Wrap Text
News Release - AngloGold Beats Q1 Operating Guidance; Costs 7% Lower
AngloGold Ashanti Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Reg. No. 1944/017354/06)
ISIN No. ZAE000043485 – JSE share code: ANG
CUSIP: 035128206 – NYSE share code: AU
11 May 2015
NEWS RELEASE
AngloGold Beats Q1 Operating Guidance; Costs 7% Lower
(JOHANNESBURG – PRESS RELEASE) -- AngloGold Ashanti today posted a first-quarter
operational performance ahead of market guidance, with a 7% year-on-year improvement in
all-in sustaining costs (AISC) due mainly to a strong result from its international mines.
The company maintained its full-year guidance for production, costs and capital expenditure.
Production was 969,000oz at total cash cost of $744/oz in the three months through March
31, 2015, down from 1.055Moz at $770/oz in the first quarter of last year. Production was
affected by a slow start in South Africa after the Christmas break, the sale of the Navachab
mine last year as well as the transition of Obuasi to limited operations phase in December.
The result compared with guidance of 900,000oz to 940,000oz at $830/oz to $860/oz/oz.
AISC improved from $993/oz to $926/oz, while all-in-costs decreased by 8% from $1,114/oz
to $1,026/oz over the same period.
"This is an exceptionally strong performance from our International portfolio in
particular, and one which shows the benefit of our diversified portfolio," Chief
Executive Officer Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan said. "We've continued to focus on
delivering real operational efficiencies and tight cost management, while ensuring
we benefit from weaker producer currencies and lower oil prices. It shows in these
results."
AngloGold Ashanti has over the past two years cut overhead expenditure by two-thirds while
improving the quality of its portfolio through the introduction of two new, low-cost mines,
selling some assets, closing others and removing loss-making ounces from ongoing
operations. The company is testing market interest for the sale of all or part of its Cripple
Creek & Victor mine in the US, and is in talks to sell its stake in the Sadiola and Yatela
mines in Mali, with the proceeds of any potential sales earmarked to reduce debt levels.
Binding bids submitted for all, or part of Cripple Creek, are currently being considered.
The company's international portfolio, which covers mines in nine countries, saw AISC 13%
lower than the first quarter of 2014 at $849/oz, while production from ongoing operations
was 2% higher year-on-year at 730,000oz. Standout performances were delivered by the
Geita and Cerro Vanguardia mines, while the contribution from the Tropicana and Kibali
mines reflected their full ramp-up. Work is currently underway on a range of brownfield
projects to extend life, improve production or enhance efficiencies, at the Geita, Serra
Grande, Siguiri and Sunrise Dam mines.
The international portfolio helped offset a difficult start for the South Africa mines,
which were impacted by safety-related stoppages and power outages. Production from South
Africa was down 18% compared with the first quarter of last year, while AISC were 12%
higher. Delays in accessing higher-grade ore from the Mponeng mine's Below 120 Level
project caused primarily by safety stoppages are likely to affect efficiencies at that
operation this year.
First-quarter adjusted headline earnings (AHE) were $35m, or 9 US cents per share in the
three months to 31 March 2015, compared with $119m, or 29 US cents per share, in the first
quarter of 2014, impacted by lower ounces sold from Ghana, Namibia and South Africa, the
lower gold price and a higher tax charge. An adjusted headline loss of $117m, or 29 US
cents per share, was recorded the previous quarter.
Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA)
were $409m, compared with $476m in the first quarter of 2014, with the reduction due
mainly to the 6% reduction in the gold price received and a 9% reduction in ounces sold.
However, adjusted EBITDA was higher than the previous quarter's $407m, given the lower
costs quarter-on-quarter which helped offset lower output from the South Africa region.
Outlook
Production guidance for the second quarter is estimated to be between 960,000oz to
1,000,000oz at total cash costs of $770/oz to $820/oz, assuming average exchange rates of
R11.92/$. BRL2.95/$, $0.79/A$ and AP9.00/$. Oil at $70/bl average for the quarter.
The annual guidance remains unchanged for production at 4.0moz to 4.3moz total cash
costs at US$770/oz to $820/oz and All-in sustaining costs of $1,000/oz-$1,050/oz, assuming
average exchange rates of R11.60/$. BRL2.60/$, $0.85/A$ and AP9.50/$, while the average
oil price for the year is assumed at $70/bl. Capital expenditure guidance for the year also
remains unchanged at $1.0 to 1.1bn.
Both production and cost estimates assume neither labour interruptions, power disruptions
or changes in asset portfolio and/or operating mines. Other unknown or unpredictable
factors could also have a material adverse effect on our future results.
ENDS
Johannesburg
JSE Sponsor: Deutsche Securities (SA) Proprietary Ltd
Contacts
Media
Chris Nthite
+27 (0) 11 637 6388/+27 (0) 83 301 2481
cnthite@anglogoldashanti.com
Stewart Bailey
+27 81 032 2563 / +27 11 637 6031
sbailey@anglogoldashanti.com
General inquiries
media@anglogoldashanti.com
Investors
Stewart Bailey
+27 81 032 2563 / +27 11 637 6031
sbailey@anglogoldashanti.com
Sabrina Brockman (US & Canada)
+1 (212) 858 7702 / +1 646 379 2555
sbrockman@anglogoldashanti.com
Fundisa Mgidi (South Africa)
+27 11 6376763 / +27 82 821 5322
fmgidi@anglogoldashanti.com
Certain statements contained in this document, other than statements of historical fact,
including, without limitation, those concerning the economic outlook for the gold mining
industry, expectations regarding gold prices, production, cash costs, all-in sustaining
costs, all-in costs, cost savings and other operating results, return on equity,
productivity improvements, growth prospects and outlook of
AngloGold Ashanti's operations, individually or in the aggregate, including the achievement
of project milestones, commencement and completion of commercial operations of certain of
AngloGold Ashanti's exploration and production projects and the completion of acquisitions,
dispositions or joint venture transactions, AngloGold Ashanti's liquidity and capital
resources and capital expenditures and the outcome and consequence of any potential or pending
litigation or regulatory proceedings or environmental health and safety issues, are
forward-looking statements regarding AngloGold Ashanti's operations, economic
performance and financial condition.
These forward-looking statements or forecasts involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors that may cause AngloGold Ashanti's actual results, performance or
achievements to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied in these forward-looking statements. Although AngloGold Ashanti believes
that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and forecasts are reasonable,
no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Accordingly,
results could differ materially from those set out in the forward-looking statements as a
result of, among other factors, changes in economic, social and political and market conditions,
the success of business and operating initiatives, changes in the regulatory environment and
other government actions, including environmental approvals, fluctuations in gold prices and
exchange rates, the outcome of pending or future litigation proceedings, and business and
operational risk management.
For a discussion of such risk factors, refer to AngloGold Ashanti's annual report on Form 20-F
for the year ended 31 December 2013, which was filed with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") on 14 April 2014. These factors are not necessarily all of the
important factors that could cause AngloGold Ashanti's actual results to differ materially from
those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could
also have material adverse effects on future results. Consequently, readers are cautioned not
to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. AngloGold Ashanti undertakes no obligation
to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events
or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events,
except to the extent required by applicable law. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking
statements attributable to AngloGold Ashanti or any person acting on its behalf are qualified
by the cautionary statements herein.
This communication may contain certain "Non-GAAP" financial measures. AngloGold Ashanti utilises
certain Non-GAAP performance measures and ratios in managing its business. Non-GAAP financial
measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the reported operating
results or cash flow from operations or any other measures of performance prepared in accordance
with IFRS. In addition, the presentation of these measures may not be comparable to similarly
titled measures other companies may use. AngloGold Ashanti posts information that is important
to investors on the main page of its website at www.anglogoldashanti.com and under the "Investors"
tab on the main page. This information is updated regularly. Investors should visit this website
to obtain important information about AngloGold Ashanti.
AngloGold Ashanti Limited
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa Reg No: 1944/017354/06
ISIN No. ZAE000043485 – JSE share code: ANG CUSIP: 035128206 – NYSE share code: AU
Website: www.anglogoldashanti.com
Date: 11/05/2015 07:06:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE').
The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of
the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct,
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,
information disseminated through SENS.
Sharenet Sites 
