To view the PDF file, sign up for a MySharenet subscription.

ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI LIMITED - Randgold Resources not to proceed with Obuasi Joint Venture: Obuasi to continue with its Limited Operating Phase

Release Date: 21/12/2015 09:00
Code(s): ANG     PDF:  
Wrap Text
Randgold Resources not to proceed with Obuasi Joint Venture: Obuasi to continue with its Limited Operating Phase

AngloGold Ashanti Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Reg. No. 1944/017354/06)
ISIN ZAE000043485 – JSE share code: ANG
CUSIP: 035128206 – NYSE share code: AU
(“AngloGold Ashanti” or the “Company”)


21 December 2015

NEWS RELEASE
Randgold Resources not to proceed with Obuasi Joint Venture: Obuasi to
continue with its Limited Operating Phase at Lower Cost

(JOHANNESBURG – NEWS RELEASE) -- Randgold Resources Limited (“Randgold”) has
informed AngloGold Ashanti that it wishes to terminate the conditional Investment
Agreement concluded in September 2015, for a joint venture to redevelop the Obuasi Mine,
as the proposed investment does not meet Randgold’s investment criteria.

This decision follows concerted efforts by both companies to improve the project’s returns
and also to secure an appropriate set of consents from the Government of Ghana, within an
ambitious timeframe that would have allowed for a feasibility decision on the redevelopment
of the mine in early 2016. Although improvements have been identified, these have not
been sufficient to commit to a substantial investment under the prevailing conditions.

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana has approved continuation of
Obuasi’s limited operating phase during Q1 2016. Limited operations will be undertaken at
reduced cost, compared to 2015, including maintaining the operations, security,
environmental management, optimising the feasibility study, as well as ongoing
sustainability work.

“We have made a concerted effort to unlock a new opportunity for Obuasi, and the work we
have done lays a good foundation for the operation in the long term,” AngloGold Ashanti
Chief Executive Officer Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan said. “But in the current environment,
we believe it is prudent to conserve our resources and to revisit this opportunity when market
conditions improve.”

Obuasi, located in the Ashanti region of Ghana 320 kilometres northwest of the capital
Accra, is a large, high-grade deposit with proven and probable ore reserves (as reported by
AngloGold Ashanti in its 2014 Annual Report) of 24.53Mt at 6.70g/t for 5.29Moz, part of a
substantial mineral resource base.
Johannesburg

JSE Sponsor: Deutsche Securities (SA) Proprietary Limited

Contacts
Media

Stewart Bailey +27 81 032 2563 / +27 11 637 6031                                                          sbailey@anglogoldashanti.com

Investors

Stewart Bailey +27 81 032 2563 / +27 11 637 6031                                                          sbailey@anglogoldashanti.com

Sabrina Brockman                +1 212 858 7702 / +1 646 379 2555                                         sbrockman@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 o f project milestones, commencement and completion of
commercial operations of certain of AngloGold Ashanti’s exploration and production projects and the completion of acquisition s, 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 proceed ings 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 Ash anti’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 2014, which was filed with the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on 2 April 2015. 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.


Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa Reg No: 1944/017354/06
ISIN. ZAE000043485 – JSE share code: ANG CUSIP: 035128206 – NYSE share code: AU

Website: www.anglogoldashanti.com

Date: 21/12/2015 09:00:00 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.

Share This Story