ADDRESS BY BOBBY GODSELL, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, AT THE GENERAL MEETING HELD ON 19 NOVEMBER 2001
This meeting has been convened to consider two ordinary resolutions relating to the approval of the acquisition by the company of up to 100% of the issued shares in Normandy Mining Limited, and a special resolution
pertaining to an amendment to the Articles of Association regulating the currency of declaration of dividends.
The text of and reasons for the resolutions are fully set out in the
circular and notice of meeting posted to members on 26 October 2001.
On the subject of the resolution dealing with Normandy, I would like to summarise our motivation for having taken this step and to comment briefly on some recent developments.
This transaction is consistent with AngloGold's strategy to grow and
diversify our assets in such a way that we maximise shareholder value. In my letter to you in the circular posted on 26 October 2001, I said that this transaction was about three things - synergies, consolidation and increasing the market value of the AngloGold share relative to other shares.
AngloGold's and Normandy's operations represent a good fit which should enable us to achieve substantial cost savings by rationalising management and administrative infrastructure and by combining our exploration
activities around the world, particularly in Australia.
The merger of Normandy with AngloGold is also an important step in the global consolidation of the gold industry, which both companies have
advocated for some time and will allow more coherent ownership and management of key assets.
The merger should also make AngloGold a more attractive investment
proposition for global investors. We believe the combination of Normandy and AngloGold should improve both companies' risk profile through country and orebody diversification, which should also reduce our cost of capital. Importantly, following completion of the merger, the free float of AngloGold shares should almost double which should increase the accessibility and attractiveness of our share in key markets in Australia, South Africa and the United States.
The AngloGold bid for Normandy took an interesting turn on Thursday last week when Newmont Mining, the large Denver-based gold mining company, launched a counter bid for Normandy, in conjunction with an offer to acquire the Toronto company, Franco Nevada. It is our firm conviction that
Normandy's assets would fit with those of AngloGold in a fashion which will ensure superior long term returns to the shareholders of both companies far better than if they were to be combined with Newmont's mining assets. For this reason, it is not our intention at this time to withdraw from our intended course of action.
Your Board and management will, however, be considering all of the options available to them before responding to the counter bid. Whilst this may include amending the terms and structure of the offer which has already been made to Normandy shareholders, in so doing, we will not act in a way which would diminish the value of your investment in AngloGold