14
ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI LIMITED
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
MARCH 31, 2008 …continued
Prepared in accordance with US GAAP
Note L. Recent developments
Announcements made after March 31, 2008:
On February 14, 2008, AngloGold Ashanti announced that it had entered into a binding
memorandum of agreement (MOA) with B2Gold Corp. (B2Gold). The MOA provides for the existing
Colombian joint venture agreements between AngloGold Ashanti and B2Gold to be amended to
provide that B2Gold acquire from AngloGold Ashanti additional interest in certain mineral properties
in Colombia. In exchange, B2Gold would issue to AngloGold Ashanti 25 million common shares and
21.4 million common share purchase warrants in B2Gold. Subsequently, the transaction was
finalized, as announced by AngloGold Ashanti on May 16, 2008.
On April 14, 2008, it was announced that, following the stabilization of power provided by Eskom (the
South African electricity supply body) to the South African operations during the quarter, AngloGold
Ashanti forecast the first quarter production to be approximately 1.19 million ounces. The revised
production outlook was approximately 8 percent above guidance provided in the fourth quarter of
2007. AngloGold Ashanti had also fully delivered into maturing hedge contracts during the quarter.
On January 25, 2008, the South African national power supplier, Eskom, had communicated that it
could not guarantee power supply to AngloGold Ashanti’s South African operations. Precautionary
steps were taken for the safety of employees, including ceasing the transportation of employees
underground to carry-out mining activities and the cessation of milling activities. Following extensive
discussions with Eskom and the South African government, Eskom agreed to guarantee a power
supply equivalent to 90 percent of previous supply and undertook to more reliably warn companies
when power outages may occur. Mining operations resumed on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 at
AngloGold Ashanti’s South African mines and in late March 2008, Eskom increased power supply to
96.5 percent of previous levels. At these power levels and as a result of the Company’s previously
implemented and ongoing initiatives to improve its energy efficiencies, the Company has been able
to restore production back to 100 percent of previous capacity. Since 2004, AngloGold Ashanti and
Eskom have undertaken and committed funds and other resources to various initiatives to improve
energy efficiencies and reduce power consumption at AngloGold Ashanti’s South African mines.
These combined efforts have res ulted in a decline in the use of electricity, fuel and coal and have to
date achieved a 17 percent improvement in energy efficiencies at the Company’s South African
operations. AngloGold Ashanti views these initiatives as being important not only in the light of power
shortages and related disruption to its mining operations but also in that it anticipates that these
initiatives will assist in managing future operating cost increases in the light of anticipated increases
in unit electrical power, fuel and other energy costs.
On May 6, 2008, AngloGold Ashanti announced that it intends to proceed, subject to certain
conditions, with an approximate one-for-four renounceable rights offer. The final terms of the
proposed rights offer, which were announced on May 21, 2008, would result in AngloGold Ashanti
issuing approximately 69.4 million shares at a subscription price of ZAR194.00 and in the ratio of
24.6403 rights offer shares for every 100 AngloGold Ashanti shares held raising approximately
ZAR13.48 billion ($1.77 billion based on an exchange rate of ZAR7.63/$1.00 on May 20, 2008). The
proposed rights offer is being fully underwritten subject to certain customary conditions. The
proposed rights offer will materially change the number of common shares in issue. The proposed
rights offer was approved at a general meeting of AngloGold Ashanti shareholders held on
May 22, 2008. The principal purpose of the rights offer is to provide AngloGold Ashanti with
additional financial resources to improve its financial flexibility. In particular, the net proceeds from
the rights offer will allow AngloGold Ashanti both to significantly restructure and reduce its existing
gold hedging position, which has adversely affected its financial performance in recent years, while
also being able to continue to fund its principal development projects and exploration growth
initiatives. Pending this use of proceeds, the net proceeds of the rights offer may, in the interim, be
used by AngloGold Ashanti to reduce its short-term borrowings and the borrowings outstanding on
AngloGold Ashanti’s revolving credit facility or retained as cash and invested in accordance with
AngloGold Ashanti’s cash management policies.
Note M. Declaration of dividends
On February 6, 2008, AngloGold Ashanti declared a final dividend of 53 South African cents
(6.606 US cents) per ordinary share for the year ended December 31, 2007 with a record date of
February 29, 2008 and payment dates of March 7, 2008 for holders of ordinary shares and CDIs,
March 10, 2008 for holders of GhDSs and March 17, 2008 for holders of ADSs. In addition, on
February 6, 2008 AngloGold Ashanti declared a dividend of 26.5 South African cents (3 US cents)
per E ordinary share, payable on March 7, 2008 to employees participating in the Bokamoso ESOP
and Izingwe Holdings (Proprietary) Limited. In addition to the cash dividend, an amount equal to the
dividend paid to holders of E ordinary shares will be offset when calculating the strike price of E
ordinary shares.
Each CDI represents one-fifth of an ordinary share and 100 GhDSs represents one ordinary share.
Each ADS represents one ordinary share.