Wrap Text
HAR - Harmony Gold Mining Company Ltd - Harmony announces employee share
ownership plan
Harmony Gold Mining Company Ltd
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa
Registration number: 1950/038232/06
Share code: HAR
ISIN: ZAE000015228
PRESS RELEASE
HARMONY ANNOUNCES EMPLOYEE SHARE OWNERSHIP PLAN
More than 33,000 employees to become shareholders
Johannesburg. Thursday, 15 March 2012. Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited
(`Harmony` or the `Company`) today announced the launch of its employee share
ownership plan (ESOP) which will see approximately 33,000 employees
participating in a direct ownership of the company.
The ESOP is an equity-settled share incentive and share appreciation rights
scheme, in terms of which 4,288,000 ordinary shares in the share capital of the
Company at par value and 8,576,000 share appreciation rights have been offered
to these 33,000 Harmony employees.
Says Harmony Chief Executive Officer, Graham Briggs, "It is with great
excitement that we announce the launch of Harmony`s ESOP, a venture that
recognises the importance of the employees who sustain our business. They are,
in essence, our `human gold`. This plan not only benefits our employees, but has
also demonstrated and enhanced the Company`s close relationships with our
unions. We look forward to reporting on the success of the plan going forward,
as we share a common interest in delivering returns to all stakeholders."
Frans Baleni, National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) General Secretary, is pleased
with the outcome of Harmony`s ESOP process: "NUM believes each and every
employee at Harmony to be deserving of a portion of the success to which they
contribute. I`m pleased at the Company`s acknowledgement of this fact. NUM`s
relationship with Harmony spans many years and will continue to grow as we
strive to promote the interests of our members and protect their rights." He
also emphasized that it was time that due recognition was provided for the
sterling contributions of its members.
Based on the number of shares in issue on 31 December 2011, the Harmony shares
available for issue in terms of the ESOP may account for ownership of
approximately 2.9% of the Company. Harmony`s black economic empowerment (BEE)
status is thus further enhanced.
In 2010, Harmony first engaged with the NUM, UASA and Solidarity over the
proposed ESOP, offering a minimum of 100 ordinary shares per employee at full
market value, vesting in equal annual amounts of 20 shares over a five-year
period. The Company also offered to allocate a minimum of 200 share appreciation
rights per employee at market value, vesting in equal annual amounts of 40 share
appreciation rights over a five-year period. The proposed ESOP was approved by
Harmony shareholders in December 2010 via the Harmony Employees` Share Trust.
During 2011, discussions between the unions and Harmony centred on the value
inherent in the ESOP for employees, and specifically the need to protect
employee shareholders from the vacillations of the open market. An agreeable
solution has been reached incorporating a minimum payout guarantee, which is
concomitantly accompanied by a maximum payout ceiling per share appreciation
right. Accordingly, the share appreciation component of the ESOP is based on a
minimum offer of 200 share appreciation rights per employee allocated at the
market price, with a guaranteed minimum payout of R18 per share appreciation
right and a concomitant maximum payout of R32 per share appreciation right on
each vesting date over the five-year period. All non-management employees will
benefit from the scheme, with the only determining factor being length of
service.
By way of example, a qualifying employee will receive either a guaranteed
minimum payout of R3 600 (R18 x 200), or the maximum payout of R6 400 (R32 x
200) for the share appreciation rights over the five-year period. The employee
will also receive the full market value of the ordinary shares, which at the
current average market price of about R100, would amount to R10 000 for the 100
ordinary shares over the five-year period.
The ESOP was amended and approved by shareholders in December 2011. Compensation
Technologies has been appointed as administrator of the scheme. The scheme will
be overseen by the Tlhakanelo Employee Share Trust, the trustees of which will
comprise both management and union representatives.
Issued by Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited
15 March 2012
For more details contact:
Graham Briggs
Chief Executive Officer
+27 (0) 83 265 0274 (mobile)
Marian van der Walt
Executive: Corporate and Investor Relations
+27 (0) 82 888 1242 (mobile)
Corporate Office:
Randfontein Office Park
P O Box 2
Randfontein
South Africa 1760
T +27 (11) 411 2000
www.harmony.co.za
Sponsor:
J.P. Morgan Equities Limited
Date: 15/03/2012 07:30:05 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za
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