AngloGold Ashanti -- Rand Refinery and Corporate Update
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA--(Marketwired - Jul 25, 2014) - Shareholders are referred to today's announcement by Rand Refinery regarding a loan facility extended to it by certain of its shareholders, as a precautionary measure. This follows challenges encountered in the implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning system at the refinery. AngloGold Ashanti (
AngloGold Ashanti owns a 42.41% stake in the Rand Refinery and accounts for it using the equity accounting method as an associate. AngloGold Ashanti expects to make a provision in its accounts for $51m, which will impact second quarter earnings scheduled for release on August 11.
In addition, AngloGold Ashanti notes that costs incurred in the previously announced closure of the Yatela mine in Mali, and ongoing restructuring at its Obuasi mine in Ghana, will also impact earnings for the second quarter.
Over the past 18 months, AngloGold Ashanti has taken decisive steps to adapt to the sharp decline in the gold price by reducing costs and improving the overall quality of its portfolio to improve cash flow and returns. Part of that strategy is the closure of its Yatela mine in Mali and implementation of a range of interventions to address historic underperformance of the Obuasi mine in Ghana.
Sponsor to AngloGold Ashanti
UBS South Africa (Pty) Limited
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, 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 and dispositions, AngloGold Ashanti's liquidity and capital resources and capital expenditures and the outcome and consequences 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.
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