TIDMAGD
AngloGold Ashanti Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa Reg. No. 1944/017354/06)
ISIN No. ZAE000043485 - JSE share code: ANG CUSIP: 035128206 - NYSE share
code: AU
Website: www.anglogoldashanti.com
NEWS RELEASE
26 October 2012
AngloGold Ashanti West Wits Employees Start to Return to Work
(Johannesburg) - AngloGold Ashanti 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.
About AngloGold Ashanti's South African Operations and the Current Strike
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
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Contacts
Media
Alan Fine +27-11 637- 6383 / +27 (0) 83 250
0757 afine@anglogoldashanti.com
Chris Nthite +27 (0) 11 637 6388/+27 (0) 83 301
2481 cnthite@anglogoldashanti.com
Stewart Bailey +1 646 338 4337/ +1 212 858-7702 / +27 83
253 2021 sbailey@anglogoldashanti.com
General inquiries +27 11 637 6031
media@anglogoldashanti.com
Investors
Stewart Bailey +1 646 338 4337/ +1 212 858-7702 / +27 83
253 2021 sbailey@anglogoldashanti.com
Sabrina Brockman (US & Canada) +1 (212) 858 7702 / +1 646 379
2555 sbrockman@anglogoldashanti.com
Mike Bedford (UK & Europe) +44 779 497 7881 / +44 1225 93
8483 mbedford@anglogoldashanti.com
General inquiries +27 11 637 6059
investors@anglogoldashanti.com
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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