CASE STUDY. In February 2002, Johannesburg-based AngloGold Ltd lost its position as No1 gold producer to America’s Newmont Gold Corporation when Newmont outbid AngloGold in a merger deal with Australia’s largest gold company, Normandy Mining Ltd.

CASE STUDY. Having met in London with Sir Sam Jonah, chief executive of Ashanti, in September 2002, Bobby Godsell, chief executive of AngloGold, announced on 16 April 2003 that discussions with Ashanti regarding a proposed merger had commenced.

CASE STUDY. On 20 February 2004, Ghana’s parliament approved the merger between AngloGold and Ashanti Goldfields Company (Ashanti) and, on 26 April 2004 − a year after Bobby Godsell announced that negotiations had commenced − the parties concluded the details of the arrangement.