CONTINUING OPERATIONS (GOLD FIELDS EXCLUDING SIBANYE GOLD)
Gold Fields Results
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December quarter, compared with R775 million (US$94
million) or 106 SA cents per share (US$0.11 per share) in the
September quarter.
Normalised earnings from continuing operations amounted to
R1,216 million (US$143 million) or 167 SA cents per share
(US$0.20 per share) in the December quarter, compared with
R1,024 million (US$125 million) or 140 SA cents per share
(US$0.18 per share) in the September quarter.
Notional cash expenditure (NCE)
The NCE for continuing operations, which includes capitalised
project costs decreased from R384,015 per kilogram
(US$1,446 per ounce) in the September quarter to R380,384
per kilogram (US$1,365 per ounce) in the December quarter.
This decrease was as a result of the increased production
partially offset by higher operating costs and capital
expenditure. The NCE margin for the continuing operations
increased from 13 per cent in the September quarter to 19 per
cent in the December quarter due to the higher gold price and
lower NCE.
NCE for continuing operations, which excludes capitalised
project costs, decreased from R377,392 per kilogram
(US$1,421 per ounce) in the September quarter to R371,744
per kilogram (US$1,334 per ounce) in the December quarter
due to the increased production partially offset by higher costs
and capital expenditure. The NCE margin from existing
operations increased from 15 per cent in the September
quarter to 21 per cent in the December quarter due to the
higher gold price and the lower NCE in the December quarter.
Year ended 31 December 2012 compared with year
ended 31 December 2011
Attributable equivalent gold production for the continuing
operations decreased marginally from 2.04 million ounces for
the year ended December 2011 to 2.03 million ounces for the
year ended December 2012.
Revenue from continuing operations increased by 14 per cent
from R25,264 million (US$3,499 million) to R28,916 million
(US$3,531 million).
Net operating costs for continuing operations increased by 25
per cent from R10,904 million (US$1,510 million) to R13,620
million (US$1,663 million). Half of this increase (R1,341 million
or US$164 million) was due to the exchange rate effect of the
weaker rand. Total cash cost for continuing operations
increased from R161,548 per kilogram (US$696 per ounce) to
R206,531 per kilogram (US$784 per ounce) due to a decrease
in gold sales and the increase in net operating costs.
Operating profit for continuing operations increased from
R14,360 million to R15,296 million, but decreased in dollar
terms from US$1,989 million to US$1,868 million due to the
stronger dollar exchange rate.
Amortisation increased from R3,377 million (US$468 million) in
2011 to R4,094 million (US$500 million) in 2012. This increase
was mainly due to an increase in the asset base of the
international operations.
Net interest paid for the Group was similar at R295 million
(US$36 million).
The loss on share of results of associates after taxation
increased from R6 million (US$1 million) in 2011 to R407
million (US$50 million) in 2012. These related to profits on the
Group’s interest in Rand Refinery partially offset by costs
incurred on the ongoing study and evaluation costs at the Far
Southeast project (FSE). Costs relating to FSE were reported
under feasibility and evaluation costs prior to the June 2012
quarter.
The gains and losses on foreign exchange related to the
conversion of offshore cash holdings into their functional
currencies, as well as exchange gains and losses on inter-
company loans. The loss of R113 million (US$14 million) in
2012 compared with a gain of R66 million (US$9 million) in
2011.
The loss on financial instruments of R5 million (US$1 million)
in 2012 compared with a gain of R30 million (US$4 million) in
2011. These gains and losses related to mark to market gains
and losses on Australia’s diesel hedge.
Share-based payments increased from R241 million (US$33
million) to R373 million (US$46 million) due to the net effect of
allocation charges for new share-based compensation granted.
Other costs decreased from R195 million (US$27 million) to
R150 million (US$19 million) mainly due to transaction costs
incurred on the buy-out of non-controlling interest holders in
Ghana and Peru during 2011.
Exploration expenditure, all of which related to continuing
operations increased from R832 million (US$115 million) to
R1,053 million (US$129 million) mainly due to an increase in
exploration projects and activity.
Feasibility and evaluation costs, all of which related to
continuing operations increased from R126 million (US$17
million) to R361 million (US$44 million) mainly due to core
development and strategic costs previously included in
exploration costs.
Non-recurring costs for continuing operations of R993 million
(US$121 million) for the year ended 2012 compared with R202
million (US$28 million) for the year ended 2011. Non-recurring
costs included: voluntary separation packages (R244 million),
Business process re-engineering costs (R173 million) and
impairment costs at Tarkwa (R37 million), St Ives (R475
million) and Agnew (R199 million). The non-recurring costs
were partially offset by a profit on the disposal of the Group’s
interest in GoldQuest Mining Corporation and Atacama Pacific
Gold Corporation which amounted to R239 million (US$30
million), partially offset by a loss of R13 million (US$2 million)
on the sale of the Group’s interest in Evolution Mining Limited,
resulting in a net profit of R226 million (US$28 million).
Government royalties for continuing operations increased from
R792 million (US$110 million) for the year ended 2011 to R956
million (US$117 million) for the year ended 2012 as a result of
the increase in revenue and an increase in the royalty rate at
Tarkwa and Damang, from 3 per cent to 5 per cent with effect
from 1 April 2011.
Taxation for continuing operations increased from R3,101
million (US$430 million) for the year ended 2011 to R3,718
million (US$454 million) for the year ended 2012 due to the
increase in the rate at the Ghanaian operations from 25 per
cent to 35 per cent from 8 March 2012. The effect of these
changes was a deferred tax charge in Ghana of R737 million
(US$95 million).
Net earnings from continuing operations attributable to owners
of the parent amounted to R2,507 million (US$306 million),
compared with earnings of R4,513 million (US$625 million) for
the year ended 2011.
Normalised earnings from continuing operations amounted to
R3,668 million (US$447 million) for the year ended 2012,
compared with R4,582 million (US$635 million) for the year
ended 2011.