IAMGOLD Special Committee Continues to Pursue Alternatives to Maximize Shareholder Value
Toronto, Canada (ots/PRNewswire)
TSX Trading Symbol: IMG
AMEX Trading Symbol: IAG
Total Shares Outstanding: 145.5MM
Fully Diluted: 151.5MM
52-Week Trading Range: CDN$5.75 - CDN$10.99IAMGOLD Corporation announced today that its Special Committee of
independent directors and the Committee's financial adviser, RBC
Capital Markets ("RBC"), are continuing the process of pursuing
alternatives to maximize value for IAMGOLD's shareholders.IAMGOLD recently adopted a short-term shareholder rights plan (the
" Plan") on July 12th to provide adequate time for the Special
Committee and RBC to conduct the value maximizing process. The Plan
will expire automatically on August 15, 2004, which is only two
weeks after the unsolicited, non-negotiated take-over bid (the "GSR
Bid") made by Golden Star Resources Ltd. ("GSR") is currently set to
expire.Late last week, GSR announced that it has asked the Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC") to set aside the Plan. IAMGOLD will vigorously defend the Plan at any OSC hearing that may be called to hear GSR's application.
Prior to the defeat of the shareholder vote on the Wheaton transaction, IAMGOLD could not solicit other strategic alternatives as the agreement with Wheaton prohibited such activity. Shortly after the shareholder meeting, the Special Committee was convened to discuss the best method to ensure the interests of shareholders were protected and their value maximized. Accordingly, IAMGOLD had very little time to ensure shareholders best interests were served. Sufficient time is required to ensure it is the best alternative available to shareholders.
RBC has issued fairness opinions to the effect that the consideration offered under the GSR Bid is inadequate, from a financial point of view, to IAMGOLD's shareholders. IAMGOLD's Board of Directors, based on the RBC opinions and the recommendations of the Special Committee, has recommended that IAMGOLD shareholders reject the GSR Bid and not tender their shares.
IAMGOLD has advised Golden Star it will provide confidential information under terms to be agreed upon. GSR already has significant confidential information and had ample time to review such information. The other parties who have recently come forward as a result of the announcement of the value maximization process are just now getting a similar level of information as Golden Star. Golden Star has stated on numerous occasions that only two days are required to complete their due diligence. If this is, in effect, true, IAMGOLD believes there is more than sufficient time between now and August 15 for GSR to complete their due diligence on a "timely basis".
Based on the closing prices of IAMGOLD's common shares and GSR's common shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Friday, July 16, 2004, the GSR Bid was valued at no more than CDN$7.63 for each IAMGOLD share, representing a discount of CDN$0.85 per share from the CDN$8.48 closing price of the IAMGOLD shares.
GSR has recently reduced its minimum tender condition under the GSR Bid from 66 2/3% to 50.1% of the outstanding common shares of IAMGOLD. If less than 66 2/3% of the IAMGOLD common shares are tendered to the GSR Bid, GSR will no longer be able to guarantee that a combination of the two companies will be completed. As a result, it may not be possible for GSR to use IAMGOLD's cash to fund its development plans, or to realize its anticipated synergies. Additionally, the previously expected tax treatment for US shareholders may not be available.
Cautionary Statements
Safe Harbor Statement under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to those with respect to the price of gold, silver and copper, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, reserve determination and reserve conversion rates involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of IAMGOLD to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, risks related to the integration of acquisitions, risks related to international operations, risks related to joint venture operations, the actual results of current exploration activities, actual results of current reclamation activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of gold, silver and copper, as well as those factors discussed in the section entitled " Risk Factors" in the Form 40-F for each company as on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. Although IAMGOLD has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Please note:
This entire press release may be accessed via fax, e-mail, IAMGOLD's website at www.iamgold.com and through Canada NewsWire's website at www.newswire.ca. All material information on IAMGOLD can be found at www.sedar.com or at www.sec.gov.
Contact:
For further information: IAMGOLD Corporation: Joseph F. Conway,
President & Chief Executive Officer or Tom Atkins, Vice President,
Investor Relations, Tel: +1-416--360-4710, Fax: +1-416-360-4750,
Toll-free: 1 888 IMG 9999