Gold Fields Limited (NYSE: GFI) announces that it and Silver Standard Resources Inc. (TSX: SSO) have today withdrawn their latest joint proposal to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Kirkland Lake Gold Inc. (TSX: KLG) in a negotiated transaction.
As previously announced by Gold Fields, its wholly-owned subsidiary, Gold Fields Netherlands Services B.V., has made three successive proposals jointly with Silver Standard to acquire Kirkland Lake pursuant to a plan of arrangement for consideration consisting of cash and shares of Silver Standard or a combination thereof. In response to each proposal, the Kirkland Lake board advised that it had determined that it was not reasonably expected to result in a Superior Proposal relative to Kirkland Lake's previously announced combination with Newmarket Gold Inc. (Newmarket) (TSX: NMI), and that Kirkland Lake would not be engaging in any discussions with Gold Fields or Silver Standard or providing them with due diligence access.
In light of the lack of engagement by the board of Kirkland Lake in response to these proposals, and there being no basis to expect any further engagement from Kirkland Lake, Gold Fields and Silver Standard are left with no choice but to withdraw their latest proposal.
Gold Fields remains interested in pursuing negotiations toward a board-supported transaction with Kirkland Lake in the event that Kirkland Lake's shareholders reject the Newmarket transaction.
This press release is not, and is not intended to be, a solicitation by Gold Fields of proxies from any shareholder of Kirkland Lake or Newmarket. Gold Fields does not seek the power to act, and will not act, as proxy for any shareholder of either company.
About Gold Fields
Gold Fields Limited is an unhedged, globally diversified producer of gold with eight operating mines in Australia, Ghana, Peru and South Africa with attributable annual gold production of approximately 2.0 million ounces. It has attributable Mineral Reserves of around 46 million ounces and Mineral Resources of around 102 million ounces. Attributable copper Mineral Reserves total 532 million pounds and Mineral Resources 5,912 million pounds. Gold Fields has a primary listing on the JSE Limited, with secondary listings on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Swiss Exchange (SWX).
Source: Gold Fields
