Earnings Labs

AngloGold Ashanti Plc (AU)

Q2 2006 Earnings Call· Thu, Jul 27, 2006

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Transcript

Charles Carter - Executive Officer, Investor Relations

Management

Welcome to the presentation by the AngloGold Ashanti executive team of our results for the Second Quarter Ended 30th June 2006. The format of the presentation will be as follows; Bobby Godsell, our CEO, will review the company’s financial and operating performance over the period, Venkat, our Financial Director will briefly discuss financial disposition followed by Thero Setiloane, who heads up the marketing wing, briefly review a new all enlisted net core entity and this will be followed by the presentations of two chief operating officers with Neville Nicolau discussing the Africa operations, and Roberto Carvalho Silva covering the international operations. Last but not least, Richard Duffy, who heads up business development and exploration, will review our exploration activities during the quarter. After these presentations, we will take your questions. Before we begin, it is necessary for me to read a declaration regarding forward-looking statements that may be made during this presentation. Certain statements made during this presentation including without limitation those concerning the economic outlook for the gold-mining industry, expectations regarding gold prices, production, cash costs and other operating results, growth prospects and the outlook of AngloGold Ashanti’s operations including the completion and commencement of commercial operations of certain of our exploration and production projects, and our liquidity and capital resources and expenditure contain certain forward-looking statements regarding AngloGold Ashanti’s operations, economic performance, and financial condition. Although AngloGold Ashanti believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to be incorrect. Accordingly, results could differ materially from those set out in the forward-looking statements as a result of among other factors: changes in economic and market conditions, success of business and operating initiatives, changes in the regulatory environment and other government actions, fluctuations in gold prices and exchange rates, and business and operational risk management. For discussion of such factors, refer to AngloGold Ashanti’s Annual Report on Form 20F for the year ended 31 December 2005, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 17 March 2006. AngloGold Ashanti undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after today’s date, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. I will now hand over to Bobby Godsell.

Bobby Godsell - Chief Executive Officer

Management

Thank you, Charles. I am pleased to report an improved financial performance for the June quarter with adjusted headline earnings 63% higher at $140 million of 51 US States proceeds. This improvement was primarily the result of increased production, which was up 6% on the final quarter and a better-received price 10% higher. Regarding safety, the quarter saw a modest improvement in the lost-time injury rate, which improved from 6.8 to 6.6. It also showed a more significant reduction in fatal accidents five this quarter compared to last quarter’s 11. Fatality rates reduced significantly from 0.28 to 0.12. Three operations in the company stand out for the lost-time injury pre-quarter Cripple Creek and Victor in Colorado, Bibiani in at Ghana and Yatela in Mali. These seven operations recorded only a single lost-time injury for the three-month period these being Cerro Vanguardia in Argentina, Sunrise Dam in Australia, Serra Grande in Brazil Morila and Sadiola in Mali, and Iduapriem in Ghana. As we have seen improved safety performance across all our operations from what remains a core focus of the management team. Turning to the operating performance I would characterize the solid production rose 6% to $1.4515 million ounces due primarily to improved results for most of our South African assets where four out of the seven operations reported by our production and lower costs and also several of the international operations particularly Sunrise Dam in Australia and Cerro Vanguardia in Argentina. In South Africa, the Mponeneg, Kopananag and TauTona mines reported particularly strong results with increases of 14%, 11% and 9% respectively and total cash cost improvements of 5% at both the Kopanang and TauTona mines at 8% at Mponeng. For the region, production increased by 6% to some 20,150 kg in total cash cost came in again below the…

Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan - Finance Director

Management

Thank you Bobby. Bobby has noted production was up 6% on the previous quarter with total cash cost 1% lower than that of the last quarter. Our price proceed at $600 an ounce was 10% higher than that of the March quarter and some 5% lower than the average spot price during the quarter. In this higher gold price environment and given the substantially increased volatility that has come to characterize today’s gold markets, you should expect our price received to be in a range of some 5% to 10% off average spot price. Importantly, this is because we continued to deliver into the book as fully as we possibly can. That’s I would point out to you that if you look it up hedge book this past quarter the hedge delta at quarter end was 315 tones or 10.1 million ounces. Marking a 10% reduction or a decrease of some 1.1 million ounces from the previous quarters reported hedge delta. This was achieved despite the gold price that was some $38 per ounce higher as compared to the previous quarter end price. Going forward, we remain committed to opportunistically implementing value accretive hedge reducing strategies although we do not intend to reduce the hedge book at any cost particularly in this highly volatile gold price environment. Our treasurer Mark Lynam is with us today and will be happy to take any questions you may have on the hedge book. In terms of our adjusted headline earnings, you will see that these are 63% higher than the previous quarter at $140 million or $0.51 per share on the enlarged share capital. This improvement has been driven mainly by production and price, together with marginally improved costs. Our financial returns on both capital employees and on equity are now comfortably back in the double digits. Lastly turning to our debt position, the proceeds of our recently completed equity raising and improved cash generation from the business have enabled us to reduce the company’s net debt level by some 38% from $1.66 billion to $1.03 billion during the quarter. The annual rolling net debt to EBITDA ratio improved from 2.27 times at the end of 2005 to 1.1 time as of 30th of June 2006. I’ll now hand you over to Thero to discuss the recent listing of Nufcor Uranium Limited.

Thero Setiloane - Executive Officer, Marketing, Anglo Gold Ashanti

Management

Thank you Venkat. I’m going to briefly walk you through the recent IPO on London's alternative investment market of Nufcor Uranium Limited. First, let me start with some background. Since 1999, AngloGold Ashanti has held 50:50 joint venture with First Rand International in a London based company called Nufcor International Limited. This was established to market and trade nuclear fuel products in various stages of the nuclear fuel cycle including but not limited to our own production of uranium. Nufcor International is today a well-established player in the global uranium products market. It is Nufcor International that has listed a newly created investment company Nufcor Uranium on Aim. This new listing which started trading last Friday under its ticker NU is 10% held by Nufcor International with the rest now being a free float held by institutional investors. The strategy of Nufcor Uranium is to buy and hold uranium in the form of U3O8 for the long term and not to trade it actively. This is really the first time that equity investors can gain direct exposure to the uranium price in the form of U3O8 on a European exchange. As you will know, U3O8 is an ore used in the feedstock in the early stages of production of nuclear fuel for use in nuclear power stations. It can only be transferred between licensed and secure storage facility. In respect of the IPO of Nufcor Uranium based on an offer price of £2.5 cents per ordinary share, the market cap is from £67.6 million or $123 million. Proceeds will be used to acquire £2 million of Uu3O8 from Nufcor International. Having done so, the company will have approximately $22 million in cash for further purchases of U3O8 and to meet operating expenses. Nufcor International is contracted to provide custodial and…

Richard Duffy - Executive Officer, Business Development and Exploration

Management

Thanks Roberto. Exploration highlight in Q2 included the discovery of the new Havana zone at our Tropicana joint venture in Australia. Encouraging initial drew results from two of our Columbian projects, the signing of two regional exploration JVs in Columbia with Bema Gold and (inaudible) respectively, and the signing of a letter of intend for the stolen option of all of our Alaskan exploration properties and databases to international -- lines. Results from drilling of the Tropicana zone into the 34 meters at 4 gems a ton and 29 meters at 4.73gm a ton. Gold mineralization is confirm to extend 1400m along strike and drilling is aimed at testing the dawns of extension gold mineralization, which remains open. At the new Havana zone, significant drill intersect includes 15m at 1.93gms a ton and 20m at 2.1gms a ton and remains open to the North and South and down. We continue to target reaching -- ability in 2008. In Columbia phase one drilling direct to folks I need to talk with some two of projects in central Columbia return engaging initial result with a number of SA still outstanding. We also capitalize on our first move advantage and land taking program by signing two regional exploration JVs which will facilitate accelerated exploration spend in these JV areas of interest. In June we sign an agreement with Bema Gold Corporation to form a new company to explore a select group of our mineral opportunities located in Northern Columbia. Under the terms of this agreement, this new company will have the right to earn 51% interest on any property that we elect to form up within this area of interest. By carrying out a minimum of 3000m of exploration drilling and by matching our prior exploration spend. We have initially agreed to provide…

Charles Carter - Executive Officer, Investor Relations

Management

Thank you Richard and -- invite you to come for questions.

Operator

Operator

Thank you very much. Operator Instructions. Our first question comes from George -- of RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

George - RBC Capital Markets

Analyst · RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead

Thanks. Hi guys, there are two questions. The first one to Neville. Can you just shed a little bit more color to what exactly is going on and as far as sort of medium term outlook?

Neville Nicolau - Chief Operating Officer, Africa

Analyst · RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead

George, as we said in the script -- we had a steady quarter-to-quarter on quarter in terms of production. And we also said that let me emphasize is that there was a decline in grade and the decline in grade was from underground and this is sort of risk, I mean it’s an effective -- very limited developed result, which is up at about five months business still very quite difficult to actually manage the mining. What is encouraging that also bad news is the affected, we managed to up returning from the mine and the profiting capacity of the pit, for the quarter and we actually improved on that. I mean the effect of this is bad news because the cost of course went up in a similar way. What we all finding it over all see is that we you know, the volatility of the monthly production sort of up and down of the monthly production is becoming less to matrix and we are starting to get in to a steady side and for the medium to we all looking forward to some steady improvement but not dramatic improvement.

George - RBC Capital Markets

Analyst · RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead

Can you just give us ounces and cost as well now sort of 2007 what you think is achievable can generate you all right now?

Neville Nicolau

Analyst · RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead

Well, I mean, I think, I mean we had given guidance on this and we will update that guidance as we go along but from where we are at the moment I think you can look forward to some steady improvement going into the future, I really wouldn’t like to say much more than that. There one thing I can add is just is the second quarter actually had one more cost in it in terms of some salary increases which might an another particularly you guys.

George - RBC Capital Markets

Analyst · RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead

Thanks. Just a question from -- one day we can just clarify I believe you might have some comments in the morning conference call about the situation with Anglo, American holding in Anglo gold how are you -- see things developing what were the options are?

Neville Nicolau

Analyst · RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead

Yeah, sure and good to know this the global media works globally, I was asked to comment on the statement made by Anglo American CFO in March I think at the (inaudible) investment conference in Miami where he indicated that and a few have existed fully their gold investment in two to three years time, and I was asked to comment, both about the time table and also about the modalities of that exit. Now I mean, firstly on the time table, I guess that some updates in the earliest type of its schedule would be significant holders for the medium term, and I guess (inaudible) medium term is to two to three years. On the modalities, obviously this is Anglo-American call, they will determine how they how they say that exits. I just pointed it off from AngloGold Ashanti’s point of view, would be keen on the exit being as quick and clean as possible, and then talked about two methods of exits. The one being an M&I activity of some fund, and the other being as the de-merger, that is the distribution in (inaudible) of AngloGold Ashanti shares help the Anglo-American to their own shareholders, and I just think that those were two methods of competing the exit, which would meet the criteria of this company AngloGold Ashanti, are getting the exist happen sooner and quicker then that otherwise be the pick.

George - RBC Capital Markets

Analyst · RBC Capital Markets. Please go ahead

Thanks for clarifying the total.

Operator

Operator

Thank you very much sir. Next question comes from with Victor Flores of the HSBC.

Victor Flores - HSBC

Analyst · the HSBC

Thanks, good morning. Just following up on George’s question, can you give us a sense for what your expectations are for reserved development, because it seems that you’ve struggled quite to get the level of development to where you want it, and that is continuing to have an impact on grade of production.

Mark Lynam

Analyst · the HSBC

Victor, that’s too deep. I mean, we said at the -- this time last year that we hoped to be at 10-month developed reserve by the end of this year, and we are still -- I mean, we are still heading for those numbers. We should be in - at the order of 10 months developed by the end of the year. If you look at the developed results for global, development results, we haven’t had a great quarter and we have taken steps to rectify the situation. The benefits of the refrigeration are starting to show. The infrastructure upgrades are starting to add value and at the moment, we are continually improving the developed results situations. What’s quite important is that we also have, this year completed an extensive review of the business plan of (inaudible) and this is work that is still in progress. We could have a better idea by the end of this year when we actually publish the results as to what the future of (inaudible) is. We are also doing work in terms of the deepening projects, below 50 levels, where we are looking at a series of projects to exploit those reserves, so I mean there’s lot of things going on at (inaudible) at the moment. Most of it is being -- as we have been forecasting for the last two quarters. We had switch up a little bit in the development, but we have put things inside to improve that and we think that by the end of the year we should be a 10 month develop reserve quietly importantly the 10 months developed reserve is the target for the end of the year, by moving into the road with South African mine which have a sort of a comparable mining mix problem. We would be looking for 24 months to develop as a -– to be able to manage mining mix activities and until we get the number up to that level there will be certain, you know it’s difficult to manage mining mix and you know sometimes it will be –- after sometimes it will done, but it’s encouraging from the last quarters is not to stand in the growth that we actually manage to post it to mine and to process the volumes that we require to improve the production is overwhelming.

Victor Flores - HSBC

Analyst · the HSBC

Just a follow up, do you get the sense that you still have a problem with dilution or you think that has been brought under control?

Mark Lynam

Analyst · the HSBC

I mean, we still have dilution that is at higher rate than what we would like it to be significantly a year ago and the benefit of this -- is the definition drilling program is all coming through we are looking quite curiously at the mining method in fact we have a project and it will be about a three months project going at the moment to try and make sure that the definition is drilling results in more efficient mine planning and therefore more efficient extraction of the ore body. So we do look at dilution the right in the last 12 months, but not so at quite level.

Victor Flores - HSBC

Analyst · the HSBC

Okay just following on to your other problem in Geita. Can you give us a slightly better qualification of what you mean by a review of the ore body has indicated lower grade but higher tonnage and what implications that might have for increasing the plying capacity?

Mark Lynam

Analyst · the HSBC

Well I think we cover it a lot of it the script. I mean the problem that we have with gases in terms of interpreting the geographic model is that you’ve got this massive ore body and it’s quite a nice sketch in the presentation. It shows that the ore body plunges and as it get deeper the hanging will thus become quite important, in the hanging the satellite ore body will flow the sort of -– that remind true, when we remove the geological model that we use to integrate this place we found to be not appropriate, we’ve upgraded that model and we are using a valuation model. Technically what we were doing was undervaluing the effect of the internal wide with inner ore body. Because it’s very difficult to mine the ore body as selectively as the previous model required us to do and that we now have a realistic mining methods in relation to the evaluation model of these been a dropping grade, you know, we can't select the ore mining as shop these with the previous model required us to do. As a result of that the gold is still there, but it’s more diluted than it was in our previous interpretation of the model and this has affected the plants. The only other thing to say about these is that although they contribute significant goals they’re quite difficult to mine through because you have to actually drill the ore body to define where these hanging bodies flows off, and this flows down the lake of mining towards the big ore body at the bottom of the push back.

Victor Flores - HSBC

Analyst · the HSBC

So then this is a short-term problem rather than a long-term problem?

Mark Lynam

Analyst · the HSBC

No, push back 5 and push back 6 would have the same effect. Of course we understand the geological model better now and we are better able to forecast what prospect 5 or prospect 6 will be, but the same hanging wall is about those two push back.

Victor Flores - HSBC

Analyst · the HSBC

Okay, thank you, I will say good-bye, and let a few other forecast questions, thank you.

Mark Lynam

Analyst · the HSBC

Thank you Victor.

Operator

Operator

Thank you very much Mr. Our next question comes from Heather Douglas of BMO Capital Markets. Please go ahead ma’am.

Heather Douglas - BMO Capital Markets

Analyst · BMO Capital Markets

Hi good afternoon, everyone. Just have a parallel -- a bit more on Victor’s questions on Geita, can you quantify what the potential of this grade evaluation will be on your reserve grade at the end of the year? You sort of mentioned on the medium term yield of 3 grams per ton implies grade of 3.8 and right now the reserve grade is 4.23, am I doing the math right or is there something I'm ignoring?

Mark Lynam

Analyst · BMO Capital Markets

You know, the numbers are as we forecast them, you are right, we will be able to determine the result guide by the end of the year which is when we publish the reserve we are in a planning process at the moment for value I think that’s what the reserve situation that will be, and we would like to confirm these numbers through our business planning process before we actually publish the reserve figures.

Heather Douglas - BMO Capital Markets

Analyst · BMO Capital Markets

Okay, so that’s being -- you’re not going to tell…

Mark Lynam

Analyst · BMO Capital Markets

You got a very good indication in terms of the yield, you know.

Heather Douglas - BMO Capital Markets

Analyst · BMO Capital Markets

My second question is of South Africa, a couple of years ago there was talks that the government wanted to review the overall income tax formula for the South African gold producers and then also more recently, there’s been some news on the royalty though, can you give us any update?

Mark Lynam

Analyst · BMO Capital Markets

Heather, it’s probably, it was largely expected that the -- would be published for public comment at the end of June. I think that coming out -- I mean our government works -- with the cabinet meetings and I think it was the June 26, it was anticipated the draft bill would be published. What was stated at the cabinet press conference and you can read into what you would like to read, is that the finance minister had decide to hold back the publication of the draft in order that he could better consult the other ministerial colleagues. It’s now expected and the indication was that there would be a months’ delay and that’s all we consult, I mean all I would ask you that is that I am reasonably optimistic that the South African government will not make significant changes to the text receiving for mining. I think they are becoming well aware of the competitive nature of resources -- entry and actually with some important -- the test rights, such -- where Steven very significantly put. So we don’t know that the initial indication, the 3% relatively on revenue full growth. If this change coming my expectation is results should change -- what I mean -- government will do.

Heather Douglas - BMO Capital Markets

Analyst · BMO Capital Markets

Okay, thank you.

Operator

Operator

Thank you very much, our next question comes from Terence Ortslan of TSO & Associates, please go ahead. Terence Ortslan -- TSO & Associates: Terry Ortslan here. You mentioned about the EBITDA ratio -- moving forward, what the ideal that they -- capitalization for -- that we think you will be configuring the balance here on?

Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan

Analyst · TSO & Associates, please go ahead

EBITDA ration, I didn’t understand the full question, if you are -- your question was in terms of the improvement of the net debt to EBIDTA ratio. We have improved in from 2.27 to about 1.1 times. In terms of net debt to capital and net debt to capital employee, we are in just bellow the 20% mark. Terence Ortslan -- TSO & Associates: And a quick question, what you think the ideas was?

Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan

Analyst · TSO & Associates, please go ahead

We are comfortable where we are, in terms of the ratio at present. It does allow us to leverage our balance sheet more if there is a suitable growth opportunity that presents itself and that was the intention of financial strategy anyway. Terence Ortslan -- TSO & Associates: Great -- and then in terms of leaving your balance sheet gain sort of when the opportunity arises, what’s the -- what’s the threshold that you may entertain?

Srinivasan Venkatakrishnan

Analyst · TSO & Associates, please go ahead

As I said you know we can grow in terms of leveraging in our balance sheet certainly up to where we were before of 2.27. We were quite comfortable at that position. The reason we had to raise equity which we did was to fund the growth line of projects which were coming through over the next three years. So if there is a value enhancing opportunity that presents ourselves there’s no reason why we can’t go above the two marks if we choose to do so. Terence Ortslan -- TSO & Associates: Thank you, and on the exploration you’re obviously very active and you illustrated all of the stills that you have done, the JVs and -- could summarize for us in terms of what your net exploration costs may be this year and next year and what the gross numbers may given all those -- people that have spent money for you? Thank you.

Richard Duffy

Analyst · TSO & Associates, please go ahead

Thanks, this is Richard Duffy. I think you can expect our Greenfield exploration spin in our own right, as AngloGold Ashanti to be around $40 million for the 2006 year. If you add to that our Brownfield exploration, you get up a number of around $80 million to $85 million for the year. What we’re doing particularly with the recently announced joint ventures in Columbia is taking advantage of the ground positions we have in Columbia and particular and bringing in partners who can help us to optimally explore the end. We probably -- this year would get about $5 million to $10 million of spin through partners and over time that would increase. So in terms of Greenfield exploration we have been looking to spend in total about $50 million, $40 million ourselves and about $10 million from partners. If you were also asking about our finding cost, we continue to target a cost of around $30 per ounce in terms of our Greenfield exploration to get to an inferred resource. Terence Ortslan -- TSO & Associates: Excellent, thanks. I don’t know if came in late or not but I missed your customary gold market review and the highlights and the expectations -- or did I?

Mark P. Lynam

Analyst · TSO & Associates, please go ahead

Terrance, Mark Lynam here. We didn’t speak at this quarter simply there already enough people talking and there was enough on the agenda. It is covered in the report to shareholders. We remain positive on the gold price, some very good investments demand going through. Yearly off take tails off a little, but through the ETS structure that we are seeing being generated and also to come out of the index fund is significant investment the man been generated for gold and we got positive after sometime we never have to give a number, an exact number to our view but we see its going forward as being volatile and quite positive. Terence Ortslan -- TSO & Associates: Thanks a lot guys for your time, thank you.

Operator

Operator

Thank you very much sir. [Operator Instruction]. Our next question come from Barry Cooper of CIBC please go ahead.

Barry Cooper - CIBC

Analyst · CIBC please go ahead

Yes I’m just wondering if you could elaborate a bit you mention that there was head way being made -- and obviously the decision for go ahead. Could you just elaborate a bit more on what is been done and what accomplishment been made and any chances that may be taking place.

Mark P. Lynam

Analyst · CIBC please go ahead

Okay guys that’s what I heard, all I can elaborate now is the falling we put together the present team we have a very positive alignment meetings with the project team and the two major shareholders, Newmont and ourselves and we set to decide that for the team -– the team is working and putting together some of the key elements, we’ve contracted a design company in Chile and its progression well we just heard that a very brief of revisions on the last three months when the team was put together and we are expecting to have a normal revision. The company has started construction and some of the equipments have been ordered. I think this is –- a summary what’s going on that is nothing - outline that should be highlighted at this point.

Barry Cooper - CIBC

Analyst · CIBC please go ahead

So there is no change in the scope of the projector or anything apart of what have been relate to us?

Mark P. Lynam

Analyst · CIBC please go ahead

No nothing whatsoever and now the scope have been followed in by precision.

Barry Cooper - CIBC

Analyst · CIBC please go ahead

Right okay and then the second question relates to your hedge fund -- I was wondering if you could just simply things for me and tell me how you delivered into the hedge book I realize that done by $1.1 million on so that’s convulsion of a number of things just how much was deliver into the hedge book at what US dollars full price because the calculation that I have suggest that you should have lost more than twice as much as what you have reported i.e., something in excess of $80 million versus the $40 million that you are claiming?

Bobby Godsell

Analyst · CIBC please go ahead

I’ll take that as a compliment and you know it’s –- we had many discussions on this its quiet a dynamic situation, I can’t quote you an exact number that we delivered, but what we did during the quarter --

Barry Cooper - CIBC

Analyst · CIBC please go ahead

And reason for that you can’t because you don’t look at that way or you just don’t have it your fingertip?

Bobby Godsell

Analyst · CIBC please go ahead

I don’t have it at my finger tips and you know the change in the hedge book either as a the result of delivering into some contract and we actively manage the position, we did go in and enter into contract to purchase gold and I think –- I don’t know if it time yet, in our disclosure table you see that we have got along goal position for this year. It’s a long dollar goal position which is the combination of the short ones at the beginning of the quarter, it’s now turn into a long at $680 and you will see that managed over the remainder of the year, but it’s a combination of delivers and purchases except that have made to reduction of 10% in the hedge --

Barry Cooper - CIBC

Analyst · CIBC please go ahead

Okay, but still didn’t answer my question to why there is a $80 million or $40 between different your calculation and mine and I don’t think this is suitable sort of trying to -- into detail I’ll certainly take that offline with and we can discuss it.

Bobby Godsell

Analyst · CIBC please go ahead

Okay, well maybe can count it -- what you call, how many you’ve delivered and what price although they can understand within the fantastic partner.

Barry Cooper - CIBC

Analyst · CIBC please go ahead

Okay thank you.

Operator

Operator

Thank you very much. Our next question comes from John Bridges of JP Morgan. Please go ahead.

John Bridges - JP Morgan

Analyst · JP Morgan. Please go ahead

Hi everybody, just like follow on from Victor’s question. I just wondered to what your extent your difficult of mining in these little spaces right into putting in the bigger equipment whether -- trade off going out there.

Bobby Godsell

Analyst · JP Morgan. Please go ahead

The difficulties in mining the slices off a sanction of the growth down rate and you know we would have to reduce the size of the equipment very, very dramatically and beyond to the economic limits to really mine this place completely and effectively. So, it’s not really a match of the size of the equipment is particularly influencing on mining, the interpretation of what the places would and the size of space and as I said quiet importantly the amount of internal life associated with the places that is -- we you know we actually have not completely replied, the mining fleet -- the guy with the large mining fleet we still have the, you know, the old mining these days. So we do have flexibility in terms of turning around between large and small equipments. It’s our general plan at the moment is to, is to mine through the over burden with the big equipment and once we get into the (inaudible) to put the small equipment in because its -- you know, you can -- doing that. The other thing is that the satellite -- which are cost important grade fillers between the times that we mining but we do need some flexibility in terms of the size of the mining fleet in the smaller --

John Bridges - JP Morgan

Analyst · JP Morgan. Please go ahead

Okay that was great, thanks a lot.

Bobby Godsell

Analyst · JP Morgan. Please go ahead

Sure.

Operator

Operator

Thank you very much ladies and gentlemen. [Operator instructions] Our next question comes from Jason (inaudible) of ASP Advisors, please go ahead.

Unidentified Participant

Analyst

Yes, good morning. With the recent action of Barrick with their overtures, I was just curious whether the projects and a long life projects have any interest is something that you would like to take a look at in the near future?

Bobby Godsell

Analyst · CIBC please go ahead

You know, I just think generally we -- I’m keen to be unhelpful but we can’t speculate on the price deals. Richard maybe ready to be more helpful than I.

Richard Duffy

Analyst · TSO & Associates, please go ahead

Yeah, overall I would first agree with Bobby but certainly say that -- you know, these are properties where Barrick is already involved and I think it’s also interesting it’s unlikely that we would pursue these.

Unidentified Participant

Analyst

Thank you very much.

Operator

Operator

Thank you very much sir. At this time I would like to hand back to Charles Carter as we have no other questions in the queue. Thank you.

Charles Carter

Analyst

I would like to thank participants for joining us on this Earnings Call and all of the slides referred to are on our website. Thank you.