Stake in FirstRand - Disposal

Anglo American PLC 6 December 2000 News Release 6 December 2000 ANGLO AMERICAN PLC DISPOSES OF SUBSTANTIAL STAKE IN FIRSTRAND Anglo American ('AA plc') has previously announced its intention to dispose of non-core assets, including its significant interest of 20.6% in FirstRand Limited ('FirstRand'). The board of AA plc has been investigating a number of opportunities to achieve its objective of disposing of FirstRand and is pleased to announce an agreement in principle for the disposal of approximately 74.5% of its holding. AA plc and Remgro Limited ('Remgro'), an investment holding company, have concluded an agreement in terms of which AA plc will receive 165 248 324 shares (representing 7.1% of the issued share capital) in Billiton Plc ('Billiton') and 51 134 914 shares (11.3% of the issued share capital) in Gold Fields Limited ('Gold Fields') from Remgro in consideration for 834 008 267 shares (15.3% of the issued share capital) in FirstRand. De Beers has also announced that it has entered into an agreement in terms of which De Beers will receive from Remgro 24 726 874 shares (1.1% of the issued share capital) in Billiton in consideration for 98 491 733 shares (1.8% of the issued share capital) in FirstRand. The agreements provide as follows: * The effective date of the transaction is 1 January 2001. * Remgro will dispose of its entire shareholding in Billiton for FirstRand shares held by AA plc and De Beers. * Remgro will dispose of its entire shareholding in Gold Fields for FirstRand shares held by AA plc. * AA plc has undertaken that neither it nor its associates will make an unsolicited bid for Billiton during the twelve months to 31 December 2001 and will not increase its stake in Billiton to beyond 15% during that period. Should, however, a third party make a take-over bid for Billiton, these undertakings would fall away. * Should any party make a successful bid for Gold Fields on or before 30 June 2001 at a price in excess of 2500 SA cents per Gold Fields share, AA plc and Remgro will participate equally in any amount received by AA plc pursuant to that bid in excess of 2500 SA cents per share in respect of the 51 134 914 Gold Fields shares that AA plc will acquire from Remgro. This transaction represents another significant step in AA plc's programme for divestment of non-core assets and results in AA plc acquiring interests in two quality mining assets which complement its focus on the mining and resources sector. The transaction is subject to the following conditions precedent: * The approval of Remgro's shareholders in general meeting if required and, in that event, shareholders controlling approximately 42.2% of the voting rights have undertaken to vote in favour of the exchange at all meetings necessary to approve the transaction. * Any regulatory approvals as may be required. On completion of this transaction, AA plc will continue to hold approximately 5.3% of the issued share capital of FirstRand and has no current plans to dispose of this shareholding. Tony Trahar, Chief Executive of Anglo American plc, in commenting on the Group's disposal process which has realised around US$1.6 billion this year (prior to this transaction) added, 'This transaction is a further significant step in realising Anglo American's strategy of concentrating on our core mining and natural resources businesses. We have acquired strategic investments in businesses we know well and which will give us increased flexibility. FirstRand is an excellent financial services group but the sale was never likely to be easy given its substantial size in relation to the South African financial services sector. We have enjoyed a very good relationship with the management of FirstRand and we are delighted that the disposal has been achieved in a shorter time frame than we predicted and in a positive way for all parties concerned.' Please note: There will be a teleconference regarding this announcement in London today at 16.30hrs (GMT). Dial in number : +44 (0) 20 8401 1043 . Please quote 'Anglo American'. A replay facility will be available until 13.12.00. Access code: 662 272 Dial in number : +44 (0)20 8288 4459 For further information: Anglo American - London Investor Relations Media Relations Nick von Schirnding Kate Aindow Tel: +44 (0)20 7698 8540 Tel: +44 (0)20 7698 8619 Anglo American - Johannesburg Investor Relations Media Relations Anne Dunn Marion Dixon Tel: +27 11 638 4730 Tel: +27 11 638 3001 Corporate advisor to Anglo American UBS Warburg Corporate Finance (South Africa) (Proprietary) Limited Legal advisor to Anglo American Webber Wentzel Bowens Notes to Editors: Anglo American plc is one of the world's largest mining and natural resource groups. With its subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, it is a global leader in gold, platinum group metals and diamonds, with significant interests in coal, base and ferrous metals, industrial minerals and forest products. The group is geographically diverse, with operations and developments in Africa, Europe, South and North America and Australia. (www.angloamerican.co.uk) Billiton plc is one of the world's major resource groups. It is one of the world's largest producers of aluminium, the world's largest exporter of thermal coal and has a controlling interest in the world's leading integrated producer of ferrochrome and ferromanganese. Billiton also has a 50 per cent interest in Richard Bay Minerals, the world's largest producer of titanium dioxide slag and recently acquired Rio Algom Limited. (www.billiton.com) Gold Fields Limited, one of the largest gold producers in the world, is an independent precious metals company with exploration, mining and beneficiation as its core business. (www.goldfields.co.za) Remgro Limited is an investment holding company, which derives its cash income mainly from dividends received. Its interests primarily consist of strategic investments in tobacco products, mining, financial services, packaging, healthcare, food, wine and spirits and various other trademark products.
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