16
| Gold Fields Results
At Agnew, net operating costs decreased by 3 per cent from
A$146 million (US$151 million) to A$141 million (US$136 million)
due to cost saving initiatives arising from mining only the Kim ore
body, partially offset by additional costs from Lawlers (A$21
million; US$20 million). Net operating costs at Darlot and Granny
Smith amounted to A$21 million (US$20 million) and A$47 million
(US$45 million), respectively. Total cash cost for the region
decreased by 3 per cent from A$819 per ounce (US$849 per
ounce) to A$796 per ounce (US$770 per ounce) due to the
increase in production, partially offset by the increase in net
operating costs. All-in sustaining costs and total all-in cost for the
region amounted to A$1,130 per ounce (US$1,094 per ounce) in
2013.
Operating profit decreased from US$1,879 million (R15,387
million) to US$1,239 million (R11,899 million) as a result of the
above.
Net interest paid increased from US$36 million (R295 million) to
US$59 million (R563 million) due to an increase in borrowings.
The loss on share of equity accounted earnings after taxation
decreased from US$50 million (R407 million) to US$18 million
(R177 million) and related to the ongoing study and evaluation
costs at the Far Southeast project (FSE). This decrease reflects
the Group’s decision in May 2013 to deliberately cut back on
Growth and International Projects’ expenditure.
Exploration expenditure, which is all greenfields expenditure
(brownfields expenditure is capitalised), decreased from US$129
million (R1,053 million) to US$66 million (R633 million) due to the
Group’s decision to deliberately reduce expenditure on
exploration activities.
Feasibility and evaluation costs increased from US$44 million
(R361 million) to US$48 million (R458 million) due to increased
activity at Yanfolila in 2013.
Non-recurring costs of US$902 million (R9,221 million) in 2013
compared with US$121 million (R993 million) in 2012. The non-
recurring expenses in 2013 included mainly operating asset
impairments of A$297 million (R2.7 billion) at St Ives, US$173
million (R1.8 billion) at Damang and US$51 million (R531 million)
at Tarkwa.
In addition the following were impaired during 2013:
US$126 million (R1,275 million) was impaired at Tarkwa and
· Damang in the June quarter. This impairment comprised the
Tarkwa North heap leach inventory of US$43 million
(R435 million) and all associated Heap leach assets of
US$67 million (R677 million) as well as run of mine stockpiles
of US$16 million (R163 million) at Damang;
· US$90 million (R928 million) at the Arctic Platinum project (APP)
and US$30 million (R307 million) at Yanfolila. A decision was
made to dispose of these projects and they were reclassified as
held for sale;
· US$44 million (R451 million) at Tarkwa on various assets as
described earlier;
· US$10 million (R107 million) related to impairment of the oxide
heap leach project expenditure at Cerro Corona;
· US$10 million (R98 million) related to the impairment of the
Group’s option payment to Bezant (due to the Group’s decision
not to pursue the Guinaoang deposit); and
· US$9 million (R83 million) related to the impairment of the Group
investment in Orsu Metals Corporation.
Non-recurring items also included restructuring costs across the
Group of US$39 million (R378 million), transaction costs of US$27
million (R264 million) on the acquisition of the Yilgarn South
assets, a gain of US$13 million (R124 million) on the sale of
7,820,169 shares in Northam Platinum Limited and US$5 million
(R45 million) on the sale of the Group’s interest in Talas.
The non-recurring costs in 2012 included: voluntary separations
packages of US$30 million (R244 million), business process re-
engineering costs of US$21 million (R173 million), impairment
costs of US$5 million (R37 million) at Tarkwa, US$24 million
(R199 million) at Agnew and US$58 million (R475 million) at St
Ives. The non-recurring costs were partially offset by income
received of US$28 million (R226 million) on the disposal of the
Group’s interest in GoldQuest Mining Corporation, Atacama
Pacific Gold Corporation and Evolution Mining Limited.
Government royalties decreased from US$117 million (R956
million) in 2012 to US$91 million (R869 million) in 2013 as a result
of lower revenue.
The taxation credit of US$20 million (R315 million) in 2013 as a
result of lower profit before taxation compared with a charge of
US$457 million (R3,740 million) in 2012.
Net losses of US$584 million (R6,020 million) in 2013 compared
with net earnings of US$317 million (R2,592 million) in 2012.
Normalised earnings of US$58 million (R561 million) in 2013
compared with normalised earnings of US$409 million (R3,346
million) in 2012.
Cash flow
Cash inflow from operating activities for continuing operations of
US$499 million (R4,847 million) in 2013 compared with US$943
million (R7,715 million) in 2012. This decrease was mainly due to
lower operating profit partially offset by lower royalties and
taxation paid and a working capital inflow in 2013 compared with
an outflow in 2012.
Cash outflows from investing activities for continuing operations
decreased from US$1,280 million (R10,423 million) to US$860
million (R8,312 million).
Capital expenditure decreased from US$1,222 million (R10,002
million) in 2012 to US$739 million (R7,097 million) in 2013 due to
a deliberate cut back in response to the lower gold price. At the
South Africa region, capital expenditure at South Deep decreased
from R2,576 million (US$315 million) to R1,943 million (US$202
million) largely in line with the build-up plan. Proceeds on disposal
of assets of US$10 million (R100 milion) related to the sale of the
Vivienne exploration asset at Agnew.
At the West Africa region, capital expenditure decreased from
US$352 million to US$257 million mainly due to a decrease in
capital waste strip at both Tarkwa and Damang and lower capital
expenditure on mining fleet at Tarkwa. In South America, at
Cerro Corona, capital expenditure decreased from US$94 million
to US$56 million due to lower expenditure on the tailings storage
facility. At the Australia region, capital expenditure decreased
from A$358 million (US$371 million) to A$200 million (US$194
million) mainly at St Ives due to lower expenditure on mining fleet,
as well as lower expenditure on construction of the tailings
storage facility and mine development. This was partially offset by
capital expenditure of A$18 million at the Yilgarn South assets.
Investing activities (excluding net capital expenditure) in 2013
amounted to US$131 million (R1,315 million) compared with
US$60 million (R433 million) in 2012. Investing activities in 2013
included:
· A US$10 million (R91 million) payment to Bezant relating to the
purchase of an associate stake in Bezant Resources PLC for
US$8 million (R68 million) together with a second non-refundable
payment for the option agreement relating to the Guinaoang
deposit of US$2 million (R23 million);
· The buy-out of non-controlling interest holders at La Cima of
US$13 million (R122 million) representing 0.9 per cent of the
issued shares of Gold Fields La Cima, taking the Group’s holding
to 99.5 per cent. La Cima was delisted on 24 September 2013;
· A payment for the Yilgarn South assets purchase of US$135
million (R1,367 million) related to the acquisition of the Granny
Smith, Lawlers and Darlot gold mines;
· Proceeds on the disposal of investments of US$35 million (R341
million) in 2013 related to the sale of 7,820,169 shares in Northam
Platinum Limited;
· Environmental payments of US$4 million (R43 million); and
· The purchase of investments of US$4 million (R33 million).