Newmont Releases Information Correcting Inaccurate Claims Regarding Alleged Rights in Divestiture Shares

Published on Thursday, 26 August 2010 07:16 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM) ("Newmont" or "the Company") today released information correcting a number of inaccurate claims by PT Pukuafu Indah ("PTPI"), an Indonesian shareholder in PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara ("PTNNT").  PTNNT owns and operates the Batu Hijau gold and copper mine on the island of Sumbawa.  

Recently, PTPI issued public statements claiming the right to acquire previously divested shares in PTNNT.  Newmont's and Sumitomo Corporation's subsidiaries (the "Subsidiaries") divested these shares to another Indonesian company as required under PTNNT's Contract of Work with the Indonesian Government and in accordance with a 2009 ruling of an international arbitration panel.  

"PTPI has long wished to have a right to acquire the divestiture shares," said Blake Rhodes, Vice President & Deputy General Counsel.  "The Indonesian Government, however, has an explicit right of first refusal under the Contract of Work. PTPI's claims are contrary to the Government's priority rights."  The Contract of Work expressly provides that PTNNT "…shall ensure that its shares owned by the Foreign Investor(s) are offered either for sale or issue firstly, to the Government…."

At all times relevant to fulfilling the divestiture obligations, PTPI did not, and presently does not, have any right of first refusal to acquire the divestiture shares.  Furthermore, in fulfilling its divestiture requirements, Newmont did not breach any obligations to PTPI.  Certain of PTPI's public assertions – including that PTPI paid Newmont for some or all of the divestiture shares – are patently false as Newmont did not receive any such payments.  If it had, the Company would have been required to disclose the payments.  

In addition to its recent public assertions, PTPI has continued to pursue litigation in Indonesian courts against the Subsidiaries and other parties despite signing a full release and agreement to discontinue its proceedings.  As a condition of providing financing to PTPI in late 2009 to enable PTPI to repay its third-party bonds, PTPI agreed to cease with claims contending that it had pre-emptive rights to acquire the divestiture shares and not to assert new claims.  PTPI has breached its contractual obligations by failing to dismiss the legal proceedings and by commencing new ones, the first of which is expected to be decided by an Indonesian district court in September.  The Company through its subsidiaries has taken a number of additional actions to protect its legal rights and enforce the release.

To date, a 24% interest in PTNNT has been sold by the Subsidiaries, at the direction of the Indonesian Government through exercise of its priority purchase rights, to PT Multi Daerah Bersaing, an entity indirectly owned by PT Bumi Resources and the local governments in the region where the Batu Hijau mine is located.  The divestment of the final 7% stake in PTNNT is in progress.  

Cautionary Statement:

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections and other applicable laws.  Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, expectations related to government and contractual relations, judicial outcomes, dispute resolution and future divestitures of shares in PTNNT.  Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis.  However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by such forward-looking statements.  Such risks include, but are not limited to, political, judicial and operational risks in Indonesia.  As a result, there can be no assurance that the Company and its subsidiaries would prevail in any arbitrations or judicial proceedings and that the Company will not experience a diminution in our ownership interest or the value of our interests in PTNNT in the future.  For a more detailed discussion of risks and other factors, see the Company's 2009 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on February 25, 2010, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as the Company's other SEC filings.  The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly revisions to any "forward-looking statement," to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Continued reliance on "forward-looking statements" is at investors' own risk.

SOURCE Newmont Mining Corporation