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Update on Merger with Polymetals - Notice of Meeting

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Gold Demand/Supply Mined<br />

Metric t<strong>on</strong>nes<br />

5000<br />

4000<br />

3000<br />

2000<br />

1000<br />

0<br />

Gold Supply and Demand<br />

170%<br />

165%<br />

160%<br />

155%<br />

150%<br />

145%<br />

140%<br />

135%<br />

Demand as % Supply<br />

Gold Mine Supply Gold Demand Demand as % Supply<br />

Source: Bloomberg and BDO Analysis<br />

Until the late 1980’s, South Africa produced approximately half <strong>of</strong> the total gold produced. More recently<br />

however, gold producti<strong>on</strong> has become geographically segmented, as shown in the chart below, <strong>with</strong><br />

producti<strong>on</strong> dominated by China, Australia and the United States.<br />

Producti<strong>on</strong> by Country - 2012<br />

16%<br />

China<br />

Australia<br />

34%<br />

10%<br />

United States<br />

Russia<br />

South Africa<br />

4%<br />

4%<br />

7%<br />

8%<br />

7%<br />

10%<br />

Peru<br />

Mexico<br />

Canada<br />

Others<br />

Source: Bloomberg and BDO Analysis<br />

Gold prices<br />

The price <strong>of</strong> gold fluctuates <strong>on</strong> a daily basis depending <strong>on</strong> global demand and supply factors. The price<br />

trend over the last two years is reflective <strong>of</strong> weak global ec<strong>on</strong>omic c<strong>on</strong>diti<strong>on</strong>s driving demand. As can be<br />

seen in the graph below, the value <strong>of</strong> gold peaked at US$1,900 per ounce <strong>on</strong> 5 September 2011. This peak<br />

was largely caused by the recent debt market crisis in Europe, but it was also driven by the Standard and<br />

Poor’s downgrade <strong>of</strong> the US credit rating. This sent global stock markets tumbling and a flood <strong>of</strong> investors<br />

towards safer havens such as gold. Prices c<strong>on</strong>tracted in December 2011 reaching a low <strong>of</strong> US$1,545 per<br />

24

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