Gold Fields Sells Stake in Sino Gold for US$282 Million
June 03 2009 - 5:46AM
PR Newswire (US)
JOHANNESBURG, June 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Gold Fields Limited
(Gold Fields) (JSE, NYSE, NASDAQ Dubai: GFI) is pleased to announce
that agreement has been reached in terms of which Gold Fields will
sell its current 19.9% stake in Sino Gold Mining Limited (Sino
Gold) (ASX:SGXASX:HKSE:ASX:1862) to Eldorado Gold Corporation
(Eldorado) (TSX: ELD, NYSE-A: EGO) for a total consideration of
approximately US$282 million*. Gold Fields will receive a share
exchange ratio of 48 Eldorado shares for every 100 Sino Gold
shares, which will result in Gold Fields holding 27,824,654
Eldorado shares or approximately 7% of the outstanding shares of
Eldorado on a fully diluted basis. In addition, Gold Fields will
hold a top-up right for a period of 18 months, which will apply
should Eldorado purchase an additional 5% or more of the
outstanding shares of Sino Gold and the sellers in that transaction
realize a consideration ratio in excess of the share exchange ratio
of 0.48 Eldorado shares per Sino Gold share received by Gold
Fields. Nick Holland, Chief Executive Officer of Gold Fields, said:
"After having received several expressions of interest for our
stake in Sino Gold, we believe that this transaction is the most
value creating for our shareholders because it has enabled us to
crystallise the value of our investment while retaining exposure to
China as a potential area for the future. Holland added that this
sale did not detract in any way from Gold Fields' strategy to grow
its international production: "We have definitely not changed
course and our aspiration to grow production in each of our three
international regions, West Africa, South America and Australasia,
to at least 1 million ounces per annum, within a three to five year
time horizon, remains intact. Gold Fields will retain some
exploration joint ventures with Sino over the Jinshu project and
other nominated properties in China, while strengthening its own
team in China, to allow for independent growth in that country. The
transaction is subject to regulatory approvals, including South
African Reserve Bank approval and is expected to close at the end
of August 2009. *Based on the closing price of Eldorado on 2 June
2009 About Gold Fields Gold Fields Limited is one of the world's
largest unhedged producers of gold with attributable steady state
production of approximately 4 million ounces per annum from nine
operating mines in South Africa, Peru, Ghana and Australia. The
company has total attributable ore reserves of 83 million ounces
and mineral resources of 251 million ounces. Gold Fields is listed
on the JSE Limited (primary listing), New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE), NASDAQ Dubai Limited (NASDAQ Dubai), NYSE Euronext in
Brussels (NYX) and Swiss Exchange (SWX). For more information
please visit the Gold Fields website at
http://www.goldfields.co.za/. About Eldorado Eldorado is a gold
producing, exploration and development company actively growing
businesses in Brazil, China, Greece, and Turkey and surrounding
regions. Eldorado is one of the lowest cost pure gold producers and
has international expertise in mining, finance and project
development, together with highly skilled and dedicated staff,
Eldorado is well positioned to grow in value by pursuing new
opportunities. About Sino Gold Sino Gold has been active in China
since 1996 and owns 82% of the Jinfeng gold mine in Guizhou
Province, southern China, which has Mineral Resources containing
4.6 million ounces and Ore Reserves containing 3.2 million ounces.
Jinfeng will be one of the largest gold mines in China when the
project achieves planned initial production of 180,000 ounces per
annum. Sino Gold aims to increase Jinfeng's gold production to
optimal levels as quickly as possible. The White Mountain project
in Jilin Province, northeast China, is now being developed into
Sino Gold's second mine. In December 2007, Sino Gold completed the
takeover of Golden China Resources Corporation and announced the
Eastern Dragon acquisition. Sino Gold now has projects that provide
a clear pathway for the Company to produce 500,000 ounces of
low-cost gold annually by 2010 Sino Gold is a producing gold
company actively pursuing a discovery and acquisition strategy in
China. With a "first mover" advantage, it holds a strong
competitive position in China. Sino Gold is listed on the
Australian Securities Exchange (ASX Code: SGX) and the Stock
Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK Code: 1862). DATASOURCE: Gold Fields
Limited CONTACT: Enquiries: Willie Jacobsz, Mobile: +857-241-7127,
Nikki Catrakilis-Wagner, Mobile: +27(0)83-309-6720, Marritt
Claassens, Mobile: +27(0)82-307-3297
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