HARMONY THE PREFERRED BIDDER FOR PAMODZI GOLDS FREE STATE ASSETS
Johannesburg, 26 June 2009. Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (Harmony) is pleased to announce
that the provisional liquidators of Pamodzi Gold Free State (Proprietary) Limited (in liquidation)
(Pamodzi Free State) have chosen Harmony as the preferred bidder of Pamodzi Free States assets
(Pamodzi Free State Assets). The Pamodzi Free State Assets consist of President Steyn 1 and 2
shafts, Loraine 3 shaft, Freddies 7 shaft and Freddies 9 shaft, a metallurgical gold plant and a
dormant tailings storage facility. The Pamodzi Free State Assets will be purchased free from all
liabilities, save for all rehabilitation and environmental liabilities associated with the Pamodzi
Free State Assets. Harmonys acquisition strategy has been focused on acquiring long-life assets
that offer higher grades and have potential synergies with its own assets.
A due diligence investigation has been completed. The outcome of the due diligence investigation
indicates that the Pamodzi Free State Assets are a good fit with Harmonys Free State assets for
the following reasons:
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the Pamodzi Free State Assets have the potential to generate recovered grades of
approximately 5g/t in the medium term. This will enhance Harmonys recovered grade in the Free
State; |
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the Pamodzi Free State Assets have the potential, in the longer term, to add 150,000 higher
quality ounces per year to Harmonys production; |
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Loraine 3 shaft and Freddies 9 shaft respectively have an estimated life of mine in excess
of 10 years; |
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Loraine 3 shaft (including Loraine 1 shaft) has similar geology to that of Harmonys Target
mine (Target); |
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Loraine 3 shaft and Target can be managed as one unit due to geological similarities and
geographical proximity; |
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synergies exist between Freddies 7 shaft and Freddies 9 shaft and Harmonys Tshepong Mine
from an ore body and mining perspective; |
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Harmonys Target metallurgical gold plant is 10 kilometers from the Loraine 3 shaft which
will have cost benefits; |
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the President Steyn 2 shaft pillar can only be optimally extracted from Harmonys West Mine
shaft (currently on care and maintenance) and part of Bambanani mine; |
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Harmonys management is very familiar with Pamodzi Free States ore bodies; |
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Pamodzi Free States dormant tailings storage facility can be cost effectively processed
through Harmonys Phoenix plant or through Harmonys St Helena plant (when completed). |
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cash flow can be generated at an early stage from the President Steyn 2 shaft pillar, as
well as from the demolition of Pamodzi Free States metallurgical gold plant |
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Harmony is familiar with the infrastructure challenges of the Pamodzi Free State Assets and
will implement the same standards as those implemented in respect of its own assets to ensure
the safety of its employees. Some capital expenditure will therefore be required to make the
operations safe for employees and to optimize the ability to operate the Pamodzi Free State
Assets; |
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by purchasing the Pamodzi Free State Assets, Harmony will be able to better control
potential issues which may affect its own mines, such as fires, flooding and restricting
illegal miners gaining access to Harmonys shafts. |
The acceptance of Harmonys offer by the provisional liquidators is subject to the approval of the
Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa and the relevant trade unions and the conclusion
of definitive written sale agreements.
One of the essential conditions precedent to the transaction would be the conversion of Pamodzi
Free States mining rights and the consent to the transfer thereof by the Minister of Minerals and
Energy. Harmony, together with the provisional liquidators, has agreed to give this condition
precedent their urgent attention.
Strategically this transaction is a good fit for Harmonys Free State assets. Harmony has
excellent synergies that could be leveraged in respect of tailings disposal, plant processing and
management and it would allow us to control potential issues that could influence our own mines,
Chief Executive Officer, Graham Briggs said.
This acquisition falls below the JSE categorisation thresholds and is for information purposes
only.
end.