NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
20 November 2024
RECOMMENDED ACQUISITION
OF
CENTAMIN PLC
BY
ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI PLC
Court Sanction of Scheme of Arrangement and Other Updates
The boards of Centamin plc ("Centamin") and AngloGold Ashanti plc ("AngloGold Ashanti") are pleased to announce that the Jersey Court has today sanctioned the scheme of arrangement between Centamin and the Scheme Shareholders under Article 125 of the Jersey Companies Law (the "Scheme") to implement the recommended cash and share acquisition of the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Centamin by AngloGold Ashanti (the "Transaction").
The Transaction is subject to the terms and conditions set out in the scheme document relating to the Transaction published on 30 September 2024 (the "Scheme Document") and was approved by Centamin Shareholders at the Shareholder Meetings on 28 October 2024.
Unless otherwise defined, all capitalised terms in this announcement have the meaning given to them in the Scheme Document. All references to times are to
Next steps
The Scheme remains conditional on, and will become Effective upon, the delivery of a copy of the Court Order to the Registrar of Companies for registration, which is expected to occur on 22 November 2024.
Centamin confirms that the last day of dealings in Centamin Shares on: (i) the main market of the London Stock Exchange will be 21 November 2024, and (ii) the Toronto Stock Exchange will be 20 November 2024, such that no transfers of Centamin Shares will be registered after 6.00 p.m. (
Centamin has made an application for the suspension of trading of the Centamin Shares on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities to take effect by 7.30 a.m. on 22 November 2024 and for the cancellation of the listing of the Centamin Shares on the Official List to take effect by 8.00 a.m. on 25 November 2024 (and subject to the Scheme becoming Effective). Centamin has received conditional approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange for the delisting of the Centamin Shares from the Toronto Stock Exchange, to take effect at 4.30 p.m. (
The expected timetable of principal events for the Transaction remains as set out in the announcement by Centamin on 28 October 2024. If any change to the key dates and/or times set out in the timetable is made, Centamin will give notice of this change by issuing an announcement through a Regulatory Information Service, with such announcement being made available on Centamin's website at www.centamin.com.
Further announcements will be made when appropriate.
Full details of the Transaction are set out in the Scheme Document.
Enquiries:
Centamin |
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Michael Stoner, Head of Corporate |
investor@centaminplc.com |
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FTI Consulting (public relations advisor to Centamin) |
+44 20 3727 1000 |
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centamin@fticonsulting.com |
Ben Brewerton |
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Sara Powell |
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Nick Hennis |
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Bofa Securities (Financial Adviser to Centamin) |
+44 (0)20 7628 1000 |
Ben Davies |
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Geoff Iles |
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George Close-Brooks |
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Abhi Khabra |
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Sid Rishi |
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BMO Capital Markets (Joint Financial Adviser to Centamin) |
+44 (0)20 7236 1010 |
Gary Mattan |
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Tom Rider |
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Pascal Lussier-Duquette |
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Nick Macann |
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AngloGold Ashanti |
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Media enquiries: |
media@anglogoldashanti.com |
Andrea Maxey |
+61 08 9435 4603 / +61 400 072 199 |
Stewart Bailey |
+27 81 032 2563 |
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Investor enquiries: |
yrchowthee@anglogoldashanti.com |
|
amaxey@anglogoldashanti.com |
Yatish Chowthee |
+27 11 637 6273 / +27 78 364 2080 |
Andrea Maxey |
+61 08 9435 4603 / +61 400 072 199 |
Stewart Bailey |
+27 81 032 2563 |
|
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FGS Global (public relations adviser to AngloGold Ashanti) |
+44 20 7251 3801 |
Faeth Birch |
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James Murgatroyd |
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Sarah Roberts |
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Gordon Dyal & Co (lead financial adviser to AngloGold Ashanti) |
+1 212 321 4010 |
Gordon Dyal |
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Stefan Grimbacher |
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Matt Strain |
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Goldman Sachs International Limited (financial adviser to AngloGold Ashanti) |
+44 (0) 20 7774 1000 |
Nimesh Khiroya |
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David |
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Charles Tongue |
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Warren Stables |
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Further information
Norton Rose Fulbright LLP is acting as legal adviser to Centamin in connection with the Transaction. Slaughter and May is acting as legal adviser to AngloGold Ashanti in connection with the Transaction.
This announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation, or the solicitation of any offer or invitation, to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, sell or otherwise dispose of any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Transaction or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities of AngloGold Ashanti or Centamin in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Transaction in contravention of applicable laws.
The Transaction will be made and implemented solely pursuant to the terms of the Scheme Document (or if the Transaction is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer, the Offer Document), which contains the full terms and conditions of the Transaction, including details of how to vote in respect of the Transaction.
Centamin and AngloGold Ashanti urge Centamin Shareholders to read the Scheme Document because it contains important information relating to the Transaction. Any vote in respect of resolutions to be proposed at the Centamin Meetings to approve the Transaction, the Scheme or related matters, should be made only on the basis of the information contained in the Scheme Document.
This Announcement does not constitute a prospectus, prospectus equivalent document or an exempted document.
The statements contained in this announcement are made as at the date of this announcement, unless some other time is specified in relation to them, and publication of this announcement shall not give rise to any implication that there has been no change in the facts set forth in this announcement since such date.
This announcement does not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, any public offer under any applicable legislation or an offer to sell or solicitation of any offer to buy any securities or financial instruments or any advice or recommendation with respect to such securities or other financial instruments. The Transaction may have tax consequences for Centamin Shareholders. Centamin Shareholders are urged to consult with their own legal, tax and financial advisers in connection with making a decision regarding this Transaction.
Disclaimers
BofA Securities, a subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority in the
BMO, which is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the
Gordon Dyal & Co, which is registered in
Goldman Sachs International, which is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and the PRA in the
Overseas jurisdictions
The availability of the Transaction and/or the New AngloGold Ashanti Shares, and the release, publication or distribution of this announcement in, into or from jurisdictions other than the
In particular, the ability of persons who are not citizens of or resident in the
Persons who are not resident in the
Unless otherwise determined by AngloGold Ashanti or required by the Takeover Code, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Transaction will not be made available, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in, into or from a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws or regulations of such jurisdiction and no person may vote in favour of the Transaction by any such use, means, instrumentality or from within a Restricted Jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction if to do so would constitute a violation of the laws of that jurisdiction.
Copies of this announcement and any formal documentation relating to the Transaction are not being, and must not be, directly or indirectly, mailed, transmitted or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction, and persons receiving such documents (including, without limitation, agents, custodians, nominees and trustees) must not mail or otherwise forward, distribute or send them in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction. Doing so may render invalid any related purported vote in respect of the Transaction. If the Transaction is implemented by way of a Takeover Offer (unless otherwise permitted by applicable law and regulation), the Takeover Offer may not be made, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into, or by the use of mails or any means or instrumentality (including, but not limited to, facsimile, e-mail or other electronic transmission, telex or telephone) of interstate or foreign commerce of, or of any facility of a national, state or other securities exchange of any Restricted Jurisdiction and the Takeover Offer may not be capable of acceptance by any such use, means, instrumentality or facilities.
Further details in relation to Overseas Shareholders are contained in the Scheme Document and Centamin Shareholders are advised to read carefully the Scheme Document and related Forms of Proxy.
The Transaction will be subject to Jersey law and the jurisdiction of the Court, and the applicable requirements of the Takeover Code, the Panel, the London Stock Exchange, the FCA, the SEC, the Toronto Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the A2X, the Ghana Stock Exchange and applicable securities laws.
Notice to Centamin Canadian Shareholders
The enforcement by Centamin Canadian Shareholders of civil liabilities under applicable Canadian securities laws may be affected adversely by the fact that AngloGold Ashanti and Centamin are incorporated or organised under the laws of a jurisdiction other than
The distribution of the New AngloGold Ashanti Shares pursuant to the Transaction will constitute a distribution of securities that is exempt from the prospectus requirements of applicable Canadian securities laws and is exempt from or otherwise is not subject to the registration requirements under applicable Canadian securities law. The New AngloGold Ashanti Shares received pursuant to the Transaction will not be legended and may be resold through registered dealers in all of the provinces and territories of
Centamin Canadian Shareholders should be aware that the Transaction may have tax consequences in
Notice to Centamin US Shareholders
The Transaction relates to the shares of a Jersey company and is being made by means of a scheme of arrangement provided for under the Jersey Companies Law. The New AngloGold Ashanti Shares to be issued pursuant to the Transaction have not been registered under the US Securities Act, and may not be offered or sold in
Investors are urged to read any documents related to the Transaction filed, furnished or to be filed or furnished with the SEC, because they will contain important information regarding the Transaction and any related offer of securities. Such documents will be available free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to AngloGold Ashanti's contact for enquiries identified above. Nothing in this announcement shall be deemed an acknowledgement that any SEC filing is required or that an offer requiring registration under the US Securities Act may ever occur in connection with the Transaction.
Neither the SEC nor any US state securities commission has approved or disapproved of the New AngloGold Ashanti Shares to be issued in connection with the Transaction, or determined if this announcement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in
It may be difficult for Centamin US Shareholders to enforce their rights and any claims arising out of the US federal securities laws in connection with the Transaction, since AngloGold Ashanti and Centamin are incorporated under the laws of a non-US jurisdiction, some or all of their respective directors and officers may be residents of a non-US jurisdiction, and a substantial portion of AngloGold Ashanti's and Centamin's assets and these non-resident persons will be located outside of
Except in relation to Non-GAAP financial measures, any financial statements or other financial information included in this announcement has been or will have been prepared in accordance with (i) with respect to Centamin, accounting standards applicable in the
In accordance with normal
Centamin US Shareholders also should be aware that the Transaction may have tax consequences in
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement (including information incorporated by reference into this announcement), oral statements made regarding the Transaction, and other information published or to be published by AngloGold Ashanti and/or Centamin, contain statements which are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are prospective in nature and are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections of the management of AngloGold Ashanti and Centamin (as applicable) about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement include statements with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Centamin and certain plans and objectives of AngloGold Ashanti with respect thereto and other statements other than historical facts. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts and may use forward-looking words, phrases and expressions such as "anticipate", "target", "expect", "believe", "intend", "foresee", "predict", "project", "estimate", "forecast", "intend", "plan", "budget", "scheduled", "goal", "believe", "hope", "aims", "continue", "likely", "will", "may", "might", "should", "would", "could", "seek", "plan", "scheduled", "possible", "continue", "potential", "outlook", "target" or other similar words, phrases, and expressions; provided that the absence thereof does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Similarly, statements that describe objectives, plans or goals are or may be forward-looking statements. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by Centamin and/or AngloGold Ashanti in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, future developments and other factors they believe appropriate. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risk and uncertainty and other factors which may cause actual results, performance, actions, achievements or developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such, because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Although AngloGold Ashanti and/or Centamin believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct and you are therefore cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as at the date of this announcement.
There are a number of factors which could cause actual results, performance, actions, achievements or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the ability to proceed with or complete the Transaction; the ability to obtain requisite approvals and the satisfaction of other Conditions on the proposed terms; changes in the global, political, economic, social, business and competitive environments and in market and regulatory forces; changes in future inflation, deflation, exchange and interest rates; changes in tax and national insurance rates; future business combinations, capital expenditures, acquisitions or dispositions; changes in general and economic business conditions; changes in the behaviour of other market participants; the anticipated benefits of the Transaction not being realised as a result of changes in general economic and market conditions in the countries in which AngloGold Ashanti and Centamin operate; changes in or enforcement of national and local government legislation, taxation, controls or regulations and/or changes in the administration of laws, policies and practices, expropriation or nationalisation of property and political or economic developments in
Neither AngloGold Ashanti nor Centamin, nor any of their respective associates, directors, officers or advisers, provides any representation, assurance or guarantee that the occurrence of the events expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements in this announcement will actually occur. Given the risks and uncertainties, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Specific reference is made to the risk factors included in AngloGold Ashanti's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December 2023 filed with the SEC for a more detailed discussion of some of the factors which may affect AngloGold Ashanti's ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement.
Neither AngloGold Ashanti nor Centamin assumes any obligation to update or correct the information contained in this announcement (whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise), except as required by applicable law. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to AngloGold Ashanti or Centamin or any person acting on their behalf are qualified by the cautionary statements herein.
No profit forecasts, profit estimates or quantified financial benefits statements
No statement in this announcement is intended as a profit forecast, profit estimate or quantified financial benefits statement for any period and no statement in this announcement should be interpreted to mean that earnings or earnings per share for Centamin or AngloGold Ashanti, as appropriate, for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings or earnings per share for Centamin or AngloGold Ashanti.
Publication on website
In accordance with Rule 26.1 of the Takeover Code, a copy of this announcement, will be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on AngloGold Ashanti's website at www.anglogoldashanti.com and Centamin's website at www.centamin.com by no later than 12 noon (
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