3
Chief Executive Officer’s Review
In the second quarter of financial year 2012, Harmony generated a
record operating profit of R2 billion (US$257 million) and recorded
its 5th consecutive quarter of operating cash flow. These results were
achieved due to a continued focus on improving grade quality and
controlling costs during a period when the gold price remained strong,
but volatile. An interim dividend of ZAR0.40 cents has been declared.
Harmony remains focused on its long term strategic goal of achieving
sustainable profitability and delivering shareholder value.
Some key financial highlights for the period are listed below:
•
Record operating profits of R2.1bn (US$257m);
•
Record headline earnings of R1.0bn (US$129m)
–
155% increase in HEPS at 242 SA cents (30 US cents);
•
Gold production up by 5% to 10 718kg (344 592oz)
–
recovery grade increased by 13% at 2.36g/t;
•
Cash operating costs reduced by 6% to R249 356/kg (US$958/oz);
•
Interim dividend declared of ZAR0.40 per share
Safety
Harmony is committed to improving the safety of its workers with an
ultimate target of zero harm to all. It is therefore with regret that I
report that seven of our colleagues died in work-related incidents
during the quarter. Those who died were: Domingos Chivure (team
leader, Evander), Petrus Steyn and Willem Momberg (both proto
team members, Evander), Sipho Makhoba (engineering assistant,
Kusasalethu), Mzwabantu Wanga (engineering assistant, Evander)
and Simiao Macuacua (water jet operator, Kusasalethu) and Tefayo
Bhambatha (water jet operator, Tshepong). I would like to extend my
deepest condolences to their families, friends and colleagues.
As part of the drive to stop repetitive accidents, risk assessments have
been re-emphasized throughout the company. As part of our short
term safety strategy more focus will be placed on the prevention of
fall of ground, trucks and tramming accidents and the elimination of
silicosis. Please see page 4 for more information on safety and health.
Operational review
Gold production increased by 511kg in the December 2011 quarter to
10 718kg, compared to 10 207kg in the September 2011 quarter. The
increase in production is mainly due to the following:
•
Tshepong: grade increased by 23% (4.12g/t to 5.08g/t), tonnes
milled increased by 7% from 287 000 tonnes to 306 000 tonnes;
•
Phakisa: tonnes milled increased by 12% to 126 000 tonnes,
with a 12% improvement in grade from 4.65g/t to 5.22g/t in
December 2011 quarter;
•
Unisel: grade increased by 25% from 3.70g/t to 4.62g/t; tonnes
milled improved by 9% to 100 000 tonnes;
•
Masimong: showed a 12% improvement in grade from 3.43g/t in
the September 2011 quarter to 3.85g/t in December 2011 quarter;
•
Target 1: grade improved by 10% from 4.47g/t to 4.91g/t;
•
Steyn 2: continued to build up production;
•
Target 3: showed a marked improvement in grade of 26% from
3.09g/t to 3.89g/t in the quarter under review;
•
Hidden Valley: gold production increased by 3% to 816kg gold
while silver production increased by 25% to 8 552kg.
The following operations recorded a decrease in production:
•
Kusasalethu: safety stoppages (due to two fatal accidents) resulted
in a 23% decrease in tonnes milled;
•
Bambanani: restructuring of the shaft resulted in a decrease of 73%
in tonnes milled
Financial performance
Quarter on quarter
Cash operating costs decreased by 6% from R265 288/kg in the
September 2011 quarter to R249 356/kg in the past quarter, mainly
due to a 5% increase in gold produced.
The gold price received increased by 11% from R396 405/kg in the
previous quarter to R438 183/kg in the December 2011 quarter.
An increase in production and a higher gold price resulted in revenue
increasing by 23% or R891 million.
Total capital expenditure for the December 2011 quarter was
R782 million, a 12% (R82 million) increase in comparison to the
September 2011 quarter (R700 million). We expect the latter part of
the year to be more capital intensive and maintain our expectation
of full year capital of R3.7 billion.
Operating profit for the December 2011 quarter increased by
R771 million or 59% to R2 077 million, compared to R1 306 million
recorded in the September 2011 quarter.
Six months ended December 2011 vs six months ended December 2010
Gold production increased by 2% at 20 925kg in the six months
ended December 2011 when compared to the six months ended
December 2010. The gold price received increased by 42% from
R295 069/kg in the previous period to R418 381/kg in the six months
ended December 2011. An increase in production and a higher gold
price resulted in revenue increasing by R2 676 million or 44%.
Cash operating costs increased by 15% from R222 787/kg in the
six months ended December 2010 to R257 114/kg in the past
six months to December 2011, mainly due to increases in electricity and
inflation driven costs.
Operating profit for the six months ended December 2011 increased by
123% to R3 383 million, compared to R1 519 million recorded in the
December 2010 period.
Optimising our asset portfolio
Evander
On 30 January 2012 Harmony announced that it had signed a sale
of shares and claims agreement (“the agreement”) with a consortium
comprised of Pan African Resources plc (“Pan African”) and
Witwatersrand Consolidated Gold Resources Limited (“Wits Gold”)
(the “Consortium”), for the disposal of Harmony’s entire interest in
Evander Gold Mines Limited (Evander), with effect from the closing date.
The purchase consideration of R1.7 billion, less certain distributions
made by Evander to Harmony between 1 April 2012 and the closing
date of the Transaction (“Closing Date”) will be payable as follows:
•
R1.4 billion less certain distributions made by Evander to Harmony
between 1 April 2012 and the Closing Date of the Transaction;
•
four cash payments of R25 million each, payable quarterly and
commencing three months after the Closing Date, amounting to
R100 million in the aggregate;