2. Operating profit excluding unrealised non-hedge derivatives
3. Prior quarter production includes 56,000oz from Jerritt Canyon, which was sold with effect from 30 June 2003. Reported production is
not comparable
4. Price received includes realised non-hedge derivatives $ represents US dollar, unless otherwise stated
The merger creates a combination of some of the best gold assets and mining talent on the African continent, with a spread of long-life, low-cost operations and reserves around the world. AngloGold's management will be greatly strengthened by the talented Ashanti management team. When the transaction is complete, AngloGold Ashanti will be ready to show how a thoroughly African company can be a world leader in its sector. This is very good news for AngloGold and Ashanti shareholders, the governments and people of both Ghana and South Africa, the employees of both companies and their communities.
AngloGold has produced a solid set of financial results for the September quarter which are similar to those for the second
The quarter saw good operating performances from Geita, Sadiola, Kopanang and Great Noligwa, all of which reported higher gold production and lower unit total cash costs. Grades on the South African operations and the underground operations as a whole increased by some 4%, while those on the open-pit mines decreased by some 4%, largely as a consequence of the anticipated and significant grade decline at Morila
We expect that the operating problems at Cerro Vanguardia in
Argentina, which resulted in a 16% decline in production over the quarter, will be overcome with the commissioning there this
month of a material scrubber. At Cripple Creek & Victor, difficulties with the haul truck fleet and the crusher have been
resolved and those associated with the heap leach continue to receive management attention.
Although total cash costs were well controlled in local currency terms, the continued strength of these currencies against the dollar led to a 6% increase in dollar-denominated costs, to $237 per ounce. A $10 per ounce increase in the received gold price, which was again this quarter higher than the gold spot price, ameliorated the effect of reduced production and stronger operating currencies.
We will continue to give shareholders a clear picture of the value creation they can expect from both AngloGold's existing operations and from our merger with Ashanti in the months that lie ahead.
The South Africa region performed well, with gold production
increasing by 31,000oz (4%). By contrast, production in South America declined by 3% and in Australia by 4%, while North
America was 12,000oz (15%) lower (on a comparable basis2 )
as a result of ongoing problems at CC&V. East and West Africa
produced substantially the same amount as last quarter,
however, as predicted at the end of last quarter, production at Geita was 42% higher and Morila down 16%, with Yatela being
33% lower.
Total cash costs per ounce were well controlled in local currency terms, notably in South Africa where total unit costs increased by only 2% despite a 10% wage increase.
Again, strong currencies in the operating regions had an impact on dollar per ounce costs. These increased from $223/oz to $237/oz with half of the increase being directly exchange rate-related, which indirectly affected costs in local currencies.
As a result, adjusted operating profit1decreased marginally by
3% to $136m. Taking into account a $38m increase in unrealised profit from non-hedge derivatives, operating profit
increased from $142m to $176m. It is AngloGold's practice to judge the performance of the company on the adjusted
operating profit1as there can be no certainty that the unrealised profit will eventually be brought to account.
At a corporate level, corporate administration costs decreased
by $5m and other costs by $7m. Consequently adjusted
headline earnings
1
increased by 2% to $67m.
During the quarter, the profit on disposal of investments in East African Gold Mines and Randgold Resources Limited was $38m. Savuka was impaired by $35m as a result of the lower rand gold price. These, together with the unrealised gain on non-hedge derivatives resulted in a net profit of $97m, 70% up on the previous quarter.
Improved face length and face advance at Savuka resulted in
an 11% increase in volume mined. However, grade was reduced to 5.49g/t (12%) with gold produced falling by 17% to
1,376kg (44,000oz). The lower gold production and the effect of wage increases caused total cash costs to go up by 21% to
R115,931/kg ($487/oz). During the quarter, some 170 people were retrenched as part of planned reductions in the labour
force. The continued operating difficulties at Savuka have been reviewed and AngloGold management has decided to
declare an impairment of the Savuka assets and have, as a result, charged profits with an amount of R138m ($19m) in
respect of this impairment, net of tax. No fatalities were
recorded during the quarter.
At TauTona gold production at 5,272kg (170,000oz) was 5%
higher than the previous quarter mainly due to a higher yield (13.19g/t) as a result of the exclusion of lower grade tonnes
from the area affected by the underground fire during August.
The volume mined was held at previous levels despite the impact of the fire. Total cash costs rose by 2% to R47,096/kg
($198/oz) as a result of the wage increases, costs associated with the fire and increased seasonal power cost increases.
Adjusted operating profit1was down by 7% to R182m ($25m). Two employees lost their lives during the quarter. The first
incident was due to a seismic-induced fall of ground whilst the second related to a scraper winch accident.
At Ergo gold production of 1,407kg (45,000oz) was down by
8% following lower tonnages treated, which were partially offset by a higher head grade. Tonnage throughput decreased
following repeated water monitor pipeline failures. Ergo showed an increase in operating loss of R14m ($2m) to R22m
($3m) predominantly from the lower gold output, higher unit
costs and lower received price. The operation is scheduled to close by the end of 2004. In the meantime, discussions are
being held with prospective buyers.
East and West Africa
At Geita (50% attributable), gold production increased by 42%
to 88,000oz, largely due to an anticipated 48% improvement in recovered grade to 3.83g/t. As has been reported in previous
quarterly reports, further improvements are expected going forward. Total cash costs decreased by 18% to $188/oz due to
the higher production whilst adjusted operating profit1rose by
$6m to $9m.
Production at Morila (40% attributable) was down by 16% to 80,000oz. A 7% increase in milled plant throughput was offset by a 21% decrease in recovered grade to 7.55g/t. A further decline in grade is expected in the fourth quarter and going forward into 2004. Total cash costs increased by 16% to $109/oz, whilst adjusted operating profit1for the quarter decreased by 24% to $14m. Commissioning of the plant expansion project is on schedule for the fourth quarter. There were four lost time injuries recorded this quarter and regrettably one fatal accident occurred on 24 September 2003.
Production at Sadiola (38% attributable) went up by 8% to 42,000oz due to an 11% increase in recovered grade to 2.79g/t. Total cash costs decreased by 8% to $195/oz, whilst adjusted operating profit1 increased by 72% to $5m as a result of the higher production and a 7% improvement in price. There were no lost time injuries recorded during the quarter.
At Yatela (40% attributable), gold production decreased by 33% to 20,000oz mainly as a result of a 32% decrease in tons treated. Tonnage throughput for the quarter was adversely affected by problems experienced with the commissioning of the new crusher circuit. Commissioning problems have subsequently been resolved and the plant is operating at design capacity. In addition, recovered grade decreased by 5% to 3.18g/t. Total cash costs increased by 26% to $250/oz and adjusted operating profits1 decreased to $1m as a result of the lower production. Mining commenced at Alamoutala during the quarter and exceeded original targets with hauling of higher grade Alamoutala ore proceeding to plan. Yatela recorded one lost time injury during the quarter.
North America
At Cripple Creek & Victor (67% ownership with 100% interest
in production until the initial loans are repaid) production was down by 15% quarter-on-quarter at 66,000oz due to mining of
lower grade areas and failure to realise sustainable improvements in leach solution chemistry during the quarter.
Total cash costs were 15% higher than those of the second quarter at $217/oz as chemical consumption increased in an
effort to resolve the leach solution chemistry issues. Despite increased costs, adjusted operating profit1
remained consistent with the second quarter at $3m due to
favourable gold prices and inventory movements. There were no lost time injuries for the quarter and one lost time injury year to date.
The new processing facilities exceeded design capacity in
August and September, and haulage fleet production
At Serra Grande (50% attributable) production remained at a similar level to the previous quarter at 24,000oz. Total cash costs increased by 5% to $109/oz due to higher maintenance costs and a slightly lower recovered grade of 7.89g/t. Adjusted operating profit1 decreased by 8% to $4m largely because of a decrease in gold sold and the higher total cash costs.
The LTIFR for the region year to date is 4.55. This compares favourably with the Ontario underground metalliferous mines benchmark of 6.5.
The Boddington Joint Venture partners have committed to an update of the November 2000 Expansion Project Feasibility Study. It is anticipated that this work will be completed in the second quarter of 2004.
All references to price received includes the realised non-hedge derivative gains (losses).
Regional exploration overview
Phase VI of the hard sulphides diamond drilling programme at Sadiola is 73% complete.
The gold price rallied again during the quarter in spite of the strong recovery in the US dollar against the Euro during July and August, and in spite of rallies in important equity markets. Also, physical demand for gold remained depressed and provided no help for the price.
The marked-to-market value of all hedge transactions making up the hedge positions was a negative $447m (negative R3.1bn) as at 30 September 2003 (as at 30 June 2003: negative $179.3m negative R1.35bn). These values were based on a gold price of $383.50/oz, exchange rates of R/$6.95 and A$/$0.6850 and the prevailing market interest rates and volatilities at the time.
These marked-to-market valuations are in no way predictive of the future value of the hedge position or of future impact on the revenue of the company. The valuation represents the cost of buying all hedge contracts at the time of valuation, at market prices and rates available at the time.
announcements on 22 September 2003, in which AngloGold advised that it was awaiting a response from the Government of Ghana, a substantial shareholder and regulator of Ashanti, on whether it would support the merger, and on 23 September 2003 in which AngloGold advised that it had reached agreement with Ashanti to extend the Transaction Agreement to 31 October 2003, or such later date as may be agreed by Ashanti and AngloGold. On 15 October 2003 it was announced that AngloGold had increased its offer to 29 AngloGold ordinary shares for every 100 Ashanti ordinary shares and global depositary securities and that the board of Ashanti had resolved to recommend the proposed merger to its shareholders. Lonmin Plc, which holds 27.6% of Ashanti's issued share capital, has undertaken to vote its shares in favour of the merger. The merger is conditional on the support of the Government of Ghana as shareholder and regulator of Ashanti, the approval of the scheme of arrangement and its confirmation by the High Court of Ghana and certain other regulatory approvals and third party consents, as detailed in the 4 August 2003 announcement. On 29 October 2003, it was announced that the Government of Ghana supported AngloGold's proposed merger with Ashanti. On 30 October 2003, AngloGold announced the principal terms of commitments with the Government of Ghana.