AngloGold and the Government have agreed to enter into the Stability Agreement promptly after approval of such agreement by the Parliament of Ghana (the "Parliament"). The Government has agreed to use its reasonable endeavours to obtain this approval prior to the implementation of the Merger.
Bobby Godsell, CEO of AngloGold commented "We are delighted to have taken this next important
step towards the consummation of the merger. We remain very excited by the potential of the
combination and look forward to the approval of the merger arrangements by the Parliament of
Ghana and Ashanti shareholders in the New Year. We are optimistic that the Merger will be
implemented at or around the end of the first quarter in 2004."
As set out in the detailed announcement of 4 August 2003, the Merger is conditional on the support of the Government, both in its capacity as regulator and as shareholder of Ashanti. Details of the Government Support Deed and the Stability Agreement, which formalise the Government's support for the Merger, are set out below.
The Government Support Deed
In terms of the Government Support Deed, the Government has agreed:
The Government Support Deed will automatically terminate if the Stability Agreement is not approved by Parliament by 31 July 2004. The Government Support Deed will also terminate if the transaction agreement as entered into between AngloGold and Ashanti on 4 August 2003, as amended (the "Transaction Agreement"), is terminated in accordance with its terms. However, the obligation of the Government to vote against any competing acquisition proposal will survive the termination of the Government Support Deed for a period of six months after the date of such termination (but in no event later than 31 July 2004), unless termination of the Transaction Agreement occurs:
The Stability Agreement
The Stability Agreement contemplates that the Government will:
The Stability Agreement will also provide that AngloGold Ashanti's Ghanaian operations will not be adversely affected by any new enactments or orders, or by changes to the level of payments of any customs or other duties relating to mining operations, taxes, fees and other fiscal imports or laws relating to exchange control, transfer of capital and dividend remittance for a period of 15 years.
In consideration of the foregoing agreements and undertakings, AngloGold will issue to the Government 2,658,000 AngloGold Ashanti Shares and pay to the Government US$5 million in cash, promptly after the later to occur of: (i) the execution of the Stability Agreement and (ii) the implementation of the Merger. AngloGold has also agreed to pay to the Government US$5 million in cash towards the transaction costs incurred by the Government in its role as regulator of Ashanti.
In consideration of the foregoing agreement and undertakings, AngloGold will also:
for a period of two years, not implement any new retrenchment programme in Ghana (excluding individual dismissals made from time to time) and to continue to apply Ashanti's existing and approved retrenchment programs;
establish and/or maintain a community trust in Ghana to which AngloGold Ashanti will contribute a total amount of 1 per cent of its profits generated in Ghana; and implement programmes pertaining to training, Malaria control and improvement of health, safety and working conditions.
The Stability Agreement will terminate automatically should the 2,658,000 AngloGold Ashanti Shares not be issued to the Government or the amount of US$5 million not be paid to the Government within 3 business days of the later to occur of: (i) the implementation of the Merger and (ii) the date of execution of the Stability Agreement. The Stability Agreement will also automatically terminate upon the termination of the Government Support Deed.
In the event that after the Parliament approves the Stability Agreement (i) the Transaction Agreement is terminated by the mutual written consent of AngloGold and Ashanti or (ii) AngloGold wrongfully terminates the Transaction Agreement, AngloGold has agreed to promptly pay the Government US$15 million in cash.
Amendments to Transaction Agreement
AngloGold and Ashanti have also agreed to amend the Transaction Agreement to reflect the agreements reached with the Government. The Transaction Agreement provided that it would terminate if formal agreements, in respect of certain undertakings and support by the Government, were not finalised before 12 December 2003, or such later date as may be agreed by Ashanti and AngloGold. This termination provision has been deleted. In addition, the date on or before which the conditions to the completion of the Merger must be satisfied and/or waived has been extended to 31 May 2004 (or such later date as may be agreed by AngloGold and Ashanti) The Scheme will be conditional upon the receipt of Parliamentary approval of the Stability Agreement and the execution and delivery of the Stability Agreement by the Government. As previously announced, three Ghanaian citizens will be appointed to the AngloGold board as additional directors of AngloGold Ashanti. The parties have amended the Transaction Agreement to provide that one of these directors will be Sam Esson Jonah (who will also be appointed President of AngloGold Ashanti) and the other two will be directors recommended by the Government and acceptable to the AngloGold Board and to Ashanti, in accordance with relevant applicable company laws.
Withdrawal of Cautionary Announcement
Shareholders are referred to the cautionary announcements dated 16 May, 13 June, 4 August,
15 October, 27 October and 14 November 2003, and are advised that as agreement has now been
reached with the board of directors of Ashanti and its two major shareholders, Lonmin Plc and the
Government, that all terms and conditions related to the Merger have now been agreed and
announced to shareholders. The implementation of the Merger remains subject to the fulfilment of
the conditions as announced on 4 August 2003.
Consequently, caution is no longer required to be exercised by AngloGold shareholders when
dealing in their securities.
Johannesburg
12 December 2003
JSE Sponsor: UBS
For a discussion of important terms of the Merger and important factors and risks involved in the
companies' businesses, which could cause the combined group's actual operating and financial results
to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, refer to AngloGold's and Ashanti's filings with
the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including AngloGold's annual report on Form
20-F for the year ended 31 December 2002, filed with the SEC on 7 April 2003 and Ashanti's annual
report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December 2002, filed with the SEC on 17 June 2003 and any
other documents in respect of the Merger that are furnished to the SEC by AngloGold or Ashanti under
cover of Form 6-K.
Neither AngloGold, Ashanti nor the combined group undertakes any obligation to update publicly or
release any revisions to publicly update any forward-looking statements discussed in this
announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In connection with the Merger, AngloGold will file with, or otherwise furnish to, the SEC a scheme document/prospectus. Investors and security holders are urged to carefully read the scheme document/prospectus regarding the Merger when it becomes available, because it will contain important information. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the scheme document/prospectus (when it is available) and other documents containing information about AngloGold and Ashanti, without charge, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the scheme document/prospectus together with any SEC filings that may be incorporated by reference in the scheme document/prospectus may also be obtained free of charge by directing a request to: AngloGold Limited, 11 Diagonal Street, Johannesburg 2001, PO Box 62117, Marshalltown 2107, South Africa, Attention: Chris R. Bull, Company Secretary, telephone +27 11 637 6000, fax: +27 11 637 6624.
UBS Investment Bank and First Africa Group Holdings (Pty) Limited ("First Africa") are acting for AngloGold and no one else in connection with the Merger and will not be responsible to anyone other than AngloGold for providing the protections afforded to clients of UBS Investment Bank or First Africa or for providing advice in relation to the Merger.