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New Gold, Western Goldfields complete merger
2009-06-01 10:08 ET - News Release
Also News Release (C-WGI) Western Goldfields Inc (2)
Ms. Melanie Hennessey of New Gold reports
NEW GOLD COMPLETES CDN$1.2 BILLION BUSINESS COMBINATION WITH WESTERN GOLDFIELDS
New Gold Inc. and Western Goldfields Inc. have completed their business combination, previously announced in Stockwatch. The transaction was completed by way of a plan of arrangement that was approved by the shareholders of New Gold and Western Goldfields on May 13 and May 14, 2009, respectively, and which received final court approval on May 27, 2009.
"The closing of this transaction represents another significant step for New Gold as we continue to deliver on our growth strategy which we had promised our shareholders approximately one year ago," said Robert Gallagher, president and chief executive officer of New Gold. "We are excited to bring the Mesquite mine into our portfolio of assets as we continue to focus on growth by enhancing our operations, continuing the development of New Afton and pursuing strategic acquisition opportunities."
Randall Oliphant, executive chairman, added, "As we now have the company fully funded, New Gold finds itself in a strong position, with growing production and cash flow enabling it to become the leading intermediate gold producer."
Pursuant to the plan of arrangement, New Gold acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Western Goldfields in consideration for the issuance by New Gold of one common share of New Gold and 0.01 cent for each Western Goldfields common share outstanding. All of the stock options of Western Goldfields outstanding at the effective time of the arrangement were replaced by options to purchase common shares of New Gold. All outstanding warrants to acquire common shares of Western Goldfields will, pursuant to their terms, be exercisable for common shares of New Gold and the nominal cash consideration.
Pursuant to the plan of arrangement, New Gold has issued an aggregate of approximately 143 million common shares of New Gold to the former shareholders of Western Goldfields and authorized the issuance of an additional 12 million common shares upon the exercise of the stock options and warrants held by the former security holders of Western Goldfields. As at June 1, 2009, following completion of the transaction, there are approximately 356 million issued and outstanding common shares of New Gold. The Toronto Stock Exchange will disseminate a notice announcing the delisting of the shares of Western Goldfields. Upon notification of the closing of the transaction, the NYSE Amex will suspend trading of the Western Goldfields shares and the NYSE Amex will file a Form 25. Western Goldfields shareholders should send in their completed and executed letters of transmittal and Western Goldfields share certificates to New Gold's transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company of Canada, as soon as possible in order to receive the consideration to which they are entitled pursuant to the arrangement. A copy of the letter of transmittal is available on SEDAR under the Western Goldfields profile.
The plan of arrangement contemplated certain steps, including a merger of Western Goldfields with a wholly owned subsidiary of New Gold, so as to permit the transaction to qualify as a tax-deferred reorganization for United States federal income tax purposes if certain technical requirements under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code were met. Western Goldfields and New Gold have determined that it is unlikely that these requirements were met, and accordingly, as contemplated under the terms of the business combination agreement, have amended the plan of arrangement so that the merger of Western Goldfields with a wholly owned subsidiary of New Gold and certain other steps will not occur. As a result, the transaction will not qualify as a tax-deferred reorganization for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and U.S. shareholders of Western Goldfields generally should fully recognize a gain or loss upon exchanging their Western Goldfields common shares for New Gold common shares, as described in detail under the heading "Certain United States federal income tax considerations" in the joint management information circular supplement dated April 8, 2009, which is available on SEDAR.
Mr. Oliphant, Ray Threlkeld, Vahan Kololian and Martyn Konig, directors of Western Goldfields, have been appointed to the New Gold board of directors and Brian Penny and Wes Hanson of Western Goldfields will join the New Gold management as executive vice-president and chief financial officer, and vice-president technical services respectively, effective at the closing of the transaction.
New Gold would like to take this opportunity to thank Clifford Davis, the departing New Gold director, for his invaluable contributions to the board of New Gold, and especially for his dedication to the development of the New Afton project prior to the three-way transaction last year. New Gold would also like to recognize and thank Gerald Ruth, outgoing Western Goldfields director, for his commitment and contributions to Western Goldfields over the years. In addition, the company would also like to extend its gratitude and best wishes to Basil Huxham, former executive vice-president and chief financial officer of New Gold, who has retired. His dedication to New Gold and previously Peak Gold Ltd., has been instrumental in building a strong intermediate gold mining company.
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