As filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on October 5, 2004
and the amendment subsequently filed on October 20, 2004
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Form 20-F/A
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
Commission File Number: 001-31545
Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited
Republic of South Africa
Suite No. 1
Private Bag X1
Melrose Arch, 2076
South Africa
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Ordinary shares, with nominal value Rand 50 cents per share*
American Depository Shares
(as evidenced by American Depository Receipts),
each representing one ordinary share
* Not for trading, but only in connection with the registration of American Depository Shares,
pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None
The number of outstanding shares of each of the issuers classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the last full fiscal year covered by this Annual Report was:
320,819,739 ordinary shares, with nominal value of Rand 50 cents per share
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days:
Yes x | No o |
Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:
Item 17 o | Item 18 x |
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EX-13.1: CERTIFICATION | ||||||||
EX-13.2: CERTIFICATION |
2
Use of Terms and Conventions in this Annual Report
Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited is a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of South Africa. As used in this Annual Report on Form 20-F, or this annual report, unless the context otherwise requires, the term Harmony refers to Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited; the term South Africa refers to the Republic of South Africa; the terms we, us and our refer to Harmony and, as applicable, its direct and indirect subsidiaries as a group; the terms South African Government and Government refer to the government of South Africa and, where the context requires, include the South African state.
In this annual report, references to R, Rand, and c, cents are to the South African Rand, the lawful currency of South Africa, A$ refers to Australian dollars, C$ refers to Canadian dollars, GBP refers to British Pounds Sterling and references to $ and U.S. dollars are to United States dollars.
This annual report contains information concerning the gold reserves of Harmony. While this annual report has been prepared in accordance with the definitions contained in Securities and Exchange Commission Guide 7, it is based on assumptions which may prove to be incorrect. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmonys gold reserve figures may yield less gold under actual production conditions than Harmony currently estimates.
This annual report contains descriptions of gold mining and the gold mining industry, including descriptions of geological formations and mining processes. We have explained some of these terms in the glossary included in this annual report beginning on page 145. This glossary may assist you in understanding these terms.
Presentation of financial information
Harmony is a South African company and the majority of its operations are located there. Accordingly, its books of account are maintained in South African Rand and its annual and interim financial statements are prepared in accordance with South African Statements of Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, or S.A. GAAP, as prescribed by law and are based on International Financial Reporting Standards. Harmony also prepares annual financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States or U.S. GAAP, which are translated into U.S. dollars. The financial information included in this annual report has been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and is presented in U.S. dollars. Unless otherwise stated, balance sheet item amounts are translated from Rand to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the last business day of the period (Rand 6.23 per $1.00 as at June 30, 2004), except for specific items included within shareholders equity that are converted at the exchange rate prevailing on the date the transaction was entered into, and income statement item amounts are translated from Rand to U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate for the period (Rand 6.89 per $1.00 for fiscal 2004).
For the convenience of the reader, certain information in this annual report presented in Rand, A$, C$ and has been translated into U.S. dollars. By including convenience currency translations in this annual report, we are not representing that the Rand, A$, C$ and amounts actually represent the U.S. or Australian dollar amounts, as the case may be, shown or that these amounts could be converted in U.S. or Australian dollars, as the case may be, at the rates indicated. Unless otherwise stated, the conversion rate for translations from Rand amounts into U.S. dollar amounts is Rand 6.23 per $1.00, which was the noon buying rate on June 30, 2004.
Forward-looking statements
This annual report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to Harmonys financial condition, results of operations, business strategies, operating efficiencies, competitive positions, growth opportunities for existing services, plans and objectives of management, markets for stock and other matters. In particular, among other statements, certain statements in Item 4. Information on the Company, Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects and Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk are forward-looking in nature. Statements in this annual report that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements for the purpose of the safe harbor provided by Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
3
These forward-looking statements, including, among others, those relating to the future business prospects, revenues and income of Harmony, wherever they may occur in this annual report and the exhibits to this annual report, are necessarily estimates reflecting the best judgment of the senior management of Harmony and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. As a consequence, these forward-looking statements should be considered in light of various important factors, including those set forth in this annual report. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements include, without limitation:
| overall economic and business conditions in South Africa and elsewhere; | |||
| the ability to achieve anticipated efficiencies and other cost savings in connection with past and future acquisitions; | |||
| decreases in the market price of gold; | |||
| the occurrence of hazards associated with underground and surface gold mining; | |||
| the occurrence of labor disruptions; | |||
| availability, terms and deployment of capital; | |||
| changes in government regulation, particularly mining rights and environmental regulation; | |||
| fluctuations in exchange rates; | |||
| currency devaluations and other macroeconomic monetary policies; and | |||
| socio-economic instability in South Africa and regionally. |
Harmony undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this annual report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
4
PART I
Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers
Not applicable.
Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
Not applicable.
Item 3. Key Information
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The selected consolidated financial data below should be read in conjunction with, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and with Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects, both included elsewhere in this annual report.
Selected Historical Consolidated Financial Data
The following selected historical consolidated financial data for the last five fiscal years has been extracted from the more detailed information and financial statements, including Harmonys audited consolidated financial statements for each of the years in the three years ended June 30, 2004 and at June 30, 2004 and 2003 and the related notes, which appear elsewhere in this annual report. The historical consolidated financial data at June 30, 2002, 2001 and 2000, and for each of the years in the two years ended June 30, 2000 and 2001, has been extracted from Harmonys audited consolidated financial statements not included in this annual report.
5
The audited financial information included in this annual report has been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, |
||||||||||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
||||||||||||||||
(in $ thousands, except per share amounts) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Income statement data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
1,283,056 | 782,945 | 696,840 | 607,220 | 490,651 | |||||||||||||||
Operating income |
71,975 | 182,046 | 206,375 | 88,424 | 72,971 | |||||||||||||||
Equity income of joint venture |
7,918 | 52,843 | 13,176 | | ||||||||||||||||
Equity income/(loss) of associate companies |
2,020 | (1,233 | ) | (473 | ) | | 1,401 | |||||||||||||
Income before taxes and
minority interests |
(74,568 | ) | 97,515 | 103,659 | 29,804 | 73,489 | ||||||||||||||
Minority interests |
1,281 | (468 | ) | (1,575 | ) | (349 | ) | (2,910 | ) | |||||||||||
Income/ (loss) before cumulative
effect of change in accounting
principles |
(31,403 | ) | 71,792 | 87,716 | 14,830 | 57,030 | ||||||||||||||
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principles, net of tax1 |
| 14,770 | | (5,822 | ) | | ||||||||||||||
Net income |
(31,403 | ) | 86,562 | 87,716 | 9,008 | 57,030 | ||||||||||||||
Basic earnings per share ($)
before cumulative effect of
change in accounting principles |
(0.12 | ) | 0.40 | 0.57 | 0.15 | 0.68 | ||||||||||||||
Basic earnings per share ($) |
(0.12 | ) | 0.49 | 0.57 | 0.09 | 0.68 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted earnings per share
before cumulative effect of
change in accounting principles |
(0.12 | ) | 0.39 | 0.53 | 0.14 | 0.67 | ||||||||||||||
Diluted earnings per share |
(0.12 | ) | 0.47 | 0.53 | 0.09 | 0.67 | ||||||||||||||
Weighted average number of
shares used in the computation
of basic earnings per share |
254,240,500 | 177,954,245 | 153,509,862 | 102,156,205 | 83,593,424 | |||||||||||||||
Weighted average number of
shares used in the computation
of diluted earnings per share |
254,240,500 | 182,721,629 | 165,217,088 | 105,504,328 | 85,590,876 | |||||||||||||||
Cash dividends per share ($) |
0.26 | 0.57 | 0.07 | 0.16 | 0.19 | |||||||||||||||
Cash dividends per share (R) |
0.70 | 5.50 | 0.75 | 1.20 | 1.20 | |||||||||||||||
Other financial data |
||||||||||||||||||||
Cash dividends per share ($)2 |
0.05 | 0.20 | 0.41 | | | |||||||||||||||
Cash dividends per share (R)2 |
0.30 | 1.50 | 4.25 | | | |||||||||||||||
Cash cost per ounce
of gold ($/oz)3 |
362 | 253 | 196 | 234 | 245 |
1 | As discussed in the consolidated financial statements appearing elsewhere in this annual report, the company changed its method of accounting for mineral and surface use rights during the 2004 fiscal year, its accounting for environmental obligations during the 2003 fiscal year, and its method of accounting for share based compensation during the 2002 fiscal year. | |
2 | Reflects dividends related to fiscal 2004, 2003 and 2002 that were declared on July 30, 2004, August 1, 2003 and August 2, 2002, respectively. | |
3 | Harmony has calculated cash costs per ounce by dividing total cash costs, as determined using the Gold Institute industry standard, by gold ounces sold for all periods presented. The Gold Institute is a non-profit international association of miners, refiners, bullion suppliers and manufacturers of gold products that has developed a uniform format for reporting production costs on a per ounce basis. The standard was first adopted in 1996 and was revised in November 1999. Cash costs, as defined in the Gold Institute standard, include mine production costs, transport and refinery costs, general and administrative costs, costs associated with movements in production inventories and ore stockpiles, costs associated with transfers to deferred stripping and costs associated with royalties. Cash costs have been calculated on a consistent basis for all periods presented. Changes in cash costs per ounce are affected by operational performance, as well as changes in the currency exchange rate between the Rand and the U.S. dollar. Cash costs per ounce is not a U.S. GAAP measure. Cash costs per ounce should not be considered by investors in isolation or as an alternative to net income, income before tax, operating cash flows or any other measure of financial performance presented. While the Gold Institute has provided a definition for the calculation of cash costs per ounce, the calculation of cash costs per ounce may vary from company to company and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. However, Harmony believes that cash costs per ounce is a useful indicator to investors and management of a mining companys performance as it provides (1) an indication of a companys profitability and efficiency, (2) the trends in costs as the companys operations mature, (3) a measure of a companys gross margin per ounce, by comparison of cash costs per ounce to the spot price of gold and (4) an internal benchmark of performance to allow for comparison against other companies. |
6
AT JUNE 30, |
||||||||||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
||||||||||||||||
(in $ thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Balance sheet data | ||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
217,022 | 189,040 | 90,223 | 144,096 | 77,942 | |||||||||||||||
Other current assets |
223,370 | 146,709 | 109,397 | 136,794 | 59,582 | |||||||||||||||
Property,
plant and equipment net |
3,636,773 | 1,121,592 | 812,753 | 667,113 | 557,725 | |||||||||||||||
Goodwill |
32,480 | | | | | |||||||||||||||
Restricted cash |
9,922 | | | | 7,310 | |||||||||||||||
Investments in associates |
19,908 | 63,782 | 42,791 | | | |||||||||||||||
Investment in joint venture |
| 272,754 | 102,578 | | | |||||||||||||||
Other long-term assets |
451,216 | 89,183 | 137,399 | 81,822 | 69,629 | |||||||||||||||
Total assets |
4,590,691 | 1,883,060 | 1,295,141 | 1,029,825 | 772,188 | |||||||||||||||
Current liabilities |
322,632 | 173,890 | 138,677 | 152,886 | 150,148 | |||||||||||||||
Provision for environmental rehabilitation |
125,917 | 62,977 | 63,125 | 53,136 | 52,525 | |||||||||||||||
Provision of social plan |
1,958 | | | | | |||||||||||||||
Deferred income and mining taxes |
558,812 | 209,628 | 99,789 | 47,050 | 48,686 | |||||||||||||||
Provision for post-retirement benefits |
1,584 | 1,017 | 737 | 1,002 | 3,709 | |||||||||||||||
Deferred financial liability |
91,513 | 37,228 | 87,226 | 49,374 | 40,174 | |||||||||||||||
Long-term loans |
509,195 | 301,572 | 152,461 | 151,466 | 46,635 | |||||||||||||||
Preference shares |
| | | 681 | | |||||||||||||||
Minority interest |
| 18,408 | | 331 | | |||||||||||||||
Shareholders equity |
2,979,080 | 1,078,340 | 573,126 | 573,899 | 430,311 | |||||||||||||||
Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
4,590,691 | 1,883,060 | 1,295,141 | 1,029,825 | 772,188 | |||||||||||||||
EXCHANGE RATES
Unless otherwise stated, balance sheet item amounts are translated from Rand to U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the last business day of the period (Rand 6.23 per $1.00 as at June 30, 2004), except for specific items included within shareholders equity that are converted at the exchange rate prevailing on the date the transaction was entered into, and income statement item amounts are translated from Rand to U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate for the period (Rand 6.89 per $1.00 for fiscal 2004).
As of September 29, 2004 the noon buying rate per $1.00 was Rand 6.445.
The following table sets forth, for the past five fiscal years, the average and period end noon buying rates in New York City for cable transfers in Rand and, for the past six months, the high and low noon buying rates in New York City for cable transfers in Rand, in each case, as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York for Rand expressed in Rand per $1.00.
Fiscal year ended June 30, |
Average1 |
Period End |
||||||
2000 |
6.35 | 6.79 | ||||||
2001 |
7.61 | 8.04 | ||||||
2002 |
10.20 | 10.39 | ||||||
2003 |
9.13 | 7.51 | ||||||
2004 |
6.89 | 6.23 |
Month of |
High |
Low |
||||||
April 2004 |
6.94 | 6.27 | ||||||
May 2004 |
7.05 | 6.52 | ||||||
June 2004 |
6.64 | 6.17 | ||||||
July 2004 |
6.34 | 5.91 | ||||||
August 2004 |
6.74 | 6.09 | ||||||
September 2004 (through September 29, 2004) |
6.68 | 6.40 |
Fluctuations in the exchange rate between Rand and the U.S. Dollar will affect the Dollar equivalent of the price of ordinary shares on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, which may affect the market price of the ADSs on the New York Stock Exchange. These fluctuations will also affect the Dollar amounts received by owners of ADSs on the conversion of any dividends paid in Rand on ordinary shares.
1 | The average of the noon buying rates on the last day of each full month during the relevant period. |
7
CAPITALIZATION AND INDEBTEDNESS
Not applicable.
REASONS FOR THE OFFER AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Not applicable.
RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information included in this annual report and the exhibits to this annual report, you should carefully consider the following factors related to an investment in Harmonys ordinary shares and ADSs. There may be additional risks that Harmony does not currently know of or that Harmony currently deems immaterial based on information currently available to it. Any of these risks could have a materially adverse affect on Harmonys business, financial condition or results of operations, resulting in a decline in the trading price of Harmonys ordinary shares (or ADSs).
Due to the fact that the majority of Harmonys production costs are incurred in Rand and that gold is sold in US Dollars, Harmonys results of operations could be materially harmed by an appreciation in the value of the Rand.
Gold is sold throughout the world in US Dollars, but the majority of Harmonys operating costs are incurred in Rand. As a result, any significant and sustained appreciation of Rand against the US Dollar will serve materially to reduce Harmonys Rand revenues and overall net income.
The Rand appreciated significantly against the U.S. dollar during 2003 and most of calendar 2004 following significant depreciation against the U.S. dollar since 1997. Harmonys operating environment has been severely influenced by the strong Rand particularly during fiscal 2004, which has impacted on the companys short-term profitability. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.
The profitability of Harmonys operations, and the cash flows generated by those operations, are affected by changes in the market price for gold, which in the past has fluctuated widely.
Substantially all of Harmonys revenues come from the sale of gold. Historically, the market price for gold has fluctuated widely and has been affected by numerous factors over which Harmony has no control, including:
| the demand for gold industrial uses and for use in jewelry; | |||
| international or regional political and economic trends; | |||
| the strength of the U.S. dollar (the currency in which gold prices generally are quoted) and of other currencies; | |||
| financial market expectations regarding the rate of inflation; | |||
| interest rates; | |||
| speculative activities; | |||
| actual or expected purchases and sales of gold bullion holdings by central banks or other large gold bullion holders or dealers; | |||
| forward sales by gold producers; and | |||
| the production and cost levels for gold in major gold-producing nations, such as South Africa. |
8
In addition, the current demand for and supply of gold affects the price of gold, but not necessarily in the same manner as current demand and supply affect the prices of other commodities. Historically, gold has tended to retain its value in relative terms against basic goods in times of inflation and monetary crisis. As a result, central banks, financial institutions and individuals hold large amounts of gold as a store of value and production in any given year constitutes a very small portion of the total potential supply of gold. Since the potential supply of gold is large relative to mine production in any given year, normal variations in current production will not necessarily have a significant effect on the supply of gold or its price.
The volatility of gold prices is illustrated in the following table, which shows the annual high, low and average of the afternoon London Bullion Market fixing price of gold in U.S. dollars for the past ten years:
Price per Ounce |
||||||||||||
Year |
High |
Low |
Average |
|||||||||
($) | ($) | ($) | ||||||||||
1995 |
396 | 372 | 384 | |||||||||
1996 |
415 | 367 | 388 | |||||||||
1997 |
367 | 283 | 331 | |||||||||
1998 |
313 | 273 | 294 | |||||||||
1999 |
326 | 253 | 279 | |||||||||
2000 |
313 | 264 | 282 | |||||||||
2001 |
293 | 256 | 271 | |||||||||
2002 |
332 | 278 | 309 | |||||||||
2003 |
412 | 322 | 361 | |||||||||
2004 |
427 | 343 | 389 |
On June 30, 2004, the afternoon fixing price of gold on the London Bullion Market was $395.80 per ounce. On September 29, 2004, the afternoon fixing price of gold on the London Bullion Market was $412.95 per ounce.
While the aggregate effect of these factors is impossible for Harmony to predict, if gold prices should fall below Harmonys cost of production and remain at such levels for any sustained period, Harmony may experience losses and may be forced to curtail or suspend some or all of its operations. In addition, Harmony would also have to assess the economic impact of low gold prices on its ability to recover any losses it may incur during that period and on its ability to maintain adequate reserves. Harmonys average cash cost of production per ounce of gold sold was approximately $362 in fiscal 2004, $242 in fiscal 2003 and $196 in fiscal 2002.
Actual or expected sales of gold by central banks have had a significant impact on the price of gold.
Over the past several years, one of the most important factors influencing the gold price has been actual or expected sales of gold reserves by central banks. Since 1997, a number of central banks, including the central banks of Australia, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, have announced plans to sell significant gold reserves, and, more recently, the International Monetary Fund has discussed selling significant gold reserves to fund international debt relief. The gold price has declined following each such announcement and sale, culminating in a drop in the gold price to its lowest level in at least twenty years in July 1999, after the Bank of England completed the first part of its announced sale of more than half of its gold reserves. In September 1999, the central banks of fifteen European countries agreed to limit sales of gold reserves for the next five years to sales announced at that time and to limit gold lending and derivative operations for five years. The announcement of this agreement led to an immediate increase in the price of gold, although the gold price was subsequently subject to downward pressure, around the time of the periodic auctions held by the Bank of England. The agreement by the central banks is voluntary and there are a number of central banks with significant gold reserves that are not subject to the agreement. Any future sales or publicly announced proposed sales by central banks of their gold reserves are likely to result in a decrease in the price of gold.
9
Because Harmony does not use commodity or derivative instruments to protect against low gold prices with respect to most of its production, Harmony is exposed to the impact of any significant drop in the gold price.
As a general rule Harmony sells its gold production at market prices. Since 2001, there have been two instances in which Harmony has made use of gold price hedges: Harmonys forward sale of a portion of the production at Bissett at a set gold price and put options relating to 1 million ounces of Harmonys production at Elandskraal. Both of these hedges were affected by Harmony in order to secure loan facilities and have since been closed out. A significant proportion of the production at Randfontein was already hedged when acquired by Harmony, and these hedges have since been closed out. In addition, a substantial proportion of the production at each of New Hampton and Hill 50 was also hedged when acquired by Harmony and remains hedged. During fiscal 2004 a significant portion, amounting to 500,000 ounces, of these inherited hedge agreements were closed out, at a cost of US$15 million. The outstanding agreements do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting and the mark-to-market movement will be reflected in the income statement. Harmony also inherited forward exchange contracts with the acquisition of Avgold in May 2004. Harmony generally does not enter into forward sales, derivatives or other hedging arrangements to establish a price in advance for the sale of its future gold production. See Item 4. Information on the Company Business Hedge Policy and Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk Commodity Price Sensitivity. In general, hedging in this manner reduces the risk of exposure to volatility in the gold price. Because Harmony does not generally establish a future price for hedged gold, Harmony can realize the positive impact of any increase in the gold price. However, this also means that Harmony is not protected against decreases in the gold price and if the gold price decreases significantly, Harmony runs the risk of reduced revenues in respect of gold production that is not hedged.
Harmonys gold reserve figures are estimated based on a number of assumptions, including assumptions as to mining and recovery factors, future production costs and the price of gold and may yield less gold under actual production conditions that currently estimated.
The ore reserve estimates contained in this annual report are estimates of the mill delivered quantity and grade of gold in Harmonys deposits and stockpiles. They represent the amount of gold which Harmony believes can be mined, processed and sold at prices sufficient to recover its estimated future total costs of production, remaining investment and anticipated additional capital expenditures. Harmony ore reserves are estimated based upon a number of factors, which have been stated in accordance with SEC Industry Guide 7. See Item 4. Information on the Company Business Reserves.
As Harmonys ore reserve estimates are calculated based on estimates of future production costs, future gold prices and, because of the fact that Harmonys gold sales are primarily in US Dollar and Harmony incurs most of its production costs in Rand, the exchange rate between the Rand and the US Dollar and, in the case of Harmonys Australian operations, the Australian Dollar. As a result, the reserve estimates contained in this annual report should not be interpreted as assurances of the economic life of Harmonys gold deposits or the profitability of its future operations.
Since ore reserves are only estimates that Harmony makes based on the above factors, Harmony may in future need to revise these estimates. In particular, if Harmonys production costs increase (whether in Rand terms, in Australian Dollar terms, or in relative terms due to appreciation of the Rand or the Australian Dollar against the US Dollar) or the gold price decreases, a portion of Harmonys ore reserves may become uneconomical to recover. This will force Harmony to lower its estimated reserves.
Harmonys strategy depends on its ability to make additional acquisitions.
In order to increase Harmonys gold production and to acquire additional reserves, Harmony continuously explores opportunities to expand its production base by acquiring selected gold producers and mining operations. However, Harmony cannot guarantee that:
| it will be able to identify appropriate acquisition candidates or negotiate acquisitions on favorable terms; | |||
| it will be able to obtain the financing necessary to complete future acquisitions; or | |||
| the issuance of Harmonys ordinary shares or other securities in connection with any future acquisition will not result in a substantial dilution in ownership interests of holders of Harmonys ordinary shares. |
10
As at June 30, 2004, Harmonys mining operations reported total proven and probable reserves of 62,3 million ounces. If Harmony is unable to acquire additional gold producers or generate additional proven and probable reserves at Harmonys existing operations or through its exploration activities, Harmony cannot be certain that it will be able to expand or replace its current production with new reserves in an amount sufficient to its mining operations beyond the current life of its reserves.
To maintain gold production beyond the expected lives of Harmonys existing mines or to increase production materially above projected levels, Harmony will need to access additional reserves through development or discovery.
Harmonys operations have limited proven and probable reserves and exploration and discovery is necessary to maintain current gold production levels at these operations. Exploration for gold and other precious metals is speculative in nature, is frequently unsuccessful and involves many risks, including risks related to:
| locating ore bodies; | |||
| identifying the metallurgical properties of ore bodies; | |||
| estimating the economic feasibility of mining ore bodies; | |||
| developing appropriate metallurgical processes; | |||
| obtaining necessary governmental permits; and | |||
| constructing mining and processing facilities at any site chosen for mining. |
Harmonys exploration efforts might not result in the discovery of mineralization and any mineralization discovered might not result in an increase in Harmonys proven and probable reserves. To access additional reserves in South Africa, Harmony will need to successfully complete development projects, including extending existing mines and, possibly, developing new mines. Development projects would also be necessary to access any mineralization discovered through exploration in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Peru or elsewhere. Harmony typically uses feasibility studies to determine whether or not to undertake significant development projects. Feasibility studies include estimates of expected or anticipated economic returns, which are based on assumptions about:
| future gold and other metal prices; | |||
| anticipated tonnage, grades and metallurgical characteristics of ore to be mined and processed; | |||
| anticipated recovery rates of gold and other metals from the ore, and | |||
| anticipated total costs of the project, including capital expenditure and cash operating costs. |
Actual costs, production and economic returns may differ significantly from those anticipated by Harmonys feasibility studies. Moreover, it can take a number of years from the initial feasibility studies until development is completed and during that time, the economic feasibility of production may change. In addition, there are a number of uncertainties inherent in the development and construction of an extension to an existing mine or any new mine, including:
| the availability and timing of necessary environmental and governmental permits; | |||
| the timing and cost necessary to construct mining and processing facilities, which can be considerable; | |||
| the availability and cost of skilled labor, power, water and other materials; | |||
| the accessibility of transportation and other infrastructure, particularly in remote locations; | |||
| the availability and cost of smelting and refining arrangements; and | |||
| the availability of funds to finance construction and development activities. |
Harmony has addressed growth through the recent expansion of its exploration activities. The company currently maintains a range of focused exploration programs, concentrating on areas not too distant from its operation mines, as well as a number of prospective known gold mineralized regions around the world. During 2004, the bulk of exploration expenditure was allocated to activities in Australia, Papua New Guinea, South Africa and Peru with subordinate expenditure in West Africa and Madagascar. In fiscal 2005, Harmony intends to carry out exploration in South Africa, West Africa, Australia, South America and Papua New Guinea.
However, there is no assurance that any future development projects will extend the life of Harmonys existing mining operations or result in any new commercial mining operations.
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Harmony may experience problems in managing new acquisitions and integrating them with its existing operations.
Acquiring new gold mining operations involves a number of risks including:
| difficulties in assimilating the operations of the acquired business; | |||
| difficulties in maintaining the financial and strategic focus of Harmony while integrating the acquired business; | |||
| problems in implementing uniform standards, controls, procedures and policies; | |||
| increasing pressures on existing management to oversee a rapidly expanding company; and | |||
| to the extent Harmony acquires mining operations outside South Africa or Australia encountering difficulties relating to operating in countries in which Harmony has not previously operated. |
Any difficulties or time delays in achieving successful integration of new acquisitions could have a material adverse effect on Harmonys business, operating results, financial condition and share price.
Due to the nature of mining and the type of gold mines it operates, Harmony faces a material risk of liability, delays and increased production costs from environmental and industrial accidents and pollution.
The business of gold mining by its nature involves significant risks and hazards, including environmental hazards and industrial accidents. In particular, hazards associated with underground mining include:
| rock bursts; | |||
| seismic events; | |||
| underground fires; | |||
| cave-ins or falls of ground; | |||
| discharges of gases and toxic chemicals; | |||
| release of radioactive hazards; | |||
| flooding; | |||
| accidents; and | |||
| other conditions resulting from drilling, blasting and removing and processing material from a deep level mine. |
Hazards associated with open cast mining (also known as open pit mining) include:
| flooding of the open pit; | |||
| collapse of the open pit walls; | |||
| accidents associated with the operation of large open pit mining and rock transportation equipment; and | |||
| accidents associated with the preparation and ignition of large scale open pit blasting operations. |
Hazards associated with waste rock mining include:
| accidents associated with operating a waste dump and rock transportation; and | |||
| production disruptions due to weather. |
Harmony is at risk of experiencing any and all of these environmental or other industrial hazards. The occurrence of any of these hazards could delay production, increase production costs and result in liability.
Harmonys land and mineral rights in South Africa could be subject to land restitution claims which could impose significant costs and burdens.
Harmonys privately held land and mineral rights could be subject to land restitution claims under the Restitution of Land Rights Act 1994, or the Land Claims Act. Under this Act, any person who was dispossessed of rights in land in South Africa as a result of past racially discriminatory laws or practices without payment of just and equitable compensation is granted certain remedies, including the restoration of the land. Under the Land Claims Act, persons entitled to institute a land claim were required to lodge their claims by December 31, 1998. Harmony has not been notified of any land claims, but any claims of which it is notified in the future could have a material adverse effect on Harmonys right to the properties to which the claims relate and, as a result, on Harmonys business, operating results and financial condition.
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The Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Bill, or the Amendment Bill, was published on August 16, 2003. Under the Land Claims Act, the Minister for Agriculture and Land Affairs, or the Land Minister, may not acquire ownership of land for restitution purposes without a court order unless an agreement has been reached between the affected parties. As proposed, the Amendment Bill would entitle the Land Minister to acquire ownership of land for the purpose of restitution or for the benefit of claimants who do not qualify for restitution under the Land Claims Act without a court order and without obtaining the agreement of the affected parties. The state would be required to pay just and equitable compensation to the owner of land thus acquired. If the Amendment Bill becomes effective, there is no guarantee that any of Harmonys privately held land rights could not become subject to acquisition by the state without Harmonys agreement, or that Harmony would be adequately compensated for the loss of its land rights, which could have a negative impact on Harmonys South African operations and therefore an adverse effect on its business, operating results and financial condition.
Harmonys insurance coverage may prove inadequate to satisfy future claims against it.
Harmony has third party liability coverage for most potential liabilities, including environmental liabilities. While Harmony believes that its current insurance coverage for the hazards described above is adequate and consistent with industry practice, Harmony may become subject to liability for pollution or other hazards against which it has not insured or cannot insure, including those in respect of past mining activities. Further, Harmony maintains and intends to continue to maintain, property and liability insurance consistent with industry practice, but such insurance contains exclusions and limitations on coverage. In addition, there can be no assurance that insurance will continue to be available at economically acceptable premiums. As a result, in the future Harmonys insurance coverage may not cover the extent of claims against it for environmental or industrial accidents or pollution.
The results of Harmonys South African operations may be negatively impacted by inflation.
Harmonys operations have not in recent years been materially affected by inflation, however, Harmonys profits and financial condition could be affected adversely in the absence of a concurrent devaluation of the Rand and an increase in the price of gold and, in fact, inflation has had an impact on Harmonys supply contracts. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.
Socio-economic instability in South Africa or regionally may have an adverse effect on Harmonys operations and profits.
Harmony is incorporated and owns significant operations in South Africa. As a result, it is subject to political and economic risks relating to South Africa, which could affect an investment in Harmony. South Africa was transformed into a democracy in 1994, with successful rounds of democratic elections held during 1999 and 2004. Harmony fully supports government policies aimed at redressing the disadvantages suffered by the majority of citizens under previous governments and recognizes that in order to implement these policies, Harmonys operations and profits may be impacted. In addition to political issues, South Africa faces many challenges in overcoming substantial differences in levels of economic development among its people. While South Africa features highly developed and sophisticated business sectors and infrastructure at the core of its economy, large parts of the population do not have access to adequate education, health care, housing and other services, including water and electricity.
The South African government has committed itself to creating a stable, democratic, free-market economy, which it has achieved to a great extent in the past 10 years since the first democratic elections in 1994. It remains cumbersome however, to predict the future political, social and economic direction of South Africa or the manner in which government will attempt to address the countrys inequalities. It is also difficult to predict the impact of addressing these inequalities on Harmonys business. Furthermore, there has been regional political and economic instability in countries north of South Africa, which may have a negative impact on Harmonys ability to manage and operate its South African mines.
Harmonys financial flexibility could be materially constrained by South African currency restrictions.
South Africas exchange control regulations provide for restrictions on exporting capital from South Africa. As a result, Harmonys ability to raise and deploy capital outside South Africa is restricted. In particular, Harmony:
| is generally not permitted to export capital from South Africa or to hold foreign currency without the approval of the South African exchange control authorities; | |||
| is generally required to repatriate to South Africa profits of foreign operations; and | |||
| is limited in its ability to utilize profits of one foreign business to finance operations of a different foreign business. |
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These restrictions could hinder Harmonys normal corporate functioning. While exchange controls have been relaxed in recent years and are continuing to be so relaxed, it is difficult to predict whether or how the South African government will further relax the exchange control regulations in the future.
Since Harmonys South African labor force has substantial trade union participation, Harmony faces the risk of disruption from labor disputes and new South African labor laws.
Despite the history of engagement with the unions, there are periods during which the various stakeholders are unable to agree on dispute resolving processes. Labor disruptive activities, which normally differ in intensity, then become unavoidable. Due to the high level of union membership among Harmonys employees, Harmony is at risk of having, and has experienced in the past, its production stopped for indefinite periods due to strikes and other labor disputes. Significant labor disruptions may have a material adverse effect on our operations and financial condition and we are not able to predict whether we will experience significant labor disputes in the future.
Our production may also be materially affected by labor laws. Since 1995, South African laws relating to labor have changed significantly in ways that affect Harmonys operations. In particular, laws enacted since then which regulate work time, provide for mandatory compensation in the event of termination of employment for operational reasons, and impose large monetary penalties for non-compliance with administrative and reporting requirements in respect of affirmative action policies, could result in significant costs. In addition, future South African legislation and regulations relating to labor may further increase our costs or alter our relationship with our employees. Harmony may continue to experience significant changes in labor law in South Africa over the next several years. For example, the introduction of continued operations, or CONOPS, has led to increased cash costs in certain operations. See Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees Employees Unionized Labor.
HIV/AIDS poses risks to Harmony in terms of productivity and increase costs.
The incidence of HIV/AIDS in South Africa, which is forecast to increase over the next decade, poses risks to Harmony in terms of potentially reduced productivity and increased medical and other costs. Harmony expects that significant increases in the incidence of HIV/AIDS infection and HIV/AIDS-related diseases among the workforce over the next several years may adversely impact on Harmonys operations and financial status. This expectation, however, is based on assumptions about, among other things, infection rates and treatment costs which are subject to material risks and uncertainties beyond Harmonys control. As a result, actual results may differ from the current estimates.
The cost of occupational healthcare services may increase in the future.
Occupational healthcare services are available to Harmonys employees from its existing healthcare facilities. There is a risk that the cost of providing such services could increase in future depending on changes in the nature of underlying legislation and the profile of Harmonys employees. This increased cost, should it transpire, is currently indeterminate. Harmony has embarked on a number of interventions focused on improving the quality of life of Harmonys work force, however, there can be no guarantee that such initiatives will not be adversely affected by increased costs.
Laws governing mineral rights ownership have changed in South Africa recently.
On May 1, 2004, the South African parliament promulgated the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act. The principal objectives set out in the Act are:
| to recognize the internationally accepted right of the state of South Africa to exercise full and permanent sovereignty over all the mineral and petroleum resources within South Africa; | |||
| to give effect to the principle of the States custodianship of the nations mineral and petroleum resources; | |||
| to promote equitable access to South Africas mineral and petroleum resources to all the people of South African and redress the impact of past discrimination; | |||
| to substantially and meaningfully expand opportunities for historically disadvantaged persons, including women, to enter the mineral and petroleum industry and to benefit from the exploitation of South Africas mineral and petroleum resources; | |||
| to promote economic growth and mineral and petroleum resources development in South Africa; | |||
| to promote employment and advance the social and economic welfare of all South Africans; | |||
| to provide security of tenure in respect of prospecting, exploration, mining and production operations; | |||
| to give effect to Section 24 of the South African Constitution by ensuring that South Africas mineral and petroleum resources are developed in an orderly and ecologically sustainable manner while promoting justifiable social and economic development; |
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| to follow the principle that mining companies keep and use their mineral rights, with no expropriation and with guaranteed compensation for mineral rights; and | |||
| to ensure that holders of mining and production rights contribute towards socio-economic development of areas in which they are operating. |
Under the Act, tenure licenses over established operations will be secure for 30 years (and renewable for 30 years thereafter), provided that mining companies obtain new licenses over existing operations within five years of the date of enactment of the Act and fulfill requirements specified in the Broad-Based Socio-Economic Empowerment Charter for the South African mining industry, or the Mining Charter.
The principles contained in the Mining Charter relate to the transfer of 26 percent of South Africas mining assets to historically disadvantaged South Africans, over a 10-year period, as defined in the Mining Charter. Under the Mining Charter, the South African mining industry has committed to securing financing to fund participation of historically disadvantaged South Africans in an amount of R100 billion within the first five years of the Mining Charters tenure. The Mining Charter provides for the review of the participation process after five years to determine what further steps, if any, are needed to achieve the 26 percent target participation. The Mining Charter requires programs for black economic empowerment and the promotion of value-added production, such as jewelry-making and other gold fabrication, in South Africa. The Mining Charter also sets out targets for broad-based black economic empowerment in the areas of human resources, skill development, employment equality, procurement and beneficiation. In addition, the Mining Charter addresses other socio-economic issues, such as migrant labor, housing and living conditions.
Harmony actively carries out mining and exploration activities in all of its material mineral rights areas. Accordingly, we will be eligible to apply for new licenses over its existing operations, provided that we comply with the Mining Charter. Harmony has taken steps to comply with the expected provisions of the Mining Charter, such as promoting value-added production, exploring black empowerment initiatives and increasing worker participation. We expect more costs involved in complying with the Mining Charter, which may have an adverse impact on the profits generated by Harmonys operations in South Africa.
The Act also makes reference to royalties payable to the state in terms of an Act of Parliament, known as the Money Bill, which has been available for public comment, but is not yet in effect. The introduction of the Money Bill will have an adverse impact on the profits generated by Harmonys operations in South Africa. In terms of the draft regulations, royalties would be payable starting in 2009.
In Australia, most mineral rights belong to the government, and mining companies already pay royalties to government based on production. There are, however, limited areas where government granted freehold estates without reserving mineral rights. Harmonys subsidiary, New Hampton, has freehold ownership of its Jubilee mining areas, but the other mineral rights in Harmonys Australian operations belong to the Australian government and are subject to royalty payments. In addition, current Australian law generally requires native title approval to be obtained before a mining license can be granted and mining operations can commence. New Hampton and Hill 50 have approved mining leases for most of their reserves, including all reserves that are currently being mined, and Bendigo has an approved mining license for its current development area. Should New Hampton, Hill 50 or Bendigo desire to expand operations into additional areas under exploration, these operations would need to convert the relevant exploration licenses prior to commencing mining, and that process could require native title approval. There can be no assurance that any approval would be received.
Harmony is subject to extensive environmental regulations.
As a gold mining company, Harmony is subject to extensive environmental regulation. Harmony has experienced and expects to continue to experience increased costs of production arising from compliance with South African environmental laws and regulations where it operates, principally in South Africa and Australia. The Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002, certain other environmental legislation and the administrative policies of the South African government regulate the impact of Harmonys prospecting and mining operations on the environment.
Pursuant to these regulations, upon the suspension, cancellation, termination or lapsing of a prospecting permit or mining authorization in South Africa, Harmony will remain liable for compliance with the provisions of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002, including any rehabilitation obligations. This liability will continue until such time as the South African Department of Minerals and Energy certifies that Harmony has complied with such provisions.
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In the future, Harmony may incur significant costs associated with complying with more stringent requirements imposed under new legislation and regulations. This may include the need to increase and accelerate expenditure on environmental rehabilitations and alter provisions for this expenditure, which could have a material adverse effect on Harmonys results and financial condition.
The South African government has reviewed requirements imposed upon mining companies to ensure environmental restitution. For example, with the introduction of an environmental rights clause in South Africas constitution, a number of environmental legislative reform processes have been initiated. Legislation passed as a result of these initiatives has tended to be materially more onerous than laws previously applied in South Africa. Examples of such legislation include the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002, the National Nuclear Regulator Act 47 of 1999, the National Water Act 36 of 1998 and the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998, which include stringent polluter-pays provisions. The adoption of these or additional or more comprehensive and stringent requirements, in particular with regard to the management of hazardous wastes, the pollution of ground and ground water systems and the duty to rehabilitate closed mines, may result in additional costs and liabilities.
Because the principal non-United States trading market for Harmonys ordinary shares is the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa, investors face liquidity risk in the market for Harmonys ordinary shares.
The principal non-United States trading market for Harmonys ordinary shares is the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa, or the JSE. Historically, trading volumes and liquidity of shares listed on the JSE have been low in comparison with other major markets. The ability of a holder to sell a substantial number of Harmonys ordinary shares on the JSE in a timely manner, especially with regard to a large block trade, may be restricted by the limited liquidity of shares listed on the JSE.
Harmony may not pay cash dividends to its shareholders in the future.
It is the current policy of Harmonys Board to declare and pay cash dividends if profits and funds are available for that purpose. Whether or not funds are available depends on a variety of factors, including the amount of cash available and on capital expenditures and other cash requirements existing at that time. Under South African law, cash dividends may only be paid out of the profits of Harmony. No assurance can be given that cash dividends will be paid in the future.
Harmony non-South African shareholders face additional investment risk from currency exchange rate fluctuations since any dividends will be paid in Rand.
Dividends or distributions with respect to Harmonys ordinary shares have historically been paid in Rand. The US Dollar equivalent of any dividends or distributions with respect to Harmonys ordinary shares would be adversely affected by potential future decreases in the value of the Rand against the US Dollar. In fiscal 2004, the value of the Rand relative to the US Dollar increased by approximately 17 percent.
Because Harmony has a significant number of outstanding options, Harmonys ordinary shares are subject to dilution.
On June 30, 2004, Harmony had an aggregate of 350,000,000 ordinary shares authorized to be issued and, at that date, an aggregate of 320,741,577 ordinary shares were issued and outstanding. In addition, Harmony has employee share option schemes. The employee share option schemes came into effect in 1994, 2001 and 2003 respectively. At June 30, 2004, options to purchase a total of 5,855,300 ordinary shares were outstanding. The exercise prices of these options vary between R11.70 and R93.00. As a result, shareholders equity interests in Harmony are subject to dilution to the extent of the future exercises of the options.
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Investors in the United States may have difficulty bringing actions, and enforcing judgments, against Harmony, its directors and its executive officers based on the civil liabilities provisions of the federal securities laws or other laws of the United States or any state thereof.
Harmony is incorporated in South Africa. All of Harmonys directors and executive officers (and certain experts named herein) reside outside of the United States. Substantially all of the assets of these persons and substantially all of the assets of Harmony are located outside the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for investors to enforce against these persons or Harmony a judgment obtained in a United States court predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities or other laws of the Unites States or any state thereof. A foreign judgment is not directly enforceable in South Africa, but constitutes a cause of action which will be enforced by South African courts provided that:
| the court that pronounced the judgment had jurisdiction to entertain the case according to the principles recognized by South African law with reference to the jurisdiction of foreign courts; | |||
| the judgment is final and conclusive (that is, it cannot be altered by the court which pronounced it); | |||
| the judgment has not lapsed; | |||
| the recognition and enforcement of the judgment by South African courts would not be contrary to public policy, including observance of the rules of natural justice which require that the documents initiating the United States proceeding were properly served on the defendant and that the defendant was given the right be heard and represented by counsel in a free and fair trial before an impartial tribunal; | |||
| the judgment does not involve the enforcement of a penal or revenue law; and | |||
| the enforcement of the judgment is not otherwise precluded by the provisions of the Protection of Business Act 99 of 1978, as amended, of the republic of South Africa. |
It is the policy of South African courts to award compensation for the loss or damage actually sustained by the person to whom the compensation is awarded. Although the award of punitive damages is generally unknown to the South African legal system, that does not mean that such awards are necessarily contrary to public policy. Whether a judgment was contrary to public policy depends on the facts of each case. Exorbitant, unconscionable, or excessive awards will generally be contrary to public policy. South African courts cannot enter into the merits of a foreign judgment and cannot act as a court of appeal or review over the foreign court. South African courts will usually implement their own procedural laws and, where an action based on an international contract is brought before a South African court, the capacity of the parties to the contract will usually determined in accordance with South African law.
It is doubtful whether an original action based on United States federal securities laws may be brought before South African courts. A plaintiff who is not resident in South Africa may be acquired to provide security for costs in the event of proceedings being initiated in South Africa. Furthermore, the Rules of the High Court of South Africa require that documents executed outside South Africa must be authenticated for the purpose of use in South Africa.
Item 4. Information on the Company
BUSINESS
Introduction
Harmony and its subsidiaries conduct underground and surface gold mining and related activities, including exploration, processing, smelting and refining. Harmony is currently the largest producer of gold in South Africa, producing some 30% of the countrys gold, and the sixth largest gold producer in the world. As at June 30, 2004 Harmonys mining operations reported total proven and probable reserves of approximately 62.3 million ounces.
In fiscal 2004, Harmony processed approximately 33.955 million tons of ore and sold 3,225,187 ounces of gold, which includes gold production from ARMgold for nine months from October 1, 2003 and Avgold for two months from May 1, 2004.
The gold market is relatively deep and liquid, with the price of gold generally quoted in U.S. dollars. The demand for gold is primarily for fabrication purposes and bullion investment. The purchase and sale of gold takes place around the globe in all sizes and forms.
Harmonys principal mining operations are located in South Africa and Australia, with development and exploration operations in Papua New Guinea and Peru.
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Harmony conducts its mining operations through various subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2004, Harmonys principal subsidiaries were Randfontein Estates Limited, Evander Gold Mines Limited, ARMgold/Harmony Freegold Joint Venture Company (Pty) Ltd, ARMgold Limited, Avgold Limited, Kalahari Goldridge Mining Company Limited and Harmony Gold (Australia) (Pty) Limited. All are wholly-owned direct subsidiaries incorporated in South Africa, save for Harmony Gold (Australia) (Pty) Limited, a direct subsidiary incorporated in Australia.
Harmony has made several strategic investments in mining companies within and outside South Africa. In fiscal 2004, we made a successful bid to the minority shareholders of Abelle Limited and Avgold Limited, which are now wholly-owned subsidiaries of Harmony. In fiscal 2002, we acquired ordinary shares representing approximately 31.6% of Bendigo, a single project Australian gold mining development company. In fiscal 2003, Harmony also acquired stakes in Highland Gold, a company that held gold mining assets and mineral rights in Russia, and in High River, a company that held gold mining assets in Russia, Canada and West Africa. We sold our interests in Highland Gold and High River during fiscal 2004 for a combined pre-tax gain of approximately R528.2 million.
In South Africa, Harmony and its subsidiaries have nineteen operating shafts in the Free State Province, five operating shafts at Evander in the Mpumalanga Province, four operating shafts at Randfontein in the Gauteng Province, an open cast mine at Kalgold and two operating shafts in Orkney in the North West Province, and two production shaft units at Elandskraal (one of which was closed on June 30, 2004) in the North West and Gauteng provinces. Free Gold (in which Harmony had a 50 percent interest as of the end of fiscal 2003 and which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harmony since the merger with ARMgold was concluded on September 22, 2003) has eleven operating shafts in the Free State Province.
Harmonys Australian operations currently include two operations in Western Australia: Mt. Magnet (acquired in the Hill 50 transaction), South Kalgoorlie (including Jubilee, acquired in the New Hampton transaction, and New Celebration, acquired in the Hill 50 acquisition). Underground and surface mining is conducted at each of these Australian operations, with underground access through two declines at Mt. Magnet and one decline at South Kalgoorlie and surface access principally through open pits. The underground operations of Big Bell operations (acquired in the New Hampton transaction) ceased in fiscal 2004.
Ore from the shafts and surface material are treated at twelve metallurgical plants in South Africa (three at the Free State operations, one at Elandskraal, two at Evander, two at Randfontein, one at Kalgold and three at the Free Gold Company) and at three metallurgical plants in Australia (one at Mt. Magnet and two at South Kalgoorlie). Harmony received regulatory approval in 1997 to market its own gold, a function that was previously the sole preserve of the SARB. A refinery was commissioned by Harmony during fiscal 1997 in the Free State Province at South Africa.
Harmony increased the capacity of this refinery in fiscal 2002, as a result of which Harmony has the capacity to refine all of its gold produced in South Africa. In fiscal 2004, the capacity of the refinery was 100 tonnes.
History
Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited was incorporated and registered as a public company in South Africa on August 25, 1950. Harmonys principal executive offices are located at 4 The High Street, First Floor, Melrose Arch, Melrose North 2196, South Africa and the telephone number at this location is +27-11-684-0140. Harmony operates under a variety of statutes and regulations. To learn more about these statutes and regulations, see Item 4. Information on the Company Regulation and Item 10. Additional Information Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Commercial gold mining in South Africa evolved with the establishment of various mining houses at the beginning of the 1900s by individuals who bought and consolidated blocks of claims until sufficient reserves could be accumulated to sustain underground mining. The mines were then incorporated, but it was not the practice of the founding mining house to retain a majority shareholding. Instead, the mining house would enter into a management agreement with the mine pursuant to which the mining house would carry out certain managerial, administrative and technical functions pursuant to long-term contracts. Fees were generally charged based on revenues, working costs or capital expenditures, or a combination of all three, without regard to the cost or the level of services provided.
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Harmony was operated as a mining operation in this manner and the mining house Randgold & Exploration Company Limited, or Randgold, retained the management agreement. In late 1994, Randgold cancelled the management agreement and entered into a service agreement with Harmony to supply executive and administrative services at market rates. In 1997, Harmony and Randgold terminated their service agreement and Harmony began operating as a completely independent gold mining company.
Harmonys operations have grown significantly since 1995. Since 1995, Harmony has expanded from a lease-bound mining operation into an independent, world-class gold producer. Harmony increased its gold sales from 650,312 ounces of gold in fiscal 1995 to approximately 3.2 million ounces of gold in fiscal 2004.
In fiscal 2004, approximately 90% of Harmonys gold production took place in South Africa and 10% in Australia. In fiscal 2004, approximately 89% of Harmonys gold came from underground mines and 11% came from its surface mines. For more detailed geographical information about Harmonys activities, see Item 4. Information on the Company Business Harmonys Mining Operations and Geographical and Segment Information in note 37 to the consolidated financial statements.
South African Operations
Harmony acquired additional mineral rights in the Free State, Mpumulanga, Gauteng and North West provinces in South Africa when it acquired Lydex in 1997, Evander in 1998, Kalgold in 1999, Randfontein in 2000, ARMgold in 2003 and Avgold in 2004.
On November 21, 2001, Harmony and ARMgold reached an agreement in principle with AngloGold to purchase the Free Gold assets, subject to specified conditions. Pursuant to the subsequently executed definitive agreements, the Free Gold assets were purchased by the Free Gold Company (in which Harmony and ARMgold each has a 50% interest) for Rand 2.2 billion ($206.8 million at an exchange rate of R10.64 per $1.00), plus an amount equal to any liability for taxes payable by AngloGold in connection with the sale. For purposes of U.S. GAAP, Harmony equity accounted for its interest in the Free Gold Company with effect from May 1, 2002 and the purchase price of the Free Gold assets was determined to be Rand 2.264 billion. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Overview.
In connection with the acquisition of the Free Gold assets, Harmony and ARMgold entered into a formal joint venture and shareholders agreement relating to the Free Gold Company. The agreement provided that Harmony and ARMgold were each responsible for 50% of the expenses associated with operating the Free Gold assets. The Free Gold operations are now wholly-owned by Harmony following the merger with ARMgold which was completed on September 22, 2003.
On May 24, 2002, Harmony, ARMgold and Gold Fields, through its subsidiary, St. Helena Gold Mines Limited, announced that an agreement in principle had been reached under which St. Helena Gold Mines Limited would sell the St. Helena gold mining assets to the Free Gold Company for Rand 120 million ($13.7 million), plus a royalty equal to one percent of revenue for a period of 48 months beginning on the effective date of the sale. The sale was completed on October 30, 2002, and the Free Gold Company assumed management control on that date.
On May 2, 2003, Harmony and ARMgold announced details of their 50/50 joint acquisition of a 34.5% stake in Anglovaal Mining Limited, previously known as Avmin and now African Rainbow Minerals Limited, or ARM. Based on a value of R43.50 per share, the transaction was valued at Rand 1.687 billion and was paid for in cash, which was funded by a long term loan from Nedcor Bank which is repayable by November, 2004.
On July 15, 2003, Harmony announced that it had entered into an agreement with Anglo South Africa (Pty) Limited (Anglo SA) whereby it acquired 77,540,830 ordinary shares in Avgold Limited (Avgold) or 11.5% of Avgolds outstanding share capital from Anglo SA, in exchange for 6,960,964 new Harmony ordinary shares issued to Anglo SA. The agreement with Anglo SA provides that should the Company make an offer to acquire the other Avgold shareholders interest, the consideration payable to Anglo SA will be adjusted to reflect the amounts paid to the other Avgold shareholders. Harmony acquired the remaining stake in Avgold in April/May 2004 (see below).
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On September 22, 2003, Harmony and ARMgold consummated a merger, the terms of which were announced on May 2, 2003. Pursuant to the merger agreement, following the respective company shareholder approvals, Harmony issued 2 ordinary shares for every 3 ARMgold ordinary shares acquired. ARMgold also paid its shareholders a special dividend of R6.00 per ordinary share ($0.84) prior to the consummation of the merger. Harmony issued 63,670,000 ordinary shares to ARMgolds shareholders which resulted in ARMgold becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harmony. For U.S. GAAP purposes, the merger was accounted for as a purchase by Harmony of ARMgold for a purchase consideration of approximately $697 million. The results of ARMgold have been included in those of Harmony from October 1, 2003.
On November 7, 2003, Harmony entered into an agreement to dispose of its wholly-owned subsidiary Kalgold to The Afrikander Lease Limited (Aflease) for a total consideration of $39.0 million. The consideration comprised of a cash payment of $19.5 million and the balance through the issue by Aflease of new ordinary shares valued at $19.5 million. Although all the other conditions precedent to the agreement were met, Aflease could not provide appropriate funding and the contract was subsequently cancelled on March 15, 2004.
Following the Harmony merger with ARMgold, on November 13, 2003, Harmony announced that it reached an agreement in principle with ARM and African Rainbow Minerals & Exploration Investments (Pty) Ltd whereby it would enter into a number of transactions which would restructure ARM. The first transaction involved Harmony acquiring ARMs 286,305,263 ordinary shares in Avgold, or 42.2% of Avgolds outstanding share capital, in exchange for 28,630,526 new Harmony ordinary shares to be issued to ARM. The acquisition of ARMs interest in Avgold became unconditional in April 2004, when Harmony was required to make a mandatory offer to the Avgold minority shareholders on the same terms as which it acquired ARMs interest in Avgold. Harmony and ARM have cross shareholdings in each other whereby Harmony owns a 19% interest in ARM, and ARM owns a 19.84% interest in Harmony. See Item 7. Major shareholders and Related Party Transactions.
On April 15, 2004, ARM shareholders approved the disposal of their entire shareholding of 286,305,263 ordinary shares in Avgold Limited to Harmony. By way of share exchange, ARM Limited received 1 Harmony share for every 10 Avgold shares held. On May 11, 2004 Harmony announced that its mandatory offer to Avgold minorities was successful and that a total of 62,204,893 Harmony shares were issued to acquire the entire shareholding in Avgold. Avgold owns the Target mine in the Free State. Harmony also disposed of its Kalplats platinum project and associated mineral rights to ARM in exchange for 2 million new ARM ordinary shares issued to Harmony. All of the above described transactions were consummated during May 2004, which resulted in Avgold becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harmony. As of June 30, 2004 Harmony owned 19% of ARM.
On May 21, 2004, Harmony announced that it had raised R1.7 billion by way of an issue of convertible bonds to international investors, which reduced Harmonys South African interest payments by approximately R85 million per year. In addition to these cost benefits, it also allowed Harmony to consolidate its short term debt. The convertible bonds are Rand denominated and interest is payable semi-annually in arrears at a rate of 4.875% per annum. The convertible bonds may be converted into ordinary shares at a price, including premium of R121.00 per share, from July 1, 2004, until the seventh day prior to the maturity date, which is expected to be on May 15, 2009.
Australian Operations
Harmony presently conducts Australian operations through three acquired Australian gold mining companies: New Hampton, acquired with effect from April 1, 2001, Hill 50, acquired with effect from April 1, 2002 and Abelle, acquired with effect from May 1, 2003.
Harmony made its first investment in the Australian gold mining industry in February 2000, by acquiring a stake in Goldfields (Australia), an independent gold production and exploration company. Effective December 31, 2001, Delta Gold Limited, or Delta, completed a merger with Goldfields (Australia). In connection with the merger, holders of Delta shares received 187 Goldfields (Australia) shares in exchange for every 200 Delta shares held. Harmonys stake in Goldfields (Australia) following the merger was diluted to approximately 9.8%. In February 2002, Goldfields (Australia) changed its name to AurionGold Limited. On May 25, 2002, Harmony and Placer Dome entered into an agreement under which Harmony accepted Placer Domes offer to acquire all of Harmonys interest in AurionGold. As a result of this transaction, Harmony obtained a 1.9% interest in Placer Dome, which was disposed of during fiscal 2003.
In fiscal 2002 Harmony closed the acquisition of 96.2% of New Hamptons shares and 95% of New Hamptons warrants for cash valued at approximately A$56.3 million (R228.2 million at an exchange rate of R4.05 per A$1.00, or $28.5 million at an exchange rate of R8.00 per $1.00). Harmony subsequently completed a compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares and warrants.
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On December 11, 2001, Harmony commenced a conditional cash offer for all of the outstanding ordinary shares and listed options of Hill 50. The total cash bid valued Hill 50 at approximately A$233 million (R1.419 billion at an exchange rate of R6.09 per A$1.00, or $124.8 million at an exchange rate of R11.37 per $1.00). The offer closed on May 3, 2002, at which time shareholders holding 98.57% of Hill 50s shares and 98.76% of Hill 50s listed options had accepted Harmonys offer and this offer had become unconditional. Harmony subsequently completed a compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares and options under the rules of the Australian Stock Exchange. See Item 4. Information on the Company Business Harmonys Mining Operations-Australian Operations. Harmony financed the Hill 50 offer from existing cash resources and borrowings, including a syndicated loan facility entered into on February 28, 2002, with Citibank, N.A., as lead arranger. In an effort to increase efficiency and reduce corporate expenditures, in the quarter ended June 30, 2002 Harmony integrated New Hamptons Jubilee operations with Hill 50s New Celebration operations to form the South Kalgoorlie operations and combined the corporate offices of New Hampton and Hill 50 in Perth. Harmony reports the New Hampton and Hill 50 operating results together within an Australian Operations segment.
On February 26, 2003, Harmony announced that it would subscribe for new shares in Abelle Limited and the intention to make a public offer for ordinary shares and options in Abelle for A$0.75 per ordinary share and A$0.45 per option. The offer closed on March 26, 2003, and as at June 30, 2003, Harmony owned 87% of Abelles outstanding shares and 65% of the listed options which were acquired for a total consideration of $105.4 million. Harmony has since acquired the remaining interest in Abelle as of May 2004 (see below). Abelle is an Australian company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, with interests in mining and exploration projects in Australia and Papua New Guinea. From May 1, 2003, Harmony reports the results of Abelle, together with those of New Hampton and Hill 50 in the Australian Operations segment. See Item 4. Information on the Company Business History and Item 4. Information on the Company Business Harmonys Mining Operations Australian Operations.
On September 25, 2001, Harmony announced that it had reached an agreement in principle with Bendigo, to acquire 294 million shares of Bendigo for a total purchase price of approximately A$50 million (R292 million at an exchange rate of R5.84 per A$1.00, or $22.8 million at an exchange rate of R12.80 per $1.00). On December 13, 2001, shareholders of Bendigo approved this subscription and Harmony acquired ordinary shares representing approximately 31.8% of the outstanding share capital of Bendigo. On that date, Harmony was also granted options to acquire 360 million additional shares of Bendigo at any time before December 31, 2003, at a price of A$0.30 per share for a maximum consideration of A$108 million (R630.7 million at an exchange rate of R5.84 per A$1.00, or $72.2 million). Bendigo is a single project Australian gold mining development company that controls the New Bendigo Gold Project in the historic Bendigo goldfields. Bendigo controls all of the mining and exploration rights beneath and in the vicinity of the city of Bendigo in Victoria. Bendigo has reported that it is using the funds it received from Harmonys investment in a project with the goal of developing and bringing into production a high grade, mechanized underground mine. Following completion of a feasibility study in fiscal 2004, Harmony informed Bendigo that it would not be participating in a capital fund raising. The board of Bendigo have pursued other funding options and raised A$105 million from capital markets by the issue of new shares. Harmonys shareholding is currently 11.63% as a result of the dilution from the capital raise and additional shares issued by Bendigo for a share purchase plan.
Also on November 7, 2003, Abelle announced that it had entered into negotiations with Legend Mining Limited, whereby Legend offered to purchase the Gidgee gold project. Legend made an offer to buy Abelles 100% legal and beneficial interest in the project for a consideration of A$6.5 million (subject to certain adjustments) comprising approximately 600 square kilometers of mining and exploration tenements together with project infrastructure including the CIP gold treatment plant, haul roads and access infrastructure, underground mine and associated infrastructure as well as stockpiles, reserves and resources. This transaction closed in December 2003 for a consideration of A$6.3 million.
On March 15, 2004 Harmony announced an offer to holders of ordinary shares, listed options and unlisted options in Abelle Limited (Abelle) that Harmony does not already own. The acquisition of the Abelle minorities is valued at approximately R620 million or A$125 million (US$85.2 million). On May 19, 2004, the Company announced that its bid for all the outstanding securities in Abelle was unconditional and proceeded with a compulsory acquisition of all the securities in Abelle, which resulted in Abelle becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harmony.
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Canadian Operations
In 1998, Harmony acquired its first production facility outside South Africa by purchasing the mining assets in the Bissett area of Manitoba in Canada from the liquidators of the Rea Gold Corporation. Harmony completed the capital expenditure and development programs required to establish a production unit capable of producing over 65,000 ounces per year on this property. In fiscal 2001, due to the mining operations being uneconomical at then-current gold prices, Harmony decided to suspend production at the Bissett mine, and placed the operations on a care and maintenance program during the quarter ended September 30, 2001. On December 2, 2003, Harmony signed a letter of intent regarding the sale of its interest in Bissett to San Gold Resources Corporation for C$7.5 million, subject to certain conditions. On March 17, 2004, Harmony completed the disposal of 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Bissett to Rice Lake Joint Venture Inc, a joint venture between San Gold Resources Corporation and Gold City Industries Limited, for C$7,625,000 (US$5.6 million), which was made up of C$3,625,000 (US$2.6 million) in cash plus C$4,000,000 (US$3 million) in shares of San Gold and Gold City. Rice Lake is owned jointly by San Gold and Gold City.
Other Strategic Investments
On January 21, 2003, Randfontein Estates Limited (Randfontein), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harmony, entered into an agreement with Africa Vanguard Resources (Proprietary) Limited (Africa Vanguard), pursuant to which Randfontein sold 26% of its mineral rights in respect of the Doornkop Mining Area to Africa Vanguard for a purchase price of R250 million plus VAT. Randfontein and Africa Vanguard also entered into a Joint Venture Agreement on the same day, pursuant to which they agreed to jointly conduct a mining operation in respect of the Doornkop Mining Area. The Agreements were subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions precedent, the last of which was fulfilled on August 12, 2003. The Agreements were implemented, and the initial purchase price of $19 million was paid on August 15, 2003. For US GAAP purposes, Harmony did not account for this transaction as a sale, but have consolidated the results of Africa Vanguard and the Doornkop Joint Venture, as both these entities have been determined to be variable interest entities, with Harmony as the primary beneficiary of both variable interest entities.
On April 28, 2004, Harmony announced that it had entered into a joint venture with Network Healthcare Holdings (Netcare). The joint venture company is known as Health-Manco and has been formed for the purpose of managing the provision of healthcare services of the Harmony Group. The agreement between Harmony and Netcare forms the first part of a deal that is expected to eventually see the complete outsourcing of the management of Harmonys healthcare.
Strategy
Harmony is an independent growth oriented company in the gold production business and is distinguished by the focused operational and management philosophies that it employs throughout the organization. Harmonys growth strategy is focused on building a leading international gold mining company through acquisitions, organic growth and focused exploration. Harmony is currently expanding in South Africa and Australia, building on Harmonys position as a leading cost-effective South African gold company in order to enhance Harmonys position as one of the worlds premier international gold producers. During fiscal 2004, Harmony also invested funds in mining opportunities in exploration and development projects in Papua New Guinea and Peru.
The international and South African gold mining industries have been in the recent past and continue to be affected by structural and investment trends moving toward the consolidation of relatively smaller operations into larger, more efficient gold producers with lower, more competitive cost structures. This consolidation enables gold producers to be more competitive in pursuing new business opportunities and creates the critical mass (measured by market capitalization) necessary to attract the attention of international gold investment institutions. Harmonys current strategy is predominantly influenced by these investment trends, which have already resulted in significant restructuring and rationalization in the South African, Australian and North American gold mining industries. Harmony believes these trends will continue to lead to significant realignments in the international gold production business. Harmony intends to continue to participate in the South African and international restructuring activity to continue to achieve its growth objectives.
Since undergoing a change in management in 1995, Harmony has employed a successful strategy of growth through a series of acquisitions and through the evolution and implementation of a simple set of management systems and philosophies, which Harmony refers to as the Harmony Way, and which Harmony believes are
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unique in the South African gold mining industry. A significant component of the success of Harmonys strategy to date has been its ability to acquire under-performing mining assets, mainly in South Africa, and in a relatively short time frame to transform these mines into cost-effective production units. The execution of Harmonys strategy between fiscal 1995 and fiscal 2004 has resulted in the growth of Harmonys annual gold sales from approximately 650,000 ounces in fiscal 1995 to approximately 3.2 million ounces in fiscal 2004. Despite increased cash operating costs, Harmony has expanded its proven and probable ore reserve base and, as at June 30, 2004, Harmonys mining operations reported total proven and probable reserves of approximately 62.3 million ounces.
Harmony is managed according to the philosophy that its shareholders have invested in Harmony in order to own a growth stock, which will also participate in movements in the gold price. Accordingly, Harmony has consistently maintained a policy of generally not hedging its future gold production. Harmonys policy is to eliminate any hedging positions existing within the companies that it acquires as soon as opportunities can be created to do so in sound, commercially advantageous transactions. There may, however, be instances where certain hedge positions in acquired companies need to be kept in place for contractual or other reasons.
The major components of Harmonys strategy include:
Continuing to implement Harmonys unique management structure and philosophy.
Harmony implements a simple set of management systems and philosophies, which Harmony refers to as the Harmony Way, and which it believes are unique to the South African gold mining industry. This Harmony Way is underpinned by the following concepts:
| Empowered management teams. At each mining site Harmony has established small, multi-disciplinary, focused management teams responsible for planning and implementing the mining operations at the site. Each of these teams is accountable for the results at its particular site and reports directly to Harmonys executive committee. | |||
| Active strategic management by the Board. Annual operational goals and targets, including cost, volume and grade targets are established in consultation with the Harmonys executive committee for each mining site. Each management team develops an operational plan to implement the goals and targets for its mine site. Harmonys executive committee reviews and measures the results at each mining site on a regular basis throughout the year. | |||
| Increased productivity. Gold mining in South Africa is very labor intensive with labor accounting for approximately 50% of Harmonys costs. To control these costs, Harmony structures its operations to achieve maximum productivity with the goal of having 60% of Harmonys workforce directly engaged in stoping, or underground excavation, and development rock breaking activities. In addition, Harmony has implemented productivity-based bonuses designed to maximize productivity. | |||
| A no-frills, low cost ethic. Harmony has an obsession about lowering its cost base and, to this end, Harmony extensively benchmarks its costing parameters both internally between operations within Harmony and externally against other gold producers. | |||
| Systems. Harmony has implemented sophisticated cost accounting systems and strict ore accounting and ore reserve management systems to measure and track costs and ore reserve depletion accurately, so as to enable it to be proactive in its decision making. |
Harmony has implemented the Harmony Way at its original mining operations and at each mining property Harmony has acquired since 1995, and is currently implementing the Harmony Way at the Australian operations acquired through the acquisitions of New Hampton and Hill 50. By implementing this process, Harmony generally has been able to reduce unit costs significantly while increasing production and extending mine life. Harmony and ARMgold share similar management philosophies, which Harmony took into consideration in deciding on the merger with ARMgold, which was completed in September 2003. The Free Gold Company has begun implementing measures to reduce costs while increasing production and extending mine life, in a manner that Harmony believes is consistent with the Harmony Way.
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Growing through acquisitions in South Africa and internationally.
Harmonys acquisition strategy in South Africa has been, and will continue to be, mainly to pursue mature, underperforming gold mining operations in which it believes it can successfully introduce the Harmony Way to increase productivity, reduce costs and extend mine life. The advantage to acquiring mature, underperforming operations is that they tend to be cheaper to acquire and, particularly for underground operations, much of the required capital expenditure has already been made. Harmonys corporate strategy with respect to acquisition targets is as follows:
| to make acquisitions in addition to pursuing greenfield and brownfield developments when it is economical to do so; | |||
| to acquire mature assets with turnaround potential; | |||
| to acquire assets that fit Harmonys management model; and | |||
| to acquire assets that enhance Harmonys overall resource base. |
In South Africa, Harmony continues to explore a number of potential acquisitions. The South African gold mining industry has undergone a significant restructuring since 1990 with the result that a number of gold mining companies owned principally by mining houses have been sold to other gold operators. Harmony believes that this restructuring process has not yet been completed and that there will continue to be opportunities for further acquisitions in South Africa.
Outside of South Africa, Harmony intends to leverage the broad gold mining experience it has gained through acquisitions and existing operations. Through Harmonys existing operations, Harmony has gained extensive underground mining experience. Harmony has also gained extensive experience in surface mining by open cast methods through its acquisition of Kalgold and the open cast operations of Randfontein, New Hampton and Hill 50 and in mechanized mining of greenstone orebodies through Harmonys acquisitions of Bissett, New Hampton and Hill 50. These types of mining are more typical outside of South Africa. Harmony believes that these skills should position it to be able to pursue a broad range of acquisition opportunities. Harmony continues to explore new business opportunities both inside and outside of South Africa including exploration projects gained through its acquisition of Abelle. Harmony may in the future pursue additional suitable potential acquisitions in South Africa or internationally.
Expanding Harmonys exploration and development activities to increase its reserve base.
Harmony intends to continue to support and expand exploration activities as another important avenue for increasing the size of its reserve base. Exploration projects involve material risks and uncertainties, however, and Harmony cannot be sure these projects will be successful. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors To maintain gold production beyond the expected lives of Harmonys existing mines or to increase production materially above projected levels, Harmony will need to access additional reserves through development or discovery.
Harmony is engaging in, and investigating possibilities for, organic growth through targeted development projects. Harmony is pursuing substantial projects to deepen the Elandskraal operations and improve the Masimong shaft system. Harmony is also currently conducting feasibility studies for shallow and medium-depth capital projects in the vicinity of Harmonys existing Randfontein and Evander operations. See Item 4. Information on the Company Harmonys Mining Operations Elandskraal Operations, Item 4. Information on the Company Harmonys Mining Operations Randfontein Operations, Item 4. Information on the Company Harmonys Mining Operations Free State Operations and Item 4. Information on the Company Harmonys Mining Operations -Evander Operations. In evaluating and pursuing these projects, Harmonys goal is to achieve organic growth in South Africa. Capital development projects of this type involve material risks and uncertainties, however, and Harmony cannot be sure its development efforts will be successful. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors To maintain gold production beyond the expected lives of Harmonys existing mines or to increase production materially above projected levels, Harmony will need to access additional reserves through development or discovery.
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Hedge Policy
As a general rule Harmony sells its gold production at market prices. Harmony generally does not enter into forward sales, derivatives or hedging arrangements to establish a price in advance for the sale of its future gold production. As a result of this policy, Board approval is required when hedging arrangements are to be entered into to secure loan facilities. Any change to this policy requires ratification by the Board. Currently, Harmonys hedge book is managed by a risk and treasury management services company, which is a joint venture between a major South African bank and a black economic empowerment company.
Harmony does not trade in derivatives for its own account. In the past three years, there have been two instances in which Harmony has made use of gold price hedges: Harmonys forward sale of a portion of the production at Bissett at a set gold price and put options relating to 1 million ounces of Harmonys production at Elandskraal. Both of these hedges were entered into in order to secure loan facilities and have since been closed out.
Harmony inherited the following forward exchange contracts with the acquisition of Avgold in May 2004.
June 30, 2005 |
June 30, 2006 |
Total |
||||||||||
Forward exchange contracts & calls sold
|
||||||||||||
US$ million |
79.4 | 39.5 | 118.9 | |||||||||
Average Strike US$/R |
9.073 | 9.543 | 9.229 |
The contracts do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting and the mark-to-market movement is reflected in the income statement. The mark-to-market of these contracts was a negative R300 million (US$48 million) as at June 30, 2004. These values were based upon a spot price of US$1/R6.44 (as of September 29, 2004) and prevailing market interest rates at the time. Independent risk and treasury management experts provided these valuations.
The forward exchange contracts mature on a monthly basis, resulting in cash inflow or outflow, equal to the difference between the strike price of the contracts and the spot price on the particular day. The average strike price of the contracts, are significantly higher that the spot price of US$1/R6.44 (as of September 29, 2004), resulting in significant cash outflows.
A significant proportion of the production at Randfontein was already hedged when acquired by Harmony. On April 12, 2002, Harmony had closed out all of the Randfontein hedge positions, including closing forward sale contracts and call options covering a total of 490,000 ounces and forward purchases covering a total of 200,000 ounces.
In addition, a substantial proportion of the production of both New Hampton and Hill 50 was already hedged when acquired by Harmony. These hedge agreements were accounted for as speculative contracts. In fiscal 2002, in line with Harmonys strategy of being generally unhedged, Harmony reduced New Hamptons hedge book by over 900,000 ounces and combined and restructured the remainder of the hedge portfolio of Harmonys Australian operations (including New Hampton and Hill 50) to normal purchase and sale agreements, under which Harmony had to deliver a specified quantity of gold at a future date subject to agreed-upon prices. In fiscal 2003, a significant portion of the inherited hedge book was closed out. As a result the remaining hedge agreements does not meet hedge accounting criteria for accounting purposes and the mark-to-market movements in these contracts are reflected in the income statement. During fiscal 2004, a further 500,000 ounces of the inherited hedge books of both New Hampton and Hill 50 were closed out at a cost of Rand 105 million (US$14.4 million). As of June 30, 2004, the resulting hedge portfolio covered 495,000 ounces over a five-year period at an average strike price of A$518 per ounce ($363 at an exchange rate of A$0.70 per $1.00). Harmony has reduced the remaining hedge positions of the Australian operations gradually by delivering gold pursuant to the relevant agreements as well as through the close out of these hedge agreements.
In December 2001, in response to significant depreciation in the Rand and to protect itself against possible appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar, Harmony entered into Rand-U.S. dollar currency forward exchange contracts intended to cover estimated revenues from the Free State operations planned production for calendar 2002. Harmony fixed the Rand-U.S. dollar exchange rate for a total of $180 million at an average exchange rate of Rand 11.20 per U.S. dollar. These forward exchange contracts expired on December 31, 2002, and were not renewed. Harmony has not renewed or entered into any forward exchange contracts since then, although it has inherited such contracts in connection with its acquisition of Avgold in May 2004.
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Description of Mining Business
Exploration
Exploration activities are focused on the extension of existing orebodies and identification of new orebodies both at existing sites and at undeveloped sites. Once a potential orebody has been discovered, exploration is extended and intensified in order to enable clearer definition of the orebody and the potential portions to be mined. Geological techniques are constantly refined to improve the economic viability of prospecting and mining activities.
Harmony conducts exploration activities by itself or with joint venture partners. Harmonys prospecting interests in South Africa measure approximately 100,000 hectares. The area has been reduced, from 382,000 hectares, as regional exploration identified focused areas of mineralization, requiring more detailed investigation. Harmonys Australian operations also control prospecting interests, as described below. In addition to ongoing mine site exploration, Harmony has a program of investment in regional exploration. The exploration strategy on these greenstone belts uses geological, geophysical and geochemical techniques to identify broad systems of anomalous gold and associated rock alteration within which gold deposits typically occur as clusters.
Harmony spent approximately R108.87 million, excluding contributions from joint venture partners, on exploration in fiscal 2004 and the bulk of exploration expenditure was allocated to activities in Australia, Papua New Guinea South Africa and Peru with smaller expenditures in West Africa and Madagascar. In fiscal 2005, Harmony intends to carry out exploration in South Africa, West Africa, Australia, South America and Papua New Guinea.
Harmony disposed of its interest in the Kalplats projects during the year and is currently assessing the most appropriate route to be taken on its non-core mineral rights in South Africa.
Harmonys exploration activity in West Africa and South America, excluding Peru, was restricted to project generation and reconnaissance sampling. Site visits and negotiations with potential joint venture partners are ongoing.
During 2004, Harmony continued to evaluate numerous projects in Peru. Two joint venture agreements were entered into with local partners, whereby Harmony could earn-in to prospective projects by undertaking phased exploration expenditure. Both of the projects are focused on areas with demonstrated potential to host epithermal gold mineralization. Analytical results from drilling of the first project and sampling of the second, suggested that they did not conform to Harmonys investment criteria and the joint ventures were terminated.
In addition to these joint ventures, Harmony has undertaken a comprehensive target generation program in Peru, supported by surface sampling programs. New projects generated by this program, or coming under negotiation, shall form the focus of an accelerated exploration program in 2005. For this reason, Harmony established a small exploration office in Peru during 2004.
Harmonys Australian operations conduct prospecting at various sites within their exploration mineral right areas, which include various types of property rights recognized in Australia covering a total area of approximately 298,355 hectares (737,250 acres). Harmonys exploration strategy in Australia includes exploration on greenstone belts using aeromagnetics, ground magnetics, geochemical, regolith and geotechnical techniques to identify broad systems of anomalous gold and associated rock alteration within which gold mineralization typically occurs. Thereafter, promising targets are drilled to test geological structures and establish the presence of gold mineralization. Should this process be successful in discovering ore, the deposits are then drilled and sampled systematically to determine ore reserves and metallurgical characteristics. Exploration of priority targets within Harmonys holdings, continued to be the focus of regional exploration over the 2004 fiscal year.
Harmony currently has a 11.63% stake in Australian-listed Bendigo Mining NL, an Australian listed company that controls a large tenement holding in the Bendigo goldfield of Victoria (Australia). It has been estimated that 18 million ounces of gold have historically been produced from underground operations on the numerous reefs in the Bendigo goldfield. Bendigo Mining management consider that the goldfield has the potential to host a further 12 million ounce resource below the historic mine workings. The coarse grain size and erratic distribution of the gold in the Bendigo reefs (nugget effect) precludes the use of drilling as a reliable reserve definition tool. During 2003, a production size decline was sunk to access several reefs that had previously been defined by drilling. The objective was to establish ore-body geometry and grades as well as to gain further confidence in the proposed mining methods and process metallurgy. Bendigos management have announced that nine of the seventeen targeted reefs had been evaluated by August 2003. The feasibility study was completed in fiscal 2004.
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Following the acquisition of Hill 50, Harmony integrated Hill 50s exploration program on the properties south of Kalgoorlie with New Hamptons programs in that area. These programs involve exploration on a combination of freehold title and mineral leases forming an east-west belt extending from Lake Roe to Coolgardie, south of Kalgoorlie. The tenements span a number of geological domains including the Kalgoorlie-Kambalda Belt and the Boulder-Lefroy structure, the Zuleika Shear, the Coolgardie Belt and the Yilgarn-Roe structures. A comprehensive structural-geological and regolith-geochemical review was completed in July 2001 for the Southeast Goldfields area. This review outlined priority targets within Harmonys holdings, which were the focus of regional exploration over the 2002 fiscal year and continued to be the focus of regional exploration during the 2003 and 2004 fiscal years. Hill 50s exploration has also continued to focus on brownfield and greenfield opportunities at Mt. Magnet and on regional targets.
Through the Hill 50 transaction, Harmony also acquired two development projects in the Northern Territory of Australia: the Maud Creek project and the Brocks Creek project. Maud Creek is an advanced greenfield project based on a recent discovery located close to the historic Yeuralba gold field in the Pine Creek district. The Maud Creek project faces a metallurgical risk associated with the extraction of gold from the ore. The Maud Creek orebody is partially refractory in nature and specific (yet to be finalized) ore processing routes would be required to liberate the gold. The contemplated processes are expected to result in higher capital and operating costs, but are not expected to involve significant technical risk. Brocks Creek is an effort to bring mines formerly operated by AngloGold and Dominion Mining back into production. The Brocks Creek area includes shallow open pits located at Rising Tide, and rights to develop the underground Zapopan and Cosmo Deeps sites. In fiscal 2004, Harmony had a total expenditure of A$8.4 million in combined levels of exploration at New Hampton and Hill 50.
On February 26, 2003 Harmony made an offer to subscribe for new shares as well as a public offer for the ordinary shares and options in Abelle Limited and as of May 2004, Abelle is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harmony. Abelle owns 100% of the Hidden Valley and Wafi deposits in Papua New Guinea. The Hidden Valley project has an estimated mineral resource of 73.9 million tons at 2.2 grams per ton gold and 30 grams per ton silver for 5.2 million ounces of gold and 71 million ounces of silver. A feasibility study completed by Lycopodium of Australia in October 2002 envisaged a single open pit containing 2.8 million ounces of gold and 48 million ounces of silver. A new feasibility study completed by Abelle in December 2003, envisaged construction of a smaller but more profitable mine, which will produce 1.9 million ounces of gold and 25.5 million ounces of silver in phase one. The Wafi project is situated 60 kilometers from Morobe and is an advanced exploration project. Wafi consists of two deposits situated 1 kilometer apart. The Golpu deposit is a porphyry copper-gold deposit. The resource estimate for Golpu is 100 million tons at 1.3% copper and 0.6 grams per ton gold for 1.3 million tons of copper and 2.3 million ounces of gold. The second deposit (the Wafu gold deposit) is a high sulphidation gold deposit that contains an inferred resource of 53.3 million tons at 2.5 grams per ton for 4.3 million ounces gold. A 5,000 meter diamond drill program is currently underway at the recently discovered, high grade link zone of the Wafi gold deposit.
With the exception of the Burnside Joint Venture, which Hill 50 and Northern Gold NL formed in March 2002 to develop the Brocks Creek project, Harmonys exploration and development projects in Australia are wholly-owned.
Mining
The mining process can be divided into two main phases: (i) creating access to the orebody and (ii) mining the orebody. This basic process applies to both underground and surface operations.
| Access to the orebody. In Harmonys underground mines, access to the orebody is by means of shafts sunk from the surface to the lowest economically and practically mineable level. Horizontal development at various intervals of a shaft (known as levels) extends access to the horizon of the reef to be mined. On-reef development then provides specific mining access. In Harmonys open pit mines, access to the orebody is provided by overburden stripping, which removes the covering layers of topsoil or rock, through a combination of drilling, blasting, loading and hauling, as required. | |||
| Mining the orebody. The process of ore removal starts with drilling and blasting the accessible ore. The blasted faces are then cleaned and the ore is transferred to the transport system. In open pit mines, gold-bearing material may require drilling and blasting and is usually collected by bulldozers or shovels to transfer it to the ore transport system. |
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In Harmonys underground mines, once ore has been broken, train systems collect ore from the faces and transfer it to a series of ore passes that gravity feed the ore to hoisting levels at the bottom of the shaft. The ore is then hoisted to the surface in dedicated conveyances and transported either by conveyor belts directly or via surface railway systems or roads to the treatment plants. In addition to ore, waste rock broken to access reef horizons must similarly be hoisted and then placed on waste rock dumps. In open pit mines, ore is transported to treatment facilities in large capacity vehicles.
Processing
Harmony currently has twelve metallurgical plants in South Africa and three in Australia that treat ore to extract the gold. The principal gold extraction processes used by Harmony are carbon in leach, or CIL, carbon in pulp, or CIP, and carbon in solution, or CIS, although Harmony also has an old filter plant processing low grade waste rock.
The gold plant circuit consists of the following:
| Comminution. Comminution is the process of breaking up the ore to expose and liberate the gold and make it available for treatment. Conventionally, this process occurs in multi-stage crushing and milling circuits, which include the use of jaw and gyratory crushers and rod and tube and ball mills. Harmonys more modern milling circuits include semi or fully autogenous milling where the ore itself is used as the grinding medium. Typically, ore must be ground to a minimum size before proceeding to the next stage of treatment. | |||
| Treatment. In most of Harmonys metallurgical plants, including the plants at the Free Gold operations and at Hill 50, gold is extracted into a leach solution from the host ore by leaching in agitated tanks. Gold is then extracted onto activated carbon from the solution using the CIL, CIP or CIS process. In addition, each of Harmony and the Free Gold Company has one metallurgical plant that uses the zinc precipitation filter process to recover gold in solution. Harmonys Saaiplaas plant also used the zinc precipitation filter process prior to fiscal 2002, but it was converted to the CIS process during fiscal 2002. During fiscal 2003, however, the Saaiplaas plant was converted to the CIL process thereby lowering costs and improving extraction efficiency. Harmony will consider a similar conversion for the remaining Harmony zinc precipitation plant depending on the properties of the materials to be processed. |
Gold in solution from the filter plants is recovered using zinc precipitation. Recovery of the gold from the loaded carbon takes place by elution and electro-winning. Because cathode sludge produced from electro-winning is now sent directly to Harmonys refinery, most of the plants no longer use smelting to produce rough gold bars (dor). Harmonys zinc precipitation plant, however, and the zinc precipitation plant used by the Free Gold Company continue to smelt precipitate to produce rough gold bars. These bars are then transported to Harmonys refinery, which is responsible for refining the bars to a minimum of good delivery status.
Harmony operates the only independent gold refinery in South Africa. In fiscal 2004, all of Harmonys South African gold production was refined at Harmonys refinery. In fiscal 2003, approximately 85% of Harmonys South African gold production was refined at Harmonys refinery and the remainder was refined at the Rand Refinery, which is owned by a consortium of the major gold producers in South Africa. In April 2002, Harmony sold its ownership interest in the Rand Refinery back to the Rand Refinery. Harmony received approximately Rand 6.4 million ($0.6 million at an exchange rate of R10.66 per $1.00) from this sale.
Harmony produces its own branded products at its refinery, including various sizes of gold bars. This has allowed Harmony to sell to markets such as India, the Middle East and East Asia. Harmonys refinery supplies gold alloys and associated products to jewelry manufacturers in South Africa and internationally. In fiscal 2004, Harmony had refinery capacity of 100 tonnes per year. Harmony spent approximately Rand 4.8 million (compared to Rand 4.6 million ($0.67 million) in fiscal 2003) on capital expenditures at its refinery in fiscal 2004.
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The South African government has emphasized that the production of value-added fabricated gold products, such as jewelry, is an important means for creating employment opportunities in South Africa and has made the promotion of these beneficiation activities a requirement of the Mining Charter described in Item 4. Information on the Company Regulation-Mineral Rights. Harmonys beneficiation initiatives have benefited from the expansion and improvement of Harmonys refinery. Harmony supports jewelry ventures in South Africa, including providing facilities for a jewelry school and, in fiscal 2002, Harmony acquired rights to manufacture and distribute a range of jewelry based on the Lord of the Rings trilogy in South Africa, the United States and Canada. On December 11, 2002, Harmony and Mintek, a South African government research and development organization, signed a memorandum of understanding to create Musuku Beneficiation Systems, or Musuku, an integrated manufacturing and technology group focusing on the beneficiation of precious metals. Musuku will provide management, operational and technical to integrate value-added processes into the gold mining industry. On June 20, 2004, the Competition Commission approved the Musuku transaction.
Services and Supplies
Mining activities require extensive services, located both on the surface and underground. These services include mining-related services such as mining engineering (optimizing mining layouts and safe mining practices), planning (developing short-term and long-term mining plans), ore reserve management (to achieve optimal orebody extraction), ventilation (sustaining operable mining conditions underground), provision of supplies and materials, and other logistical support. In addition, engineering services are required to ensure equipment operates effectively. Unlike many other South African gold producers, Harmony generally provides only those services directly related to mining. In some cases, other services are provided by outside contractors. Harmony provides medical services to employees at its Free State, Evander and Randfontein hospitals. During fiscal 2004, Harmony entered into a joint venture agreement with Netcare Healthcare Holdings to outsource the management of Harmonys healthcare.
The Mining Charter described in Item 4. Information on the Company Regulation Mineral Rights establishes a policy of preferred supplier status according to enterprises controlled by members of historically disadvantaged groups when those enterprises are able to offer goods and services at competitive prices and quality levels. Harmony believes that its procurement policy is consistent with this policy.
Harmonys Management Structure
As part of the Harmony Way, Harmony structures its mining operations in a way that it considers to be unique in the South African gold mining industry. Harmonys operational structure is based on small empowered management teams at each production site, which may include one or more underground mine shafts or open cast sites. These management teams are fully responsible for planning and executing the mining at the production site and report directly to Harmonys Executive Committee. Each management team consists of an ore reserve manager, a mining manager, a financial manager, an engineering manager and a human relations manager. Each member of the management team has an individual area of responsibility: the mining manager is responsible for rock breaking and safety; the ore reserve manager is responsible for geology and ore reserves; the financial manager is responsible for financial management; the engineering manager is responsible for maintaining equipment; and the human relations manager is responsible for manpower issues. One of the managers is appointed as the team captain. Financial incentives are provided for the production team at each site based on the production and efficiency at the site.
Placing management power at the level of the actual production sites has resulted in greater flexibility, innovation and quicker decision-making than the more traditional management structures at South African gold mines. It also means that Harmony operates without multiple levels of management. This contributes to decreased overhead costs, which has a positive impact on the payable portion of Harmonys mineral resources. In addition, the reduced management structure is important in facilitating Harmonys goal of having 60% of its work force being directly involved in actual mining as opposed to the industry standard of 40%. Harmony believes that this initiative has resulted in increased productivity.
29
In addition, Harmony and the United Association of South Africa have signed an agreement to redefine the traditional role of shift boss, or supervisor, to that of a coach. This initiative, which Harmony has implemented at its South African operations, re-aligns features of Harmonys operational-level organization. The principal features of this initiative are to allow coaches to focus on safety promotion by transferring line supervision duties to the mine overseers (whose technical expertise will be available to blasting crews) and changing the compensation structure so that coaches will not receive incentive compensation based on production levels. In addition, coaches spend the entire eight-hour working shift underground with the mining team, in contrast with the four hours shift bosses typically spent with the mining team. Harmony believes that this initiative will promote a safe production environment for the blasting crew and enhance career development for previously disadvantaged individuals.
Capital Expenditures
Capital expenditures, including the non-cash portion, incurred for fiscal 2004 totalled approximately $126.5 million, compared with $209 million for fiscal 2003 and $59.0 million for fiscal 2002. The focus of Harmonys capital expenditures in recent years has been underground development and plant improvement, upgrades and acquisitions, and management currently expects this focus to continue in fiscal 2005. The decrease in capital expenditure in fiscal 2004 compared with fiscal 2003 was as a result of downscaling at the Elandskraal and Australian operations as well as the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar. The increase in capital expenditures in fiscal 2003 compared with fiscal 2002 was due to the acquisition of Abelle in March 2003 and the development of projects such as Tshepong and Bambanani. Harmony has budgeted approximately $144.1 million for capital expenditures in fiscal 2005. Details regarding the capital expenditures for each operation are found in the individual mine sections under Business Harmonys Mining Operations. Harmony currently expects that its planned capital expenditures will be financed from operations and existing cash on hand. However, if Harmony decides to expand major projects such as the Poplar Project and the Rolspruit Project at Evander beyond its current plans, Harmony may consider alternative financing sources described below. See Item 4. Information on the Company Business Harmonys Mining Operations Evander Operations.
Description of Property
Harmonys operational mining areas in South Africa comprise the Free State operations of 55,801 acres, the Evander area of 91,178 acres the Randfontein area of 41,026 acres, the Kalgold area of 5,259 acres, the Elandskraal area of 22,864 acres, the Free Golds area of 35,582 acres and the Target area 10,469 acres. Harmonys operational mining areas (granted tenements) in Australia comprise the combined Mt. Magnet Big Bell area of 252,114 acres, the South Kalgoorlie area of 222,647 acres and active holdings in the Northern Territories Joint Venture that total 288,083 acres. Harmony furthermore owns, controls or shares in mineral rights that have not been brought to production.
In line with the rest of the South African mining industry, Harmony has been rationalizing its mineral rights holdings in recent years. Accordingly, over the past three years, Harmony disposed of its shares and its participation rights in areas in as well as outside of South Africa in which it has not actively pursued mining. Harmony may continue to investigate further disposals.
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The following pages contain maps of Harmonys South African and worldwide operations and interests.
WORLDWIDE OPERATIONS
Geology
The major portion of Harmonys South African gold production is derived from mines located in the Witwatersrand Basin in South Africa. The Witwatersrand Basin is an elongate structure that extends approximately 300 kilometers in a northeast-southwest direction and approximately an 100 kilometers in a northwest-southeast direction. It is an Archean sedimentary basin containing a 6 kilometers thick stratigraphic sequence consisting mainly of quartzites and shales with minor volcanic units.
Conglomerate layers occur in distinctive depositional cycles or packages within the upper, arenaceous portion of the sequence, known as the Central Rand Group. It is within these predominately conglomeratic units that the gold-bearing alluvial placer deposits, termed reefs, are located.
The differences in the morphology and gold distribution patterns within a single reef, and from one reef to the next, are a reflection of the different sedimentary processes at work at the time of placer deposition on erosional surfaces in fluvial and littoral environments.
Within the various goldfields of the Witwatersrand Basin there are major and minor fault systems, and some of the normal faults have displaced basin-dipping placers upwards in a progressive step-like manner, enabling mining to take place at accessible depths.
The majority of Harmonys South African gold production is derived from auriferous placer reefs situated at different stratigraphic positions and at varying depths below surface in three of the seven defined goldfields of the Witwatersrand Basin.
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Harmonys production from the Australian operations and South African Kalgold operations are sourced from Archaean greenstone gold deposits. These types of deposits are formed by the interaction of gold-bearing hydrothermal fluids with chemically or rheologically suitable rock types. The hydrothermal fluids are typically focused along conduits termed shear zones. The nature of the shear zone and the host rock determines the style of the mineralization, which may be narrow veins with high gold grades or wide disseminated mineralization with low-medium grades. Frequently the two styles occur together.
At Harmonys Papua New Guinea operations, the sedimentary/volcaniclastic rocks of the Owen Stanley Formation that surround the Wafi Diatreme, host the gold mineralization at the Wafi project. Gold mineralization occurs as extensive high-sulphidation epithermal alteration overprinting porphyry mineralization and epithermal style vein-hosted and replacement gold mineralization with associated wall-rock alteration. The Golpu Copper-Gold project is located about 1kilometer northeast of the Wafi gold orebody. It is a porphyri (Diorite) copper-gold deposit. The host lithology is a diorite that exhibits a typical zoned porphyry copper alteration halo and the mineralized body can be described as a porphyry copper-gold pipe. Harmonys Hidden Valley project comprise low sulphidation carbonate-base metal-gold epithermal deposits within the Morobe Goldfield, in the Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea. In the Hidden Valley project area a batholith of Morobe Granodiorite (locally a coarse grained monzogranite) is flanked by fine metasediments of the Owen Stanley Metamorphics. Both are cut by dykes of Pliocene porphyry ranging from hornblende-biotite to feldspar-quartz porphyries. A number of commonly argillic altered and gold anomalous breccias are known, including both hydrothermal and over printing structural breccias. The Hidden Valley deposit area is dominated by a series of post Miocene faults controlling the gold mineralization, including an early north trending set and the main NW faulting.
Reserves
Harmony applies an ore reserve management system that emphasizes effective geological control of the orebody. In addition, ongoing management of the ore reserves is decentralized to each production site where management applies site-specific technical and working cost parameters to determine the optimal cut-off grade. This cut-off grade is defined as the grade at which the total profits from mining the orebody, under a specific set of mining parameters, is maximized and, therefore, optimizes exploitation of the orebody. The use of a cut-off grade attempts to account for all the ore tons that make a marginal contribution to the profitability of the mine.
Historically, South African gold mining companies have not been required to follow any particular standard for reporting ore reserves. Consequently, Harmony inherited a number of different standards for reporting ore reserves as it acquired mining operations.
The JSE requires that all gold mining companies listed on the JSE must report ore reserves on the basis of the South African Mineral Resource Committee code of practice, or SAMREC. The Harmony ore reserves as at June 30, 2004 have been reported in accordance with this ruling. In addition, the ore reserve information for Harmonys Australian operations is reported on the basis of the Australian Code for Reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves, or JORC Code. The JORC Code is consistent with SAMREC, although the JORC code focuses more specifically on open cast mining, which is more common in Australia. Only the reserves which qualify as proven and probable reserves for purposes of the SECs industry guide number 7 at each of Harmonys mining operations are presented in this annual report. See Glossary of Mining Terms.
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As at June 30, 2004, Harmonys mining operations reported total proven and probable reserves of approximately 62.3 million ounces, which includes Avgold, as set forth in the following table:
Ore reserve statement as at June 30, 2004
Proven Reserves | Probable Reserves | Total Reserves | Gold sales in the fiscal year ended June 30, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tons | Grade | Gold oz1 | Tons | Grade | Gold oz1 | Tons | Grade | Gold oz1 | 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
(million) |
(oz/ton) |
(million) |
(million) |
(oz/ton) |
(million) |
(million) |
(oz/ton) |
(million) |
(oz) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South African
Operations |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
S.A. Underground
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Elandskraal |
12.75 | 0.24 | 3.06 | 23.99 | 0.24 | 5.69 | 36.74 | 0.24 | 8.75 | 318,708 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Free State |
27.83 | 0.14 | 3.82 | 21.04 | 0.13 | 2.71 | 48.87 | 0.13 | 6.53 | 654,420 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Randfontein |
9.91 | 0.16 | 1.61 | 6.14 | 0.16 | 0.99 | 16.05 | 0.16 | 2.60 | 394,166 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Evander |
12.24 | 0.20 | 2.42 | 66.83 | 0.20 | 13.39 | 79.07 | 0.20 | 15.81 | 359,733 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Avgold |
8.59 | 0.22 | 1.88 | 18.12 | 0.20 | 3.56 | 26.71 | 0.20 | 5.44 | 53,434 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Free Gold |
26.19 | 0.22 | 5.78 | 57.12 | 0.20 | 11.47 | 83.31 | 0.21 | 17.25 | 959,367 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ARMgold |
3.52 | 0.23 | 0.82 | 0.61 | 0.22 | 0.13 | 4.13 | 0.23 | 0.95 | 215,015 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total S.A.
Underground |
101.03 | 0.19 | 19.39 | 193.85 | 0.20 | 37.94 | 294.88 | 0.19 | 57.33 | 2,954,843 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
S.A. Surface
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Elandskraal |
| | | | | | | | | 5,301 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Avgold |
| | | 3.80 | 0.02 | 0.07 | 3.80 | 0.02 | 0.07 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Free State |
13.76 | 0.01 | 0.13 | 6.64 | 0.02 | 0.10 | 20.40 | 0.01 | 0.23 | 26,732 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Randfontein |
33.76 | 0.01 | 0.47 | 0.05 | 0.24 | 0.01 | 33.81 | 0.01 | 0.49 | 18,872 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Evander |
| | | | | | | | | 1,961 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kalgold (open cast) |
6.14 | 0.06 | 0.38 | | | | 6.14 | 0.06 | 0.38 | 82,756 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Free Gold |
2.79 | 0.01 | 0.04 | 23.64 | 0.02 | 0.38 | 26.44 | 0.02 | 0.42 | 73,122 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total S.A. Surface |
56.45 | 0.02 | 1.02 | 34.13 | 0.02 | 0.56 | 90.59 | 0.02 | 1.59 | 208,744 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Australian
Operations |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Operations2 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northern Territory |
0.06 | 0.41 | 0.02 | 0.88 | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0.94 | 0.10 | 0.10 | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mt. Magnet |
2.71 | 0.05 | 0.15 | 5.78 | 0.14 | 0.78 | 8.49 | 0.11 | 0.92 | 173,228 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
South Kalgoorlie3 |
1.65 | 0.08 | 0.13 | 1.28 | 0.11 | 0.14 | 2.94 | 0.09 | 0.27 | 120,532 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Big Bell3 |
| | | | | | | | | 11,574 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gidgee5 |
| | | | | | | | | 32,954 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Australian
Operations |
4.42 | 0.07 | 0.30 | 7.94 | 0.13 | 1.00 | 12.37 | 0.10 | 1.30 | 338,288 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Papua New Guinea6 |
2.23 | 0.09 | 0.20 | 21.43 | 0.09 | 1.84 | 23.66 | 0.09 | 2.04 | 32,954 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TOTAL |
164.1 | 20.91 | 257.35 | 41.35 | 421.50 | 62.26 | 3,501,875 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 | Gold oz figures are fully inclusive of all mining dilutions and gold losses, and are reported as mill delivered tons and head grades. Metallurgical recovery factors have not been applied to the reserve figures. Approximate metallurgical recovery factors are set forth below. | |
2 | Includes reserves from underground and surface mining at each of the Australian operations. | |
3 | The South Kalgoorlie operations include Jubilee, acquired in the New Hampton transaction, and New Celebration, acquired in the Hill 50 transaction. | |
4 | Operations ceased in July 2003. | |
5 | Represents sales for five months up to November 2003. | |
6 | Includes reserves from underground and surface mining at the operations. | |
7 | Represents sales for two months from May 1, 2004 for the Avgold operations. | |
8 | Represents Free Gold sales for fiscal year 2004 without taking into account equity accounting for the first three months. |
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The numbers shown in the table above are fully inclusive of all mining dilutions and gold losses, and are reported as mill delivered tons and head grades. Metallurgical recovery factors have not been applied to the reserve figures stated above. The approximate metallurgical recovery factors for the table above are as follows: (a) Elandskraal 95.6%; (b) Free State 95%; (c) Randfontein 96.5%; (d) Evander 96.7%; (e) Kalgold 82%; (f) the Free Gold assets 97%; (g) Target 97.5%, (h) Big Bell 86%; (i) Mt. Magnet 93%; (j) South Kalgoorlie 92%. A gold price of Rand 92,000 per kilogram was applied in calculating the ore reserve figures. The gold price on September 29, 2004 was approximately R84,500 per kilogram. Harmonys standard for narrow reef sampling with respect to both proven and probable reserve calculations for underground mining operations at Elandskraal, Free State, Evander, Randfontein, Free Gold and Target is applied on a 6 meter by 6 meter grid. Average sample spacing on development ends is at 2 meter intervals in development areas. For the massive mining at the Target operations, the Harmony standard for sampling with respect to both proven and probable reserves are fan drilling with B sized diamond drill holes (43mm core) sited at 50 meter spaced sections along twin access drives. Harmonys standard for sampling with respect to both proven and probable reserves at its Australian underground operations include sampling development drives and crosscuts at intervals of up to 4 meters, drilling fans of diamond drill boreholes with a maximum spacing of 20 meters in any orientation within the ore bodies, and assaying core at 1 meter intervals. The Kalgold open cast operations are sampled on diamond drill and reverse circulation drill spacing of no more than 25 meters on average. Surface mining at South African operations other than Kalgold involves recovering gold from areas previously involved in mining and processing, such as metallurgical plants, waste rock dumps and tailings dams (slimes and sand) for which random sampling is used. Australian surface operations are sampled on diamond drill and reverse circulation drill spacing of no more than 20 meters on average.
In calculating proven and probable reserves, Harmony applies a cut-off grade. The cut-off grade is determined for each shaft using Harmonys optimizer computer program, which takes account of a number of factors, including grade distribution of the orebody, an assumed gold price, planned production rates, planned working costs and mine recovery factors. Harmonys optimizer computer program determines the total profits that can be made from mining blocks of various grades. The point of maximum total profit is used to determine the cut-off grade. Mining the blocks at and above the cut-off grade will be profitable if the assumptions underlying the cut-off grade hold true. Blocks below the cut-off grade are not included in Harmonys reserve estimates. Harmony generally aims to mine above the cut-off grade. This can be contrasted with the so-called pay limit approach for determining reserve estimates, which identifies the grade at which revenues and costs are equal and then determines the portion below this break-even grade that can be mined together with portions above the break-even grade to remain profitable. Harmony believes the cut-off grade methodology defines more precisely which blocks should be mined for profitable operations.
Harmonys Mining Operations
In South Africa, Harmony and its subsidiaries conduct underground mining at seven sites-Elandskraal, the Free State, Randfontein, Evander, Free Gold, ARMgold and Avgold and surface mining at four sites- the Free State, Randfontein, Free Gold and Kalgold. Surface mining conducted at the South African operations other than Kalgold involves recovering gold from areas previously involved in mining and processing, such as metallurgical plants, waste rock dumps and tailings dams (slimes and sand). Harmony has also conducted open cast mining at Randfontein, but these open cast operations were downscaled and discontinued during fiscal 2002 because the open cast mine had reached the end of its useful life.
In Australia, Harmony and its subsidiaries presently conduct mining principally at two sites, the Mt. Magnet operations (which were acquired in the Hill 50 transaction) and the South Kalgoorlie operations (which include the Jubilee operations acquired in the New Hampton transaction and the New Celebration operations acquired in the Hill 50 transaction). During fiscal 2003 the Gidgee gold mine was an additional site acquired in the Abelle transaction, but Abelle disposed of its Gidgee underground operations in December 2003. Underground and surface mining is conducted at each of the remaining operations, with underground access through two declines at Mt. Magnet and one decline at South Kalgoorlie and surface access principally through open pits. Underground operations at Big Bell ceased in July 2003 as mining there had become uneconomical due to low grade and the Big Bell plant was sold in December 2003. Surface mining will, however, continue in certain areas of the Big Bell tenements, with ore to be processed at the Mt. Magnet plant.
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South African Underground Operations
The following chart details the operating and production results from underground operations in South Africa for the past three fiscal years:
Fiscal year ended June 30, |
||||||||||||
20041 |
20031 |
20021 |
||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Tons (000) |
17,613 | 12,294 | 13,368 | |||||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.153 | 0.142 | 0.149 | |||||||||
Gold sold (ounces) |
2,702,015 | 1,701,367 | 1,988,320 | |||||||||
Results of operations ($) |
||||||||||||
Product
sales (000) |
1,037,867 | 578,764 | 567,006 | |||||||||
Cash cost
(000) |
993,270 | 425,323 | 384,434 | |||||||||
Cash profit
(000) |
44,597 | 139,775 | 182,607 | |||||||||
Cash costs |
||||||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
368 | 250 | 193 |
1 | Excludes Harmonys interest in gold sales by the Free Gold Company for the first three months of fiscal 2004 and for the full fiscal years of 2003 and 2002. |
Tons milled from underground operations in South Africa increased to 17,613,000 in fiscal 2004, compared with 12,294,000 in fiscal 2003, due to the acquisition of ARMgold, resulting in the inclusion of Free Gold as a subsidiary, as well as the acquisition of Avgold consisting of the Target operations. See ARMgold Operations, Free Gold Operations and Avgold Operations below. Recovered grade increased 8% in fiscal 2004, compared with fiscal 2003, due primarily to inclusion of the high-grade Free Gold and Avgold operations.
Cash costs for underground operations in South Africa were $368 per ounce of gold in fiscal 2004, compared $250 per ounce of gold in fiscal 2003. This increase was attributable primarily to the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar, which caused a significant increase when these costs were translated into U.S. dollars. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Exchange Rates. If expressed in Rand terms, costs per ounce would have increased in fiscal 2004, due primarily to the increases in the costs of labor and supplies due to the implementation of collective bargaining agreements and the effect of inflation on supply contracts.
South African Surface Operations
The following chart details the operating and production results from Harmonys surface operations in South Africa for the past three fiscal years (with historic figures adjusted to reflect the segmentation of the Elandskraal operations described above):
Fiscal year ended June 30, |
||||||||||||
20041 |
20031 |
20021 |
||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Tons (000) |
9,813 | 5,799 | 4,198 | |||||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.019 | 0.027 | 0.033 | |||||||||
Gold sold (ounces) |
184,884 | 155,095 | 138,882 | |||||||||
Results of operations ($) |
||||||||||||
Product
sales (000) |
71,000 | 51,344 | 40,034 | |||||||||
Cash cost
(000) |
64,404 | 35,615 | 24,037 | |||||||||
Cash profit
(000) |
6,596 | 15,729 | 16,003 | |||||||||
Cash costs |
||||||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
348 | 230 | 173 |
1 | Excludes Harmonys interest in gold sales by the Free Gold Company for the first three months of fiscal 2004 and the full fiscal years of 2003 and 2002. |
The amount of gold sold from surface operations in South Africa increased in fiscal 2004 due primarily to the inclusion of Free Gold for nine months of the fiscal year as well as increased production from the Free State and Kalgold. This was partially offset by the fact that the treatment of surface sources from Evander and Elandskraal was discontinued during January 2004 and December 2003 respectively. The amount of gold sold from surface operations in South Africa increased in fiscal 2003 due primarily to the increased production from the Free State
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and Randfontein. The amount of gold sold from surface operations in South Africa increased in fiscal 2002, due primarily to the inclusion of surface sources from Elandskraal for a full fiscal year, the improved recovered grades from Kalgolds surface sources and the treatment of Free State surface sources during the year. These factors more than offset decreased production from Randfontein surface sources as a result of the closure of Randfonteins open pit.
In light of the higher prevailing market price for gold in fiscal 2002, and in order to maximize use of the Free State plants, Harmony began processing materials from secondary surface sources, primarily waste rock dumps and tailings dams (slimes and sand), at the Free State operations in the quarter ended March 31, 2002. This production is included in South African surface operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2002 and all subsequent periods.
Tons milled from surface operations in South Africa were 9,813,000 in fiscal 2004, compared with 5,799,000 in fiscal 2003. This increase was primarily due to the increase in tons at the Free State and the inclusion of tons from Free Gold for nine months during fiscal 2004. These increases were offset by the discontinuation of the treatment of surface sources from Elandskraal and Evander. Recovered grade from surface operations in South Africa was 0.019 ounces per ton in fiscal 2004, compared with 0.027 ounces per ton in fiscal 2003, as a result of lower grade surface sources being treated at the Free State and Randfontein operations.
Cash costs for surface operations in South Africa were $348 per ounce of gold in fiscal 2004, compared with $230 per ounce of gold in fiscal 2003. This increase was attributable primarily to appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar, which caused a significant increase when these costs were translated into U.S. dollars. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Exchange Rates. If expressed in Rand terms, costs per ounce would have increased in fiscal 2004, due primarily to the increases in the costs of labor and supplies due to the implementation of collective bargaining agreements and the effect of inflation on supply contracts.
Elandskraal Operations
Introduction. On January 31, 2001, Harmony entered into an agreement to purchase the assets and liabilities of the Elandskraal mines in the North West and Gauteng provinces of South Africa for approximately Rand 1 billion. Harmony and AngloGold jointly managed the Elandskraal mines between February 1, 2001 and April 9, 2001 and Harmony completed the purchase on April 9, 2001. In fiscal 2004, the Elandskraal operations accounted for approximately 10% of Harmonys total gold sales. The assets and liabilities of the Elandskraal mines include the mineral rights and mining title (excluding a portion of the Carbon Leader Reef horizon, which AngloGold continues to mine), mining equipment, metallurgical facilities, underground and surface infrastructure necessary for the continuation of mining, ore treatment and gold extraction at Elandskraal as a going concern, and contributions to a rehabilitation trust fund equivalent to the current rehabilitation liability of this operation. The addition of Elandskraal to Harmonys operations increased Harmonys reserves by approximately 9.9 million ounces.
On April 24, 2001, Harmony entered into an agreement with Randfontein and Open Solutions, pursuant to which the parties agreed to associate together in a joint venture related to the business of the Elandskraal mines, or the Elandskraal Venture. Open Solutions, an empowerment group, undertook to purchase a 10% participation interest in the Elandskraal Venture for cash consideration equal to 10% of the historical acquisition costs (including all transaction costs but excluding loan financing costs) of the Elandskraal mines, in an amount estimated to be approximately Rand 114 million. Randfontein retained the remaining 90% participation interest in the Elandskraal Venture, continued to own and operate the Elandskraal mines, and had the sole discretion to manage the Elandskraal Venture (but was required to consult with Open Solutions prior to effecting a sale or disposal of the material portion of the assets of the Elandskraal mines). Under the agreement, Randfontein also undertook to loan the purchase price to Open Solutions at an interest rate equal to the prime rate less 1%, to be repaid by Open Solutions from the benefits accruing to Open Solutions attributable to its 10% participation interest. As security for the repayment of this loan, Open Solutions ceded and assigned to Randfontein all its right, title and interest in and to its participation interest (other than the right to appoint the representatives described below) until the loan was repaid in full.
Under the agreement, Randfontein agreed to accept liability, as to third parties, for all obligations and liabilities of the Elandskraal Venture and Open Solutions agreed to indemnify Randfontein in respect of a pro rata portion of these obligations and liabilities. Open Solutions could not dispose of its participation interest without the prior written consent of Randfontein, or encumber its participation interest other than as provided in the agreement. Pursuant to the agreement, Open Solutions was granted the right, at any time prior to the repayment in full of Randfonteins loan, to require Randfontein to acquire Open Solutions participation interest at a price equal to the
36
then-outstanding loan balance. With effect from April 1, 2002, Randfontein reacquired this 10% participation interest in the Elandskraal Venture from Open Solutions. The aggregate consideration paid by Randfontein to Open Solutions was Rand 210 million ($18.5 million at an exchange rate of R11.35 per $1.00). This aggregate consideration included the cancellation of the remaining Rand 91 million ($8.0 million at an exchange rate of R11.35 per $1.00) due to Randfontein under its loan of April 24, 2001 to Open Solutions.
History. Gold mining began at Elandskraal in 1978 following approval of the project in 1974 by Elandsrand Gold Mining Company for the Elandsrand operations and by Gold Fields of South Africa Ltd. for the Deelkraal operations. Two surface shafts and two adjoining sub-vertical shafts were sunk at Elandsrand and Deelkraal. The sub-vertical shafts at Elandsrand were completed in 1984, which accessed a deeper reef in the lease area. The sub shaft deepening project, or SSDP, the deepening of the sub-vertical shafts to approximately 3,400 meters below surface, is an on-going project to access and exploit a portion of the mine. Harmony believes that the SSDP will enable Elandskraal to produce approximately 350,000 ounces per year over the life of the mines. Sinking of a third surface shaft commenced at Deelkraal in 1988. However, this shaft was not completed and is now flooded. In 1997, Gold Fields of South Africa Ltd. sold Deelkraal to Elandsrand, which later was incorporated into AngloGold.
Geology. Elandskraal contains three identified main reef groupings, the Ventersdorp Contact Reef, or VCR, the Carbon Leader Reef, or CLR and the Mondeor Reef. Only the VCR is economic to mine and has been mined at depths below surface between 1,600 and 2,800 meters with future production to 3,300 meters below surface at the Elandsrand operations and at depths below surface of 2,750 meters at the Deelkraal operations. The VCR and CLR consist of narrow (20 centimeters to 2 meters) tabular orebodies of quartz pebble conglomerates hosting gold, with extreme lateral continuity.
At the Elandsrand operations, the vertical separation between the VCR and CLR increases east to west from 900 meters to 1,300 meters as a result of the relative angle of the VCR unconformity surface to the regional stratigraphic strike and dip. The CLR strikes west-southwest and dips to the south at 25 degrees. The VCR strikes east-northeast and has a regional dip of 21 degrees to the south-southeast. Local variations in dip are largely due to the terrace-and-slope palaeotopography surface developed during VCR deposition.
The dip of the VCR at the Deelkraal operations is relatively consistent at 24 degrees, although there is some postulation of a slight flattening of dip at depth. The VCR has a limit of deposition running roughly north-south through the center of the lease area. The VCR is not developed to the west of this line. Some stoping has occurred to the west of this limit, but this was to exploit reefs from the Mondeor Conglomerates, stratigraphically underlying the VCR.
Mining Operations. The Elandskraal operations are divided into the Elandsrand and the Deelkraal mines. The Elandsrand mine engaged in both underground and waste rock mining. The Deelkraal mine engaged in underground mining but as a result of the lower gold price in Rand terms (taking into account the stronger Rand as against the U.S. dollar) during fiscal 2004, the production was stopped during June 2004. Vamping and reclamation operations are ongoing at this time. These operations are subject to all of the underground and waste rock mining risks detailed in the Risk Factors section.
Due to the operating depths of the Elandskraal underground operations, seismicity and pressure related problems are a risk. In December 2001, a seismic event at the Deelkraal operations caused the deaths of six workers. Another seismic event at Deelkraal in July 2002 fatally injured two workers. Although these types of events are tragic in nature and disrupting on production, it should not affect the longer term production achievements. Harmony regularly revisits its mining strategy and management procedures at all of its deeper mining operations in connection with its efforts to mitigate this risk. The primary challenges facing the Elandskraal operations are the lowering of working costs, increasing mining flexibility, controlling capital expenditure and the timely completion of the SSDP. Harmony expects that the SSDP will be completed by the middle of fiscal 2006.
Following the acquisition, Harmony has implemented the Harmony Way at Elandskraal in an effort to cut costs and increase productivity. This has improved the overall cost structure, which has enabled Harmony to pursue capital development. Harmony also completed restructuring of the Elandskraal operations, which resulted in the retrenchment of approximately 1,450 employees.
The Elandsrand mine, a mature mine with a declining production profile, has the challenge of a new mine being developed underneath the old mine. The nature of the different activities underway negatively impacted on the performance of the shaft during fiscal 2004. Due to scaling of the waste and reef orepasses, a program to rehabilitate the orepass system was put in place. This resulted in the temporary tipping of waste into the reef orepass system, which typically results in dilution in recovery grade and a distorted cash cost/ton profile. The problem was finally resolved in February 2004, and resulted in an improvement in recovery grade. A fire during the
37
quarter ended September 30, 2003 resulted in the loss of three working shifts. Production was also affected by a blockage in the orepass during the quarter ended June 30, 2004. Seismic events during the quarters ending September 30, 2003 and June 30, 2004 resulted in three fatalities. Development was delayed as a result. Although this had an impact on the development for the period, it did not impact on the longer term production plan. The first raise line on the 102 level project commenced production in January 2004. The 105 level intersected the reef during May 2004 on the 105-33 cross cut. The project is expected to be completed by the middle of fiscal 2006 and is expected to have a life of mine of 17 years.
An agreement for the implementation of CONOPS at Deelkraal was reached with the respective unions on December 19, 2003. Due to delays, it was only fully operational by April 2004. Despite this, production at the Deelkraal mine was stopped in June 2004 as a result of the reduction in the Rand-denominated price of gold which made mining at the shaft uneconomical.
During fiscal 2004, the safety record at the Elandskraal mines in terms of lost time frequency rate (22.51) compared unfavorably with the group average of 19.22. The fatality frequency rate (0.65) was also higher than the group average mainly as a result of the seismic event described above. Significant work is being done to address this. Safety standards from other Harmony operations are being applied at Elandskraal and receive constant and high-level attention. Where problems are identified steps are being taken to address the situation. The Executive for Sustainable Development, is responsible for leading initiatives to improve workplace health and safety at the South African operations. See Item 6. Directors and Senior Management Board Practices.
Underground Operations. Detailed below are the operating and production results from underground operations at Elandskraal for fiscal 2004, 2003 and 2002:
Fiscal year ended June 30, |
||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Tons (000) |
1,959 | 2,066 | 2,420 | |||||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.163 | 0.168 | 0.183 | |||||||||
Gold sold (ounces) |
318,708 | 347,276 | 442,715 | |||||||||
Results of operations ($) |
||||||||||||
Cash cost
(000) |
138,453 | 95,941 | 88,425 | |||||||||
Cash profit
(000) |
(15,416 | ) | 18,505 | 35,683 | ||||||||
Cash costs |
||||||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
434 | 276 | 200 |
Tons milled from Elandskraals underground operations were 1,959,000 in fiscal 2004, compared with 2,066,000 in fiscal 2003, and ounces sold were 318,708 in fiscal 2004, compared with 347,276 in fiscal 2003. This decrease in tons milled and ounces sold was due to the problems experienced with the orepass system at the Elandsrand operation, which resulted in waste rock diluting the recovery grade and reduced flexibility in the old mine area. This reduction in ounces produced, together with the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar were the main contributors to the increase in cash cost from $276 per ounce in fiscal 2003 to $434 per ounce in fiscal 2004. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Exchange Rates to see the effect that the appreciation of the Rand, against the U.S. dollar had on the dollar costs of the company. If expressed in Rand terms, costs would have increased by 8.9% in fiscal 2004 due to the reduction in ounces due to problems with the ore pass system, increases in the costs of labor and supplies due to the implementation of collective bargaining agreements and the effect of inflation on supply contracts.
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Elandskraal currently operates two production shaft units, comprised of four surface shafts and two sub-vertical shafts. Set out below are the rock hoisting capacities of Elandskraals production shafts.
Hoisting Capacity | ||||
Shaft |
(tons/month) |
|||
Elandsrand No. 2 shaft and sub-vertical shaft |
365,000 | |||
Deelkraal No. 1 shaft and sub-vertical shaft |
206,000 |
On a simplistic basis (and assuming that no additional reserves are identified), at the production level achieved in fiscal 2004, the June 30, 2004 reported proven and probable ore reserves of 36.74 million tons will be sufficient for the Elandskraal operations to maintain underground production until approximately calendar year 2020. However, because the Elandskraal operations consist of several different mining sections that are at various stages of maturity, it is expected that some sections will decrease production earlier than others. In addition, any future changes to the assumptions upon which the ore reserves are based, as well as any unforeseen events affecting production levels, could have a material effect on the expected period of future operations. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmonys gold reserve figures may yield less gold under actual production conditions than Harmony currently estimates.
Elandsrand New Mine Project. The project, initiated by AngloGold in 1991, was intended to increase the life of mine by exploiting the southern portion of the lease area between 3,000 3,600 meters below surface. This will be achieved by deepening the sub-vertical and ventilation shafts. During fiscal 2004, the payshoot, which was mined on the shallower levels of the old mine, was exposed on levels 102 and 105. Production from level 102 started in January 2004. Development continues on 109 and 113 levels and is expected to be completed by the middle of fiscal 2006.
Surface Operations. Following the completion of the Elandskraal acquisition, Harmony increased the processing of ore from numerous secondary surface sources located in close proximity to the Elandskraal shafts, including low grade rock dumps. Given the significance of the surface production as a proportion of Elandskraals total production, Harmony began to segment Elandskraals production figures into underground and surface production in the quarter ended December 31, 2001. It was also decided to dedicate the Deelkraal metallurgical plant to only treat surface sources, that way ensuring that it is treated as a stand alone business which could be measured as such. AngloGold, the previous owner of the Elandskraal assets, had not focused on this type of production and, accordingly, had not reported such production from secondary sources at Elandskraal. The treatment of the surface sources became uneconomical and was discontinued during the quarter ended December 31, 2003 as a result of decreased efficiency, the low recovery grades and the reduction in the Rand gold price. The production from surface sources was stopped in the quarter ended December 31, 2003 and the Deelkraal plant reverted back to treating Deelkraal shaft ore.
Detailed below are the operating and production results from surface operations at Elandskraal for fiscal 2004, 2003 and 2002.
Fiscal year ended June 30, |
||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Tons (000) |
451 | 1,228 | 1,197 | |||||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.012 | 0.016 | 0.028 | |||||||||
Gold sold (ounces) |
5,301 | 19,323 | 33,344 | |||||||||
Results of operations ($) |
||||||||||||
Cash cost
(000) |
2,616 | 4,518 | 4,744 | |||||||||
Cash profit
(000) |
(568 | ) | 1,924 | 4,984 | ||||||||
Cash costs |
||||||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
493 | 233 | 142 |
Tons milled from the Elandskraal surface operations were 451,000 in fiscal 2004, compared with 1,228,000 in fiscal 2003. This decrease was attributable to the discontinuation of treatment of surface sources in December 2003. Cash costs per ounce of gold were $493 per ounce in fiscal 2004, compared with $233 per ounce in fiscal 2003. This increase was attributable to decreased production, lower recovery grade and the stronger Rand, which caused
39
a significant increase when these costs were translated into U.S. dollars. The lower recovery grade was as a result of lower grade material being treated from the rock dump. The treatment of the rock dump was completed during the quarter ended December 31, 2003.
Plants. Commissioned in 1978, the Elandsrand Plant has milling in closed circuit with primary and secondary hydrocyclones, secondary ball milling in closed circuit with hydrocyclones, thickening and cyanide leaching in a CIP pump cell carousel circuit. The CIP was commissioned after an upgrade of the facility in 1999. Following post-acquisition capital improvements, loaded carbon milled at the Elandsrand Plant is transported by road to the Cooke Plant at Randfontein for elution, electro-winning and smelting to produce gold. Residues from the CIP are pumped either to a backfill plant or directly to the tailings facility. Ore from Elandsrand underground operations are delivered to the plant for treatment.
Commissioned in 1978, the Deelkraal plant has milling in closed circuit with primary and secondary hydrocyclones, thickening, cyanide leaching, filtration, zinc precipitation and smelting to produce gold. Residues from the re-pulped filtercake are pumped either directly to a backfill preparation plant or directly to the tailings facilities. The current operating capacity of 116,000 tons/month when processing waste differs from the design capacity of 149,000 tons/months as it is limited by the condition of the filter plant. The Deelkraal plant was used primarily for the treatment of waste rock. During December 2003, the plant was converted back to treating Deelkraal underground ore. As production from the Deelkraal mine was stopped in June 2004, the plant was closed at the end of June 2004 and clean up operations are in progress.
The following table sets forth processing capacity and average tons milled during fiscal 2004 for each of the plants:
Average | ||||||||
milled for the | ||||||||
Processing | fiscal year | |||||||
Capacity | June 30, 2004 | |||||||
Plant |
(tons/month) |
(tons/month) |
||||||
Elandsrand Plant |
209,000 | 112,500 | ||||||
Deelkraal Plant |
149,000 | 51,700 |
In fiscal 2004, the Elandsrand Plant recovered approximately 96% of the gold contained in the ore delivered for processing and the Deelkraal Plant recovered approximately 92% of the gold contained in the ore delivered for processing.
Capital Expenditure. Harmony incurred approximately Rand 121.2 million in capital expenditures at the Elandskraal operations in fiscal 2004, principally for the SSDP, which amounted to approximately Rand 105.2 million. Harmony has budgeted Rand 111.4 million ($17.9 million, using the closing rate at balance sheet date) for capital expenditures at the Elandskraal operations in fiscal 2005, primarily for the SSDP.
Randfontein Operations
Introduction. The Randfontein gold mine is located in the Gauteng Province of South Africa, approximately thirty kilometers west of Johannesburg. The Randfontein mine currently operates under a mining authorization with a total area of 17,753 hectares. The Randfontein mine has both underground and surface mining operations, and has two metallurgical plants. Underground mining is conducted at Randfontein at depths ranging from 500 meters to 2,500 meters. Harmony has also historically conducted open cast mining at Randfontein, however, these open cast operations were downscaled and discontinued in the six months ended December 31, 2001, as the open cast mine had reached the end of its useful life. In fiscal 2004, Harmonys Randfontein operations accounted for approximately 12% of Harmonys total gold sales.
History. Gold mining began at the Randfontein mine in 1889. Since the commencement of mining operations to June 30, 2004, Randfontein has sold approximately 54.8 million ounces of gold at an average recovered grade of 0.163 ounces per ton. Harmony obtained management control of Randfontein in January, 2000 and by June 30, 2000 had acquired 100% of Randfonteins outstanding ordinary share capital and 96.5% of the warrants to purchase ordinary shares of Randfontein. See Item 4. Information on the Company Business History.
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Since acquiring Randfontein, Harmony has implemented the Harmony Way at Randfontein. Harmony has reduced the number of senior managers, has sold off non-core assets and has implemented management teams.
Geology. The Randfontein mine is situated in the West Rand Goldfield of the Witwatersrand Basin, the structure of which is dominated by the Witpoortjie and Panvlakte Horst blocks, which are superimposed over broad folding associated with the southeast plunging West 50 Rand Syncline. The structural geology in the north section of the Randfontein mine is dominated by a series of northeast trending dextral wrench faults.
The Randfontein mine contains six identified main reef groupings: the Black Reef; the Ventersdorp Contact Reef; the Elsburg Formations; the Kimberleys; the Livingstone Reefs; and the South Reef. Within these, several economic reef horizons have been mined at depths below surface between 600 and 1,260 meters.
The reefs comprise fine to coarse grained pyritic mineralization within well developed thick quartz pebble conglomerates or narrow single pebble lags, which in certain instances are replaced by narrow carbon seams.
Mining Operations. The Randfontein operations are engaged in both underground and waste rock mining. These operations are subject to all of the underground and waste rock mining risks detailed in the Risk Factors section, and have historically also been subject to the open pit mining risks. The open cast operations were downscaled and discontinued in the six months ended December 31, 2001, as the mine had reached the end of its useful life. Due to the shallow to moderate depths of the operations, seismicity and pressure related problems are infrequent. There is a risk of subterranean water and/or gas intersections in some areas of the mine. However, this risk is mitigated by active and continuous management and monitoring, which includes the drilling of boreholes in advance of faces. Where water and/or gas is indicated in the drilling, appropriate preventative action is taken.
The Doornkop South Reef Project was announced on January 22, 2003. It is estimated that the South Reef project has an in situ resource of 6.6 million ounces. For project purposes, it is estimated that 129 tons or 3.75 million ounces of gold will be recovered from the resource at a recovery grade of 0.186 ounces per ton.
Currently, the Kimberley Reef is mined on the upper levels of the Doornkop Shaft. The South Reef on the lower levels is the target of the proposed shaft-deepening project. The main shaft is to be commissioned in July 2006 and production of 135,000 ounces per month is expected by October 2008. To access the South Reef resource the main shaft will be deepened to a depth of 2,034 meters and the spillage incline shaft extended to a depth of 2,082 meters below surface.
Randfontein entered into an agreement with Africa Vanguard Resources (Doornkop) (Pty) Limited on January 21, 2003, pursuant to which Randfontein sold 26% of its mineral rights in respect of the Doornkop Mining Area to Africa Vanguard for a consideration of Rand 250 million. The consideration comprised cash of Rand 140 million and Rand 110 million in call options on 290,000 ounces of gold, being equal to 16% of the gold produced at Doornkop during the first 10 years of operation. Randfontein and Africa Vanguard also entered into a joint venture agreement on the same day, pursuant to which they agreed to jointly conduct a mining operation in respect of the Doornkop Mining Area. The profits will be shared 84% to Randfontein and 16% to Africa Vanguard. The agreements were subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions precedent, the last of which was fulfilled on August 12, 2003. The agreements were implemented and the purchase price paid on August 15, 2003. For US GAAP purposes, Harmony will not account for this transaction as a sale, but will consolidate the results of Africa Vanguard and the Doornkop Joint Venture, as both these entities have been determined to be variable interest entities with Harmony as the primary beneficiary of both variable interest entities.
Mining at the South Reef at Doornkop was temporarily suspended during the fourth calendar quarter of 2003 to allow for the upgrade of the ventilation with respect to increasing both hoisting capacity and ventilation intake. This caused the overall recovery on Doornkop to drop. This situation continued until mining commenced in January 2004.
The safety record at the Randfontein operations during fiscal 2004 in terms of lost time frequency rate (25.48) compared unfavorably with the group average while the fatality frequency rate (0.27) compared favorably with the group average. Lost time frequency rate at the plants in operation was 2.81, which compared unfavorably with the group average of 2.58. There were no fatalities during fiscal 2004. Nevertheless, safety at the operations receives constant and high-level attention and where problems are identified steps are taken to address the situation. The Executive for Sustainable Development, is responsible for leading initiatives to improve workplace health and safety at Harmonys South African operations. See Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees Directors and Senior Management Board Practices.
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Underground Operations. Detailed below are the operating and production results from underground operations at Randfontein for the past three fiscal years:
Fiscal year ended June 30, |
||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Tons (000) |
2,920 | 3,162 | 3,606 | |||||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.135 | 0.144 | 0.147 | |||||||||
Gold sold (ounces) |
394,166 | 454,917 | 531,588 | |||||||||
Results of operations ($) |
||||||||||||
Cash cost
(000) |
138,984 | 96,190 | 93,324 | |||||||||
Cash profit
(000) |
11,851 | 53,166 | 57,781 | |||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
353 | 211 | 176 |
Tons milled from Randfonteins underground operations were 2,920,000 in fiscal 2004, compared with 3,162,000 in fiscal 2003, and ounces sold were 394,166 in fiscal 2004, compared with 454,917 in fiscal 2003. This decrease in ounces sold was primarily due to the lower recovery grade. Cash costs per ounce of gold were $353 in fiscal 2004, compared with $211 in fiscal 2003. This increase was attributable primarily to the lower ounces produced, due to lower volumes and grade from Cooke 3 shaft and the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar, which caused a significant increase when these costs were translated into U.S. dollars. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Exchange Rates. If expressed in Rand terms, costs per ounce would have increased in fiscal 2004, due primarily to the lower grade in volumes produced, as well as increases in the costs of labor and supplies due to the implementation of collective bargaining agreements and the effect of inflation on supply contracts.
The underground operations at Randfontein are comprised of the underground sections of the Cooke shafts No. 1, 2, and 3, shaft 4 and the Doornkop shaft.
Set out below are the hoisting capacities of Randfonteins shafts:
Hoisting Capacity | ||||
Shaft |
(tons/month) |
|||
Cooke 11 |
194,450 | |||
Cooke 2 |
206,600 | |||
Cooke 3 |
291,700 | |||
Cooke 42 |
164,200 | |||
Doornkop |
54,700 |
1 | Currently operating at a rate of 50,000 tons per month in connection with the extraction of the shaft pillar. | |
2 | The shaft was closed during April 2002. |
On a simplistic basis (and assuming that no additional reserves are identified), at the production level achieved in fiscal 2004, the June 30, 2004 reported proven and probable underground ore reserves of 16.05 million tons will be sufficient for the Randfontein underground operations to maintain production until approximately fiscal 2009. However, because the Randfontein operations consist of several different mining sections that are at various stages of maturity, it is expected that some sections will decrease production earlier than others. In addition, any future changes to the assumptions upon which the reserves are based, as well as any unforeseen events affecting production levels, could have a material effect on the expected period of future operations. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmonys gold reserve figures may yield less gold under actual production conditions than Harmony currently estimates.
Surface Operations. Open cast operations at Randfontein, which exploited the open pit operations of the Lindum mine, were downscaled and discontinued in the six months ended December 31, 2001, as the mine had reached the end of its useful life. Currently, Randfonteins surface operations are focused on the recovery of gold from areas previously involved in processing, including waste rock dumps and tailings dams (slimes and sand). Detailed below are the operating and production results from surface operations at Randfontein for the past three fiscal years:
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Fiscal year ended June 30, |
||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
20021 |
||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Tons (000) |
2,428 | 2,212 | 1,687 | |||||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.008 | 0.017 | 0.018 | |||||||||
Gold sold (ounces) |
18,872 | 36,973 | 30,050 | |||||||||
Results of operations ($) |
||||||||||||
Cash cost
(000) |
6,555 | 7,995 | 5,952 | |||||||||
Cash profit
(000) |
720 | 4,304 | 2,568 | |||||||||
Cash costs |
||||||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
347 | 216 | 198 |
1 | Open cast operations were downscaled and discontinued in the six months ended December 31, 2001 and current surface operations exploit waste rock dumps and tailings dams (slimes and sand). |
Tons milled from Randfonteins surface operations were 2,428,000 in fiscal 2004, compared with 2,212,000 in fiscal 2003, and ounces sold were 18,872 in fiscal 2004 compared with 36,973 in fiscal 2003, recovered grade was 0.008 in fiscal 2004, compared with 0.017 in fiscal 2003. The surface sources are run as a separate business with dedicated management staff. The ore is fed to a separate metallurgical plant (Doornkop plant) and is not mixed with any underground ore. The significant decrease in recovery grades was due to the change in feed material as tonnages from the Lindium Reefs section were depleted. In fiscal 2004, cash operating costs increased to $347 per ounce from $216 per ounce in fiscal 2003. This increase was attributable primarily to the decrease in recovery grade as well as the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar, which caused a significant increase when these costs were translated into U.S. dollars. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Exchange Rates. If expressed in Rand terms, costs per ounce would have increased in fiscal 2004, due primarily to the decrease in recovery grade and the reduction of relatively lower-cost, higher-grade production from the open cast operations.
On a simplistic basis (and assuming that no additional reserves are identified), at the production level achieved in fiscal 2004, the June 30, 2004 reported proven and probable surface reserves of 33.81 million tons would be sufficient for the Randfontein operations to maintain surface production until approximately the end of fiscal 2005. Future changes to the assumptions upon which the reserves are based, as well as any unforeseen events affecting production levels, could have a material effect on the expected period of future operations. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmonys gold reserve figures may yield less gold under actual production conditions than Harmony currently estimates.
Plants. The processing facilities at the Randfontein mine presently comprise two operating plants: the Cooke metallurgical plant and the Doornkop metallurgical plant, both of which are serviced by a surface rail network. The Cooke metallurgical plant, commissioned in 1977, is a hybrid CIP/CIL plant, which processes the underground ore from the Randfontein operations. The Doornkop metallurgical plant, commissioned in 1985, is a conventional CIP plant, which is used to treat waste rock and other surface accumulations.
The following table sets forth processing capacity and average tons milled during fiscal 2004 for the Cooke and Doornkop plants:
Average | ||||||||
milled | ||||||||
for the fiscal | ||||||||
Processing | year ended | |||||||
Capacity | June 30, 2004 | |||||||
Plant |
(tons/month) |
(tons/month) |
||||||
Cooke |
308,600 | 199,600 | ||||||
Doornkop |
242,500 | 167,000 |
In fiscal 2004, the Cooke plant recovery has been in the range of 96% to 97%, while Doornkop plant recovered approximately 90% of the gold contained in the ore delivered for processing.
43
Capital Expenditure. Harmony incurred approximately Rand 159.2 million in capital expenditures at the Randfontein operations in fiscal 2004, of which Rand 98.1 million was for the development of the Doornkop project. Harmony has budgeted Rand 154.3 million ($24.77 million calculated at the closing rate at balance sheet date) for capital expenditures at the Randfontein operations in fiscal 2005, primarily for the continued development of the Doornkop shaft.
Free State Operations
Introduction. Harmonys Free State operations are comprised of the original Harmony mines, the Unisel mine, Saaiplaas shaft 3, the Masimong shaft complex (comprised of Masimong shafts 4 and 5), Brand shafts 2, 3 and 5, and the Vermeulenskraal North mineral rights area. Mining is conducted at Harmonys Free State operations at depths ranging from 500 meters to 2,500 meters. In fiscal 2004, Harmonys Free State operations accounted for approximately 21% of Harmonys total gold sales.
History. Harmonys Free State operations began with the Harmony mine, which is an amalgamation of the Harmony, Virginia and Merriespruit mines. Beginning in 1996, Harmony began purchasing neighboring mine shafts. The Unisel mine was purchased in September 1996, the Saaiplaas mine shafts 2 and 3 were purchased in April 1997, the Brand mine shafts 2, 3 and 5 were purchased in May 1998 and the Masimong complex (formerly known as Saaiplaas shafts 4 and 5) was purchased in September 1998.
Geology. Harmonys Free State operations are located in the Free State goldfield on the southwestern edge of the Witwatersrand Basin. Within this area, the operations are located on the southwestern and southeastern limb of a synclinal closure, with the Brand, Saaiplaas and Masimong shafts occupying northerly extensions of the same structure. The reefs dip inwardly from their sub-outcrop positions in the east and south of the mine to a position close to the western boundary of the original Harmony mine, where the reefs abut against the DeBron fault. To the west of the De Bron faulted zone, faulting is generally more intense, resulting in structurally more complex mining conditions.
Mining Operations. The Free State operations are engaged in both underground and waste rock mining. These operations are subject to all of the underground and waste rock mining risks detailed in the Risk Factors section. Due to the shallow to moderate depths of the underground operations, seismicity and pressure related problems are relatively infrequent with the exception of the Brand shafts where these problems receive constant attention. Harmony regularly revisits its mining strategy and management procedures in connection with its efforts to mitigate risks of these problems. There is a risk of subterranean water and/or gas intersections in some areas of the mine. However, this risk is mitigated by active and continuous management and monitoring, which includes the drilling of boreholes in advance of faces. Where water and/or gas is indicated in the drilling, appropriate preventative action is taken. The principal challenges at the Free State operations of achieving optimal volumes and grades of ore production are addressed by stringent ore reserve management. In 2002, Harmony began implementing the Masimong Expansion Project, which includes developing the Basal and B-Reef orebodies in the Masimong shaft area and equipping the shaft. The estimated final cost is R152.6 million, with R89.6 million spent as of June 30, 2004.
The Virginia 2 shaft was closed at the end of 2001, and is currently used only as a service shaft. Harmony also closed the Harmony 4 shaft in the quarter ended September 30, 2002, following the partial extraction of the shaft pillar. Mining personnel from the Harmony 4 shaft have been transferred to other shafts. The Harmony 3 shaft is currently used only as a service shaft for pumping, although some of its reserves are mined through the adjacent Harmony 2 shaft. In conjunction with the development of the hoisting operations at Masimong 5 shaft, Harmony downscaled the Masimong 4 shaft to a service and small mining shaft in the quarter ended June 30, 2001. In the quarter ended June 30, 2002, however, Harmony determined that additional production at the Masimong 4 shaft had become uneconomical under current market conditions. Additional personnel have been redeployed as and when additional areas of the Masimong 4 shaft are accessed to permit further production in the future. Under market conditions prevailing in the quarter ended June 30, 2002, Harmony also decided to commence extraction of the shaft pillar at Saaiplaas 3, which previously operated as a service shaft. The project is currently under review as the current market conditions make the project uneconomical. Merriespruit 3 is nearing the end of its economical life and has been earmarked for closure. Production is being downscaled and will eventually be discontinued all together. Harmony also decided to place the Brand 2 shaft on care and maintenance. During the quarter ended September 30, 2003, Harmony decided to put the Brand 5 shaft on care and maintenance and to continue with exploration development only, which is being managed from the Unisel shaft. This development was also discontinued during the quarter ended September 30, 2003. Care and maintenance will remain in place until market conditions are more favorable or more economical parts of the orebody are discovered. All labor has been transferred to other Harmony operations, where they have augmented natural attrition positions or displaced contractor labor.
44
The safety record at the Free State operations during fiscal 2004 in terms of lost time frequency rate (17.71) was lower than the group average while the fatality frequency rate (0.25) compares favorably with the group average. Safety at the operations receives constant and high-level attention and where problems are identified steps are taken to address the situation. The Executive for Sustainable Development leads initiatives to improve workplace health and safety at Harmonys South African operations. See Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees Directors and Senior Management Board Practices.
Underground Operations. Detailed below are the operating and production results from the Free State underground operations for the past three fiscal years:
Fiscal year ended June 30, |
||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Tons (000) |
4,856 | 4,721 | 4,748 | |||||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.135 | 0.124 | 0.126 | |||||||||
Gold sold (ounces) |
654,420 | 538,990 | 598,635 | |||||||||
Results of operations ($) |
||||||||||||
Cash cost
(000) |
253,162 | 146,079 | 131,817 | |||||||||
Cash profit
(000) |
(1,434 | ) | 38,300 | 43,238 | ||||||||
Cash costs |
||||||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
387 | 271 | 220 |
Tons milled from the Free State underground operations were 4,856,000 in fiscal 2004, compared with 4,721,000 in fiscal 2003, and ounces sold were 654,420 in fiscal 2004, compared with 538,990 in fiscal 2003, primarily because of the increase in production from the Masimong complex.
Recovered grade was 0.135 in fiscal 2004, compared with 0.124 in fiscal 2003, mainly as a result of higher grade ore from the Masimong shaft complex. Cash costs were $253,162,000 in fiscal 2004 compared with $146,079,000 in fiscal 2003. This increase was attributable primarily to the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar as well as the increased cost from the Masimong Expansion project. Cash costs per ounce were $387 in fiscal 2004, compared with $271 in fiscal 2003. This increase was attributable primarily to the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar, which caused a significant increase when these costs were translated into U.S. dollars but was offset in part by an increase in recovered grade. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Exchange Rates. If expressed in Rand terms, costs per ounce would have increased in fiscal 2004, due primarily to increases in the costs of labor and supplies due to the implementation of collective bargaining agreements and the effect of inflation on supply contracts.
Harmony currently has nine shafts at its Free State operations and three service shafts. The total shaft hoisting capacity is detailed below:
Hoisting Capacity | ||||
Shaft |
(tons/month) |
|||
Harmony shaft 2 |
250,000 | |||
Harmony shaft 31 |
99,200 | |||
Harmony shaft 42 |
161,000 | |||
Merriespruit shaft 1 |
142,200 | |||
Merriespruit shaft 3 |
217,200 | |||
Virginia shaft 23 |
113,500 | |||
Unisel |
151,000 | |||
Saaiplaas 34 |
194,000 | |||
Brand shaft 25 |
132,300 | |||
Brand shaft 3 |
132,300 | |||
Brand shaft 57 |
166,400 | |||
Masimong shaft complex6 |
164,200 |
45
1 | Integrated with Harmony shaft 2 during fiscal 2002 and currently operating as a service shaft. | |
2 | Closed in the quarter ended June 30, 2002 and currently operating as a service shaft. | |
3 | Closed in the quarter ended December 31, 2001 and currently operating as a service shaft. | |
4 | Previously operated as a service shaft. Limited extraction of the shaft pillar commenced in the quarter ended September 30, 2002 and mined as a production unit with Masimong 5. | |
5 | Production suspended in the quarter ending March 31, 2002 pending consideration of this shafts future. Contract mining is being considered for vamping. | |
6 | Includes the Masimong 4 and 5 shafts. | |
7 | Closed in the September, 2003 quarter. Limited development is taking place to explore some virgin areas on the shaft. |
On a simplistic basis (and assuming that no additional reserves are identified), at the production level achieved in fiscal 2004, the June 30, 2004 reported proven and probable ore reserves of 48.87 million tons will be sufficient for the Free State operations to maintain underground production until approximately fiscal 2012. However, because Harmonys Free State operations consist of several different mining sections that are at various stages of maturity, it is expected that some sections will decrease production earlier than others and it is currently envisaged that a decrease of production in certain sections will commence in the near term. In addition, any future changes to the assumptions upon which the reserves are based, as well as any unforeseen events affecting production levels, could have a material effect on the expected period of future operations. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmonys gold reserve figures may yield less gold under actual production conditions than Harmony currently estimates.
Surface operations. In light of the higher prevailing market price for gold in fiscal 2002 and 2003, and in order to maximize use of the Free State plants, Harmony began processing materials from secondary surface sources, primarily waste rock dumps and tailings dams (slimes and sand), at the Free State operations in the quarter ended March 31, 2002. The reduction in the Rand denominated market price for gold during fiscal 2004 resulted in the treatment of surface sources being scaled down significantly. Detailed below are the operating and production results from the Free State surface operations for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2004 and June 30, 2003 and the six months ended June 30, 2002, which is the first period during which Harmony processed significant amounts of these secondary surface materials at the Free State operations:
Fiscal year | Six months | |||||||||||
ended June 30, |
ended June 30, |
|||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Tons (000) |
2,368 | 1,164 | 255 | |||||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.11 | 0.21 | 0.052 | |||||||||
Gold sold (ounces) |
26,732 | 24,209 | 13,309 | |||||||||
Results of operations ($) |
||||||||||||
Cash cost
(000) |
9,343 | 6,550 | 613 | |||||||||
Cash profit
(000) |
869 | 1,517 | 3,673 | |||||||||
Cash costs |
||||||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
350 | 271 | 461 |
1 | Includes 8,808 ounces of low-cost production from clean-up of the plant and refinery. |
Tons milled from the Free State surface operations were 2,368,000 in fiscal 2004, compared with 1,164,000 in fiscal 2003. Ounces sold were 26,732 in fiscal 2004, compared with 24,209 in fiscal 2003. The increase in tonnages were primarily due to the treatment of the H1 Slimes dam that was started in fiscal 2004. This also had the effect of reducing the recovery grade significantly as this is a very low grade source. Even though the tons milled increased significantly, the lower recovery grade had an adverse effect on the ounces sold and the cash cost per ounce.
On a simplistic basis (and assuming that no additional reserves are identified), at the production level achieved during the 2004 fiscal year, the June 30, 2004 reported proven and probable ore reserves of 20.4 million tons will be sufficient for the Free State operations to maintain surface production until approximately fiscal 2009. However, any future changes to the assumptions upon which the reserves are based, as well as any unforeseen events affecting production levels, could have a material effect on the expected period of future operations. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmonys gold reserve figures may yield less gold under actual production
46
conditions than Harmony currently estimates. Plants. There are three metallurgical plants at the Free State operations, namely the Central, Virginia and the Saaiplaas plants. The Central and Virginia plants employ CIP/CIL hybrid technology. The Saaiplaas plant has been converted from the zinc precipitation filter process to the CIL. After the year end for fiscal 2004, the Virginia plant was closed and clean up operations are in progress.
The following table sets forth processing capacity and average tons milled during fiscal 2004 for each of the plants:
Average | ||||||||
milled | ||||||||
for the fiscal | ||||||||
Processing | year ended | |||||||
Capacity | June 30, 2004 | |||||||
Plant |
(tons/month) |
(tons/month) |
||||||
Central |
264,600 | 178,700 | ||||||
Virginia |
198,400 | 128,800 | ||||||
Saaiplaas |
242,500 | 144,200 |
In fiscal 2004, Harmonys plants at its Free State operations recovered approximately 95% of the gold contained in the ore delivered for processing. Harmonys refinery is also located at its Free State operations.
Capital Expenditure. Harmony incurred approximately Rand 58.4 million in capital expenditures at the Free State operations in fiscal 2004, principally for shaft development at Saaiplaas 3, Unisel, Merriespruit 1 and the Masimong shaft complex. Harmony has budgeted Rand 38.4 million ($6.2 million at the closing rate on balance sheet date) for capital expenditures at the Free State operations in fiscal 2005, primarily for development of the Masimong shaft complex with smaller development projects at Unisel and Merriespruit 1 shafts and secondarily to upgrade hostels.
Evander Operations
Introduction. Harmonys Evander operations are located in the province of Mpumalanga in South Africa and are comprised of an amalgamation of the former Kinross, Bracken, Leslie and Winkelhaak mines and 26,952 hectares of mineral rights adjacent to these mines. Mining at Harmonys Evander operations is conducted at depths ranging from 300 meters to 2,100 meters. In fiscal 2004, Harmonys Evander operations accounted for approximately 11% of Harmonys total gold sales.
History. Gold mining in the Evander Basin began in 1955. Eventually, four mining operations were established at Evander. In 1996, as a result of depletion of ore reserves, all four mining areas were merged to form Evander. In August 1998, Harmony acquired Evander as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Since then, Harmony has implemented the Harmony Way management process at Evander.
Geology. The area covered by Evanders mining authorization and mineral rights is situated within the Evander basin, a geologically discrete easterly extension of the main Witwatersrand Basin. Only one economic placer unit, the Kimberley Reef, is mined at Evander. In addition to the faulting of the reef horizon, there are numerous dykes and sills that complicate the mining layouts, the most significant of which is an extensively developed dolerite footwall sill that occasionally intersects the Kimberley Reef, causing displacements within it.
Mining Operations. The Evander operations are primarily engaged in underground mining. The Evander operations also process a limited amount of waste rock as and when necessary to allow the plants to operate efficiently. These operations are subject to all of the underground mining risks detailed in the Risk Factors section. Due to the shallow to moderate depths of the Evander underground operations, seismicity and pressure related problems are relatively infrequent. There is a risk of subterranean water and/or gas intersections in some areas of the mine. However, this risk is mitigated by active and continuous management and monitoring, which includes the drilling of boreholes in advance of faces. Where water and/or gas is indicated in the drilling, appropriate preventative action is taken. Evander was affected by two underground fires and the flooding of parts of the mine during fiscal 2000, both of which had a negative impact on production during fiscal 2000. Such incidents are generally infrequent and there were no significant incidents in fiscal 2003 or 2004. On July 12, 2002, a seismic event at the Evander 8 shaft caused injuries to four workers (but no fatalities), significant infrastructure damage and an interruption in production for three weeks. The damage from this incident adversely impacted on the performance of these operations over the 2003 fiscal year due to the fact that 8 shaft is the highest grade operation at Evander, so production and overall recovery grade was significantly affected. The operational performance has now returned to the pre-seismic event levels since the quarter ended June 30, 2003. During the quarter ended March 31, 2004, an agreement was reached with the unions for the implementation of CONOPS at Evander. To date, it has been fully implemented at
47
Evander 7. Due to an initial lack of mining flexibility, CONOPS has only been partially introduced at Evander 8. The introduction at Evander 2 is progressing well but results from this shaft have been inconsistent to date. The full benefit of the implementation are expected to become more evident during the next six months. For a description of CONOPS, see Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees Unionized Labor.
The safety record at the Evander operations in terms of lost time frequency rate (29.33) during fiscal 2004 is higher than the group average. The fatality frequency rate (0.21) during fiscal 2004 is lower than the group average. The lost time frequency rate at the plants and surface operations (3.61) is higher than the group average. There were no fatalities during fiscal 2004. Significant work is being done to address this. Safety at the operations receives constant and high-level attention and where problems are identified steps are taken to address the situation. Underground falls of ground have historically been the biggest cause of fatal injuries at Evander. Roofbolting has been implemented at Evander in an effort to address this risk. The Executive for Sustainable Development, is responsible for leading initiatives to improve workplace health and safety at Harmonys South African operations. See Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees Directors and Senior Management Board Practices.
Detailed below are the operating and production results at Evander for the past three fiscal years:
Fiscal year ended June 30, |
||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Tons (000) |
2,286 | 2,345 | 2,594 | |||||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.158 | 0.154 | 0.160 | |||||||||
Gold sold (ounces) |
361,694 | 360,184 | 415,382 | |||||||||
Results of operations ($) |
||||||||||||
Cash cost
(000) |
130,733 | 87,113 | 70,867 | |||||||||
Cash profit
(000) |
8,389 | 29,804 | 45,905 | |||||||||
Cash costs |
||||||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
362 | 242 | 171 |
Tons milled from the Evander operations were 2,286,000 in fiscal 2004, compared with 2,345,000 in fiscal 2003, and ounces sold were 361,694 in fiscal 2004, compared with 360,184 in fiscal 2003. This decrease in tons milled was due to the discontinuation of the treatment of surface sources during January 2004. The increase in ounces was due to the slightly higher recovery grade. Recovered grade was 0.158 in fiscal 2004, compared with 0.154 in fiscal 2003. This slight increase was due to the discontinuation of surface sources as well as an increase in recovery grade from the 7 and 8 shafts.
The increase in cash costs from $242 per ounce in fiscal 2003 to $362 per ounce in fiscal 2004 was attributable primarily to the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar, which caused a significant increase when these costs were translated into U.S. dollars. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Exchange Rates. Additional costs incurred in repairing the infrastructure of Evander 2 shaft also impacted on the increase in cash cost. If expressed in Rand terms, costs per ounce would have increased in fiscal 2004, due primarily to increases in the costs of labor and supplies due to the implementation of collective bargaining agreements and the effect of inflation on supply contracts.
Harmony currently has five operating shafts and one service shaft at its Evander operations. The total shaft hoisting capacities are detailed below:
Hoisting Capacity | ||||
Shaft |
(tons/month) |
|||
Evander No. 2 shaft |
75,800 | |||
Evander No. 3 shaft1 |
21,800 | |||
Evander No. 5 shaft |
103,300 | |||
Evander No. 7 shaft |
116,600 | |||
Evander No. 8 shaft |
161,600 | |||
Evander No. 9 shaft2 |
91,200 |
1 | Mining at this shaft has ceased. | |
2 | Downscaled beginning in the quarter ended September 30, 2002 and currently only small scale mining is taking place here. |
48
On a simplistic basis (and assuming that no additional reserves are identified), at the production level achieved in fiscal 2004, the June 30, 2004 reported proven and probable ore reserves of 79.07 million tons will be sufficient for the Evander operations to maintain production until approximately fiscal 2018. However, because Harmonys Evander operations consist of several different mining sections that are at various stages of maturity, it is expected that some sections will decrease production earlier than others. In particular, Harmony downscaled shaft 9 in the quarter ended September 30, 2002, following the final extraction of the shaft pillar in the quarter ended June 30, 2002. Small scale mining is continuing in this area and Harmony will do further prospect work to ensure there are no more economical areas to extract. Production at shaft 3 had also been halted when Harmony acquired the Evander operations, and Harmony recommenced limited production from this shaft in the quarter ended December 31, 2001. Due to the current economic climate, mining operations at shaft 3 has been ceased during the quarter ended December 31, 2003. Harmony currently expects that production at shafts 2, 5 and 7 will end between 2009 and 2010. Although production increases are planned at other production shafts and total production is expected to remain generally constant in the foreseeable future, some uncertainty about longer-term production exists because infrastructure for the subsequent years has not been planned to the same degree of detail as in the years 2001 through 2010. In addition, any future changes to the assumptions upon which the reserves are based, as well as any unforeseen events affecting production levels, could have a material effect on the expected period of future operations. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmonys gold reserve figures may yield less gold under actual production conditions than Harmony currently estimates.
Plants. There are currently two operating metallurgical plants at Evander. The bulk of the mines ore production is treated at the Kinross plant, which is a CIP/CIL hybrid plant. The Winkelhaak plant mills all of the ore from shafts 2 and 5, and pumps the slurry to the Kinross plant for further processing.
The following table sets forth processing capacity and average tons milled during fiscal 2004 for each of the operating plants:
Average | ||||||||
milled | ||||||||
for the fiscal | ||||||||
Processing | year ended | |||||||
Capacity | June 30, 2004 | |||||||
Plant |
(tons/month) |
(tons/month) |
||||||
Kinross |
218,300 | 172,800 | ||||||
Winkelhaak |
79,400 | 53,700 |
In fiscal 2004, Harmonys plants at its Evander operations recovered approximately 96% of the gold contained in the ore delivered for processing.
Capital Expenditure. Harmony incurred approximately Rand 93.7 million in capital expenditures at the Evander operations in fiscal 2004, principally for underground declines at shafts 7 and 8. Harmony has budgeted Rand 58.9 million ($9.3 million at the closing rate at the balance sheet date) for capital expenditures at the Evander operations in fiscal 2005, primarily for development of the decline shaft at 7 and 8 shaft.
Kalgold Operations
Introduction. Harmony conducts a surface mining operation at the Kalgold gold mine near Mafikeng in the North West Province of South Africa. Through Kalgold, Harmony also controls extensive mineral rights on the Kraaipan Greenstone Belt in the North West Province of South Africa. Harmony purchased Kalgold on July 1, 1999. In fiscal 2004, the Kalgold operations accounted for approximately 3% of Harmonys total gold sales.
On November 7, 2003 Harmony announced its intent to sell Kalgold to The Afrikaner Lease Limited (Aflease) for a consideration of R250 million. Although all the other conditions precedent were met, Aflease could not provide appropriate funding and the contract was cancelled on March 15, 2004. Kalgold experienced operational difficulties normally associated with a changeover of management and control and this was reflected in the production figures.
History. Harmony acquired Kalgold on July 1, 1999 and fully incorporated Kalgold into its operations in October 1999. Prior to Harmonys acquisition, the Kalgold mine had operated for more than three years.
Geology. The Kalgold operations are situated on the Kraaipan granite-greenstone belt, which is a typical gold-bearing greenstone formation. It has undergone intense structural deformation that has led to its dislocation into separate units.
49
Within the mining lease area, six steeply dipping zones of mineralization have been identified. Several additional zones of mineralization have been located within this area and are being evaluated. The first zone to be exploited by open cast mining has been an area known as the D-Zone. The D-Zone orebody has a strike length of 1,400 meters, varying in width between 40 meters in the south and 15 meters in the north.
Gold mineralization is associated with pyrite and pyrrohotite, which was developed as a replacement mineral within a banded ironstone formation and also within extensional, cross-cutting quartz veins within the ironstone.
Mining Operations. The Kalgold operations are engaged in open pit mining. This operation is subject to all of the open cast mining risks detailed in the Risk Factors section. Small subterranean water intersections in the pit are common and are actively managed and appropriate action is taken when necessary. The primary mining challenges at the Kalgold operations of achieving optimal volumes and grades of ore production are addressed by stringent ore reserve management.
While there is no reliable industry benchmark for safety at South African surface mining operations, the Kalgold operations had a lost time injury frequency rate of 4.93 per million hours worked in fiscal 2004, and recorded no fatal accidents in fiscal 2004. During fiscal 2003, refurbishment activities at Kalgolds CIL plant resulted in some safety related incidents, which contributed to the increased lost time injury frequency rate. Harmony has, however, addressed these issues and does not expect them to have a material impact on long-term production. Safety at the operations receives constant and high-level attention and where problems are identified steps are taken to address the situation. Kalgold achieved 1,000,000 fatal free shifts during the quarter ended September 30, 2003 and no employee has lost his life on the mine since the commissioning of this mine. The Executive for Sustainable Development, is responsible for leading initiatives to improve workplace health and safety at Harmonys South African operations. See Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees Directors and Senior Management Board Practices.
Detailed below are the operating and production results from open cast operations at Kalgold for the past three fiscal years:
Fiscal year ended June 30, |
||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Tons (000) |
1,530 | 1,195 | 1,060 | |||||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.054 | 0.062 | 0.059 | |||||||||
Gold sold (ounces) |
82,756 | 74,590 | 62,179 | |||||||||
Results of operations ($) |
||||||||||||
Cash cost
(000) |
28,510 | 16,552 | 12,727 | |||||||||
Cash profit
(000) |
3,022 | 7,984 | 4,778 | |||||||||
Cash costs |
||||||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
345 | 222 | 205 |
Ounces sold were 82,756 in fiscal 2004, compared with 74,590 in fiscal 2003. This increase (and the increase in tons milled) was due to the increased capacity as a result of the introduction of a third mill at the Kalgold plant. Recovered grade was 0.054 in fiscal 2004, compared with 0.062 in fiscal 2003. The decrease in recovered grade was due to the treatment of lower grade strategic ore due to the increased capacity of the plant.
Cash costs at Kalgold were $345 per ounce in fiscal 2004, compared with $222 per ounce in fiscal 2003. This increase was attributable primarily to the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar, which caused a significant increase when these costs were translated into U.S. dollars. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Exchange Rates. If expressed in Rand terms, costs per ounce would have increased in fiscal 2004, due primarily to the decreased ore grade, increases in the global price of oil and the implementation of collective bargaining agreements and the effect of inflation on supply contracts.
On a simplistic basis (and assuming that no additional reserves are identified), at the production level achieved in fiscal 2004, the June 30, 2004 reported proven and probable ore reserves of 6.14 million tons will be sufficient for the Kalgold operations to maintain production until approximately fiscal 2008. However, any future changes to the assumptions upon which the reserves are based, as well as any unforeseen events affecting production levels,
50
could have a material effect on the expected period of future operations. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmonys gold reserve figures may yield less gold under actual production conditions than Harmony currently estimates.
Plants. During fiscal 2001, Kalgold had a CIL plant and a heap leach operation. Harmony discontinued the active use of Kalgolds heap leach operation in July 2001 and no gold was recovered through heap leaching in fiscal 2002. Over time, however, small amounts of gold normally can be recovered from ore remaining on the leach pads. Harmony expects to apply leaching solution occasionally in the future to recover any available gold. Ore is trucked from the pit and stockpiled according to grade categories. Higher grade ore is processed in the CIL plant. Lower grade ore is dumped on heap leach pads. Following the recent commissioning of the pre-primary crusher, the ore now undergoes a four phase crushing process. An additional ball mill and additional leach tanks have been commissioned, which increased the capacity to 140,000 tons/month.
The following table sets forth processing capacity and average tons milled during fiscal 2004 for each of the plants:
Average | ||||||||
milled | ||||||||
for the fiscal | ||||||||
Processing | year ended | |||||||
Capacity | June 30, 2004 | |||||||
Plant |
(tons/month) |
(tons/month) |
||||||
CIL |
140,000 | 105,200 | ||||||
Heap Leach |
| * |
* | Active use of heap leaching was discontinued in July 2001; however, Harmony expects to apply leaching solution occasionally in the future to recover any available gold. |
In fiscal 2004, Harmonys plants at its Kalgold operations recovered approximately 82% of the gold contained in the ore delivered for processing.
Capital Expenditure. Harmony incurred approximately Rand 2 million in capital expenditures at the Kalgold operations during fiscal 2004, principally for mining operations. Harmony has not budgeted for capital expenditure at the Kalgold operations in fiscal 2005.
Free Gold Operations
Introduction. On November 21, 2001, Harmony and ARMgold reached an agreement in principle with AngloGold to purchase the Free Gold assets, subject to specified conditions. Pursuant to the subsequently executed definitive agreements, the Free Gold assets were purchased by the Free Gold Company (in which Harmony and ARMgold each has a 50% interest) for Rand 2.200 billion ($206.8 million at an exchange rate of R10.64 per $1.00), plus an amount equal to any liability for taxes payable by AngloGold in connection with the sale. The Free Gold Company assumed management control of the Free Gold assets from January 1, 2002, and completed the acquisition on April 23, 2002. Rand 1.8 billion ($169.2 million at an exchange rate of R10.64 per $1.00) of the purchase price, plus accrued interest, was paid by the Free Gold Company in April 2002 following the fulfillment of all conditions precedent and Rand 400 million ($37.5 million at an exchange rate of R10.64 per $1.00) is payable by the Free Gold Company under an interest-free loan due January 1, 2005. The additional amount relating to taxes was paid by the Free Gold Company when the tax liability became payable by AngloGold. The amount of Rand 682 million ($90.8 million at an exchange rate of R7.51 per $1.00) was paid in June 2003. The Free Gold Company expects that approximately 80% of this amount will provide the Free Gold Company with a capital expense deduction against its taxable income from the Free Gold assets. For purposes of U.S. GAAP, Harmony accounted for its equity interest in the Free Gold Company with effect from May 1, 2002 and the purchase price of the Free Gold assets was determined to be Rand 2.264 billion ($239.4 million).
In connection with the acquisition of the Free Gold assets, on April 5, 2002 Harmony and ARMgold entered into a formal joint venture and shareholders agreement relating to the Free Gold Company. The agreement provided that Harmony and ARMgold were each responsible for 50% of the expenses associated with operating the Free Gold assets. Pursuant to the agreement, an interim executive committee composed of an equal number of representatives appointed by Harmony and ARMgold managed the Free Gold Company until the acquisition was
51
completed. Following completion of the acquisition, management of the Free Gold Company was vested in a board, which initially was composed of an equal number of Harmony and ARMgold representatives. Since Harmony acquired ARMgold in September 2003, the Free Gold Company has been accounted for as a wholly owned subsidiary. Therefore Harmonys interest in the Free Gold Company was equity accounted for the first three months of the year, and then consolidated for the remaining nine months. In fiscal 2004, the Free Gold operations accounted for approximately 23% of Harmonys total gold sales
The Free Gold assets consist of the Joel, Tshepong, Matjhabeng and Bambanani mines, associated infrastructure and other mineral rights in the Free State Province of South Africa. Production from the underground mines and adjacent surface sources is processed through three processing facilities (the Free State 1, or FS1, Plant, the Free State 2, or FS2, Plant and the Joel Plant). Because Harmony equity accounted for its 50% interest in the Free Gold Company for the first three months of the year, sales from the Free Gold assets are not included in Harmonys sales figures for that period. The sales from the remaining nine months were included in the total sales figures for the year. For more information on Harmonys consolidation policy, see note 2(b) to the consolidated financial statements.
On May 24, 2002, Harmony, ARMgold and Gold Fields, through its subsidiary St. Helena Gold Mines Limited, announced that an agreement in principle had been reached under which St. Helena Gold Mines Limited would sell the St. Helena gold mining assets to the Free Gold Company for Rand 120 million ($13.7 million), plus a royalty equal to one percent of revenue for a period of 48 months beginning on the effective date of the sale. St. Helena Gold Mines Limited and the Free Gold Company concluded a final agreement of sale on July 1, 2002. The sale was completed on October 30, 2002, and the Free Gold Company assumed management control on that date. Under the terms of the agreement of sale the Free Gold Company agreed to assume specified environmental liabilities relating to the operation of the St. Helena mine.
History. Exploration, development and production history in the area of the Free Gold assets dates from the early 1900s, leading to commercial production by 1932. Subsequent consolidation and restructuring led to the formation of Free State Consolidated Gold Mine (Operations) Limited, which became a wholly-owned subsidiary of AngloGold in June 1998. AngloGold also owned the Joel mine, which, although it was not a part of this AngloGold subsidiary, is now included within the Free Gold assets owned by the Free Gold Company. The Free Gold Company also acquired the St. Helena gold mine in October 2002. St. Helena was the first gold mine to be established in the Free State.
Geology. The Free Gold Companys mines are located in the Free State goldfield, which is on the southwestern edge of the Witwatersrand basin. The Bambanani, Tshepong, Matjhabeng and St. Helena mines are located in and around Welkom, while the Joel mine is approximately 30 kilometers south of Welkom. Mining at Bambanani, Tshepong and Matjhabeng is primarily conducted in the Basal reef, with limited exploitation of secondary reefs. Mining at Joel is primarily conducted in the Beatrix-VS5 Composite Reef. The reefs generally dip towards the east or northeast while most of the major faults strike north-south, with the most intense faulting in evidence at Matjhabeng.
Mining Operations. The Free Gold Company is engaged in both underground and waste rock mining. These operations are subject to all of the underground and waste rock mining risks detailed in the Risk Factors section. The Free Gold Company regularly revisits its mining strategy and management procedures at the Free Gold operations in connection with its effort to minimize risks. Mining depths range from shallow-intermediate at the Joel mine to deep at the Bambanani mine. The primary mining challenges at the Free Gold operations are seismic risks, ventilation and fire avoidance. Both the Bambanani mine and the Matjhabeng mine are classified as seismically active operations with seismic monitoring systems installed to do active seismic risk evaluation, generally located in the vicinity of remnant operations and/or geological structures. Seismic systems are managed by external specialists. Current ventilation and refrigeration systems were evaluated and improved at take-over which Harmony believes will improve productivity and safety. Plans to this effect are being implemented by the Free Gold Company. Refrigeration plants are installed at the Bambanani and Tshepong Mines. Following underground fires during the second half of 1999 at the Bambanani mine, mine management reviewed and modified working practices and the efficiency of the overall fire management system.
Mining is conducted at depths ranging from 1,200 and 3,000 meters at Bambanani, at an average depth of approximately 1,925 meters at Tshepong, at an average depth of approximately 1,700 meters at Matjhabeng, at an average depth of approximately 1,000 meters at Joel and at an average depth of 1,489 meters at St. Helena. Production at Matjhabeng, which is a mature mine nearing closure, is currently focused on the extraction of
52
remnant pillars and shaft pillars, specifically at the Eland Shaft. Due to the increased operating costs in dollar terms, the decision was taken to scale down the Eland shaft and then close it down. The Nyala shaft was placed on a 60-day review during the quarter ended March 31, 2004.
The Free Gold Company is conducting a development program at the Bambanani shaft. Harmony expects this program to allow access to additional mining areas, which would reduce overall grade but increase overall production and life of mine. CONOPS was introduced at the shafts during the quarter ended December 31, 2003. Cash costs were affected by the additional cost involved in the implementation. Four fires in the higher grade sections during the second half of fiscal 2004 had a negative impact on productivity at Bambanani. They were all contained and have been extinguished.
The Tshepong Decline project, which started in April 2003, is proceeding on schedule. This project will add two additional operating levels below the present level of the Tshepong North Shaft. At fiscal 2004 year end, R100.9 million has been expended. A further R 164.9 million has been budgeted to complete the project. The Free Gold Company estimates that the project will be completed by July 2006 and will add 150,000 ounces of gold per year to current production. CONOPS was introduced at Tshepong during the quarter ended December 31, 2003. This has increased production, breaking records in May and June 2004. In line with this increase, the cash costs also rose. For a description of CONOPS, see Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees-Unionized Labor.
The Phakisa Shaft Project is also proceeding on schedule. Phakisa shaft, a surface shaft, was sunk to access the ore reserve to a depth of 2,241 meters below surface. It is estimated that the area will yield 18 million tons, recovering 136 tons of gold over a project life of 20 years. Project completion requires sinking (75 meters), the sinking of a decline shaft, equipping and commissioning of the shaft with access development and stoping to maximum production build-up at a capital cost of Rand 612.9 million. To date, R 124.3 million has already been expensed. The project is expected to, at full production in 2010, achieve rates of 280,000 ounces per annum. The introduction of the decline shaft concept has reduced the vertical shaft sinking requirement and has increased the net present value of the project by R95 million.
Shaft 2 at St Helena mine was closed during the quarter ended December 31, 2003. This had a positive effect on the production figures for the rest of the shafts at the mine. CONOPS was introduced on November 10, 2003.
Excess metallurgical plant capacity at the FS1 and FS2 plants has been filled by exploiting surface sources, including waste rock dumps, slimes dams, and general clean-up material mined as part of the environmental rehabilitation process. These surface operations include free digging of waste rock dumps and hydraulic mining of slimes dams, which are either transported by the surface rail network or by dedicated pipelines to the individual plants. The majority of surface sources at the Free Gold assets were treated at the FS2 Plant, however with the current high level of operating costs in Rand terms, this is no longer a viable option. As there is additional treatment capacity in the Free State, it was decided to stop treatment at this plant and start with a total clean up operation.
During Harmonys fiscal 2004, the lost time frequency rate at the Free Gold operations (19.46) compared favorably with the group average, as did the fatality frequency rate of 0.17. The lost time frequency rate at the plants and surface operations was 6.30, which is higher than the group average for these types of operations. The fatality frequency rate at the surface operations was 0.18, which was higher than the group average. The Free Gold Company applies safety standards similar to safety standards for Harmony operations and safety standards receive constant and high-level attention. Where problems are identified, the Free Gold Company takes steps to address the situation. The Free Gold Company has begun implementing measures to reduce costs while increasing production and extending mine life, in a manner that Harmony believes is consistent with the Harmony Way.
Underground Operations. Detailed below are the operating and production results from underground mining at the Free Gold assets for the six months ended June 30, 2002 and the fiscal years ended June 30, 2003 and June 30, 2004. The reporting periods differ as the year end was changed to bring it in line with Harmonys reporting period.
53
Fiscal year | Fiscal year | Six months | ||||||||||
ended | ended | ended | ||||||||||
June 30, |
June 30, |
June 30, |
||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Tons (000) |
5,426 | 5,178 | 2,179 | |||||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.177 | 0.206 | 0.228 | |||||||||
Gold sold
(000 ounces) |
959,367 | 1,066,564 | 497,080 | |||||||||
Results of operations ($) |
||||||||||||
Cash cost
(000) |
319,841 | 213,668 | 77,108 | |||||||||
Cash profit
(000) |
49,958 | 136,810 | 83,380 | |||||||||
Cash costs |
||||||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
333 | 200 | 155 |
Tons milled from the Free Gold underground operations were 5,426,000 in fiscal 2004, compared with 5,178,000 in fiscal 2003. Ounces sold were 959,367 in fiscal 2004, compared with 1,066,564 in fiscal 2003. The decrease in ounces sold is primarily attributed to the lower recovery grade at Bambanani.
Harmonys 50% interest in the sale of gold from the Free Gold Company that was excluded as a result of equity accounting amounted to 126,414 ounces in fiscal 2004.
Cash costs for Free Gold underground operations were $319,841,000 in fiscal 2004, compared with $213,668,000 in fiscal 2003. This increase was primarily attributed to the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar and also due to development rates associated with the introduction of CONOPS and an increase in production. Cash costs per ounce were $333 in fiscal 2004, compared with $200 in fiscal 2003. This increase was attributable primarily to the reduction in the recovered grade as well as the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar and the introduction of CONOPS.
On a simplistic basis (and assuming no additional reserves are identified) at the production level achieved at the Free Gold operations in the fiscal 2004, the June 30, 2004 reported proven and probable ore reserves of 83.31 million tons will be sufficient for the Free Gold operations to maintain underground production until approximately 2015. However, because the Free Gold operations consist of several different mining sections that are at various stages of maturity, it is expected that some sections will decrease production earlier than others. In addition, any future changes to the assumptions upon which the ore reserves are based, as well as any unforeseen events affecting production levels, could have a material effect on the expected period of future operations. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmonys gold reserve figures may yield less gold under actual production conditions than Harmony currently estimates.
The Free Gold Company has eleven operating shafts, the rock hoisting capacities of which are set forth below.
Hoisting Capacity | ||||
Shaft |
(tons/month) |
|||
Tshepong North shaft1 |
181,800 | |||
Bambanani East shaft |
215,000 | |||
West shaft |
88,200 | |||
Joel North and South shafts2 |
385,000 | |||
Matjhabeng Eland shaft |
77,200 | |||
Matjhabeng Sable and Kudu shafts |
132,300 | |||
Matjhabeng Nyala shaft |
308,600 | |||
St. Helena No. 2 shaft3 |
82,700 | |||
St. Helena No. 4 shaft4 |
88,200 | |||
St. Helena No. 8 shaft5 |
110,200 | |||
St. Helena No. 10 shaft6 |
165,300 |
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1 | Currently operating at a rate of 136,000 tons per month while upgrades in the shaft to facilitate increased production are in progress. | |
2 | Currently operating at a rate of 40,000 tons per month, in line with the shafts current mining plan. | |
3 | Closed during the December 2003 quarter. | |
4 | Currently operating at a rate of 15,000 tons per month due to the reduction of mining operations by GoldFields prior to the sale of St. Helena to the Free Gold Company. | |
5 | Currently operating at a rate of 36,000 tons per month due to the reduction of mining operations by GoldFields prior to the sale of St. Helena to the Free Gold Company. | |
6 | Currently closed due to the reduction of mining operations by GoldFields prior to the sale of St. Helena to the Free Gold Company. |
Surface Operations. Detailed below are the operating and production results from the Free Gold Companys surface operations for the six months ended June 30, 2002 and the fiscal years ended June 30, 2003 and June 30, 2004. The reporting periods differ as the year end was changed to bring it in line with Harmonys reporting period.
Fiscal year | Fiscal year | Six months | ||||||||||
ended | ended | ended | ||||||||||
June 30, |
June 30, |
June 30, |
||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Tons (000) |
4,148 | 5,146 | 2,641 | |||||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.018 | 0.017 | 0.0233 | |||||||||
Gold sold (ounces) |
73,122 | 88,864 | 61,086 | |||||||||
Results of operations ($) |
||||||||||||
Cash cost
(000) |
23,972 | 19,108 | 7,526 | |||||||||
Cash profit
(000) |
4,535 | 9,816 | 11,980 | |||||||||
Cash costs |
||||||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
328 | 215 | 123 |
Tons milled from surface operations were 4,148,000 in fiscal 2004, compared with 5,146,000 in fiscal 2003, and ounces sold were 73,122 in fiscal 2004, compared with 88,864 in fiscal 2003. These decreases were attributable primarily to the decision to discontinue treating surface sources as a result of the prevailing gold price. Ounces attributable to Harmonys 50% interest in the Free Gold Company that were not included as a result of equity accounting amounted to 11,930 ounces for the 3 months ended September 30, 2004.
Cash costs were $23,972,000 in fiscal 2004, compared with $19,108,000 in fiscal 2003. This increase is attributable primarily to the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar. Cash costs per ounce were $328 in fiscal 2004, compared with $215 in fiscal 2003.
On a simplistic basis (and assuming no additional reserves are identified) at the production level achieved at the Free Gold operations in the fiscal 2004 year, the June 30, 2004 reported proven and probable ore reserves of 26.44 million tons will be sufficient for the Free Gold assets to maintain surface production until approximately 2015. However, because the Free Gold assets consist of several different mining sections that are at various stages of maturity, it is expected that some sections will decrease production earlier than others. In addition, any future changes to the assumptions upon which the ore reserves are based, as well as any unforeseen events affecting production levels, could have a material effect on the expected period of future operations. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmonys gold reserve figures may yield less gold under actual production conditions than Harmony currently estimates.
Plants. The Free Gold Company operates four plants: the FS1, FS2, Joel and St. Helena plants. The FS1 plant, which processes underground ore, waste rock and various surface accumulations, was commissioned in 1986 and is a conventional CIP plant processing ore that has been milled by fully autogenous grinding. Gold is recovered from the eluate solution using zinc precipitation and a precoat vacuum filter. The precipitate recovered from the filter is calcined and smelted to bullion. The FS2 Plant was largely dedicated to the treatment of surface sources but due to the current low gold price in Rand terms the plant became uneconomical and since the Free State plants have extra capacity, it was decided to stop treatment at the plant and to start a total clean up operation. It was commissioned in the early 1950s and employs conventional crushing and filtration technology. The Joel plant is a hybrid CIP/CIL plant and was commissioned in 1984. St. Helena operates a conventional zinc precipitation filter plant supported by two mills that treat surface sources.
55
The following table sets forth processing capacity and average tons milled during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004 for each of the plants:
Average | ||||||||
milled | ||||||||
for the fiscal | ||||||||
Processing | year ended | |||||||
Capacity | June 30, 2004 | |||||||
Plant |
(tons/month) |
(tons/month) |
||||||
FS 1 |
63,000 | 373,800 | ||||||
FS 2 |
330,700 | 263,100 | ||||||
Joel |
165,300 | 109,800 | ||||||
St. Helena |
110,200 | 69,000 |
Harmony estimates that in the periods covered by the above chart, FS1 recovery has been approximately 97% for reef ore and 88% for waste rock, FS2 recovery approximately 95%, Joel recovery has been approximately 95% and St. Helena recovery has ranged from 50% to 90%. Overall recovery is a function of the mix of feed ore, as surface sources tend to have a lower recovery than underground reef.
Capital Expenditure. Harmony incurred approximately Rand 279.9 million in capital expenditures at the Freegold operations in the fiscal year ended June 30, 2004, primarily for underground development at Bambanani, the sub 66 level decline at Tshepong, re-establishing Nyala and the Phakisa mine project. Harmony has budgeted Rand 263.8 million ($42.3 million at the closing rate at balance sheet date) for capital expenditures in fiscal 2005, primarily for development at Bambanani and St Helena mines, the sub 66 level decline at Tshepong, and the Phakisa mine project.
ARMgold Operations
Introduction. On September 22, 2003, Harmony and ARMgold consummated a merger, the terms of which were announced on May 2, 2003. Pursuant to the merger agreement, following the respective company shareholder approvals, Harmony issued 2 ordinary shares for every 3 ARMgold ordinary shares acquired. ARMgold also paid its shareholders a special dividend of R6.00 per ordinary share ($0.64) prior to the consummation of the merger. Harmony issued 63,670,000 ordinary shares to ARMgolds shareholders which resulted in ARMgold becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harmony. For U.S. GAAP purposes, the merger is accounted for as a purchase by Harmony of ARMgold for a purchase consideration of $697 million. The results of ARMgold were included from October 1, 2003.
History. The ARMgold operations consist of the Welkom shafts in the Free State Province and the Orkney shafts in the North West Province. Due to the distance, they are operated as separate business units. Exploration, development and production in the Welkom area dates back to the 1940s leading to production by 1947. Exploration and development at Orkney started from 1886 and following dormant periods, large-scale production commenced during the 1940s with the formation of Vaal Reefs Gold Mining and Exploration Company Limited in 1944.
Geology. The Welkom operations are centrally located within the Free State Goldfield, which lies some 270 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg on the southwest rim of the Witwatersrand Basin, in an area containing several other mature operations. The Basal Reef is the main reef exploited here. It strikes north to north-northwest and generally dips to the east between 20 degrees and 40 degrees. Other reefs that are exploited are the Leader Reef, the Saaiplaas Reef and the Middle Reef. There are a number of faults in this area, Rheedersdam and De Bron to name a couple.
At the Orkney operations, the Vaal Reef is the most significant reef mined. The reef strikes northeast, dipping southeast and is heavily faulted to form a series of graben structures. The dip is generally less than 30 degrees but can vary locally in direction and magnitude to exceed 45 degrees. The VCR is also exploited, as well as the Elsburg Reef. There are several major faults in the lease area, being Nooitgedacht, Buffelsdoorn, Witkop, WK2, No 3 BU, No 5 BU and No 2 BU Fault. These faults typically have throws of tens of meters and further divide the reef into blocks of up to 100 meters in width.
56
Mining operations. ARMgold is engaged in underground mining at both its operations. These operations are subject to all of the underground mining risks detailed in the Risk Factors section. ARMgold regularly revisits its mining strategy and management procedures at both its operations in connection with its effort to minimize risks. Mining depths range from 1,000 meters to 1,200 meters below the surface at the Welkom operations and from 1,600 meters to 2,000 meters below the surface at the Orkney operations.
Cost control is one the major challenges faced at the ARMGold operations. Since the merger, management has implemented the Harmony Way in an effort to cut costs and increase productivity.
The Welkom mine is a mature one and is nearing the end of its economic life. A decision was made during the quarter ended March 31, 2004 to downscale and to eventually close the Welkom 1. Where possible, workers would be re-trained and redeployed at other operations. Orkney 6 was also earmarked for closure during the quarter ended March 31, 2004.
Following a protected strike that lasted from February 12, 2004 to February 16, 2004, Harmony and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) reached an agreement on annual wage increases. NUM accepted the Companys proposal and these employees have now been included in the bi-annual wage agreement, which will be renegotiated in July 2005.
During fiscal 2004, the safety record at ARMgold mines in terms of lost time frequency rate (17.29) compared favorably with the group average, while the fatality frequency rate of 0.42 was much higher than the average for the group. Significant work is being done to address this. Where problems are identified, steps are being taken to address the situation. Since the merger, the executive officer in charge of sustainable development for the South African operations would also be working together with management at ARMgold to improve the workplace. See Item 6. Directors and Senior Management Board Practices.
Underground operations. Detailed below is the operating and production results from the ARMgold operations for 9 months from October 1, 2003.
Nine months ended | ||||
June 30, 2004 |
||||
Production |
||||
Tons (000) |
1,424 | |||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.151 | |||
Gold sold (ounces) |
215,015 | |||
Results of operations ($) |
||||
Cash cost
(000) |
78,154 | |||
Cash profit
(000) |
5,040 | |||
Cash costs |
||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
363 |
ARMgold has six operating shafts at its Welkom operations and seven mature shafts at its Orkney operations. Set below are the rock hoisting capacities for ARMgolds production shafts.
Hoisting Capacity | ||||
Shaft |
(tons/month) |
|||
Welkom 1 |
74,000 | |||
Welkom 21 |
58,800 | |||
Welkom 31 |
59,900 | |||
Welkom 41 |
59,900 | |||
Welkom 61 |
74,000 | |||
Welkom 71 |
74,000 | |||
Orkney 12 |
149,100 | |||
Orkney 2 |
154,600 | |||
Orkney 3 |
141,500 | |||
Orkney 4 |
174,200 | |||
Orkney 53 |
119,700 | |||
Orkney 6 |
147,000 | |||
Orkney 71 |
147,000 |
57
1 | Welkom 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 and Orkney 7 shafts was mined by a contractor during the first quarter of fiscal 2004. The shafts are currently on care and maintenance. | |
2 | Orkney one shaft was given back to Anglo Gold as per the agreement with them. | |
3 | Orkney 5 shaft was closed during July 2002, principally due to depletion of reserves and for seismic reasons. |
On a simplistic basis (and assuming that no additional reserves are identified), at the production level achieved in fiscal 2004, the June 30, 2004 reported proven and probable reserves of 4.13 million tons will be sufficient for the ARMgold operations to maintain underground production until approximately calendar year 2007. However, because the ARMgold operations consist of several different mining sections at various stages of maturity, it is expected that some of the sections will decrease production earlier than others. In addition, any further changes to the assumptions upon which the ore reserves are based, as well as any unforeseen events affecting the production levels, could have a material effect on the expected period of future operations. See Item 3. Key information Risk Factors Harmonys gold reserve figures may yield less gold under actual production conditions than Harmony currently estimates.
Plants. ARMgold does not own any plants. Ore from its Welkom operations is processed at the Free Gold Companys FS2 plant. This ore is delivered by road to the plant. Ore from the Orkney operations are treated at Vaal River Operations (VRO) no 1 Gold Plant. Various agreements between Harmony and VRO govern the supply and quality of the ore and gold apportionment.
Capital expenditure. Harmony incurred approximately Rand 4.3 million in capital expenditure at the ARMgold operations during fiscal 2004, principally for development at Orkney 3 shaft. Harmony has not budgeted for capital expenditure at the ARMgold operations in fiscal 2005.
Avgold operations Target
Introduction. Avgolds operations consist of the Target mine, Target North and Extensions and Oribi Exploration Property situated near the town of Allanridge in the Free State Province, some 270 kilometers southwest of Johannesburg. Located at approximately latitude 28°00S and longitude 26°30E on the northern limit of the Welkom Goldfields, the site is accessed via the R30 situated between the towns of Bothaville and Welkom.
On July 15, 2003 Harmony acquired 11.5% in Avgold from Anglo South Africa Capital (Pty) Ltd. On November 13, 2003 Harmony announced that it had reached an agreement regarding the acquisition of ARMs 42% share in Avgold. In terms of JSE Securities Exchange South Africa regulations, the offer was extended to the remaining Avgold shareholders by way of a scheme of arrangements. Following a scheme meeting held on May 3, 2004, the High Court of South Africa approved the scheme on May 11, 2004. This resulted in Harmony acquiring the minority shareholding and Avgold becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary. In fiscal 2004, Avgolds operations accounted for approximately 2% of Harmonys total gold sales.
History. The Target Operations area was initially explored through surface drilling in the late 1980s with further exploration being undertake from a 5.6 kilometers long decline, commenced in 1995, driven from 203L at Lorraine No.1 shaft. A positive feasibility study into the development of a 105 ktpm operation was produced in May 1998 resulting in the decision to develop the Target mine. A detailed mine design was produced in 2000 and the mine officially opened in May 2002. Upon closure of the Lorraine mine in August 1998, the Lorraine No. 1 and No. 2 shafts were transferred to the Target mine, becoming Target No.1 and No. 2 shafts, respectively.
Geology. The gold mineralization currently exploited by Target mine is contained within a succession of Elsburg and Dreyerskuil quartz pebble conglomerate reefs hosted by the Van Heeverrust and Dreyerskuil Members of the Eldorado Formation, respectively. Additional mineral resources have been delineated in the Big Pebble Reefs of the Kimberley Formation but these are not planned to be exploited in the current life of mine plan.
The majority of the mineral reserves at Target mine are contained within the Eldorado fan, a structure with dimensions of some 135 meters vertically, 450 meters down-dip and 500 meters along strike. The Eldorado fan is connected to the subsidiary Zuurbron fan, located between the Target mine and Lorraine, by a thinner and lower grade sequence of Elsburg reefs termed the Interfan area. To the north of the Eldorado fan, a number of fans have been intersected by surface drilling of which the Siberia and Mariasdal fans are the most significant. These fans are subject to ongoing technical studies and do not form part of the current Target mine life of mine mineral reserve.
58
A number of faults that displace the reefs of the Target mine have been identified of which the most prominent are the north-south trending Eldorado fault and the east-west trending Dam and Blast faults. The Eldorado uplifts the more distal portions of the Elsburg and Dreyerskuil Reefs while the Blast fault forms the northern border of the Target mine.
Target North is sub-divided into the Paradise, Siberia and Mariasdal areas by the east-west trending Siberia and Mariasdal faults. To the north of the Siberia fault, the Eldorado fault continues trending more to the northwest and an additional north-south trending fault, the Twin fault has uplifted the distal portions of the reefs. North of the Maraisdal fault, the reef horizons are at a depth greater than 2,500 meters below surface. Resources have been delineated on strike up to 15 kilometers north of the Target mine.
Approximately 40 kilometers north of Target mine, surface boreholes have intersected gold bearing reefs in the Oribi area close to the town of Bothaville. Resources have been delineated at Oribi on the VCR and Elsburg at depths of approximately 2.75 kilometers below surface.
Mining operations. The Avgold operations are engaged in underground mining. These operations are subject to all of the underground mining risks detailed in the Risk Factors section. Mining operations comprise one primary underground mine commissioned in May 2002, making use of information systems and mechanization, combined with process-driven organizational design that relies on a multi-skilled workforce. The majority of the production is derived from mechanized mining; however conventional stoping is still employed primarily to de-stress areas ahead of the mechanized mining. The mining operations feed one central process facility, namely the Target Gold Plant.
The Avgold operations have been managed by Harmony since May 2004.
Detailed below are the operating and production results for Avgold for the two months ended June 30, 2004.
Two months ended | ||||
June 30, 2004 |
||||
Production |
||||
Tons (000) |
228 | |||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.234 | |||
Gold sold (ounces) |
53,434 | |||
Results of operations ($) |
||||
Cash cost
(000) |
11,514 | |||
Cash profit
(000) |
8,259 | |||
Cash cost |
||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
215 |
Harmony currently has one shaft at its Avgold operations.
The total shaft hoisting capacity is detailed below.
Hoisting capacity | ||||
(tons/month) |
||||
Target mine |
136,100 |
On a simplistic basis (and assuming that no additional reserves are identified), at the production level achieved in fiscal 2004, the June 30, 2004 reported proven and probable ore reserves of 30.51 million tons will be sufficient for the Avgold operations to maintain production until approximately 2020. However, any future changes to the assumptions upon which the reserves are based, as well as any unforeseen events affecting production levels, could have a material effect on the expected period of the future operations. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmonys gold reserve figures may yield less gold under actual production conditions than Harmony currently estimates.
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Plants. Target Plant was commissioned towards the end of 2001 and currently treats only underground ore. The process route comprise primary crushing, open circuit primary SAG milling, secondary ball milling closed with hydrocyclones, thickening, cyanide leaching, CIP adsorption, elution, electrowinning, smelting and tailings disposal. The milling circuit incorporates gravity concentration, the concentrates from which are processed via intensive cyanidation and electrowinning. Gold bullion is despatched to the Harmonys refinery.
The following table sets forth processing capacity and average tons milled during the two months ended June 30, 2004:
Average | ||||||||
milled | ||||||||
for the fiscal | ||||||||
Processing | year ended | |||||||
Capacity | June 30, 2004 | |||||||
Plant |
(tons/month) |
(tons/month) |
||||||
Target Plant |
95,000 | 93,400 |
Capital expenditure. Harmony incurred approximately Rand 8.1 million in capital expenditure at the Avgold operations in the last two months of fiscal 2004, principally for underground development. Harmony has budgeted Rand 82.8 million ($13.3 million at the closing rate at balance sheet date) for capital expenditure at the Avgold operations in fiscal 2005, primarily for underground development, services and infrastructure to support the operations.
Australian Operations
Introduction
Harmony has two operational mines in Western Australia, namely the Mount Magnet operation and South Kalgoorlie operation. These operations were acquired with the acquisition of two Australian gold mining companies: New Hampton, acquired with effect from April 1, 2001, and Hill 50, acquired with effect from April 1, 2002. Through the New Hampton transaction described below, Harmony acquired two operations in Western Australia (Big Bell in the Murchison region and Jubilee in the Eastern Goldfields near Kalgoorlie), two processing plants associated with these operations and related exploration rights. The Big Bell operation has subsequently ceased operating during July 2003, with its plant sold in November 2003, and the Jubilee operation was merged with the New Celebration operation, acquired in the Hill 50 transaction, to form the South Kalgoorlie operation. Through the Hill 50 transaction described below, Harmony acquired the Mt. Magnet operations in the Murchison region, the New Celebration operations in the Eastern Goldfields near Kalgoorlie, two plants associated with these operations and related exploration rights. Abelle, whose major assets are located in Papua New Guinea, was acquired with effect May 1, 2003. Through the Abelle transaction described below, Harmony acquired the Gidgee operations in the Murchison region of Western Australia with the plant associated with this operation as well as exploration projects in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. In December 2003 Harmony sold its Gidgee operations.
In an effort to increase efficiency and reduce corporate expenditures, in the quarter ended June 30, 2002 Harmony integrated New Hamptons Jubilee operations with Hill 50s New Celebration operations to form the South Kalgoorlie operations and combined the corporate offices of New Hampton and Hill 50 in Perth. The Abelle corporate office was also merged with the Harmony corporate office in Perth during the quarter ended September 30, 2003, after the buyout of the Abelle minorities were completed. Each of Harmonys Australian operations, Mt. Magnet and South Kalgoorlie, conducts surface mining (principally through open pit methods) and underground mining, with access through two declines at Mt. Magnet and one decline at South Kalgoorlie. Mining at Harmonys Australian operations involves more mechanized mining than at Harmonys South African operations with the exception of operations at Target. Outside contractors conduct much of this mechanized mining. The contractors are responsible for provision of the equipment and personnel needed for production of the ore under guidance of Harmonys management. As of June 30, 2004, Harmonys Australian operations had 205 employees, while the contractors employed 498 people.
Harmony commenced gold mining operations in Australia following the New Hampton transaction. On December 19, 2000, Harmony announced that it had agreed to purchase 19.99% of New Hampton ordinary shares from Normandy Mining, subject to certain conditions. Harmony also made an offer for all of the outstanding ordinary
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shares of New Hampton at a purchase price of A$0.265 per share. Harmony received SARB and Australian Foreign Investment Review Board approval for the transaction in January 2001. On March 22, 2001, Harmony increased its offer price to A$0.275 per share and announced that Normandy Mining had accepted Harmonys offer for Normandy Minings remaining 13.2% shareholding in New Hampton, and that the New Hampton board of directors recommended that New Hampton shareholders accept Harmonys offer and indicated their intention to accept Harmonys offer for their individual holdings. The total cash bid valued New Hampton at approximately A$56.3 million (R228.2 million at an exchange rate of R4.05 per A$1.00, or $28.5 million at an exchange rate of R8.00 per $1.00). This offer closed on July 12, 2001, at which time Harmony had acquired 96.2% of New Hamptons shares and 95% of New Hamptons options. Harmony subsequently completed a compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares and options under the rules of the Australian Stock Exchange. In line with Harmonys strategy to mine reserves only when it is economical to do so, following the New Hampton transaction, Harmony reduced New Hamptons production to approximately 200,000 ounces per year. With the closure of the Big Bell mine and the merger of the Jubilee operations with the New Celebration operations, ounces produced by the South Kalgoorlie operations have been reduced to approximately 115,000 ounces per year.
Harmony expanded its Australian operations through the Hill 50 transaction in fiscal 2002. In December 2001, Harmony commenced a conditional cash offer for all of the outstanding ordinary shares and listed options of Hill 50, at a purchase price of A$1.35 per share and A$0.65 per listed option. Harmony also offered to pay a price equal to the difference between the cash price offered for the Hill 50 shares and the exercise price for each Hill 50 director and employee option. On that date, Harmony also announced that Hill 50s largest shareholder had accepted Harmonys offer for its 16.3% holding. Harmony increased the offer price to A$1.40 per share and A$0.70 per listed option on February 21, 2002, and to A$1.45 per share and A$0.75 per listed option on April 3, 2002, for a total price of approximately A$233 million (R1.419 billion at an exchange rate of R6.09 per A$1.00, or $124.8 million at an exchange rate of R11.37 per $1.00). On February 21, 2002, Harmony also announced that Hill 50s directors had informed Harmony that they intended to recommend Harmonys offer to Hill 50 shareholders, and to accept Harmonys offer in respect of their own shareholdings. The offer closed on May 3, 2002, at which time shareholders holding 98.57% of Hill 50s shares and 98.76% of Hill 50s listed options had accepted Harmonys offer and this offer had become unconditional. Harmony subsequently completed a compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares and options under the rules of the Australian Stock Exchange.
On February 26, 2003 Harmony announced a conditional cash offer for all of the outstanding ordinary shares and listed options of Abelle, at a purchase price of A$0.75 per share and A$0.45 per listed option, for a total price of approximately A$151 million. On the date of the offer announcement, Harmony also announced that it had entered into an agreement with Abelle whereby Abelle placed 35 million new shares in Abelle with Harmony, at a price of A$0.75 per share, subject to certain conditions including Abelle shareholder approval. This placement was approved by shareholders at a meeting of Abelle held on April 30, 2003 and the placement was completed on May 8, 2003. This transaction represented approximately 18% of Abelles expanded issued share capital. On February 25, 2003 Harmony entered into a pre-bid acceptance agreement for a nominal consideration of A$10, pursuant to which Silvara Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Guiness Peat Group plc agreed to accept the share offer in respect of a total of 32,044,533 Abelle shares, representing 19.95 of the total issued share capital of Abelle at that date. The original offer was extended and Harmony closed its offers on April 30, 2003 and advised at that date it had a relevant interest in 87% of Abelle shares and 65% of Abelle options. Subsequently, on May 5, 2003, three Harmony representatives were appointed to the board of Abelle. On March 15, 2004, after successfully reviewing the Hidden Valley feasibility study in Papua New Guinea as prepared by Abelle, Harmony announced that it had made an off-market cash offer to acquire all the ordinary shares, listed and unlisted options of Abelle held by minorities, at a purchase price of A$2 per share and A$1.70 per listed option, for a total price of approximately A$121 million. The original offer was extended from May 14, 2004 to June 18, 2004. Harmony closed its offers on June 18, 2004, and advised that at that date it had a relevant interest in 99% of Abelle shares and 99% of Abelle options. Harmony subsequently completed a compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares and options under the rules of the Australian Stock Exchange.
The Mount Magnet operations sold 173,228 ounces of gold in fiscal 2004, compared with the 182,690 ounces of gold produced in fiscal 2003, and the South Kalgoorlie operations sold 120,532 ounces of gold in fiscal 2004 compared with 182,851 ounces in the previous year. The Gidgee operations, which were acquired through the Abelle transaction and disposed of in December 2003 contributed 32,954 ounces in fiscal 2004 to Harmonys production, compared with the 11,534 ounces for the two months which it was included in Harmonys production in fiscal 2003. Big Bell operations only contributed 11,574 ounces derived from plant cleanup in fiscal 2004 compared with 132,579 ounces produced in fiscal 2003.
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New Hampton sold 191,521 ounces of gold in fiscal 2002, which were included in Harmonys gold sales for fiscal 2002, and Hill 50 sold 275,185 ounces of gold in fiscal 2002, three months of which, or 61,472 ounces, were included in Harmonys gold sales for fiscal 2002. The Australian operations has increased Harmonys reserves by approximately 1.4 million ounces in fiscal 2004. With effect from April 1, 2002, Harmony reports the New Hampton and Hill 50 operating and financial results together within an Australian Operations segment, which was expanded on May 1, 2003 to include Abelle, which is further segmented into the Mt. Magnet operations and the South Kalgoorlie operations (consisting of the Jubilee and New Celebration operations). In fiscal 2004, the Australian operations accounted for approximately 10% of Harmonys total gold sales.
Harmonys Australian operations control exploration and mineral rights over a total area of approximately 541,000 hectares (1,337,164 acres), of which the active mining areas currently total approximately 275,089 hectares (679,470 acres).
The following chart details the operating and production results from Harmonys Australian operations for the past three fiscal years:
Fiscal year ended June 30, |
||||||||||||
20041 |
20032 |
20023 |
||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Tons (000) |
5,227 | 7,883 | 5,273 | |||||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.065 | 0.065 | 0.048 | |||||||||
Gold sold (ounces) |
338,288 | 509,654 | 252,993 | |||||||||
Results of operations |
||||||||||||
Product
sales (000) |
131,435 | 165,351 | 66,402 | |||||||||
Cash cost
(000) |
110,475 | 138,808 | 59,537 | |||||||||
Cash profit
(000) |
21,960 | 31,246 | 6,865 | |||||||||
Cash costs |
||||||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
327 | 272 | 235 |
1 | Includes gold sales from Abelles Gidgee Operations for 5 months until November 2003. | |
2 | Includes gold sales from Abelles Gidgee Operations for two months from May 1, 2003. | |
3 | Includes gold sales from Hill 50 (including Mt. Magnet and the New Celebration portion of the South Kalgoorlie operations) for three months from April 1, 2002. |
Tons milled from Australian operations were 5,227,000 in fiscal 2004, compared with 7,883,000 in fiscal 2003. This decrease was primarily due to the closure of the Big Bell operations in July 2003 and lower production from the South Kalgoorlie open pit operations, where one mill was used exclusively for toll treatment in fiscal 2004. Recovered grade from Australian operations was 0.065 in fiscal 2004, the same as the previous year. Cash costs for Australian operations were $327 per ounce of gold in fiscal 2004, compared with $272 per ounce of gold in fiscal 2003. This increase was attributable primarily to the higher cost of underground production from the Hill 50 mine in 2004 due to the issues set out in detail under the consolidated financial statements as well as the strengthening of the Australian dollar against the U.S. dollar.
Big Bell Operations
History. Gold mining at Big Bell commenced in 1937. The Big Bell mine closed in 1955 and reopened in early 1989. Normandy Mining acquired Big Bell in 1991 and New Hampton acquired the mine from Normandy Mining in 1999. Since the commencement of operations in 1937 to June 30, 2003, total gold sales from the Big Bell area exceed two million ounces. This mine ceased operating in July 2003, and for the rest of fiscal 2004 was subject to clean up and rehabilitation work. In November 2003, the plant was sold for approximately A$2.45 million.
In fiscal 2003, the company put the Big Bell underground operations in harvest mode, as continued low grades from underground had made the operation uneconomical. Underground mining ceased at Big Bell during July 2003. Most of the other assets and surface infrastructure have been allocated to Harmonys other mining operations in Australia or sold during fiscal 2004.
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Prospective tenements to the south of Cue, which were previously included under the Big Bell operations, have been allocated to the Mt. Magnet operations for possible open pit mining and included in their reserves. It has been calculated that it will be economical to transport ore from these sources to the Checker plant at Mt. Magnet, which is located approximately 80 kilometers away from Big Bell.
Total revised rehabilitation costs of the site are estimated to be A$5 million (US$3.5 million). A detailed rehabilitation program has been put in place to ensure that the mining areas are rehabilitated to standards set by the Department of Industry and Resources in Australia.
Geology. The Big Bell operations, located in the Murchison region of Western Australia, included a mature underground mine and nearby open pit operations at Cuddingwarra and Cue. The Murchison region is a sub-province of the Archaean Shield in Western Australia. The Big Bell lode is a steeply Southeast dipping (50 degrees to 70 degrees) sheet with a strike length of 1,000 meters. The distinctive gold-bearing horizon is 5 meters to 25 meters thick and is intersected by resource drilling down to 1,400 meters below surface. The Cuddingwarra and Cue deposits, approximately 17 kilometers and 27 kilometers from the Big Bell underground mine, respectively, occur in a sequence of porphyry-intruded metamorphosed mafic and ultamafic rocks of the Meekatharra-Widgee greenstone belt.
Mining Operations. The Big Bell operations were engaged in both underground and open pit mining. These operations were subject to all of the underground and open pit mining risks detailed in the Risk Factors section. Underground mining at depths of up to 600 meters was conducted by way of a decline and a longhole sub-level caving method was employed. Contractors operated diesel powered mining equipment to transport ore up the decline and delivered it to the crusher pad. At the Cuddingwarra and Cue open pit operations, New Hampton employed outside contractors to extract ore with large earthmoving equipment. The open pits were situated on small ore bodies, which resulted in short mine lives (generally less than a year). As a result, Harmony had to continuously locate, evaluate, plan, develop and bring into production a succession of open pits to access additional reserves. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors To maintain gold production beyond the expected lives of Harmonys existing mines or increase production materially above projected levels, Harmony will need to access additional reserves through development or discovery.
The primary challenges facing the Big Bell operations were controlling costs in the underground mine and finding replacement ore reserves (particularly for short-lived open pits) through an aggressive exploration program. The Big Bell underground mine was also affected by seismic events and good geotechnical management was important to maintain safety and productivity. During fiscal 2003, the safety record at Big Bell compared favorably with the Australian industry average.
Mining at the lower levels of the Big Bell underground mine continued to yield disappointing results in fiscal 2003, as indicated in 2002, with lower than expected grade. This ultimately led to the decision to close the operation in July 2003. Detailed below are the operating and production results from operations at Big Bell for the last three fiscal years:
Fiscal year ended June 30, |
||||||||||||
20041 |
2003 |
2002 |
||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Tons (000) |
120 | 2,147 | 2,900 | |||||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.096 | 0.062 | 0.046 | |||||||||
Gold sold (ounces) |
11,574 | 132,579 | 132,389 | |||||||||
Results
of operations ($) |
||||||||||||
Cash cost (000) |
3,713 | 44,491 | 38,288 | |||||||||
Cash
profit/(loss) (000) |
366 | (4,458 | ) | (2,265 | ) | |||||||
Cash costs |
||||||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
321 | 289 | 335 |
1 | Production consists of plant clean up tons and ounces during July 2003. Big Bell ceased operations for the remainder of fiscal 2004 and was subject to cleanup and rehabilitation work. |
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Tons milled in fiscal 2004 were 120,000 compared with 2,147,000 in fiscal 2003, and ounces sold in fiscal 2004 were 11,574, compared with 132,579 in fiscal 2003. Tonnage milled and ounces produced in fiscal 2004 consisted of clean up material that was processed through the plant in July 2003, and does not constitute production from mining. Therefore tonnage and ounces is not comparable with the previous year.
Plant. The Big Bell operations included one metallurgical plant, which was disposed of in November 2003. Ore from the Big Bell underground and open pit operations was processed through this CIL treatment plant located 28 kilometers from Cue in the Murchison region. Ore extracted from the Big Bell underground mine was transported by diesel powered mining equipment up the decline and to the crusher pad. Road trains delivered ore from the open pits. The plant underwent significant capital refurbishments during fiscal 2001 in an effort to ensure that planned throughput was achieved, but due to the age and layout of this plant, unit costs were higher than at other plants in Harmonys Australian operations.
The Big Bell plant was not used for processing or milling in fiscal 2004 and only used to process clean up material in fiscal 2004.
In fiscal 2003, the Big Bell operations recovered approximately 87% of the gold contained in the ore delivered for processing.
Capital Expenditure. Harmony spent approximately A$1.9 million in capital expenditures at the Big Bell operations during fiscal 2003, principally for site rehabilitation work when the mine went into closure mode. During fiscal 2004 no capital was spent on the mine and none is planned for fiscal 2005.
Mt Magnet Operations
History. Mining at Mt. Magnet began after the discovery of gold in 1896. From that time to June 30, 2004, the Mt. Magnet operations have produced approximately 5.2 million ounces. The current Mt. Magnet operations, which Harmony acquired in the Hill 50 transaction, are comprised of the Hill 50 and Star underground mines, production from which commenced in the late 1980s, nearby open pits and the processing of low grade ore from previously accumulated stockpiles.
Geology. The Mt. Magnet operations are located near the town of Mt. Magnet in the Murchison region, 560 kilometers northeast of Perth. The geology consists of folded basaltic and komatiitic greenstones with intercalated banded iron formations and volcaniclastic units. In addition to having been intensely folded, the area has undergone substantial faulting and later intrusion by felsic intrusives. Mineralization within the Murchison belt consists of sulfide replacement style (characteristic of the Hill 50 mine) and quartz lode and shear hosted hydrothermally emplaced bodies proximal to fault conduits. Smaller stockwork bodies within felsic intrusives are also common. As is typical of the Archaean Shield, the deep weathering profile at Mt. Magnet has resulted in supergene enrichment and hypogene dispersion of gold in the oxidizing environments. These effects lend themselves well to the process of small scale open pit mining. Historically underground mining of primary lodes was the largest contributor to Mt. Magnets gold production.
Mining Operations. The Mt. Magnet operations are engaged in underground, open pit and waste rock mining. These operations are subject to all of the underground, open pit, and waste rock mining risks detailed in the Risk Factors section. Harmony revisits its mining strategy and management procedures at these operations on a regular basis in its effort to minimize mining risks.
Underground operations at Mt. Magnet consist of the Hill 50 and Star mines, each of which operates a decline. The Hill 50 mine, which is approaching 1,300 meters in depth, is currently one of Australias deepest underground mines. The Star mine is approximately 950 meters in depth. Underground mining is conducted by decline tunnel access. The principal challenges facing the Hill 50 underground mine is its continuing depth and the geotechnical, ventilation and cost impediments that increased depth imposes, including increased ground stress and potential increased seismic activity. As a result, maintaining adequate grade remains a critical component of this mine. The same issues affected the Star underground mine in fiscal 2004, but due to its lower grade and variability of grade, it faced additional challenges. As discussed in fiscal 2003 its orebody is difficult to define and required significantly better mining grades than those achieved in fiscal 2004 to justify further investment in deepening the decline. Therefore, a decision was taken in fiscal 2004 to stop the decline development at Star and put the mine in harvest mode. It is anticipated that mining will continue there until the end of December 2004. With the closure of Star additional underground tonnage will be provided by developing a new underground mine at the St. George open pit, which was one of the open pits mined in fiscal 2004. It is anticipated that the development of the decline at St. George will start in December 2004, with production commencing in the June 2005 quarter.
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Surface operations at Mt. Magnet exploit several medium-sized open pits, as well as numerous smaller open pits. Surface materials from areas previously involved in production, including waste rock dumps and tailings dams, are also processed at Mt. Magnet. The principal challenge facing the Mt. Magnet operations is that the open pits are situated on small ore bodies, which results in short mine lives. As a result, Harmony must continuously locate, evaluate, plan, develop and bring into production a succession of open pits to access additional reserves. Maintaining grade and managing the increased geotechnical complexities of the Hill 50 and Star underground also remains critical. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors To maintain gold production beyond the expected lives of Harmonys existing mines or increase productivity materially above projected levels, Harmony will need to access additional reserves through development or discovery.
As of June 30, 2004, the safety record at the Mt. Magnet operations compared favorably with Australian industry averages. Safety standards of Harmony Australia are being applied at the Mt. Magnet operations and it receives constant and high-level attention. Detailed below are the operating and production results from operations at Mt. Magnet for the last three fiscal years:
Fiscal year ended June 30, |
||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Tons (000) |
3,058 | 2,922 | 3,022 | |||||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.056 | 0.063 | 0.063 | |||||||||
Gold sold (ounces) |
173,228 | 182,690 | 189,689 | |||||||||
Results of operations ($) |
||||||||||||
Cash cost
(000) |
58,202 | 42,989 | 34,495 | |||||||||
Cash
profit/(loss) (000) |
9,512 | 13,615 | 18,097 | |||||||||
Cash costs |
||||||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
336 | 182 | 235 |
Tons milled in fiscal 2004 were 3,058,000 compared with 2,922,000 in fiscal 2003, and ounces sold in fiscal 2004 were 173,228, compared with 182,690 in fiscal 2003. These decreases were primarily attributable to continued reduced production from the Hill 50 underground mine for most of fiscal 2004. Production at Hill 50 underground mine was negatively affected during fiscal 2003 as well as most of fiscal 2004 by a series of rockfall incidents starting in February 2003, which blocked the main ventilation raises near the bottom of the mine. These incidents not only affected all of the high grade production stopes but also revealed the need for a redesign of the stope configurations and the positioning of the ventilation system at the deeper levels of the mine. This adversely affected production levels and costs at Hill 50. The new ventilation raises were completed at a cost of A$2.8 million by December 2003. The Star underground mine and open pits took up a significant portion of the tonnage shortfall but could not make up for the gold production shortfall from this high grade source.
On a simplistic basis (and assuming no additional reserves are identified) at the production level achieved in fiscal 2004, the June 30, 2004 reported proven and probable ore reserves of 8.49 million tons for Mt. Magnet would be sufficient to maintain production until approximately fiscal 2007. However, because the Mt. Magnet operations consist of several different mining sections that are at various stages of maturity, it is expected that some sections will decrease production earlier than others. In addition, any future changes to the assumptions upon which the ore reserves are based, as well as any unforeseen events affecting production levels, could have a material effect on the expected period of future operations. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmonys gold reserve figures may yield less gold under actual production conditions than Harmony currently estimates.
Plant. The Mt. Magnet operations include one metallurgical plant. This plant was built in 1989 as a CIL plant and was upgraded in late 1999 to a CIP plant. Actual throughputs of the Mt. Magnet plant varies based upon the blend of oxide and sulfide ores in their feed. Processing capacity is an estimate of nominal throughput based on a 70% hard (sulfide) and 30% oxide (soft) blend. The following table sets forth processing capacity and average tons milled during fiscal 2004 for the Mt. Magnet plant:
65
Average | ||||||||
milled | ||||||||
for the fiscal | ||||||||
Processing | year ended | |||||||
Capacity | June 30, 2004 | |||||||
Plant |
(tons/month) |
(tons/month) |
||||||
Mt. Magnet |
243,000 | 244,166 |
In fiscal 2004, the Mt. Magnet plant recovered approximately 89% of the gold contained in the ore delivered for processing.
Capital Expenditure. Harmony spent approximately A$19.1 million ($13.6 million) in capital expenditures at the Mt. Magnet operations during fiscal 2004, primarily for underground development, exploration and plants. Harmony has budgeted approximately A$22 million ($16 million) for capital expenditures at the Mt. Magnet operations during fiscal 2005, principally for underground development and infrastructure.
South Kalgoorlie Operations
History. The South Kalgoorlie operations include several open pits at Jubilee and New Celebration, as well at the Mt. Marion underground mine at New Celebration. In the Jubilee area, two separate companies commenced gold mining by modern methods in 1987, although some sporadic mining of gold took place in the area in the late nineteenth century. The Jubilee operations were originally comprised of large Jubilee open pit but in recent years have also drawn on a number of smaller open pits. Harmony acquired the Jubilee operations in the New Hampton transaction. The New Celebration operations were initially developed in 1987 by a third company exploiting the same ore body that hosted the Jubilee Pit. Hill 50 acquired these operations from Newcrest Mining Ltd. in June 2001. The Mt. Marion decline, which is the largest underground development at New Celebration, was established in 1998. Harmony acquired the New Celebration operations, including the Mt. Marion underground mine, in the Hill 50 transaction.
Following the acquisitions of New Hampton and Hill 50, Harmony integrated the Jubilee operations and New Celebration operations to form the South Kalgoorlie operations. Since the commencement of operations to June 30, 2004, total gold production from Harmonys mines in the South Kalgoorlie area exceeds two million ounces.
Geology. The South Kalgoorlie mines are located approximately 30 kilometers south of Kalgoorlie in the Eastern Goldfields region of Western Australia. The South Kalgoorlie ore bodies are located in a number of geological domains including the Kalgoorlie-Kambalda belt, the Boulder-Lefroy Structure, the Zuleika Shear, the Coolgardie Belt and Yilgarn-Roe Structures. At South Kalgoorlie, the mining tenure and geology straddles the three major fault systems or crystal sutures considered to be the main ore body plumbing systems of the Kalgoorlie goldfield. The geology consists of Archaean greenstone stratigraphy of basalts and komatiites with intercalated sediments, tuffs,volcaniclastics and later felsic intrusives. Late stage and large scale granitic (Proterozoic) intrusion has stoped out large sections of the greenstone. Quartz filled lode and shear hosted bodies are the most dominant among many 80 mineralization styles. Large scale stockwork bodies hosted in felsic volcanics are an important contributor to bulk tonnage of relatively low grade deposits.
Mining Operations. The South Kalgoorlie operations are engaged in open pit, underground and waste rock mining. These operations are subject to all of the underground, often pit and waste rock mining risks detailed in the Risk Factors section. Harmony intends to revisit its mining strategy and management procedures at these operations on a regular basis in connection with its effort to minimize mining risks.
At Jubilee, during fiscal 2004, open cast mining was conducted mainly at the Trojan and Golden Ridge pits and a number of other smaller open pits. Harmony employs contractors who use large earthmoving equipment to extract ore from these pits. The surface operations at New Celebration exploited a number of small short-life and shallow open-cast mines during fiscal 2004. At the end of June, 2003, a decision was taken to use the New Celebration plant for toll treatment purposes. A contract was signed for an initial period of 6 months up to February 2004, with the option to extend the period for another 6 months thereafter. The toll milling contract at the New Celebration mill was extended to June 2004, after which toll milling ceased. The New Celebration plant is currently on care and maintenance, but has been put up for sale. The decision to toll treat ore at the New Celebration plant alleviated the continuous pressure on finding replacement ore for two mills at SouthKal Mines, and enabled these operations to focus on finding more quality ounces. Harmony ore from both surface and underground sources is now treated at
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the Jubilee plant. The primary challenge facing the South Kalgoorlie operations is that most of the open pits are situated on small ore bodies, which results in short mines lives. As a result, Harmony must continuously locate, evaluate, plan, develop and bring into production a succession of open pits to access additional reserves. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors To maintain or increase productivity materially above projected levels, Harmony will need to access additional reserves through development or discovery.
SouthKal Mines also includes the Mt. Marion underground nine. This mine faces challenges similar to those faced by the Mt. Magnet underground operations; however, depths at Mt. Marion are much shallower (740 meter vertical depth versus 1,300 meter vertical depth at Mt. Magnet). Mt. Marion is a decline mine that has switched to a longhole sub-level caving methodology. The purpose of this change in mining method is to better manage the geotechnical risks without diminishing returns from the mine. The Mt. Marion mine also is exposed to other risks typical of mechanized mines, including geotechnical issues, mine dilution and unpredictable remedial ground support after mine blasting.
During fiscal 2004, the safety record at SouthKal Mines in terms of lost time frequency rate and fatality frequency rate was equal to the average for lost time injury frequency rates for underground metalliferous mines in Australia. Safety standards for Harmony operations are being applied throughout the South Kalgoorlie operations and receives constant and high-level attention.
Detailed below are the operating and production results from the South Kalgoorlie operations, which were completed by combining historical figures from the Jubilee and New Celebration operations, for the last three fiscal years:
Year ended June 30, |
||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
||||||||||
Production |
||||||||||||
Tons (000) |
1,843 | 2,749 | 1,973 | |||||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0,065 | 0,067 | 0,069 | |||||||||
Gold sold (ounces) |
120,532 | 182,851 | 135,366 | |||||||||
Results of operations ($) |
||||||||||||
Cash cost (000) |
38,848 | 5,007 | 5,881 | |||||||||
Cash profit (000) |
7,803 | 49,319 | 31,604 | |||||||||
Cash costs |
||||||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
322 | 270 | 233 |
Tons milled in fiscal 2004 were 1,843,000, compared with 2,749,000 in fiscal 2003, and ounces sold in fiscal 2004 were 120,532, compared with 182,851 in fiscal 2003. This decrease was primarily attributable to reduced open pit throughput for the year, with the New Celebration plant only being utilized for toll treatment purposes. However higher grade open pit material was processed during the year which resulted in the improved grade compared to the previous year.
On a simplistic basis (and assuming no additional reserves are identified) at the production level achieved in fiscal 2004, the June 30, 2004 reported proven and probable ore reserves of 2.94 million tons for the South Kalgoorlie operations would be sufficient to maintain production until approximately fiscal 2006. However, because the South Kalgoorlie operations consist of several different mining sections that are at various stages of maturity, it is expected that some sections will decrease production earlier than others. In addition, any future changes to the assumptions upon which the ore reserves are based, as well as any unforeseen events affecting production levels, could have a material effect on the expected period of future operations. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmonys gold reserve figures may yield less gold under actual production conditions than Harmony currently estimates.
Following the New Hampton acquisition, Harmony began implementing the Harmony Way at Jubilee and following the Hill 50 acquisition, Harmony has been integrating the Jubilee and New Celebration operations to form the South Kalgoorlie operations, which was completed at the beginning of fiscal 2003.
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Plants. The South Kalgoorlie operations include two metallurgical plants, located at Jubilee and New Celebration. The Jubilee CIL treatment plant has been well maintained and is capable of achieving the planned production from the mining operations. Ore is hauled from the open pits as well as the Mt. Marion underground mine to the treatment plant by conventional road trains.
The New Celebration plant was commissioned in 1986 as a CIP plant and later upgraded in 1988 by the addition of a larger parallel circuit. In 2003 a decision was taken to use this plant for toll treatment purposes, and it was utilized for this purpose in fiscal 2004. The plant is currently on care and maintenance, but has been put up for sale. Actual throughputs of the South Kalgoorlie plants vary based upon the blend of oxide and sulfide ores in their feed. Processing capacity is an estimate of nominal throughput based on a 70% hard (sulfide) and 30% soft (oxide) blend.
The following table sets forth processing capacity and Average tons milled during fiscal 2004 for the South Kalgoorlie plants:
Average | ||||||||
milled | ||||||||
for the fiscal | ||||||||
Processing | year ended | |||||||
Capacity | June 30, 2004 | |||||||
Plant |
(tons/month) |
(tons/month) |
||||||
Jubilee |
122,000 | 114,608 | ||||||
New Celebration |
138,000 | 107,048 |
In fiscal 2004, the Jubilee and New Celebration plants recovered approximately 92% and 93%, respectively, of the gold contained in the ore delivered for processing.
Capital Expenditure. In fiscal 2004, Harmony spent approximately A$7.7 million ($5.5 million) in capital expenditures at SouthKal Mines, primarily for underground and open pit mine development and exploration, as well as plant major maintenance. Harmony has budgeted approximately A$16.1 million ($11.5 million) for capital expenditures at the South Kalgoorlie operations during fiscal 2005, principally for underground and open pit mine development and exploration.
Burnside Joint Venture Northern Territory Operations
History. Since the discovery of gold in the Northern Territory of Australia in 1865 the state has produced more than 11 million ounces of gold. This production has come from three principal areas, the Tennant Creek field, the Granites-Tanami region and the Pine Creek Orogen, the latter having produced about 30% of the total.
Harmony acquired gold mining interests in the Pine Creek Orogen (centered 150 kilometers South of Darwin) through the acquisition of Hill 50 Limited (Hill 50) in March 2002. Hill 50 had acquired 100% interest in the Maud Creek Gold Project, near Katherine NT and 100% interest in gold resources surrounding the Brocks Creek processing plant. In April 2002, Hill 50 finalized a 50-50 joint venture agreement (Burnside Joint Venture) with Northern Gold NL that merged the mining assets of both companies within a 30 kilometer radius of the Brocks Creek 1,100,000 ton per year processing plant, which itself is an asset of the joint venture. In mid-2003, key tenements at the Pine Creek gold mining center were also acquired by the joint venture.
Burnside Joint Venture. The principal objective of the Burnside Joint Venture is to explore, develop and treat gold ores within the jointly held tenement group. To this end, exploration drilling and underground mine development have been undertaken by the parties. The joint venture agreement is between Buffalo Creek Mines NL (a subsidiary of Hill 50) and Territory Goldfields NL (a subsidiary of Northern Gold NL). The parties formed a management company named Burnside Operations Pty Ltd to manage all mining and exploration matters of the joint venture. The Maud Creek Project is not subject to the Burnside Joint Venture and is still 100% controlled by Harmony.
The total area held by the Burnside Joint Venture under mining and exploration tenure is approximately 280,000 acres, of which 263,000 acres have been granted. The Maud Creek Project tenements comprise a total of approximately 87,000 acres, of which 53,000 acres have been granted.
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Geology. The Burnside Joint Venture area contains numerous historic and recently discovered gold occurrences, some of which have produced gold from open pit and underground mining, and others that are at an advanced stage of exploration through resource drilling. The deposits lie within Lower Proterozoic metasediments that were folded and faulted during the Pine Creek Orogeny. Gold in the region typically occupies sulphide rich quartz veins within the axial zones of anticlinal fold structures.
The most significant of these are the Cosmopolitan Howley mine that historically has produced 475,000 ounces largely from open pit mining.
In fiscal 2003, two upper levels of the Zapopan Mine were developed by the joint venture by decline access. Approximately 12,125 tons of development ore was toll treated at an average grade of 0.21 ounces per ton, producing 2,600 ounces for the joint venture. The ore was free milling with 99% recoveries. Development on the decline had been stopped 125 meters below surface while further exploratory diamond drilling was done to extend the down plunge resource potential of the deposit. The decline is currently still on low cost care and maintenance, pending a mining decision by the joint venture partners. Approximately A$13 million was spent on capital development costs by the joint venture for fiscal 2003. Mining engineering studies, which stared in fiscal 2003 to determine the optimum mining method and cost structure for the operation were completed in fiscal 2004. Firm, updated mining reserves as a result of these studies, as well as two successful drilling programs have indicated proven and probable reserves of 272,601 tons at 0.38 ounces per ton, for 103,700 ounces of gold. This reserve estimate is based on a mine design comprising decline access from surface and mining of ore stopes primarily by standard cut and fill underground mining methods. The mine design and reserve estimate have been modeled to a depth of approximately 270 meters below surface. It is anticipated that profits from the Zapopan operation will support initial exploration and development costs at the larger Cosmopolitan Howley underground resource.
Exploratory drilling in the area has established various potential gold deposits. During fiscal 2004, the joint venture also completed the Cosmo Deeps resource definition drilling program, and follow up drilling is planned. A scoping study has commenced into the potential for Cosmo Deeps to support a substantial underground gold mining operation. Resource drilling at the Fountain Head deposit has confirmed the potential for a shallow open pit and further resource extensions. Various other satellite deposits within the Burnside Joint Venture was also drilled and modeled to supplement the current identified deposits. The fine grain size of the gold and its association with sulphide have refractory characteristics that require alternative methods of treatment. Further metallurgical work is required on the resource.
On August 5, 2004, the joint venture announced that it had acquired the Union Reefs Gold Project from Anglogold Ashanti Australia Ltd. for A$4 million split equally between Harmony and Northern Gold. The Union Reefs gold project is located approximately 50 kilometers north of the Burnside JVs Pine Creek mining leases. The Union Reefs Gold Project contains a well maintained 3,100,000 tons per annum CIL gold plant (on care and maintenance since late 2003) and all related site infrastructure, which will now form the primary treatment facility for the Burnside JVs gold resources. Concurrent with this acquisition the Blocks Creek gold plant was sold for A$0.85 million. The rationale for the acquisition is that the lower recommissioning costs of the Union Reefs plant and expected lower milling costs than the Brocks Creek plant will enhance the economics and processing flexibility of the Burnside project.
Abelle
Introduction. On February 26,2003, Harmony announced a conditional cash offer for all of the outstanding ordinary shares and listed options of Abelle, at a purchase price of A$0.75 per share and A$0.45 per listed option, for a total price of approximately A$151 million. On the date of the offer announcement, Harmony also announced that it had entered into an agreement with Abelle whereby Abelle placed 35 million new shares in Abelle with Harmony, at a price of A$0.75 per share, subject to certain conditions including Abelle shareholder approval. This placement was approved by shareholders at a meeting of Abelle held on April 30, 2003 and the placement was completed on May 8, 2003. This transaction represented approximately 18% of Abelles expanded issued share capital. On February 25, 2003 Harmony entered into a pre-bid acceptance agreement for a nominal consideration of A$10, pursuant to which Silvara Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of the Guiness Peat Group plc had agreed to accept the share offer in respect of a total of 32,044,533 Abelle shares, representing 19.95 of the total issued share capital of Abelle at that date. The original offer was extended and Harmony closed its offers on April 30, 2003 and advised at that date it had a relevant interest in 84.57% of Abelle shares and 63.18% of Abelle options. Subsequently, on May 5, 2003, three Harmony representatives were appointed to the board of Abelle.
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On March 15, 2004, after successfully reviewing the Hidden Valley feasibility study in Papua New Guinea as prepared by Abelle, Harmony announced that it had made an off-market cash offer to acquire all the ordinary shares, listed and unlisted options of Abelle held by minorities, at a purchase price of A$2 per share and A$1.70 per listed option, for a total price of approximately A$121 million. The original offer was extended from May 14, 2004 to June 18, 2004. Harmony closed its offers on June 18, 2004, and advised that at that date it had a relevant interest in 99% of Abelle shares and 99% of Abelle options. Harmony subsequently competed a compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares and options under the rules of the Australian Stock Exchange.
History. Abelle was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) on April 24, 2002. In August 2002, a merger was proposed with Aurora Gold Ltd, also listed on the ASX. The proposed merger through a scheme of arrangement was completed in January 2003. Abelle has various exploration projects in Australia, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. It also operated the Gidgee Gold mine in the Murchison region of Western Australia, which was disposed of in December 2003. After the successful buy out of minority shareholders by Harmony, the company was delisted from the Australian Stock Exchange on June 30, 2004.
Gidgee Gold Mine
History. The Gidgee Gold Project was acquired by Abelle in late 1999 from a public tender following the appointment of a Receiver and Manager to Australian Resources Ltd.
On November 7, 2003 Abelle announced that it has entered into negotiations with Legend Mining Limited, whereby Legend has offered to purchase the Gidgee gold project. The mine was subsequently sold to Legend Mining Limited with effective transfer from December 17, 2003. Payment for the mine consisted of shares in Legend and cash amounting to a total consideration of A$6.3 million. The Legend shares were subsequently also disposed of in fiscal 2004.
Geology. The Gum Creek greenstone belt, which outcrops over an area 110 kilometers long and 25 kilometers wide is situated at the northern limit of the Southern Cross Province of the Archaean Yilgarn Craton. It is elongate north-northwest and contains a southerly plunging synform in which volcanic and sedimentary rocks are bounded on the east and west by granitoids.
The Gum Creek greenstone belt comprises a lower sequence of mafic and ultramafic extrusive and intrusive rocks interbedded with BIF, overlain by a sequence of felsic volcanic and mafic volcanic rocks and sediments metamorphosed to lower greenschist-lower amphibolite facies. Granitoid stocks and east west striking Proterozoic dolerite dykes intrude both sequences. Although the structure is synclinal, the mafic volcanic rocks in the center of the belt are considered to be part of the lower sequence, having been brought to the surface by major folding and faulting.
Operations Summary. The Gidgee Gold Project processed a blended ore feedstock from the Swan Bitter underground mine, various open pits and low grade stocks.
The key component of gold production since Abelle acquired the Gidgee Gold Project had been the Swan Bitter underground mine. This was supplemented by open pit mining from the pits of South Reliance, Think Big, Shiraz, Snook, North Wahoo and Cobia.
Open pit mining at the Gidgee Gold Mine ended midway through fiscal 2003 with a poor performance from the last pit, South Snook, leaving only one production source, the Swan Bitter Underground mine. The underground ore and low grade stocks were blended to aggregate a mill feedstock.
The Swan Bitter underground mine also had a major setback during fiscal 2003 as the main development focus, the southern extensions and Butcherbird decline failed to live up to expectations. Despite significant development and ore driving, only a small portion of the ore reserve was deemed to be economically viable to mine. The focus of the operation then since shifted to the western and newly discovered Tunisia and Australia lodes, which reconciled positively. The mine was back on track for the final quarter of the 2003 financial year with a very solid performance. However, the impact of the failed southern areas and the poor reconciliation from the South Snook pit severely impacted the annual results.
Gidgees results were included in Harmonys results for 2 months from the effective date of acquisition, May 1, 2003 in fiscal 2003. In that period 64,528 tons of ore was treated at an average grade of 0.179 ounces per ton for 11,534 ounces of gold. During fiscal 2004 Gidgees results were included in Harmonys results for a period of 5 months, up to the end of November 2003, when the operation was sold to Legend Mining Limited. During that period 206,465 tons were treated at an average grade of 0.159 per ton for 32,954 ounces of gold.
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Detailed below are the operating and production results from the Gidgee gold mine operations for the 5 months ended November 30, 2003 and the fiscal year ended June 30, 2003.
Five months | Fiscal year | |||||||
ended | ended | |||||||
November 30, | June 30, | |||||||
20031 |
20032 |
|||||||
Production |
||||||||
Tons (000) |
206 | 658 | ||||||
Recovered grade (ounces/ton) |
0.159 | 0.179 | ||||||
Gold sold (ounces) |
32,954 | 11,534 | ||||||
Results of operations ($) |
||||||||
Cash cost (000) |
9,712 | 2,410 | ||||||
Cash profit (000) |
3,279 | 1,236 | ||||||
Cash costs |
||||||||
Per ounce of gold ($) |
295 | 209 |
1 | Consists of 5 months of production up to November 2003 included in Harmony Australias results. | |
2 | Consists of 2 months of production included in Harmony Australias results. |
Mining operations. Abelles key business focus is on the three exploration and development properties of Hidden Valley (Morobe), Wafi Gold and the Golpu Copper-Gold in Papua New Guinea. Abelle also holds a suite of exploration projects throughout Australia which it considers non-core and is in the process of farming out or disposing.
Papua New Guinea Operations
Introduction. Harmonys interests in Papua New Guinea consist of exploration titles covering some 1,922 square kilometers of highly prospective gold and copper-gold geology structurally related to the Wau Graben, arc-parallel and transfer faulting. The titles are broken into two groups, the northern group being referred to as the Wafi Project, which in turn incorporates the Wafi Gold and Golpu Copper-Gold projects. The southern block is referred to as the Hidden Valley Project (previously Morobe Gold Project) and incorporates the Hidden Valley, Kaveroi, Hamata and Kerimenge gold and gold-silver deposits.
The Papua New Guinea operations are owned by two separate Papua New Guinea incorporated companies Morobe Consolidated Goldfields Ltd and Wafi Mining Limited, which is wholly owned subsidiaries of the Harmony group. Harmony currently has a corporate office in Port Moresby, the capital of PNG, as well as offices in Lae and Wau, to facilitate the development of the Hidden Valley project and perform the pre feasibility work on the Wafi Golpu copper gold project. The project is also supported by utilizing Harmonys Australian personnel. At June 30, 2004 Harmony had 214 employees and 14 contractors in Service in PNG.
Geology. Harmonys PNG exploration holdings cover a tract of prospective stratigraphy which is located in the Morobe Province south-west from Lae the provincial capital. This rugged area is dominated by uplifted Lower Jurassic and Cretaceous sediments known as the Owen Stanley Metamorphics. The Owen Stanley Metamorphics are intruded by the extensive Middle Miocene-age Morobe Granodiorite.
At Wafi, the bulk of gold mineralization is located within moderate to steep east-dipping Owen Stanley conglomerates, sandstones and shales that surround a large diatreme core. Gold mineralization appears to be controlled by mostly bedding-parallel faults and is associated with complex high-sulphidation hydrothermal alteration assemblages. These assemblages form roughly concentric zones centered on the diatreme.
Located near the north-eastern margins of the diatreme, and about 1 kilometer north of the Wafi sediment-hosted gold resource, is the Golpu porphyry-style gold-copper deposit. With a diameter of up to 300 meters the porphyry forms a discrete, near-vertical fault-bounded pipe that extends from about 100 meters below the surface to 1,000 meters down-plunge. The porphyry is dioritic in composition and has undergone late-stage epithermal, high-sulphidation alteration. A gold-bearing silica cap is developed directly over the top of the porphyry.
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In contrast to Wafi, the Hidden Valley-Hamata deposits in the Wau-Bulolo area to the south are hosted almost exclusively by the Miocene-age Morobe Granodiorite. Gold mineralization in this area is confined to a NW-trending structural corridor known as the Wau Graben. Sediments belonging to the Owen Stanley Metamorphics overlay the Hidden Valley deposit. The entire sequence is intruded by the Pliocene-age gold-bearing Edie Porphyry.
At Hidden Valley, low-sulphidation gold mineralization occurs within veins that are distributed in a structurally-controlled, flat to moderately-dipping NW-trending, stockwork within the granodiorite.
At Hamata, which is at a lower elevation than Hidden Valley, the overlying sediments have been stripped away. Mineralization occurs in at least three subparallel stock-work zones that strike NE and dip at 45-50° SE.
Hidden Valley project
Abelle announced to the market that it completed the Hidden Valley feasibility study on December 24, 2003.
The development concept for the Hidden Valley project as announced by them is a two phase project where Phase 1 mines the known quality reserves at Hidden Valley, Keveroi and Hamata prospects. This phase carries the full capital, plant and infrastructure impost. Phase 2 progressively extends sustainable production with a concept of a centralized process plant being fed from a number of regional ore sources. The feasibility study showed attractive returns based on a gold price assumption of US$410 per ounce, a silver price of US$5.50 per ounce and a A$/US$ exchange rate of A$1 = US$0.735.
After performing a due diligence process on the feasibility study in January 2004, the Harmony board approved the development of the project, and as a consequence Harmony also decided to buy out the minority shareholders of Abelle.
Background. The Hidden Valley Project (formerly Morobe Project) is 100% owned by Harmony through its wholly-owned PNG subsidiary, Morobe Consolidated Goldfields Ltd. Alluvial gold was first discovered at Hidden Valley in 1928. It was not until the early 1980s that the area was investigated by CRA Exploration using modern exploration techniques that resulted in the discovery of the Hidden Valley and Kaveroi gold deposits on EL 677.
A number of feasibility studies have been prepared for the Hidden Valley Project by the various owners over a number of years commencing in 1998. Abelle completed a feasibility study in December 2003, which met the specific requirements of the PNG project approval process. Abelles design concept incorporates a two phase process in which phase one incorporates the Hamata deposit into the development plan with the plant and tailings dam located at Hamata with a crushing facility located at Hidden valley and 5 kilometers overland conveyor delivering ore from Hidden Valley and Kaveroi to Hamata. Phase two contemplates extending project life by pit extensions, underground or near mine development. Phase one included the purchase of the Misima Mines Ltd 7.1 million tons per annum treatment plant, remaining mining fleet, service infrastructure, stores and spares for A$8.5 million.
Project Overview. The definitive feasibility study was completed in December 2003 and incorporates the mining of both the Hamata and Hidden Valley/Kaveroi resources. Harmony is currently optimizing the feasibility study and considering various alternatives which might reduce the operating cost of the project or, reduce the capital requirements.
The feasibility study currently indicates that 1.9 million ounces of gold and 25.5 million ounces of silver will be produced over the project life, with 23.7 million tons of ore mined. The resources will be mined in a sequence that sees the low silver Hamata ores mined first with plant and infrastructure development for the project developed in close proximity to the Hamata deposit. The next ore mined will be the Hidden Valley/Kaveroi oxide/transition ores (high silver) followed by the Hidden Valley/Kaveroi primary ores. The proven and probable gold reserves for the Hidden Valley/Kaveroi/Hamata deposits are 2,040,500 ounces at 0.086 ounces per ton. Silver proven and probable reserves at Hidden Valley Kaveroi amounts to 29,500,000 ounces at 1.25 ounces per ton. Harmony is continuing a drilling program to identify additional reserves around the project area to extend the anticipated mine life of 8 years, which includes an 18 month construction period.
Total capital expenditure for the project is estimated at A$254 million (US$ 117.3 million), which includes the purchase of a mining fleet and power station, as well as normal plant and infrastructure construction costs. It also includes the construction of a tailings dam to reduce the impact of mining operations on the environment. Harmony is still investigating the various financing alternatives available for the project.
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Deconstruction and transportation of the Misima plant commenced in June 2004 and was 50% complete by mid September 2004 and should be complete by December 2004. The plant will be stored in Lae and components will be transported to Hidden Valley for installation as project development proceeds.
The process plant will process ore at a rate of approximately 3.9 million tons per annum and has been designed with three distinct process routes that complement the metallurgical characteristics of the three ore types to be mined. The process plant will commence as a primary crushing, grinding, Carbon-in-Leach (CIL), Merrill-Crowe zinc precipitation, goldroom and tailings detox plant for the low silver Hamata ores, revert to a primary crushing, grinding, flotation, concentrate regrind, Counter-Current Decantation (CCD) circuit with Merrill-Crowe zinc precipitation, flotation concentrate and tailing CIL, goldroom and tailings detox for the high silver oxide/transition ores and then a similar circuit without flotation tail CIL for high silver sulphide ores from Hidden valley/Kaveroi ores.
Location and access. The Hidden Valley Project comprises four exploration licenses of 966 square kilometers in the Wau District of Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea. The project is located 210 kilometers; north-northwest of Port Moresby and 90 kilometers south southwest of Lae, the two largest cities in Papua New Guinea. Access to the project is by sealed road from the deep-water port of Lae to Bulolo, all-weather gravel road to Wau and then by unsealed tracks.
Government royalty and other rights. The gold and silver production from the Hidden Valley Project will be subject to a 2% royalty, payable on the net return from refined production if refined in Papua New Guinea or 2% royalty on the realized price if refined out of Papua New Guinea.
The independent State of Papua New Guinea (the State) also has a statutory right to acquire up to a 30% participatory interest in mining development projects, at sunk cost. Once an interest is acquired by the State, it contributes to the further exploration and development costs on a pro rata basis. The States reservation arises by way of a condition included in all exploration licenses.
Third Party Royalties. Pursuant to the sale agreement of EL677 (the Hidden Valley and Kaveroi deposits) by Rio Tinto to AGF, a royalty payment from refined gold production is payable to Rio Tinto as per the following table:
Gold production (oz) |
Royalty (%) |
|||
< 200,000 |
0.0 | |||
200,001 1,000,000 |
2.0 | |||
1,000,001 5,000,000 |
3.5 | |||
> 5,000,000 |
2.0 |
Additional Prospects and Exploration Potential. The Hidden Valley Project revised feasibility and development being developed by Harmony considers the mining and development of the Hamata, Hidden Valley and Kaveroi deposits only. While these alone provide for a robust project of 8 to 10 years duration, there is considerable potential to extend the project life from other advanced prospects and mineralization that are within a 10-kilometer radius of any proposed plant site. These include the advanced Kerimenge deposit (753,000 ounces), Andim, Nosave, Purrawang, Apu Creek prospects that are immediate extensions to the known mineralization systems at Hidden Valley, the more peripheral Waterfall, Bulldog, Bulldog North and Daulo prospects as well as the Yafo and Yava prospects near Hamata. Harmony currently anticipates that the Project approval process will be completed by December 2004.
Capital expenditure on the project for fiscal 2005 is estimated to be A$80 million (US$55.9 million).
Wafi Gold Project
Background. The Wafi prospect is owned 100% through a subsidiary PNG company, Wafi Mining Limited. The first exploration at Wafi dates back to the nationwide porphyry copper search by CRA Exploration Ltd in the late 1960s. Harmony assumed control of the Wafi project as a result of its acquisition of Abelle.
Project Overview. The project is held under 4 contiguous exploration licenses totaling 996 square kilometers and comprises two separate ore systems located within close proximity of each other known as the Wafi Gold Project and the Golpu Copper-Gold Project respectively. The Wafi gold mineralization is hosted by sedimentary/volcaniclastic rocks of the Owen Stanley Formation which surround the intrusive Wafi Diatreme. Gold mineralization occurs as extensive high-sulphidation epithermal alteration overprinting porphyry mineralization and epithermal style vein-hosted and replacement gold mineralization with associated wall-rock alteration.
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Four main zones (Zone A, Zone B, The Link Zone (between Zone A & B) and to a lesser extent, the Western Zone have been drill tested at Wafi revealing substantial gold mineralization within a mostly high-sulphidation system. Work undertaken by Abelle included a diamond drilling program that commenced in late February 2003 aimed at defining the geometry of the higher grade link mineralization with disciplined core orientation. The cores from these holes revealed that the deeper high grade ore is associated with carbonate and minor base metal mineralization indicative of a low sulphidation ore system and in places appears to over print previous mineralization. During 2004 Harmony completed a program of 13,000 meters of RC drilling to further define the shallower portions of the resource and to explore for additional oxide resources. The Wafi Gold mineralization can be split into three groups from a metallurgical perspective:
| Oxide mineralization with recoveries of 95% by conventional cyanidation | |||
| Transitional mineralization with recoveries of 86% via conventional cyanidation, and | |||
| Primary mineralization which is further divided into two ore types these being Zones A and B primary mineralization with conventional cyanidation recoveries of 50% and the high grade (5 g/t) Link Zone mineralization with conventional cyanidation recoveries of 20%. |
The primary mineralization is refractory. Various oxidative refractory treatment options have been investigated by the various project owners. The main body of testwork was carried out in 1989-91 during the Elders farm-in period. Testwork showed that gravity and ultrafine grinding are ineffective. Flotation response was also poor. Zone A and B ore and flotation concentrates responded well to pressure oxidation and bacterial oxidation, with recovers of 90% being achieved, while whole ore and concentrate roasting recoveries were slightly lower at 85-88%. Only 50-60% sulphur oxidation was required. Flotation tailing leach recoveries above 60% were also achieved.
AGF undertook characterization and pressure oxidation testwork on Link Zone mineralization in 1998, due to the very poor conventional cyanidation recoveries achieved (20%). Pressure oxidation recoveries of 95% were achieved, however AGF went into receivership after this period and further development work stopped.
Abelle concluded that whole ore roasting had the best opportunity to produce positive economics, due to the potential to produce sulphuric acid from roaster off gas. Harmony is further investigating the metallurgical process to optimize recoveries.
Golpu Copper-Gold Project
Golpu is located approximately 1 kilometer northeast of the Wafi gold orebody. The Golpu Project is a dioritic porphyry copper-gold deposit with an Identified Mineral Resource Estimate of 118 million ton at 1.43% copper and 0.71 grams per ton Au. In addition the leached oxide cap to the porphyry copper contains a copper poor inferred resource of 4 million tons at 1.35 grams per ton gold.
The Golpu host lithology is a typical zoned porphyry copper alteration halo grading from potassicphyllic advanced argillic upwards in the core. Outwards from the core the alteration grades from the above to argillicpotassic to propylitic. The mineralized body is a porphyry copper-gold pipe with approximately 200 meters by 200 meters plan dimensions, slightly north plunge and still going strong at 1.2 kilometers depth, the maximum depth to which it has been drilled.
The surface expression is oxidized and leached to about 150 meters vertical depth resulting in a residual gold only resource from which the copper has been leached. At the oxidation interface a strong 20-30 meters thick zone of supergene copper enrichment is developed which transitions at depth into a lower grade covellite-enargite ore. Beneath this is a zone of more covellite rich mineralization that contains lesser enargite and consequently arsenic. From approximately 300 meters below surface the ore exists in a covellite rich (Arsenic poor) form grading into a chalcopyrite-bornite rich zone from approximately 500 meters to its current known depth of approximately 1.2 kilometers. Harmony is currently reviewing all data relating to the Golpu Project with the objective of performing a pre-feasibility into the development of the project.
The Wafi Golpu Copper-Gold mineralization can be split into four principal zones from a metallurgical perspective:
| Gold cap which has had no metallurgical test work, but indications are the ore will be free milling, however the presence of copper will need to be considered. | |||
| Supergene /transitional zone which consists of an oxidized supergene copper enriched zone overlaying a lower grade covellite-enargite porphyry. Preliminary metallurgical test work undertaken by Rio Tinto has shown that the flotation response is poor with copper recoveries of 70% into a copper concentrate of 25% copper. Blending has been proposed for this ore zone. |
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| High Arsenic Zone which consists of a complex suite of copper minerals including arsenic rich enargite and tennatite. Flotation response is good, however the arsenic floats with the concentrate resulting in copper concentrates containing 1 to 3% arsenic, which would incur significant smelter penalties. Controlled blending is also proposed for this ore zone. | |||
| Low Arsenic Zone which consists of almost exclusively chalcopyrite, the flotation response is excellent with recoveries of 92% into a 30% copper concentrate. |
Gold recovery into concentrate is 60% of copper recovery. A scoping study is being undertaken on the Wafi Gold and Copper-Gold projects, in preparation for a pre feasibility study which is to be completed in fiscal 2005.
Geography. The Wafi prospect is located near Mt. Watut in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, 60 kilometers southwest of Lae and 60 kilometers northwest of Wau. The site is accessed by sealed road (Lae to Bulolo) which comes within 5 kilometers of the eastern edge of the tenements.
The Wafi camp is located at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level. The terrain is mountainous and forested in most areas. Immediately west of the project area, the Watut Valley makes for relatively simple road access to the project. The Wafi Gold and Golpu prospects themselves lie a further 10 kilometers west and at this point are accessed and serviced by helicopter. A dry weather access track was completed between the sealed Lae-Bulolo road and Wafi during fiscal 2004.
Mining reserves. Harmony is not yet in a position to quote mining reserve estimates for either the Wafi Gold or Golpu Copper Gold projects. Evaluation studies including drilling and pre-feasibility estimates are still underway.
Government royalty and other rights. The metal production from the Wafi Project is subject to a 2% royalty payable on the net return from refined production if refined in Papua New Guinea or 2% royalty on the realized price if refined out of Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea also has a statutory right to acquire up to a 30% participatory interest in mining development projects, at sunk cost. Once an interest is acquired by Papua New Guinea, it contributes to the further exploration and development costs on a pro rata basis. Papua New Guineas reservation arises by way of a condition included in all exploration licenses.
Third Party Royalties. Pursuant to the sale agreement of Wafi Mining Ltd to Abelle (via wholly-owned subsidiary companies) from RioTinto, a royalty of 2% on gold production or a 2% NSR from copper-gold concentrates is payable to Rio Tinto as a deferred acquisition cost.
Mt. Muro Project Indonesia
The Mt. Muro project is owned by PT Indo Muro Kencana, in which Harmony has a 30% interest, and is located in central Kalimantan, Indonesia. The project was placed on care and maintenance by Aurora Gold Ltd in mid 2002 after a number of successful years that saw total gold and silver production reach 1.3 million ounces and 25.54 million ounces, respectively.
Abelle reached agreement with Straits Resources Ltd to form a joint venture to explore and assess the re-development of Mt. Muro and Straits assumed the role of manager and operator of the joint venture from May 1, 2003. Under the agreement with Straits, Abelle retains a free carried 30% interest to the recommencement of commercial gold production. Straits must also maintain this plant, equipment and infrastructure in good standing and spend a minimum of US$1 million on exploration per annum over and above holding costs. Straits is an Indonesian operator with considerable experience and expertise in operating in the Indonesian environment.
Australian Exploration
Abelle has a number of exploration projects throughout Australia, inherited from the merger with Aurora, and during fiscal 2004, pursued an active policy to dispose or outsource these projects, as they were considered non core to the PNG development strategy. Most of these interests are managed by third parties. During January 2004, Abelle sold its interest in the Credo project in Western Australia to its joint venture partner, Yilgarn Mining Limited for A$250,000 and A$1.75 million of shares in Yilgarn. Various other projects were also farmed out or disposed of during the year.
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Canadian Operations Bissett
Introduction. Harmonys Bissett operations, production at which was suspended in the quarter ended September 30, 2001 due to mining operations being uneconomical at then-current gold prices, are located near Bissett in the province of Manitoba, Canada. Prior to the suspension, mining at Harmonys Bissett operations was conducted at depths ranging from 1,200 meters to 1,500 meters. Full production of 1,000 tons of mill throughput per day was achieved by June 2000 prior to the placing of Bissetts operations on the care and maintenance program discussed in Mining Operations below. The transition to the care and maintenance program took place in the quarter ended September 30, 2001. On December 2, 2003, Harmony signed a letter of intent regarding the sale of its interest in Bissett to San Gold Resources Corporation for C$7.625 million (US$5.6 million), subject to certain conditions. On March 17, 2004, Harmony completed the disposal of 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Bissett to Rice Lake Joint Venture Inc, a joint venture between San Gold Resources Corporation and Gold City Industries Limited, for C$7,625,000 (US$5.6 million), which was made up of C$3,625,000 (US$2.6 million) in cash plus C$4,000,000 (US$3 million) in shares of San Gold and Gold City. Rice Lake is owned jointly by San Gold and Gold City.
History. Harmony purchased the Bissett Gold Mine out of liquidation in June 1998. The first mining at Bissett occurred in 1932. Though the mine has not been in continuous operation since that time, in total it has sold in excess of 1.3 million ounces of gold. In 1995, the previous owners of the mine undertook to recommence mining at Bissett and completed a pre-production underground exploration, development and construction program that culminated in a feasibility study. Operations were due to recommence at a targeted 1,000 million tons per day throughput in 1997, when the owners went into liquidation after expenditure of C$85 million.
Geology. The orebodies at Bissett Gold Mine, located within the Red Lake Archaen greenstone belt, comprise two major sets of shear-related quartz veins occurring within a steeply-dipping, intrusive host. One set of veins consists of stockwork breccias and the other narrower, fault-controlled veins cross-cutting the stockworks. Gold mineralization occurs in both sets of veins but is enriched at the intersection of the two vein types.
Mining Operations. Harmony has conducted underground mining at Bissett. Mining at Bissett has been more mechanized than mining at Harmonys South African underground mines. Long hole and shrinkage mining techniques have been used to extract the 94 near vertical orebodies. The Bissett operation is subject to all of the underground mining risks detailed in the Risk Factors section.
Due to the moderate depths of the operation, pressure-related problems have been infrequent, but actively managed. Due to the mining operations being uneconomical at then-current gold prices, Harmony decided to suspend production at the Bissett mine in fiscal 2001, and placed the operations on a care and maintenance program during the first quarter of fiscal 2002. The care and maintenance program involves suspending production but maintaining some staff to keep the facilities in working order, so that production can be restarted without significant capital outlays.
There was no production during the past three fiscal years and Bissett was sold in fiscal 2004.
Plant. The mineralogy of the orebodies is simple and gold is easily extractable using conventional gravity concentration, CIL and electro-winning processing techniques.
Capital Expenditure. In light of its decision to place Bissett on a care and maintenance program Harmony did not make any significant capital expenditures at Bissett in fiscal 2004.
AurionGold and Placer Dome
Harmony made its first investment in the Australian gold mining industry in February 4, 2000, when Harmony purchased 32,770,992 shares of Goldfields (Australia). On October 5, 2000, Harmony concluded the purchase from Hanson plc of 10.58 million Goldfields (Australia) shares at a price of A$1.425 per share for a total consideration of $8.8 million, financed through the issue of 2.2 million Harmony ordinary shares at Rand 37.45 per share. Harmonys stake in Goldfields (Australia) was approximately 22.96%. Effective December 31, 2001, Delta was merged into Goldfields (Australia). In connection with the merger, holders of Delta shares received 187 Goldfields (Australia) shares in exchange for every 200 Delta shares held. Harmonys stake in Goldfields (Australia) following the merger was diluted to approximately 9.8%. In February 2002, Goldfields (Australia) changed its name to AurionGold Limited.
On October 23, 2001, Gold Fields granted Harmony an exclusive option to negotiate the possible acquisition from Gold Fields of the St. Helena and Oryx mines in the Free State Province. Harmony, in return, granted Gold Fields an exclusive option to negotiate the acquisition of Harmonys stake in AurionGold. These agreements, expired,
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without exercise, on February 15, 2002. On May 25, 2002, Harmony and Placer Dome entered into an agreement under which Harmony accepted Placer Domes offer to acquire all of Harmonys interest in AurionGold subject to specified conditions. Pursuant to the offer, Harmony would receive 17.5 newly-issued Placer Dome ordinary shares for every 100 AurionGold ordinary shares tendered. On July 29, 2002, Harmony announced that Placer Dome had increased its offer by adding a cash payment of A$0.35 per AurionGold ordinary share. Harmony accepted this revised offer, which had become unconditional as of July 29, 2002. The transaction was completed on August 6, 2002. As a result, Harmony obtained a 1.9% interest in Placer Dome. Subsequently the shares were sold for a profit of $59 million, determined with reference to the cost of the original investment.
REGULATION
Mineral Rights
South African law provides for the separate ownership of surface and mineral rights. It is therefore possible for one person to own the surface of a property, another to own rights to precious metals and yet another to own rights to base minerals. Harmony controls mineral rights by way of ownership, mining rights and mining authorizations.
Currently, approximately two-thirds of South Africas mineral rights are in private hands. The South African government investigated the structure of mineral ownership in the country, with the view of making access to minerals easier for small and emerging mining companies.
After the election of a democratic government in South Africa in 1994, the issue of mineral rights was reviewed.
On October 3, 2002, the South African parliament passed the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act. The Act came into force on May 1, 2004. The principal objectives set out in the Act are:
| to recognize the internationally accepted right of the state of South Africa to exercise full and permanent sovereignty over all the mineral and petroleum resources within South Africa; | |||
| to give effect to the principle of the States custodianship of the nations mineral and petroleum resources; | |||
| to promote equitable access to South Africas mineral and petroleum resources to all the people of South Africa and redress the impact of past discrimination; | |||
| to substantially and meaningfully expand opportunities for historically disadvantaged persons including women, to enter the mineral and petroleum industry and to benefit from the exploitation of South Africas mineral and petroleum resources; | |||
| to promote economic growth and mineral and petroleum resources development in South Africa; | |||
| to promote employment and advance the social and economic welfare of all South Africans; | |||
| to provide security of tenure in respect of prospecting, exploration, mining and production operations; | |||
| to give effect to Section 24 of the South African Constitution by ensuring that South Africas mineral and petroleum resources are developed in an orderly and ecologically sustainable manner while promoting justifiable social and economic development; | |||
| to follow the principle that mining companies keep and use their mineral rights, with no expropriation and with guaranteed compensation for mineral rights; and | |||
| to ensure that holders of mining and production rights contribute towards socioeconomic development of the areas in which they are operating. |
Under the Act, tenure over established operations will be secure for 30 years (and renewable for 30 years thereafter), provided that mining companies obtain new licenses over existing operations within five years of the date of enactment of the Act and fulfil requirements specified in the Mining Charter.
The principles contained in the Mining Charter relate to the transfer, over a ten-year period, of 26 percent of South Africas mining assets to historically disadvantaged South Africans, as defined in the Mining Charter. Under the Mining Charter, the South African mining industry has committed to securing financing to fund participation of historically disadvantaged South Africans in an amount of R100 billion within the first five years of the Mining Charters tenure. The Mining Charter provides for the review of the participation process after five years to determine what further steps, if any, are needed to achieve the 26 percent target participation. The Mining Charter requires programmes for black economic empowerment and the promotion of value-added production, such as jewellery-making and other gold fabrication, in South Africa. The Mining Charter also sets out targets for broad-
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based black economic empowerment in the areas of human resources, skill development, employment equality, procurement and benefication. In addition, the Mining Charter addresses other socioeconomic issues such as migrant labour, housing and living conditions.
Harmony actively carries out mining and exploration activities in all of its material mineral rights areas. Accordingly, Harmony does not believe that the Act will have a significant impact on these mining and exploration activities because Harmony will be eligible to apply for new licenses over its existing operations, provided that it complies with the Mining Charter. Harmony is currently in consultation with the National Department of Minerals and Energy, in the process of developing a sophisticated approach to setting targets and measuring performance in black economic empowerment, or BEE, and transformation initiatives within Harmony. Harmony refers to this initiative as the Harmony Transformation Scorecard.
Harmony has already complied with the requirements of the Mining Charter, with an equivalent of 31% of production ounces qualifying as empowerment credit ounces. Harmony has been working on its programme of licensing for the past 18 months, which involved the compilation of a mineral assets register and the identification of all Harmonys economical mineral and mining rights. Harmony has secured all old mining rights and validated existing mining authorizations during 2003. Harmonys strategy has been to secure all strategic mining rights on a region-by-region basis. The first application for conversion from old order to new order mining rights was for the Evander Operations and was lodged on May 21, 2004. The application covers all the operating shafts as well as the Poplar and Rolspruit Projects. The Evander mining license was the first conversion application in the region and is still being processed. The application for new order mining licences for Randfontein Estates Limited and the Doornkop Joint Venture with Africa Vanguard resources, as well as the application for Elandsrand was submitted on August 30, 2004. The licence applications for Orkney, Kalgold and the Free State Operations are being prepared and the process should be completed by the end of January 2005. Although it is not possible to estimate how long it will take for each application to be processed by the regional offices of the Department of Minerals and Energy, Harmony has worked closely with the department to ensure the licences will be granted as swiftly as possible.
The Act also makes reference to royalties being payable to the state in terms of the Royalty Bill. It is anticipated that the Royalty Bill will only come into force in 2009. The introduction of the Royalty Bill as law may have an adverse impact on the profits generated by Harmonys operations in South Africa. Harmony is currently evaluating the impact that the proposed Royalty Bill may have with regard to its operations and no assurance can be given as to whether or when the proposed Royalty Bill will be enacted.
The Act (i) limits ministerial discretion, (ii) introduces a first-come first-served principle with respect to the consideration of applications, (iii) introduces a mining advisory board, (iv) provides for compensation for currently held rights, and (v) ensures that current mining right holders; that are actively engaged in developing their rights will not have to reapply for their rights. An aggrieved party will have the right of appeal to either the Director General or the Minister and may only take matters to the courts once that party has exhausted his or her remedies in terms of the appeal procedures that are to be set forth.
In Australia, most mineral rights belong to the government, and mining companies must pay royalties to the government based on production. There are, however, limited areas where the government granted freehold estates without reserving mineral rights. New Hampton has freehold ownership of its Jubilee mining areas, but the other mineral rights in Harmonys Australian operation belong to the Australian government and are subject to royalty payments. In addition, current Australian law generally requires native title approval to be obtained before a mining license can be granted and mining operations can commence. New Hampton and Hill 50 have approved mining leases for most of their reserves, including all reserves that are currently being mined, and Bendigo has an approved mining license for its current development area. If New Hampton, Hill 50 or Bendigo desired to expand operations into additional areas under exploration, these operations would need to convert the relevant exploration licenses prior to commencing mining, and that process could require native title approval. There can be no assurance that any approval would be received.
Environmental Matters
Pursuant to South African law, mine properties must be rehabilitated upon closure. Mining companies are required by law to submit Environmental Management Programme Reports, or EMPRs, to the Department of Minerals and Energy. EMPRs identify the rehabilitation issues for a mine and must also be approved by other South African government departments including, but not restricted to, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.
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EMPRs have been prepared and submitted for all of Harmonys South African operations. All of Harmonys South African mining operations have permanent mining authorizations as required in terms of the previous Minerals Act. Harmony is currently in the process of converting these mining authorizations to mining licenses as required under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act. The application for the Evander Operations has been submitted. Harmony does not anticipate any difficulties in this regard. Harmony meets with and intends to continue to meet on a regular basis with the relevant government departments to continue the information sharing process that it has with them and to ensure the environmental impact of Harmonys mining operations are managed in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements and industry standards.
All water uses are now being licensed, and Harmony has submitted water-use registrations required by the National Water Act of 1998. Harmony has also developed water management plans for all of its South African operations. In addition, in response to concerns that water from the Western Basin, located at Harmonys Randfontein operations, might reach the Sterkfontein caves, Harmony has initiated a study to evaluate the extent of this risk and has implemented measures to divert the water away from Sterkfontein caves.
An environmental surveillance system has been implemented at slimes dams at Harmonys operations to monitor dust generation and fall-out in residential and other areas. This will assist in future dust suppression and the design and measurement of rehabilitation programmes.
Harmonys Australian operations must comply with mining lease tenement conditions set by the Department of Minerals and Energy, the Mining Act (1978), the Department of Environmental Protection operating licenses, and water abstraction licenses issued by the Water and Rivers commission for each of its sites. Harmonys Australian operations must also comply with numerous environmental acts and bills. As a result, Harmony must make provisions for mining rehabilitation whenever mining is commenced at a new site in Australia. While Harmony believes that its current provision for compliance with such requirements is reasonable, any future changes and development in Australian environmental laws and regulations may adversely affect these Australian operations.
In Western Australia under the Mining Act (1978), all tenements are covered by environmental performance bonds that cannot be relinquished or completed without the approval of the Australian Department of Mineral Resources. These are re-assessed on an annual basis following the issuing of an annual environmental report and generally are audited by the regional inspector. As areas are successfully rehabilitated and approval is obtained, the bond requirement is reduced, and as greater areas are disturbed the bond requirement increases. Any new aspects of the operation are also assessed and the bond is established prior to approval and subsequent commencement of operations.
Audits are generally conducted on a bi-annual basis by the Australian Department of Environmental Protection to determine compliance with the relevant operating license(s). There are no outstanding major non-compliance issues against New Hamptons license or Hill 50s license.
Bendigo operates tenements granted under the Victorian Mineral Resources Development Act (1990), administered by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Operations that involve a deliberate discharge to the environment are subject to the Victorian Environmental Protection Authority. Conditions attached to approvals include requirements for environmental management, monitoring and protection. While Bendigo has made allowances for the expected costs of complying with these conditions, any future changes and development in Australian environmental laws and regulations may increase these costs.
Each of Harmonys mines has a person dedicated to environmental matters who, in addition to organising the implementation of the environmental management programmes, monitors the impact of the mine on the environment and responds to impacts that require specific attention outside of the normal programme of environmental activities.
The primary environmental focus at most of Harmonys operations is water management and the administration of areas outside the operating plants and shafts. The major objective is to ensure that water is of a quality fit for use by downstream users.
Based on current environmental and regulatory requirements, Harmony accrues for the estimated rehabilitation expense in full when mining commences and then amortises these environmental rehabilitation costs over the operating life of a mine. It also makes annual contributions to environmental trust funds created in accordance with South African statutory requirements, to provide for the estimated cost of pollution control and rehabilitation during and at the end of the life of a mine. Estimates of the ultimate rehabilitation liability are subject to change as a result of future changes in regulations or cost estimates.
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While the ultimate amount of rehabilitation costs to be incurred in the future is uncertain, Harmony has estimated that the total cost for Harmony in current monetary terms to rehabilitate its mine properties will be approximately R1.280 billion. This figure includes estimates for rehabilitation costs at Elandskraal, Free Gold, New Hampton and Hill 50.
Harmony intends to fund its ultimate rehabilitation costs from the money invested in the environmental trust funds, as well as the proceeds from the sale of assets and gold from plant clean-up at the time of mine closure. The requirements imposed upon mining companies to ensure environmental restitution, however, are currently under review and it is possible that this will result in additional costs and liabilities in particular with regard to the management of hazardous wastes, the pollution of ground and ground water systems and the duty to rehabilitate closed mines.
Health and Safety Matters
The Mine Health and Safety Act. For many years, the safety of people working in South African mines and quarries was controlled by the Mines and Works Act of 1956 and subsequently the former Minerals Act which was replaced by the Minerals and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002). Several incidents in mines in recent years indicated that this legislation needed to be updated and revised. The findings of the Leon Commission of Inquiry into Health and Safety in the Mining Industry in April 1994 led to the drafting of new legislation, which resulted in the Mine Health and Safety Act No. 29 of 1996, which has subsequently been amended by Act 72 of 1997 or the Mine Health and Safety Act. The Mine Health and Safety Act was the result of intensive discussions and consultations between government, employers and employee representatives over an extended period of time, and came into force on January 15, 1997. The objectives of the Mine Health and Safety Act are:
| to protect the health and safety of persons at mines; | |||
| to require employers and employees to identify hazards and eliminate, control and minimize the risks relating to health and safety at mines; | |||
| to give effect to the public international law obligations of South Africa that concern health and safety at mines; | |||
| to provide for employee participation in matters of health and safety through health and safety representatives and the health and safety committees at mines; | |||
| to provide for effective monitoring of health and safety conditions at mines; | |||
| to provide for enforcement of health and safety measures at mines; | |||
| to provide for investigations and inquiries to improve health and safety at mines; and | |||
| to promote: |
| a culture of health and safety in the mining industry; | |||
| training in health and safety in the mining industry; and | |||
| co-operation and consultation on health and safety between the State, employers, employees and their representatives. |
The Mine Health and Safety Act prescribes general and specific duties for employers and others, determines penalties and a system of administrative fines, and provides for employee participation by requiring the appointment of health and safety representatives, and through the establishment of health and safety committees. It also entrenches the right of employees to refuse dangerous work. Finally, it describes the powers and functions of a mine health and safety inspectorate and the process of enforcement.
It is anticipated that mining companies will incur additional expenditures in order to comply with the legislations requirements. Management anticipates that such additional expenditures will not have a material adverse effect upon Harmonys results of operations or financial condition, although there can be no assurance of this.
HIV/AIDS Policy. Harmony currently estimates that the HIV/AIDS infection rate among Harmonys South African workforce is approximately 33%, a figure which Harmony believes is consistent with the overall infection rate in South Africa. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors HIV/AIDS poses risks to Harmony in terms of productivity and costs. Harmony is actively pursuing holistic HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns with its South African workforce and is also providing medical assistance and anti-retroviral treatment. Employees who decide to leave
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their place of work and return home for care are cared for at their homes through the TEBA home based care system, which Harmony contributes towards. Harmony currently believes that the prevalence of HIV/AIDS-related diseases among its Australian workforce is not material to its Australian operations.
On September 19, 2002, Harmony entered into an agreement with the NUM, the South African Equity Workers Association and the United Association of South Africa in which Harmony and these labor unions agreed to implement initiatives aimed at reducing the spread of HIV infection among Harmonys South African workforce and the surrounding communities, providing for the treatment and care of employees who are HIV-positive or suffering from HIV/AIDS-related diseases, and ensuring that the rights of employees living with HIV/AIDS are upheld in compliance with existing legislation. In connection with this agreement, Harmony is implementing the Harmony Declares War Against HIV/AIDS initiative, a comprehensive strategy to address HIV/AIDS at its South African operations and in surrounding communities. This initiative will include education programs to provide information about HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections and pulmonary tuberculosis. Harmony expects to also provide voluntary testing, counseling, psychotherapy and other support, as well as health care for affected and infected employees, including wellness clinics and treatment at company hospitals and medical stations. As has been its policy prior to the agreement, Harmony will not perform pre-employment HIV/AIDS testing or require testing for its employees, and will maintain the confidentiality of all employees or prospective employees medical information.
To give capacity to the HIV/AIDS initiatives, Harmony has initiated the Healthiest Workforce Project. This initiative has a holistic approach to healthy living and focus areas include: nutrition, upgrading of hostel facilities, occupational health, tuberculosis and education on healthy living principles.
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects
You should read the following discussion and analysis together with the consolidated financial statements, including the related notes, appearing elsewhere in this annual report.
OVERVIEW
Harmony and its subsidiaries conduct underground and surface gold mining and related activities, including exploration, extraction, processing, smelting and refining. Harmony is currently the largest gold producer in South Africa and one of the largest gold producers in the world.
Harmonys operations have grown significantly since 1995, largely through acquisitions. Since 1995, Harmony has expanded from a lease-bound mining operation into an independent world-class gold producer. Harmonys gold sales have increased from 650,312 ounces of gold in fiscal 1995 to approximately 3.2 million ounces of gold in fiscal 2004. These figures exclude sales from the Free Gold Company for the first three months of fiscal 2004 and includes ARMgolds and Avgolds sales for nine months and two months, respectively.
On November 21, 2001, Harmony and ARMgold reached an agreement in principle with AngloGold to purchase the Free Gold assets, subject to specified conditions. Pursuant to the subsequently executed definitive agreements, the Free Gold assets were purchased by the Free Gold Company (in which Harmony and ARMgold each has a 50% interest) for a total purchase consideration of $297.5 million, which comprised a cash payment $169.2 million by the Free Gold Company in April 2002 following the fulfillment of all conditions precedent, a $37.5 million interest-free loan payable by the Free Gold Company on January 1, 2005, and $90.8 million related to the reimbursement of the taxes paid by AngloGold on disposal of the Free Gold assets to the Free Gold Company. The tax liability was reimbursed to AngloGold in June 2003. The Free Gold Company had estimated that this tax liability would be $59.4 million during fiscal 2002. The Free Gold Company assumed management control of the Free Gold assets from January 1, 2002, and completed the acquisition on April 23, 2002 (the date on which all conditions precedent to the transaction were fulfilled). See Item 4. Information on the Company Business History and Item 4. Information on the Company Business Harmonys Mining Operations. During Harmonys fiscal 2004, sales from the Free Gold assets amounted to 1,032,489 ounces of gold which Harmonys interest was 894,145 ounces, compared with fiscal 2003, sales from the Free Gold assets amounted to 1,155,428 ounces of gold and Harmonys interest in these sales totalled 577,714 attributable ounces. Harmonys interest in the Free Gold Company increased from 50% to 100% as a result of the merger with ARMgold on September 22, 2003. Therefore Harmony equity accounted for its interest in the Free Gold Company for the first three months of fiscal 2004, whereafter Harmony consolidated its interest. Because Harmony equity accounted for its 50% interest in the Free Gold Company, sales from the Free Gold assets are not included in Harmonys sales figures for fiscal 2003 in this annual report. For more information on Harmonys consolidation policy, see note 2(b) to the consolidated financial statements.
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For purposes of U.S. GAAP, Harmony accounted for its equity interest in the Free Gold Company with effect from May 1, 2002 and the purchase price of the Free Gold assets was determined to be $239.4 million. This figure is the sum of the cash payment of $169.2 million, the fair value of the interest-free loan of $25.4 million and the reimbursement of the taxes paid to AngloGold on the sale of the Free Gold assets of $90.8 million, offset by the cash flows of $46.0 million generated by the Free Gold assets during the period from January 1, 2002 until the completion of the acquisition on April 23, 2002 (the date on which all conditions precedent to the transaction were fulfilled). As of September 23, 2003, Harmony accounted for the Free Gold Company as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
During fiscal 2003, Harmony and ARMgold formed a joint venture company, Clidet 454 (Proprietary) Limited (Clidet). Both companies own 50% of Clidets outstanding share capital. Clidet acquired from Anglo American Plc (Anglo) in May 2003, 34.5% of ARMs outstanding share capital for a total cash consideration of $230 million. ARM is a South African incorporated mining holding company with interests in platinum group metals, manganese, chrome, nickel and gold mining operations and various exploration projects. In September 2003, Harmony completed its merger with ARMgold.
During fiscal 2003, Harmony announced a conditional cash offer for all of the outstanding ordinary shares and listed options of Abelle. At end of fiscal 2003, Harmonys interest in Abelle was 87% of the shares and 65% of the options. In fiscal 2004, Harmony made an off-market cash offer to acquire all the ordinary shares, listed and unlisted options of Abelle held by minorities for a total price of approximately A$121 million. At June 30, 2004 Abelle was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harmony.
In fiscal 2004 Harmony participated in a range of transactions which were effected to restructure ARM, Harmonys largest shareholder. This reorganization involved Harmony, ARM and ARMI. In the reorganization Harmony (through Kalgold) sold the Kalplats platinum discovery with associated mineral rights in consideration for shares of ARM. As a result, Harmonys interest in ARM has been diluted from 34.5% to 19.0%. In addition, in May 2004, Harmony issued 28,630,526 ordinary shares to ARM in exchange for Avgold shares to acquire a 42.2% holding in Avgold, formerly a subsidiary of ARM. A further 31,888,830 ordinary shares were issued to ARM on May 17, 2004 and May 21, 2004 to acquire the shareholding of the Avgold minorities (the Avgold Exchange) and Avgold is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harmony.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The preparation of our financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported results of our operations. Actual results may differ from those estimates. Harmony has identified the most critical accounting policies upon which its financial status depends. Some of Harmonys accounting policies require the application of significant judgment and estimates by management in selecting the appropriate assumptions for calculating financial estimates. By their nature, these judgments are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty and are based on Harmonys historical experience, terms of existing contracts, managements view on trends in the gold mining industry and information from outside sources.
Harmonys significant accounting policies are described in more detail in note 2 to the consolidated financial statements. This discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included reporting item 18 Financial Statements. Harmonys management has identified the following as critical accounting policies because estimates used in applying these policies are subject to material risks and uncertainties. Harmonys management believes the following critical accounting policies, together with the other significant accounting policies discussed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements, affect its more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements and could potentially impact Harmonys financial results and future financial performance.
Amortization of mining assets
Amortization charges are calculated using the units of production method and are based or Harmonys current gold production as a percentage of total expected gold production over the lives of Harmonys mines. The lives of the mines are estimated by Harmonys geology department using interpretations of mineral reserves, as determined in accordance with the SECs Industry Guide Number 7. The estimate of the total expected future lives of Harmonys mines could be materially different from the actual amount of gold mined in the future and the actual lives of the mines due to changes in the factors used in determining Harmonys mineral reserves, such as the gold price, foreign currency exchange rates, working costs and working rates (continuous operations mining). We
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regularly review the lives of the mines and economic capacity of those assets with reference to any events or circumstances that may indicate an adjustment is needed. Given the significance of mining assets to our financial statements, any changes to the life of mine could have a material impact on the annual amortization charge and materially impact on our results of operations and financial conditions. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmonys gold reserve figures may yield less gold under actual production conditions than Harmony currently estimates.
Useful life of intangible assets
In assessing the recoverability of goodwill we must make assumptions regarding the estimated future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of the goodwill. If these estimates or their fair value assessments change in the future, we may need to record impairment charges on goodwill not previously recorded. Goodwill associated with the excess purchase price over the fair value of assets acquired is currently not amortised and is assessed annually for impairment.
Business combination
Harmony accounts for its business acquisitions under the purchase method of accounting. The total value of consideration paid for acquisitions is allocated to the underlying net assets acquired, based on their respective estimated fair values determined by us using internal or external valuations. We use a number of valuation methods to determine the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired including discounted cash flows, external market values, valuations on recent transactions or a combination thereof and others and believes that it uses the most appropriate measure or a combination of measures to value each asset or liability. In addition, we believe that we use the most appropriate valuation assumptions underlying each of those valuation methods based on current information available including discounted rates, market risk rates, entity risk rates, cash flow assumptions and others. The accounting policy for valuation of business acquisitions is considered critical because judgments made in determining the estimated fair value and expected useful lives assigned to each class of assets and liabilities acquired can significantly impact the value of the asset or liability, including the impact on deferred taxes, the respective amortization periods and ultimately net profit. Therefore, the use of other valuation methods, as well as other assumptions underlying these valuation methods, could significantly impact the determination of financial position and results of operations.
Impairment of long-lived assets
Management regularly reviews the carrying value of Harmonys long-lived mining assets to determine whether their carrying values, as recorded in the consolidated financial statements, are appropriate. These reviews, which are carried out on an annual basis and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying values may not be recoverable, are based on projections of anticipated future cash flows to be generated by utilizing the long-lived assets. While management believes that these estimates of future cash flows are reasonable, different assumptions regarding projected gold prices, production costs, production rates and foreign currency exchange rates could materially affect the anticipated cash flows to be generated by the long-lived assets, thereby affecting the evaluations of the carrying values of the long-lived assets. For more information regarding the circumstances under which Harmony records an impairment in the carrying value of long-lived assets, see Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Impairment of Assets.
Hedging and financial derivatives
Harmony accounts for its derivative financial instruments in accordance with FAS 133. See Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk General. The determination of the fair value of hedging instruments and financial derivatives, when marked to market, takes into account estimates such as projected commodity prices, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates under prevailing market conditions, depending on the nature of the hedging and financial derivatives. These estimates may differ materially from actual commodity prices, interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates prevailing at the maturity dates of the hedging and financial derivatives and, therefore, may materially influence the values assigned to the hedging and financial derivatives, which may result in a charge to or an increase in Harmonys earnings at the maturity dates of the hedging and financial derivatives.
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Remediation obligations (asset retirement obligations)
Harmonys mining and exploration activities are subject to various laws and regulations governing the protection of the environment. In August 2001, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, which established a uniform methodology for accounting for estimated reclamation and abandonment cost. The statement was adopted July 1, 2002 when we recorded the estimated present value of reclamation liabilities and increased the carrying amount of the related asset, which resulted in a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles of $14.8 million. See Note 22 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The reclamation costs will be allocated to expense over the life of the related assets and will be adjusted for changes resulting from the passage of time and revisions to either the timing or amount of the original present value estimate.
Prior to adoption of SFAS 143, estimated future reclamation costs were based principally on legal and regulatory requirements. Such costs related to active mines were accrued and charged over the expected operating lives of the mines using the units of production method based on proven and probable reserves. Future remediation costs for inactive mines were accrued based on managements best estimate at the end of the period of the undiscounted costs expected to be incurred at a site. Such cost estimates included, where applicable, ongoing care, maintenance and monitoring costs. Changes in estimate were reflected in earnings in the period an estimate was revised.
Accounting for reclamation and remediation obligations requires management to make estimates unique to each mining operation of the future costs we will incur to complete the reclamation and remediation work required to comply with existing laws and regulations. Actual costs incurred in future periods could differ from amounts estimated. Additionally, future changes to environmental laws and regulations could increase the extent of reclamation and remediation work required to be performed by us. And such increases in future costs could materially impact the amounts charged to operations for reclamation and remediation.
For more information regarding the environmental regulations applicable to Harmonys operations, see Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmonys operations are subject to extensive government regulations, Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmony is subject to extensive environmental regulations and Item 3. Key Information Regulation Environmental Matters.
Share-based compensation
Effective July 1, 2001, Harmony adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation, or FAS 123, for all share option grants subsequent to that date. FAS 123 requires that Harmony determine the fair value of a share option as of the date of the grant, which is then amortized as share-based compensation expense in the income statement over the vesting period of the option grant. Harmony has determined the fair value of all its options grants subsequent to July 1, 2001, using the binomial model, which requires that Harmony make assumptions regarding the estimated term of the option, share price volatility and Harmonys expected dividend yield. While Harmonys management believes that these assumptions are appropriate, the use of different assumptions could have a material impact on the fair value of the option grant and the related recognition of share-based compensation expense in the consolidated income statement.
Deferred tax asset
We recognize a valuation allowance against its deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that the asset will not be utilized. Assessing recoverability of deferred tax assets requires management to make significant estimates related to expectation of future taxable income. Estimates of future taxable income are based on forecasted cash flows from operations, reversals of deferred tax liabilities and the application of existing tax laws in each jurisdiction. To the extent that future taxable income differs significantly from estimates, our ability to realize the net deferred tax assets recorded at the balance date could be impacted. Additionally, future charges in tax laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate could limit our ability to obtain the future tax benefits represented by deferred tax assets recorded at the balance date.
REVENUE
Substantially all of Harmonys revenues are derived from the sale of gold. As a result, Harmonys operating results are directly related to the price of gold. Historically, the price of gold has fluctuated widely. The gold price is affected
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by numerous factors over which Harmony does not have control. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors -The profitability of Harmonys operations, and the cash flows generated by those operations, are affected by changes in the market price for gold, which in the past has fluctuated widely.
As a general rule, Harmony sells the gold it produces at market prices to obtain the maximum benefit from prevailing gold prices and does not enter into hedging arrangements such as forward sales or derivatives that establish a price in advance for the sale of its future gold production. In February 2001, as required by the commitment for financing of the syndicated loan facility that Harmony entered into in connection with the acquisitions of New Hampton and the Elandskraal mines, Harmony protected some of its production from downward movements in the gold price by entering into put options relating to the delivery of 1 million ounces of Harmonys 2001 and 2002 production. The put options covered 83,333 ounces per month for 12 months, commencing on March 29, 2001, at a price of Rand 64,000 per kilogram (Rand 1,990 per ounce). Harmony paid Rand 29 million to secure these put options. Harmony closed out these put options during July 2001 and received Rand 3 million. See Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
A significant proportion of the production at Randfontein was already hedged when acquired by Harmony. On April 12, 2002, Harmony announced that it had completed the process of closing out all of the Randfontein hedge contracts, including closing forward sales contracts and call options covering a total of approximately 490,000 ounces and forward purchases covering a total of 200,000 ounces.
In addition, a substantial proportion of the production at each of New Hampton and Hill 50 was already hedged when acquired by Harmony and remains hedged. In fiscal 2002, in line with Harmonys strategy of being generally unhedged, Harmony reduced New Hamptons hedge book by over 900,000 ounces. In fiscal 2002, Harmony also combined and restructured the overall hedge portfolio of Harmonys Australian operations (which include New Hampton and Hill 50), after which all of these hedge positions were normal purchase and sales agreements, under which Harmony had to deliver a specified quantity of gold at a future date in exchange for an agreed-upon price. During fiscal 2003, Harmony continued to reduce the hedge book of the Australian operations by delivering into the contracts as required and by closing out certain contracts prior to their delivery date. Forward sales contracts, call options sold and put options purchased covering a total of approximately 330,000 ounces were closed out prior to their delivery dates during fiscal 2003. During fiscal 2004, Harmony further reduced the Australian hedge book by closing out contracts totalling 500,000 ounces.
For accounting purposes, following the restructuring of the Australian operations hedge book during fiscal 2002, these commodity sales agreements qualified for the normal purchase, normal sales exception of FAS 133 and were accounted for as such. However, following the early close of certain contracts during fiscal 2003, the remaining Australian operations hedge book has been determined to be speculative, and as such does not qualify for the normal purchase, normal sales exception of FAS 133, and is being accounted for at fair value from that date, with changes in fair value reflected in the income statement.
Harmony intends to reduce the remaining hedge positions of the Australian operations gradually by delivering gold pursuant to the relevant agreements.
The cost to Harmony of closing out certain Australian operations hedge positions in fiscal 2004 and 2003 and Randfonteins hedge positions in fiscal 2002 was approximately $15 million, $8.6 million and $22 million, before taxes, respectively. There was no cost to Harmony involved in closing New Hampton hedge positions in fiscal 2002. There was also no cost to Harmony involved in closing out Randfontein or New Hampton hedge positions in fiscal 2001.
In December 2001, in response to significant depreciation in the Rand and to protect itself against possible appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar, Harmony entered into Rand-U.S. dollar currency forward exchange contracts intended to cover estimated revenues from the Free State operations planned production for calendar 2002. Harmony fixed the Rand-U.S. dollar exchange rate for a total of $180 million at an average exchange rate of Rand 11.20 per U.S. dollar. This measure, however, did not fully protect Harmony from sustained fluctuations in the value of the Rand relative to the U.S. dollar as it only covered a limited amount, and expired on December 31, 2002. Harmony does not expect to renew or repeat such foreign currency hedging. See Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk Foreign Currency Sensitivity.
Significant changes in the price of gold over a sustained period of time may lead Harmony to increase or decrease its production in the near-term.
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HARMONYS REALIZED GOLD PRICE
The average gold price in U.S. dollars received by Harmony generally declined from fiscal 1999 through the quarter ended December 31, 2001, but has generally increased since then. In fiscal 2004, the average gold price in U.S. dollars received by Harmony was $385 per ounce. The market price for gold (and, accordingly, the price received by Harmony) is affected by numerous factors over which Harmony has no control. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors The profitability of Harmonys operations, and the cash flows generated by those operations, are affected by changes in the market price for gold, which in the past has fluctuated widely.
The following table sets out the average, the high and the low London Bullion Market price of gold and Harmonys average U.S. dollar sales price during the past three fiscal years:
Fiscal year ended June 30 |
||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
||||||||||
($/oz) |
||||||||||||
Average |
389 | 333 | 289 | |||||||||
High |
427 | 382 | 327 | |||||||||
Low |
343 | 302 | 265 | |||||||||
Harmonys average sales price1 |
385 | 330 | 283 | |||||||||
1 | Harmonys average sales price differs from the average gold price due to the timing of its sales of gold within each year and due to the effect of delivering under the commodity hedge contracts acquired in the New Hampton and Hill 50 transactions. |
COSTS
Harmonys cash costs and expenses typically make up over 80% of its total costs. The remainder of Harmonys total costs consists primarily of exploration and new business costs, employment termination costs, corporate and sundry expenditure, and depreciation and amortization. Harmonys cash costs consist primarily of production costs. Production costs are incurred on labor, stores and utilities. Labor costs are the largest component and typically comprise approximately 50% of Harmonys production costs. Harmony reduced its overall cash costs from approximately $305 per ounce in fiscal 1998 to approximately $196 in fiscal 2002 but they increased to $253 per ounce in fiscal 2003 and to $362 per ounce in fiscal 2004, as a result of the strengthening of the Rand.
Harmonys costs are very sensitive to the Rand-U.S. dollar exchange rate. The South African Rand appreciated significantly against the U.S. dollar in fiscal 2004. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Exchange Rates. Appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar increases working costs at Harmonys South African operations when those costs are translated into U.S. dollars. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Because most of Harmonys production costs are in Rand, while gold is generally sold in U.S. dollars, Harmonys financial condition could be materially harmed by an appreciation in the value of the Rand.
Harmonys total cash costs also reflect movement in deferred stripping ratios for open pit mines. Harmony defers the cost of stripping when the actual stripping ratio exceeds the expected average stripping ratio over the life of mine. The actual stripping ratio is calculated as the ratio of overburden tons (tons that need to be removed to access ore) to tons of ore mined for the period. Harmony charges the cost of stripping (as a production cost) when the actual stripping ratio is equal to or less than the expected average stripping ratio over the life of the mine. Expected average stripping ratios over the lives of mines are recalculated annually in light of additional knowledge and changes in estimates, including changes to the expected lives of mines. Each ratio is calculated as the ratio of (i) the total overburden tons deferred at the calculation date and future anticipated overburden tons to (ii) the anticipated future ore to be mined. Changes in Harmonys ore reserve statement and mine plan, which will include changes in future ore and overburden tons, will result in changes to the expected average stripping ratio over the life of the mine, which will impact the amounts deferred or charged. See Item 3. Key information Risk Factors Harmonys gold reserve figures may yield less gold under actual production conditions than Harmony currently estimates. If the expected average stripping ratio over the life of a mine is revised upwards, relatively lower stripping costs will, in the future, be deferred in each period, or a relatively higher amount will be charged. The opposite is true when the expected average stripping ratio over the life of a mine is revised downwards. These changes would impact on earnings accordingly.
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Harmony intends that its deferred stripping calculation should achieve a match between the cost of mining overburden tons to the tons of ore expected to be accessed by removing overburden, by applying the expected average stripping ratio over the life of a mine. Consequently, any changes made to the deferred stripping ratio will have an impact on total cash costs.
While recognizing the importance of reducing cash costs, Harmonys chief focus is on controlling and, where possible, reducing total costs, including overhead costs. Harmony aims to control total unit costs per ounce produced by maintaining its low total cost structure at its existing operations and implementing this low-cost structure at the new mining operations it acquires. Harmony has been able to reduce total costs by implementing a management structure and philosophy that is focused on reducing management and administrative costs, implementing an ore reserve management system that allows for greater grade control and acquiring higher grade reserves. See Item 4. Information on the Company Business Strategy. Harmony has reduced its costs by flattening the management structure at its operating units by removing excess layers of management. Harmonys ore reserve management system relies on a detailed geological understanding of the orebody backed up by closely-spaced sampling and an emphasis on grade control. The acquisition of higher grade reserves and the effect of the implementation of the ore reserve management system have increased the underground recovery grade from Harmonys South African operations (excluding the Free Gold Company) from 0.123 ounces per ton in fiscal 1998 to 0.153 ounces per ton in fiscal 2004.
EXCHANGE RATES
Harmonys revenues and costs are very sensitive to the Rand-U.S. dollar exchange rate. Currently, the majority of Harmonys earnings are generated in South Africa and, as a result, most of its costs are incurred in Rand. Since gold is generally sold in U.S. dollars, however, most of Harmonys revenues are received in U.S. dollars. The average gold price received by Harmony during fiscal 2004 increased $55 per ounce to $385 per ounce from $330 per ounce during fiscal 2003, but due to the strength of the Rand, Harmonys overall cash costs increased at a higher rate than the level of increase in the gold price received.
Appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar increases working costs at Harmonys South African operations when those costs are translated into U.S. dollars, which serves to reduce operating margins and net income from Harmonys South African operations. Depreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar reduces these costs when they are translated into U.S. dollars, which serves to increase operating margins and net income from Harmonys South African operations. Accordingly, weakness in the Rand generally results in improved Rand earnings for Harmony.
The exchange rates obtained when converting U.S. dollars to Rand are set by foreign exchange markets, over which Harmony has no control. The South African Rand depreciated significantly against the U.S. dollar in calendar 2001 and during the first quarter of calendar 2002. The Rand subsequently appreciated significantly against the U.S. dollar during the period from April 1, 2002 through July 31, 2004. The conversion rate for balance sheet items as at June 30, 2004 is Rand 6.23 per US$1.00, except for specific items included within shareholders equity that are converted at the exchange rate prevailing on the date the transaction was entered into. This compares with a conversion rate of Rand 7.51 per US$1.00 for balance sheet items as at June 30, 2003, reflecting an appreciation of 17% of the Rand against the U.S. dollar when compared with June 30, 2003. Income statement items were converted at the average exchange rate for the fiscal 2004 (Rand 6.89 per US$1.00), reflecting an appreciation of 25% of the Rand against the U.S. dollar when compared with fiscal 2003. This appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar caused a significant increase in Harmonys working costs translated into U.S. dollars, which served to decrease operating margins and net income reflected in Harmonys consolidated income statement for fiscal 2004. Depreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar would cause a decrease in Harmonys costs in U.S. dollar terms. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Because most of Harmonys production costs are in Rand, while gold is generally sold in U.S. dollars, Harmonys financial condition could be materially harmed by an appreciation in the value of the Rand.
INFLATION
Harmonys operations have not been materially impacted by inflation in recent years, although it did have an impact on Harmonys supply contracts. Because Harmonys costs are primarily in Rand and Harmony generally sells its gold in U.S. dollars, movements in the Rand U.S. dollar exchange rate may influence the impact of inflation on
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Harmonys profits. To the extent the Rand depreciates against the U.S. dollar, this depreciation may offset the impact of inflation, in fact, this was not the case in fiscal 2004 where the Rand appreciated against the U.S. dollar significantly.
SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIO-ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT
Harmony is a South African company and the majority of its operations are in South Africa. As a result, Harmony is subject to various economic, fiscal, monetary and political policies and factors that affect South African companies generally. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors socio-economic instability in South Africa or regionally may have an adverse effect on Harmonys operations and profits.
South African companies are subject to significant exchange control limitations. While exchange controls have been relaxed in recent years, South African companies remain subject to significant restrictions on their ability to deploy capital outside of the Southern African Common Monetary Area. As a result, Harmony has historically financed its offshore acquisitions with offshore long-term debt. See Item 10. Additional Information Exchange Controls.
IMPAIRMENT OF ASSETS
Harmonys management reviews the recoverability of Harmonys long-lived assets, including development costs, on an annual basis and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of those assets may not be recoverable. Testing for impairment involves a two-step process in which the undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated from future use of a long-lived asset is first compared to the carrying value of that asset. If the carrying value exceeds those undiscounted future cash flows, the asset is determined to be impaired. The fair value of the asset is then determined by reference to the discounted future cash flows using a discount rate that reflects the specific risk related to the asset. Harmony then records, as an impairment charge, the difference between the carrying value and fair value of the asset.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Years ended June 30, 2004 and 2003
Revenues
Revenue increased $500.2 million, or 63.9%, from $782.9 million in fiscal 2003 to $1,283.1 billion in fiscal 2004. This increase was attributable primarily to the higher average sales price of gold received by Harmony, $385 per ounce in fiscal 2004 compared to $330 per ounce in fiscal 2003, and the inclusion of Free Gold and ARMgold for nine months, representing $392.1 million of the increase and Avgold for two months representing $19.9 million of the increase.
Harmonys gold sales increased 859,071 ounces, or 36% from 2,366,116 ounces in fiscal 2003 to 3,225,187 ounces in fiscal 2004. This increase in sales was primarily due to the inclusion of sales from the Free Gold Company and ARMgold for nine months (755,800 ounces and 215,015 ounces, respectively), as well as the inclusion of sales from Avgolds Target operations for two months (53,434 ounces). This increase was partially offset by decreased sales at the Australian operations (171,342 ounces) due primarily to the closure of operations at Big Bell, as well as the lower recovery grade at Mt. Magnet and lower tonnage at South Kalgoorlie, and decreased sales at Randfontein (78,834 ounces), due to the lower recovery grade, and decreased sales at Elandskraal operations (30,746 ounces), due primarily to the problems experienced with the orepass, resulting in the dilution of the recovery grade. See Item 4. Information on the Company Business Harmonys Mining Operations Australian Operations, Business Harmonys Mining Operations Randfontein Operations and Business Harmonys Mining Operations Elandskraal Operations.
Interest and dividend income increased by $6.3 million, or 28.3%, from $22.3 million in fiscal 2003 to $28.6 million in fiscal 2004. This increase was attributable primarily to the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar as well as the inclusion of interest received by Free Gold, which was previously equity accounted for. Other income increased by $35.3 million, from a negative $21.1 million in fiscal 2003 to a positive $14.2 million in fiscal 2004. The increase was primarily due to profit on sale of property, plant and equipment during fiscal 2004.
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Costs
The following table sets out Harmonys total ounces sold and weighted average cash costs per ounce for fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2003:
Percentage | ||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended | Year ended | increase in | ||||||||||||||||||
June 30, 20041 |
June 30, 20032 |
cash costs |
||||||||||||||||||
(oz) |
($/oz) |
(oz) |
($/oz) |
|
||||||||||||||||
Elandskraal |
324,009 | 435 | 366,599 | 274 | 59 | |||||||||||||||
Randfontein |
413,038 | 352 | 491,890 | 212 | 66 | |||||||||||||||
Free State |
681,152 | 385 | 563,199 | 271 | 42 | |||||||||||||||
Evander |
361,694 | 361 | 360,184 | 242 | 49 | |||||||||||||||
Free Gold |
755,801 | 344 | | | | |||||||||||||||
ARMgold |
215,015 | 363 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Avgold |
53,434 | 215 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Kalgold |
82,756 | 345 | 74,590 | 222 | 55 | |||||||||||||||
Australian operations |
338,288 | 327 | 509,654 | 263 | 24 | |||||||||||||||
Total |
3,225,187 | 2,366,116 | ||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average |
362 | 253 | 43 |
1 | Includes nine months of production from Free Gold and ARMgold and two months from production from Avgolds Target operations, | |
2 | Includes two months of production from Abelle. |
During fiscal 2003, sales from the Free Gold operations amounted to 1,155,428 ounces of gold at an average cost of $202 per ounce compared with 1,143,243 ounces at an average cost of $175 per ounce in fiscal 2002. Because Harmony equity accounted for its 50% interest in the Free Gold Company before it became a wholly-owned subsidiary after the merger with ARMgold, the Free Gold Companys sales are not included in Harmonys sales figures for fiscal 2003 in this annual report and the average cash cost of the Free Gold Companys sales is not used in calculating Harmonys overall average cash costs for fiscal 2003 in this annual report.
Harmonys weighted average cash costs increased by $109 per ounce, or 43.1% from $253 per ounce in fiscal 2003 to $362 per ounce in fiscal 2004. Cash costs per ounce vary with the working costs per ton (which is, in turn, affected by the number of tons processed) and grade of ore processed. Cash costs expressed in U.S. dollars per ounce also vary with fluctuations in the Rand-U.S. dollar exchange rate, because most of Harmonys working costs are incurred in Rand. The increase in cash costs expressed in U.S. dollars per ounce in fiscal 2004 was attributable primarily to the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar, which caused a significant increase when these costs were translated into U.S. dollars. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Exchange Rates. Cash costs per ounce in U.S. dollars were also negatively impacted by lower tonnage at Randfontein, Evander and Elandskraal operations. If expressed in Rand terms, cash costs per ounce would have increased in fiscal 2004 by 7.6%, due primarily to lower production at Randfontein, Evander and Elandskraal operations, the introduction of CONOPS at the majority of the operations and increases in the costs of labor and supplies at Harmonys South African operations due to the implementation of collective bargaining agreements and the effect of inflation on supply contracts.
Harmonys cash costs consist primarily of production costs and include, among other things, ongoing development costs, which are incurred to access ore to produce current mined reserves and are expensed as incurred. Cash costs do not include capital development costs, which are incurred to allow access to the ore body for future mining operations and are capitalized and amortized when the relevant reserves are mined. Harmonys total cash costs also reflect movements in deferred stripping ratios for open pit mines. Harmony charges the cost of stripping (as a production cost) when the actual stripping ratio is below the expected average stripping ratio over the life of the mine. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Costs.
Harmony has calculated cash costs per ounce by dividing total cash costs, as determined using the Gold Institute industry standard, by gold ounces sold for all periods presented. The Gold Institute is a non-profit international association of miners, refiners, bullion suppliers and manufacturers of gold products that has developed a uniform
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format for reporting production costs on a per ounce basis. The standard was first adopted in 1996 and was revised in November 1999. Cash costs, as defined in the Gold Institute industry standard, include mine production costs, transport and refinery costs, general and administrative costs, costs associated with movements in production inventories and ore stockpiles, costs associated with transfers to deferred stripping and costs associated with royalties. Cash costs have been calculated on a consistent basis for all periods presented. Changes in cash costs per ounce are affected by operational performance, as well as changes in the currency exchange rate between the Rand and the U.S. dollar and, in the case of the Australian operations, the Australian dollar. Cash costs per ounce is not a U.S. GAAP measure. Cash costs per ounce should not be considered by investors in isolation or as an alternative to net income, income before tax, operating cash flows or any other measure of financial performance presented. While the Gold Institute has provided a definition for the calculation of cash costs per ounce, the calculation of cash costs per ounce may vary from company to company and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. However, Harmony believes that cash costs per ounce is a useful indicator to investors and management of a mining companys performance as it provides (1) an indication of a companys profitability and efficiency, (2) the trends in costs as the companys operations mature, (3) a measure of a companys gross margin per ounce, by comparison of cash costs per ounce to the spot price of gold and (4) an internal benchmark of performance to allow for comparison against other companies.
The following is a reconciliation of total cash costs to the nearest comparable GAAP measure, production cost:
2004 | 2003 | 2002 | ||||||||||
$000 |
$000 |
$000 |
||||||||||
Cash costs |
1,176,602 | 602,540 | 468,912 | |||||||||
Less: Deferred stripping |
(4,119 | ) | (1,397 | ) | (486 | ) | ||||||
Production costs |
1,172,483 | 601,143 | 469,398 | |||||||||
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization charges increased $43.1 million, or 70.8%, from $60.9 million in fiscal 2003 to $104,0 million in fiscal 2004. This increase was attributable primarily to the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar, which increased the depreciation charges for the South African operations, as well as the inclusion of Free Gold and ARMgold for nine months, representing $49.7 million of the increase, and the inclusion of Avgold for two months, representing $5.1 million of the increase. This increase was partially offset by a decrease of $8.7 million in the charge for Australia for fiscal 2004.
Impairment of assets
Impairment charges decreased from $117.6 million in fiscal 2003 to $3.1 million in fiscal 2004. The impairment for fiscal 2004 was attributable to the depletion of open pit reserves through mining activities in the current year at the South Kalgoorlie operation in Australia. Despite continued exploration around the South Kalgoorlie area in the year, the mine reserves from the open pits were not replaced, which negatively impacted on ore reserves declared at the end of the fiscal year.
In fiscal 2003, Harmony reduced its ore reserves estimates at its Australian operations from 2.3 million ounces to 1.5 million ounces. This resulted in revised mine plans being designed for the Australian operations which did not support the carrying value of the Australian operations assets and accordingly an impairment charge of $117.6 million was recognized.
Employment termination costs
Employment termination costs increased $26.6 million, or 522%, from $5.1 million in fiscal 2003 to $31.7 million in fiscal 2004. This increase is due to the continued process of restructuring for profitability at the Free State, Randfontein, Elandskraal, Evander, Free Gold and ARMgold operations, which has resulted in excess labor that could not be accommodated at other shafts, even with the implementation of CONOPS. On April 2, 2004, the Harmony announced that it had commenced with a restructuring process as a result of the recent weakening of the gold price in Rand per kilogram terms. Some of the older shafts, which had come to the end of their economic lives, were jointly evaluated by Harmony and organized labor and a process to down-scale production at the shafts was initiated. A provision was raised to cover the estimated cost of restructuring at June 30, 2004.
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Provision / (reversal of provision) for rehabilitation costs
As from July 1,2002, the company adopted FAS 143 for accounting for its environmental rehabilitation costs. Under this method the rehabilitation charge for fiscal 2004 was a positive $10,4 million compared to a positive $0.4 million in fiscal 2003. Full provision is made based on the net present value of the estimated cost of restoring the environmental disturbance that has occurred up to the balance sheet date.
Corporate expenditure, exploration expenditure and marketing and new business expenditure
Corporate expenditure, exploration expenditure and marketing and new business expenditure increased $15.7 million, or 59%, from $26.8 million in fiscal 2003 to $42.5 million in fiscal 2004. This increase was due primarily to increased corporate expenditures following Harmonys acquisition of Abelles minorities, the merger with ARMgold, the range of transactions with ARMI and ARM for the acquisition of Avgold, costs related to investigating and pursuing new business opportunities and increased expenditures to investigate and develop opportunities to produce value-added products, such as jewelry and other products made of fabricated gold. In fiscal 2004, Harmony also increased exploration expenditure in connection with the Papua New Guinea feasibility study by $6.5 million and its exploration in Peru by approximately $0.8 million compared to fiscal 2003. These increases were partially offset by the decrease of $0.1 million in exploration expenditure at the Kalplats operations. See Item 4. Information on the Company Business Exploration.
Loss / (gain) on financial instruments
The loss on financial instruments in fiscal 2004 was $32.4 million, as compared with a gain of $43.2 million in fiscal 2003. The loss in fiscal 2004 relate to the change in the mark-to-market of derivative instruments inherited as a result of the acquisitions of New Hampton, Hill 50 and Avgold. The gain in fiscal 2003 related primarily to the change in the mark-to-market of derivative instruments held by Hill 50 following its acquisition in April 2002.
Profit on sale of other assets and listed investments
Harmony recorded a profit of $4.9 million on the sale of other assets and listed investments in fiscal 2004, as compared with a gain of $59.2 million on the sale of other assets and listed investments in fiscal 2003. The profit in fiscal 2004 arose as a result of the disposal of its investments in High River for $3.1 million, Midas Resources for $0.01 million and Legend Mining for $1.7 million. The profit in fiscal 2003 arose on disposal of Harmonys Placer Dome investment in fiscal 2003. The profit was determined by reference to the difference between the proceeds and the cost of the initial investment in Goldfields Australia. Harmony acquired its shares in Place Dome following Aurion Gold being acquired by Place Dome. Harmony had acquired its shares in AurionGold following the merger of Goldfields Australia and Delta Gold, with the merged entity being renamed AurionGold.
Profit on sale and loss on dilution of investment in associates
Profit on sale of investments increased from $0 in fiscal 2003 to $77.6 million in fiscal 2004. This increase is attributable to the disposal of Harmonys investment in Highland Gold Limited (Highland Gold) on October 14, 2003 for $119.7 million. The investment was acquired at a cost of $38.8 million and Harmony equity accounted for the earnings from Highland Gold, resulting in a profit of $77.6 million.
Loss of dilution of investments increased from $0 in fiscal 2003 to $12.5 million in fiscal 2004. This increase is attributable to the dilution of Harmonys investment in ARM. Harmony and ARMgold purchased the investment in ARM through a joint venture, Clidet 454 (Proprietary) Limited (Clidet) for $230 million. Since Acquisition Harmony has equity accounted for the earnings of ARM. The carrying value of the investment was $260.9 million at April 30,2004 before the dilution. Following a range of transactions between Harmony, ARM and ARMI, Harmonys interest in ARM was diluted from 34.5% to 19.0%, resulting in a loss of $12.5 million on the dilution.
Profit on sale of subsidiary
Profit on sale of subsidiary increased from $0 in fiscal 2003 to $0.1 million in fiscal 2004. This increase is attributable to the profit on the disposal of Harmonys investment in Harmony Gold (Canada) Incorporated (Bissett) for C$7.6 million ($5.6 million). Harmony disposed of the entire share capital of Bissett in exchange for 5 million ordinary shares in San Gold, 5,714,285 ordinary shares in Gold City and the balance of $2.6 million in cash. The net asset value of Bisset was $5.5 million, resulting in a profit of $0.1 million.
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Share-based compensation
Harmony adopted FAS 123 on July 1, 2002. FAS 123 requires that all share options granted subsequent to that date be fair valued, and that the fair value be recognized as share-based compensation expense over the options vesting period.
Share-based compensation expenses increased by $5.3 million, or 294.4%, from $1.8 million in fiscal 2003 to $7.1 million in fiscal 2004. The charge in the fiscal 2004 relates to the amortization of the fair value of 2003 and 2001 option grants for the Company and its subsidiary Abelle. The fiscal 2003 expense comprised of $4 million related to the amortization of the fair value of the 2002 and 2003 option grants of the Company and its subsidiary Abelle and a credit of $2.2 million for options granted in fiscal 2001. The options granted in fiscal 2001 were subject to variable accounting until the earlier of the date of their exercise, or March 27, 2003, since their exercise price was not known at the date of grant as they were exercisable with a recourse note. On March 27, 2003, Harmony cancelled the ability for employees to exercise options with a recourse note, and variable accounting for the 2001 options outstanding at that date ceased, as their exercise price is now known.
Equity income of joint venture
Equity income of joint venture decreased by $44.9 million, or 85%, from $52.8 million in fiscal 2003 to $7.9 million in fiscal 2004. The decrease arose due to Free Gold and Clidet becoming wholly-owned subsidiaries as of September 22, 2003 after the merger of Harmony and ARMgold. Therefore, the equity income of joint ventures is for three months of fiscal 2004.
Equity profit / (loss) of associate companies
Equity profit/(loss) of associate companies was increased from a loss of $1.2 million in fiscal 2003 to a profit of $2.0 million in fiscal 2004. The profit in fiscal 2004 is primarily attributable to Harmonys proportionate share of profits in Highland Gold ($1.2 million) and ARM ($6.0 million) and costs in Avgold ($1.6 million) and Bendigo ($3.6 million). The costs in Bendigo relates to exploration expenditure. The loss in fiscal 2003 reflected Harmonys proportionate share of Highland Golds profits of $4 million for fiscal 2003 and its proportionate share of costs incurred by Bendigo of $5.2 million. The costs were incurred to develop the infrastructure required to access ore below the town of Bendigo.
Impairment of investment in associate
The impairment of investment in associate increased from $0 to $2.0 million. This charge is due to a decrease in the carrying value of Bendigo. At the time of its investment in Bendigo during fiscal 2002, Bendigos shares were trading at A$2.90 per share on the Australian stock exchange. During fiscal 2004, the share price decreased to A$0.88 per share, which is below the carrying value of the investment in Harmonys records, resulting in an impairment of $2.0 to reflect the current value of the investment of $19.9 million.
Interest paid
Harmony paid $56.9 million in interest during fiscal 2004 compared to $27.4 million during fiscal 2003. This increase was due to the interest on the Rand denominated Nedbank loan used to finance the acquisition of the 17.25% interest in Avmin acquired during May 2003 being included for a full year and the inclusion of interest on the BOE Bank loan used to partially fund the acquisition of the Free Gold assets by ARMgold. This increase was partially offset by the decrease in interest paid to BOE Bank on the loan used to partially fund the acquisition of the Free Gold assets by Harmony as a result of the loan being settled early.
Provision for former employees post-retirement benefits
Harmony provides for amounts due under its former employees post-retirement benefits. In fiscal 2004, Harmony provided $Nil million for these benefits compared with $0.5 million in fiscal 2003, based on updated actuarial valuations.
Income and mining taxes
South Africa. Harmony pays taxes on mining income and non-mining income. The amount of Harmonys South African mining income tax is calculated on the basis of a formula that takes into account Harmonys total revenue and profits from, and capital expenditures for, mining operations in South Africa. Five percent of total mining
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revenue is exempt from taxation in South Africa. The amount of revenue subject to taxation is calculated by subtracting capital expenditures from operating profit. The amount by which the adjusted profit figure exceeds 5% of revenue constitutes taxable mining income. Harmony and its subsidiaries each make their own calculation of taxable income.
The tax rate applicable to the mining and non-mining income of a gold mining company depends on whether the company has elected to be exempt from the Secondary Tax on Companies, or STC. The STC is a tax on dividends declared and, at present, the STC tax rate is equal to 12.5%. In 1993, all existing South African gold mining companies had the option to elect to be exempt from STC. If the election was made, a higher tax rate would apply for both mining and non-mining income. In each of 2004 and 2003, the tax rates for companies that elected the STC exemption were 46% for mining income and 38% for non-mining income, compared with 37% for mining income and 30% for non-mining income if the STC exemption election was not made. In 1993, Harmony elected to pay the STC tax. All of Harmonys South African subsidiaries, however, elected the STC exemption. To the extent Harmony receives dividends, such dividends received are offset against the amount of dividends paid for purposes of calculating the amount subject to the 12.5% STC tax.
Income and mining tax |
2004 |
2003 |
||||||
Effective tax rate expense |
56 | % | 25.9 | % |
The effective tax rate for fiscal 2004 was greater than the statutory tax rate of 46% for Harmony and its subsidiaries as a whole. The most significant reason for the increase in the effective tax rate in fiscal 2004 was related to the reduction in profitability and estimated life of mines which resulted in lower assumed future tax rates, thus resulting in a reversal of deferred tax into current tax expense.
Australia. Generally, Australia imposes tax on the worldwide income (including capital gains) of all of Harmonys Australian incorporated and tax resident entities. The current income tax rate for companies is 30%. Exploration costs and the depreciation of capital expenditure may be deducted from income. In addition, other expenditures, such as export market development, mine closure costs and the defense of native title claims, may be deducted from income. With effect from July 1, 1998, mining operations (other than operations on freehold land) are also subject to a 2.5% gold royalty because the mineral rights are owned by the state. All gold production from the Big Bell and Mt. Magnet operations is subject to this royalty. Most of the production from the South Kalgoorlie operations is from freehold land and is, accordingly, exempt from this royalty.
With effect from July 1, 2001, the Australian legislature introduced a Uniform Capital Allowance, which allows tax deductions for depreciation attributable to assets and certain other capital expenditures. In addition, under current Australian tax law, certain grouping concessions are available to companies in the same ultimate control group. These concessions include the ability to group losses and obtain capital gains tax roll-over relief from the transfer of assets among two or more entities if the entities are engaged in the same business or if the entities are wholly-owned by the same entity. Harmonys subsidiaries in Australia accordingly qualify to transfer losses from one entity to another in the event that a loss is made in one entity and a profit is generated in another.
Withholding tax is payable on dividends, interest and royalties paid by Australian residents to non-residents, which would include any dividends on the shares of Harmonys Australian subsidiaries that are paid to Harmony. In the case of dividend payments to non-residents, a 30% withholding tax applies. However, where the recipient of the dividend is a resident of a country with which Australia has concluded a double taxation agreement, the rate of withholding tax is generally limited to 15% (or 10% where the dividend is paid to a companys parent company). Where dividends are fully taxable, an effective credit is allowed against any withholding tax otherwise payable, regardless of whether a double taxation agreement is in place.
The effective tax rate for fiscal 2003 was lower than the estimated statutory tax rate of 46% for Harmony and its subsidiaries as a whole. The lower effective tax rate is primarily due to the exclusion of the equity income of the Free Gold Company which decreases the Companys effective tax rate expense and the five percent of total mining revenue excluded from the Companys taxable income.
The increase in the effective tax rate expense of 30.1% to 56% in fiscal 2004 from 25.9% fiscal 2003, was as a result of capital losses on which no deferred tax was provided for, resulting in the inflated tax rate.
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Minority interests
Minority interests were a positive $1.3 million in fiscal 2004, as compared with a negative $0.5 million in fiscal 2003. The minority interest in fiscal 2004 reflects the 13% minority shareholders interest in the results of Abelle up to the date that Abelle became a wholly-owned subsidiary, as well as the 46.5% outside shareholders interest in the results of Avgold from May 3, 2004 until May 24, 2004, when Avgold became a wholly-owned subsidiary. The minority interest in fiscal 2003 reflected the 13% minority shareholders interests in the results of Abelle following the acquisition by Harmony of 87% interest in Abelle in May 2003.
(Loss) / income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
Loss before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle was $31.4 million in fiscal 2004, compared with the income of $71.8 million in fiscal 2003. This decrease was primarily attributable to the factors described above.
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (FAS 143), net of tax
With effect from July 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 143, accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations (FAS143). The adoption of FAS143 resulted in Harmony recording a $14.8 million credit cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, net of tax in fiscal 2003.
Net(Loss) Income
Net loss for the year was $31.4 million in fiscal 2004, compared with the income of $86.7 million in fiscal 2003. This decrease is attributed primarily to the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar, as well as to the factors described above.
Years ended June 30, 2003 and 2002
Revenues
Revenue increased $86.1 million, or 12.4%, from $696.8 million in fiscal 2002 to $782.9 million in fiscal 2003. This increase was attributable primarily to the higher average sales price of gold received by Harmony and the inclusion of Hill 50 for the full year.
Harmonys gold sales decreased 22,342 ounces, or 0.9% from 2,388,458 ounces in fiscal 2002 to 2,366,116 ounces in fiscal 2003. This decrease in sales was primarily due to reduced sales from Randfontein (69,748 ounces) due to the lower underground tonnages milled and achieved grades, reduced sales at Elandskraal (109,460 ounces) due to a lack of mining flexibility and problems associated with the infrastructure at the old Elandskraal mine, reduced sales at Evander ( 55,198 ounces) due to a seismic event that occurred at Evander No. 8 shaft on July 12, 2002, the highest grade shaft at Evander, which adversely impacted this operations performance resulting in lower tonnages milled and grades achieved, reduced sales at the Free State (48,745 ounces) primarily due to closures of Harmony 4 shaft and Virginia 2 shaft during fiscal 2002 and no sales at the Bissett operation during fiscal 2003, compared with fiscal 2002 when this operation sold 8,263 ounces which were obtained during the plant clean-up process on transitioning these operations to care and maintenance. This decrease was partially offset by increased sales at the Australian operations (256,661 ounces) due to the inclusion of Abelle in the results for two months and Hill 50 for the entire fiscal 2003, compared with 3 months of Hill 50 production in fiscal 2002, and increased sales at Kalgold (12,411 ounces) due to higher tonnages milled and grades achieved in fiscal 2003. See Item 4. Information on the Company Business Harmonys Mining Operations Randfontein Operations and Business Harmonys Mining Operations Free State Operations. Harmonys average sales price of gold per ounce was $330 in fiscal 2003, as compared with $283 in fiscal 2002, which was due primarily to higher market prices for gold.
Interest and dividend income increased by $9.9 million, or 79.8%, from $12.4 million in fiscal 2002 to $22.3 million in fiscal 2003. In fiscal 2003, Harmony earned interest on higher cash balances as a result of increased cash flow. Other income decreased by $30.3 million, from a positive $9.2 million in fiscal 2002 to a negative $21.1 million in fiscal 2003.
The decrease was primarily due to foreign exchange losses incurred on US Dollar denominated cash balances.
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Costs
The following table sets out Harmonys total ounces sold and weighted average cash costs per ounce for fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2002:
Percentage | ||||||||||||||||||||
Year ended | Year ended | increase in | ||||||||||||||||||
June 30, 20031 |
June 30, 20022 |
cash costs |
||||||||||||||||||
(oz) |
($/oz) |
(oz) |
($/oz) |
|
||||||||||||||||
Elandskraal |
366,599 | 274 | 476,059 | 196 | 40 | |||||||||||||||
Randfontein |
491,890 | 212 | 561,638 | 177 | 20 | |||||||||||||||
Free State |
563,199 | 271 | 611,944 | 216 | 26 | |||||||||||||||
Evander |
360,184 | 242 | 415,382 | 171 | 42 | |||||||||||||||
Bissett3 |
| 8,263 | 109 | | ||||||||||||||||
Kalgold |
74,590 | 222 | 62,179 | 205 | 8 | |||||||||||||||
Australian operations |
509,654 | 263 | 252,993 | 235 | 12 | |||||||||||||||
Total |
2,366,116 | 2,388,458 | ||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average |
253 | 196 | 29 |
1 | Includes two months of production from Abelle. | |
2 | Includes three months of production from Hill 50. | |
3 | Represents production from clean-up of the plant and mill during the transition to care and maintenance. |
During Harmonys fiscal 2003, sales from the Free Gold assets amounted to 1,155,428 ounces of gold at an average cost of $202 per ounce compared with 1,143,243 ounces at an average cost of $175 per ounce. Harmonys interest in the two months of the 2002 fiscal years sales (reflecting the period from May 1 , 2002 to June 30, 2002) totaled 104,005 attributable ounces at an average cash cost of $130 per ounce. Because Harmony equity accounts for its 50% interest in the Free Gold Company, the Free Gold Companys sales are not included in Harmonys sales figures in this annual report and the average cash cost of the Free Gold Companys sales is not used in calculating Harmonys overall average cash costs in this annual report.
Harmonys weighted average cash costs increased by $57 per ounce, or 29.1% from $196 in fiscal 2002 to $253 per ounce in fiscal 2003. Cash costs per ounce vary with the working costs per ton (which is, in turn, affected by the number of tons processed) and grade of ore processed. Cash costs expressed in U.S. dollars per ounce also vary with fluctuations in the Rand-U.S. dollar exchange rate, because most of Harmonys working costs are incurred in Rand. The increase in cash costs expressed in U.S. dollars per ounce in fiscal 2003 was attributable primarily to the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar, which caused a significant increase when these costs were translated into U.S. dollars. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Exchange Rates. Cash costs per ounce in U.S. dollars were also negatively impacted by lower tonnage at Randfontein, Evander and Elandskraal operations. If expressed in Rand terms, cash costs per ounce would have increased in fiscal 2003 by 13.2%, due primarily to lower production at Randfontein, Free State, Evander and Elandskraal operations, the reduction of relatively lower-cost surface operations at Randfontein and increases in the costs of labor and supplies at Harmonys South African operations due to the implementation of collective bargaining agreements and the effect of inflation on supply contracts.
Harmonys cash costs consist primarily of production costs and include, among other things, ongoing development costs, which are incurred to access ore to produce current mined reserves and are expensed as incurred. Cash costs do not include capital development costs, which are incurred to allow access to the ore body for future mining operations and are capitalized and amortized when the relevant reserves are mined. Harmonys total cash costs also reflect movements in deferred stripping ratios for open pit mines. Harmony charges the cost of stripping (as a production cost) when the actual stripping ratio is below the expected average stripping ratio over the life of the mine. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Costs.
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Harmony has calculated cash costs per ounce by dividing total cash costs, as determined using the Gold Institute industry standard, by gold ounces sold for all periods presented. The Gold Institute is a non-profit international association of miners, refiners, bullion suppliers and manufacturers of gold products that has developed a uniform format for reporting production costs on a per ounce basis. The standard was first adopted in 1996 and was revised in November 1999. Cash costs, as defined in the Gold Institute standard, include mine production costs, transport and refinery costs, general and administrative costs, costs associated with movements in production inventories and ore stockpiles, costs associated with transfers to deferred stripping and costs associated with royalties. Cash costs have been calculated on a consistent basis for all periods presented. Changes in cash costs per ounce are affected by operational performance, as well as changes in the currency exchange rate between the Rand and the U.S. dollar and, in the case of the Australian operations, the Australian dollar. Cash costs per ounce is not a U.S. GAAP measure. Cash costs per ounce should not be considered by investors in isolation or as an alternative to net income, income before tax, operating cash flows or any other measure of financial performance presented. While the Gold Institute has provided a definition for the calculation of cash costs per ounce, the calculation of cash costs per ounce may vary from company to company and may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. However, Harmony believes that cash costs per ounce is a useful indicator to investors and management of a mining companys performance as it provides (1) an indication of a companys profitability and efficiency, (2) the trends in costs as the companys operations mature, (3) a measure of a companys gross margin per ounce, by comparison of cash costs per ounce to the spot price of gold and (4) an internal benchmark of performance to allow for comparison against other companies.
The following is a reconciliation of total cash costs to the nearest comparable GAAP measure, production cost:
2003 | 2002 | 2001 | ||||||||||
$000 |
$000 |
$000 |
||||||||||
Cash costs |
599,746 | 468,912 | 502,210 | |||||||||
Less: Deferred stripping |
1,397 | (486 | ) | (2,697 | ) | |||||||
Production costs |
598,349 | 469,398 | 504,907 |
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization charges increased $30.7 million, or 101.7%, from $30.2 million in fiscal 2002 to $60.9 million in fiscal 2003. This increase was attributable primarily to the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar, which increased the depreciation charges for the South African operations and the increased Australian operations depreciation charges due to the inclusion of Hill 50 for the entire fiscal 2003, compared with 3 months in fiscal 2002, and Abelle operations from May 1, 2003.
Employment termination costs
Employment termination costs decreased $3.7 million, or 42%, from $8.8 million in fiscal 2002 to $5.1 million in fiscal 2003. This decrease was due primarily to lower restructuring costs being incurred at the Elandskraal, Randfontein and Australian operations during fiscal 2003 compared with fiscal 2002, following the finalization of terminations at Randfonteins shaft 4 following its closure in the quarter ended June 30, 2001 and the combination of the New Hampton and Hill 50 corporate offices in Perth in fiscal 2002.
Provision/(reversal of provision) for rehabilitation costs
As from July 1, 2002, the company adopted FAS 143 for accounting for its environmental rehabilitation costs. Under this method the rehabilitation charge for fiscal 2003 was a positive $0.4 million compared to a negative $15.2 million in fiscal 2002, which was under the old standard. Full provision is made based on the net present value of the estimated cost of restoring the environmental disturbance that has occurred up to the balance sheet date. Previously, Harmony provided for its obligations over the life of mine for each operation using principally the units-of-production method based on estimated proven and probable reserves above infrastructure.
Corporate expenditure, exploration expenditure and marketing and new business expenditure
Corporate expenditure, exploration expenditure and marketing and new business expenditure increased $3.3. million, or 14%, from $23.5 million in fiscal 2002 to $26.8 million in fiscal 2003. This increase was due primarily to increased corporate expenditures following Harmonys acquisition of Abelle, the merger with ARMgold,
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costs related to investigating and pursuing new business opportunities and increased expenditures to investigate and develop opportunities to produce value-added products, such as jewelry and other products made of fabricated gold. In fiscal 2003, Harmony also increased exploration expenditure in connection with the Kalplats feasibility study by $1.9 million and its exploration in Peru by approximately $1.5 million compared to fiscal 2002. See Item 4. Information on the Company Business Exploration.
Gain on financial instruments
The gain on financial instruments in fiscal 2003 was $43.2 million, as compared with a gain of $8.9 million in fiscal 2002. The gains in fiscal 2003 and 2002 related primarily to the change in the mark-to-market of derivative instruments held by Hill 50 following its acquisition in April 2002.
(Profit)/ loss on sale of other assets and listed investments
Harmony recorded a profit of $59.2 million on the sale of other assets and listed investments in fiscal 2003, as compared with a gain of $4.5 million on the sale of other assets and listed investments in fiscal 2002. The profit in fiscal 2003 arose on disposal of Harmonys Placer Dome investment in fiscal 2003. The profit was determined by reference to the difference between the proceeds and the cost of the initial investment in Goldfields Australia. Harmony acquired its shares in Place Dome following Aurion Gold being acquired by Place Dome. Harmony had acquired its shares in AurionGold following the merger of Goldfields Australia and Delta Gold, with the merged entity being renamed AurionGold. The profit in fiscal 2002 was the result of the resale of the ARMgold shares that Harmony acquired in the initial public offering of ARMgold in May 2002.
Share-based compensation
Harmony adopted FAS 123 on July 1, 2002. FAS 123 requires that all share options granted subsequent to that date be fair valued, and that the fair value be recognized as share-based compensation expense over the options vesting period.
Share-based compensation expenses decreased by $7.6 million, or 80.9%, from $9.4 million in fiscal 2002 to $1.8 million in fiscal 2003. The fiscal 2003 expense comprised of $4 million related to the amortization of the fair value of the 2002 and 2003 option grants of the Company and its subsidiary Abelle and a credit of $2.2 million for options granted in fiscal 2001. The options granted in fiscal 2001 were subject to variable accounting until the earlier of the date of their exercise, or March 27, 2003, since their exercise price was not known at the date of grant as they were exercisable with a recourse note. On March 27, 2003, Harmony cancelled the ability for employees to exercise options with a recourse note, and variable accounting for the 2001 options outstanding at that date ceased, as their exercise price is now known.
The fiscal 2002 expenses comprised of $2.0 million related to the amortization of the fair value of the 2002 option grants and $7.4 million for options granted in fiscal 2001.
Equity loss of joint venture
Equity income of joint venture increased by $39.5 million, or 300%, from $13.2 million in fiscal 2002 to $52.8 million in fiscal 2003. The increase arose due to the inclusion for a full year in fiscal 2003 of Harmonys interest in the Free Gold Companys results, as compared with two months from May 1, 2002 for fiscal 2003 and the inclusion of Harmonys 17.25% share of ARMs results held through the Clidet joint venture, which was acquired in May 2003.
Equity loss of associate companies
Equity loss of associate companies was $1.2 million in fiscal 2003 and reflected Harmonys proportionate share of Highland Golds profits of $4 million for fiscal 2003 and its proportionate share of costs incurred by Bendigo of $5.2 million. The costs were incurred to develop the infrastructure required to access ore below the town of Bendigo. Equity loss of associate companies was $0.5 million in fiscal 2002. The loss of associate companies reflected Harmonys proportionate share of the costs of $1.42 million that Bendigo incurred to develop infrastructure required to access ore below the town of Bendigo. The equity loss associated with these development costs was offset by profit of $0.94 million recorded by Hill 50 in the month of March 2002, during which Harmony equity accounted for Hill 50.
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Impairment of assets
In fiscal 2003, Harmony reduced its ore reserves estimates at its Australian operations from 2.3 million ounces to 1.5 million ounces. This resulted in revised mine plans being designed for the Australian operations which did not support the carrying value of the Australian operations assets and accordingly an impairment charge of $117.6 million was recognized.
In fiscal 2002, Harmony reduced the grade estimates for future production at New Hamptons Big Bell underground operations due to disappointing results from the lower levels of this mine, as a result of lower than expected grade. The write-down in fiscal 2002 of $44.3 million reflected the impairment of the carrying value of these Big Bell assets.
Interest paid
Harmony paid $27.4 million in interest during fiscal 2003 compared to $19.1 million during fiscal 2002. This increase was due to the increased value of the loans outstanding following the draw down of $117.6 million on the Rand denominated Nedbank loan to finance the acquisition of the 17.25% interest in ARM acquired during May 2003, whilst the appreciation of the Rand during the period resulted in higher interest expense on Harmonys Randdenominated senior unsecured fixed rate bonds due June 14, 2006 and the BoE Bank Limited loan in U.S. dollars when compared with fiscal 2002.
Provision for former employees post-retirement benefits
Harmony provides for amounts due under its former employees post-retirement benefits. In fiscal 2003, Harmony provided $0.5 million for these benefits compared with $0.04 million in fiscal 2002, based on updated actuarial valuations. The increase in fiscal 2003 is primarily due to the appreciation of the Rand.
Income and mining taxes
South Africa. Harmony pays taxes on mining income and non-mining income. The amount of Harmonys South African mining income tax is calculated on the basis of a formula that takes into account Harmonys total revenue and profits from, and capital expenditures for, mining operations in South Africa. Five percent of total mining revenue is exempt from taxation in South Africa. The amount of revenue subject to taxation is calculated by subtracting capital expenditures from operating profit. The amount by which the adjusted profit figure exceeds 5% of revenue constitutes taxable mining income. Harmony and its subsidiaries each make their own calculation of taxable income.
The tax rate applicable to the mining and non-mining income of a gold mining company depends on whether the company has elected to be exempt from the Secondary Tax on Companies, or STC. The STC is a tax on dividends declared and, at present, the STC tax rate is equal to 12.5%. In 1993, all existing South African gold mining companies had the option to elect to be exempt from STC. If the election was made, a higher tax rate would apply for both mining and non-mining income. In each of 2003 and 2002, the tax rates for companies that elected the STC exemption were 46% for mining income and 38% for non-mining income, compared with 37% for mining income and 30% for non-mining income if the STC exemption election was not made. In 1993, Harmony elected to pay the STC tax. All of Harmonys South African subsidiaries, however, elected the STC exemption. To the extent Harmony receives dividends, such dividends received are offset against the amount of dividends paid for purposes of calculating the amount subject to the 12.5% STC tax.
Effective tax rate
The table below indicates Harmonys effective tax rate, which represents the current tax rate due pursuant to the statutory formula and the amount of deferred tax, for fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2002. Harmony bases its estimate of effective tax rates on the application of statutory tax formulas to historic operating results. Current tax due includes mining and non-mining tax calculated by applying the statutory formula to the actual results of operations for the relevant period. Deferred tax is provided at the estimated future effective mining tax rate.
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Income and mining tax |
2003 |
2002 |
||||||
Effective tax rate expense |
25.9 | % | 13.9 | % | ||||
The effective tax rate for fiscal 2003 was lower than the statutory tax rate of 46% for Harmony and its subsidiaries as a whole. The lower effective tax rate is primarily due to the exclusion of the equity income of the Free Gold Company which decreases the Companys effective tax rate expense and the five percent of total mining revenue excluded from the Companys taxable income.
The effective tax rate for fiscal 2002 was lower than the estimated statutory tax rate of 20.5% for Harmony and its subsidiaries as a whole. A primary factor in the lower tax effective rate was the fact that the equity income from the Free Gold Company is excluded from the calculation of Harmonys taxable income. In addition, the effective tax rate for fiscal 2002 was lowered by Harmonys release of valuation allowances against deferred tax assets at Kalgold, which, in light of the higher prevailing market price for gold and the resulting increase in profitability, are now deemed more likely than not to be recovered.
The increase in the effective tax rate expense of 12% to 25.9% in fiscal 2003 from 13.9% fiscal 2002, was due to the revision of Harmony and its subsidiaries estimated expected future mining tax rate which resulted in an increased deferred tax liability and the release of the valuation allowance against deferred tax assets at Kalgold, which in the light of the higher prevailing gold prices and the resulting increased in profitability, were deemed more likely than not to be recovered.
Minority interests
Minority interests were $0.5 million in fiscal 2003, as compared with $1.6 million in fiscal 2002. The minority interest in fiscal 2003 reflected the 13% minority shareholders interests in the results of Abelle following the acquisition by Harmony of 87% interest in Abelle in May 2003. The minority interests in fiscal 2002 reflected the 10% participation interest in the Elandskraal Venture that Open Solutions acquired with effect from April 31, 2001. See Item 4. Information on the Company Business Harmonys Mining Operations Elandskraal Operations.
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle was $71.8 million in fiscal 2003, as compared with $87.7 million in fiscal 2002. This decrease was primarily attributable to the factors described above.
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (FAS 143), net of tax
With effect from July 1, 2002, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard 143, accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations (FAS143). The adoption of FAS143 resulted in Harmony recording a $14.8 million credit cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, net of tax.
Net income
Net income for the year was $86.7 in fiscal 2003, compared with net income of $87.7 million in fiscal 2002. This slight decrease was attributable to the appreciation of the Rand against the dollar, as well as the factors described above.
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued interpretation No. 46 (FIN 46), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. FIN 46 requires the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity to consolidate that entity. A variable interest entity is created when (i) the equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the entity from financing its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties, or (ii) equity holders either (a) lack direct or indirect ability to make decisions about the entity, (b) are not obliged to absorb expected losses of the entity or (c) do not have the right to receive expected residual returns of the entity if they occur. The primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity is the party that absorbs a majority of the variable interest entitys expected losses, receives a majority of the entitys expected residual returns, or both, as a result of ownership, contractual or other financial interests is the entity. Expected losses are the expected negative
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variability of an entitys net assets exclusive of its variable interest, and expected residual returns are the expected positive variability in the fair value of an entitys assets, exclusive of variable interests. Prior to the issuance of FIN 46, an enterprise generally consolidated an entity when the enterprise had a controlling financial interest in the entity through ownership of a majority voting interest.
In December 2003, the FASB issued a revision of FIN 46 (FIN 46-R), clarifying certain provisions of FIN 46. Harmony adopted the provisions of FIN 46-R on February 1, 2003 to the extent that they related to variable interest entities created on or after that date. For variable interest entities created before January 31, 2003, FIN 46-R was deferred to the end of the first interim or annual period ending after March 15, 2004. Harmony fully adopted FIN 46-R effective June 30, 2004. Harmony completed its evaluation of FIN 46-R and has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of two variable interest entities relating to the African Vanguard Resources (Proprietary) Limited transaction. See Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements.
The Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) formed a committee to evaluate certain mining industry accounting issues, including issues arising from the application of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 141, Business Combinations (SFAS No. 141) and SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and other Intangible Assets (SFAS No. 142) to business combinations within the mining industry, accounting for goodwill and other intangibles and the capitalization of costs after the commencement of production, including deferred stripping. The issues discussed also included whether mineral interests conveyed by leases represent tangible or intangible assets and the amortization of such assets. In March 2004, the EITF reached a consensus, subject to ratification by the FASB that mineral interests conveyed by leases should be considered tangible assets. The EITF also reached a consensus, subject to the ratification by the FASB, on other mining related issues involving impairment and business combinations.
On March 31, 2004, the FASB ratified the consensus of the EITF on other mining related issues involving impairment and business combinations. This did not have an impact on the Companys financial statements since it did not change the Companys accounting. The FASB also ratified the consensus of the EITF that mineral interests conveyed by leases should be considered tangible assets subject to the finalization of a FASB Staff Position (FSP) in this regard.
On April 30, 2004, the FASB issued an FSP amending SFAS No. 141 and SFAS No. 142 to provide that certain mineral use rights are considered tangible assets and that mineral use rights should be accounted for based on their substance. The FSP is effective for the first reporting period beginning after April 29, 2004, with early adoption permitted. As a result, Harmony has reclassified all of its mineral interests from Mineral interests and other intangible assets to Property, plant and equipment, not in its balance sheets and ceased amortization on exploration stage mineral interests on July 31, 2003. See note 2(m)(iv) to our consolidated financial statements.
The committee of the EITF is continuing its evaluation of mining industry accounting issues, which may have an impact on Harmony in the future.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Funding and treasury policies are managed centrally by Harmony. There are no legal or economic restrictions on the ability of Harmonys subsidiaries to transfer funds to Harmony. Harmony has generally funded its operations and its short-term and long-term liquidity requirements from (i) cash generated from operations, (ii) credit facilities and other borrowings and (iii) sales of equity securities.
Cash Resources
Operations
Net cash provided by operations is primarily affected by the quantities of gold sold, the gold price, the Rand-U.S. dollar exchange rate, cash costs per ounce and, in the case of the Australian operations, the Australian dollar-U.S. dollar exchange rate. A significant adverse change in one or more of these parameters could materially reduce cash provided by operations as a source of liquidity. Net cash utilized by operations was $90.9 million in fiscal 2004, as compared with cash generated of $152.6 million in fiscal 2003. This decrease is attributable primarily to higher costs due to the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar (which increased costs when translated into U.S. dollars), which more than offset increased gold sales from higher U.S. dollar denominated gold price. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Exchange Rate.
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Net cash provided by operations was $155.4 million in fiscal 2003, as compared with $161.9 million in fiscal 2002. This decrease was primarily attributable to higher costs due to the appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar (which increased costs when translated into U.S. dollars), which more than offset increased gold sales from higher U.S. dollar denominated gold price. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Exchange Rates. The decrease in cash provided by operations was also impacted by the $34.9 million increase in taxes paid and the $7.7 million increase in interest expense and a $23.9 million increase in working capital charges (which reflects changes in receivables, inventories and accounts payable).
Investing
Net cash generated by investing activities was $58.7 million in fiscal 2004, as compared with $230 million utilized in fiscal 2003. This change was due to the costs of acquiring subsidiaries, joint ventures, associates and other investments being $85.6 million in fiscal 2004, as opposed to $243.0 million in fiscal 2003, resulting in a decrease of $157.4 million. Also, the cash held by subsidiaries increased by $90.1 million, from $10.8 million on fiscal 2003 to $100.9 million in fiscal 2004. Proceeds on disposal of listed investments increased from $89.6 million in fiscal 2003 to $146.4 million in fiscal 2004, being a difference of $56.8 million, as well as an increase of $25.9 million for the disposal of mining assets also impacted on the cash generated. These increases were partially offset by an increase in capital expenditure of $13.1 million.
Net cash utilized in investing activities was $230.0 million in fiscal 2003, as compared with $312.8 million in fiscal 2002. This change was due to the costs of acquiring subsidiaries, joint ventures, associates and other investments in fiscal 2003 being $230.6 million versus $289.5 million in fiscal 2002, the increase of $73.5 million received as proceeds on the disposal of listed investments and an increase in capital expenditure of $42.9 million due principally to the development of new capital projects.
Financing
Net cash utilized by financing activities was $4.4 million in fiscal 2004, as compared to $155.1 million generated in fiscal 2003. This change was due primarily to a decrease of $59.7 million in the net long-term borrowing raised. Also, the lower number of ordinary shares issued in fiscal 2004 and the resulting proceeds decreasing from $151.3 in fiscal 2003 to $7.7 million in fiscal 2004 had an impact. This was partially offset by the decrease in dividends paid of $43.7 million.
Net cash generated by/in financing activities was $155.1 million in fiscal 2003, as compared with net cash generated by financing activities of $166.5 million in fiscal 2002. This decrease was due primarily to the lower number of ordinary shares issued in fiscal 2003 and the resulting proceeds decreasing from $159.6 million in fiscal 2003 to $151.3 million in fiscal 2003, the increase in the amount of net long-term financing from $29.5 million in fiscal 2002 to $102.5 million in fiscal 2003 and the increase in dividends paid from $22.6 million in fiscal 2002 to $98.6 million in fiscal 2003.
Outstanding Credit Facilities and Other Borrowings
On March 2, 2001, Harmony entered into a U.S. dollar denominated term loan facility of $9 million, all of which has been drawn down, with BAE Systems plc for the purpose of financing the design, development and construction of a facility for the manufacture and sale of value added gold products at the Free State operations. The loan is secured by a pledge of certain gold proceeds and other assets from this facility (and limits Harmonys ability to use the facility as security for other obligations) and is repayable in full on April 2, 2005. The loan bears interest at LIBOR plus 2%, which is accrued daily from the drawdown date and is repayable on a quarterly basis.
On June 16, 2001, Harmony issued Rand-denominated senior unsecured fixed rate bonds in an aggregate principal amount of Rand 1,200 million ($149.3 million at an exchange rate of R8.04 per $1.00), with semi-annual interest payable at a rate of 13% per annum. These bonds are repayable on June 14, 2006, subject to early redemption at Harmonys option. The bonds have been listed on the Bond Exchange of South Africa. Harmony used the proceeds from the sale of the bonds to retire a portion of a syndicated loan facility and to partially fund the Elandskraal acquisition. So long as the bonds are outstanding, Harmony may not permit encumbrances on its present or future assets or revenues to secure indebtedness for borrowed money, without securing the outstanding bonds equally with such indebtedness, except for certain specified permitted encumbrances.
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On July 30, 2003, Africa Vanguard Resources (Doornkop) (Proprietary) Limited (AVR) entered into a term loan facility of R116 million ($16 million) with Nedbank Limited for the purpose of partially funding AVRs purchase of an undivided 26% share of the Mining titles, to be contributed to the Doornkop joint venture with Randfontein. Interest at a fixed rate equal to JIBAR plus the applicable margin plus stamp duties and holding costs shall be repayable to the extent that the borrower received profit participation interest for the interest periods. Unpaid interest shall be capitalized and repaid with the loan amount. The loan amount and any interest accrued is repayable on July 30, 2008. Interest capitalized during the year ended June 30, 2004 amounted to $1.7 million.
On May 21, 2004 Harmony issued an international unsecured fixed rate convertible bond in an aggregate principal amount of Rand 1,700 million. Interest at a rate of 4.875% per annum is payable semi-annually in arrear on May 21 and November 21, of each year, commencing November 21, 2004. The bonds are convertible at the option of the Bondholders at any time on or after July 1, 2004 and up to and including May 15, 2009 unless previously redeemed, converted or purchased and cancelled, into fully paid ordinary shares, at nominal value Rand 0.50 per share. The bonds are listed on the London Stock Exchange for Bonds. Harmony issued the bonds to raise funds in order to refinance its domestic Rand debt. The terms and conditions of the bonds prohibit Harmony and its Material Subsidiaries from creating any encumbrance or security interest over any of its assets to secure any relevant debt (or any guarantee or indemnity in respect of any relevant debt) without according the same security to the Bondholders or without obtaining the prior approval of the Bondholders. Including in the amortization charge as per the income statement is R1 million (2003: R0 million) for amortization of the bond issue costs.
Recently Retired Credit Facilities and Other Borrowings
On April 18, 2002, Harmony entered into a Rand-denominated term loan facility of Rand 500 million ($76.7 million), all of which has been drawn down, with BoE Bank Limited for the purpose of partially funding (i) Harmonys acquisition of shares in the Free Gold Company and (ii) loans made by Harmony to the Free Gold Company in connection with the acquisition of the Free Gold assets. This facility was secured by a pledge of Harmonys shares in the Free Gold Company and is guaranteed by Randfontein, Evander, Kalgold and Lydex. The loan was repayable in full on April 23, 2006, and eight equal semi-annual installments are due beginning October 23, 2002. The loan bore interest at a rate equal to JIBAR plus 1.5% plus specified costs, which is accrued daily from the drawdown date and was payable quarterly in arrears commencing July 23, 2002. Pursuant to the terms of this facility, Harmony was required to maintain specified ratios of earnings to debt service and borrowings, as well as a specified level of consolidated tangible net worth. In addition, pursuant to this facility, Harmony was subject to specified limits on its ability to (i) permit encumbrances over pledged revenues or assets, (ii) make loans or incur specified types of indebtedness, (iii) dispose of more than 25% of its assets or (iv) make distributions to its shareholders if a default or event of default under this term loan facility has occurred and is continuing. Harmony settled this loan in full on May 28, 2004.
On May 8, 2003, Harmony entered into a Rand-denominated term loan facility of Rand 850 million ($130.4 million), all of which has been drawn down, with Nedbank Limited for the purpose of funding Harmonys acquisition of 17.25% of the outstanding share capital of ARM. This facility was guaranteed by Randfontein, Evander, Kalgold and Lydex. The loan was repayable in full on November 8, 2004. The loan bore interest at a rate equal to 3 months JIBAR plus 1.5% plus specified costs, which was accrued daily from the drawdown date and is payable quarterly in arrears. Harmony settled this loan in full on June 30, 2004.
Sales of Equity Securities
Historically, sales of Harmonys equity securities have included subscriptions by investors in Harmonys ordinary shares. On June 20, 2001, the IDC completed subscriptions for Harmonys ordinary shares and preference shares that resulted in Simane acquiring 10,958,982 ordinary shares. Harmony received aggregate consideration for these subscriptions of approximately $39.4 million, as described in this annual report, which was used to retire a portion of the $260 million syndicated loan facility described above and for general corporate purposes. See Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions. (Follow up on correctness hereof)
On June 29, 2001, Harmony completed a global offering of 27,082,500 ordinary shares and ADSs and 9,027,500 warrants to purchase 9,027,500 ordinary shares, in each case in the United States and elsewhere. The ordinary shares were offered at a price of $5.32 or R43.00 per ordinary share, or $5.32 per ADS. Investors received one warrant for every three ordinary shares (or ADSs) they purchased. The net proceeds of the offering to Harmony were approximately $137.6 million, after deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses. Harmony used these net proceeds to retire much of the syndicated loan facility entered into on March 22, 2001, to make capital expenditures and to fund working capital.
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Of the 9,027,500 warrants issued, 1,014,054 warrants were converted during fiscal 2002, with some of the warrants being converted and the remaining warrants having expired during fiscal 2003. Harmony used the proceeds received from the conversion of the warrants to fund working capital.
On January 16, 2002 Harmony converted its preference shares and 10,958,904 ordinary shares were issued.
On May 6, 2002, Harmony completed an international private placement of 8,500,000 new ordinary shares for a cash price of $12.92 per share, realizing proceeds of approximately $109.9 million prior to the deduction of underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses. Harmony used the net proceeds of this placement to retire the ANZ loan and the $80 million syndicated loan facility with Citibank, N.A., as lead arranger.
On February 3, 2003, Harmony completed an international private placement of 8,000,000 new ordinary shares for a cash price of $15.50 per share, realizing proceeds of approximately $124.2 million prior to the deduction of underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses. Harmony plans to use the net proceeds of this placement to fund various growth projects.
On July 21, 2003 Harmony issued 6,960,964 ordinary shares at R92.75 in exchange for Avgold shares.
On September 22, 2003 Harmony issued 63,666,672 ordinary shares at R111.20 in exchange for ARMgold shares to acquire the entire shareholding in ARMgold.
On May 3, 2004 Harmony issued 28,630,526 ordinary shares to ARM Limited in exchange for Avgold shares to acquire a 42.2% holding in Avgold. A further 33,574,367.00 ordinary shares were issued on May 17, 2004 and May 20, 2004 to acquire the remaining shareholding of the Avgold minorities.
Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments
Harmonys contractual obligations and commercial commitments consist primarily of credit facilities, as described above, and guarantees for environmental rehabilitation expenses, principally environmental performance bonds required for Harmonys Australian operations, as described in Item 4. Information on the Company Regulation Environmental Matters.
Contractual Obligations on the Balance Sheet
The following table summarizes Harmonys contractual obligations as of June 30, 2004:
Payments Due by Period |
||||||||||||||||||||
Less than | ||||||||||||||||||||
12 months | 12-36 Months | 36-60 Months | After | |||||||||||||||||
July 1, 2004 | July 1, 2005 | July 1, 2007 | 60 Months | |||||||||||||||||
to | to | to | Subsequent | |||||||||||||||||
Dollars in thousands |
Total |
June 30, 2005 |
June 30, 2007 |
June 30, 2009 |
June 30, 2009 |
|||||||||||||||
Senior unsecured fixed-rate
bonds1 |
192,616 | | 192,616 | | | |||||||||||||||
BoE Bank Limited loan facility1 |
47,352 | 23,676 | 23,676 | | | |||||||||||||||
BAE Systems plc loan facility1 |
9,000 | 9,000 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Post retirement health care2 |
1,584 | 222 | 412 | 428 | 522 | |||||||||||||||
Environmental obligations3 |
125,917 | 29,603 | | 6,831 | 89,483 | |||||||||||||||
Total contractual obligations |
376,469 | 62,501 | 216,704 | 7,259 | 90,005 | |||||||||||||||
1 | See Item 5. Op.erating and Financial Review and Prospects Liquidity and Capital Resources Credit Facilities and Other Borrowings Outstanding Credit Facilities and Other Borrowings. |
2 | This liability relates to post-retirement medical benefits of former employees who retired prior to December 31, 1996 and is based on actuarial valuations conducted during fiscal 2002. |
3 | Harmony makes provision for environmental rehabilitation costs and related liabilities based on managements interpretations of current environmental and regulatory requirements. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Critical Accounting Policies. |
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Contractual Obligations off the Balance Sheet
The following table summarizes Harmonys obligation with regards to operating leases:
Payment Due by Period |
||||||||||||||||||||
Less than | After | |||||||||||||||||||
12 Months | 12-36 Months | 36-60 Months | 60 Months | |||||||||||||||||
July 1, 2004 | July 1, 2005 | July 1, 2007 | Subsequent | |||||||||||||||||
to | to | to | to | |||||||||||||||||
Total | June 30, 2005 | June 30, 2007 | June 30, 2009 | June 30, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||
($000) |
($000) |
($000) |
($000) |
($000) |
||||||||||||||||
Melrose Arch, South Africa |
36 | 36 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Perth Office, Australia |
712 | 178 | 534 | | | |||||||||||||||
Peru Office |
32 | 19 | 13 | | | |||||||||||||||
Peru flat |
20 | 12 | 18 | | | |||||||||||||||
800 | 245 | 555 | | | ||||||||||||||||
The following table sets forth our authorized capital expenditure as of June 30, 2004:
Capital Expenditure |
$000 |
|||
Authorized and contracted for |
12,442 | |||
Authorized but not yet contracted for |
670,878 | |||
683,320 | ||||
Commercial Commitments
The following table provides details regarding Harmonys commercial commitments as of June 30, 2004:
Amount of Commitments Expiring by Period |
||||||||||||||||||||
Less than | After | |||||||||||||||||||
12 Months | 12-36 Months | 36-60 Months | 60 Months | |||||||||||||||||
July 1, 2004 | July 1, 2005 | July 1, 2007 | Subsequent | |||||||||||||||||
to | to | to | to | |||||||||||||||||
Total | June 30, 2005 | June 30, 2007 | June 30, 2009 | June 30, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||
($000) |
($000) |
($000) |
($000) |
($000) |
||||||||||||||||
Guarantees1 |
18,889 | | | | 18,889 | |||||||||||||||
Capital commitments2 |
12,442 | 12,442 | | | | |||||||||||||||
Total commitments expiring
by period |
31,331 | 12,442 | | | 18,889 | |||||||||||||||
1 | Reflects guarantees for environmental rehabilitation expenses, principally environmental performance bonds required for Harmonys Australian operations. See Item 4. Information on the Company Regulation Environmental Matters. |
2 | Capital commitments consist only of amounts committed to external suppliers, although a total of $683.3 million has been approved by the Board for capital expenditures. |
Trend Information
Information on recent trends in Harmonys operations is discussed in Item 4. Information on the Company Business Strategy and Results of Operations above.
Working Capital and Anticipated Financing Needs
The Board believes that Harmonys working capital resources, by way of cash generated from operations and existing cash on hand, are sufficient to meet Harmonys present working capital needs. Harmony expects that its
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business requirements through June 30, 2005 will be financed from internal resources and existing borrowings. For more information on Harmonys planned capital expenditures, see Capital Expenditures above and Item 4. Information on the Company Business Harmonys Mining Operations. Harmony may, in the future, explore debt and/or equity financing in connection with its acquisition strategy and/or major capital projects. See Item 3. Key Information Risk Factors Harmonys strategy depends on its ability to make additional acquisitions. Harmonys Board believes that Harmony will have access to adequate financing on reasonable terms given Harmonys cash-based operations and modest leverage. Harmonys ability to generate cash from operations could, however, be materially adversely affected by increases in cash costs, decreases in production, decreases in the price of gold and appreciation of the Rand against the U.S. dollar. In addition, Harmonys ability to obtain additional financing could be limited by covenants in the term loan facility of April 18, 2002 between Harmony and BoE Bank Limited, which imposes debt to earnings ratios and minimum net worth requirements and prevents Harmony from pledging, selling or creating encumbrances over pledged assets including Harmonys shares of the Free Gold Company. Access to financing could also be limited by provisions of Harmonys corporate bonds, under which Harmony may not permit encumbrances on its present or future assets or revenues to secure indebtedness for borrowed money, without securing the outstanding bonds equally and ratably with such indebtedness, except for certain specified permitted encumbrances. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects Liquidity and Capital Resources Credit Facilities and Other Borrowings Outstanding Credit Facilities and Other Borrowings. Future financing arrangements would also be subject to the limits on the Boards borrowing powers described in Item 10. Description of Ordinary Shares Memorandum and Articles of Association Directors Borrowing Powers. In addition, South African companies are subject to significant exchange control limitations, which may impair Harmonys ability to fund overseas operations or guarantee credit facilities entered into by overseas subsidiaries. See Item 10. Additional Information Exchange Controls and Other Limitations Affecting Security Holders.
OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Export Sales
In fiscal 2004, all of Harmonys gold produced in South Africa was refined by Harmony. All of Harmonys gold produced in Australia in fiscal 2004 was sold to AGR Matthey, a Perth-based refinery. In fiscal 2003, approximately 85% of Harmonys gold produced in South Africa was refined by Harmony and exported, and the remainder was refined at the Rand Refinery, which is owned by a consortium of the major gold producers in South Africa. In fiscal 2002, approximately 65% of Harmonys gold produced in South Africa was refined by Harmony and exported, and approximately 76% of Harmonys gold produced in Australia was exported.
Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees
DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT
The members of the Board, their principal past affiliations, information on their business experiences and principal outside activities and selected other information are set forth below:
Executive Directors
Bernard Swanepoel (43) BSc (Mining Engineering), B Com (Hons), Chief Executive Officer and an Executive Director. Bernard Swanepoel started his career with Gengold in 1983, culminating in his appointment as general manager of Beatrix Mines in 1993. He joined Randgold in 1995 as Managing Director of Harmony. For the past 8 years, Bernard has led the team behind the companys growth and acquisition initiatives. Harmony today boasts a substantial reserve base in excess of 60 million ounces, a production base making it the 6th largest gold producer in the world, and a healthy pipeline of quality growth projects which will ensure the companys future. Bernard is the Chairman of Abelle Limited, he serves on the Board of Directors of ARM Limited, he is a Non-Executive member of the Sanlam Board of Directors and the Vice-President of the South African Chamber of Mines.
Ferdi Dippenaar (42), BCom, BProc, MBA, Marketing Director and an Executive Director. Ferdi started his career at the Buffelsfontein gold mine in 1983 and completed his degrees through part-time studies while employed in various financial and administrative capacities at the Gengold mines. In 1996, he became managing director of Grootvlei and of East Rand Proprietary Mines. Following Harmonys acquisition of Grootvlei and Cons Modder, he was appointed Marketing Director of Harmony in 1997. He oversees Harmonys direct marketing activities as well as the companys investor relations program.
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Ted Grobicki (54), BSc (Hons) (Geology) MSc (Minerals Exploration) PrSciNat, FIMM, Executive Officer for Harmonys Australian operations and an Executive Director. After fulfilling various roles within mining and exploration companies in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, Ted was appointed chief executive of Texas Gulf Inc South Africa in 1979. He has since served at a senior executive level in a wide range of public and private companies in the mining sector and was appointed as non-executive director of Harmony in 1994. With Harmonys merger with Kalgold and West Rand Cons in 1999, he was appointed as executive director focusing on new business. Ted has 30 years experience in all aspects of the mining industry, including exploration, evaluation, development, mine management and financial and corporate management. He oversees Harmonys Australian operations.
Mangisi Gule (52), BA (Hons) and an Executive Director. Mangisi has extensive experience in the field of Management, Training and Human Resources, Communications and Corporate Affairs. He is a member of various professional and executive associations. Apart from having qualifications in Business Management from Wits Business School, Mangisi has extensive experience in Leadership, Mentoring, Management, Training and Human Resources. He has been a principal Lecturer, Chairman of various professional bodies, member of various executive committees, external examiner for the then Department of Education and Training (DET). He also has valuable experience in Communications having worked extensively with both Print and Electronic Media when he was an Executive Director, Human Resources and Communications with ARMgold before merging with Harmony.
Nomfundo Qangule (38), B Comm, B Comm (Hons) CTA, CA (SA), Member of CAIB (SA) and appointed as the Financial Director of Harmony on July 26, 2004. Prior to joining Harmony, Nomfundo was the Executive Manager of Worldwide African Investment Holdings (Pty) Ltd. She was one of the executive committee members of WAIH, responsible for providing strategic direction to the company. Some of the other positions Nomfundo held whilst at Worldwide include that of chairperson of the board of directors of Argil Holdings (Pty) Ltd. Nomfundo was also a non-executive director of CS Holdings Limited where she served as a Remuneration Committee member, Audit Committee member, as well as an Investment Committee member. In addition she was an Executive Committee member and Non Executive Director of Negotiated Benefits Consultants (Pty) Ltd. She worked in the Corporate and International Division of Nedcor Bank Limited as a Credit Manager. Later she joined ABSA Corporate and Merchant Banks credit division. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant, a member of the Institute of Bankers and holds a certificate in financial markets from Acumen. Nomfundo obtained her B Comm degree from Rhodes University and completed her B Compt (Hons) CTA through Unisa.
Dan Simelane (42) BA, LLB, LLM and an Executive Director. Dan Simelane has seven years legal experience and acted as legal advisor to Avmin Limited (now ARM) and the Swaziland Electricity Board. He has extensive tax experience and was a senior tax consultant with Arthur Andersen. Dan joined Harmony on September 23, 2003, following the ARMgold merger and resigned as executive director of Harmony on April 21, 2004 to explore other business opportunities.
Pieter Taljaard (57) BCom, B Iur, CMA and an Executive Director. Pieter has 33 years experience in commerce, 25 of which have been in the mining industry. His mining career commenced in 1977 with Gencor Limited (Gencor), where he worked in the finance department of Gengold Limited, a subsidiary of Gencor. He was subsequently appointed as a senior manager and director/alternate director to a number of companies controlled by Gencor. These included, amongst others, Buffelsfontein Gold Mining Company Limited (Buffelsfontein), Stilfontein Gold Mining Company Limited; Beatrix Gold Mines Limited (Beatrix) and Barberton Mines Limited. He assisted in creating the tax structure between Buffelsfontein and Beatrix and formed part of a team that investigated and recommended future management information systems at Gengold Limited. Pieter then chaired the committee responsible for implementing these systems at Gengold. He joined ARMgold in 1997 as financial director. Pieter joined Harmony on September 23, 2003, following the ARMgold merger and resigned on March 4, 2004 to join ARM Platinum, a subsidiary of ARM Limited, as an executive director, and he subsequently retired.
Andre Wilkens (55), Mine Overseers Certificate of Competency, Mine Managers Certificate of Competency, Chamber of Mines Loss Control Diploma, Risk Management Certificate (Insurance), MDP and an Executive Director. Andre has 33 years mining experience. He commenced his career in 1969 as a trainee miner. He was then promoted to mine manager at the Vaal Reefs West mine in 1994 and was appointed mine manager of the Vaal Reefs South mine in 1996. Before joining ARMgold in 1998, he served as manager of North Operations (Vaal Reefs) and the managing director of Naledi Mining Services, then a wholly-owned subsidiary of Vaal Reefs. Andre has a successful mining and management track record of turning around marginal mines into profitable ones. He also played a leading role in determining new operating methods for South African mines. Andre was appointed chief executive officer of African Rainbow Minerals Gold in 1998, a position he held until the merger with Harmony. Andre joined Harmony on September 23, 2003, following the ARMgold merger and resigned on March 4, 2004 to join ARM Platinum, a subsidiary of ARM Limited, as an executive director.
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Non-Executive Directors
Patrice Motsepe (42) BA (Legal), LLB, Non-executive Director. Founder and former Executive Chairman of ARMgold which merged with Harmony in 2003. Patrice is now Harmonys non-executive Chairman. In 2002 he was voted South Africas Entrepreneur of the Year. In the same year, he was voted by the CEOs of the top 100 companies in South Africa as South Africas Business Leader of the year. Patrice has significant entrepreneurial expertise and knowledge of the new business environment in South Africa and is central in helping to steer Harmony to grow and be competitive. Patrice was a partner specializing in mining and business law at Bowman Gilfillan Inc., a leading South African law firm. He was employed for approximately 4 years by McGuire Woods LLP, a law firm in Richmond, Virginia, USA. He was initially based in Richmond and thereafter moved to South Africa where he was their legal consultant for their Southern Africa legal practice. In 1994, he founded Future Mining (Proprietary) Limited which grew rapidly to become a competitive contract mining company. In 1998 he founded African Rainbow Minerals (Proprietary) Limited which became ARMgold, and was successfully listed on the JSE in 2002. In 2001, he founded African Rainbow Minerals Platinum (Proprietary) Limited and ARM Mining Consortium Limited which entered into a 50/50 joint venture with Anglo American Platinum Corporation Limited for the establishment of a new mine. He was Senior Vice President of the Chamber of Mines and is a Global Leader of Tomorrow of the World Economic Forum (WEF). He is a member of the National Economic Development and Labor Council (NEDLAC), which is South Africas primary institution for social dialogue between organized business, government, labor and community on issues of social and economic policy. He is currently the President of the first non-racial, united and recognized business organization in South Africa, namely Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), which is the voice of business in South Africa, as well as President of the first non-racial, united and recognized organization representing the various chambers of commerce and industry in South Africa, namely Chambers of Commerce and Industry South Africa (CHAMSA). Patrice is a non-executive director of ABSA Bank and non-executive deputy chairman of Sanlam Limited. Patrice is also the Chief Executive and Chairman of ARM Limited.
Frank Abbott (49), BCom, CA(SA), MBL, Non-Executive Director. Frank joined the Rand Mines/Barlow Rand Group in 1981, where he obtained broad financial management experience at operational level. He was appointed as financial controller to the newly formed Randgold in 1992 and was promoted to financial director of that group in October 1994. Until 1997, he was also a director or the gold mining companies Blyvooruitzicht, Buffelsfontein, Durban Roodepoort Deep and East Rand Proprietary Mines and a non-executive director of Harmony, which culminated in his appointment as financial director of Harmony in the same year. Following the ARM Limited/ARMI transaction, it was agreed by the Board that Frank be appointed as Financial Director of ARM Limited and remains on Harmonys board as non-executive director due to his skills and expertise.
Dr. Manana Bakane-Tuoane (56) PhD, BA, MA and an independent Non-Executive Director. Dr. Bakane-Tuoane has extensive experience in the economic disciplines as lecturer and professor at the University of Fort Hare, Eastern Cape. She has held various senior management positions in the public service and currently holds the post of Director General in the North-West Provincial Government. Dr. Bakane-Tuoane was appointed to the Advisory Board of the African Economic Research Consortium, Nairobi, Kenya, in 2000. Dr. Bakane-Tuoane was appointed a Non-Executive Director of the Company on September 23, 2003, following the ARMgold merger and resigned on April 21, 2004 to join ARM Limited as a non-executive director.
Nolitha Fakude (39), BA (Hons) (Psychology, Education and English) and an independent Non-Executive Director. Nolitha has been a director of Harmony since September 2002. Nolitha Fakude is the Managing Director of the Black Management Forum (BMF). Nolitha serves on various boards, including BMF Investment Company, The Peoples Bank, Business Partners as well as Wheat Trust. Nolitha was recently appointed by the Gauteng MEC for Economic Affairs as one of the Rainmakers for the Blue IQ project. She is also an Executive Director of Nedcor Limited.
Adam Richard Fleming (56), Non-Executive Chairman of the Board and an independent Non-Executive Director until September 22, 2003, on which date he resigned as chairman and director of the Company. Adam had been a Director and the Chairman of Harmony since October 14, 1999. Adam was the non-executive chairman of West Rand Consolidated Mines Limited and of Kalgold before the acquisition of these companies by Harmony.
Michael Wallis King (67) CA (SA), FCA and an independent Non-Executive Director. Michael began his career as a Chartered Accountant (SA) with Deloitte, Plender, Griffiths, Annan & Co. (now Deloitte & Touche) and qualified as a Chartered Accountant (SA). He later became a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (FCA). In 1961, he joined the Merchant Bank, Union Acceptances Limited, (now Nedcor Investment Bank Limited), where he was involved in corporate finance, including corporate fund raising, mergers, takeovers
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and company floatations. He was appointed secretary in 1964, Assistant General Manager in 1968, General Manager in 1970 and Deputy Managing Director until 1974. Michael then joined Anglo American Corporation of South Africa as a Manager in the Finance division. In 1979, he became Director of Anglo American Corporation and in 1980, an Executive Director and Head of its Finance Division. In 1997, he was appointed Executive Deputy Chairman of Anglo American Corporation. Michael was the Executive Vice Chairman of Anglo American plc, the company created when Minorco and Anglo American Corporation were combined in May 1999, until his retirement in May 2001. Michael was appointed a Non-Executive Director of the Company on September 23, 2003, following the ARMgold merger and resigned on April 21, 2004 to join ARM Limited as a non-executive director.
Dr Simo Lushaba (38), BSc (Advanced Biochemistry), MBA, DBA and an independent non-executive Director. Simo has been a director of Harmony since October 2002. Simo also serves as non-executive Chairman of PIKITUP Johannesburg (Pty) Limited and as a non-executive director of Trans-Caledon Tunnel Agency (TCTA). He is currently the Chief Executive of Rand Water.
Rick Menell (48) MA, MSc and deputy non-executive chairman of Harmony. Trained as a geologist, Rick has been a merchant banker in New York and Melbourne. He also worked as an executive director of Delta Gold in Australia. He joined ARM Limited in February 1992 as assistant financial manager, mines. He was later appointed manager, finance and administration (mines) and then general manager, corporate services. Rick was appointed managing director of ARM Limited in 1996 and in 1999 was elected president of the Chamber of Mines of South Africa. He is also chairman of the South African Tourism Board, a director of the Standard Bank Group Limited, Telkom Limited and Mutual & Federal Insurance Company Limited and a trustee of the National Business Trust. Since 2002 to April 2004 Rick was appointed as chairman of ARM Limited. Following the transaction with ARM Limited during April 2004 he was appointed as Harmonys deputy chairman.
Modise Motloba (38) (BSc), Diploma in Strategic Management, Baruch College, New York and appointed an independent Non-Executive Director of Harmony on July 30, 2004. Modise started his career with Rand Merchant Bank in 1993 as a trainee in the treasury division were he progressed to be the Money Markets Dealer and Risk Manager. He then moved on African Merchant Bank in 1998 as the Head of Money Markets Division. In 2000 he was employed by African Harvest Fund Managers as the Fixed Interest Portfolio Manager & Treasury Specialist. He then worked as a Structured Debt and Equity Markets Specialist, focusing on Risk Management, Debt Securitisation and Pension Fund Solutions within the firm. He is the former President of the Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals (ABSIP) and he led ABSIP and the Black Business Council in formulating the Financial Sector Charter with other industry bodies such as the Banking Council, Life Officers Association and the JSE Securities Exchange. Modise is the recipient of the prestigious 2003 Black Business Quarterly Investment Specialist Award which recognizes a leader who made a lasting contribution in the investments arena and broader financial and economic landscape. Modise is a member of the South African Financial Markets Board and member of the Standing Committee on the Revision of the Banks Act 1990, under the auspices of the Ministry of Finance. He is also a council member of the NAFCOC/Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) Unity Committee. He is a director of companies including Wealthridge Investments, Uthajiri Investments and Africa Vukani Investment Management Services.
Dr Morley Nkosi (69) PhD (Economics), MBA, BS (Economics), an independent Non-Executive Director. Apart from being an academic. economist and businessman, Dr Nkosi is the managing associate of Morley Nkosi Associates. He serves on several boards including that of lnvestec Bank Limited and was recently appointed as Chairman of Ferrostaal Investments South Africa (FERISA).
Lord Renwick of Clifton KCMG (66), an independent Non-Executive Director. Lord Renwick has been a director of Harmony since December 1999. Having formerly served as British Ambassador to South Africa and the United States, Lord Renwick is Vice Chairman, Investment Banking, of JPMorgan plc. He is also Chairman of Flour Limited and serves on the boards of a number of other public companies including British Airways, SABMiller plc and Richemont.
Mike Pleming (68), Pr Eng. FIMM and an independent Non-Executive Director. Mr Pleming has been a director of Harmony since September 1998. Mike started his career in mining engineering on the Zambian Copperbelt. He joined TransNatal (now Ingwe) in 1975 as general manager of Optimum Collieries and was later appointed project manager and consulting engineer. He joined Liberty Asset Management in 1982 where he was responsible for mining investment research. He retired in 1995 and has since undertaken a series of mining investment-related assignments. Following Harmonys acquisition of Evander in 1998, he joined the company as a non-executive director. He is also a director of Impala Platinum Holdings Limited. Mike has approximately 31 years mining and approximately 15 years mining investment experience.
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Cedric Savage (65) BSc Eng, MBA, ISMP, an independent Non-Executive Director. Cedric commenced his career in the United Kingdom in 1960 as a graduate engineer with Fairey Aviation and in 1963 returned to South Africa where he worked in the oil (Mobil), textile (Felt & Textiles) and the chicken (Rainbow Chickens Limited) industries. In 1993/1994, he was appointed President of the South African Chamber of Business. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of Governors on the Natal University Development Foundation and as a member of Council of the University of Natal. He joined the Tongaat-Hulett Group in 1977 as Managing Director of Tongaat Foods and thereafter progressed to Executive Chairman of the Building Materials Division, Chief Executive Officer of The Tongaat-Hulett Group Limited in 1991 and in May 2000, he assumed the dual roles of Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman. He is currently non-executive chairman of the Tongaat-Hulett Group and serves on a number of other Boards.
Dr. Sibusiso Sibisi (49) BSc (Hons), PhD, an independent Non-Executive Director. Dr. Sibisis working career commenced in 1983 in the software development industry with MEDC Limited, Cambridge, UK. His career developed to that of Systems Engineer at IBM(SA); Lecturer and senior lecturer (Wits) and Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research (University of Cape Town). He spent 1988 as a Fulbright Fellow at the California Institute of Technology where he collaborated with eminent researchers in computational chemistry and the development of associated medical diagnosis tools. In 1989, he took up a research position at Cambridge where he consolidated his academic research in mathematical modeling and computational simulations to environmental, geophysical and biomedical problems to develop solutions. This evolved to the formation of a start-up company dedicated to providing consulting services to Glaxo, Welcome, Fisons, Shell and Mobil. He entered the corporate world in 1997 as Executive Director of Plessey (SA), with the responsibility of managing and directing research and development in telecommunication technologies. As chairperson of the National Advisory Council on Innovations, he is involved in making recommendations on research and innovation policy to the government. Dr Sibisi is the chief executive of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Dr Sibisi was appointed a Non-Executive Director of the Company on September 23, 2003, following the ARMgold merger and resigned on April 21, 2004 to join ARM Limited as a non-executive director.
Dr. Rejoice Simelane (52) BCom, MCom, PhD, an independent Non-Executive Director. Dr. Simelanes career commenced as a lecturer at the University of Swaziland where she lectured from 1978 to 1997 on Development Economics, Microeconomic and Macroeconomic Theory, Research Methods, Mathematical Economics, Econometrics, Economic Planning and Economic Integration. She then joined the Department of Trade and Industry as a macroeconomist and later joined the National Treasury as a microeconomist (public utility regulation and pricing) before joining the Premiers Office in the Mpumalanga Province as an Economic Advisor. Dr Simelane was appointed a Non-Executive Director of the Company on September 23, 2003, following the ARMgold merger and resigned on April 21, 2004 to join ARM Limited as a non-executive director.
Max Sisulu (58) MPA, MSc, and an independent Non-Executive Director. Max was appointed as Director of Harmony in August 2003. Max is currently the General Manager at Sasol and prior to that held the position of deputy chief executive officer at Denel, a post he held since November 1998. From 2001 to 2003 he was the Chairperson of the South African Aerospace, Maritime and Defence Industries. He is also a council member of the Human Sciences Research Council and a member of the Premier of the Free States Economic Advisory Council. From 1977 to 1981 Max served as the ANC representative in Hungary and was South Africas representative in the World Federation of Democratic Youth. In January 1995 he was elected to the National Executive Committee and National Working Committee of the ANC. From 1986, he helped establish the ANC economics department and was instrumental in developing the ANCs economic policy. In 1990 he spearheaded the drafting of the ANCs first policy statement on the environment. From 1992 to 1993 Sisulu completed a Masters degree in Public Administration at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in the U.S. He returned to South Africa in September 1993 and took up the post of Director of the National Institute of Economic Policy until he became a member of parliament in 1994. Max resigned on April 21, 2004 to join ARM Limited as a non-executive director.
John Smithies (58), BSc (Mining Engineering), (Chemistry), an independent Non-Executive Director. John has been a Director of Harmony since April 2002 until September 22, 2003, on which date he resigned as non-executive director of the Company. John has approximately 29 years of experience in the mining industry. From 1973 1976 he worked in the gold division of Union Corporation. From 1976 2001, he held various positions at Impala Platinum Holdings Limited, including consulting engineer from 1996 1999, Operations Director from 1999 2000, and Chief Executive Officer from 2000 2001.
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Secretary
Marian van der Walt (31) BCom (Law), LLB, Higher Diploma in Tax, Diploma in Insolvency Law and the Company Secretary of Harmony. Marian has eight years of legal experience and was appointed as Secretary on February 3, 2003. She completed her Articles at Routledges Modise Attorneys and was admitted as an attorney and conveyancer in 1998. She then joined Deloitte and Touche as Insolvency Practitioner/Administrator. Prior to joining Harmony, she held the positions of Legal Advisor, Credit Manager and Structured Finance Consultant at The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited in the Commercial Properties Division. Marian plays a pivotal role in the achievement of good corporate governance and the Board has empowered her accordingly.
Senior Management
The members of Harmonys senior management, their principal past affiliations, information on their business experiences and principal outside activities and selected other information are set forth below:
Dr Vaughan Armstrong (50), BSc (Hons), PhD. Vaughan has served on the executive committee, responsible for Harmonys worldwide exploration activities, since October 1999. Vaughan is a geologist with 23 years experience in all aspects of exploration, evaluation and the development of mineral projects. He started his career with Rio Tinto South Africa and was appointed exploration manager in 1985. In 1988, he formed a junior exploration company, which was incorporated into West Rand Consolidated Mines four years later. He was the explorations director of West Rand Consolidated Mines and Kalgold prior to their merger with Harmony. Following the restructuring within the company, Vaughan was retrenched in April 2004, but stayed on as a consultant to Harmony until the end of September,2004.
Bob Atkinson (52), NHD (Metalliferous Mining). Bob was the Chief Operating Officer at Harmony Gold Australia and is now Executive, Sustainable Development at Harmony in South Africa. He has more than 30 years experience in the mining industry. He joined Harmony as production manager in 1986 and served as Operations Manager on the executive committee from June 2001 to May 2003.
Graham Briggs (50), BSc (Hons) (Geology). Graham has approximately 30 years experience in the mining industry. Graham joined Harmony as New Business Manager in 1995 and is currently the Country Manager for Papua New Guinea. Graham started his geological career as a field assistant in 1972 and had exposure to various exploration projects. Before attending university, Graham spent most of his time on gold exploration in the Free State. At Gengold he spent time on various mines including Buffelsfontein, West Rand Consolidated, Grootvlei and ended his career with Gengold as an Ore Reserve Manager at Beatrix. Graham has occupied a varied career in Harmony including a 20 month period in Canada, but as a core focus area has concentrated on matters related to ore reserve management.
John Sembie Danana (47), B. Journalism, B.A. (Hons), MBA. Sembie has served on the executive committee, responsible for health and safety transformation since May 2002. Prior to joining Harmony he served in various positions at LTA Construction, including General Manager: Investments, General Manager: Fastfloor Systems, General Manager: New Business Development and Commercial Manager for the N3 Toll Concession. He is the Chairman of Pretoria Technikon Council and a Divisional Board Member of Petronet. Following the restructuring within the company, Sembie was retrenched during March 2004.
Lewies Fourie (56) NHD, Mine Managers Certificate, MDP. Lewies is a member of Harmonys executive committee and is responsible for Business Engineering. Lewies joined Harmony in October 2003 following the merger with ARMgold. Prior to joining Harmony he was an Executive Director of ARMgold responsible for Business Engineering. Lewies has 34 years experience in the mining industry, with his career commencing at Anglo Americans Gold and Uranium Division. He was selected as a group study exchange student, rotary, to Hawaii and the USA. Thereafter, he served as managing director of Fraser, Alexander Mining Services (Proprietary) Limited and joined Shaft Sinkers in 1991 before joining ARMgold in 1998. His expertise includes project management, backfill, high speed treble shift development, contract management and marketing. Lewies was retrenched during the restructuring procedures in July 2004.
Yusuf Jardien (41), ICSA, PMD (UCT). Yusuf has served on the executive committee, responsible for Business Process, Information Technology and Change Management. He has more than 20 years of information technology experience and has served as an executive at 3M South Africa and Unibank, responsible for information technology and logistics.
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Tracey Jonkheid (34), B.A. Communication (Hons) (cum laude), MBA. Tracey has served as Harmonys internal strategist on a full-time basis since May 2002, in which capacity she advises the executive committee on implementing and integrating initiatives for internal change. She fulfilled this role as an external consultant on a part-time basis for 18 months prior to May 2002. Her background is in the advertising industry where she has worked as a strategist at four of South Africas largest advertising agencies. Tracey is married to Bernard Swanepoel.
Philip Kotze (44), GDE, NHD (Metalliferous Mining). Philip currently serves on the executive committee as Business Coach. Philip started his career with Anglovaal in 1981 as a learner official. In 1985 he joined Anglogold and was involved in a number of projects. He progressed to the level of mine manager and was instrumental in improving productivity and reducing costs during these periods. He joined Kalgold in 1996, where he served as director and was responsible for operations. In 1999, Philip joined Harmony, following Harmonys acquisition of Kalgold.
Mohamed Madhi (39), BSc (Electrical and Electronic Engineering), MSc (Engineering),MBA. Mohamed has served as Harmonys corporate strategist since August 2001. He has been a director and Operational Board member of the CSIR, head of Eskoms Capital Investment Program, head of South Africas Presidential Year 2000 Task Team, Chief Executive of Cell Point Systems and has served as an adviser to several large corporations and governments of developing countries. Mohamed was formerly the African Commissioner on the Global Information Infrastructure where he advised on telecommunications and information technology policy. Aside from his executive leadership experience he has qualifications and expertise in Strategic Decision Simulation, Complex Systems Theory, Economic Development Modeling and Innovation Management.
Jackie Mathebula (35), B.Admin (Hons), MBA. Jackie joined Harmony in September 2002 as an employee relations and industrial relations executive. Prior to joining Harmony he was a general human resources manager for Gensec Bank, a human resources manager for the Gold Fields Limited Group and occupied various positions within the then Iscor Group. He also worked for the South African government in the Gazankulu Public Service Commission.
Andrew Matube (59), BA, LLB. Andrew joined Harmony in October 2003 following the merger with ARMgold. Prior to joining Harmony he was Executive Director (Legal) of ARMgold. Andrew is an admitted attorney and Human Resource Consultant. He has extensive experience in the public and private sectors, specializing in corporate and commercial law.
Amanda Matthee (45) BCompt, BCom (Hons), CA(SA), AEP. Amanda joined Harmony in October 2003 following the merger with ARMgold. She was a member of the Executive Committee and was responsible for the supply chain and payroll. She was voluntary retrenched on August 31, 2004.
Khetiwe McClain (40), BA (Fine Arts). Khetiwe joined Harmony in 2002 and is responsible for social plans and beneficiation strategies required by the Mining Charter. Prior to joining Harmony, Khetiwe served as a liaison for transformation of the mining industry and a manager of the beneficiation project at the South African Ministry of Minerals and Energy. She has also worked as a market research analyst in the trade and political sections of the South African Embassy in Rome. Khetiwe obtained her BA, Fine Arts in Italy. She was voluntary retrenched on August 31, 2004.
Peter McKenna (53), BSc (Hons), PrSciNat. Peter is currently responsible for Harmonys international new business activities. Peter joined Harmony in 1999 from West Rand Consolidated Mines Limited (West Rand Cons), where he was the new business director. Peter worked in the JCI Group of companies for 25 years from 1973, initially in the fields of exploration, mine and evaluation and for the last 10 years in corporate finance and new business development. His roles included Chief Geologist Western Areas Gold Mine, Senior Manager Mineral Economics and General Manager Business Development. He served on the boards of various JCI group companies including Free State Development Corporation (Managing Director) and Barnato Exploration Limited. Peter joined West Rand Cons in 1998. Following the restructuring within the company, Peter was retrenched on May 31, 2004.
Dawie Mostert (35), PDM, PCM, MDP, Diploma in Labor Relations (DPLR) (Advanced Labor Law). Dawie joined Harmony in 1997 following the acquisition of Grootvlei, where he was the human resources manager. He has approximately 16 years experience in the mining industry and is responsible for training and human resource development.
Khosi Ndlovu (45), BA, Social Development, Diploma in Supply Chain Management. Khosi joined Harmony in 2002 and is responsible for social development programs and corporate affairs (government). Khosis career commenced as Researcher in areas of Social Development for the University of New York in 1989. After returning to South Africa she joined The National Peace Secretariat as Communication Consultant, and later joined the
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Independent Electoral Commission as National Head of Transport & Logistics. She has held various senior positions in the areas of Marketing and Communication and was an Executive at Telkom in the Procurement Services as a custodian of Black Economic Empowerment. Khosi has vast experience in community development, government relations, and economic empowerment programs and she is an advisory board member at Monash University and InterConnect System. She was voluntarily retrenched on August 31, 2004.
Pine Pienaar (40), BCom, BCompt (Hons), CA(SA). Pine joined Harmony in 1997 following the acquisition of Grootvlei, where he was the financial director. Pine has approximately 14 years experience in the financial and mining industries and is responsible for Harmonys South African new business activities. Pine left the company at the end of January 2004 to explore new business opportunities.
Fleur Plimmer (35), BA (Hons). Fleur joined Harmony in September 2002, and is responsible for the business transformation portfolio. Prior to joining Harmony, Fleur was the Health and Safety Coordinator for the NUM. At the NUM, Fleur was involved in drafting the Mine Health and Safety Act. Following her service at the NUM, Fleur joined Ingwe Coal Corporation, where she was the manager responsible for health and safety and, thereafter, corporate communication programs. She moved into the field of executive search and was involved with the placement of a number of senior black executives in a range of local and international businesses. She was voluntarily retrenched on August 31, 2004.
De Wet Schutte (33), BCom (Acc), BCompt (Hons), CA(SA) and Executive Program University of Virginia (USA). De Wet joined Harmony in May 2004 and is responsible for Exploration and New Business Development. Before joining Harmony, De Wet spent seven years at Iscor Limited (now Ispat Iscor) in various positions including General Manager, Corporate Finance. He also brings experience from Metair Limited where he served as Group Financial Manager.
Peter Steenkamp (44), BSc (Eng), Mine Managers Certificate. Peter currently serves on the executive committee as Business Coach. Peter joined Harmony in October 2003 following the merger with ARMgold. Prior to joining Harmony, he was an Executive Director of ARMgold in charge of Gold Operations. Peter has 21 years experience in the mining industry. His career commenced as trainee miner with the Chamber of Mines Training College and after graduating he worked for Gold Fields Limited as a shift boss. Between 1989 and 1997, he was employed at Vaal Reefs in various positions, including shift boss, mine overseer, technical assistant, section manager and business unit manager. In 1998 he joined ARMgold as a business unit leader.
Frank Sullivan (48), MCom, BPL (Hons). Frank has approximately 22 years experience in human resources management in the gold mining industry. He joined Harmony in 1996 as human resources manager and was in charge of HIV/AIDS and Health and is now managing the Healthshare joint venture.
Boetie Swanepoel (44), BCompt (Hons), CA(SA). Boetie joined Harmony in 1995 as financial manager from Beatrix Mines. Boetie has more than 20 years financial services experience, mostly in the mining industry. He was appointed to the executive committee in November 2000 and is responsible for the development of Harmonys shaft financial managers and the financial control environment.
Abre van Vuuren (44) BCom, MDP, DPLR. Abre joined Harmony in 1997 from Grootvlei, where he was human resources manager. He was appointed to the executive committee in November 2000 and is responsible for human resource processes and systems and remuneration and is also a member of the Change Management Committee. He has approximately 20 years experience in the mining industry.
BOARD PRACTICES
The Articles of Association of Harmony provide that the Board must consist of no less than four and no more than twenty directors at any time. The Board currently consists of fifteen directors.
The Articles of Association of Harmony provide that the longest serving one-third of directors retire from office at each annual general meeting of Harmony. Retiring directors normally make themselves available for re-election and are re-elected at the annual general meeting on which they retire. Members of senior management of Harmony who are also directors retire as directors in terms of the Articles of Association, but their service as officers is regulated by standard industry employment agreements.
According to the Articles of Association, the Board meets not less than quarterly.
Details of directors service contracts are described under Compensation of Directors and Senior Management and Directors Terms of Employment, below.
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In order to ensure good corporate governance, the Board has formed an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Remuneration Committee, a Nomination Committee, an Investment Committee, an Employment Equity Committee and Sustainable Development Committee. All of the Board sub-committees are comprised of a majority of non-executive directors.
Harmonys Executive Committee comprises the executive directors and selected senior officers of Harmony, each with his or her own area of responsibility. The Executive Committee consists of a Non-Mining Investment Committee, a Growth and Investment Committee, a Change Management Steering Committee and IBANDLA (which means Meeting of Leaders). These committees meet either weekly, bi-weekly or once per month. The composition of the Executive Committee (with areas of responsibility indicated) is as follows:
Bob Atkinson
|
Sustainable Development | |
Graham Briggs
|
Country Manager, PNG | |
Ferdi Dippenaar
|
Marketing and Investor Relations | |
Ted Grobicki
|
Australia | |
Mangisi Gule
|
External Liaison | |
Yusuf Jardien
|
Information Technology and Change Management | |
Tracey Jonkheid
|
Internal Strategy | |
Philip Kotze
|
Business Coaching (South Africa) | |
Mohamed Madhi
|
Corporate Strategy | |
Jackie Mathebula
|
Employee Relations | |
Andrew Matube
|
Legal | |
Peter McKenna
|
International New Business | |
Dawie Mostert
|
Human Resources | |
De Wet Schutte
|
Exploration and New Business | |
Peter Steenkamp
|
Business Coaching | |
Frank Sullivan
|
Netcare joint venture chief executive | |
Bernard Swanepoel
|
Chief Executive | |
Boetie Swanepoel
|
Operational Finance | |
Abre van Vuuren
|
Human resources processes and strategy |
Lewies Fourie accepted a retrenchment package following the restructuring of Harmony in July 2004. Amanda Matthee, Fleur Plimmer, Khetiwe McClain and Khosi Ndlovu accepted voluntary retrenchment packages and have formed their own company, Khusela. Khusela will be regarded as a black-owned company. It is proposed that Khusela will assist Harmony in completing the mining conversion process. The agreement between Harmony and Khusela has not been finalized as yet.
Audit Committee
Harmonys Audit Committee provides additional assurance to the Board regarding the quality and reliability of financial information used by the Board and the financial statements issued by the company. The committee assists the Board in discharging its duties relating to the safeguarding of assets, the operation of adequate systems and internal controls and control processes. This is in addition to the assistance with the preparation of accurate financial reporting and statements in compliance with all applicable legal requirements, corporate governance, accounting standards and also provides support to the Board on the risk profile and risk management of Harmony. All non-audit services provided by our external auditors must and are pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
An Audit Committee Charter has been adopted which sets out the role, responsibilities, duties, authority, membership and meetings of the Audit Committee.
The Audit Committee meets periodically with Harmonys external and independent internal auditors and the companys executive management to review accounting, auditing and financial reporting matters so as to ensure that an effective control environment in Harmony is maintained. The committee also monitors proposed changes in accounting policy, reviews the internal audit function and discusses the accounting implications of major transactions. In terms of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, the Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of any auditor employed.
All members of the committee are knowledgeable about the affairs of Harmony and have a working familiarity with basic finance and accounting practices. In addition, members of management and financial personnel attend the Audit Committee meetings to address any questions posed by the members of the committee. The committee always has at least one financial expert present at the meetings.
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The independent non-executive members of the Audit Committee are Mike Pleming (chairman), Modise Motloba, Dr Simo Lushaba and Cedric Savage.
Nomination Committee
The Nomination Committee makes recommendations to the Board on all new Board appointments and was formed to ensure that the procedures for appointments to the Board are formal and transparent. The responsibilities and duties included in the Nomination Committee Charter were taken from the recommendations of the King Report. A copy of the Nomination Committee Charter is available on Harmonys website. The committee consists of three non-executive members, of which the majority are independent. Two meetings were held during the year, which were attended by a majority of the members. The committee may invite any other relevant person, such as the Chief Executive, to attend. The non-executive members of the Nomination Committee are Patrice Motsepe (chairman), Lord Robin Renwick and Nolitha Fakude.
Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee meets at least once a year and comprises three independent non-executive directors. The primary purpose of the Remuneration Committee is to ensure that our directors and senior executives are fairly rewarded for their individual contributions to Harmonys overall performance. The remuneration of senior executive members of Harmony are set by a committee of Board members who have no personal interest in the outcomes of their decisions and who will give due regard to the interests of the shareholders and to the companys financial and commercial health. The Remuneration Committees primary objective is to monitor and strengthen the objectivity and credibility of Harmony directors and senior executives remuneration system and to make recommendations to the Board on remuneration packages.
The committee meets whenever necessary to make recommendations relating to the remuneration of senior executives and executive directors. A formal meeting was held during the first quarter of the 2004/2005 financial year. The Remuneration Committee Charter, which sets out the objectives, role, responsibilities, authority, membership and meeting requirements of the committee, is adhered to by all the members and a copy can be obtained from Harmonys website.
The non-executive members of the committee are Patrice Motsepe (chairman), Mike Pleming and Cedric Savage.
Investment Committee
The Investment Committee was established in January 2004, focusing on major capital projects and acquisitions. The Investment Committee ensures that capital projects have been adequately budgeted for, due diligence and any other company procedures for mergers and acquisitions have been followed and cognizance has been taken of Black Economic Empowerment requirements. The Investment Committee consists of four non-executive members of which two are independent. The Committee meets at least once a year, but may, at its discretion, meet more often depending on the need. An Investment Committee Charter, which sets out the purpose, responsibilities and duties, authority, membership and meetings of the committee, has been compiled and it is anticipated that the charter will be approved during the first quarter of the 2004/2005 year.
The non-executive members of the Investment Committee are Cedric Savage (chairman), Frank Abbott, Dr Simo Lushaba and Mike Pleming.
Sustainable Development Committee
The Health, Safety and Environmental Audit Committee has been renamed the Sustainable Development Committee during the course of 2004. This committee monitors health, safety, social, HIV/AIDS and environmental performance and ensures that Harmony remains a committed socially responsible corporate citizen. Its main duties are:
| to develop the framework, policies and guidelines for safety, health, social, HIV/AIDS and environmental management; |
| to review the policies and performance of the company, its divisions and its managed subsidiaries and the progressive implementation of its policies; |
| to encourage independently managed subsidiaries, associates and significant investments to develop policies, guidelines and practices congruent with our safety, health, social, HIV/AIDS and environmental policies; |
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| to monitor key indicators on accidents and incidents and, where appropriate, ensure that they are communicated to other companies managed by or associated with the company; |
| to consider material national and international regulatory and technical developments in the fields of safety, health, social, HIV/AIDS and environmental management; and |
| to facilitate participation, co-operation and consultation on safety, health, social, HIV/AIDS and environmental matters with government, industry, national and international organizations and institutions. |
The Sustainable Development Committee makes recommendations to the Board where it deems particular attention required. The committee operates in accordance with specific terms of reference which is currently being reviewed to include matters such as corporate social investment and HIV/AIDS. The committee meets periodically and comprises three independent non-executive directors, Dr Morley Nkosi (chairman), Nolitha Fakude and Mike Pleming. Four meetings were held during the year which were attended by a majority of the members.
Employment Equity Committee
The Employment Equity Committee was established by the Board to ensure that the company meets its empowerment credentials. The primary purpose of the Employment Equity Committee is to provide guidance to management in developing and implementing a competitive human resource strategy to ensure that Harmony is able to attract, retain and develop the best possible talent to support superior performance.
The responsibilities and duties of the Employment Equity Committee include:
| ensuring that a sustainable organizational culture, structures and processes are in place that will support the development of employees and to optimize their potential, in line with the Companys needs and requirements; |
| auditing, monitoring and reviewing the development and progress of these employees; |
| addressing inequalities that may exist in staff profiles and organizational practices; |
| reviewing and monitoring whether appropriate support is given to previously disadvantaged staff in order to equip them for successful careers within Harmony. |
The Employment Equity Committee was formed in January 2004 and due to the number of changes to the Board, no formal meeting has been held to date. The committee is required to meet at least once a year or more often should the need arise. Harmony is in the process of finalizing the Employment Equity Charter. The independent non-executive members of the Employment Equity Committee are Nolitha Fakude (chairman), Modise Motloba and Rick Menell.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT
During fiscal 2004, the aggregate compensation paid or payable to the directors and members of senior management of Harmony as a group was approximately R25.8 million ($3.74 million) in base salary and R22.8 million ($3.31 million) in profit sharing. Harmony paid salaries in fiscal 2004 to B. Swanepoel, F. Abbott, F. Dippenaar and T. Grobicki of approximately R2 million ($0.29 million), R1.2 million ($0.17 million), R1.2 million ($0.17 million) and R2.6 million ($0.38 million), respectively. Harmony paid bonuses in fiscal 2004 to Mr. Swanepoel, Mr. Abbott, Mr. Dippenaar and Mr. Grobicki, of approximately R3.0 million ($0.4 million), R2.0 million ($0.2 million), R2.0 million ($0.2 million) and R2.0 million ($0.2 million), respectively. These bonuses represent the third yearly installment of the bonuses awarded to each of these directors during 2002. The aggregate compensation paid or payable during fiscal 2004 to the non-executive directors of Harmony as a group was approximately R0.9 million ($0.13 million) in directors fees.
Directors Terms of Employment
No Harmony director has a service contract with Harmony or any of its subsidiaries with a notice or contract period of one year or more or with provisions for pre-determining compensation on termination of an amount which equals or exceeds one years salary and benefits in kind.
The terms of employment by Harmony of the executive directors continue until terminated by reaching the mandatory retirement age of 63 or on service of 30 days notice by either the employee or Harmony. Each of our executive directors participates in the Harmony share option scheme and a discretionary executive profit share scheme, the latter provided that certain profit targets, set by the Remuneration Committee, are achieved. They have all waived their rights to directors fees.
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The executive directors also benefit from pension contributions, life insurance and medical aid, the value of which is included in the salary details listed above. The total amount currently set aside or accrued by Harmony and its subsidiaries for the payment of these pension, life insurance, medical aid and retirement benefits is approximately R1.1 million ($0.16 million). The non-executive directors are entitled to fees as agreed at Harmonys annual general meeting from time to time, reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred on Harmonys behalf and remuneration for other services, such as serving on committees. Currently, each non-executive director is entitled to R25,000 per quarter. It was agreed at a Remuneration Committee meeting held on July 30, 2004 that non-executive directors will receive an additional daily fee of R4,000 for any services provided over and above their normal duties as non-executive directors, subject to shareholders approval.
The terms of employment of the non-executive directors are not set out in any written agreements.
Share options exercised by those executive directors who were with Harmony during the entire fiscal 2004 are detailed in the table below:
Average | ||||||||
Number of | option | |||||||
options | exercise price | |||||||
Name |
exercised |
(Rand) |
||||||
Bernard Swanepoel |
13,350 | 114 | ||||||
Frank Abbott |
0 | 0 | ||||||
Ferdi Dippenaar |
56,700 | 102.70 | ||||||
Ted Grobicki |
0 | 0 |
At June 30, 2004, Harmonys directors and senior management held the following share options, totalling less than 1% of Harmonys share capital:
Number of | Average | Expiration | ||||||||||
Options |
Strike Price |
Dates |
||||||||||
Z Swanepoel |
128,800 | 49.60 | 2011 | |||||||||
F Abbott |
73,400 | 49.60 | 2011 | |||||||||
F Dippenaar |
36,700 | 49.60 | 2011 | |||||||||
T Grobicki |
20,000 | 22.90 | 2008 | |||||||||
87,400 | 49.60 | 2011 | ||||||||||
49.60 | 2008 | 2011 | ||||||||||
B Atkinson |
36,700 | 49.60 | 2011 | |||||||||
G Briggs |
47,200 | 49.60 | 2011 | |||||||||
P Pienaar |
| | | |||||||||
P Kotze |
20,000 | 35.40 | 2010 | |||||||||
100,100 | 49.60 | 2011 | ||||||||||
F Sullivan |
36,700 | 49.60 | 2011 | |||||||||
M J Swanepoel |
10,000 | 27.20 | 2010 | |||||||||
15,600 | 49.60 | 2011 | ||||||||||
A Van Vuuren |
20,000 | 27.20 | 2010 | |||||||||
33,400 | 49.60 | 2011 | ||||||||||
Y Jardien |
45,000 | 91.60 | 2013 | |||||||||
T Jonkheid |
45,000 | 91.60 | 2013 | |||||||||
M Madhi |
90,000 | 91.60 | 2013 | |||||||||
J Mathebula |
45,000 | 91.60 | 2013 | |||||||||
D Mostert |
18,000 | 49.60 | 2011 |
Share Ownership
The following sets forth, as at June 30, 2004 and at September 29, 2004, the total amount of ordinary shares directly or indirectly owned by the directors and senior management of Harmony. The directors and senior management of Harmony do not own any preference shares.
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Ordinary | Ordinary | |||||||||||||||
Number | Number | |||||||||||||||
Shares as at | Shares as at | |||||||||||||||
June 30, | September 29, | |||||||||||||||
Holder |
2004 |
Percentage |
2004 |
Percentage |
||||||||||||
Directors |
||||||||||||||||
Non-executive |
||||||||||||||||
P. Motsepe** |
| | | | ||||||||||||
F. Abbott |
| | | | ||||||||||||
N. Fakude |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Dr S. Lushaba |
| | | | ||||||||||||
R Menell |
800 | * | 800 | * | ||||||||||||
M Motloba |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Dr M Nkosi |
| | | | ||||||||||||
M. Pleming |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Lord Renwick of Clifton |
5,105 | * | 5,105 | * | ||||||||||||
C. Savage |
| | | |
Ordinary | Ordinary | |||||||||||||||
Number | Number | |||||||||||||||
Shares as at | Shares as at | |||||||||||||||
June 30, | September 29, | |||||||||||||||
Holder |
2004 |
Percentage |
2004 |
Percentage |
||||||||||||
Executive |
||||||||||||||||
B. Swanepoel |
| | 10,000 | * | ||||||||||||
F. Dippenaar |
||||||||||||||||
M. Gule |
| | | | ||||||||||||
N. Qangule |
| | | | ||||||||||||
T. Grobicki |
29,388 | * | 29,388 | * | ||||||||||||
Total Directors (15 persons) |
35,293 | * | 45,293 | * | ||||||||||||
Senior Management |
||||||||||||||||
B. Atkinson |
| | | | ||||||||||||
G. Briggs |
| | | | ||||||||||||
D. Schutte |
| | 500 | * | ||||||||||||
Y. Jardien |
| | | | ||||||||||||
T. Jonkheid |
| | | | ||||||||||||
P. Kotze |
| | | | ||||||||||||
M. Madhi |
| | | | ||||||||||||
J. Mathebula |
| | | | ||||||||||||
A. Matube |
| | | | ||||||||||||
D. Mostert |
| | | | ||||||||||||
P. Steenkamp |
||||||||||||||||
F. Sullivan |
| | | | ||||||||||||
MJ. Swanepoel |
| | | | ||||||||||||
A. van Vuuren |
| | | | ||||||||||||
Total Senior Management (14 persons) |
| | 500 | * | ||||||||||||
Total Directors and Senior Management |
35,293 | * | 45,793 | * |
* | Indicates beneficial ownership of less than 1% of the relevant class of securities. |
** | The 14 percent indirect shareholding held by P Motsepe was transferred to ARM in accordance with the ARM transaction in April 2004. |
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Options to purchase a total of 5,855,300 ordinary shares were outstanding on June 30, 2004. The exercise prices of the outstanding options range between Rand 11.70 and Rand 93 per share and they expire between 2008 and 2011. Of the outstanding options, options to purchase 1,121,000 ordinary shares at a weighted average price of Rand 63.08 were held by directors and senior management of Harmony and its subsidiary companies, as described above. No consideration was payable on the grant of these options.
Subsequent to the 2004 fiscal year end, further share options have been granted. On August 11, 2004, options over 4,411,149 shares (representing less than 1% of Harmonys share capital as of September 29, 2004) were reserved for issuance to management to Harmony and 12,908,311 to the broad-based Employee Share Option Plan.
EMPLOYEES
General
The South African underground gold mining industry is very labor-intensive. The Australian gold mining industry involves more mechanized mining, which is less labor intensive. The following table lists the total number of employees at each of Harmonys operations, together with people working at Harmonys operations but employed by outside contractors, at June 30 of the past three fiscal years:
Harmony employees at June 30, |
Outside contractors at June 30, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
2004 |
2003 |
2002 |
|||||||||||||||||||
South Africa |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Elandskraal |
6,213 | 6,611 | 7,559 | 24 | 490 | 210 | ||||||||||||||||||
Free State (old) |
10,974 | 12,317 | 12,644 | 69 | 686 | 713 | ||||||||||||||||||
Free Gold1 |
17,975 | 8,573 | 1,2 | 6,867 | 1 | 84 | 839 | | ||||||||||||||||
Evander |
7,344 | 6,770 | 7,384 | 15 | 1,425 | 1,257 | ||||||||||||||||||
Randfontein |
6,756 | 7,154 | 7,455 | 92 | 589 | 740 | ||||||||||||||||||
Kalgold |
188 | 229 | 222 | | 282 | 250 | ||||||||||||||||||
ARMgold |
4,746 | | | 75 | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Avgold |
534 | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Other |
667 | 12 | 20 | | | | ||||||||||||||||||
Australia |
516 | 255 | 309 | 512 | 309 | 1,878 | ||||||||||||||||||
Canada |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bissett |
| 6 | 6 | | | |||||||||||||||||||
Total |
55,913 | 41,927 | 42,466 | 871 | 4,945 | 5,048 | ||||||||||||||||||
1 This represents Harmonys 50 percent interest in the Free Gold Joint Venture. | ||
2 This includes St Helenas employees. | ||
3 This includes Papua New Guineas employees. |
Unionized Labor
Approximately 81% to 87%, depending on the region, of Harmonys labor force in South Africa is unionized, with the major portion of the workforce being members of the National Union of Mineworkers, or the NUM. Since 1995, the South African legislature has enacted various labor laws that enhance the rights of employees. For example, these laws:
| confirm the right of employees to belong to trade unions and the right of unions to have access to the workplace; |
| guarantee employees the right to strike, the right to picket and the right to participate in secondary strikes in certain prescribed circumstances; |
| provide for mandatory compensation in the event of termination of employment for operational reasons; |
| reduce the maximum ordinary hours of work; |
| require large employers, such as Harmony, to implement affirmative action policies to benefit historically disadvantaged groups and impose significant monetary penalties for non-compliance with the administrative and reporting requirements of the legislation; and |
| provide for the financing of training programs by means of a levy grant system and a national skills fund. |
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As a result of its highly unionized labor force and the fact that labor costs constitute approximately 50% of production costs, Harmony has attempted to balance union demands with the need to contain and reduce cash costs in order to ensure the long-term viability of its operations.
Harmony has been restructuring its operations, mainly as a result of the external economic factors, and has been working with the unions over the past two years as part of the restructuring process. An agreement was entered into in the first half of 2004 with all unions on principles that are meant to guide the retrenchment process. The agreement was the first of its kind in the gold mining industry. The principles agreed included the following:
| Reskilling, retraining and redeployment of surplus employees for alternative vacant positions that may exist at a particular operation or other Harmony operations. |
| Implementation of CONOPS (described below) to create additional job opportunities. |
| Transferring surplus or redundant employees to other Harmony operations that have placement opportunities. |
| Opening up voluntary retrenchment to minimize the impact of restructuring and/or closure of shafts/mines. |
| Replacing contractors, who are involved in non-specialized work, with Harmony employees. |
In addition, Harmony has concluded a social plan agreement which establishes a trust available for employees, valued at Rand 21 million, that may be affected by the restructuring process, whether by retrenchment or otherwise.
Harmony also entered into other agreements aimed at various human resource issues, including equalizing the terms and conditions of employment, which had been disparate throughout Harmonys operations due to Harmonys strategy of growth through acquisition.
In July 2004, Harmony agreed with NUM to the concept and implementation of continuous operations, referred to as CONOPS on a national scale. CONOPS refers to the practice whereby a mine operates on all the days of the year, including Sundays and excluding public holidays. Workers operate on a roster or shift arrangement which sees them work the same amount of hours per week and therefore companies need to employ more people in order to facilitate working the additional days.
Currently most gold mines in South Africa operate for approximately 273 days per year. The introduction of CONOPS is expected to increase this number to 353 days per year which would result in a 20% increase in labor per stope on the shafts as well as a 5% to 8% reduction in unit cost/tonne in due course. Except for Merriepruit 3 shafts, Brand shaft, Unisel shaft, Harmony 2 shaft, and Masimong shafts, Harmony has implemented CONOPS at all its operations.
Harmony participates in industry-wide Central Chamber of Mines negotiations for Category 3 to 8 semi-skilled employees. Wage negotiations within the Central Chamber of Mines generally take place on a company-wide basis, while negotiations on other working conditions and with other unions and associations take place on a mine-by-mine basis. Employees at Kalgold and the Free Gold Company are not covered by the Central Chamber of Mines negotiations and, accordingly, these employees are not covered by the two-year agreement concluded in August 2001. On May 31, 2002, following the strike described below, Harmony concluded a one-year wage agreement with Kalgolds NUM branch, resulting in an average wage increase of 9% for workers in the lowest job category, which consists of general laborers, and an average wage increase of 8% for the remainder of the covered employees, which consists of semi-skilled and skilled employees working as plant operatives and artisan assistants.
On May 8, 2002, 170 members of Kalgolds NUM branch initiated a strike in connection with the negotiations that resulted in the Kalgold wage agreement described above. Mining at Kalgold by non-striking workers and contractors continued during this strike, which was resolved on May 31, 2002 and resulted in the one-year wage agreement described above. This strike did not materially affect Kalgolds results for fiscal 2002.
On May 17, 2002, members of Randfonteins NUM branch initiated a strike in connection with their demand for an increase in housing allowances. Mining at Randfontein was severely disrupted during the strike, which was resolved on May 27, 2002. The resulting agreement, which was subsequently extended to all of Harmonys operations, calls for housing allowance increases in line with annual wage increases through January 2005.
Harmony experienced no significant strikes in fiscal 2003. Following a protected strike that lasted from February 12, 2004 to February 16, 2004, Harmony and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) reached an agreement on annual wage increases. NUM accepted the Companys proposal and these employees have now been included in the bi-annual wage agreement, which will be renegotiated in July 2005.
Harmony continues to work to improve workplace relationships, have effective domestic dispute settlement arrangements and through the establishment of a statutory body, the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.
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Share Option Scheme
As of June 30, 2004, options for Harmony employees to acquire 5,855,300 Ordinary Shares were outstanding. A total of 539,150 of these options had been issued under Harmonys employee share option scheme established in 1994, or the 1994 Share Option Scheme, which was in effect prior to November 16, 2001. A total of 5,316,150 of these options had been issued under Harmonys employee share option scheme established in 2001, or the 2001 Share Option Scheme, which came into effect on November 16, 2001. On November 14, 2003, Harmonys shareholders approved the 2003 Share Option Scheme. At fiscal 2004 year end, no options were issued under the 2003 Share Option Scheme.
Under the 1994 Share Option Scheme, the maximum number of share options that could be granted was equal to 10 percent of the outstanding Harmony Ordinary Shares on the date of the grant. At the annual general shareholders meeting held on November 16, 2001, Harmonys shareholders approved the 2001 Share Option Scheme to replace 1994 Share Option Scheme. The 2001 Share Option Scheme came into effect on November 16, 2001; however, options previously issued under the 1994 Share Option Scheme remain in force. The terms the 2001 Share Option Scheme are substantially equivalent to the 1994 Share Option Scheme, except that the maximum number of share options that may be granted under the 2001 Share Option Scheme is a fixed amount (8,000,000) rather than a percentage of share capital. Options granted under the 1994 Share Option Scheme that remain outstanding are not counted against this maximum.
The aggregate number of unissued shares that may be used for the 2003 Share Option Scheme shall not exceed 23,234,960 shares, which represents approximately seven percent of the issued share capital of the Company as at September 29, 2004. Shares which are the subject of lapsed or terminated options and shares which are the subject of options which have been exercised by participants who are no longer employees shall not he regarded as being reserved for the 2003 Share Option Scheme. Shareholder approval was obtained on November 14, 2003 and subsequent remuneration committee approval was obtained on August 11, 2004 for 12,908,311 options (approximately 5% of Harmonys issued share capital) to be reserved for a broad-based Employee Share Option Program. Negotiations are currently underway with the relevant unions representing our workers with regards to the detail of the proposed program.
Under the 1994 Share Option Scheme, the 2001 Share Option Scheme and the 2003 Share Option Scheme, the exercise price of each option granted is set at the closing market price of Harmonys Ordinary Shares on the JSE on the day before the date of grant. Each option remains open for acceptance for 10 years after the date of grant, subject to the terms of the relevant option scheme. Each option may normally only be exercised by a participant on the following bases: (i) after 12 months have elapsed from the date on which the option was granted, in respect of not more than one third of the shares which are the subject of that option; (ii) after 24 months have elapsed from the date on which the option was granted, in respect of not more than two thirds of the shares which are the subject of that option; and (iii) after 36 months have elapsed from the date on which the option was granted, in respect of all the shares which are the subject of that option, or at such time or times over a period of more than 3 years from the date on which the option was granted as the Board of directors of the Issuer (the Board) may have determined and notified in writing to the participant when the option was granted to the participant. The ordinary shares in respect of which each option is exercised: (i) will be fully paid; (ii) will rank pari passu with existing issued shares; (iii) will be allotted and issued by the Board within 14 days after the exercise of the option; and (iv) will be issued to the participant to whom the option was granted as the beneficial owner thereof and a certificate will be issued therefore. The Board will procure that a listing is applied therefore on the stock exchanges on which Harmonys shares are listed and quoted.
The 2003 Share Option Scheme may be amended (whether retrospectively or otherwise) by the Board in any respect (except for certain specific clauses that may only be amended through approval in a general meeting), provided that no such amendment shall operate to alter adversely the terms and conditions of any option granted to a participant prior thereto, without the written consent of that participant and provided that the prior approval of the JSE has been obtained.
Share Purchase Scheme
On November 29, 1999, Harmony adopted a Share Purchase Scheme in which eligible employees may participate. The Share Purchase Scheme provides for a share purchase trust controlled by Harmony. Up to March 27, 2003, the Share Purchase Scheme was used for the purpose of making loans to employees to exercise their options under the 1994 Share Option Scheme. On March 27, 2003, it was resolved that in view of US legislation the trust would no longer provide recourse loans to employees to acquire shares. Non-executive directors serve as trustees for the share purchase trust. The trustees are not eligible to receive loans from the trust.
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Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions
MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS
Harmony is an independent gold producer, with no single shareholder exercising control. As of September 29, 2004, the issued capital of Harmony consisted of 320,819,739 ordinary shares. To the knowledge of Harmony, (A) Harmony is not directly or indirectly owned or controlled (i) by another corporation or (ii) by any foreign government and (B) there are no arrangements (including any announced or expected takeover bid), the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of Harmony.
Significant changes in the percentage ownership held by major shareholders in the past three years are also described below.
The voting rights of Harmonys major shareholders do not differ from the voting rights of other holders of the same class of shares. Significant changes in the percentage ownership held by major shareholders are described below.
On July 15, 2003, Harmony announced the acquisition of 77,540,830 ordinary shares (11.5%) in Avgold Limited from Anglo South Africa Capital (Proprietary) Limited in exchange for the issue to Anglo South Africa of a renounceable letter of allocation representing the right to the allotment and issue of 6,960,964 new ordinary shares in Harmony, comprising 3.8% of the then issued share capital of Harmony. A further 1,685,537.00 ordinary shares were issued to Anglo South Africa in terms of the agreement with Anglo South Africa, which provided that should the Company make an offer to acquire the other Avgold shareholders interest, the consideration payable to Anglo South Africa will be adjusted to reflect the amounts paid to the other Avgold shareholders. On May 3, 2004, Harmony issued 28,630,526 ordinary shares to ARM Limited in exchange for Avgold shares to acquire a 42.2% holding in Avgold. A further 31,888,830 ordinary shares were issued on May 17, 2004 and May 20, 2004 to acquire the shareholding of the Avgold minorities. In terms of the agreement entered into with Anglo Gold in 2003, Harmony was obliged to issue a further 1,685,537 to Anglo SA as a top-up to the original amount of shares issued.
On September 11, 2003, Harmony issued 63,666,672 ordinary shares at R111.20 in exchange for ARMgold shares to acquire the entire shareholding in ARMgold.
To the knowledge of Harmony, a list of the individuals and organizations holding, directly or indirectly, 3% or more of its issued share capital as of Sept 29, 2004 is set forth below.
Amount owned | ||||||||
(number of shares) | Percent | |||||||
Holder Percent of class |
Millions |
of class |
||||||
The Bank of New York1 |
123,036,514 | 38.36 | ||||||
ARM Limited2 |
63,632,922 | 19.8 | ||||||
Allan Gray and Funds |
34,742,929 | 10.83 | ||||||
JP Morgan Chase
Bank3 |
24,505,753 | 7.64 |
1 | Depository with respect to the ADRs held on the U.S. register. |
2 | Patrice Motsepe has an indirect holding in ARM Limited. |
3 | Depository with respect to Harmonys International Depository Shares. |
The voting rights of Harmonys major shareholders do not differ from the voting rights of other holders of the same class of shares.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
None of the directors or major shareholders of Harmony or, to the knowledge of Harmony, their families, had any interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction during the period from July 1, 2002 to September 30, 2004 or in any proposed transaction that has affected or will materially affect Harmony or its investment interest or subsidiaries, other than as stated below.
Harmonys largest shareholder up to the end of April, 2004, holding approximately 14% of the new company since the ARMgold merger was African Rainbow Mineral and Exploration Investments (Pty) Ltd (ARMI), represented by Patrice Motsepe, a non-executive director of Harmony. In terms of the transaction with ARM Limited, these shares were sold to ARM Limited. ARM Limited currently holds 19.84% of Harmonys shares. Patrice Motsepe, Bernard Swanepoel, Frank Abbott and Rick Menell are directors of ARM Limited.
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Harmonys cross-shareholding in ARM has been diluted in the past year following a range of transactions to restructure ARM among Harmony, ARM and African Rainbow Minerals & Exploration Investments (Pty) Limited, or ARMI. ARMI is represented by Patrice Motsepe, a non-executive director of Harmony and executive chairman of ARM. The reorganization principally involved the sale to ARM of (i) ARMIs holding of 35,002,396 shares in Harmony; (ii) all of the issued shares in ARM Platinum, now a subsidiary of ARM; and (iii) the sale of ARMIs interest in certain loans to ARM Mining Consortium Limited. As a result, Harmonys interest in ARM has been diluted from 34.5% to 19.84%. In addition, in May 2004, Harmony issued 28,630,526 ordinary shares to ARM in exchange for Avgold shares to acquire a 42.2% holding in Avgold, formerly a subsidiary of ARM. A further 31,888,830 ordinary shares were issued to ARM on May 17, 2004 and May 20, 2004 to acquire the shareholding of the Avgold minorities (the Avgold Exchange) and Avgold is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Harmony.
Also as part of the reorganization transactions, ARM acquired the Kalplats platinum discovery and associated mineral rights from Kalgold, a subsidiary of Harmony (the Kalplats Acquisition). Kalgold has renounced its rights to the 2,000,000 ARM shares it received in the acquisition in favor of Harmony. Harmony holds a 19% stake in ARM.
With respect to ARM, ARMI and Harmony have entered into a voting agreement whereby ARMI has the power and authority to exercise all of the voting rights attaching to Harmonys ARM shares (excluding certain resolutions which, if approved, would result in a disposal of Harmonys ARM shares) and to appoint itself as proxy in respect thereof at general and other meetings of ARM. Harmonys ARM shares (which will be held either through Clidet No.454 (Proprietary) Limited (Clidet) or directly) may not during a 3 year lock-up period (or such shorter period as when Harmony holds new order rights as defined in the South African Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002) be transferred or, subject to an existing pledge and certain conditions, encumbered, by Clidet or Harmony. In order to ensure that ARMI continues to own (directly or indirectly), together with Harmonys ARM shares, that number of ARM shares which constitute more than 50.0% of ARMs issued share capital, ARMI may not during the lock-up period transfer any of its ARM shares which are required to make up that number and will during the lock-up period ensure that more than 50.0% of its own share capital is owned and controlled by Historically Disadvantaged South Africans (as contemplated in the South African Mining Charter).
At the end of the lock-up period and for a period of five years thereafter, ARMI has a right of first refusal to purchase all of Harmonys ARM shares then owned by Clidet or Harmony. If Clidet or Harmony wishes to transfer any of such remaining shares to any person other than ARMI, in a transaction on the JSE, it shall first offer to sell the remaining shares in question to ARMI in accordance with the provisions of the ARM voting agreement. If Clidet or Harmony wishes to sell any of the remaining shares otherwise than under a third party transaction in accordance with such provisions, it shall first offer to sell the shares in question to ARMI in accordance with the provisions of the ARM voting agreement.
In accordance with JSE listings requirements, neither Harmony nor ARMI voted its shares in ARM on the shareholder resolutions to approve the Avgold Exchange or the Kalplats Acquisition.
The Company has, with effect from September 2003, acquired several companies owned by ARMI. These companies had competitive contractual arrangements with ARMgold for the provision of services and supplies related to ARMgolds business which were entered into before the ARMgold merger. These companies have continued to provide services and supplies to the merged company.
Certain of ARMIs subsidiaries and community development companies established for the benefit of the 60,000 community residents living near the ARM Mining Consortium/Anglo Platinum Joint Venture mine received non-interest bearing loans from ARMgold prior to the ARMgold merger in the aggregate amount of R37 million. No interest was charged due to ARMgolds long-term commitments and contribution to upliftment and empowerment, for which ARMgold has received recognition and credit. These loans have been repaid in full.
Ted Grobicki, Lord Renwick of Clifton KCMG, all held, directly or indirectly, shares in WestRand Consolidated Mines Limited and/or Kalgold. These shares converted into Harmonys ordinary shares upon Harmonys acquisition of these companies. Lord Renwick of Clifton KCMG holds a senior investment banking position with the JPMorgan group in London and as such has an indirect interest in all transactions between Harmony and JPMorgan described in this annual report, including the global offering of Harmony ordinary shares and warrants completed in June 2001 and the bond offering in May 2004. The share offering was completed pursuant to a firm commitment underwriting, in which JPMorgan acted as global coordinator.
Pieter Taljaard, Andre Wilkens and Michael King all held shares directly in ARMgold. Following the merger with ARMgold, these shares were converted to Harmony shares. All three these directors resigned as directors of Harmony following the transaction with ARM Limited. See Item 4 Business- South African Operations.
None of the directors or members of senior management of Harmony or any associate of such director or member of senior management is currently or has been at any time during the past three fiscal years indebted to Harmony.
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INTERESTS OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
Not applicable.
Item 8. Financial Information
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS
Please refer to Item 18. Financial Statements of this annual report.
Legal Proceedings
None of Harmonys property is the subject of pending material legal proceedings. Harmony experiences a number of claims and legal and arbitration proceedings incidental to the normal conduct of its business. Harmonys management does not believe that liabilities related to such claims and proceedings are likely to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to Harmonys consolidated financial condition.
On April 15, 2002, Wadethru Securities (Pty) Ltd (Megamore) brought an action against Harmony in the High Court in South Africa. Megamore has claimed damages totaling R69,403,299 for various claims relating to a Vamping Agreement and a Sale Agreement in respect of Brand 2 Shaft.
Megamore is currently in liquidation and the appointed liquidator will decide whether or not to proceed with this claim. Harmony has prepared a response to each claim to facilitate the liquidators ability to make a decision. Harmony does not believe the Megamore claims have merit, although there is no guarantee that the liquidator will agree not to proceed with the claim.
On September 23, 2002, Harmony and Durban Roodepoort Deep, another South African gold mining company, filed a complaint with the South African Competition Commission against Iscor, a South African steel producer. The complaint alleges that Iscor is abusing its dominant position by charging excessive prices for its local flat steel products and providing inducements for steel purchasers to refrain from importing competing steel products. The Competition Commission did not refer the complaint to the Competition Tribunal. On February 27, 2004, Harmony and Durban Roodepoort Deep referred the complaint to the Competition Tribunal for determination and the parties to the complaint are in the process of exchanging pleadings.
Dividends and Dividend Policy
Harmony has paid interim and final dividends on its ordinary shares in 2002, 2003 and 2004. In each of the last three fiscal years, an interim dividend was declared by the Board for the first six months of the fiscal year and paid during the third quarter of the fiscal year. The final dividend for fiscal 2003 was declared on July 30, 2004 and, accordingly, will be recorded in Harmonys financial statements for fiscal 2004. The holders of Harmonys redeemable convertible preference shares, or the preference shares (none of which are currently outstanding), were not entitled to receive dividends out of Harmonys profits or to participate in any other distribution to the shareholders of Harmony. For information on Harmonys accounting policy relating to dividends, see note 2(u) to the consolidated financial statements.
The following table sets forth the dividends announced and paid in respect of Harmony ordinary shares for the periods indicated.