19th Jun 2006 10:45
Randgold Resources Ld19 June 2006 RANDGOLD RESOURCES LIMITED Incorporated in Jersey, Channel Islands Reg. No. 62686 LSE Trading Symbol: RRS Nasdaq Trading Symbol: GOLD RANDGOLD RESOURCES RE-ADMITTED TO FTSE GOLD INDEX London, 19 June 2006 (LSE:RRS)(Nasdaq:GOLD) - London and Nasdaq listed goldminer Randgold Resources has been re-admitted to the FTSE Gold Index with effectfrom today. After a brief spell in the FTSE Gold Index in 2003 on the back of a bumper yearat Morila, the company's readmission reflects the boost to production providedby the new Loulo mine in Mali. Membership of the FTSE Gold Index requiressustainable attributable gold production of at least 300 000 ounces of gold peryear. Randgold Resources produced a total of 314 831 attributable ounces forthe 2005 calendar year and is forecasting to improve on this for the currentyear. The FTSE Gold Index has assigned Randgold Resources a 100% investmentrating, indicating that the company has a free float of more than 75%. Chief executive Dr Mark Bristow said Randgold Resources' inclusion in the FTSEGold Index underlined the steady organic growth in the scale of the company'soperations supported by its extensive exploration programmes and substantialholdings in West and East Africa. "Membership of the FTSE Gold Index will further raise our profile amongst theindex tracker funds within the UK and in particular the London market and willadvance our very active corporate marketing and capital markets strategies," hesaid. The company has formed part of the broader FTSE 250 since 2003. RANDGOLD RESOURCES ENQUIRIES: Chief Executive Financial Director Investor & Media Relations Dr Mark Bristow Roger Williams Kathy du Plessis +44 779 775 2288 +44 791 709 8939 +27 11 728 4701 +27 82 800 4293 +27 83 308 9989 Fax: +27 11 728 2547 +223 675 0122 +223 675 0109 Cell: +27 83 266 5847 Email: randgoldresources@dpapr.com Website: www.randgoldresources.com BACKGROUND ON THE COMPANY: Randgold Resources is an African focused gold miningand exploration business incorporated in the Channel Islands in 1995 and listedon the London Stock Exchange in 1997 and on Nasdaq in 2002. Its discoveries todate include the 7.5 million ounce Morila deposit in southern Mali, the +6million ounce Yalea deposit at Loulo in western Mali and the 3 million ounceTongon deposit in the Cote d'Ivoire. The company financed and developed the Morila mine which was brought intoproduction in October 2000 and since then has produced 3.9 million ounces ofgold. It also financed and developed the Loulo mine, which was officiallyopened in November 2005. Loulo's gold production is planned to exceed 250 000ounces per year over six years from an open-pit operation, but the developmentof an underground operation, scheduled to start in 2006, will significantlyenhance the value and extend the life of this mine. The Tongon project in Cote d'Ivoire continues to meet the company's hurdle ratesfor further investment. Subject to continued progress being made towardspolitical resolution, the company has initiated a phased return to finalfeasibility. Randgold Resources' focus is on the creation of value through the discovery anddevelopment of world class gold projects. This is supported by explorationprojects in all the major gold regions of Mali, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Coted'Ivoire, Ghana and Tanzania as well as its generative team's ongoing search fornew opportunities to replenish its portfolio of prospective targets. DISCLAIMER: Statements made in this document with respect to Randgold Resources'current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that arenot historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performanceof Randgold Resources. These statements are based on management's assumptionsand beliefs in light of the information currently available to it. RandgoldResources cautions you that a number of important risks and uncertainties couldcause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in theforward-looking statements, and therefore you should not place undue reliance onthem. The 2005 annual report notes that the financial statements do not reflectany provisions or other adjustments that might arise from the claims and legalprocess initiated by Loulo against MDM and a purported counterclaim by MDM.Other potential risks and uncertainties include risks associated with:fluctuations in the market price of gold, gold production at Morila, thedevelopment of Loulo and estimates of resources, reserves and mine life. For adiscussion on such other risk factors refer to the annual report on Form 20-Ffor the year ended 31 December 2004 which was filed in amended form with theUnited States Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') on 27 October 2005. Randgold Resources assumes no obligation to update information in this release. Cautionary note to US investors: the 'SEC' permits companies, in their filingswith the 'SEC', to disclose only proven and probable ore reserves. We usecertain terms in this release, such as "resources", that the 'SEC' does notrecognise and strictly prohibits us from including in our filings with the 'SEC'. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any parts of ourresources will ever be converted into reserves which qualify as 'proven andprobable reserves' for the purposes of the SEC's Industry Guide number 7. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Randgold Resources