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Anglogold Results For The Quarter Ended 31 March 2002

Release Date: 30/04/2002 08:15
Code(s): ANG
Wrap Text
News Release
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration Number: 1944/017354/06)
ISIN Number:ZAE000014601
JSE Share Code: ANG
CORPORATE AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT

NYSE Ticker: AU 16th Floor, 11 Diagonal Street, Johannesburg 2001, South Africa
Tel: (+27 11) 637-6385 or Fax: (+27 11) 637-6399/6400 AJB/CAD/AGO302.02 30 April 2002 For release 08:00 SA time, 30 April 2002
ANGLOGOLD RESULTS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 31 MARCH 2002 Highlights
- Operating profit from current operations (excluding the Free State assets) including realised non-hedge derivatives, increases by 7.3% to $147 million or R1.7 billion. This represents a cash operating profit of $197 million or R2.3 billion
- Total cash costs for current operations down to $151/oz
- Record cash operating margin of 47% ($136/oz), up 13% from December quarter
- Headline earnings - before unrealised non-hedge derivatives - up 1% to $89 million
- Return on equity and capital employed of 23% and 16% respectively
- Average gold spot price for the quarter of $287/oz - the highest since December 1999
- Hedge book reduced by further 1.7Moz (or 120% of this quarter's production)
Commenting on the quarter's results, CEO Bobby Godsell said: "The
significant feature of the quarter for AngloGold was its record cash
operating margin of 47% or $136 per ounce, up 13% from the December quarter. The operating profit from our current assets (that is, excluding the Free State operations), including realised gains from non-hedge derivatives, increased by 7.3% to $147 million (or R1.7 billion) and our cash costs for these assets came down 2% to $151 per ounce.
"While compared with the last quarter of 2001, AngloGold's production reduced by some 340,000 ounces (of which some 300,000 are attributable to the sale of our high-cost, short-life assets in the Free State) to 1.4 million ounces, we are reporting headline earnings, before unrealised non- hedge derivates, of $89 million - up 1% in dollar terms and 11% in rand terms to R1.03 billion. In comparison with the first quarter of 2001, earnings have increased by 60% in dollar terms and 134% in local currency. "The additional 3.2 million AngloGold ordinary shares in issue following our Normandy bid, have the effect of reducing our headline earnings (before unrealised non-hedge derivates) per share by a modest 1% down to 81 US cents per share, and of raising $158 million worth of capital. Comparing this with the first quarter of 2001, headline earnings before unrealised non-hedge derivatives per share have improved by 56%."
In respect of the gold market and AngloGold hedging strategy, Godsell observed: "In the context of the firmer price, we have continued to actively manage our hedge book and increase exposure to the spot price. In this quarter we have reduced the book by a further 1.7 million ounces (or 120% of this quarter's production), and we have also eliminated the low-price rand gold forward contracts in the book for the remainder of this year. Whereas at 31 December 2001 we had 60% of our forecast 2002 gold production sold forward, today we have only 32% of the remainder of this year's anticipated production sold forward.
"Our position at AngloGold continues to be informed by our resolve to manage our revenue risk in order to ensure that we are not at the mercy of the gold price, while at the same time ensuring that we are reasonably leveraged to a rising price. Over the past ten years, of which the last six have seen a largely declining price, this company's carefully managed forward sales programme has added some $1.2 billion to our bottom line. In a changing price environment, the structure of our book is being judiciously risk- adjusted to reflect the new reality."
Turning to AngloGold's strategic objectives, he noted: "We will continue to leverage off existing assets and drive the company down the cost curve. All five of our organic growth projects - a key component of our ongoing
strategy to grow the earnings stream of AngloGold - remain
on track and within budget. Our brownfields and greenfields exploration has yielded promising results, particularly at Geita, Sadiola, Sunrise Dam, Red Lake in Canada and La Rescatada in Peru."
For a full copy of the quarterly results, please visit the AngloGold website: www.anglogold.com Queries:
In South Tel: Mobile: E-mail: Africa
Steve Lenahan +27 11 637 6248 +27 83 308 2200 slenahan@anglogold.com Shelagh +27 11 637 6379 +27 83 308 2471 skblackman@anglogold.com Blackman In the UK / Europe
Tomasz +41 22 718 3312 +41 79 345 9774 tnadrowski@anglogold.com Nadrowski
Alex Buck +44 20 7664 8712 +44 7932 2740 452 abuck@anglogold.com In the USA
Charles (Toll free) 800 ccarter@anglogold.com Carter 417 9255 +1 212 750 7999 In Australia
Andrea Maxey +61 8 9425 4604 +61 438 001 393 amaxey@anglogold.com.au