Kinross Gold Sells Stake in Brazilian Mine (Serra Grande ) to AngloGold Ashanti For $220 Million

SOUTH AFRICA – AngloGold Ashanti has 20 operations in 10 countries on four continents, as well as several exploration programmes in both the established and new gold producing regions of the world. Production for the three months to 31 March 2012 was 981,000oz at a total cash cost of $794/oz. This compares with production of 1.039Moz at $706/oz in the first quarter of 2011 and guidance of 1.03Moz at total cash costs of between $820/oz and $835/oz.

Gold production for the second quarter of 2012 is estimated at 1.04Moz. Total cash costs are estimated at between $840-$845/oz.

AngloGold Ashanti, which currently holds, through its subsidiaries, a 50% interest in the Serra Grande (Crixs) mine in Brazil, has agreed to acquire the remaining 50% stake in the mine from Kinross Gold Corporation (Kinross) for US$220 million in cash (the transaction). The transaction is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2012. The transaction will be funded from existing cash reserves and debt facilities and remains subject to various conditions, detailed below.

In 2011, the Serra Grande mine produced 134,000oz of gold at a cash cost of US$767/oz. The Serra Grande operation comprises three underground mines, namely Mina III, Mina Nova and Mina Palmeiras, and one open pit mine on the outcrop of the Mina III mineralised zone (between surface and level 50) as well as a single dedicated processing plant. To date the Serra Grande mine, which is operated by AngloGold Ashanti, has produced 3.4Moz of gold.

The acquisition, which will entitle AngloGold Ashanti to 100% production from Serra Grande, is expected to increase AngloGold Ashantis annual attributable production from Brazil to well in excess of 500,000oz and the contribution from the Americas region as whole to more than 1Moz.

The transaction is expected to provide a number of benefits to AngloGold Ashanti, including:

• Enhancing AngloGold Ashantis production, Ore Reserve and Mineral Resource profiles by approximately 70,000oz a year, 375,000oz and 1.186Moz respectively;
• Making a positive contribution toward AngloGold Ashantis near term gold production profile in Brazil, which the company views as a key jurisdiction in its portfolio. Annual production from AngloGold Ashantis Brazilian operations is expected to increase from 428,000oz in 2011 to between 540,000oz to 550,000oz whilst annual gold production in the Americas region is projected to increase to more than 1Moz per annum;
• Securing 100% ownership of the Serra Grande mine in AngloGold Ashantis hands with no concomitant increase in management costs; and
• Providing AngloGold Ashanti with full exposure to further exploration potential at the Serra Grande mine, where more than 1.0Moz of Mineral Resources have been added over the past four years. AngloGold Ashanti anticipates that these additional resources and the exploration potential that exists at the site create the opportunity to further extend the life of Serra Grande

“This deal further simplifies our portfolio and gives us greater exposure to Brazil, where weve had significant success in growing our production as well as our reserve and resource base, Mark Cutifani, AngloGold Ashantis Chief Executive Officer, said. We see long-term, lower risk, potential from Serra Grande, which is a key component of our strategy to grow the contribution from the Americas.”

Terms of the Transaction

Under the terms of the transaction, AngloGold Ashantis wholly owned subsidiary, AngloGold Ashanti Brasil Minerao Ltda. will acquire Kinross 50% interest in Minerao Serra Grande S.A. (MSG), the principal asset of which is the Serra Grande mine, from Newinco Comrcio e Partcipaes Ltda (Newinco) a subsidiary of Kinross which holds its 50% interest in MSG. Newinco has provided customary warranties and indemnities in respect of its 50% share of certain tax claims against MSG. Kinross has provided a parent guarantee in respect of the obligations of Newinco under the transaction agreements.

The parties are required to file a notification of the transaction with the Brazilian anti-trust authorities. The transaction is also subject to the fulfilment of various conditions, including:

• the unconditional approval of the South African Reserve Bank of the transaction, in accordance with the Exchange Control Regulations of the Republic of South Africa; and
• no material adverse event (as defined in the transaction agreement) having occurred.

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Posted by WoodlawnPost on May 29 2012. Filed under Africa, Investments, S. America. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.