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HARMONY GOLD MINING COMPANY LIMITED - Publication of circular and notice of EGM

Release Date: 06/05/2020 13:01
Code(s): HAR     PDF:  
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Publication of circular and notice of EGM

Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited
Registration number 1950/038232/06
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa
ISIN: ZAE000015228
JSE share code: HAR
(“Harmony” and/or “the Company”)

Publication of shareholder circular in relation to the proposed Extraordinary General Meeting
(“EGM”) to seek the authority to issue shares for cash and notice of EGM


Introduction and Rationale


On 12 February 2020, the Harmony board of directors (“the Board”) announced that it had entered into a
definitive agreement with AngloGold Ashanti to acquire AngloGold Ashanti's South African business (“the
Acquisition”). US$200 million of the acquisition consideration is payable on the date of fulfilment of the last
of the conditions precedent which is expected to be in the coming months. The Board is taking proactive
steps by seeking authority to issue ordinary shares for cash (pursuant to a general authority to issue
ordinary shares for cash and/or by way of a vendor consideration placing), for a maximum aggregate
subscription consideration of up to US$200 million.


The subscription proceeds (the “Potential Equity Capital Raising”) will be used by the Company to fund a
part of the acquisition consideration payable for the Acquisition, and as a result of doing so the Company
will stand to significantly benefit from balance sheet flexibility and optionality given the current uncertainty
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Board is committed to complete the Acquisition, which represents
a compelling opportunity to further enhance Harmony’s position as a robust cash-generative gold mining
company, with a proven track-record of running assets effectively and efficiently.


On the 20th April 2020, the Company announced that operations at its underground mines will resume and
will be conducted at a reduced capacity of not more than 50% and thereafter at increasing capacity as
determined by the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy. In addition to the announced balance sheet
protection measures, as well as the improved Rand/gold market conditions, the Company believes an
equity raise is a prudent measure to maintain balance sheet flexibility. The proposed shareholder authority
to approve the Potential Equity Capital Raising will be in place until the Company's next annual general
meeting or 15 months, whichever is shorter.


The Board wishes to implement the Potential Equity Capital Raising of up to US$200 million to fund a part
of the acquisition consideration payable for the Acquisition through:

-   a general authority to issue ordinary shares for cash, subject to the restrictions set out in the JSE
    Listings Requirements including that only public shareholders (as defined therein) may participate;                                                                                                         1
-   a vendor consideration placement as set out in the JSE Listings Requirements, and which would enable
    non-public shareholders (with persons related and inter-related to Harmony, its Directors, prescribed
    officers and future Directors and prescribed officers participating subject to the special resolution in
    terms of section 41(1) being passed) to participate; or
-   a combination of the above.


The Board believes that having the ability to implement the Potential Equity Capital Raising through one or
more of the above approvals would grant it the greatest flexibility in the circumstances, namely (i) the
applicable discount for the ordinary shares that may be offered (as regulated in the JSE Listings
Requirements); and (ii) increasing the number of interested persons who would be entitled to subscribe for
such ordinary shares (by being able to include non-public shareholders and persons related and inter-
related to Harmony, its Directors, prescribed officers and future Directors and prescribed officers under the
vendor consideration placement). Having this flexibility would ensure that the Potential Equity Capital
Raising has the greatest chance of success.


Posting of EGM Circular


The Company is pleased to advise that the EGM Circular will be posted to Shareholders today and it is
available on the Company’s website, www.harmony.co.za.


The purpose of EGM Circular is to:


-   provide Shareholders with all relevant information in respect of the granting of the authority to issue
    ordinary shares for cash including securities convertible to ordinary shares, which authority may be
    utilised as a general issue of ordinary shares for cash and/or as a vendor consideration placement as
    set out in the JSE Listings Requirements, and so as to enable Shareholders to make an informed
    decision as to whether or not they should vote in favour of the resolutions set forth in the Notice of
    EGM; and
-   convene the EGM in order for Shareholders to and, if deemed fit, pass, with or without modification,
    the ordinary and special resolutions set forth in the Notice of EGM.


Notice of EGM


Notice is hereby given of the EGM, which will be held entirely by electronic communication, on Thursday,
11 June 2020 at 11:00 (SAST) in order for Shareholders to consider and, if deemed fit, pass, with or without
modification, the resolutions set forth in the Notice of EGM (which forms part of, the Circular posted today).
The notice of EGM is available on the Company website.


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Important dates and times


The salient dates and times relating to the Scheme are set out below:



Key actions


Last Practicable Date                                                                     Monday, 4 May 2020

Posting Record Date to be eligible to receive the Circular and Notice of EGM          Thursday, 30 April 2020

SENS announcement confirming: (i) publication of Circular on Harmony’s website;

and (ii) posting of Circular                                                          Wednesday 6 May 2020

Posting Circular to Shareholders                                                     Wednesday, 6 May 2020

Last Day to Trade in order to be eligible to participate and vote at the EGM            Tuesday, 2 June 2020

Voting Record Date to participate in and vote at the EGM                                   Friday, 5 June 2020

Last day and time to give notice to participate in the EGM electronically

by 09:00 on                                                                             Tuesday, 9 June 2020

Recommended Last day and time to lodge Forms of Proxy with the Transfer Secretaries,

by 11:00 on                                                                             Tuesday, 9 June 2020

EGM of Shareholders at 11:00 on                                                       Thursday, 11 June 2020

Results of EGM released on SENS                                                          Friday, 12 June 2020




Harmony will host a conference call to address questions as it relates to this announcement and
its operational performance for the nine months ended 30 March 2020.


Date:   Wednesday, 6 May 2020
Time:   14:00 South African time (US EST: 08:00; UK 13:00; Sydney 22:00)


Conference call access:
Participants can register for the conference by navigating to:
http://www.diamondpass.net/4099255


Please note that only registered participants will receive the dial in details. These will be
supplied upon registration.




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Ends.


For more details contact:


Marian van der Walt
Executive: Corporate and Investor Relations
+27(0) 82 888 1242 (mobile)


Max Manoeli
Senior Investor Relations Coordinator
+27(0) 82 759 1775 (mobile)


Johannesburg, South Africa

6 May 2020




Sponsor:

J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa Proprietary Limited

Legal Advisor:

Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs Inc.

Important information

This announcement does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any
solicitation of any offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for, any securities of Harmony in any
jurisdiction, including (but not limited to) South Africa, the United States, Japan, Australia or Canada.

The Ordinary Shares have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), or with any securities regulatory authority of any state
or other jurisdiction of the United States and may not be offered or sold, resold, transferred or
delivered, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, except pursuant to registration under,
or an exemption from the registration requirements of, the Securities Act. There will be no public
offering of securities in the United States.




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Date: 06-05-2020 01:01:00
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