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AngloGold Sets New Safety Benchmark; Maintains Full-Year Guidance
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”)
8 May 2017
NEWS RELEASE
AngloGold Sets New Safety Benchmark; Maintains Full-Year Guidance
(PRESS RELEASE – JOHANNESBURG) – AngloGold Ashanti said it has set new safety
records and achieved its first ever March quarter without a fatal accident, as it reported
operating results for the three months to 31 March 2017. The company also maintained its
full-year guidance.
AngloGold Ashanti, which operates the world’s deepest mines, has passed 282 days without
a fatal accident in South Africa, surpassing a previous record of 242 days, set in 2014.
Sadiola, Yatela, Siguiri, Iduapriem, Obuasi, and Sunrise Dam ended the March quarter injury
free, and the South African Operations have now exceeded five million consecutive shifts
without a fatality.
Production was 830,000oz at an average total cash cost of $813/oz, compared to
861,000oz at $702/oz in the first quarter of 2016, with costs pushed higher by lower grades
and significantly stronger currencies in key operating regions. The company’s International
Operations, which account for almost three-in-four of its gold ounces mined, delivered
another good quarter according to their plans, whilst the South African Operations, with the
exception of Mponeng, had a poor production performance in the seasonally weak first
quarter.
“Our International Operations have again delivered a strong result, with our brownfields
investments proceeding to plan,” Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan, Chief Executive Officer of
AngloGold Ashanti, said. “On the back of the strong safety result, we are closely scrutinising
the underperforming areas of our South African Operations to restore margins. Remedial
steps taken to ensure they recover from a difficult start to the year are already bearing fruit.”
This year, AngloGold Ashanti is re-investing in high-return, brownfields projects to improve
the overall quality of its portfolio and extend mine lives. The company has in recent years
rebuilt its balance sheet without diluting shareholders, through tight cost management,
efficiency improvements and debt reduction, all while making significant improvements to
safety.
Net debt improved by 3% from the first quarter of last year to $2.05 bn. Balance sheet
flexibility was also maintained, with net debt to adjusted earnings before interest, tax,
depreciation and amortisation remaining within its own target of 1.5 times, through the
business cycle, and well below its debt covenants of 3.5 times. AngloGold Ashanti has
ample liquidity of $1.46bn, with no near-dated maturities, and sufficient covenant headroom.
Production from the International Operations was 632,000oz at a total cash cost of $714/oz
for the first quarter of 2017, up from 625,000oz at a total cash cost of $674/oz in the
corresponding period last year. This increase reflected solid performances across the
portfolio, with exceptional performances from Siguiri, Iduapriem, Kibali and Cerro
Vanguardia. All-in sustaining costs (AiSC) for the first quarter were $963/oz, up from $822/oz
for the first quarter of 2016, with the increase attributable to the impact of stronger local
currencies, lower average grades and the planned increase in sustaining capital
expenditure.
Total capital expenditure (including equity accounted entities) during the first quarter of 2017
was $216m, up from $128m for the first quarter of 2016. Total capital expenditure included
$186m of sustaining capital expenditure and $30m of project capital expenditure. Capital
expenditure is expected to increase in the remaining three quarters of the year, in line with
historical seasonal trends.
The added focus on a safe start-up contributed to an unusually slow ramp-up in South
Africa, after the year-end break. This was compounded by more lower-grade areas mined at
some operations than planned, fractured ground in areas currently being mined at TauTona
and Moab Khotsong and instances of unwarranted deviations from mining plans. Steps
taken to address the poor adherence to mining plans, management work routines and to
improve productivity have already resulted in an improvement in mineable face length,
leading to production volume recoveries in the second half of the first quarter of 2017.
These improvements will also contribute to the forecast for an overall increase in production
rates over the remainder of the year.
Full-Year Guidance
Adjusted EBITDA was $314m for the first quarter of 2017, down from $378m for the first
quarter of 2016 .The guidance for the full year remains unchanged as follows:
- Production between 3.6Moz and 3.75Moz;
- Capital expenditure between $950m and $1,050m;
- Total cash costs between $750/oz and $800/oz; and
- AiSC between $1,050/oz and $1,100/oz, assuming average exchange rates against the
US dollar of 14.25ZAR (Rand), 3.40BRL (Brazil Real), 0.75AUD (Aus$) and 16.50ARS
(Argentina Peso), with oil at $58/bl on average for the year.
Both production and cost estimates assume neither labour interruptions or power
disruptions, nor changes to asset portfolio and/or operating mines and have not been
reviewed by our external auditors. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could also have
material adverse effects on our future results and no assurance can be given that any
expectations expressed by AngloGold Ashanti will prove to have been correct. Please refer
to the Risk Factors section in AngloGold Ashanti’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year
ended 31 December 2016, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission.
The financial information, including any forward-looking information, set out in this news
release has not been reviewed and reported on by the Company’s external auditors.
Ends
JSE Sponsor: Deutsche Securities (SA) Proprietary Limited
Contacts
Media
Chris Nthite +27 11 637 6388/+27 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 +1 646 880 4526/ +1 646 379 2555 sbrockman@anglogoldashanti.com
Fundisa Mgidi +27 11 6376763 / +27 82 821 5322 fmgidi@anglogoldashanti.com
Forward-Looking Information and Non-GAAP Financial Measures
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, total cash costs, all-in sustaining costs, all-in costs, cost savings and other operating results, 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 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 reports on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and
Exchange Commission. 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.
Non-GAAP financial measures
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
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