AngloGold Ashanti West Wits Employees Start Return to Work
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA -- (Marketwire) -- 10/26/12 -- AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE: AU) is pleased to report that most workers have started returning to the three West Wits mines this morning. These workers join their colleagues at the Vaal River operations who returned to work on Monday, 22 October and Tuesday, 23 October 2012.Large numbers of employees at the Mponeng, TauTona and Savuka mines returned to work this morning and the focus now is on preparing these operations to ramp up production safely. The dismissal process announced on 26 October 2012 will continue for those who do not return to work.
The unprotected strike started at the Kopanang Mine in the Vaal River region on 20 September and at the remainder of AngloGold Ashanti's South African mines on 25 September. About 32,000oz of gold production was lost each week the six mines were idle.
Further details on the impact of the unprotected strike, the settlement and the ramp-up process will be provided along with AngloGold Ashanti's operating and financial results on 8 November 2012.
AngloGold Ashanti's South African operations accounted for approximately 32% of total group production during the first half of the year. Approximately 35,000 people are employed across AngloGold Ashanti's South African operations. This figure is inclusive of contractors and those working on two major capital projects under way at the Moab Khotsong and Mponeng mines. Under normal operating conditions, the Vaal River region typically accounts for about 40% of AngloGold Ashanti's South African gold production and all of the group's uranium production. The West Wits accounts for the balance.
AngloGold Ashanti is a member of the gold industry's central collective bargaining process under the auspices of the Chamber of Mines and as such is committed to addressing demands regarding pay and other substantive issues through this framework. At present, the gold industry is in the second year of a two-year wage agreement with the latest increases, ranging from 8% to 10%, awarded to the workforce in July 2012, under the agreement reached in 2011. A similar increase was awarded last year. South Africa's annual Consumer Price Inflation was 5% in August 2012. The aforementioned 2011 agreement also established an Entry Level Task Team to address entry-level wages and related issues. Additional improvements to the current pay structure were offered to workers on 18 October to address items contained in the terms of reference given to the Entry Level Task Team.
A summary of this latest offer, agreed by the members of the Chamber of Mines, the National Union of Mineworkers, Solidarity and the United Association of South Africa, as it pertains to AngloGold Ashanti's employees, includes the following:
- Category 3 employees will be rolled up to Category 4, the new entry level;
- Salaries of the Category 4 to 8 employees will be raised by 2%;
- A new level for Loader, Locomotive, Winch and Water Jet Operators will be created within Category 4 and their basic rates will be adjusted by R400 per month and;
- Rock Drill Operators will have their basic rate adjusted by R500
SPONSOR: UBS South Africa (Pty) Limited
Certain statements made in this communication, 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 and other operating results, growth prospects and outlook of AngloGold Ashanti's operations, individually or in the aggregate, including the achievement of project milestones, the completion and commencement of commercial operations of certain of AngloGold Ashanti's exploration and production projects and the completion of acquisitions and dispositions, any plan regarding the restructuring of any of AngloGold Ashanti's operations, AngloGold Ashanti's liquidity and capital resources and capital expenditure and the outcome and consequence of any potential or pending litigation or regulatory proceedings or environmental issues, are forward-looking statements regarding AngloGold Ashanti's operations, economic performance and financial condition. These forward-looking statements 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, political and market conditions, success of business and operating initiatives, changes in the regulatory environment and other government actions including environmental approvals and actions, fluctuations in gold prices and exchange rates, and business and operational risk management. For a discussion of certain of these and other factors, refer to AngloGold Ashanti's annual report for the year ended 31 December 2011, which was distributed to shareholders on 4 April 2012, the company's 2011 annual report on Form 20-F, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States on 23 April 2012 and the prospectus supplement to the company's prospectus dated July 17, 2012 that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 25, 2012. 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, stakeholders 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 today's date 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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