AngloGold Ashanti Posts 339% year-on-year Adjusted EBITDA* increase, 17-fold rise in free cash flow*; YTD total cash costs per ounce* rise only 2%; FY 2024 guidance reaffirmed on all metrics
(BUSINESS WIRE) -- AngloGold Ashanti plc (“AngloGold Ashanti”, “AGA” or the “Company”) reported its strongest gold production quarter of 2024 from managed operations(1) in the three months ended 30 September 2024, driving significant year-on-year gains in earnings and free cash flow*. The Company reaffirmed full-year guidance for gold production, costs and capital expenditure.
"Tight control of costs and active management of our working capital means that the higher gold price has flowed through to our bottom line,” CEO Alberto Calderon said. “We’re looking for additional improvements to production and margins, to ensure we deliver an even stronger fourth quarter and continue to capitalise on this healthy gold price environment.”
AngloGold Ashanti saw resilient performances from several key operations. The Australian portfolio recovered well from rains and flooding in the first quarter, while the operational turnaround of its Brazilian operations continued to gain momentum with the resumption of processing of gold concentrate at the Queiroz plant during September.
Solid cost control and active management of working capital helped ensure that higher revenues were reflected in stronger earnings and cash flows. Headline earnings(3) of $236m, or 56 US cents per share, in the third quarter of 2024, compared to a headline loss(3) of $194m, or 46 US cents per share, in the third quarter of 2023. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation* (“Adjusted EBITDA”) rose 339% to $746m in the third quarter of 2024 from $170m in the same period last year. Free cash flow* rose sharply to $347m during the third quarter of 2024, from $20m in the same period a year earlier. The average gold price received per ounce* for the group(1)(2) rose 28% to $2,449/oz during the third quarter of 2024 from $1,908/oz in the third quarter of last year.
A solid overall performance from AngloGold Ashanti’s managed operations helped the Company deliver a strong cash cost performance despite persistent high inflation across several of its operating jurisdictions. Total cash costs per ounce* for the group(1)(2) rose 8% year-on-year to $1,172/oz versus $1,089/oz in the third quarter of last year. Total cash costs per ounce* for managed operations(1)(2) rose by only 3% year-on-year to $1,186/oz versus $1,152/oz in the third quarter of last year, demonstrating disciplined and consistent focus on costs despite inflationary pressure across its operating jurisdictions and the impact of higher royalties paid, driven by the increase in the gold price. All-in sustaining costs per ounce* (“AISC”) for the group(1)(2) rose 10% to $1,616/oz during the third quarter of 2024 versus $1,469/oz in the third quarter of last year due to increased total cash costs* and rehabilitation costs.
Gold production for the group(1)(2) was 657,000oz for the third quarter of 2024 versus 676,000oz in the same period of 2023, due to lower production from the Kibali joint venture, where lower grades resulted in production of 71,000oz compared with 99,000oz in the third quarter of 2023. Gold production for managed operations(1)(2) rose 2% year-on-year to 586,000oz, from 577,000oz in the third quarter of 2023. Gold production was stronger at Obuasi (15%), Siguiri (9%), Tropicana (14%), Cerro Vanguardia (11%) and Sunrise Dam (14%).
At Obuasi, third-quarter gold production(1) increased 15% year-on-year as total grades and underground tonnages rose, despite a continued impact on production of reduced mining flexibility in Block 8 and difficult ground conditions in higher-grade stopes. Notwithstanding these near-term challenges, total cash costs per ounce*(1) improved 20% year-on-year to $1,153/oz and AISC per ounce*(1) at $2,063/oz was 17% lower over that period.
Centamin Acquisition to Improve the Portfolio Mix
On 28 October 2024, the shareholders of Centamin plc (“Centamin”) approved the proposed acquisition of Centamin by AngloGold Ashanti. The proposed acquisition, announced on 10 September 2024, will bring to AngloGold Ashanti’s portfolio an established Tier One asset with the Sukari mine in Egypt, which produced(1) 450,000oz of gold in 2023 at an AISC per ounce*(1) of $1,196/oz, well below AngloGold Ashanti’s current average AISC*. The addition of Sukari ensures a higher proportion of AngloGold Ashanti’s gold production will be derived from Tier One assets, and will provide flexibility for the Company to consider disposal options of its higher-cost Tier Two mines.
The proposed acquisition is expected to be accretive on a per share basis to both free cash flow* and net asset value and is a compelling strategic fit, closely aligned with AngloGold Ashanti’s core mining and exploration competencies. Synergies are expected to be captured by streamlining Centamin’s corporate costs, which were $33m in 2023; in the area of procurement, by leveraging the relative size and scale of AngloGold Ashanti’s portfolio; and by utilising AngloGold Ashanti’s Full Asset Potential business optimisation process. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining closing conditions, the proposed transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of November 2024.
Nine-Month Performance
Adjusted EBITDA* for the first nine months of 2024 more than doubled to $1.863bn, from $846m in the first nine months of 2023. Free cash flow* for the first nine months of 2024 was $553m, compared to an outflow of $184m in the same period of the previous year.
For the first nine months of 2024 gold production for the group(1)(2) was little changed at 1.911Moz, versus 1.907Moz in the same period a year earlier, with total cash costs per ounce* for the group(1)(2) increasing 2% year-on-year to $1,163/oz from $1,140/oz in the same period last year. This compared to a realised inflation rate for the Company of about 6% during the first nine months of 2024, which represents consumer price index (CPI) changes in the jurisdictions in which the Company operates. AISC per ounce* for the group(1)(2) rose 5% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2024 to $1,598/oz compared with $1,525/oz in the same period in 2023. Total capital expenditure for managed operations(1)(2) and non-managed joint ventures(1) over the same period rose 10% year-on-year.
Total cash costs per ounce* for managed operations(1)(2) increased 0.5% year-on-year from $1,189/oz in the first nine months of 2023 to $1,195/oz in the first nine months of 2024. Total cash costs per ounce* for non-managed joint ventures(1) increased 13% year-on-year from $817/oz in the first nine months of 2023 to $924/oz in the first nine months of 2024. AISC per ounce* for managed operations(1)(2) increased 3% year-on-year from $1,609/oz in the first nine months of 2023 to $1,660/oz in the first nine months of 2024. AISC per ounce* for non-managed joint ventures(1) increased 17% year-on-year from $967/oz in the first nine months of 2023 to $1,133/oz in the first nine months of 2024.
Q3 2024 - KEY OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL FEATURES
Q3 2024 is strongest gold production quarter in 2024 for managed operations(1)(2) at 586,000oz vs 577,000oz in Q3 2023
Q3 2024 Gold production for the group(1)(2) of 657,000oz vs 676,000oz in Q3 2023
Improved Q3 2024 gold production(1)(2) y-o-y compared to Q3 2023 at Obuasi (15%), Siguiri (9%), Tropicana (14%), Cerro Vanguardia (11%) and Sunrise Dam (14%)
AngloGold Ashanti Mineração Q3 2024 total cash costs per ounce*(1)(2) -16% compared to Q3 2023; Queiroz plant resumes processing gold concentrate
Free cash flow* rises 17-fold to $347m in Q3 2024 compared to $20m in Q3 2023
Adjusted EBITDA* +339% to $746m in Q3 2024 vs $170m in Q3 2023; Adjusted EBITDA* margin 52%
Financial performance driven by solid operational results and the higher average gold price received*
Total cash costs* - Group(1)(2): $1,172/oz in Q3 2024 vs $1,089/oz in Q3 2023
Total cash costs* - Managed operations(1)(2): $1,186/oz in Q3 2024 vs $1,152/oz in Q3 2023
Total cash costs* - Non-managed joint ventures(1): $1,053/oz in Q3 2024 from $721/oz in Q3 2023
AISC* - Group(1)(2): $1,616/oz in Q3 2024 from $1,469/oz in Q3 2023, mainly on increased total cash costs
AISC* - Managed operations(1)(2): $1,665/oz in Q3 2024 from $1,579/oz in Q3 2023
AISC* - Non-managed joint ventures(1): $1,241/oz in Q3 2024 from $820/oz in Q3 2023
Basic earnings of $223m in Q3 2024 from basic loss of $224m in Q3 2023
Headline earnings(3) of $236m in Q3 2024 from a headline loss(3) of $194m in Q3 2023
Obuasi’s Q3 2024 gold production(1) +15% y-o-y to 53,000oz; total cash costs per ounce*(1) -20%; AISC per ounce*(1) -17% y-o-y
Obuasi completed the trial of its new mining method Under Hand, Drift and Fill (UHDF) to extract the most value from high-grade ore source and will implement a hybrid mining approach incorporating traditional Sub-Level Open Stoping (SLOS) and UHDF from 2025. This hybrid approach is proven to be more cost-efficient, with a reduction in total cash cost per ounce* of approximately 9%
(1) The term “managed operations” refers to subsidiaries managed by AngloGold Ashanti and included in its consolidated reporting, while the term “non-managed joint ventures” refers to equity-accounted joint ventures that are reported based on AngloGold Ashanti's share of attributable earnings and are not managed by AngloGold Ashanti. Managed operations are reported on a consolidated basis. Non-managed joint ventures are reported on an attributable basis.
(2) All financial periods within the financial year ended 31 December 2023 have been adjusted to exclude the Córrego do Sítio (“CdS”) operation that was placed on care and maintenance in August 2023.
(3) The financial measures “headline earnings (loss)” and “headline earnings (loss) per share” are not calculated in accordance with IFRS® Accounting Standards, but in accordance with the Headline Earnings Circular 1/2023, issued by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), at the request of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Limited (JSE). These measures are required to be disclosed by the JSE Listings Requirements and therefore do not constitute Non-GAAP financial measures for purposes of the rules and regulations of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) applicable to the use and disclosure of Non-GAAP financial measures.
* Refer to “Non-GAAP disclosure” for definitions and reconciliations.
7 November 2024
JSE Sponsor: The Standard Bank of South Africa 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, total 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, the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic 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 financial reports, operations, economic performance and financial condition. These forward-looking statements or forecasts are not based on historical facts, but rather reflect our current beliefs and expectations concerning future events and generally may be identified by the use of forward-looking words, phrases and expressions such as “believe”, “expect”, “aim”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “foresee”, “forecast”, “predict”, “project”, “estimate”, “likely”, “may”, “might”, “could”, “should”, “would”, “seek”, “plan”, “scheduled”, “possible”, “continue”, “potential”, “outlook”, “target” or other similar words, phrases, and expressions; provided that the absence thereof does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Similarly, statements that describe our objectives, plans or goals are or may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements or forecasts involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause AngloGold Ashanti’s actual results, performance, actions or achievements to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance, actions 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, performance, actions or achievements could differ materially from those set out in the forward-looking statements as a result of, among other factors, changes in economic, social, political and market conditions, including related to inflation or international conflicts, 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, any supply chain disruptions, any public health crises, pandemics or epidemics (including the COVID-19 pandemic), the failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting or effective disclosure controls and procedures, the inability to remediate one or more material weaknesses, or the discovery of additional material weaknesses, in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and other business and operational risks and challenges and other factors, including mining accidents. For a discussion of such risk factors, refer to AngloGold Ashanti’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended 31 December 2023 filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause AngloGold Ashanti’s actual results, performance, actions or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors could also have material adverse effects on AngloGold Ashanti’s future results, performance, actions or achievements. 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.
Website: www.anglogoldashanti.com
September 2024 Published 7 November 2024
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