operates the Choco 10
open pit gold mine in the El Callao gold district in Bolivar State, Venezuela,
which achieved commercial production on August 1, 2005. Total production for the
final five months of 2005 is expected to be approximately 48,000 ounces,
increasing to approximately 190,000 ounces during 2006.
As`at December 31, 2004, the Choco 10 property had 1.3 million ounces of proven
and probable reserves from 21.4 million tonnes of ore at an average grade of 1.9
grams per tonne, contained within a measured and indicated resource of 1.8
million ounces and a further 1.7 million ounces of inferred resource.
Ian Cockerill, Chief Executive Officer of Gold Fields said; "This transaction
is consistent with our growth strategy aimed achieving an additional 1.5 million
ounces of international production by 2009. We believe that El Callao is a
highly prospective gold district and that the Choco 10 mine will give us a
strong operational foothold from which to grow in this part of the world."
Serafino Iacono, Chief Executive Officer of Bolivar stated: "This transaction
validates Venezuela as a favorable place to do business and we are confident
that Gold Fields" involvement will contribute positively to the development of
its mining industry."
Gold Fields and Bolivar have an existing exploration joint venture agreement
covering approximately 25,000 hectares in the El Callao district surrounding the
Choco 10 mine. The region is highly prospective and significant potential exists
to increase reserves and production. El Callao is part of a well-established
gold mining region with historic production dating back more than 200 years.
There are several other gold mines in the region including the Colombia mine
owned by CVG-Minerven; the Tomi and La Victoria mines owned by Crystallex; the
La Camorra mine and Mina Isidora development project owned by Hecla; and the
privately owned San Raphael mine.
"We believe that through responsible mining practices Gold Fields can make a
meaningful contribution to sustainable development in Venezuela. Gold Fields
has been actively involved in exploration in Venezuela since 1992 and we have
come to realize that there is excellent geological potential in the country.
Bolivar has done a commendable job in advancing Choco 10 to production and
initiating social programmes in the local community. We feel that Gold Fields
can build on this foundation of sustainable development as it continues to
explore and develop Choco 10 and our adjacent joint venture concessions," said
Cockerill.
Orion Securities Inc. acted as exclusive financial advisor to Gold Fields.
Bolivar has retained GMP Securities Ltd. and Endeavour Financial as its
financial advisors.
Gold Fields will host a special web cast and teleconference call at 17:30
Johannesburg time (10.30 am EST), to discuss the transaction. The web cast can
be accessed through the Gold Fields website at www.goldfields.co.za.
Gold Fields is one of the world"s largest unhedged gold producers, with annual
gold production of approximately 4.2 million ounces from mines in South Africa,
Ghana and Australia as well as a developing mine at Cerro Corona in Peru. The
Company has reserves of 64.8 million ounces and mineral resources of 174.5
million ounces. Gold Fields has its primary listing on the Johannesburg
Securities Exchange and secondary listings on the NYSE, LSE, Euronext in Paris
and Brussels, and on the Swiss Exchange. All of Gold Fields" operations are ISO
14001 certified.
Bolivar Gold Corp. is a gold exploration, development and production company. At
its 95%-owned Choco 10 property in Venezuela, drilling has confirmed near-
surface proven and probable ore reserves of 1.3 million ounces. The 5,400 tonne
per day Choco 10 operation commenced commercial production in August 2005.
Bolivar Gold intends to exploit this reserve while continuing to pursue the
exploration potential of the Choco 10 property, as well as throughout the El
Callao district in conjunction with its joint venture partner, Gold Fields
Limited.
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Enquiries:
Gold Fields
Willie Jacobsz
+27 11 644-2505
williej@goldfields.co.za
Nerina Bodasing
+27 11 644-2630
nerinab@goldfields.co.za
Cheryl Martin
(303) 796-8683
camartin@gfexpl.com
Bolivar Gold
Robert Doyle
(416) 360-4653
rdoyle@bolivargold.com
Date: 21/11/2005 03:22:37 PM Produced by the JSE SENS Department
