Gold Fields Results
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stage dealing with what they describe as common legal and
factual issues regarding the claim arising for the entire class.
If the applicants are successful in the second leg, they
envisage that individual members of the class could later
submit individual claims for damages against Gold Fields.
The application does not identify the number of claims that will
be instituted against Gold Fields or the quantum of damages
the applicants may seek.
Gold Fields has 10 court days to decide whether to oppose
the application and thereafter, in the usual course of action, a
further 15 court days to file papers opposing the application.
Gold Fields and its lawyers are busy studying the application
and will in due course decide how to respond.
Dividend policy
During the quarter, Gold Fields restated its dividend policy.
Previously, dividend payments were based on 50 per cent of
earnings attributable to owners of the parent adjusted for
impairments and after taking account of investment
opportunities. This represented a dividend pay-out of
approximately 32 per cent of normalised earnings over the
past six years (refer table below). The new dividend policy is
to pay a dividend of between 25 and 35 per cent of
normalised earnings. Although this restatement would not
have changed the quantum of the historical dividend pay-out,
it prioritises the payment of a dividend from current cash flows
and crystallises our position as the leading dividend payer in
the industry.
The new policy would have resulted in similar dividend
payments evidenced in the pay-out ratios in the table below
for the past 5 years based on normalised earnings per share.
Year
Normalised
earnings per
share
(ZAR cents)
Dividend per
share
(ZAR cents)
Pay-out %
Interim C2012
550
160
29%
C2011
1,003
330
33%
C2010
530
140
26%
C2009
578
130
22%
C2008
396
150
38%
C2007
313
160
51%
Average
32%
Cash dividend
In line with the company’s new dividend policy to pay a
dividend of between 25 and 35 per cent of normalised
earnings, the Board has approved and declared an interim
dividend number 77 of 160 SA cents per ordinary share
(gross) in respect of the six months ended 30 June 2012. The
interim dividend will be subject to the new Dividends Tax that
was introduced with effect from 1 April 2012. In accordance
with paragraphs 11.17 (a) (i) to (x) and 11.17 (c) of the JSE
Listings Requirements the following additional information is
disclosed:
·
The dividend has been declared out of income reserves;
·
The local Dividends Tax rate is 15% (fifteen per centum);
·
Secondary Tax on Companies (STC) credits of 152,27892 SA
cents per ordinary share have been utilised;
·
The gross local dividend amount is 160 SA cents per ordinary
share for shareholders exempt from the Dividends Tax;
·
The net local dividend amount is 158,84184 SA cents per
ordinary share for shareholders liable to pay the Dividends Tax;
·
Gold Fields currently has 731,488,614 ordinary shares in issue
(included in this number are 729,507,132 shares issued and
listed, 1,125,152 shares issued but not listed for Gold Fields
share incentive schemes as well as 856,330 treasury shares);
·
Gold Fields’ income tax reference number is 9160035607.
Shareholders are advised of the following dates in respect of
the interim dividend:
Last date to trade cum dividend
Friday, 7 September 2012
Sterling and US dollar conversion date
Monday, 10 September 2012
Shares commence trading ex dividend
Monday, 10 September 2012
Record date
Friday, 14 September 2012
Payment of dividend
Monday, 17 September 2012
Share certificates may not be dematerialised or rematerialised
between Monday, 10 September and Friday, 14 September
2012, both dates inclusive.
Outlook
Production in the September quarter has been negatively
impacted by the following:
·
the fire at KDC which reduced production by
approximately 50,000 ounces;
·
the temporary suspension of the heap leach facilities at
Tarkwa which resulted in a loss of 15,000 ounces;
·
internal and external safety stoppages at Beatrix resulted
in a loss of some 20,000 ounces; and
·
at South Deep approximately 15,000 ounces have been
lost to date, which appears to be the result of a go-slow
after issuing of the Section 189 (3) notice.
As a result of the factors described above, attributable gold
production for the year ending December 2012 is expected to
be no more than 3.4 million equivalent ounces and could
reduce further if no agreement is reached at South Deep.
For the year ending December 2012, total cash cost is
estimated to be approximately 2 per cent higher at US$880
per ounce (R230,000 per kilogram) and NCE, excluding
capitalised growth projects, is estimated to be approximately 3
per cent higher at US$1,340 per ounce (R348,000 per
kilogram) when compared with the guidance provided in
February. The capital projects group is anticipating spending
between US$20 per ounce and US$25 per ounce on
realisation costs of projects, including drilling, feasibility
studies and early-work capital expenditure on our advanced
projects. This is well below the original estimate of between
US$50 per ounce and US$70 per ounce due to the timing of
expenditure and deferrals to ensure project optimisation.
These estimates are based on an average exchange rate of
R/US$8.20 and R/A$8.55 for the remainder of the year. Unit
costs vary quarter on quarter depending upon the timing of
capital expenditure, seasonal electricity tariffs and production
variations due to statutory holidays.
The above is subject to safety performance which limits the
impact of safety-related stoppages and the forward looking
statement on pages 2 and 31.
Basis of accounting
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial information
is prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial
Reporting and South African Statements and Interpretations
of Statements of Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (AC
500 series).
The accounting policies and disclosure requirements used in
the preparation of this report are consistent with those applied
in the previous financial year except for the adoption of
applicable revised and/or new standards issued by the
International Accounting Standards Board.
N.J. Holland
Chief Executive Officer
23 August 2012