CERTAIN FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act)
and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act) with respect to Gold Fields’ financial condition, results of
operations, business strategies, operating efficiencies, competitive position, growth opportunities for existing services, plans and objectives
of management, markets for stock and other matters.
These forward-looking statements, including, among others, those relating to the future business prospects, revenues, income and
production and operational guidance of Gold Fields, wherever they may occur in this report, are necessarily estimates reflecting the best
judgement of the senior management of Gold Fields and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. As a consequence, these forward-looking statements should be
considered in light of various important factors, including those set forth in this report. Important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation:
• changes in the market price of gold, and to a lesser extent copper and silver;
•
material changes in the value of Rand and non-U.S. dollar currencies;
•
difficulties, operational delays, cost pressures and impact from labour relations following its restructuring at the South Deep operation in
South Africa;
•
the ability of the Group to comply with requirements that it provide benefits to affected communities;
•
the effect of relevant government regulations, particularly labour, environmental, tax, royalty, health and safety, water, regulations and
potential new legislation affecting mining and mineral rights;
•
court decisions affecting the South African mining industry, including, without limitation, regarding the interpretation of mineral rights
legislation and the treatment of health and safety claims;
•
the challenges associated with replacing annual mineral reserve and resource depletion as well as growing its reserve and resource base
to extend the life of operations;
•
the ability to achieve anticipated efficiencies and other cost savings in connection with past and future acquisitions or joint ventures;
•
the success of the Group’s business strategy, development activities and other initiatives, particularly at Damang and the Salares
Norte project;
• changes in technical and economic assumptions underlying Gold Fields’ mineral reserve estimates;
• supply chain shortages and increases in the prices of production imports;
• changes in health and safety regulations that could lead to claims or liability for regulatory breaches;
•
the occurrence of operational disruptions such as stoppages related to environmental and industrial accidents and pollution incidents;
•
loss of senior management or inability to hire or retain sufficiently skilled employees or sufficient representation among Historically
Disadvantaged Persons in management positions;
• power cost increases as well as power stoppages, fluctuations and usage constraints;
• regulation of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change;
•
high debt levels posing a risk to viability and making the Group more vulnerable to adverse economic and competitive conditions;
•
the ability of the Group to protect its information technology and communication systems and the personal data it retains as well as the
failure of such systems;
•
the ability to obtain, renew and comply with, water use licences and water quality discharge standards;
• the occurrence of future acid mine drainage related pollution;
•
geotechnical challenges due to the ageing of certain mines and a trend toward mining deeper pits and more complex, often deeper
underground, deposits;
• economic, political or social instability in the countries where Gold Fields operates;
• downgrades in the credit rating of South Africa and its impact on Gold Fields’ ability to secure financing;
• reliance on outside contractors to conduct some of its operations;
• ageing infrastructure, unplanned breakdowns and stoppages that may delay production, increase costs and industrial accidents;
• the inability to modernise operations and remain competitive within the mining industry;
• the effects of regional re-watering at South Deep;
• the effects of a failure of a dam at a tailings facility and the closure of adjacent mines;
•
actual or alleged breach or breaches in governance processes, fraud, bribery or corruption at Gold Fields’ operations that leads to
censure, penalties or negative reputational impacts;
• the occurrence of labour disruptions and industrial actions;
• the adequacy of the Group’s insurance coverage;
• financial flexibility could be limited by South African exchange control regulations;
• difficulty controlling theft of gold and copper bearing materials and illegal mining on some Gold Fields properties;
•
the costs and burdens associated with tenements in Australia which are subject to native title claims, including any compensation
payable to native title holders;
• the impact of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and the spread of other contagious diseases, such as coronavirus (COVID-19);
• the identification of a material weakness in disclosure and internal controls over financial reporting;
•
difficulty with participating in future issues of securities, or in bringing an action against Gold Fields, for shareholders outside South Africa;
• liquidity risks in trading ordinary shares on JSE Limited;
• Gold Fields’ ability to pay dividends or make similar payments to its shareholders; and
• shareholders’ equity interests in Gold Fields becoming diluted upon the exercise of outstanding share options.
Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting Gold Fields are described in Gold Fields’ filings with the Johannesburg Stock
Exchange and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Integrated Annual Report 2019 and the annual report on
Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2019. Gold Fields undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these
forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
12
Gold Fields Operational
update March quarter
2020
