Caledonia Mining Announces the Completion of the Blanket Mine Indigenisation Transactions
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 10/11/12 -- Caledonia Mining Corporation ("Caledonia") (TSX: CAL)(OTCQX: CALVF)(AIM: CMCL) is pleased to announce the completion of the Indigenisation of the Blanket Mine in Zimbabwe ("Blanket").
In February 2012 Caledonia and Blanket signed a Memorandum of Understanding ("MoU") with the Zimbabwe Minister of Youth, Development and Empowerment pursuant to which Indigenous Zimbabweans would acquire 51% ownership of Blanket for a paid transactional value of US$30.09 million.
Blanket received its Certificate of Compliance from the Government of Zimbabwe on June 19, 2012, as previously announced.
Completion of the various indigenisation agreements was subject to the approval by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe ("RBZ") of the transactions contemplated in the MoU, underlying agreements and related transactions to give effect to the Indigenisation programme, which included the repatriation of funds and interest to Caledonia in terms of the share sale transactions. Caledonia is pleased to announce that RBZ approval has been received and accordingly, the various agreements and related transactions have now been implemented.
Commenting on the completion of Indigenisation at Blanket, Stefan Hayden Caledonia's President and Chief Executive Officer said: "I am very pleased that the implementation of indigenisation at Blanket has now been completed. We welcome our new Indigenous Zimbabwean partners, with whom we look forward to developing a mutually beneficial relationship. The newly indigenised Blanket is in a unique position amongst Zimbabwean gold miners as Blanket has significant growth potential which can be funded from internal cash flows. We expect that Blanket will now be in a position to finalise and implement its growth and development strategy so that it can continue to grow its operations for the benefit of all stakeholders."
Further information regarding Caledonia's exploration activities and operations along with its latest financials and Management Discussion and Analysis may be found at www.caledoniamining.com.
Contacts:
Caledonia Mining Corporation
Mark Learmonth
+ 27 11 447 2499
marklearmonth@caledoniamining.com
www.caledoniamining.com
Canaccord Genuity Limited
John Prior / Sebastian Jones
+ 44 20 7523 8350
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Beth Harris / Josh Royston
+44 20 7653 9850
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Stephanie Fitzgerald
+1 416 868 1079 x 222
stephanie@chfir.com