Ian Cockerill, Chief Executive Officer of Gold Fields, stated,
"We firmly believe that the creation of Gold Fields International through the reverse takeover of IAMGold represents an excellent opportunity to accelerate our international growth strategy. Limited discussions with South African institutional shareholders holding approximately 18% of the outstanding shares of Gold Fields, indicate a 78% support level for the Transaction with the modified terms. We urge all shareholders to vote in favour of the Transaction at the meeting on 7th
December."
Joe Conway, President and Chief Executive Officer of IAMGold, commented,
"Over US $300 million dollars in value has been lost by IAMGold shareholders since the announcement of Harmony's hostile takeover offer. By Gold Fields contributing less cash it has satisfied many of it's South African shareholders' concerns without affecting Gold Fields International's prospects as a strong international gold producer with financial strength and organic growth."
As before, IAMGold will issue to Gold Fields or its subsidiaries, subject to adjustment based on the total net cash contributed by Gold Fields to its offshore subsidiaries, 351,690,218 fully paid common shares in consideration for Gold Fields'
subsidiaries' non-SADC assets. The Transaction will result in Gold Fields owning
approximately 70 percent of the fully diluted equity of the enlarged company.
The Transaction remains subject to approval by both IAMGold and Gold Fields shareholders and satisfaction of certain other conditions precedent. The Gold Fields shareholder meeting is scheduled for 7 December and the vote in respect of the modified Transaction must occur on such date. The IAMGold shareholder meeting, originally scheduled for 7 December, will be adjourned to a date not later than 17 December and a supplement to IAMGold's management information circular for the meeting will be mailed to IAMGold shareholders shortly.
For further details, please see the Terms Announcement that has been issued by Gold Fields via SENS and is available on Gold Fields web site: www.goldfields.co.za
.
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Note to Editors
Overview of Gold Fields International
Gold Fields International will have interests in six operating mines: four in West Africa (Tarkwa and Damang in Ghana, Sadiola and Yatela in Mali) and two in Australia (St. Ives and Agnew) with 2005 forecast production totaling 2.0 million ounces of gold. In addition, Gold Fields International will have two near-term greenfield development projects, located in Finland (Arctic Platinum) and, subject to completion of the acquisition thereof, Peru (Cerro Corona), along with various royalty interests and an attractive portfolio of advanced-stage exploration projects in Latin America, Canada, Europe, Australia, China and Africa.
Cautionary Statements
Safe Harbor Statement under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Certain statements in this document constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the US Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those with respect to the price of gold, the timing and amount of