Gold Fields Unbundles GFIMSA (KDC And Beatrix) To Create A New South African Gold Mining Company Called Sibanye Gold

Holland says: "While some parts of the GFIMSA operations have been in production for as long as 70 years, these assets still have inherent quality and extensive resource and reserve potential. The separation will liberate Sibanye Gold into a fit-for-purpose, sustainable gold mining company best positioned to maximise long-term value for stakeholders.

"By unbundling the cash-generative KDC and Beatrix mines into Sibanye Gold, its cash flows can be utilised to extend the life of the mines and improve dividend payouts to shareholders. The first priority, however, will be to achieve stable and safe production," Holland says.

Froneman says that the company will be committed to maintaining profitable, stable and low cost operations that provide a high degree of leverage to the gold price. "We will selectively pursue synergistic opportunities for consolidation in the South African gold industry and, as a separately listed entity, will be able to fully utilise our free cash flows for the benefit of the Company and its stakeholders," he says.

There will be no job losses directly as a result of the creation and unbundling of Sibanye Gold. In addition all conditions of employment will remain unchanged.

Sibanye Gold has committed itself to both continuing and enhancing Gold Fields' sustainable development, labour relations, transformation and other BEE policies. "The ability to preserve employment in deep level gold mining by extending the life of mines will depend on effective co-operation between management, trade unions and the workforce," Froneman comments.

Sibanye Gold will therefore develop policies which will incentivise its workforce to benefit from the success of the business through a profit-sharing scheme as well as continued investments into improved living conditions that will improve the lives of employees.

Foremost amongst these, Sibanye Gold will continue to invest significantly in the transformation of accommodation arrangements for its employees. More than R700 million has been committed to upgrading accommodation arrangements at the KDC and Beatrix gold mines between 2009 and 2014, of which approximately R500 million has been spent to date on building 700 new homes and reducing hostel room density from an average of 8 persons per room in 2006 to an average of 1.4 per room in September 2012. This work will continue.

Sibanye Gold will continue to pursue sound environmental policies and practices and honour its obligations and commitments in this regard, all of which are funded through contributions to statutory and regulated environmental trust funds and associated guarantees for each operation.

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