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AngloGold Ashanti
Annual Report 2019

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FY2019 Annual Report · AngloGold Ashanti
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D I V E R S I F I E D ,   D E C I S I V E ,   S U S T A I N A B L E   B U S I N E S S

I N T E G R A T E D   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9

V I S I O N

T O   B E   T H E

LEADING 
MINING 
COMPANY

CONTENTS

M I S S I O N

To crea t e value f or our 
shareholders, our employees and 
our business and social par tners 
through saf el y and responsibl y 
exploring, mining and marketing 
our product s. 

V A L U E S

Our values and belief s guide all 
decision-making and act ivities 
in t he conduct of our business 
to ensure we make a posit ive 
impact . The y underpin our 
environmental, social and 
governance (ESG) perf ormance.

ABOUT ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI

Who we are – corporate profile 

Key features of the year

Our strategy and investment case

How we create value – our business model 

Economic value-added statement

Chairman’s letter

WORLD IN WHICH WE OPERATE

Our external operating environment

Managing our risks and opportunities

Stakeholder engagement and material issues

DELIVERING ON OUR STRATEGY

CEO’s review and outlook

Focus on people, safety and sustainability

People are our business

Managing ESG impacts for sustainability

Ensure financial flexibility and optimise overhead costs and capital expenditure

CFO’s review

Financial review – three-year statistics

Improve portfolio quality and maintain long-term optionality

Regional reviews

Three-year statistics by operation

Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve – summary

Exploration and projects – planning for the future

LEADERSHIP AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Audit and Risk Committee: chairperson’s report 

Corporate governance, board and executive committee 

Remuneration and Human Resources Committee: chairperson’s letter

Remuneration report – overview of remuneration policy

Remuneration report – implementation report 

CORPORATE INFORMATION

Forward-looking statements

Administration and corporate information

V A L U E S

AngloGold Ashanti’s 2019 suite of reports comprises:


Integrated Report

*

Notice of Annual General Meeting and Summarised 
Financial Information (Notice of Meeting) 

Safety and 
Health

Dignity and 
respect

Sunrise Dam

Accountability

Communities

Diversity

Environment

Sustainability Report

Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Report




 Reporting website
*  Publication has been delayed as the forthcoming annual general meeting has been postponed.  

Annual Financial Statements

See www.aga-reports.com.

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PAGE 1

2019 AB OU T  O UR REPORT

Scope, boundary and reporting principles
This integrated annual report, our primary report, covers the year 
from 1 January to 31 December 2019 and describes the relationship 
between AngloGold Ashanti’s operational, financial and sustainable 
development performances and our overarching governance 
framework, how we manage risks and opportunities and our 
remuneration philosophy. In our reporting, we are committed to 
being honest and transparent. Structured in line with our strategic 
objectives, this report provides a concise, balanced review of our 
overall performance and progress made in delivering on our strategy. 
This is done within the context of our external operating environment, 
the ensuing material opportunities, risks and stakeholder concerns 
– as well as the long-term sustainability of our business. We also 
discuss the resource capitals used as we conduct business, our 
impacts, their interrelatedness and the trade-offs made in order to 
deliver on our objectives. More detailed information on our sustainable 
development performance and material issues is presented in the 
 and in the individual , all of which are available online  1 .

In addition to complying with the King IV Report on Corporate 
Governance for South Africa, 2016 (King IV), this integrated report 
also complies with the International Integrated Reporting Council’s 
Framework on Integrated Reporting, the South African Companies 
Act, No.71 of 2008 (as amended) and the JSE Listings Requirements. 
We have also considered the contribution we make to the United 
Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), our support of the 
World Gold Council’s recently introduced Responsible Gold Mining 
Principles, our responsibilities as a member of the International 
Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) and other related targets. 

This is a group level report covering the entire Company, its joint 
ventures and investments. While performance and targets are 
reported regionally, we report fully on all operations managed by 
AngloGold Ashanti. Those operations in which we have an ownership 
interest but do not manage – Kibali and Morila – are partially reported. 
Several asset sales have been recently announced or are currently 
underway (see Corporate status – an update in the Corporate 
profile). There were no significant changes to the scope, boundary 
or measurement methods used in this report. Any comparative 
restatements are indicated. 

Information on joint ventures and other interests is provided if 
considered material. Production, costs and capital expenditure data 
are attributable, unless otherwise indicated. Employee data and 
average workforce data are reported for AngloGold Ashanti with 
joint ventures reported as attributable. Employee data includes both 
permanent employees and contractors. Any significant, material event 
that occurs between the end of the financial year and the date on 
which this report is approved is included. 

1 www.aga-reports.com

Materiality and target audience 
This report is aimed primarily at current and potential 
investors, and provides information considered to be 
material and of interest to them, enabling an informed 
assessment of our ability to create value and the future 
viability of our business. This integrated report will also 
be useful to other stakeholders – communities, various 
levels of government, regulators, non-governmental 
organisations (NGOs), among others – who have an 
interest in our performance and outlook. 

The material risks and issues reported are those 
considered most likely to affect the sustainability of 
our business in the short, medium and long term. 
In identifying these, as well as any opportunities 
identified, we have considered our operating context 
and stakeholder feedback received during the year. Our 
most material stakeholder issues, which are referenced 
in this report, are discussed more fully in the .

Approvals and assurance 
The information presented in this report has been subject to either 
an internal or external audit. Internal audit and approval processes 
include, among others, regular management assurance and reviews 
of information and data published. 

In addition, our operations are subjected to risk-based, integrated, 
combined assurance reviews of the commercial, safety and 
sustainability aspects of our business. The outcomes of these 
internal processes and external assurances, as well as of any 
independent technical reviews, provide reasonable assurance to 
allow the board, on the recommendation of the Audit and Risk 
Committee, to determine the effectiveness of our internal control 
systems and procedures, and thus to ensure the accuracy of the 
information presented. 

Financial information has been externally audited and signed off by 
Ernst & Young (EY) while certain, selected sustainability performance 
indicators reported have also been assured by EY – for further 
details, see the .

Navigating this document

1

Indicates a hyperlink to an external source of information. All references to 
other 2019 reports are hyperlinked, as are references to other sections in 
this report. These hyperlinks are indicated by orange text.

Note: Unless otherwise stated, $ or dollar refers to US dollar throughout this 
report. All information is attributable unless otherwise specified.

Online Integrated Report 2019

In addition to housing the full suite of 2019 annual 
reports, our online version of this integrated report 
presents its contents in an easily accessible format.

Legend of icons used in this report

Strategic focus areas

Focus on people, safety and sustainability

Ensure financial flexibility

Optimise overhead, costs and capital expenditure

Improve portfolio quality

Material issues  1

Employee safety

Employee and community health

 Contributing to resilient, self-sustaining communities 

Responsible environmental stewardship

Employee, community and asset security

 Artisanal and small-scale mining

Respecting human rights

Talent management, skills development and  
employee relations 

Maintain long-term optionality

 Navigating political uncertainty and risk

1  See  for further detail on these material issues

Our five capital resource inputs 

NATURAL  
CAPITAL

HUMAN AND 
INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL

MANUFACTURED  
CAPITAL

FINANCIAL 
 CAPITAL

SOCIAL AND  
RELATIONSHIP CAPITAL

Directors’ statement of responsibility and commitment

The AngloGold Ashanti board, together with executive management, views the matters discussed in this report to be those 
that most influence our ability to successfully achieve our strategic objectives, to manage the risks we face and to create value. 
It is the board’s collective opinion that the Integrated Report 2019 presents a balanced and fair account of AngloGold Ashanti, 
our performance in the past year and our outlook for the short, medium and the longer term. The board confirms AngloGold 
Ashanti’s commitment to ethical leadership, governance, and to our corporate citizenship and assurance responsibilities, which 
are reflected throughout this report, in line with King IV, Principle 5.

The board, assisted by the Audit and Risk and the Social, Ethics and Sustainability committees, is ultimately responsible for 
ensuring and confirming the integrity and completeness of this report as well as of the entire suite of 2019 reports. Having 
applied its collective mind to the preparation, information and presentation of this report, the board resolved that all material 
issues have been addressed and that this report presents a fair and balanced view of AngloGold Ashanti’s integrated 
performance for the year ended 31 December 2019.

This report was approved by the board of directors on 27 March 2020.

Chairman

Sipho M Pityana

Chief Executive Officer

Kelvin Dushnisky

Chief Financial Officer

Christine Ramon

Chairperson: Audit and  
Risk Committee
Rhidwaan Gasant

Chairperson: Social, Ethics and 
Sustainability Committee
Nozipho January-Bardill

Chairperson: Remuneration and 
Human Resources Committee
Maria Richter

Independent non-executive directors:
Alan Ferguson, Albert Garner, Nelisiwe Magubane, Maria Ramos, Rodney Ruston, Jochen Tilk 

PAGE 2

PAGE 3

2019 WH O W E  AR E – CO RPORATE PROFILE

A ngloGold Ashanti  Limited ( AngloGol d  Asha nt i ) i s  a n  i n d e p e n de nt , g lo ba l  g o l d  m i n i ng   c o m pa ny   w i th  a   d i v ers e, 

high -q uality portfolio of operations, pr oj ect s  a n d  exp l o ra ti o n a ct i vi ti e s   a c r o s s  t e n  c o u nt ri e s  o n  f o u r  c o n ti n en ts . 
While gold is our principal product, we  al so  p r o du c e  s i l ve r  ( Arge nt in a )  a n d  s u l p hu r i c   a c i d   (Bra zi l ) a s 
by-produ cts and will pursue value-cre ati n g  o pp or tu n i ti e s  i n o t he r  mi ne ra l s   w he re   we  c a n  l e v e ra g e   o u r  ex i st i ng 
assets, skills and experience to enh an ce va l ue  cre a ti o n.

ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI AT A GLANCE

Geographic shareholdings (%) 

OUR 
FOOTPRINT

•  Third largest gold producer globally and the largest on 

the African continent, producing 3.3Moz and employing 
34,263 people in 2019

•  Leading responsible gold miner in meaningful 

partnership with host communities and government – 
we aim to create valuable outcomes for stakeholders 
over the long term 

•  Listed on four stock exchanges around the world – 
the Johannesburg, New York, Australian and Ghana 
exchanges – and included in the JSE Top 40 Index, 
FTSE/JSE Responsible Investment Index Series (of 
the FTSE4Good Index), Responsible Mining Index and 
the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (now part of S&P 
Global Inc) and the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index

•  A geographically diverse shareholder base includes 
some of the world’s largest financial institutions 

•  Market capitalisation of $9.28bn as at  

31 December 2019 

CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS

•  Obuasi redevelopment achieved first gold pour in 

December 2019

•  Sale of South African and Mali assets announced

•  Sale process of asset in Argentina advanced

•  Closure at Yatela is on track and its sale is pending, 

subject to fulfillment of conditions precedent

South Africa 
United Kingdom 
Europe 
North America 
Asia 
Rest of the world and other 

24
16
7
43
6
4

4

5

6

8

7

9

2

3

1

10

CONTINENTS 14  
4  
3  
4  

OPERATIONS

PROJECTS

JOINT VENTURE 
PARTNERS

Geita

Our operations and projects are grouped regionally as follows:

AMERICAS
1  Argentina
  Cerro Vanguardia (92.5%) (1)
2  Brazil

Serra Grande
AGA Mineração

3  Colombia
  Gramalote (51%)*

La Colosa
  Quebradona (2)

CONTINENTAL AFRICA
4  Guinea

Siguiri (85%)

5  Mali
  Morila (40%) (5)

Sadiola (41%) (3)

6  Ghana

Iduapriem
  Obuasi (4)
7 

 Democratic Republic of the 
Congo (DRC)
Kibali (45%) (5)

8  Tanzania
  Geita

SOUTH AFRICA
9  South Africa
  Mponeng (6) 

Surface Operations (6) 

AUSTRALIA
10  Australia

Sunrise Dam
Tropicana (70%)

Note: Percentages indicate the ownership interest held by AngloGold Ashanti.

 All operations are 100%-owned unless otherwise indicated

Legend

 Operations  

 Projects  

 Asset sale underway  

 Greenfields exploration

(1)  Sale process at an advanced stage

(2) 

 Change in ownership to 100% as B2Gold's shareholding was converted to a share of profits. Will be a copper mine producing  
gold and silver as by-products

(3)  Agreement and sale announced December 2019

(4)  Obuasi's redevelopment project began in 2019

(5)  Kibali and Morila are managed and operated by Barrick Gold Corporation (Barrick)

(6)  Agreement and sale announced post year end in February 2020

*  An agreement reached for B2Gold to earn back 50:50 partnership effective from 1 January 2020

PAGE 4

PAGE 5

2019  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
KEY  FE AT URES OF  THE YEAR

IMPROVED PORTFOLIO

2019 – another redefining year 

for AngloGold Ashanti.   
We improved the 

quality of our portfolio, balanced competing 

3.3Moz

production in line with guidance
(2018: 3.4Moz)

3.5Moz

of Ore Reserve added in 2019  
before depletion

0.91 times

adjusted net debt to adjusted  

EBITDA

capital needs, delivered the Obuasi 
redevelopment project on time and within 
budget, supplemented the Ore Reser ve in our 
core portfolio outside South Africa, further 
reduced debt and brought balance sheet 
leverage below target and grew our 
dividend, all while managing our 
operations through their safest 
year on record.

$998/oz

all-in sustaining cost
(2018: $976/oz)

$814m

capital expenditure
(2018: $721m)

57% increase in dividends per share

$776/oz

total cash cost
(2018: $773/oz)

$127m

free cash flow
(2018:$67m)

REPORTABLE
ENVIRONMENTAL 

INCIDENTS3 

(2018: 2)

ZERO 

fatal ities 

in  2019

PAGE 6

PAGE 7

2019 OUR S TR ATEGY AND INVESTMENT CAS E

OUR CORE 
STRATEGIC 
FOCUS AREAS
O pti m is e o v erh e a d, c o sts  
a n d c a pital e x p e n diture

ortfolio q

prove p

ality

Im

u

E

n

s

u

r

e

fi

n

a

n

c

i

a

l

fl

e

x

i

b

i

l

i

t

y

Supporting our 
strateg y for 
sustainable cash 
flow im pro vements 
and returns

Focus on people,  
safety and sustainability

n

ality
ptio
m o
-te
g
n

r

aintain lo

M

People are the 
foundation of our 
business. Our business 
must operate according 
to our values if it is to 
remain sustainable in the 
long term.

See  and 


We must ensure our 
balance sheet always 
remains able to meet 
our core funding needs. 

All spending decisions  
must be thoroughly 
scrutinised 
 to ensure they are 
optimally structured and 
necessary to fulfil our 
core business objective.

We have a portfolio of 
assets that must  
be actively managed to 
improve the  
overall mix of our 
production base as we 
strive for a competitive 
valuation as a business.

While we are focused 
on ensuring the most 
efficient day-to-day 
operation of our 
business, we must keep 
a close eye on creating 
a competitive pipeline of 
long-term opportunities.

See , 
 
and 

See  and 


See  and 

See  
and 

C onsistent deliver y on targets, prudent cost management, maintaining 

balance sheet flexibility, and optionality to deliver value-adding growth, all 
while working towards zero harm in the workplace

O U R   I N V E S T M E N T   C A S E : 

Prioritising 
margins over 
volume; and 
improving cost 
management

Ongoing portfolio 
improvements and 
rationalisation, 
extensive and 
proven world-
class exploration 
programme to 
maintain high-
quality portfolio of 
long-life assets with 
a track record of 
disciplined capital 
allocation and 
project delivery

Transparent, 
decisive 
management 
team, focused on 
minimising risk 
and improving 
shareholder 
returns

Clear and 
predictable 
strategic approach 
with a decisive 
response to a 
lower gold price 
and maintaining 
discipline in a 
higher gold price 
environment

Balance sheet 
flexibility; 
appropriate liquidity, 
and maturities  
while within set 
covenant ratio

Well-developed 
engagement 
model ensures 
strong stakeholder 
relationships and 
maintains licence  
to operate

STEADY PROGRESS

Increase in free 
cash flow

Increase in average 
gold price received

Decline in adjusted  
net debt

Improvement  
in AIFR

90%

10%

5%

31%

2019: $127m

2019: $1,387/oz

2019: $1.572bn

2019: 3.31

2018: $67m

2018: $1,261/oz

2018: $1.659bn

2018: 4.81

PAGE 8

PAGE 9

2019  
 
HOW W E  CREATE VALUE – OUR BUSINES S MODEL

WHAT WE DO

W e creat e value by safely and respon si b l y mi n i n g  a n d  ma r ke ti n g  o u r   p r o d uc t s .  De l i v e r i n g   o n  o u r   m i s s i on 

entails ensuring that our business  mo de l   a n d s tra t e g y a re  su f fi c i e n tl y   r o b u s t  a n d   fl ex i b l e   t o   a d a p t  t o t h e 
ever-changing, dynamic world in wh i ch  w e  o p e ra t e. 

Understanding the world in which we operate, how it impacts us, stakeholder expectations and how we impact others, is essential to 
successful delivery on our strategy and value creation. This understanding enables effective planning to mitigate risks, act on opportunities 
and deliver on our strategic objectives.

UNDERSTANDING OUR CONTEXT

Operating environment

Political environments, location, global macro-economics, 
and financial markets all have an impact on our ability 
to create value. Analysing, monitoring and evaluating 
variables and trends in our external environment guide us 
in identifying and managing risks and opportunities, and 
delivery on our strategy, enabling us to create value in the 
short and long term.

Key risks and opportunities
Risks: 

Elevated political and country risk

Operational underperformance

Delivery of growth projects

 Adverse gold, commodity and currency 
movements

Cost competitiveness

Covid-19*: see 

Serra Grande

Opportunities:

Stakeholder relations

Similarly, our stakeholders can potentially have an impact 
on our operations and licence to operate. Their needs 
and expectations, our impact on them and the quality 
of our relationships with them can potentially affect our 
performance and ability to create value. Positive, transparent 
and regular interaction with stakeholders helps us to identify 
and better manage those material issues which matter most 
to stakeholders. 

 Balanced and disciplined approach  
to capital allocation 

 Portfolio optionality through exploration and 
greenfield projects

 Business planning, optimisation 
and streamlining portfolio

Improved production mix and cost profile

Higher gold price

Material issues  1

The material matters identified through feedback from our stakeholder engagement  
in terms of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors are:

Environment: 

Responsible environmental stewardship

Social: 

Employee safety

Serra Grande

Employee and community health

Contributing to resilient, self-sustaining communities 

Employee, community and asset security

 Artisanal and small-scale mining

 Talent management, skills development and employee relations

Governance: 

Respecting human rights 

 Navigating political uncertainty and risk

1 See  for further detail on these material issues

GOVERNANCE

All that we do is guided by an overarching governance framework – decision-making, the conduct of 
our business and stakeholder engagement

Our core business activities are …

1

3

Exploration and mine 
development

Generating revenue,  
financial management

STRATEGY 
AND STRATEGIC 
OBJECTIVES

Mining, processing  
and refining

Rehabilitation 
and closure

2

4

Simultaneously, we acknowledge and act on our corporate social responsibilities

Our strategy is …

…to generate sustainable cash flow improvements and shareholder 
returns by focusing on five core strategic areas, each of which 
drives our plans for inward investment to enable improved quality of 
production, increased margins, extended mine lives and a portfolio 
that is viable in the longer term. 

O pti m is e o v erh e a d, c o sts  
a n d c a pital e x p e n diture

Im

prove p

ortfolio q

u

ality

E

n

s

u

r

e

fi

n

a

n

c

i

a

l

fl

e

x

i

b

i

l

i

t

y

Supporting our 
strateg y for 
sustainable cash 
flow impro vements 
and returns

Focus on people,  
safety and sustainability

n

ality
ptio
m o
-te
g
n

r

aintain lo

M

Strategic planning goes hand in hand with the responsible and efficient 
allocation of resources. See .

Creating and sharing value 

Our overall aim is to create sustained long-
term value for our stakeholders – employees, 
communities, investors and other business and 
social partners – and to leave communities and 
society better off for our having been there.

We ensure that we deliver on our mission and 
strategy and that we respond thoughtfully to 
opportunities while managing and minimising 
risks effectively.

Value by stakeholder:

For investors
Consistent, sustained returns by creating value, 
delivering sustainable free cash flows and growing 
dividends

For employees
Employment means learning and earning – training 
and skills development. This includes continuously 
nurturing a culture of accountability and respect

For communities
Investment in host communities – jobs, local 
economic development, infrastructure, health and 
education. We work in partnership to ensure that 
communities are socially and economically viable 
post mining. This includes promoting and facilitating 
local procurement and enterprise development as 
well as addressing and mitigating our social and 
environmental impacts

For governments
Contributions to the national fiscus, both directly and 
indirectly, with the payment of royalties and taxes 
and personal income tax on behalf of employees

PAGE 10

PAGE 11

2019  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EC O N OMIC VALUE-ADDED STATEMENT
For the year ended 31 December 2019

GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF ECONOMIC VALUE

ECONOMIC VALUE GENERATED

US dollar million

Gold sales and by-product income (1)

Interest received

Royalties received

Profit/(loss) from sale of assets

Income from investments

Other income

Total economic value generated

ECONOMIC VALUE DISTRIBUTED

US dollar million

$4.26bn

total economic value generated

2019

2018

 4,080 

 3,943 

 20 

 3 

 1 

 139 

 16 

 17 

 10 

 (20)

 95 

–

 4,259 

 4,045 

2019

2018

Related SDGs

Breakdown of economic value distributed – 2019

CONTRIBUTING TO THE SDGs

ECONOMIC VALUE SUMMARY

Total distributed by recipient (2) 

 3,316 

 3,326 

$559m 
$808m 

Employees

Salaries and wages

Training and development

Government

Current tax (3)

Royalties (4)

Employee taxes (4)

Production, property and other taxes (4)

 559 

 547 

 12 

 808 

 298 

 160 

 236 

 114 

 713 

 698 

 15 

 717 

 242 

 151 

 234 

 90 

$26m 
$1,715m 
$208m 

ECONOMIC VALUE RETAINED

Community (5) 

 26 

 21 

Suppliers and services

 1,715 

 1,673 

Providers of capital

Finance costs and unwinding of obligations

Dividends

 208 

 181 

 27 

 202 

 178 

 24 

943

719

(1)  Gold income increased by 3% due to the higher gold price received for the year 2019

(2)   Economic distribution providing human, financial, social, natural and manufactured capital, guided by business objectives and material issues identified 

through the operating process to ensure sustainable long-term value retention for stakeholders, underpinned by our key behavioural programme 
operational excellence, implemented at every step of the business from exploration through the entire chain to divestment/disposal

(3)  Current taxation includes normal taxation and withholding taxation on dividends paid per jurisdiction in which the group operates

(4)  Employee, production, property and other taxes and royalties reported on a cash basis

(5)  Community and social investments exclude expenditure by equity accounted joint ventures

Suppliers and services 
Government 
Employees 
Providers of capital 
Communities 

$m

1,715
808
559
208
26

Total distributed:

$3.32bn

A c r o s s   t h e   g r o u p ,  r e f u n d s   a r e   d u e   t o  A n g l o G o l d  A s h a n t i   f o r   i n p u t   t a x 
a n d   f u e l   d u t i e s   f o r   a n   a m o u n t   o f   $ 3 2 9 m   ( 2 0 1 8 :  $ 2 7 6 m ) ,  i n c l u d i n g 
a t t r i b u t a b l e   a m o u n t s   o f   e q u i t y - a c c o u n t e d   j o i n t   v e n t u r e s ,  w h i c h   h a v e 
r e m a i n e d   o u t s t a n d i n g   f o r   p e r i o d s   l o n g e r   t h a n   t h o s e   p r o v i d e d   f o r   i n   t h e 
r e s p e c t i v e   s t a t u t e s .

Value distributed

78%

Value retained for growth

22%

PAGE 12

PAGE 13

2019  
 
 
 
 
 
CH A IR MA N'S LETT ER

C o m m i t t e d   t o   t h e   r e s p o n s i b l e 
c o n d u c t   o f   o u r   b u s i n e s s ,   i n 
l i n e   w i t h   o u r   v a l u e s

Sipho M. Pityana
Chairman

FOCUS 
ON ESG

Dear Stakeholder,
The year 2019 started on a tragic note when on 25 January the 
Brumadinho tailings dam in Brazil suffered a catastrophic failure, wiping 
everything in its wake and claiming 270 lives. The latter part of 2019 
saw the emergence of an infectious ailment caused by a new virus, the 
coronavirus (covid-19), whose first epicentre was China before spreading 
across the globe, upending lives, disrupting economic activity and 
sending markets into a tailspin. 

For AngloGold Ashanti, last year marked a record safety performance 
for the Company and an impressive delivery on our critical strategic 
objectives. For the first time in the history of this business, we recorded 
zero fatalities and the all injury frequency rate, the broadest measure of 
workplace safety, decreased to 3.31 injuries per million hours worked 
compared to 4.81 injuries per million hours worked in 2018. These 
unprecedented achievements are a result of cumulative investment, 
many years of sustained effort and an unwavering commitment to our 
ambition of zero harm. 

Regrettably, in March 2020, a fatal seismic-related incident cost 
the lives of three colleagues: Johannes Radebe, Lucas Maapea, 
and Xolani Ngqwemese. This was to be followed soon after by a 
tramming-related accident in which Thabo Rakometsi died. We 
extend our sincere condolences to the families, colleagues, friends 
and communities of the deceased. A serious setback no doubt, but 
also a rude reminder, if there was ever need for one, that we must 
constantly guard against complacency while maintaining an emphasis 
on the constant need for vigilance.

Shaken by the Brumadinho tailings dam collapse in Brazil that resulted 
in a deluge of toxic mud that inundated people, homes and damaged 
the environment, we have actively worked with regulators and local 
communities to ensure confidence in the design and safety of our tailings 
storage facilities (TSFs), and in our related governance and oversight. 
Our board site visit to our operations Brazil left us with an increased 
resolve to do even more to ensure the integrity of our TSFs. 

This unfortunate event and other developments that include evolving 
societal expectations of companies, highlight the importance of 
environment, sustainability, governance and data stewardship (ESG&D) 
risks and opportunities across industry sectors in terms of their ability to 
destroy, create and/or sustain value. Failure to effectively manage these 
factors risks lost business opportunities and the erosion of investor, 
employee and societal trust. 

PAGE 14

ESG&D focus 
AngloGold Ashanti is driven by value-accretive strategies to achieve 
its business and financial objectives and we conduct our business 
responsibly, in line with our values. We carry a burden of responsibility 
for environmental stewardship, social justice, good governance, 
good corporate citizenship, diversity and inclusion and human rights, 
collectively characterised as ESG&D considerations. Hence our efforts 
to ensure that host communities share with us the benefits of mining, 
and that the countries in which we operate see fiscal benefits from the 
responsible development of their natural resources. 

ESG&D is core to the strategy and long-term sustainability and health of 
our business. We accept the need to drive consistent improvement in 
this regard, and this is reflected in our commitment to decent work for 
our employees, enhancing workforce diversity including race and gender 
in our organisation, and reducing our carbon emissions. For more on 
these, see  in this report. 

Our ESG&D performance receives constant attention and scrutiny from 
the Social, Ethics and Sustainability Committee of the board. Equally 
important, we are a business that is committed to harmonising the 
needs of all its stakeholders. Similarly, the board Investment Committee 
has ensured that we allocate our capital responsibly, efficiently and that 
we invest in the sustainability of the business and create value for all 
our stakeholders. This integrated report, and the accompanying , 
provide an account of our efforts in this regard. While we have made 
good progress, there remains much more to be done.

We are encouraged that ESG&D considerations have become 
increasingly important for institutional investors, who are rightly paying 
ever closer attention to the non-financial aspects of the performance 
of the companies in which they invest. It is encouraging for us to see 
private capital being deployed to solve some of society’s most pressing 
challenges, notably climate change, entrenched social inequality, 
sustainability and environmental issues, including water security, 
biodiversity loss, waste and plastics in the ocean. We have anchored 
our priorities with the targets set out in the United Nations Sustainable 
Development Goals (the SDGs).

Simultaneously, we seek to ensure that the providers of capital – who 
have ample alternative placement options – are also well rewarded for 
investing in our Company. For us to achieve all of those things, we seek 
to ensure that we allocate our capital responsibly and efficiently and 
invest in the long-term health of our business.

Ensuring that these often-disparate needs are met to the greatest extent 
possible – and that expectations are appropriately managed along the 
way – lies at the heart of our commitment to ensure we maintain and 
strengthen our licence to operate. Achieving that balance requires honest 
dialogue and a clear understanding of these often-competing needs.

Capital allocation and asset sales
Our asset rationalisation strategy is driven by a single-minded disciplined 
asset capital allocation focus. Hence our decision to sell our assets in 
Mali, Argentina and South Africa while simultaneously recommissioning 
Obuasi in Ghana. These decisions have inevitably attracted much 
attention, particularly given our long operating history in each jurisdiction. 
We are jurisdiction agnostic and asset quality focused. 

As a board, we are determined to ensure that the Company’s finite 
capital is appropriately allocated to realise those opportunities that will 
deliver the best returns through the economic cycle. Given the breadth of 
our portfolio, we have several options from which to choose.

We firmly believe that by placing these assets in the hands of responsible 
new owners who have different investment priorities to ours, – Sadiola, 
Cerro Vanguardia, Mine Waste Solutions and Mponeng – will have longer 
and more productive lives, thereby securing jobs for our employees for a 
longer period than they would have had in our hands. 

The sale of the South African assets, agreed soon after our financial year 
end, is a case in point. Harmony Gold Mining Limited (Harmony), a deep-
level mining specialist with a long history of operating in South Africa, 
has already indicated it will do the work and due diligence necessary to 
extend the life of Mponeng, maintaining desperately needed jobs, tax 
revenues and associated benefits, well beyond the timespan we had 
envisaged. 

Gold price tailwind and volatile economic 
environment
The gold price provided a strong tailwind during the year, as investors 
once again migrated toward its safe-haven qualities. The growing 
global stock of negative-yielding debt and a steady flow of unsettling 
macro-economic and geopolitical news from across the world 
reinforced the attractiveness of gold as a hedge. These factors have 
only increased in the new year, with heightened Iran-US tensions and 
the worrying prospect of a global coronavirus pandemic sending bullion 
to its highest level in more than six years. Additionally, tension between 
oil producers has put pressure on the oil price and markets are in 
turmoil with no end in sight. 

The board and management remain resolute that we will not replicate 
the gold industry’s mistakes of the past, in allowing rising costs, 
poor investment choices and undisciplined acquisitions to erode 
the margin benefit that the current higher gold price brings. The 
Investment Committee provides robust oversight to ensure this 
discipline is maintained.

We will continue to invest in our orebodies to extend their lives, provide 
much-needed operating flexibility and bring on stream new production. 
We will lower debt to improve leverage and reduce the overall risk profile 
of the business. And we will pay dividends to shareholders in line with 
our policy, while these capital priorities are unchanged.

As regards the covid-19 pandemic, the well-being of all AngloGold 
Ashanti employees is our priority. Covid-19 is the single biggest risk 
facing not only our business, but also the world economy. We have 
extensive experience in managing the Ebola virus in West Africa and 
other communicable diseases, and we intend to put this invaluable 
capability to good use during this time. Coupled with our strategy to 

strengthen our health discipline, every effort will be made to effectively 
manage its impact. This is a challenge to which we are adapting, and 
we are working closely with our employees, industry partners and the 
governments in all the countries in which we operate to manage the 
crisis and ensure business continuity while complying with applicable 
regulations and country restrictions during this time. 

This pandemic, which is still evolving, has resulted in drastic actions by 
governments across the world, potentially leading to a global economic 
recession. To extricate the world from this shock requires a co-ordinated 
effort by all stakeholders and we are encouraged by the efforts of 
the World Health Organization in working with authorities and global 
experts to better understand this virus, its impact and, importantly, in 
guiding national responses to arrest its spread. In this era of stakeholder 
capitalism, it is crucial that in the midst of this crisis the livelihoods of the 
most vulnerable in our societies are protected and that health systems 
remain intact because, while we are currently pushing back against this 
virus, other communicable diseases including malaria and TB are also to 
be kept at bay. 

Strategic follow-through
In my letter last year, I spoke of our ongoing work to unlock the latent 
value that exists within our Company. We remain as committed as 
ever to that task, with the knowledge that improving our fundamental 
valuation will be the product of several initiatives, including, among 
others, consistent delivery on our commitments, optimisation of our 
orebodies, disciplined allocation of capital, improved cash conversion, 
having a remuneration approach that enhances delivery on long-term 
strategy and continuing to strengthen our license to operate. I’m pleased 
to note that the management team has each of these areas in focus, and 
the board continues to monitor their progress in each. 

Conclusion
Regrettably two board members – Nozipho January-Bardill and 
Rodney Ruston – will not be standing for re-election at the forthcoming 
Annual General Meeting (AGM), in accordance with board policies and 
guidelines. I thank both for their significant contribution over almost 
a decade in helping steer this company through the commodity 
downturn in a prudent and responsible way. Their efforts have helped 
ensure that AngloGold Ashanti is well placed to take advantage of the 
current upturn.

The board has nominated two new directors for election by shareholders 
at the 2020 AGM. We are pleased to welcome the newly appointed 
independent non-executive directors – Maria Ramos and Nelisiwe 
Magubane – who joined our board of directors with effect from 1 June 
2019 and 1 January 2020, respectively. They bring a depth and breadth 
of financial, technical and corporate experience  1  that will ensure the 
board retains strong oversight of the Company and is effective in working 
with the executive leadership in setting the appropriate strategy. 

Finally, I’d like, on behalf of the board, to thank the executive leadership 
team and every employee across the organisation for their tireless 
efforts and dedication, not only in achieving our strategic objectives but 
in upholding the values of the Company while doing so. To my fellow 
directors, thank you for your counsel, support, and robust engagement 
with issues that are all invaluable to making a success of this endeavour.

Sipho M. Pityana
Chairman
27 March 2020

1 See  for further detail

PAGE 15

2019 S E C T I O N   2

WORLD IN 
WHICH WE 
OPERATE

E x p l a i n i n g   h o w   e x t e r n a l 
f a c t o r s   i n   t h e   w o r l d   i n 
w h i c h   w e   o p e r a t e   a f f e c t 
u s ,   t h e   r e s u l t a n t   r i s k s   a n d 
o p p o r t u n i t i e s ,   w h a t   w e   d o   i n 
r e s p o n s e   a n d   o u r   e n g a g e m e n t 
w i t h   s t a k e h o l d e r s

Our external operating environment

Managing our risks and opportunities

Stakeholder engagement and material issues

18

20

30

PAGE 16

PAGE 17

Geita

2019 OUR E X T ER NAL  OPERATING ENVIRONMENT

External factor/variable

Explanation and potential impact on value

Our response 

T he business environment in which we operate is dynamic and complex, with influence from several external factors, 

which are beyond our control. 

This can potentially affect our performance, ability to deliver on our strategy and its objectives, and thus to create value. The following 
factors have been identified and are considered as we strive to position AngloGold Ashanti to realise opportunities and to minimise risks. 

External factor/variable

Explanation and potential impact on value

Our response 

Global socio-economic and 
political outlook

Related strategic  
focus areas: 

Increasing pressure 
to reduce emissions, 
and further mitigate 
environmental impacts 
related to climate change

Gold price volatility:
The Company’s business activities are focused on the 
production of gold, and thus is heavily exposed to the 
gold price. The gold price is influenced by global markets, 
geopolitical and macroeconomic factors, in addition to 
fundamental supply and demand drivers. 

Exchange rate volatility:
The gold price is determined on global markets and based 
in US dollars. However, the Company’s operating costs are 
sensitive to local currency movements in Brazil, Argentina, 
Australia and South Africa.

Global socio-economic factors:
The outbreak of the coronavirus (covid-19) and the US-China 
trade war have increased global economic uncertainty, causing 
global stock markets to fall sharply and boosting the gold price.

The covid-19 virus has had a major economic impact with 
cities placed on lock down and border restrictions imposed by 
some countries across the world. This is having an impact on 
the global economy and may potentially impact supply-chain 
logistics.

There could also be ramifications for our operations should 
employees contract the virus or due to mine operations having 
to be suspended. 

There is mounting pressure on mining companies to reduce 
their emissions of greenhouse gases, and to promote 
responsible practices in line with the Paris Accord, Conference 
of the Parties (COP) on Climate Change, the SDGs and the 
TCFD (Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures) 
and related emission reduction targets.

Related strategic  
focus areas:

Water is a valuable natural resource whose availability is impacted 
by climate change – either during periods of extreme heat and 
drought (Australia) or periods of extreme rain (Brazil, Ghana). 

Related material issue:

•  Focus on Operational Excellence initiatives 
with the aim to counter cost inflation and 
achieve cost savings

•  Expand margins, focusing on quality 

ounces over volumes 

•  Portfolio optimisation focused on reducing 

costs and maximising margins

•  Actively work to mitigate any major 

disruptions due to covid-19

For more on the preparedness work being carried 
out internally, see information below this table

•  Careful monitoring of freight and shipping 

pricing and delays

•   Focus on continuously improving our ESG 

performance 

•   Identify and align corporate targets with 

SDGs and other guidelines, where relevant

•   Aim to align reporting on environmental 

management and climate-related impact  
with the guidelines and recommendations of 
the TCFD

•   Continue to comply with and meet investor 

requirements on our environmental impact as 
part of the industry frameworks, standards 
and guidelines, which include the ICMM, the 
UN-supported Principles for Responsible 
Investment (PRI), the United Nations Global 
Compact (UNGC) and the World Gold 
Council’s Responsible Gold Mining Principles, 
among others

Uncertain and increasingly 
rigorous regulatory 
environment 

Related strategic  
focus areas:

Regulatory certainty is important in making long-term 
investments in assets that span several decades. Potential 
regulatory changes relate to mining rights, the payment 
of taxes and royalties, and operating or closure and 
decommissioning requirements can have an impact on a 
project’s investment returns.

Related material issue:

Increasing and more onerous regulations can result 
in increases in the cost of compliance, which may 
be compounded by any uncertainty in application or 
understanding. This can affect the financial position of the 
business and its sustainability as well as affect relationships 
with government and regulators. 

Increasingly demanding 
stakeholder expectations

Currently, companies, particularly mining companies, are facing 
greater scrutiny worldwide from various stakeholders:

Related strategic  
focus area:

Related material issue:

•   The investment community and ratings agencies have 

expectations relating to financial and operating performance 
– and increasingly in terms of ESG factors – and to deliver 
on strategic objectives and commitments 

•   Governments’ expectations relate to our contributions to 

national/local economies and the fiscus, and to partnering in 
service delivery

•   Communities have expectations of economic benefits 
– employment and procurement opportunities, and the 
provision of infrastructure, health care and education

•   Engage constructively with governments, 
local stakeholder groups and regulators to 
optimise shared value 

•   Carefully monitor regulatory changes and 

compliance

•   Reduction or impact on carbon footprint 

following the sale of the South Africa assets

•   Constructively engage with stakeholders with 
aim to: share value; better understand and 
manage expectations; and to secure and 
maintain our social license to operate

•   Ensure responsible corporate citizenship, in 

line with our values

•   Maintain and improve ESG performance and 

report this transparently 

South Africa’s  
sovereign rating

The country’s sovereign rating could impact AngloGold 
Ashanti’s credit rating and the cost of and access to capital

•   Engage with ratings agencies to provide a 
realistic understanding of the Company’s 
potential operating and financial performance

Related strategic  
focus area:

Covid-19 preparedness

AngloGold Ashanti has established a covid-19 Crisis Committee, through which we maintain close liaisons with the national authorities 
in our respective countries of operation to ensure active monitoring and other measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak. To date, 
among our employees, we have one case of coronavirus, contracted on personal travels. We are actively educating and promoting 
awareness of the virus, within and around our sites and in surrounding communities. In Argentina, we have had to suspend mining 
activities from 20 March 2020 following implementation of country-wide restrictions on travel and border closings. On 24 March 2020, 
an announcement was made to temporarily suspend production from South Africa operations for three weeks, from 26 March 2020. 
This follows a decision by the President of the country for a nationwide lockdown in an effort to slow the spread of covid-19. 

On 26 March 2020, the State of Goiás, in Brazil, extended a set of restrictions on the operation of non-essential business to include 
mining. These restrictions are set to run through to 6 April 2020, and while AngloGold Ashanti may apply for exemption from this order, 
the Minera Serra Grande operation will temporarily suspend operations.

Since the status of the covid-19 crisis is evolving rapidly, we are continually assessing its development. There have been no material 
disruptions related to shipments of gold. We are cognisant of the fact that if border closures occur, this may cause temporary logistical 
constraints and we are working closely with the security companies who handle our gold shipments to ensure contingency plans are in 
place should this arise.

There have been minimal price or supply-related issues associated with the virus, however, there is a potential supply risk associated 
with base metals and steel sourced from China. The near-term risk is low-to-medium. The six- to 12-month outlook is medium-to-high 
risk, based on uncertainty around how long the outbreak will continue. We are starting to see lead times extend on low-value personal 
protective equipment items sourced from China, but there is minimal risk to our operations regarding supplies as alternative international 
sources can be identified. See  in the  section.

PAGE 18

PAGE 19

2019  
 
 
 
 
 
MA NA G ING  OU R R IS KS AND OPPORTUNITI ES

A ngloGold Ashanti operates in a dynamic world that 

is ever-changing. This requires that management 
and our decision-making processes are agile and 

responsive, enabling us to mitigate risks and act on 
opportunities identified. 

Our risk management process aims to balance mitigating and 
minimising our risks with maximising the potential rewards from 
opportunities. A risk is defined as any variable and/or event 
that may affect AngloGold Ashanti’s ability to create sustained 
value. Our risk policy sets out the requirements for group risk 
management with the purpose of ensuring that risks are managed 
effectively. A structured framework of internal risk management 
process is in place to proactively identify risks, while simultaneously 
considering the views and interests of our stakeholders. 

The Audit and Risk Committee oversees risk management on 
behalf of the board and receives regular risk-related feedback from 
management. The committee regularly reviews and assesses all 
such information and governance structures, ensuring that roles 
and accountability for identifying, managing, mitigating, reporting 
and escalating risks and opportunities are clearly defined. The 
board has ultimate responsibility for managing and reducing risks 
and for realising value from opportunities.

Risk appetite and tolerance

AngloGold Ashanti defines risk appetite as the amount and type of 
risk that the group is willing to accept in achieving its business goals; 
risk tolerance refers to the level and amount of risk that the group 
carries at a particular time. Both the risk appetite and risk tolerance 
are critical elements of an enterprise risk management process, as it 
integrates risk management with business planning and operational 
management. In pursuit of our key strategic objective of sustainable 
cash flow improvements and returns, recognising that risk is present 
in all business and operational activities, and mindful of the external 
risk environment, we operate with heightened focus for each of the 
following strategic building blocks:

•  Improve portfolio quality

•  Maintain long-term optionality

•  Focus on people, safety and sustainability

•  Ensure financial flexibility

•   Optimise overhead, costs and capital expenditure

Identifying and monitoring risks and 
opportunities

Our risk management process supports delivery of our  
strategic objectives and provides a platform for identifying  
risks and opportunities. 

Our risks and opportunities are identified, assessed, 
quantified and monitored with input from senior 
management to ensure accountability. They are 
reviewed quarterly, or more often as required, based 
on developments and changes in our operating 
environment. Relevant business units for the respective 
identified risks are consulted to confirm the status 
of risks and opportunities in terms of their severity 
and likelihood, and to ensure alignment with regular 
independent assessments.

Monitoring and reporting

Risks and 
opportunities are  
identified with input 
from business units, 
with the executive 
committee having 
accountability.

•  Board through respective 
committees (quarterly) 
and as part of the board 
strategy sessions

•  Audit and Risk Committee 

(quarterly)

Our top 10 residual group risks

Our top residual group risks are presented in the ‘heat map’ that plots the likelihood and impact of the top risks. Risks have previously been 
categorized as either strategic, operational or external

Top group risks heat map 

Nature of risk

Strategic

Operational

External

Almost
certain

Likely

d
o
o
h

i
l
e
k
i
L

Possible

Unlikely

Very rare

1

2

5

3

6

4

7

8

9

10

Minor

Moderate

High

Major

Extreme

Impact/consequences

These are our top 10 risks as at the end of January 2020, ranked from highest to lowest ranked. The previous year’s ranking is in parentheses.

•  Executive Committee  

(monthly review)

Risk ranking  
(Previous year's ranking)

Top group risk

The board annually determines the levels of group risk tolerance 
setting limits for risk appetite. 

•  Operations: mine sites, etc  

(regularly/as required)

AGILE AND RESPONSIVE MANAGEMENT

e n a b l e s   u s   t o   m i t i g a t e   r i s k s   a n d   
r e a l i s e   o p p o r t u n i t i e s

1  (1)

2  (6)

3  (2)

4  (5)

5  (3) 

6  (4)

7  (7)

8  (8)

9  (–)

10  (10)

(–) indicates new group risk

Regulatory changes to mining rights and adverse fiscal changes

Inability to convert Mineral Resource to Ore Reserve

Failure to meet our operational and safety targets

Failure to move down the industry cost curve

Failure to successfully deliver and ramp up of growth projects

Adverse gold and commodity prices, and currency movements

Failure to attract and retain critical skills and talent

Implications of future tailings regulations for our governance of event risks

Loss of/threats to social licence to operate

Delayed or unsuccessful asset sale process

PAGE 20

PAGE 21

2019 MA NA G ING  OU R R IS KS AND OPPORTUNITI ES   CON TI NU ED

Emerging risks
Our risk management standards promote communication of up-to-date information on group and industry risks, trends and 
emerging risks. There were shifts in several emerging risk in the business during 2019 with the main emerging risk being 
increased investor focus on transparency and responsible mining. The events early in 2020 relating to the covid-19 resulted in a 
re-assessment of our emerging risks and their impact on our operations.

The covid-19 pandemic has resulted in great uncertainty in the global financial markets and in overall economic activity, 
which may have an adverse effect on worldwide demand for gold. Furthermore, the covid-19 pandemic could cause supply 
chain delays and disruptions, or lead governments in the countries in which we operate to impose temporary restrictions on 
travel or business activities, including nationwide lockdowns (quarantine), which may disrupt our activities and operations 
temporarily and even lead to a full or partial temporary suspension of our mining operations in such affected countries. In 
addition, any spread of the covid-19 virus among our workforce may lead to a full or partial temporary suspension of the 
Company’s mines in the affected areas. 

The Company has raised awareness and established a multi-disciplinary covid-19 task force to direct our global response to the 
crisis, with input from its health, operational, travel, human resources, community relations, finance and supply teams, among 
others. All disciplines and operations have emergency preparedness plans in place, developed in line with national protocols and 
plans. Our first aim is to protect employees, their families and our host communities.

Given the uncertainty around the extent and timing of the potential spread of the virus in future, although AngloGold Ashanti 
cannot reasonably estimate its impact on the profitability of our operations or our financial condition, management is actively 
managing this risk and has put in place crisis management measures to mitigate as far as possible any disruptions to the 
business. Any prolonged dislocation in financial markets due to the spread of the covid-19 pandemic could impact the 
Company’s ability to refinance its debt on commercially reasonable terms, if at all, and could as a result have a material 
adverse effect on the Company’s funding requirements and overall liquidity. 

AngloGold Ashanti is implementing cash conservation measures, including focused capital prioritisation and reducing non-
essential spending across the business and is well positioned to weather the current market uncertainty. The Company 
has drawn down $1.4bn on its US dollar RCF to cater for the $700m bond redemption due mid-April 2020 and to provide 
additional liquidity headroom. After the drawdowns, cash on hand is about $1.8bn (excluding cash lock-up positions at Kibali 
and Sadiola, where AngloGold Ashanti’s combined share totals about $300m). Management will continue to take a prudent 
and proactive approach to managing the Company’s liquidity, which may include procuring additional credit facilities or debt 
over and above its current facilities.

Opportunities

•  Exploration potential (as proven by growing the Ore Reserve)

•  Project development (to fully realise Obuasi, with Quebradona and Gramalote in feasibility study phase – their respective feasibility studies 

are expected to be completed by end of 2020)

•  Ongoing operational efficiency and cost

Top ten group risks – potential consequences, mitigating actions, key focus areas  
and related opportunities
1.  Regulatory changes to mining rights and adverse fiscal changes

Strategic focus areas and responsibilities

Potential consequences

Mitigating actions

Related strategic focus area/s affected 

•   Regulatory uncertainty

by this risk:

•   Increased tax and royalties

•   Adverse impact on our business plans

•   Regular, inclusive engagement 
and broader collaboration with 
government, communities and 
NGOs

Responsible board committee:

•  Social, Ethics and Sustainability 

Committee 

•  Audit and Risk Committee 

•   Adverse impact on our market capitalisation

•   Continuous monitoring of 

•   Increased operational costs

•   Reduced cash flow

•   Reputational damage – scrutiny by governments, 

international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) 
and communities 

•   Political instability 

•   Compromised employee safety and security

legislative/political landscape 

•   Use of joint venture alliances in 

line with host country’s regulatory 
requirements

Key areas of focus and related opportunities

Tanzania:
Geita
•  In July 2017, the Government of Tanzania passed a new legal framework for the country’s extractive industries

•   Our operation continues to operate normally in compliance with the legislation read in conjunction with the Mining Development 

Agreement, as constructive dialogue continues with government and other authorities at various levels

•   As a precautionary measure to safeguard our assets in Tanzania, AngloGold Ashanti applied in July 2017 to arbitration proceedings 

under the rules of the UN Commission on International Trade Law. Following the expiry on 13 January 2020 of the stay of the arbitration 
proceedings against the Government of Tanzania, AngloGold Ashanti received a further extension of the stay until 13 May 2020

DRC:
Kibali
•  Joint venture partner Barrick continues to engage with the DRC government on concerns related to the new mining code introduced in 2018 

•  As of June 2018, AngloGold Ashanti and many other holders of mining rights reserved their rights under the 2002 Mining Code 

•  A VAT refund agreement was signed with the DRC Tax Administration in 2018 permitting the joint venture to offset the amount of VAT 

credits eligible for repayment against other payments to government 

•  Discussions are continuing with the authorities to progress the Article 220 Decree, with the aim of limiting the fiscal impact of the new 

mining code and improving the cash repatriation process

Argentina: 
Cerro Vanguardia
•  The export duties re-imposed by the government in Argentina in 2018 and increased in late 2019 could negatively impact free cash 

flow, especially in a weakening exchange rate environment. Reimbursement is being pursued under the tax stability guarantee following 
the related framework having been made public 

Brazil: 
•  TSF licensing and permitting process requirements in terms of new and proposed legal requirements may have an operational and 

financial impact on our operations in Brazil. This may impact operating and project costs 

Iduapriem

PAGE 22

PAGE 23

2019 MA NA G ING  OU R R IS KS AND OPPORTUNITI ES   CON TI NU ED

Top ten group risks continued
2.  Inability to convert Mineral Resource to Ore Reserve

Top ten group risks continued
4.  Failure to move down the industry cost curve 

Strategic focus areas and responsibilities

Potential consequences

Mitigating actions

Strategic focus areas and responsibilities

Potential consequences

Mitigating actions

Related strategic focus area/s 

•  Ore Reserve write-down 

affected by this risk:

Responsible board committee:

•   Investment Committee 

•  Impairments and lower future earnings per share, 

decline in market capitalisation

•   Reduced production profile 

•  Premature mine closure or mothballing of operations 

•   Focus on improving underground 

development to create flexibility for 
mines to cope with unexpected 
events through targeted 
investments

•  Focused greenfield exploration 
targeting new discoveries to 
maintain a healthy portfolio over 
the long term

•  Robust business planning, 
portfolio optimisation and 
considered feasibility studies to 
withstand potential risks 

•  Focus on brownfields exploration

Key areas of focus and opportunities

•  Invest in growing our Ore Reserve and improving operating flexibility by investing in the Ore Reserve development and conversion at 

sites with high geological potential over the next two to three years

•  Project development (Obuasi, Quebradona, Gramalote) has already increased the Ore Reserve

•  Continue to bring more projects to account to further increase the Ore Reserve

•  Greenfields exploration in new areas and other key projects

3.  Failure to meet our operational and safety targets

Strategic focus areas and responsibilities

Potential consequences

Mitigating actions

Related strategic focus area/s 

•   Reduced cash flow and decreased liquidity

affected by this risk:

•  Reduced earnings, uncertain delivery on targets and 

disproportionate penalty on share price

Responsible board committee:

•  Decline in investor confidence

•  Negative risk to credit ratings 

•  Audit and Risk Committee 

•  Restricted ability to invest in strategic growth and 

•  Social, Ethics and Sustainability 

Committee

Key areas of focus and opportunities

development projects

•  Delivery of business plans by 
focusing on Mineral Resource 
modelling, integrated business 
planning and execution, as well as 
by addressing development delays

•  Drive operational excellence 
programmes to improve 
productivity and efficiency

•  Focus on safe production across 

all operations

Brazil: 
Cuiabá
•  The operation has been experiencing poor ground conditions. To ensure safe production, a decision was taken to slow the rate of 
mining while a new surface support regime and mining sequencing were explored. Leading internal and external rock engineering 
experts were engaged to provide advice 

•  Mesh surface support to rehabilitate access ways as well as new controls and mine sequencing were introduced

•  Early indicators showing these new measurements to be successful and condition monitoring will be ongoing as mining progresses in 

the deeper, higher grade areas

Guinea:
Siguiri 
•  Operational and technical challenges related to the commissioning of the combination plant were experienced, impacting performance. 

Plans to mitigate these challenges are being implemented and improving recoveries remains a critical focus

Related strategic focus area/s affected 

•  Reduced profit margins, or failure to achieve cost 

•  Drive operational excellence 

by this risk:

competitiveness and potential savings

•  Failure to achieve business plans and deliver 
strategy given limited financial resources 

•  Threat to credit and investment ratings 

Responsible board committee:

•  Audit and Risk Committee 

•  Investment Committee 

programmes to improve productivity 
and efficiency 

•  Exploration and studies focused on 
introducing new, lower cost ounces 

•  Increased focus on capital optimisation 
and capital efficiency and allocation 
that will generate maximum returns

•  Exiting assets in South Africa, Mali and 

Argentina with a view to focusing limited 
capital and resources on other parts of 
the portfolio that generate or have the 
potential to generate higher returns

Key areas of focus and opportunities

•  Redevelopment of Obuasi and other lower cost projects to contribute to targeted reductions in AISC

•  Accelerate development and/or ramp-up of Colombian assets

•  Operational excellence initiatives across all operations 

5.  Failure to successfully deliver and ramp up growth projects 

Strategic focus areas and responsibilities

Potential consequences

Mitigating actions

Related strategic focus area/s affected 

•  Project delays can adversely impact project 

•  Ensuring appropriate project skills, 

by this risk:

returns and earnings

•  Failure to achieve business plans and deliver on 

strategy

•  Decline in investor confidence and company 

valuation

Responsible board committee:

•  Investment Committee 

Key areas of focus and opportunities

systems, structures and governance 
are in place 

•  Selected project steering committee 

participation by the group planning and 
technical function 

Ghana: 
Obuasi 
•  The redevelopment project achieved its first gold pour in December 

2019 and is currently ramping up to steady state production

•  Phase 2 of the project is firmly on schedule and within budget with 

commissioning scheduled for the end of 2020

Colombia: 
Quebradona Project
•  The feasibility study is due to be submitted for board approval 
at the end of 2020. Results of regional and local elections 
held in late October 2019 were positive and local support is 
growing for this project 

•  Management continues to work closely with government and 
community stakeholders to ensure the mine is developed 
sustainably and creates value for all stakeholders

Guinea: 
Siguiri
•  Operational and technical challenges related to the commissioning 
of the combination plant was experienced, impacting performance. 
Plans to mitigate these challenges are being implemented and 
improving recoveries remains a critical focus

Gramalote Project
•  JV partner B2Gold assumed management of the project 
effective 1 January 2020 with a target to complete the 
feasibility study by the end of 2020

•  B2Gold will fund the investment and exploration programme 

this year to earn-in back to a 50:50 partnership

Australia:
Tropicana
•  The Boston Shaker Underground Project continues to 

progress well and is on track to deliver first gold in the second 
half of 2020

PAGE 24

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2019 MA NA G ING  OU R R IS KS AND OPPORTUNITI ES   CON TI NU ED

Top ten group risks continued
6.  Adverse gold and commodity prices, and currency movements

Top ten group risks continued
8.  Implications of future tailings regulations for our governance of event risks

Strategic focus areas and responsibilities Potential consequences

Mitigating actions

Strategic focus areas and responsibilities

Potential consequences

Mitigating actions

Related strategic focus area/s 

•  Inadequate free cash flow/liquidity

affected by this risk:

•  Inability to deliver growth and execute strategy 

•  Lower market capitalisation 

•  Recapitalisation at distressed equity prices and 

Responsible board committee:

in poor market conditions 

•  Audit and Risk Committee 

•  Credit ratings impact 

•  Investment Committee 

•  If sustained, significant gold price volatility 

may adversely affect our ability to evaluate the 
feasibility of undertaking new capital projects, 
the continuity of existing operations and their 
ability to meet operational targets, or to make 
other long-term strategic decisions 

•   Enhance cost competitiveness by 
improving quality of the portfolio 

•   Focus on cost, efficiencies and capital 
discipline to deliver competitive all-in 
sustaining costs 

•   Maintain long-term optionality by 

ensuring our pipeline of opportunities is 
continuously replenished 

•   Improve debt profile and reduce annual  

interest bill 

•   Execute operational excellence initiatives 
to counter inflation and improve margins 

Key areas of focus and opportunities

•  Operational excellence initiatives to take advantage of the price premia differential

•  Portfolio enhancement, particularly on quality and high margin assets 

•  Reducing funding costs

7. Failure to attract and retain critical skills and talent 

Strategic focus areas and responsibilities Potential consequences

Mitigating actions

Related strategic focus area/s 

•   Failure to execute and deliver on strategic 

•   Implement key human resource 

Related strategic focus area/s 

•   Adverse socio-economic stakeholder impact and 

affected by this risk:

reputational damage 

Responsible board committee:

•  Social, Ethics and Sustainability 

Committee

•   More intense regulatory scrutiny and control of 

TSFs, including relevant licences

•   Higher costs associated with inspecting, 

maintaining and constructing TSFs 

•   Significantly increased pressure from local 

communities and elevated risk in securing our social 
licence to operate 

•   Certain types of TSFs may be prohibited, resulting 
in operational restrictions until alternative facilities 
can be constructed 

•   A tailings management framework, 
standards and guidelines in place 
to deal with TSF risks with regular 
reviews undertaken from an 
operational, regional, corporate and 
external perspectives

Key areas of focus and opportunities

Brazil: 
•   The regulatory environment is complicated, and there remains an ongoing risk of operational stoppages and/or regulatory delays

•   Continuous monitoring of the legislative landscape and engaging with local authorities 

•   All seven of our TSFs in Brazil received external stability declarations ahead of the legislated deadline of 30 September 2019. Final 

reports are to be submitted by March 2020 but maybe impacted by the evolving covid-19 situation

•  Reinforcement of dam walls of Serra Grande's upstream TSF in advance of its expected deactivation on 15 September 2021

affected by this risk:

objectives 

Responsible board committee:

•  Social, Ethics and Sustainability 

Committee 

•  Remuneration and Human 
Resources Committee 

•   Potential impact on productivity and safety 

levels 

•   Increased labour costs 

•   Depending on the skills or talent lost – potential 

impact on market confidence 

•   Higher cost of retention 

•   Failure to meet localisation targets 

initiatives such as fair and responsible 
remuneration; career growth and 
development opportunities; succession 
planning; retention schemes; managerial 
effectiveness; and entrenching 
company values (taking operational 
and jurisdictional nuances into account) 
to ensure a productive and engaged 
workforce

•   Identify potential future critical skills and 
leadership talent risks, due to increased 
competition for critical skills from 
operating peers, planned divestments, 
limited supply of local skills in some 
jurisdictions and proactively implement 
mitigation measures. 

•   Implement integrated talent management 
and succession planning process across 
the business, with an increased coverage 
ratio for critical skills 

•   Increase training capacity for scarce 

artisan’s skills where required 

Key areas of focus and opportunities

•  Continue Chairman’s Young Leaders programme targeting the development of the Company’s internal talent pool to create a talent 

pipeline for future leadership positions

Geita

PAGE 26

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2019 MA NA G ING  OU R R IS KS AND OPPORTUNITI ES   CON TI NU ED

Top ten group risks continued
9.  Loss of/threats to our social licence to operate

Top ten group risks continued
10.  Delayed or unsuccessful asset sale process

Strategic focus areas and responsibilities

Potential consequences

Mitigating actions

Strategic focus areas and responsibilities

Potential consequences

Mitigating actions

Related strategic focus area/s 

•   Reputational damage – scrutiny from governments, 

affected by this risk:

international NGOs and communities

Responsible board committee:

•  Social, Ethics and Sustainability 

Committee 

•  Impact on investor confidence, market capitalisation 

and potentially credit ratings 

•  Adverse regulatory response 

•   Compromised employee safety and security

•   Targeted stakeholder mapping and 
engagement with a greater focus 
on government structures, local 
community and NGOs

•   Continuously monitor the legislative/
political landscape in anticipation of 
any negative impact on business

•   Strive to meet local content 

requirements throughout the portfolio 

•   Focus on sharing of economic 

benefits with other stakeholders 
in the country – communities, 
governments, local suppliers

Key areas of focus and opportunities

Guinea: 
Siguiri
•  Continuous stakeholder engagements with the communities and the authorities resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 

being signed at the end of November 2019 with key deliverable actions

•  Areas of disagreement have since stabilised but are being closely monitored while the agreements, as part of the MOU, are being 

actioned and implemented 

Ghana: 
Obuasi
•  Experienced community demands with regards to local content implementation and local employment. Communication with key 

stakeholders is ongoing and good progress has been made in implementing the Obuasi Social Management Plan to mitigate this risk 

Tanzania: 
Geita
•  There was an escalation in complaints and claims for compensation relating to cracked houses in some of the villages

Related strategic focus area/s 

affected by this risk:

•  Sales processes not realising full value, sale process 
may be convoluted or may not eventuate in a sale 

•  Continue operating high-cost operations due to 

unsuccessful sales process

Responsible board committee:

•   Investment Committee 

Key areas of focus and opportunities

•   Management focused on organic 
opportunities to create value over 
acquisition options 

•  Preparations in place to operate assets 

in the event that they are not sold

•  Ranking investment opportunities 

based on returns and affordability to 
maintain discipline in balancing capital 
needs of the business 

Argentina:
Cerro Vanguardia
•  The sale process continues and is at an advanced stage. We hope to make a decision on whether to accept a firm offer or to terminate the 
sale process in the second quarter of 2020. Once the decision has been made, we will make an announcement. The asset remained a key 
contributor in 2019 

Mali:
Sadiola
•  On 23 December 2019, the Company announced that it had reached an agreement to sell its interest in the Sadiola Mine to Allied Gold 

for an attributable cash consideration of $52.5m 

•  This sale transaction is subject to the fulfillment, or waiver, of a number of conditions precedent, including the receipt of certain 

approvals and releases from the Government of Mali 

•  AngloGold Ashanti received approval from the South African Reserve Bank in early 2020. It is anticipated that all other conditions 

precedent will be fulfilled or waived by the end of April 2020. All efforts are being explored to secure the remaining conditions precedent

South Africa:
•  On 12 February 2020, AngloGold Ashanti announced an agreement to sell its remaining South African producing assets (Mponeng 

underground mine, Mine Waste Solutions (the mine waste retreatment operation) and a surface rock dump processing business) and 
related liabilities to Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited 

•  A committee consisting of mine management, local government and community leadership resolved the majority of the issues raised, 

•  Consideration for the transaction is in cash and deferred payments with expected proceeds of around $300m, subject to subsequent 

with some of the remaining queries still being addressed 

performance, and with additional proceeds if the West Wits assets are developed below current infrastructure 

•  The transaction is subject to the fulfillment of a number of conditions precedent, including obtaining of all the necessary consents from 

the relevant authorities and other stakeholders with the earliest closing anticipated on or about 30 June 2020. All efforts are being 
explored to secure all the necessary approvals as soon as possible

Iduapriem

PAGE 28

Cerro Vanguardia

PAGE 29

2019 STA K EH OLDE R  ENGAGEMENT AND MATERIA L I SS UES

Our approach

E n g a g e m e n t   w i t h   o u r   s t a k e h o l d e r s   u n d e r p i n s 
v a l u e   c r e a t i o n   a n d   i s   v i t a l   t o   t h e   s u c c e s s f u l 
c o n d u c t   o f   o u r   b u s i n e s s .  I t   a i d s   u n d e r s t a n d i n g 
o f   o u r   o p e r a t i n g   e n v i r o n m e n t   a n d   d e c i s i o n -
m a k i n g ,  a n d   a s s i s t s   i n   i d e n t i f y i n g   r i s k s   a n d 
m a t e r i a l   i s s u e s . 

Stakeholder engagement is critical at every stage of our business 
activities, from exploration through to mine closure. It aims to 
nurture constructive relationships to secure our licence to operate. 
It is an inclusive two-way process that is aligned with our core 
values and guided by our Code of Ethics. As we engage with 
stakeholders we adhere to the Voluntary Principles on Security 
and Human Rights, advocating transparency and working against 
bribery and corruption. 

Engagement is dynamic and aids understanding and management 
of stakeholders’ needs and expectations; we in turn share 
information on AngloGold Ashanti, our objectives, policies 
and standards, and our financial, operating and sustainability 
performance. Feedback helps us to identify and manage our 
material issues, business risks and opportunities, and to develop 
appropriate actions and responses.

Identifying our key stakeholders

We identify our key stakeholders based on the influence on our 
business decision making processes. Based on this assessment, 
we categorise these relationships as either collaborate, involve or 
consult. While we engage with all stakeholders, we have identified 
our principal stakeholder groups below.

Employees and unions

Communities and 
suppliers

Industry 
partners

WHO ARE OUR 
STAKEHOLDERS

Investment  
community

Governments and 
regulators

Media

Oversight and accountability 

A group-wide Management Standard on Engagement  1  is 
in place to guide stakeholder engagement. This standard 
and the material issues are in turn informed by King IV, the 
GRI Standards, the AccountAbility AA1000 Stakeholder 
Engagement Standard, and the International Council on 
Mining and Metals’ (ICMM’s) 10 Principles. Stakeholder 
relationships is one of the guiding principles of the 
International Integrated Reporting Framework. 

The board is ultimately accountable for stakeholder 
engagement, providing oversight of material stakeholder 
issues and their management through the Social, Ethics 
and Sustainability Committee.

Each stakeholder grouping is allocated an executive/
champion who is responsible for: 

•  managing the relationship and engagement 

•  identifying and managing material issues, risks and 

opportunities

•  developing and monitoring appropriate responses  

and actions 

1 Our group-wide management standard on stakeholder 

engagement

Our principal stakeholder groups are:

•  Investment community – this grouping is geographically diverse 

and includes shareholders, providers of capital, analysts and 
prospective investors

•  Employees and unions – all employees, including contractors, 
and those unions which represent employees in our various 
operating jurisdictions

•  Governments and regulators – various levels of government 

including local, municipal, regional, provincial and national

•  Communities and suppliers – the host communities in and 

around our operations on which we have an impact. Suppliers 
of goods and services required by our operations with local 
suppliers being given preference

•  Industry partners – includes entities such as the World Gold 
Council (WGC), ICMM, the Extractive Industries Transparency 
Initiative (EITI), the World Economic Forum, the Africa Mining 
Indaba, the Occupational Lung Disease (OLD) working group, as 
well as local/regional industry chambers in the countries in which 
we operate

•  Media – includes local and international media houses as well as 

print media and newswires

We have highlighted relevant stakeholder relationships – and  
their potential impact on our ability to maintain our social licence  
to operate. 

1. Engaging with the investment community

Related material issues: 

Employee  
safety

Employee  
and community 
health

Contributing 
to resilient 
self-sustaining 
communities

Responsible 
environmental 
stewardship

Employee, 
community 
and asset 
security

Artisanal and  
small-scale 
mining

Respecting  
human rights

Nature of relationship: 

Strong 

Why engage

Navigating 
regulatory and 
political uncertainty  
and risk

Talent 
management, 
skills 
development 
and employee 
relations

Open and transparent engagement on our performance, management of expectations and delivery on our strategy can enhance 
investor sentiment and the Company’s reputation, thus improving access to capital and our valuation. 

How we engage and frequency

Engagement is regular – in person, by email, by telephone or video conference – and includes corporate action announcements, our 
interim and annual results presentations, our annual reports, site visits, investor conferences and one-on-one meetings. We undertake 
regular periodic reporting or as and when there are new developments and we do submissions in various sustainability indexes. We 
engage in compliance with JSE Listings Requirements and with the regulations of the various other stock exchanges on which we are 
listed, including the NYSE. 

Topics of engagement 2019

•   Business restructuring, proposed sale of assets and other corporate transactions

•   Progress and execution of Obuasi redevelopment

•   Brazilian TSFs and their management 

•   Management of and performance on critical safety, operational, financial and environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics 

and eliminate change in particular

•   Jurisdictional risk and cash conversion challenges from Tanzania and the DRC

•   Other material matters that may impact performance, such as regulatory and political risk, labour unrest, and community matters

•   Shareholder voting on AGM resolutions relating to our remuneration policy and implementation report

•   The CEO’s sign-on award 

Strategic response 

•  Regulatory and other reporting on our operational, financial and ESG performance

•  Demonstrating: 

•  our focus on and performance in maintaining financial discipline and delivering on our strategy by reducing debt, tight control of 

costs, increasing shareholder dividends, reinvesting in our portfolio, and keeping our Ore Reserve pricing unchanged 

•  steps taken to improve the quality of our asset base and unlock value for shareholders by adhering to our strict investment criteria

•  the efficient and optimised use of limited capital for investment, including explanation of rationale for planned asset sales and 

investments in the redevelopment of Obuasi and other projects, such as in Colombia

•  The Chairperson of the Remuneration and Human Resources Committee met with various investors and committed to providing  

a detailed explanation on the CEO's sign-on remuneration. For more details, see the 

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2019 STA K EH OLDE R  ENGAGEMENT AND MATERIA L I SS UES 

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2. Engaging with employees and unions

Related material issues: 

Employee  
safety

Employee  
and community 
health

Nature of relationship: 

Employee, 
community 
and asset 
security

Talent 
management, 
skills 
development 
and employee 
relations

Respecting  
human rights

Cordial

Why engage

Employees are fundamental to delivery on our mission and strategy. Respectful engagement aims to promote positive, stable 
employee relations, increase productivity, motivate the workforce and ensure alignment of work to our strategy. Good employee 
relations encourage a collaborative approach. Employee engagement reinforces the importance of safety in the workplace, good 
safety practices, and covers employee wellness and security as well.

How we engage and frequency

•  Employees – engagements are frequent and ongoing, and take the form of, among others: internal newsletters and briefs, 

management meetings, staff briefings, mass meetings, electronic newsletters, safety and health awareness campaigns, employee 
surveys, performance and exit reviews

•  Unions – engagement is more formal and structured, and occurs at meetings and more frequently during wage negotiations 

Topics of engagement 2019

•  Asset sale processes

•  Impact of restructuring on jobs 

•  Job security and incentives (fair wages, salaries and benefits), career and personal growth/development, terms of employment

•  Safety and safe workplaces, health and wellness, gender equality and security

•  Productivity and maintaining focus on strategy and meeting guidance

•  Encouraging collaboration to solve problems

•  Settlement of the silicosis case

Strategic response 

•  A group-wide employee survey was conducted, initial results of which indicated areas of employee concerns. Action plans to address 

these have been developed, with some having been implemented already. See  for more details

•  Engagement, either directly or through unions, with employees at head office and the operations where asset sales processes are 

underway – in South Africa, Mali and Argentina 

•  Formalised safety and health strategies support related awareness initiatives and wellness programmes

•  Reinforced importance of living by our values

•  Gender and inclusivity policy reinforced and expanded

•  Communication at the various stages of the court process on the silicosis settlement case, ensuring all notices are widely and 

clearly communicated

•  Safety campaign (Khumbul’ekhaya) to entrench the culture of safe practices even during holidays

3. Engaging with governments and regulators 

Related material issues: 

Employee  
safety

Employee  
and community 
health

Contributing 
to resilient 
self-sustaining 
communities

Responsible 
environmental 
stewardship

Employee, 
community 
and asset 
security

Artisanal and  
small scale 
mining (legal 
and illegal)

Respecting  
human rights

Nature of relationship: 

Cordial

Why engage

Navigating 
regulatory and 
political uncertainty  
and risk

Talent 
management, 
skills 
development 
and employee 
relations

Our aim is to mitigate regulatory and political risk and uncertainty, to encourage certainty and ensure our licence to operate as well as to 
promote an environment conducive to investment and development, enabling us to grow and create value in the long term. Proactive 
engagement aims at collaborating with governments on their service delivery responsibilities. We focus on maintaining good working 
relations with governments, apprising them of any new developments at our operations and projects, and key concerns within each 
operating jurisdiction. 

How we engage and frequency

Engagements happen quite regularly, on an ad hoc basis and matters arising or depending on either company developments, 
industry-related changes or during specific forums like the Mining Indaba. Can be direct, in person or indirect, at company level or 
through industry partners which lobby on behalf of the mining industry. See industry partners below for indirect engagement with 
government and regulators. 

Topics of engagement 2019

•  Proposed assets sales in South Africa, Mali and Argentina 

•  Mitigation of political and regulatory risk

•  Policy development and regulatory proposals

•  Project development in Ghana and in Colombia

•  Dispute resolution 

Conversely, governments engage to: 

•  ensure that benefits of mining flow through to the state at national, local and community levels

•  ensure monitoring of regulatory compliance

Strategic response 

•  Improved internal systems and activities to meet the requirements of regulatory changes

•   Promoted collaborative dialogue with the government of Tanzania; we have suspended arbitration proceedings 

•   Maintained dialogue in the DRC on the repatriation of funds held in the country

•   Constructive engagement with governments and relevant regulators in countries in which asset sales are underway to ensure the 

transactions meet conditions precedent

•  Grievance mechanisms in place at all operations for any grievances and complaints

•  Compliance with all laws and regulations relating to TSFs 

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2019 STA K EH OLDE R  ENGAGEMENT AND MATERIA L I SS UES 

CO N TINUED

4. Engaging with communities and suppliers

Related material issues: 

5. Engaging industry partners 

Related material issues: 

Employee  
and community 
health

Contributing 
to resilient 
self-sustaining 
communities
Nature of relationship: 
Suppliers

Communities

Responsible 
environmental 
stewardship

Employee, 
community 
and asset 
security

Artisanal and  
small scale 
mining (legal 
and illegal)

Respecting  
human rights

Employee  
safety

Employee  
and community 
health

Artisanal and  
small scale 
mining (legal 
and illegal)

Navigating 
regulatory and 
political uncertainty  
and risk

Strong 

Cordial

Why engage

Engagement aims to manage expectations, uphold human rights and ensure community and asset security. Mutually beneficial 
partnerships with host communities enhance shared value creation, which help in retaining our social licence to operate. 
Understanding and managing community expectations is vital. For more information on how we contribute to self-sustaining 
communities, see .

We endeavour to ensure suppliers are aligned with our business ethics and values. 

How we engage and frequency

•  Communities: Each operation has a forward-looking community engagement strategy that identifies potential areas of concern 
within the local communities. Engagement with communities drives the focus on local economic development programmes, 
developed and run in partnership with local governments and host communities, that contribute to economic growth, stimulate 
income-generating opportunities, create employment, and aim to nurture sustainable livelihoods beyond the life of mine. 

•  Suppliers: Our supplier Code of Conduct encourages all suppliers, including contractors, to align with our internal policies, 

standards and codes of behaviour.

Topics of engagement 2019

Communities:
•   Proposed sale of assets in South Africa, Mali and Argentina, including the incorporation of mine areas and donation of facilities to 

local communities in South Africa

•  Work/employment opportunities

•  Local enterprise development and local economic development programmes

•  Possible impact of mining activities on communities

Suppliers:
•   Responsible ESG practices 

•  Promotion of local procurement, transformation and capacity building to empower the local population

•  Ensuring alignment with our Code of Ethics, including human rights practices, labour relations and employment practices, the 

environment, anti-bribery and corruption, and safety procedures

Nature of relationship: 

Strong 

Why engage

Engagement to ensure support and collaboration with other stakeholders, such as government, regulators, employees, unions and 
communities on matters of mutual concern and to reduce regulatory and political uncertainty, promote long-term partnerships and to 
empower communities. This includes joint efforts to find solutions to sector or industry challenges, and on any new developments to 
promote the future of the industry. 

How we engage and frequency

Various platforms are used to engage, including conferences, meetings and other industry forums. As members of the ICMM, we attend 
two annual face-to-face membership meetings. We also participated in ICMM working groups focusing on different industry-related 
matters throughout the year. The WGC provides a platform to share with and learn from gold industry peers. 

Topics of engagement 2019

•  Regulatory changes in South Africa (Mining Charter) and Tanzania

•  Community challenges

•  Occupational lung disease settlement in South Africa

•  TSF management, following the failure of a tailings dam wall in Brazil, early in 2019 (Brumadinho, which is operated  

by an unrelated party)

•  Climate change disclosures

•  Increasing demands for responsible mining practice 

Strategic response 

•  Collaborated with industry bodies to manage and reduce regulatory and political uncertainty 

•  Participated in the OLD working group in South Africa and the final settlement on the silicosis case 

•  Participated in deliberations and submitted comment on an initial draft of the International Tailings Standard being developed by 

the ICMM members for the safer management of TSFs 

•  Collaborated in the development of the WGC’s Responsible Gold Mining Principles 

Strategic response 

•   Ensured that the redevelopment of Obuasi, in line with our commitments to the Government in Ghana and the community, optimised 

Engaging with media

participation by local companies and the transfer of skills

•  In Brazil, we engaged on the safety of our TSFs, and implementation of emergency preparedness plans

•   Various engagement forums held in the South Africa region with local authorities and host communities ahead of the sale of assets

•  Media engagement facilitates an understanding of AngloGold Ashanti, promotes transparent and accurate reporting and supports 
constructive relationships with other stakeholders by augmenting communication with other stakeholders, such as communities, 
investors and government, and various interested parties. It aids management of our reputation and credibility, contributes to our 
social licence to operate, and can address speculation and misinformation in the public domain.

PAGE 34

PAGE 35

2019 S E C T I O N   3

DELIVERING 
ON OUR
STRATEGY

E x p l a i n i n g   h o w   w e   p e r f o r m e d 
i n   d e l i v e r i n g   o n   o u r   s t r a t e g i c 
f o c u s   a r e a s   –   i n   t e r m s   o f 
o u r   s u s t a i n a b l e   d e v e l o p m e n t , 
f i n a n c i a l   a n d   o p e r a t i o n a l 
p e r f o r m a n c e

CEO’s review and outlook

Focus on people, safety and sustainability

People are our business

Managing our sustainability and ESG impacts

Ensure financial flexibility and optimise overhead  

costs and capital expenditure

CFO’s review

Financial review – three-year statistics

Improve portfolio quality and maintain long-term optionality

Regional reviews

Three-year statistics by operation

Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve – summary

Exploration and projects

38

41

42

48

56

57

64

67

68

84

94

102

PAGE 36
PAGE 36

PAGE 37

Sunrise Dam

2019 CEO ’S  R EVIE W AND O UTLO OK

D e l i v e r i n g   o n   o u r 
s t r a t e g i c   o b j e c t i v e s   a n d 
c r e a t i n g   v a l u e

ZERO 
HARM

Fellow shareholders,
Last year, AngloGold Ashanti undertook several meaningful 
measures to improve the quality of its portfolio, and the focus of 
its management team. I’m proud to say that we’ve successfully 
made progress in doing so. We demonstrated our ability to 
balance the competing capital needs of the business while 
continuing to deliver value to our shareholders. We delivered on a 
key development project, reinvested in the portfolio, strengthened 
our balance sheet and grew our reserves and dividends, all while 
managing our operating asset base through which was our safest 
year on record.

Safety

The health and wellbeing of all employees is of utmost importance 
and we have been steadily improving safety, recording our 
best-ever performance last year. We’ve lowered injury rates 
by almost 60% since 2012, and in 2019, for the first time in 
our history, we passed a calendar year without a fatality in the 
workplace. The group all-injury frequency rate (AIFR), which is 
the broadest measure of workplace safety, improved 31% to 
a record 3.3 injuries per million hours worked, from a rate of 
4.8 injuries per million hours worked in 2018. While these are 
important milestones, there will be no complacency with respect 
to safety and our goal to achieve zero-harm remains a priority. 
Our safe production strategy continues, and is being implemented 
successfully at all our operations, with a focus on proactively 
addressing risks. 

Regrettably, after reaching nearly 700 fatality-free days, a seismic 
event at Mponeng in South Africa on 5 March 2020 took the 
lives of three of our colleagues. They were Lucas Maapea, 41, 
Xolani Ngqwemese, 31, and Mokhetha Radebe, 47. Their loss 
is heart-breaking, and a humbling reminder that even when we 
do everything right, there’s always the risk of an uncontrollable 
event. This was sadly followed by another fatality on 16 March 
2020, when Thabo Rakometsi 29 was fatally injured while he was 
coupling a mechanical loader to a caboose. At this time, I wish to 

PAGE 38

Kelvin Dushnisky 
Chief Executive Officer

reiterate our absolute commitment to safety. Even at this difficult 
time, we should not lose sight of the great strides we have made 
over many years in improving safety – reaching milestones that 
would have been thought unimaginable only a short time ago – as 
we redouble our efforts to make zero-harm a reality.

Sustainability

We also have a strong commitment to operating a sustainable 
business, and that requires maintaining and strengthening our 
social licence to operate, while mitigating our contribution to 
climate change to the best of our ability. While we continue 
to investigate ways to strengthen our partnerships with our 
local communities and host governments, we take pride in our 
progress in this area. We have been working hard across several 
fronts – from safety and community development to reducing our 
impact on the environment.

In 2008, AngloGold Ashanti announced that a target had been set 
to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% by 2022. In 
fact, we surpassed this target in 2018, when we achieved a 43% 
reduction from our current asset base. This has been achieved 
through divestments, efficiency improvements and adopting 
cleaner energy sources. The achievement is mostly attributed to 
energy efficiency gains in the South Africa region, where coal-fired 
electricity meant that on-site energy savings translated directly 
into indirect GHG savings. In Australia, we switched Sunrise 
Dam’s generators from diesel to liquified natural gas and both 
of our operations in Australia have moved from diesel to piped 
natural gas. 

Our mines operate using a sizeable proportion of renewable 
energy: predominantly in Brazil where hydropower is used, 
including our own Rio do Peixe hydro facility; a local power 
grid largely supplied by hydropower is used in Ghana; and 
locally-generated hydroelectricity is used at Kibali in the DRC. 
Furthermore, as we plan for the future of our Quebradona project, 
we have an opportunity to significantly raise the bar by identifying 

innovative ways to incorporate ESG principles into the totality of 
our mining practices. 

We recognise that our ability to create value is only as good as 
our ability to evolve in our practices, from a technical, social and 
environmental perspective. 

Obuasi

In December, we delivered on the most significant project 
milestone for the business by pouring the first gold at Obuasi 
in Ghana, which was the culmination of Phase 1 of the 
redevelopment project. The start of gold production on time and 
on budget was a significant achievement for us, the community 
at Obuasi and for Ghana as a whole. It’s also testament to the 
focused execution by our team on the ground and, importantly, 
it reflects the clear investment framework and supportive 
environment created by the Government of Ghana. 

An opening ceremony for the mine on 29 January 2020 brought 
together 3,500 employees and local community members to 
celebrate this momentous occasion. In his keynote address, 
President Nana Akuffo-Addo delivered a strong endorsement 
of our steadfastness in the reopening of the mine and our 
commitment to localisation. He pledged his government’s support 
for the mine. I am pleased to say, overall project completion was 
at 77% at year end. Phase 2 is confidently on schedule and on 
budget, as we target the mine to reach its 4,000 tonnes-per-day 
capacity by the end of 2020. 

Financial performance

The year ended with a strong balance sheet, protected by 
the disciplined approach to capital allocation adopted by 
management. The ratio of adjusted net debt to adjusted EBITDA 
was 0.91 times, well below our targeted level of 1 times through 
the cycle. We have paid and will continue to pay down debt, 
improving on our ability to generate free cash through the 
commodity cycle. As free cash flow improves, we remain intent 
on balancing the application of capital by reinvesting in our core 
asset base to sustain our business in the longer term, and by 
paying 10% of free cash flow to shareholders before we consider 
investing in growth. This is at the discretion of the board and 
ensures a level-headed approach to managing our business.

Asset sales

Steady progress has been made in simplifying our portfolio and 
improving our focus. In December 2019, we reached agreement 
on the sale of our interest in Sadiola for an attributable cash 
consideration of $52.5m. Subsequent to year end, in February 
2020, we also reached agreement on the sale to Harmony of all 
our remaining South African producing assets, with expected 
proceeds of around $300m. The sale process for Cerro 
Vanguardia is at an advanced stage. All cash proceeds from these 
sales will be used primarily to reduce debt. 

Ore Reserve

A total of 3.5Moz of Ore Reserve was added at our operating 
assets before depletion and other reductions, showing strong 

progress on efforts aimed at sustainably improving our mine lives. 
Impressively, the group’s Ore Reserve, outside South Africa, grew 
by approximately 1.1Moz. 

In recent years, our focus has been mainly on repairing the 
balance sheet. This meant we have prioritised reducing debt, 
using entirely internally generated cash, over investment in 
brownfield drilling. With the balance sheet now in excellent 
shape and continuing to improve along with our cash flow, over 
the next two to three years we can focus more on Ore Reserve 
development and Ore Reserve conversion at our operations with 
high geological potential. Accordingly, sustaining capital for 2020 
is expected to increase and include around $30/oz to facilitate 
additional exploration and development. This will improve our 
overall ore-body confidence and operating predictability, and 
extend mine lives. We believe this disciplined reinvestment in our 
assets will enhance shareholder value.

Projects

After a prolonged period of investment in Colombia, we are now 
advancing both Quebradona and Gramalote through feasibility 
studies and these are expected to be concluded by year-end 
2020. To further sharpen the focus on capital and management 
resources, we announced an agreement in mid-September 
2019 which saw B2Gold assume management of the Gramalote 
project on 1 January 2020. In 2020, B2Gold will fund an 
investment and exploration programme to the value of $13.9m 
to earn-in back a 50:50 partnership. The budget agreed by 
the joint venture partners for the feasibility study is $37m. Our 
exploration teams continue to add value to the business through 
the drill bit. Not only do we expect positive results from our 
brownfield projects, I am equally excited to see the results from 
our generative programme. 

Strategy 

In an ever-changing landscape and against a backdrop of global 
uncertainty, which escalated at the start of 2020, it is critical that we 
remain rational in our decision-making and position the business 
to create value at virtually any gold price. We will keep working 
to focus AngloGold Ashanti as a solid, predictable business that 
enhances value for all stakeholders through the cycle. In saying 
that, while 2020 is expected to be another transitional year in our 
efforts to create a sustainable business with growing margins 
and free cash flow, the rapid spread of covid-19 across the world 
requires that we adapt to a fast-changing landscape. The health of 
our employees and communities throughout the world will shape 
many of our decisions as we navigate through this challenging, and 
incredibly fluid global pandemic. We recognise our role as a global 
citizen and our responsibility to people and our environment. We 
are committed to working in partnership with governments and 
remain agile in our approach to helping manage this crisis, while 
doing everything necessary to protect our people and our business.

We have been proactive in positioning ourselves to respond to the 
impact of the outbreak. We will respond quickly and work in deep 
partnership with stakeholders while doing our part in fighting this 
global pandemic.

PAGE 39

2019 CEO ’S  R EVIE W AND O UTLO OK  CON TI NU ED

On 21 March 2020, following the Argentinian government’s 
decision to impose a nationwide lockdown (quarantine) until 
31 March 2020, including temporary travel restrictions, border 
closings and suspension of most industries, Cerro Vanguardia 
was required to temporarily suspend mining activities.

On 23 March 2020, the South African government announced 
a 21-day nationwide lockdown, effective from midnight on 26 
March 2020, resulting in the temporary suspension of mining 
activities of the Company’s South African operations particularly 
Mponeng, and the partial suspension of mining activities at Mine 
Waste Solutions and Surface Operations.

On 26 March 2020, the State of Goiás, in Brazil, extended a set of 
restrictions on the operation of non-essential business to include 
mining. These restrictions are set to run through to 4 April 2020. 
Serra Grande operation will temporarily suspend operations.

The Company had a good start to the year, and – notwithstanding 
an anticipated impact of 30,000oz – 40,000oz from operations 
that are suspended at this stage (less than 2% of annual 
production) – AngloGold Ashanti currently remains on track to 
meet its annual guidance. Nonetheless, given the uncertainties 
with respect to future developments, including the duration, 

severity and scope of the covid-19 pandemic, and the necessary 
government responses to limiting its spread, AngloGold Ashanti 
has decided to withdraw its market guidance at this time.

It is my belief that AngloGold Ashanti will continue to distinguish 
itself as a responsible gold mining company in the way it 
conducts its business, and deals with all its stakeholders, as we 
persevere through this challenging time. 

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank the board of directors for their leadership 
and tremendous support in my first full year at AngloGold Ashanti. 
My thanks also go to the executive team and all AngloGold 
Ashanti employees for the great work done in delivering on the 
Company’s strategy, in meeting our objectives for the year and in 
ensuring that we deliver value to our many stakeholders. 

Kelvin Dushnisky
Chief Executive Officer
27 March 2020

,
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RELEVANT STRATEGIC 
OBJECTIVE

Focus on people, safety 
and sustainability

People are the 
foundation of  our 
business. Our business 
must ope rate according 
to our values – acting 
with dignity and respect 
towards communities 
and the environment 
and being accountable 
for our actions – if it is 
to remain sustainable in 
the long term. 

Sunrise Dam

PAGE 40

PAGE 41

2019  
 
 
 
 
 
Employee safety

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Gender equality

RELATED MATERIAL ISSUES:

Employee and 
community health

Talent 
management, 
skills development 
and employee 
relations

RELEVANT SDGs

Decent work and 
economic growth 

Reduced 
inequalities

RELATED RISKS:

Risk 3: Failure to meet our operational and 
safety targets

Risk 7: Failure to attract and retain critical skills 
and talent

CAPITAL AFFECTED

Human and intellectual  

PEOPLE ARE OUR BUSINESS

O ur employees – our human capital – are essential 

to deliver y on our business strategy. A productive 
and motivated workforce, equipped with the right 
skills and knowledge required to achieve our strategic 
objectives, is vital to the creation of sustained value 
throughout the business cycle. 

Several key people management initiatives were undertaken in 
2019 to ensure that AngloGold Ashanti remains competitive, agile 
and consistent in creating and delivering value.

As one of five key strategic focus areas, our human resources 
strategy is integral to our business strategy. Furthermore, our risk 
and materiality processes have highlighted people as an important 
focus area. 

Creating value through our people

Integrated talent and succession management

Given that the retention of critical skills and talent is a key risk, 
our human resource-related activities are aimed principally at 
addressing and mitigating this risk. Various initiatives are in place 
to attract and retain talent, to build leadership, to develop internal 
capabilities, to upskill and develop young talent and to encourage 
diversity and inclusion.

Our approach to integrated talent and succession management 
aims to ensure a pipeline of leadership and critical skills talent 
across the organisation. 

The effectiveness of these initiatives is measured through the 
annual talent and succession planning review conducted in a cross 
functional and systematic manner by operational, regional, functional 
and executive leadership teams for presentation to the board. 

In 2019, the following outputs were achieved: 

Six strategic  
human resource priorities

Align organisational design  
and operating model with 
business strategy 

Implement health of discipline 
frameworks to support delivery 
of Operational Excellence 

Develop capable, values- 
based leadership

Employee engagement  
and commitment

What we achieved – 2019

•   A 9% year-on-year increase in the talent pool to 257 employees

•   67% of Stratum IV (senior management) and higher vacancies 
were filled internally, illustrating the strong focus on internal 
appointments for key positions

•   A retention rate of 90% for employees graded at Stratum IV 

(senior management) and higher

•   A 14% increase in female representation in the talent  

and succession pool between 2016 and 2019, and a 3% 
improvement in the appointment of female leaders in  
key positions

•   Steady progress in skills transfer to and training and development 
of local nationals, reducing the number of expatriate employees 

•   A 14% improvement in the 26- to 35-year age group talent 

and succession pool since 2016 – positioning them for senior 
leadership and critical scarce skills positions in the future 

•   Approximately 740 formal, informal and on-the-job interventions, 
including job retentions, were conducted to grow, nurture and 
retain talent

•  New operating model 
established together 
with relevant changes to 
management structures; 
appointment of two Chief 
Operating Officers – one 
for Africa and one for 
International operations

•  Roll-out of health of discipline 

frameworks completed 

•  Clearly defined technical and 
functional role profiles and 
competencies

•  Leadership competency 
framework embedded in 
human resources practice

•  Employee survey conducted 

to better understand 
employee motivations – 
action taken to address 
issues identified

  (See below for more detail)

Talent management and 
succession planning

•  Good talent cover ratio 

achieved for key positions

Simplify and integrate human 
resource systems

•  Chairman’s Young Leaders 
Programme well underway

•  Group-wide mentorship 
programme launched

  (See below for more detail)

•  Design of our integrated 

human resources framework 
currently underway, including 
enhanced performance 
management and 
compensation systems

Obuasi

PAGE 42

PAGE 43

2019  
 
 
 
PEO PL E  ARE  OU R  BUS INESS  CON TI NU ED

Chairman’s Young Leaders Programme

The Chairman’s Young Leaders Programme underpins our integrated 
talent and succession management strategy. The programme 
accelerates the development of high potential employees, enhancing 
their performance in their current roles. Its aim is to develop and 
nurture young talent and establish pipelines for scarce skills talent 
and long-term leadership potential within the Company. 

In 2019, eight young leaders from a range of disciplines and 
operations successfully completed the year-long experiential 
development programme. Since its launch in 2015, 34 candidates 
have completed and graduated from the programme, 53% of them 
women. Overall, more than 90% have been promoted or given a 
broader scope of work, and 90% have stayed with the Company.

One Young World Summit
Investment in young leaders continues once they have graduated 
from the Chairman’s Young Leaders Programme. Exposure to 
developmental opportunities continues as their careers progress. 

In October 2019, five young leaders representing our South Africa, 
Continental Africa and Australia operations attended the One Young 
World Summit in London, United Kingdom. The annual summit 
provides a global platform for bright young leaders, between the 
ages of 18 and 35 years, to network and debate global business 
and social priorities linked to the United Nations SDGs. Those 
young leaders who represented AngloGold Ashanti are now part of 
the One Young World Network that comprises around 800 young 
leaders from some 200 countries.

AngloGold Ashanti mentorship programme

AngloGold Ashanti has established a structured mentorship 
programme where an experienced, and predominately senior 
employee (the mentor) assists another employee (the mentee) in 
developing specific skills and knowledge to enhance the mentee’s 
professional and personal growth. 

To meet the growing need to provide mentorship as a 
developmental opportunity across the organisation, the Future 
Leaders Mentorship Programme, launched originally to enhance 
the Chairman’s Young Leaders Programme, was revised to 
become the AngloGold Mentorship Programme. To implement 
this programme, 54 mentors and 18 mentorship facilitators 
were trained in 2019. Sixteen mentees – based on a broader 
mentorship approach – were also matched to mentors, mainly in 
senior leadership roles. It is planned that more employees will be 
enrolled in the programme across the organisation in 2020.

Employee engagement 

AngloGold Ashanti conducted its third global employee 
engagement survey in five years in May 2019. The survey aimed to 
improve understanding of our employees, their expectations and 
motivations. The survey findings are used to improve perception of 
the organisation, to develop our brand as an employer of choice, 
and to retain and attract critical and scarce skills talent. Despite 
the challenging operating business landscape, 76% of employees 
participated in the survey. 

Results of the survey highlighted that employees highly rate the 
extent to which AngloGold Ashanti conducted its business as a 

PAGE 44

values-based organisation, placing a high value on the leadership 
and the Company’s vision. Based on the results of the survey, work 
began to develop, implement and track relevant interventions to 
improve the business culture and reinforce our values. 

To improve employee engagement with senior leadership and in 
response to feedback from the survey, CEO breakfast sessions 
were held on a quarterly basis, providing an opportunity for informal 
conversations with employees. Additionally, CEO town hall meetings, 
regional COO town hall meetings and other engagements were 
hosted to promote a more active dialogue, ensure alignment to the 
group’s strategy and support collaboration throughout the business. 
Progress on these interventions will be provided to the board on an 
annual basis until the next survey. The next employee engagement 
survey is planned to take place in 2021.

Fair, equal and responsible pay

At AngloGold Ashanti, we are committed to the principles of fair, 
equal and transparent pay, the framework for which is continually 
evolving. These principles are reflected in our group remuneration 
policy. See Gender equality in the  for 
further details. 

Developing capabilities locally (localisation) 

Localisation encompasses efforts to strengthen local economic 
and employee development. These efforts include preserving and 
increasing local jobs, skills development, local procurement, and 
infrastructure and service development. 

Increasing localised employment is an important area of focus, 
especially in the Continental Africa region where we are currently 
working with local institutions to develop local talent. In 2019,  
16 key positions in the region were filled by local nationals, despite 
increases in expatriate numbers due to the Obuasi redevelopment 
and the move to underground mining currently underway at Geita. 

Initiatives are underway to ensure that local adequately skilled 
individuals with good potential are included in talent pools 
and succession planning. Ongoing talent mapping to identify, 
develop and maintain a pipeline for general manager and head of 
department positions is a critical area of focus to localise senior 
management.

In 2019, there was a year-on-year improvement in general manager and head of department talent pools, with significant increases in 
successors in the “Ready now”, “Ready in 1-3 years” and “Ready in 3-5 years” categories – see graph below.

General manager and head of department talent pools: successors

100

80

60

40

20

0

11.6

11.4

13.0

87.0

61.0

60.0

37.8

40.0

33.3

Now

1 – 3 years

3 – 5 years

2017

2018

2019

Focusing on diversity and inclusion

Take aways from the gender diversity assessments included:

Fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, based on dignity and 
respect, across our global footprint, is a business imperative. 

•   A range of issues impede the recruitment and development  

of females 

Gender assessments conducted internally during the year helped 
inform our Global Diversity and Inclusion Framework, which had 
oversight from the Sustainability, Ethics and Social Committee. 
Knowledge of country-specific legislation as well as input from 
focus groups on the needs of females and the barriers that prevent 
many from joining and actively participating in the business were 
used to determine desired key outcomes of the framework. 

The framework  1 , is aligned with the ICMM and United Nations 
Global Compact principles as well as our group human resource 
objectives to empower all employees, irrespective of race, gender, 
ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and people with disabilities. 
The 10-pillar framework guides managers as they work to achieve 
a truly diverse workforce and a workforce free of inequality. 
Furthermore, unconscious bias awareness workshops are being 
rolled out across the organisation. 

The Policy on Diversity, which promotes gender and racial 
diversity at board level in accordance with the JSE Listings 
Requirements, has been expanded to include culture, age, field of 
knowledge, skills and experience. Voluntary targets have been set 
for race and gender inclusion. 

1 Global Diversity and Inclusion Framework

•  Cultural issues, favouritism and biases are evident in the 

recruitment and promotion of females 

•  Marginalisation of women exists

•  Inadequate facilities and services for females in some areas  

of the business

•  More inclusive science, technology, engineering and 

mathematics (STEM) opportunities can enhance the pipeline  
of talent 

•  Branding of mining, it is not inclusive for women

Gender diversity – key facts

Women directors on the board: 4

Women members on the  
Executive Committee: 3

Board – gender profile *

Executive Committee – gender profile *

42% 58%

Female

Male

33% 67%

Female

Male

Chairman’s Young Leadership Programme (CYLP)

* As at the date of this report

PAGE 45

2019 PEO PL E  ARE  OU R  BUS INESS  CON TI NU ED

Female representation in the 
workforce by region 

Corporate office 
Continental Africa 
South Africa 
Americas 
Australia 

on the conventions and guidelines of the International Labour 
Organization, strengthens internal safety assurance processes and 
included reviews of internal safety standards and practices, along 
with the assessment of protocols used. Alignment with ISO 45001 
was completed in early 2019. Three operations have received ISO 
45001 certification – Sunrise Dam in 2018 and Geita and Siguiri 
in 2019. Other operations will be working toward ISO 45001 
certification over the next two years.

46
8
9
19
18

Our safety performance 
Our safety performance across our operations continued to 
improve in 2019. By the end of the year, Mponeng had achieved 
its best-ever injury rate and had been fatality free for one year. 
Operations in the Continental Africa region presented their best-
ever all injury frequency rates (AIFR) and in Australia, Tropicana 
also achieved its best-ever AIFR and was a finalist in the 2019 
Western Australia Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards. This 
is a significant step change, highlighting the progress that can be 
made through Company-wide focused initiatives and an integrated 
safety strategy. Our group AIFR improved by 31% year-on-year to 
the lowest level on record. We also passed a calendar year without 
a fatal accident for the first time, and by the end of 2019 had 
recorded 633 days without a workplace death. This progress is the 
cumulative result of numerous safety interventions over many years. 
Regrettably post year end in March 2020, we had two seismic-
related incidents resulting in four fatalities, see .

Our health performance 
Our strategic focus is moving beyond ‘do no harm’ to one 
underpinned by a desire to actively improve, where possible, the 
environments in which we operate. During 2019, we reviewed 

our health strategy. Work plans were created to facilitate line 
management ownership of employee and community health. In 
addition to driving productivity and improving employee wellbeing, 
this is an important aspect of long-term risk management.

To better address occupational health issues, we are pursuing 
a preventative approach rather than being reactive. ‘Predictive 
leading indicators’ targeting reductions in occupational exposures 
are now included in our operational key performance indicators 
to help us identify problem areas and address them proactively. 
Occupational health hazard programmes designed to deal with 
occupational exposures such as airborne pollutants and noise are 
to be introduced at Obuasi in Ghana and Geita in Tanzania, as these 
mines move underground. Risk assessments have been expanded 
to include both occupational and non-occupational environments.

We educate and raise awareness on the prevention and treatment 
of communicable diseases such as malaria, HIV and Ebola, and 
other priority health issues. Non-communicable diseases, such as 
hypertension, diabetes and other life-style related conditions, the 
biggest health issues globally, are of particular concern. Mental 
health is also an important risk worldwide and our operations are 
currently establishing systems to adequately assess this issue.
The proposed sale of our South African assets will alter the group’s 
health profile, as currently most of our occupational disease issues, 
such as silicosis and noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), are found 
in our South Africa region. Covid-19 has become a major focus 
area in relation to employee well-being, with measures having been 
put in place to prevent, contain and manage its spread, as detailed 
on page 19. The situation is monitored continuously.

Occupational fatalities
(number of fatalities)

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL)
(number of cases)

2015

11

2016

2017

2018

2019

7

7

3

0

All injury frequency rate
(per million hours worked)

2015

8.91

2016

9.39

2017

9.81

3.35

7.18

4.09

7.71

3.14

7.49

2018

6.56

2.13

4.81

2019

4.38

Employees

2.13

3.31
Contractors

2015

68

2016

147

2017

132

2018

39

2019

20

All occupancy disease frequency rate (AODFR)
(per million hours worked)

2015

6.62

2016

7.13

2017

7.03

2018

3.29

2019

1.36

Geita

2020 Bloomberg Gender-Equity Index 

AngloGold Ashanti voluntarily participated in the 2020 
Bloomberg Gender-Equity Index (GEI). The 2020 index 
comprised 325 companies in 42 countries with a 
combined market capitalisation of $12 trillion. The GEI 
tracks the financial performance of public companies 
committed to supporting gender equality through policy 
development, representation and transparency. The 
Bloomberg GEI metrics measure indicators such as: 
the likelihood of a woman remaining employed at a 
firm following parental leave, the availability of on-site 
lactation rooms, and sponsorship of STEM education 
programmes for women. 

Our inaugural submission has established a foundation 
to benchmark and improve upon in promoting gender 
equality, diversity and inclusion. The Company scored 
especially high marks in the areas of equal pay and 
gender pay parity, sexual harassment policies and 
Pro-Women Brand. The full results can be viewed in 
the section on ESG impacts on page 50. Our inclusion 
in the Bloomberg GEI is recognition of the work we 
are doing to achieve diversity across the group. With 
the support received from the board and Executive 
Committee to promote gender diversity and create the 
right working environment for women, opportunities 
exist to improve on future submissions.

Keeping our people safe and well 
What we did in 2019 

Safety remains AngloGold Ashanti’s priority, and together with 
providing healthy workplaces and maintaining employee health 
and well-being, is a key material issue. We pursue and adapt 
safety and health strategies in line with recognised leading 
practice in global safety and health standards and systems. These 
strategies underpin our 2030 goal of providing workplaces free of 
injury and harm. 

Embedding and integrating safety and health into the business 
and into the Operational Excellence programme is an ongoing 
process. This work included mapping and translating ISO 45001 
(replacing OHSAS 18001) concepts into work processes to ensure 
that methods, such as approaches to risk management, are 
aligned across the group. The move to ISO 45001, which is based 

PAGE 46

PAGE 47

2019 MANAGING ESG I MPACTS  FOR  SUSTAI NABI LI T Y

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I n conducting our business activities, we are mindful of 

our impact on host communities and the environment. 
Our values guide our stakeholder engagement, 

decision-making and actions in relation to communities 
and the environment and our related responsibilities. 
These responsibilities are acknowledged in our five 
strategic objectives. 

RELATED MATERIAL ISSUES:
Environment: 

       Governance:

Responsible 
environmental 
stewardship

Social:

Employee and 
community health

Contributing 
to resilient, 
self-sustaining 
communities

Employee and 
community health

Contributing 
to resilient, 
self-sustaining 
communities

Employee, 
community and 
asset security

Artisanal and 
small-scale 
mining

RELATED RISKS:

Risk 3: Failure to meet our operational and safety targets

Risk 8: Implications of future tailings regulations for our 
governance of event risks

Risk 9: Threats to social licence to operate

CAPITALS AFFECTED

A critical aspect in acquiring and maintaining AngloGold Ashanti’s 
social licence to operate is contributing positively to communities 
and demonstrating responsible environmental stewardship. 

Strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance 
is critical in maintaining stakeholder confidence and trust, and 
creating value through the cycle.

ESG performance and the SDGs

AngloGold Ashanti is committed to the Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDGs). Announced in 2015, the SDGs 
and related targets were set by the United Nations (UN) 
to support its 2030 Agenda to end poverty and inequality, 
protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. 

Our sustainable development strategy supports our overall 
business strategy and is aligned with the SDGs. The SDGs 
also speak to our environment, social and governance 
(ESG) performance and are aligned with the 10 principles 
of the ICMM. 

Having considered and interrogated the SDGs, we have 
categorised and prioritised them, based on the extent to 
which we can contribute to each as follows: 

SDGs selected as our main focus

Core to our business and committed to making a  
positive contribution:

Those SDGs we directly affect

Not core to our business, but we have a direct impact:

Social and  
relationship 
capital

Natural  
capital

Financial 
 capital

Intellectual capital 
(governance)

Those SDGs we indirectly affect

May be impacted by our activities and may  
require intervention:

PAGE 48

1 Code of Ethics

2 Mine tailings disclosure

Our ESG performance

G = GOVERNANCE

Governance and partnerships

Good corporate governance is integral to how we operate, to long-
term value creation and thus to the sustainability of our business. 
We apply the principles and recommendations set out in the King 
IV Report and other relevant laws, and comply with all the listings 
requirements of the stock exchanges on which we are listed. 
We are committed to promoting good governance and being a 
responsible corporate citizen. Our Code of Ethics  1  and values 
guide our conduct, and that of our contractors as well. 

The board provides ethical leadership and is responsible for 
our overall corporate governance. It acknowledges that sound 
governance principles and practices underpin value creation for 
shareholders and the sustainability of the business, and are thus 
crucial to the achievement of our business objectives. 

Our governance processes are set out in . 
Further detail on this is provided in the  and on our assurance processes. See also 
the  in the .

In launching the SDGs, the UN explicitly recognised that in 
achieving these goals business would have an important role to 
play and that this would entail collaboration with governments 
and NGOs, among others. Hence the importance of SDG 17 – 
Partnerships for the goals – in acknowledgment of the strong 
commitment to global partnership and co-operation required to 
deliver on the goals. One of the targets specified for SDG 17 is “to 
encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil 
society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing 
strategies of partnerships”. 

In the spirit of SDG 17– Partnerships for the goals – we collaborate 
with and support various organisations that include the ICMM, the 
World Gold Council (WGC) and the World Economic Forum (WEF), 
among others. As a member of the ICMM, we commit to their 10 
principles which underpin sustainable development in the mining 
industry, and include protecting biodiversity, respecting human rights, 
and contributing to the sustainable development of host countries. 

We also work together with the United Nations Environment 
Programme (UNEP) and the Principles for Responsible Investment 
(PRI) to collaborate on various industry issues. We have also 
participated in efforts by the ICMM members and the Global 
Tailings Review to develop an international tailings standard for 
the safer management of tailings storage facilities, following 
the Brumadinho dam wall failure in Brazil early in 2019. The 
Brumadinho TSF failure also resulted in a significant global drive 
for increased transparency around the management of tailings 
facilities. In 2019 there was a coalition comprising the Church of 
England Pensions Board, the Swedish Council on Ethics and the 
UN-supported PRI that sent a request to global mining companies 
for a public disclosure of detailed information relating to their TSFs 
and the management thereof. See AngloGold Ashanti’s response 
to this  2 . 

PAGE 49

2019  
 
 
 
 
 
MA NA G ING  ESG  IMPA CTS FOR SUSTA INA BI LITY 

CO N TINUED

Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index

Responsible Mining Index 2020 

We actively participate in and contribute directly to various global 
forums. Our Chairman serves as co-chair of the WEF’s new Africa 
Regional Stewardship Board, playing an integral role with delivery 
on the Africa Growth Platform, while our CEO was appointed 
Chairperson of the WGC in February 2020, enabling AngloGold 
Ashanti to play a more intimate role in the organisation's drive to 
stimulate and sustain demand for gold. 

Participation in sustainability indices

We engage openly with various indices such as the FTSE Russell, 
the Responsible Mining Index (RMI), the Dow Jones Sustainability 
Indices (DJSI) and the Bloomberg Gender-Equity Index, which have 
rated our sustainability performance during the year. 

FTSE4Good 2019

•  The FTSE4Good Index Series is designed to measure the 

performance of companies demonstrating strong ESG practices. 

•  Overall rating: 4.3 out of a total of 5 (up from 4.2 in 2018). This 
compares favourably with average scores of 2.6 for the gold 
mining sector, 2.1 for the basic materials industry and 3.5 for 
South Africa.

•  Score by theme:

•  Environment  

•  Social 

•  Governance 

= 3.9

= 4.0

= 5.0

RobecoSAM Dow Jones Sustainability Index 

AngloGold Ashanti has been included in the emerging markets 
index component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) 
for the fourth consecutive year. Our inclusion in the RobecoSAM 
Dow Jones Sustainability Emerging Markets Index acknowledges 
the continued improvement in our sustainability practices. In the 
2019 assessment, AngloGold Ashanti was among the top 15% of 
companies in the industry and achieved a score within 30% of the 
industry’s top performing companies. 

The RobecoSAM ESG rating is now part of S&P Global, positioning it 
within the broader investment community. AngloGold Ashanti's overall 
score was 69 (2018: 66). Scores in the ESG categories were as follows:

•  Economic dimension: 

62 (2018: 64) – industry average: 41 

•  Environmental dimension:

73 (2018: 70) – industry average: 35

•  Social dimension: 

73 (2018: 66) – industry average: 33

Obuasi

AngloGold Ashanti has been included in the 2020 Bloomberg 
Gender-Equity Index (GEI) in recognition of the work being done 
to improve diversity and inclusion across the group. Our overall 
score of 69% compares with an average score across all sectors 
of 63% and 67% for the mining sector. Our highest scores 
were for disclosure, equal pay and gender parity, and for our 
sexual harassment policies. Opportunities exist to improve our 
performance – in terms of a female leadership and talent pipeline, 
and inclusivity – and submission. With the support of the board and 
executive committee to promote gender diversity and create an 
inclusive working environment, we are well placed to achieve this. 
See  and the  for 
more information. 

Bloomberg Gender Equality  
Index Scores

AngloGold 
Ashanti

All sector 
average

Materials 
sector

Overall GEI* average

Disclosure score

Data Excellence Score

Female leadership and  
talent pipeline

Equal pay and gender  
pay parity

Inclusive culture

Sexual harassment policies

Pro-women brand

69%

97%

57%

63%

90%

52%

67%

94%

55%

30%

48%

51%

89%

39%

80%

75%

50%

54%

58%

48%

67%

47%

69%

43%

* Total number of companies: 325, of which 20 are in the materials sector.

aim for a consistent approach across our global portfolio, while 
enabling operations to adapt their environmental management 
programmes to varying operational, geographical, climate and 
regulatory settings. 

In addition, we are actively working to integrate environmental 
management with our operational functions, and formalising cross-
functional collaboration. 

In 2019, our environmental activities focused on:

•  Water: Water is a valuable and, in some areas, a scarce 

resource. All our operations are subject to either a scarcity or an 
excess of water, with 17% of our operations – such as Siguiri 
and Sadiola – in high water stress regions. A primary objective 
of water management at site level is to minimise the volume of 
water imported, often working towards a site-specific target. 
To better track this, we monitor the ratio of fresh water re-used 
and the volume of water imported per tonne of ore treated. 
Another primary water management objective is to prevent the 
contamination of water resources by our activities. Where this 
has not been possible, environmental incidents are logged, 
investigated and corrective actions are put in place. In 2019 we 
experienced three reportable environmental incidents. See 

•   Tailings management: The safe and responsible management of 
tailings, both during and after mining, is critical to the sustainability 
of our industry and in protecting the environment. AngloGold 
Ashanti has stringent monitoring and controls in place for the 
management of its TSFs. For work undertaken in Brazil, see above 
and the Americas’ regional review in this report as well as the AGA 
Mineração and Serra Grande . See also the case study: 
Tailings storage facility management in Brazil in the 

•   Energy and climate change: Mining is by its very nature more 

energy intensive. Lower grades mean more rock has to be shifted 
to maintain production and as mining progresses further away 
from infrastructure, the longer distances require more energy to 
transport both workers and the rock mined. 

 In 2019, we continued to mitigate our carbon footprint, marginally 
reducing our GHG emissions intensity by 1% from 31.8kg of GHG 
per tonne treated versus 32.1kg of GHG per tonne treated in 
2018. Absolute GHG emissions remained flat. This was despite 
a 3.7% increase in total energy used to sustain production. 
These improvements were led by continued benefits from energy 
efficiency gains at our South African mines, which, despite a 9.3% 
increase in the South African grid emission factor, managed an 
8.5% reduction in absolute emissions and a 9.2% reduction in 
emissions intensity compared to 2018.

AngloGold Ashanti was ranked fourth out of 38 global mining 
companies for its mine-site-level results in the Responsible 
Mining Index (RMI) which assesses the extent to which large-
scale mining companies address a range of economic and ESG 
issues across their mining activities. We scored in the top five for 
performance in economic development, lifecycle management, 
community wellbeing and environmental responsibility. Other 
areas which are assessed by the index are business conduct and 
working conditions. We were commended for, among others, our 
transparency in relation to the negative impacts our operations can 
have, our formalised approach to supporting local procurement 
and local business development, for our comprehensive approach 
to mitigating the impacts of collective retrenchment and relatively 
detailed disclosure of environmental incidents. 

Our ranking (out of 38 companies) for the six performance areas 
was as follows:

•  Community wellbeing – 2

•  Lifecycle management – 3

•  Economic development – 3

•  Environmental responsibility – 5

•  Working conditions – 7

•  Business conduct – 11

E = ENVIRONMENT

Environmental responsibilities and performance

Key areas of our environmental responsibilities are protecting 
biodiversity, including land rehabilitation, and mitigating impacts 
on water, energy and climate change, and air. The extent to 
which we manage these at each of our operations is influenced 
by their different geographies and applicable regulations. At an 
operational level, our environmental work is governed by our Group 
Environmental Policy, Standards and Guidelines, which together 

Water use efficiency
(kilolitres per tonne treated)

Energy intensity
(gigajoule per tonne treated)

GHG emissions intensity
(kilograms of GHG per tonne treated)

2015

0.64

2016

0.59

2017

0.61

2018

0.57

2019

2015

0.31

2016

0.33

2017

0.35

2018

0.32

2015

45

2016

48

2017

46

2018

32

0.59

2019

0.33

2019

32

PAGE 50

PAGE 51

2019  
 
MA NA G ING  ESG  IMPA CTS FOR SUSTA INA BI LITY 

CO N TINUED

 External pressure around ESG issues, especially climate 
change, continue to intensify. This pressure has included some 
of AngloGold Ashanti’s largest shareholders and the wider 
investment community. We are currently beginning development 
of a comprehensive new climate change strategy that will reset 
our emission reduction targets, ensure we protect our operations 
and our host communities against physical climate risks, 
continue to implement appropriate climate disclosure systems, 
and maximise opportunities for cost-saving and energy efficiency. 
We will be guided by, among other things, the ICMM’s updated 
Climate Change Position Statement. Plans are underway to align 
our primary climate change disclosure with the Task Force on 
Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD) recommendations.

•  Integrated closure management: The social aspects of mine 
closure and related management are becoming increasingly 
important in the integrated management of mine closure. There 
is also a growing emphasis on contributing toward resilient 
and sustainable communities during the lifecycle of the mining 

operation. We are working to achieve this by engaging with 
our communities, allowing them to identify the projects they 
would like to see developed in the areas of health, education, 
agriculture, small business and supply chain development. 
Simultaneously, as part of our mine closure responsibilities, 
we will continue rehabilitating disturbed land as we mine.  
 Closure is currently underway at Yatela while mining operations 
have ceased at Morila. Geita’s mine closure plan has been 
submitted to the authorities in Tanzania while at Obuasi, a 
Closure Consultative Committee has been established. Also at 
Obuasi, a Reclamation Security Agreement (RSA) describes the 
activities required to reclaim land previously disturbed by mining 
activities. It is based on a reclamation plan approved by the Ghana 
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in terms of which funds 
are to be posted or bonded as security for land reclamation. This 
financial surety is aimed at helping to ensure that adequate funds 
will be available to pay for site rehabilitation and post-closure 
monitoring and maintenance at any stage in the life of the mine. 

Geita

PAGE 52

Rehabilitation liabilities per operation ($ million)

Operation

Continental Africa

Ghana

Iduapriem

Obuasi (1)

Guinea

Siguiri

Mali (2)

Morila

Sadiola

Yatela

DRC

Kibali (2)

Tanzania

Geita

South Africa

Great Noligwa

TauTona (3)

Mponeng

Legacy projects

- Vaal River

- West Wits

- Other

First Uranium SA

Americas

Argentina

Cerro Vanguardia

Brazil

AGA Mineração

Serra Grande

United States of America

Other

Colombia

La Colosa

Gramalote (2)

Australia

Australia

Sunrise Dam

Tropicana

Less equity-accounted investments included above (2)

Less liabilities held for sale included above (4)

2019

Restoration

Decommissioning

249.9

32.3

141.5

28.5

–

12.2

3.1

–

32.3

15.3

5.9

3.5

2.2

–

–

0.2

3.5

129.0

58.2

47.1

16.3

0.4

6.6

0.4

59.5

28.4

31.1

453.7

(15.7)

(15.1)

422.9

158.8

14.0

44.8

25.9

6.5

12.5

7.8

11.5

35.8

81.3

27.5

16.5

2.8

3.0

2.8

–

28.7

38.0

19.1

14.9

4.0

–

–

–

37.3

17.0

20.3

315.4

(38.3)

(81.3)

195.8

Total

408.7

46.3

186.3

54.4

6.5

24.7

10.9

11.5

68.1

96.6

33.4

20.0

5.0

3.0

2.8

0.2

32.2

167.0

77.3

62.0

20.3

0.4

6.6

0.4

96.8

45.4

51.4

769.1

(54.0)

(96.4)

618.7

(1)  Includes Mpasatia (Bibiani pit)

(2)  The equity-accounted investments refer to the Mali assets, Kibali in the DRC and Gramalote in Colombia.

(3)  Includes Savuka

(4)  Includes the liabilities held for sale of Mponeng, Great Noligwa, TauTona, Vaal River and West Wits legacy projects and First Uranium.

2018
Total

378.3

42.8

163.2

53.1

7.6

26.6

12.3

10.6

62.1

75.7

30.7

16.9

4.7

2.8

0.2

0.2

20.2

137.5

69.1

48.6

12.6

0.4

6.4

0.4

88.5

40.6

47.9

680.0

(57.5)

–

622.5

PAGE 53

2019  
MA NA G ING  ESG  IMPA CTS FOR SUSTA INA BI LITY 

CO N TINUED

S = SOCIAL

Our social performance covers our activities in relation to our 
employees and communities. To learn about our activities in relation 
to our employees in the past year, see  
and .

Communities 

One of AngloGold Ashanti’s six core values is that the communities 
and societies in which we operate should be better off for our having 
been there. As our operations develop and expand, requiring land, 
or embark on closure, the principle of shared value becomes more 
important, making this ever more significant. 

We operate in environments where the communities affected by 
our operations expect a meaningful existence beyond the life of 
our mines. Creating direct economic opportunity can build trust 
and acceptance of the mining industry and can lead to increased 
community collaboration and economic growth. While community 
demands and the complexity of social challenges faced may be 
felt more acutely at our operations in emerging economies, where 
the challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality are most 
visible, the concept of shared value is relevant across all our 
operations. Our social performance is a critical determinant of our 
continued ability to conduct our business activities, underpinning 
as it does our ability to maintain our social licence to operate. 

Our 2030 aspirational community goal, which is aligned with the 
SDGs, is “Contributing to resilient, self-sustaining communities” 
that are free from poverty and inequality. To deliver on this 
aspiration, we endeavour to ensure that communities experience 
real and sustainable benefits from our operating activities. 
Such an approach is aligned with the increasing emphasis on 
responsible investment. 

For more detailed information on our contribution to resilient self-
sustaining communities, see the  and . These reports 
also contain information on our performance and work in relation 
to community health, community and asset security, respecting 
human rights and artisanal and small-scale mining. 

Socio-economic development and community upliftment 
Socio-economic development initiatives are vitally important 
if we are to ensure self-sustaining, resilient communities. The 
ability to demonstrate the positive impacts from our activities 
is important in winning and maintaining our social licence to 
operate. All operations have implemented social development 
programmes in line with their own development imperatives, 
including the profile and needs of host communities, the 
resources available for investment and relevant regulatory 
requirements, among other things. 

The socio-economic development projects implemented are 
aligned with identified community investment priorities, including 
social infrastructure, health facilities and services, education, 
training and skills development, and small, medium and micro 
enterprise (SMME) development. For 2019, group community 
investment spend totalled $27.69 million as compared with  
$22.25 million in 2018.

PAGE 54

Community investment by region (%) 

Corporate office 
Continental Africa 
South Africa 
Americas 
Australia 

3
61
11
22
3

Total 
centrally managed 
procurement spend

Total 
regionally managed 
procurement spend

69%

$1.41bn

31%

$0.64bn

Local procurement
Implementation continued of our group Local Procurement Policy 
that was launched in 2018. This policy seeks to establish a 
company-wide, sustainable local procurement programme to safely 
and ethically stimulate economic and social development within 
the countries and communities where we operate. It is central 
to building local value chains as we support the development of 
local suppliers. During the year, a multi-stakeholder workshop led 
to the completion of a local business development framework 
and guidelines for sustainable development across our Africa 
operations. Implementation of these is evidenced for example by 
the partnerships established with local suppliers, amongst others 
when we started our Obuasi mine.

This policy is intended to address increasing pressure from host 
governments and communities on mining companies to overhaul 
local procurement processes and systems, which remains a 
challenge. We are committed to implementing our localisation – 
see  – and local procurement policies 
and strategies.

Total procurement spend
($ billion)

2015

2.10

2016

1.98

2017

2.29

2018

2.06

2019

2.05

Community investment (less equity-accounted 
investments) ($ million)

Community 
investment
(2018: $22.25m)

$27.69m
84%
$2.05bn

Total procurement spend
(2018: $2.06bn)

Proportion of spend 
on local suppliers
(2018: 78%)

2015

15.22

2016

20.16

2017

24.05

2018

22.25

2019

Community incidents
(number)

2015

15

2016

2

2017

17

2018

26

2019

27.69

32

Obuasi

PAGE 55

2019 I

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PAGE 56

CFO’S REVIEW

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (1)

Christine Ramon
Chief Financial Officer

E f f e c t i v e l y   b a l a n c i n g   c o m p e t i n g 
c a p i t a l   n e e d s   t o   a c h i e v e 
b a l a n c e   s h e e t   l e v e r a g e   t a r g e t s

STABLE 
GROWTH

T he year 2019 was a strong financial year for the business. Free cash flow, before growth capital, increased by 

106% to $448m, while cash flow from operating activities increased by 22% to $1,047m. Measures have been 
taken during the year to instill more financial discipline and follow a clear framework for allocating capital. We 
have and will continue to prioritise the reduction of debt with excess cash as we believe that maintaining lower debt 
will help us to be more sustainable through the cycle. We ended the year with adjusted net debt to adjusted EBITDA 
improved to 0.91 times, well below our targeted level of 1 times through the cycle.

Reinvestment in our core asset base has enabled us to 
optimise output and plan for the future with Ore Reserves 
outside of South Africa replenished. 

•   Dividend increased by 57% to approximately 11 US cents per 

share (165 ZAR cents per share up from 95 ZAR cents per share 
in the prior year).

The rising cash flows from our operations has grown our dividend by 
57% to 11 US cents per share. Our dividend policy, which pays 10% 
of free cash flow, before growth capital, at the discretion of the board 
of directors, reflects a discipline in our capital allocation process: we 
carve out cash for shareholders before we look at growth options. 
Our investment in growth has culminated in the historic pouring 
of first gold at Obuasi in December 2019, bringing Phase 1 of the 
redevelopment project to a conclusion on time and within budget.

Progress has been made on the sales processes announced. On 
23 December 2019, the company announced that it had reached 
an agreement to sell its interest in the Sadiola Mine, while on 12 
February 2020, the company announced that it had reach an 
agreement with Harmony to sell all its remaining South African 
assets and related liabilities. In Argentina, the sales process related 
to Cerro Vanguardia continues. The sales proceeds from these 
asset sales will be prioritised to debt reduction.

Financial highlights of the year under review include:

Group performance

•   The group met 2019 full year guidance with production at 
3.281Moz and All-in sustaining costs (AISC) of $998/oz 
(including $6/oz non-cash rehabilitation provision in Brazil as 
guided in the third quarter of 2019)

•   Record production achieved at Kibali, Tropicana and Iduapriem, 

while Geita delivered the highest production in 14 years

•   Free cash flow, before growth capital, increased by 106% to 

$448m, while cash flow from operating activities increased by 
22% to $1,047m

•   Adjusted net debt to Adjusted EBITDA improved to 0.91 times, 

with cash and cash equivalents at $463m

•   The company reached agreements to sell the remaining South 

African assets and the Sadiola mine in Mali

AngloGold Ashanti’s cash flows and earnings showed further 
growth in 2019, and for the seventh consecutive year, production, 
capital and all cost guidance metrics were met.

Cash flows from the business continue to improve, with free cash 
flow at $127m up 90% compared to 2018. Adjusted EBITDA in 
2019 increased to $1,723m, versus $1,480m in 2018. Both metrics 
benefitted from the increased gold price received during 2019, 
partly offset by lower gold output, increased taxes and royalties. 
All-in sustaining costs (AISC) of $998/oz in 2019, compared to 

(1)   The information included in the Chief Financial Officer’s review is 

provided for the AngloGold Ashanti group (i.e. including South Africa), 
unless otherwise indicated. Following the announcement of the South 
African asset sale, the South African operations are recorded as 
discontinued operations in the financial results. Comparative results 
have been restated where required.

PAGE 57

Key guidance metrics   
met or exceeded f or the   
seventh consecutive year 

Production of 3.2 81Moz

106% increase in free cash flo w 
before gro wth ca pital to $448m

Adjusted net debt to adjust ed 
EBITDA impro ved t o 0.9 1 times 
with cash and cash   
equivalents of $463m

Agreement reached on sale of 
remaining South African assets 
and Sadiola mine in Mali

Dividend 165 ZAR cents 
(a pproxima tely 11 US c ents) per 
share declared – up 57% 

2019  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CFO ’S  REVIEW   CONTIN UED

$976/oz in 2018, was impacted by a $6/oz non-cash impact 
from the revised rehabilitation provisions in Brazil, as required 
by new legislation promulgated during the third quarter of 2019. 
Excluding this impact, AISC increased by 2% year-on-year.

Basic loss for the year ended 31 December 2019 was $12m, 
or 3 US cents per share, compared with basic profit of $133m, 
or 32 US cents per share in 2018. Earnings were negatively 
impacted by the impairment of the South African assets 
associated with their held for sale accounting treatment ($385m, 
net of tax), higher rehabilitation provisions in Brazil ($15m, net 
of tax) and higher care and maintenance costs in South Africa 
and Ghana ($13m, net of tax). Excluding impairment charges, 
headline earnings were $379m, or 91 US cents per share, 
compared with $220m, or 53 US cents per share in 2018.

The group ended the year with a robust balance sheet, with 
improved cash flows contributing towards continued debt 
reduction. At the end of December 2019, the ratio of adjusted 
net debt to adjusted EBITDA was 0.91 times (1 times from 
continuing operations), below the targeted level of 1 times 
through the cycle and at the lowest level since 2012.

As at 31 December 2019, liquidity remains strong with $1.42bn 
undrawn on the $1.62bn US dollar Revolving Credit Facilities (RCFs) 
approximately R4.65bn available on the R5.65bn South African 
RCFs and other facilities, and cash and cash equivalents of $463m. 
In South Africa, we cancelled one of our South African RCFs totalling 
R1.4bn at the end of February 2020. Subsequent to year-end, we 
drew on the remainder of our US Dollar RCF to bolster our cash 
position as indicated later in the report.

The board approved a dividend of ZAR 165 cents per share 
(approximately 11 US cents per share), in line with the dividend 
policy based on 10% of free cash flow, before growth capital 
expenditure. This compares to a dividend of ZAR 95 cents 
per share (7 US cents per share) in 2018. The increase in the 

dividend reflects management's commitment to improving 
shareholder returns, while maintaining disciplined capital 
allocation. The board is satisfied that subsequent to the dividend 
declaration, the company has adequate balance sheet flexibility 
and sufficient funding facilities available to withstand market 
volatility.

Strategic priorities

Maintaining a reliable track record of consistent and prudent 
behaviour as custodians of shareholder capital continues to be 
central to our approach. Capital allocation continues to remain 
disciplined and focused on improving value creation through 
effective management and without placing undue financial or 
operating risk on the business. This approach does not prioritise 
scale but rather focuses on sustainable margins and free cash 
flow growth to improve total returns to shareholders over time.

Whilst noting the establishment of two global mega gold-
producing entities after the mergers of Barrick/Randgold and 
Newmont/Goldcorp, the group continues to favour organic 
opportunities to create value, over those available through 
acquisition. The company’s equity remains an important asset 
that should be protected while efforts are undertaken to close the 
considerable valuation gap that exists with global industry peers. 
We continue to jealously guard our equity and have focused on 
self-funding growth projects over the last number of years with 
our ongoing capital needs not requiring the issue of additional 
equity. The last significant issue of equity occurred in 2013 when 
we issued 18,140,000 shares to settle the remainder of the 
outstanding 6% Mandatory Convertible Bonds.

Within this framework of self-funding we continue to target a 
return of 15% through the cycle at a long-term real gold price of 
$1,200/oz on our new investments, using conservative discount 
rates that account for specific jurisdictional and operating risks.

All-in sustaining costs vs. gold price
($/oz)

1,700

1,600

1,500

1,400

1,300

1,200

1,100

1,000

900

800

700

14%

margin

19%

margin

21%

margin

16%

margin

23%

margin

21%

margin

2013

AISC (1)

Average annual gold price

(1) World Gold Council Standard
(2) Spot price as at 21 February 2020, the date of the preliminary results announcement

Spot
$1,610/oz (2)

28%

margin

2019

The integrity of the balance sheet is fundamental to the long-term 
health of the business and enforces disciplined decision-making 
in allocating capital. This means that the company will continue 
to rank and prioritise its investments, assessing them not only 
on their returns but also on their affordability with respect 
to maintaining leverage ratios at or around targeted levels. 
Importantly, the company will weigh these competing priorities 
and consider the full suite of financing opportunities available 
when determining whether or not to proceed with an investment.

Margin improvement – an ongoing priority

As in prior years, we continued to focus our efforts on driving 
operational excellence and cost efficiencies across our business. 
Our efforts in the current year were supported by a higher gold 
price environment.

The group AISC margin improved to 28% in 2019 from 23% in 
2018. For continuing operations, the margin has improved to 
30% in 2019 from 26% in 2018.

Balance sheet strategy to enforce capital 
discipline

Our balance sheet strategy continues to enforce capital discipline, 
with adjusted net debt at $1.572bn, 5% lower than last year. Our 
adjusted net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 0.91 times (1 times 
from continuing operations) reflects ample headroom to our 3.5 
times debt covenant. Liquidity remains strong, providing good 
flexibility in a volatile climate.

As stated above, our liquidity remains strong with sufficient 
undrawn facilities. The company will continue targeting a lower 
adjusted net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 1 times through 
the cycle. We believe this target level is sustainable, even as 
we invest inward, service debt obligations and pay dividends to 
shareholders at the discretion of the board of directors. 

We remain strongly levered both to the gold price and currencies 
and we expect cash flow generation across the business to 
continue to benefit from prevailing market conditions as well as 
from efficiency and operational improvements in our business.

Subsequent to year end, on 18 March 2020, the Company drew 
$900m under the US dollar RCF to fund the repayment of the 
$700m 5.375% bonds maturing on 15 April 2020 and to support 
short-term liquidity in the event of continuing disruptions in the 
global financial markets as a result of the recent outbreak of the 
coronavirus (covid-19). In addition, a further $450m was drawn 
down on the remainder of the US Dollar RCF and received on  
27 March 2020.

Continued positive cash flow momentum

We continue to follow a balanced approach, with a focus on 
positive free cash flow generation while reinvesting in our portfolio. 
Our dividend policy remains to pay out 10% of free cash flow, 
before growth capital, at the discretion of the board. Subject to 
this discretion, our dividend policy represents a key element of our 
disciplined capital allocation.

Free cash flow before growth capital was $448m (2018: $278m, 
after the adjustment for South African retrenchment payments 
of $61m). The board approved a dividend, representing a 57% 
increase in dollar terms.

The continuation of the dividend is a reflection of our capital 
discipline and commitment to improving shareholder returns on 
the back of sustainable free cash flow generation. Importantly, 
we will maintain adequate balance sheet flexibility and utilise our 
cash flows and available facilities to fund our ongoing capital and 
operational requirements.

Net debt
($m)
4,000

Self-funded development 
of Tropicana, Kibali

3,000

2,000

1,000

50% decline 
in net debt

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Self-funded redevelopment of Obuasi

Adjusted net debt to adjusted EBITDA (times)

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0

1.0 times, new target 
through the cycle

0.91 times (1)

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Last 12 months adjusted net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio 
(1) Calculations include discontinued operations

Undrawn facilities* 
(at 31 December 2019)

c.$2.2bn

•  ZAR facilities  R4.650bn

•  $ RCFs** 

$1,420m

•  Cash 

$463m

*   Total calculated with ZAR facility at R13.9937/$, and AUD facility at 0.70492  
** $1.4bn RCF includes a capped facility of A$500m

PAGE 58

PAGE 59

2019 CFO ’S  REVIEW   CONTIN UED

Free cash flow generation  
(Adjusted FCF) 

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

(200)

(400)

(600)

(800)

(1,000)

(1,200)

155

821

(666)

2012

703

(1,064)

(361)

2013

391

249

142

(1) 371

169

202

(2) 424

116

308

(4) 278 

150

128

(3) 174

124

50

448

321

127

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Pre-growth capex

Adjusted free cash flow generation

(1)  Adjusted for bond redemption premium of $61m on part settlement of $1.25bn high-yield bonds; for Obuasi redundancy costs of $210m; and the 2014 Rand Refinery loan of $44m.
(2)  Adjusted for bond redemption premium of $30m on settlement of remaining $1.25bn high-yield bonds.
(3)  Adjusted for SA retrenchment costs paid of $49m. 
(4)  Adjusted for SA retrenchment costs paid of $61m. 

Delivery against 2019 financial and operational objectives

1.  Continued focus 
on sustainable 
free cash flow 
generation

Free cash flow of $127m for the full year represents a 90% improvement year on year 
(2018: $67m and 2017: $1m). All the group’s major operating mines were cash positive. 
Free cash flow was bolstered by higher gold prices which offset lower production, higher 
capital expenditure, increased profit based taxes and the slower cash repatriation from 
Kibali in the DRC.

ü
Objective 
met

Although we received $75m in dividends from Kibali for the year, our attributable share of 
cash balances in-country increased to $202m as at 31 December 2019 (2018: $53m). Our 
joint venture partner, Barrick, who is the operator at Kibali, continues to engage with the 
government of the DRC with regards the cash lock-up in-country.

2.  Improve margins  Our margins for total cash costs, AISC, and all-in costs (AIC) on revenue from continuing 
operations were 46%, 30% and 17%, respectively. Except for AIC, the margins reflected 
increases from 2018 (total cash costs: 42%; AISC: 26%; and AIC: 18%). Margins were 
positively affected by the higher gold price received during the year, with AIC marginally 
down year-on-year as a result of the increased growth capital expenditure incurred during 
the year relating to the Obuasi redevelopment project.

ð
Objective 
ongoing

Delivery against 2019 financial and operational objectives (continued)

3.  Maintain strict 

cost and capital 
discipline 

The group’s total cash costs were largely steady with total cash costs of $776/oz in 2019, 
$3/oz higher than $773/oz achieved in 2018. Total cash costs were favourably impacted 
by weaker currencies, which assisted in offsetting inflationary pressures in the emerging 
economies that we operate in, particularly in Argentina and South Africa. The main cost 
drivers contributing to inflationary pressures related to mining contractors, labour and 
consumables, which are all predominately indexed to inflation.

ð
Objective 
ongoing

Total cash costs were further adversely impacted by lower production, predominately grade 
impacts and lower planned by-product revenue at Cerro Vanguardia. Operational efficiency 
improvements continue to be a key group focus to mitigate operational cost pressures.

AISC of $998/oz in 2019, were 2% higher than $976/oz achieved in 2018. AISC for 2019 
include a non-cash $6/oz for additional environmental rehabilitation obligations in Brazil 
pertaining to tailings facilities, under the new legislation enacted in August 2019, following 
Vale’s Brumadinho failure in January 2019. Lower sustaining capital was largely offset by 
IFRS 16 lease costs, higher rehabilitation provisions and other non-cash costs.

Total capital expenditure (including equity accounted investments) increased by 13% to 
$814m in 2019, compared to $721m in 2018. This included project capital expenditure 
of $321m relating to Obuasi, Siguiri, Tropicana, Mponeng and Quebradona in 2019, 
compared to $150m invested in growth projects in 2018. Sustaining capital expenditure 
decreased to $493m in 2019, compared to $571m in 2018.

4.  Advance Obuasi 

for first production 
by the end of 2019

The Obuasi redevelopment project achieved its first pour of gold on 18 December 2019, 
signalling the successful redevelopment of the mine into a modern, mechanised mining 
operation since mining activities were suspended five years ago. At the end of 2019, the 
overall project was 77% complete. The Phase 1 ramp up is now in progress to achieve 
2,000 tonnes per day.

Phase 2 of the project, to achieve a capacity of 4,000 tonnes per day, is firmly on schedule 
and within budget with commissioning scheduled for the end of 2020.  
See  section for more detail on the project.

5.  Complete asset 
sale processes 

Processes to sell assets in Mali, South Africa and Argentina progressed during the year. On 
23 December 2019, the company announced that it had reached an agreement to sell its 
interest in the Sadiola Mine to Allied Gold for an attributable cash consideration of $52.5m.

ü
Objective 
met

ð
Objective 
ongoing

After the financial year end, on 12 February 2020, the company announced it had reached 
an agreement with Harmony to sell all its remaining South African producing assets 
and related liabilities with expected proceeds of around $300m, subject to subsequent 
performance, and with additional proceeds if the West Wits assets are developed below 
current infrastructure. 

Both the Mali and South African sales processes are expected to close in 2020.

Subsequent to the announcement of the sale of the South African assets, Moody's affirmed 
a credit-positive impact of the sale citing another positive step in strategy to streamline the 
portfolio and lower the long-term cost structure of the business.

In Argentina, the sales process related to Cerro Vanguardia continues. This process is at 
an advanced stage and we hope to make a decision whether to accept a firm offer or to 
terminate the sales process in the second quarter of 2020. Cerro Vanguardia continues 
to be a strong contributor to the group, with 225,000oz produced in 2019 at an AISC of 
$859/oz, generating gross profits of $108m.

6.  Ongoing 

stakeholder 
engagement 

The group’s strategy is underpinned by our overall objective, which is to deliver quality 
production, responsibly, with an emphasis on widening margins, extending mine lives and 
improving the portfolio. This forms the basis of our continuing and ongoing stakeholder 
engagement, whether with investors, governments, communities, or employees.

ð
Objective 
ongoing

The global enhanced interest in environmental, sustainability and governance disciplines 
(ESG) for companies operating in the extractive activities industries has become a focus 
for investors and it receives considerable attention from the group. Maintaining and 
enhancing our licence to operate through effective ESG practices, is critical to achieving 
our objectives.

PAGE 60

PAGE 61

2019 CFO ’S  REVIEW   CONTIN UED

Delivery against 2019 financial and operational objectives (continued)

7.  Advance 

Colombian 
projects up the 
value curve 

At Quebradona, the company continued with its feasibility study, after the declaration of 
a reserve at the end of 2018. It is expected that the results of the feasibility study will be 
announced towards the end of 2020. During the year, drilling focused on geotechnical 
programmes for site infrastructure, the tunnel trace, above the mine area and the crusher 
chamber.

ð
Objective 
ongoing

On 16 September 2019, the company announced that it had reached an agreement with 
B2Gold, its joint venture partner at the Gramalote Project in Colombia, whereby B2Gold will 
fund an investment and exploration programme in 2020 to the value of $13.9m, in order 
to earn back to a 50:50 joint venture and assume management of the project with effect 
from 1 January 2020. This agreement provides additional momentum to the Gramalote 
Project, one of AngloGold Ashanti’s two advanced exploration projects in Colombia. At the 
time of the announcement, B2Gold owned a 48.3% stake, with AngloGold Ashanti holding 
the remaining 51.7%. B2Gold and AngloGold Ashanti have agreed on a budget for the 
feasibility study on the Gramalote Project of approximately $37m. As manager, B2Gold 
plans to continue the feasibility work with the goal of completing a final feasibility study by 
the end of 2020.

Looking ahead to 2020
We have a number of key catalysts we intend to focus on 
in 2020. Our strong focus on ESG related matters is paying 
dividends and we will specifically continue our focus and attention 
on improving our safety record. We have made good progress 
in streamlining the portfolio and our continued focus in 2020 will 
be on the successful commissioning of Phase 2 of the Obuasi 
project by the end of the year. Simultaneously, we expect that 
our planned increased Ore Reserve Development and Mineral 
Resource Conversion over the course of 2020 and 2021 will 
provide positive results in the medium term. Our additional 
anticipated sustaining capital spend for 2020 is estimated at $30/
oz. We expect to close on all the ongoing, announced divestment 
processes.

We expect to continue to improve cash flows, potentially resulting 
in further increases in our dividend pay-outs. Our leverage is 
currently at the target level we would like to maintain through the 
cycle and, given the strong fundamentals in place currently, we 
expect further improvement on this leverage. We aim to achieve 
all of this while remaining disciplined in managing costs and 
capital expenditure, thereby optimising current operating margins.

COVID-19 virus pandemic, guidance and liquidity

At the date of the approval of these financial results, the COVID-19 
virus outbreak continues to spread across the globe and 
contributes to economic instability in global financial markets. 
The outbreak was declared a global pandemic on 11 March 
2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and since then 
has resulted in numerous governments and other organisations, 
including AngloGold Ashanti, introducing a variety of measures to 
curb the spread of the virus.  To date, we have taken a number of 
proactive steps to protect our employees, our host communities 
and business, in line with the company’s values, guidelines and 
advice provided by the WHO and within the requirements of the 
countries in which we operate. The health and wellbeing of our 
employees and our host communities remains a key priority. Cases 
of the outbreak have been reported in all of the jurisdictions in 
which we operate, and it may lead to a prolonged restriction on the 
movement of people and continued requirement for people to self-
isolate or be quarantined.

PAGE 62

A cross-functional team, including operations, technical, finance, 
health, community, government relations and other support 
disciplines, is helping to guide the response to the crisis. The 
company has for some time employed increased screening and 
surveillance of employees, stopped non-essential travel, instituted 
mandatory quarantine for arriving travelers and increased hygiene 
awareness across its operations, in addition to a range of other 
measures to mitigate the risks presented by the virus. It has also 
worked with local communities to help bolster their responses to 
the outbreak. These initiatives have complemented government 
responses in each of its operating jurisdictions. 

As a precaution against the potential effects of the pandemic on our 
ability to secure spares and consumables, our supply chain teams 
have proactively placed orders to build increased safety stocks on 
critical items at our operations.  Specific inventories depend on 
the level of risk identified in each region, lead time considerations, 
and storage capacity.  In general, we are targeting inventories of 
three to six months on primary consumables, while recognising we 
have the support of strategic partnerships with key suppliers who 
themselves are maintaining inventories in the respective regions for 
many critical items.  

More specifically, the near-term supply chain outlook remains 
positive, while mid to long term uncertainty (i.e. 4 to 8 months) is 
being actively managed as follows:

•  We are pro-actively placing orders to increase safety stocks on 

critical consumable items at our operations. 

•  We have strong supplier relationships and a globally diversified 
supply base which minimises the risk of global interruptions.

•  Potential supply chain risks are currently limited to base metals 

and steel sourced from China impacting grinding media required 
at our operations. However, we do not rely solely on Chinese 
steel for our grinding media.

•  Minimal risks have been identified thus far for the supply of 

mining equipment over the next 12 months, however, we are 
starting to see lead times increasing.

•  We have noted lead times extending for lower value protective 

gear and equipment, however, alternative sources for these items 
have been identified.

We are proactively managing the gold shipments logistics through 
alternative flight routes and air charters due to cancellation of flights 
by certain airlines and closure of ports in various jurisdictions in 
order to avoid shipment delays of gold doré bars to refineries. 

Any self-imposed or government-mandated lockdowns may 
disrupt the company’s activities and operations and even lead to 
a full or partial temporary suspension of the company’s mining 
operations in those jurisdictions. On 21 March 2020, following 
the Argentinian government’s decision to impose a nationwide 
lockdown (quarantine) until 31 March 2020, including temporary 
travel restrictions, border closings and suspension of most 
industries, Cerro Vanguardia was required to temporarily suspend 
mining activities. 

On 23 March 2020, the South African government announced a 
21-day nationwide lockdown, effective from midnight on 26 March 
2020, resulting in the temporary suspension of mining activities of 
the company’s South African operations particularly Mponeng, and 
the partial suspension of mining activities at Mine Waste Solutions 
(MWS) and Surface Operations. 

On 26 March 2020, the State of Goiás, in Brazil, extended a set of 
restrictions on the operation of non-essential business to include 
mining. These restrictions are set to run through to 4 April 2020. 
Serra Grande will temporarily suspend its operations. 

The current impact of all of the suspended operations is expected 
to be about 30,000oz to 40,000oz, or less than 2% of annual 
production. In these countries, the suspension of mining activities 
will continue for the period during which the respective restrictions 
remain in force. 

The rest of AngloGold Ashanti’s mines in its diversified portfolio 
of 14 assets in nine countries, continue to operate. For the sites 
where production has been suspended, plans for a safe and 
smooth ramp-up, and for safely regaining part of the delayed 
production, are being developed. 

The pandemic, if prolonged, would have a wide range of impacts, 
including the direct consequences of the virus on the health of 
employees and communities, but also the consequent restrictions 
to travel and work put in place by governments to slow its spread. 
There would also be indirect consequences, including the reduced 
ability to effectively move people, supplies and equipment to 
sites. These may cause production interruptions through further 
suspensions of mining activities or delays to projects. We are in the 
process of designing the necessary contingency plans to mitigate 
these risks.

The Company had a good start to the year, and notwithstanding 
the suspended production in South Africa and Argentina remains 
well on track to meet its annual guidance. Nonetheless, given 
the uncertainties with respect to future developments, including 
duration, severity and scope of the covid-19 pandemic and the 
necessary government responses to limiting its spread, the board 
has decided to withdraw its market guidance for 2020 published as 
part of its preliminary condensed consolidated financial results on 
21 February 2020, at this time.

We will continue to focus on the necessary steps to protect people, 
work to meet production targets and  secure the longer-term future 
of the business during this period of uncertainty.

We are implementing cash conservation measures, including 
focused capital prioritisation and reducing non-essential spending 
across the business.

The company has drawn down $1.4bn on its US dollar RCF to 
cater for the $700m bond redemption due mid-April 2020 and to 
provide additional liquidity headroom. After the drawdowns, cash 
on hand is about $1.8bn (excluding cash lock-up positions at Kibali 
and Sadiola, where AngloGold Ashanti’s combined share totals 
about $300m).

Management will continue to take a prudent and proactive 
approach to managing the group’s liquidity, which may include 
procuring additional credit facilities or debt over and above its 
current facilities. 

Summary

In summary, priorities for 2020 are:

•  Continued focus on sustainability and safety improvements

•  Target increased reserve conversion through additional 

investment in Ore Reserve Development and Mineral Resource 
Conversion 

•  Aim to successfully complete divestment processes

•  Obuasi phase 2 commissioning complete by year-end

•  Optimise margins and cash conversion

•  Enforce capital discipline in a rising gold price environment

•  Proactively manage the emerging risks relating to the Corona 

virus pandemic from an operational, liquidity, working capital and 
supply chain perspective

•  Focus on cash conservation measures including reducing 

corporate costs and AISC

•  Pursue optimal financing alternatives for the group 

Acknowledgement

I wish to record my gratitude to the broader finance team across 
the group which includes the financial reporting, tax, treasury, 
information management, global supply chain and internal audit 
functions. These functions work together seamlessly to ensure 
that we proactively manage risk, ensuring that we have robust 
financial systems in place to maintain a strong internal control 
environment whilst enabling relevant, timely financial reporting that 
inform business decisions. Our strong track record of achieving 
our financial KPIs is testimony to the strong calibre of our 
financial team. I look forward to the year ahead with enthusiasm, 
focusing on our strategic objectives and improving returns to our 
shareholders.

Christine Ramon
Chief Financial Officer
27 March 2020

PAGE 63

2019 FINA N CI AL REVIEW

Three-year summaries
Summarised group financial results – income statement

US dollar million

Continuing operations

Revenue from product sales

Cost of sales

Gain (loss) on non-hedge derivatives and other commodity contracts

Gross profit

Corporate administration, marketing and other expenses

Exploration and evaluation costs

Impairment, derecognition of assets and profit / loss on disposal

Other expenses

Operating profit

Interest income

Dividends received

Foreign exchange losses

Finance costs and unwinding of obligations

Share of associates and joint ventures' profit 

Profit before taxation

Taxation

Profit after taxation from continuing operations 

Discontinued operations

Loss from discontinued operations

(Loss) profit for the year

Allocated as follows:

Equity shareholders

- Continuing operations

- Discontinued operations

Non-controlling interests

- Continuing operations

(1)  Years 2018 and 2017 have been restated for IFRS 5.

Summarised group financial results – statement of financial position

US dollar million

Assets

Tangible, right of use and intangible assets

Investments

Inventories

Cash and cash equivalents

Assets held for sale

Other assets

Total assets

Equity and liabilities

Total equity

Borrowings and lease liabilities

Provisions

Deferred taxation

Liabilities held for sale

Other liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

PAGE 64

2019

(1) 2018

(1) 2017

US dollar million

2019

(1) 2018

(1) 2017

Summarised group financial results – statement of cash flows

 3,525

 (2,626)

 3,336 

 (2,584)

 3,394

 (2,607)

 5

 904

 (82)

 (112)

 (6)

 (83)

 621

 14

 –

 (12)

 (172)

 168

 619

 (250)

 369

 (376)

 (7)

 364 

 (376)

 5 
 (7)

 (2)

 750 

 (76)

 (98)

 (7)

 (79)

 490

 8 

 2 

 (9)

 (168)

 122 

 445 

 (212)

 233

 (83)

 150

 216 

 (83)

 17 
 150

–

 787

 (64)

 (105)

 (2)

 (150)

 466

 8

 –

 (11)

 (157)

 22

 328

 (163)

 165

 (336)

 (171)

 145 

 (336)

 20 
 (171)

Cash flows from operating activities

Cash generated from operations

Dividends received from joint ventures

Net taxation paid

Net cash inflow from operating activities from continuing operations

Net cash inflow from discontinued operations

Net cash inflow from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Capital expenditure

Net payments from acquisition and disposal of subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures
Net proceeds (payments) from disposal and acquisition of investments, associate loans, and 

acquisition and disposal of tangible assets

Interest received

Increase in cash restricted for use

Other

Net cash outflow from investing activities from continuing operations

Net cash (outflows) inflows from discontinued operations

Cash in subsidiaries sold and transferred to held for sale

Net cash outflow from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Net proceeds (repayments) from borrowings and lease liabilities

Finance costs and lease finance costs paid

Dividends paid

Other

Net cash outflow from financing activities from continuing operations

Net cash outflows from discontinued operations

Net cash outflow from financing activities

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Translation

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

2019

2018

2017

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

(1)  Years 2018 and 2017 have been restated for IFRS 5.

 2,873 

 1,667 

 725 

 456 

 601 

 541 

 6,863 

 2,676

 2,204

 797

 241

 272

 673 

 6,863 

 3,504 

 1,675 

 758 

 329 

 –  

 377 

 6,643 

 2,694 

 2,050 

 927 

 315 

–

 657 

 6,643 

 3,880 

 1,645 

 783 

 205 

 348 

 358 

 7,219 

 2,704 

 2,268 

 1,064 

 363 

 126 

 694 

 7,219 

Geita

 1,102 

 77 

 (221)

 958 

 89 

 1,047 

 (703)

 (5)

 17 

 14 

–

 (6)

 (683)

 (54)

 (6)

 (743)

 3 

 (137)

 (43)

–

 (177)

–

 (177)

 127 

–

 329 

 456 

 931 

 91 

 (166)

 856 

 1 

 857 

 (575)

 (8)

 21 

 5 

 (6)

 2 

 (561)

 226 

–

 (335)

 (214)

 (130)

 (39)

 (10)

 (393)

–

 (393)

 129 

 (5)

 205 

 329 

 1,067 

 6 

 (160)

 913 

 84 

 997 

 (675)

 (27)

 (8)

 7 

 (8)

–

 (711)

 (151)

–

 (862)

 48 

 (138)

 (58)

–

 (148)

–

 (148)

 (13)

 3 

 215 

 205 

PAGE 65

2019 FINA N CI AL REVIEW  CONTIN UED

Three-year summaries (continued)
Ratios and statistics

Operating review – gold

Production from continuing operations

Production from continuing and discontinued operations

Gold sold from continuing operations

Gold sold from continuing and discontinued operations

Continuing operations

Closing spot price at year-end

Average gold price received

Total cash costs

All-in sustaining costs

All-in costs

Earnings

Gross profit

Gross margin

Adjusted EBITDA (2)

Interest cover

Asset and debt management

Adjusted net debt

Adjusted net debt to adjusted EBITDA (2)

Continuing and discontinued operations

(Loss) profit attributable to equity shareholders

(Loss) profit attributable to equity shareholders

Headline earnings 

Headline earnings

Capital expenditure (3)

Net cash inflow from operating activities

Free cash inflow

Asset and debt management

Equity

Net capital employed

Net asset value – per share

Market capitalisation

Return on net capital employed

Other

Weighted average number of shares

Issued shares at year-end

Exchange rates

Rand/dollar average

Rand/dollar closing

Australian dollar/dollar average

Australian dollar/dollar closing

Brazilian real/dollar average

Brazilian real/dollar closing

Argentinean peso/dollar average

Argentinean peso/dollar closing

Units

2019

(1) 2018

(1) 2017

000oz

000oz

000oz

000oz

$/oz

$/oz

$/oz

$/oz

$/oz

$m

%

$m

 2,862 

 3,281 

 2,854 

 3,268 

 1,517 

 1,394 

 746 

 978 

 2,913 

 3,400 

 2,922 

 3,412 

 1,268 

 1,266 

 729 

 942 

 2,852 

 3,755 

 2,869 

 3,772 

 1,258 

 1,257 

 700 

 993 

 1,151 

 1,034 

 1,077 

 904 

 26 

 750 

 23 

 787 

 24 

 1,580 

 1,388 

 1,369 

times

 11 

 10 

 10 

IMPROVE PORTFOLIO QUALITY 
AND MAINTAIN LONG-TERM 
OPTIONALITY

$m

times

$m

US cents

$m

US cents

$m

$m

$m

$m

$m

US cents

$m

%

million

million

 1,581 

 1.0 

 (12)

 (3)

 379 

 91 

 814 

 1,047 

 127 

 2,676 

 4,422 

 644 

 9,278 

11

 418 

415

14.44

13.99

1.44

1.42

3.94

4.03

48.29

59.90

 1,659 

 1.2 

 2,001 

 1.5 

RELEVANT STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

133

 32 

 220 

 53 

 721 

 857 

 67 

 2,694 

 4,657 

 653 

 5,180 

8

 417 

413

13.25

14.35

1.34

1.42

3.66

3.87

28.14

37.81

 (191)

 (46)

 27 

 6 

 953 

 997 

 1 

 2,704 

 5,031 

 659 

 4,178 

3

 415 

 410 

13.30

12.36

1.30

1.28

3.19

3.31

16.57

18.65

We have a portfolio of assets that must be actively managed to ensure delivery on our strategic 
objectives

Maintain long-term  
optionality

Improve portfolio quality and 
maintain long-term optionality

RELEVANT RISKS

Risk 1: Regulatory changes to mining rights and adverse fiscal changes

Risk 2: Inability to convert Mineral Resource to Ore Reserve

Risk 3: Failure to meet our operational and safety targets

CAPITALS AFFECTED

NATURAL CAPITAL

HUMAN AND 
INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL

MANUFACTURED  
CAPITAL

FINANCIAL 
 CAPITAL

SOCIAL AND  
RELATIONSHIP CAPITAL

(1)  Where appropriate, years 2018 and 2017 have been restated for IFRS 5. 

(2)  The adjusted EBITDA calculation is based on the formula included in the revolving credit agreements for compliance with the debt covenant formula. 

(3) 

Includes attributable share of equity-accounted investments.

PAGE 66

PAGE 67

2019 REG IO NA L REVI EWS
Continental Africa

T here are seven mining operations in our Continental Africa region, four of which 

are currently in operation – with one of these treating tailings and another oxide 
ore. Of these four, AngloGold Ashanti manages three. 

Mali

1

2

3

Guinea

Ghana

4

DRC

5

Tanzania

LEGEND

1

Guinea Siguiri (85%)

2 Mali Sadiola (41%)/Morila (40%)

3

4

5

Ghana Iduapriem/Obuasi

DRC Kibali (45%)

Tanzania Geita

Operation

Project

0

2,000km

Our operations in this region are:

In Mali:

In Ghana:

•  Iduapriem, an open-pit mine comprising the Iduapriem and 

Teberebie properties and the Ajopa South West concession, is 
located in the western region of Ghana 

•  Obuasi, an underground mine in the Ashanti region of 

Ghana, was placed on care and maintenance from 2016. 
Following the decision to redevelop the mine in 2018, the 
redevelopment project began early in 2019. First gold was 
poured in December 2019

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo: 

•  Kibali, one of the largest mines of its kind in Africa, is situated 
in north-eastern DRC. The mine, which has both open pit and 
underground operations, is co-owned by AngloGold Ashanti 
(45%), Barrick (45%), which manages the mine, and Société 
Minière de Kilo-Moto (SOKIMO) (10%), a state-owned gold 
mining company

In Tanzania:

•  Geita is located in the Lake Victoria goldfields, in north-western 
Tanzania. The Geita gold deposit is mined as a multiple open-pit 
and underground operation

In Guinea:

•  Siguiri is a multiple open-pit oxide gold mine in the relatively 
remote district of Siguiri, in which AngloGold Ashanti has an 
85% interest. The remaining 15% is held in trust for the nation 
by the government of Guinea. Siguiri is contractor-mined using 
conventional open-pit techniques 

•  Morila is a joint venture between AngloGold Ashanti and Barrick, 
in which each has a 40% interest. The remaining 20% is held 
by the government of Mali. The mine completed mining of the 
satellite pits in 2019 and will treat material from tailings storage 
for remainder of its life 

•  Sadiola, which is jointly held by AngloGold Ashanti (41%), 
IAMGOLD (41%) and the government of Mali (18%) began 
operating in 1996. Mining ceased during 2018 and the 
operation began the treatment of stockpiles. The sale of the 
combined 82% interest in Sadiola to Allied Gold Corporation 
for $105m was announced in December 2019. All conditions 
precedent are expected to have been fulfilled or waived by the 
end of April 2020 

In 2019, the Continental Africa region accounted for:

47% of group production
50% of group capital expenditure

A more detailed description and discussion of each of 
these operations can be found in the individual .

Operating performance
Production

Production from the Continental Africa region increased to 
1.538Moz in 2019 compared to 1.512Moz in 2018. This was 
largely due to record production at Kibali and Iduapriem, and an 
exceptional performance at Geita. 

Gold production at Iduapriem was 8% higher at a record 
275,000oz compared to 254,000oz in 2018, primarily a result of 
a 14% improvement in plant feed. The grade improvement was 
driven by better grade control and access to Cut 1 area in the 
Teberebie pit where stripping commenced in 2017. Production was 
impacted by a 5% year-on-year decline in tonnage throughput due 
to lower plant availability owing to an unstable power supply from 
the national grid in the first half of the year and mill downtime in 
the last quarter of the year to repair a cracked trunnion journal on 
Sag Mill 2. The power supply challenge has since been resolved by 
changing over to Volta River Authority and Ghana Grid Company. 

Geita produced 604,000oz in 2019, the highest level in 14 years, 
compared to 564,000oz in 2018. The operation is successfully 
transitioning to predominantly underground operations, with a 10% 
increase in recovered grades achieved on the back of additional 
flexibility in the blending strategy resulting in improved recovery 
rates. Record quarterly production of 208,000oz was achieved in 
the last quarter of the year, largely a result of the higher volumes of 
tonnes treated and higher-grade material from Star & Comet Cut 3. 

Production at Siguiri declined to 213,000oz in 2019. This compares 
with production of 242,000oz in 2018. The lower production 
was mainly due to lower plant feed grade and recovery which is 
related to the ROM 3 crushing plant low performance and material 
feed blend to the plant. This was a result of a slower ramp-up 
than anticipated following the completion of the carbon-in-leach 
(CIL) combination plant integration during the year. By year-end, 
quarterly production had improved as the processing challenges 
from the treatment of harder rock material through the plant had 
been addressed.

At Kibali, production increased to a record of 366,000oz in 2019 
(2018: 363,000oz), a result of the ramp up in underground mining, 
which partially offset the 9% decrease in tonnes treated due to the 
planned reduction in open pit mining. The mine delivered higher 
volumes of underground tonnes as the shaft operated in line with 
design specifications for the full year. Total volume of underground 
ore hoisted was 15% higher year-on-year.

Sadiola continued to process the stockpile and optimise costs, 
producing 51,000oz in 2019. This compares to 59,000oz in 2018. 
The end of mining activities and the depletion of full grade ore 
stockpiles in 2018 led to a higher proportion of marginal grade ore 
from the stockpiles being fed to the plant in 2019. 

Morila’s production decreased, as planned, to 27,000oz in 2019 
compared to 30,000oz in 2018, following the completion of satellite 
pit mining at the start of the first half of the year. Production was 
also impacted by a 16% decrease in recovered grade as the mine 
continued to treat tailings material. This was partially offset by a 9% 
increase in tonnes treated compared to the previous year. 

Attributable production
(000oz)
2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0

1,435

1,321

1,453

1,512

1,538

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Productivity
(oz/TEC)
25

23.01

20

15

10

5

0

20.61

20.70

20.70

19.17

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

AIFR
(per million hours worked)

0,7

0,6

0,5

0,4

0,3

0,2

0,1

0,0

0.50

0.51

0.49

0.39

0.62

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Total cash costs and all-in sustaining costs
(US$/oz)
1000

953

905

827

678

717

720

904

896

773

759

800

600

400

200

0

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Total cash costs

All-in sustaining costs (1)

(1) World Gold Council Standard

PAGE 68

PAGE 69

2019 REG IO NA L REVI EWS  CONTINU ED
Continental Africa

Costs

All-in sustaining costs for the region decreased to $896/oz 
for 2019, a result of lower operating costs at Geita, given the 
decline in open pit mining and transition to underground mining, 
lower operating costs at Sadiola and Morila as they wind down 
operations, as well as cost savings achieved from reagent 
optimisation at both Geita and Iduapriem. 

The drive for continuous cost improvements through the 
Operational Excellence programme is well entrenched across all 
sites and disciplines in the region. The focus remains on delivering 
systemic and sustainable operational improvements in the 
management of the region’s stay-in-business projects.

Capital expenditure

Total capital expenditure for the region increased to $410m in 
2019, from $313m in 2018. This was in line with planned inward 
investment in growth projects, particularly at Obuasi where $246m 
was spent in the redevelopment of the project (see box below). 
Underground Ore Reserve development projects continued at 
Geita, for Star & Comet and Nyankanga, and at Obuasi. These 
projects will provide access to orebodies identified for future 
gold extraction. The balance of the capital spend was used for 
capitalised exploration and stay-in-business projects to improve 
asset reliability across our mines to ensure safe, risk-free mining 
and production.

Growth and improvement

Commissioning of the Siguiri CIL combination plant was completed 
in 2019 with the mill achieving design throughput consistently. 
Optimisation of the circuit is now underway. The prefeasibility study 
for the Block 2 Project was completed, and the feasibility study is 
expected to be completed by end of the second quarter in 2020. 
Evaluation of Siguiri Block 2 and the trucking of oxide material to 
the existing process plant to displace marginal ore was completed. 
The aim is to improve the mine’s ounce profile from 2021 onwards 
and potentially extend its life of mine. Permits for construction of 
the new haul road have been received while the mining permit 
application is currently in progress.

At Geita, the development of Nyankanga Block 1 Portal began in 
December 2019 to accelerate mining in Blocks 1 and 2 following 
the delay in permitting for Geita Hill. 

Development of Geita’s Star & Comet and Nyankanga underground 
operations continued during the year. Approximately 4,568m 
of development was completed during the year to access new 
areas for stope mining and further exploration. Open pit mining 
at Nyankanga will reach the end of its economic life during 2020. 
Surface exploration continued at Selous, a satellite pit 2.4km from 
Star & Comet, to supplement the underground operation in the 
near term.

At Iduapriem waste stripping for Teberebie Cut 1 was completed 
and ore was mined from Teberebie Cut 1, Cut 3, Ajopa and 
Block 3. Stripping in Cut 2 is expected to start during the first 
half of 2020 to deliver ore in 2021 when Cut 1 ore is depleted. 
Brownfields drilling continued at the Ajopa pit and open pit mining 
has been extended to Cut 3 to supplement ore from the larger 

PAGE 70

Teberebie pit. Major brownfield exploration drilling continued at 
Blocks 7 and 8, Ajopa and Block 1 to improve the mine’s future 
ounce profile and potentially extend the life of mine.

The prefeasibility studies for the new tailings storage facility and 
return water dam (RWD) sites were completed. Related feasibility 
study is planned to be completed in 2020. Construction sites were 
identified and land access compensation and engagement with 
the relevant government authorities began for the permitting of 
the new facilities. In the second half of 2019 the mine undertook a 
feasibility study to consider treatment options to discharge excess 
water efficiently on the current greenfield tailings storage facility, the 
completion of which is expected in 2020. 

At Kibali, the Kalimva-Ikamva prefeasibility study was completed, 
delivering another viable opencast project. This will help balance 
the mine’s open cast/underground ore ratio and enhance mine 
plan flexibility. Drilling at Gorumbwa highlighted future underground 
potential and ongoing conversion drilling at KCD is delivering Ore 
Reserve replenishment. The mine is well placed to meet its 10-year 
production targets and extend them beyond this horizon.

Obuasi redevelopment project 

The Obuasi redevelopment project has progressed well 
and remains on schedule and within budget.

Phase 1 of the project, which set up the plant to 
achieve a daily processing rate of 2,000t of ore, was 
completed. Phase 2 which aims to expand plant 
capacity to 4,000t a day will continue through 2020. 
The civil engineering work is progressing well with most 
orders already having been placed.

First blast underground, signalling the start of 
underground development, took place on 11 February 
2019 and the first stope blast was in October 2019. 

This indicated the start of ore production, albeit on a 
limited scale, and was followed by the first pour of gold 
on 18 December 2019, demonstrating the successful 
implementation of the plan to redevelop Obuasi into a 
modern, mechanised mining operation, following the 
suspension of mining activities five years ago.

Phase 2 work mainly involves construction of new 
buildings in the plant, surface infrastructure and tailings 
storage facilities, in parallel with underground materials 
handling systems and shaft refurbishment, paste-
fill plant and new underground pumping and piping 
systems. Phase 2 operational readiness includes 
ramping up the mining operation including the start 
of mining in Block 8 lower, commissioning the KRS 
shaft, GCVS vent shaft, paste fill plant and installing 
the underground paste systems and commensurate 
recruitment and training.

Sustainability performance

More detailed information on the sustainable development 
activities at each of these operations can be found in the 
individual .

In the Continental Africa region, our principal sustainable 
development activities relate to the following material issues:

Employee safety

There were no fatalities in the Continental Africa region in 2019, 
with the last fatal injury having been recorded in October 2015. 
The all injury frequency rate (AIFR) for the year was 0.62 injuries 
per million hours worked across the region. The region saw a 
regression from the previous year, primarily due to an increased 
number of injuries associated with the redevelopment project 
currently underway at Obuasi in Ghana. 

value chains to support local supplier development. During 
the year, a multi-stakeholder workshop led to completion of 
a local business development framework and guidelines for 
sustainable development across the Continental Africa region. 
In Ghana, legislation on local procurement is in place and in the 
Obuasi redevelopment project we are using local suppliers and 
contractors.

AngloGold Ashanti has helped facilitate the development of a 
satellite Obuasi campus for Ghana’s renowned Kwame Nkrumah 
University of Science and Technology (KNUST), which is 
headquartered in the city of Kumasi. See the case study Kwame 
Nkrumah University of Science and Technology develops an Obuasi 
campus in the .

At Obuasi, a social management plan has been designed and is 
being implemented for the benefit of the community, and a trust 
fund composed of representatives from across the community, the 
Obuasi Community Trust Fund, was established.

 Employee and community health

Responsible environmental stewardship

We continued with constant monitoring and control of workplace 
exposures to dust, noise and lead, which are important 
occupational health focus areas. One case of occupational disease 
was diagnosed in 2019, a noise-induced hearing loss case at 
Geita. Necessary medical support was provided and workplace 
controls were strengthened to prevent adverse effects on other 
employees, including contractors. In particular, occupational health 
hazard programmes designed to deal with occupational exposures 
such as airborne pollutants and noise are being introduced at 
Obuasi in Ghana and Geita in Tanzania, as it moves underground.

Non-occupational lifestyle and community health risks such as 
malaria, which is endemic in our African operations, as well as 
the persistent Ebola virus in the DRC also present challenges to 
business productivity and continuity. 

In Ghana, malaria control activities continued in collaboration with 
the Ghana Department of Health as well as The Global Fund. 

 Contributing to resilient self-sustaining 
communities

Work within communities continued in the region. Each operation 
has a forward-looking community engagement strategy that 
identifies potential areas of concern for the respective communities. 
We have local economic development programmes, which are 
developed and run in partnership with local governments and host 
communities. 

These programmes are aimed at contributing towards economic 
growth, income-generating opportunities, creation of employment, 
and nurturing sustainable livelihoods beyond the life of mine. 
Implementation of our local procurement policy, approved in 
2018, continued in 2019. This policy is central to building local 

There was one reportable environmental incident in the region 
in 2019, at Siguiri where cyanide-bearing solution draining into 
a temporary spillage pond reached the external spillage pond, 
which unfortunately caused the deaths of a cow and birds which 
drank from the pond. Immediate action was taken to isolate and 
detoxify water in the external pond and a full investigation initiated 
to understand and address the cause of the release. Remedial 
action was taken to prevent similar incidents in future.

All operational mine sites in the region have been certified to the 
new ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System. Their 
first surveillance audits were successfully conducted in 2019. 
Obuasi’s certification remained suspended for 2019 as the mine 
was being recommissioned. 

Geita and Sadiola submitted mine closure plans to their 
respective governments for approval, while Siguiri and Iduapriem 
are expected to update theirs during 2020. Obuasi continued to 
implement the legacy closure works as agreed in the Reclamation 
Security Agreement signed with the Ghana Government. Also see 
 for reclamation work that has begun at Obuasi.

Employee, community and asset security

In all countries in which we operate, threat and risk assessments 
are conducted to determine which security resources are 
required. In Mali, Tanzania, Ghana and Guinea, risk assessments 
categorise threats as high and require the involvement of 
state police and/or military units (public security forces) on a 
near-permanent basis. Our goal is to be proactive, constantly 
assessing the risks and, where we see potential threats, we 
develop and implement mitigating strategies to address these.

PAGE 71

2019  
 
 
 
REG IO NA L REVI EWS  CONTINU ED
Continental Africa

REGIONAL REVI EWS
South Africa

Artisanal and small-scale mining

Major mining markets across Africa faced growing risks from 
artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and illegal mining activities 
in 2019, exacerbated by the stronger gold price and deteriorating 
socio-economic conditions. We continued to engage with 
governments and other stakeholders on our ASM formalisation 
programmes.

Countries in the region affected by ASM are Tanzania, Ghana, Mali 
and Guinea. Our two-pronged approach to legal ASM includes 
providing direct support in formalising ASM and helping to establish 
alternative livelihoods by promoting local enterprise development. 
We also work together with country law enforcement agencies in 
protecting our mining tenements.

 Respecting human rights

a human rights violation, despite the complex human rights 
challenges in our operating landscapes. However, proactive 
management of ASM, illegal mining and general criminality remains 
a focal point for the security discipline in the region.

   Talent management, skills development and 

employee relations

Localisation of talent is a feature of our human resources practice 
in the region. Good progress is being made in building talent and 
succession pools. In 2019, 16 key positions in the region were 
filled by local nationals, despite increases in expatriate numbers 
due to the Obuasi redevelopment and the move to underground 
mining currently underway at Geita. See  
in this report. 

Navigating regulatory and political  
uncertainty and risk

No human rights violations were recorded and there were no 
incidents reported during the year. Our human rights performance 
continues to improve, and we have recorded two years without 

Increasing pressure from host governments and communities on 
mining companies to overhaul local procurement processes and 
systems remains a key challenge to the industry. We are committed 
to implementing our localisation policies and strategies.

Iduapriem

PAGE 72

A fter extensive restructuring of this region, which took place between 2016 and 2018, at December 

2019, we had two operations in the South Africa. Post-year end, on 12 Februar y 2020, it was announced 
that agreement had been reached to sell all our remaining South African producing assets and related 

liabilities to Harmony. The transaction, which is subject to several conditions precedent, is expected to be 
concluded on or about 30 June 2020.

Gauteng

North West

Carletonville
2

Klerksdorp

1

Swaziland

Bloemfontein

Lesotho

Durban

LEGEND

1 Mponeng (West Wits)

2

Surface Operations (Includes MWS and 
other surface treatment facilities)

Operation

Cape Town

Port Elizabeth

East London

0

400km

An agreement and sale was announced post year end for Mponeng 
and the Surface Operations in South Africa.

Our operations in this region are:

•  Mponeng, the world’s deepest gold mine, is located in the West 
Wits mining district south-west of Johannesburg, on the border 
between Gauteng and North West Province

•   Surface Operations comprises surface facilities in the West 

Wits and Vaal River areas, which process and extract gold from 
marginal ore dumps and TSFs. Surface Operations also includes 
Mine Waste Solutions (MWS)

In 2019, the South Africa region accounted for:

13% of group production
8% of group capital expenditure

Operating performance
Production

The South Africa region produced 419,000oz at a total cash cost 
of $981/oz in 2019, 14% lower than the previous year, largely 
due to limitations in face length availability which impacted grades 
following high seismicity at Mponeng. Production was also 
impacted by intermittent electricity due to Eskom load shedding 
and seismicity related safety stoppages. 

Mponeng mine produced 243,000oz at a total cash cost of  
$976/oz in 2019 compared to 265,000oz at a total cash cost of 
$977/oz in 2018. The 2019 year marked the first full year in which 
new shift arrangements at Mponeng were implemented. The new 
shift arrangement represents a paradigm shift in the evolution of 
the mine and this has resulted in significant improvements in both 

A more detailed description and discussion of each of 
these operations can be found in the individual .

PAGE 73

2019  
 
  
REG ION AL  REVI EWS  CONTINU ED
South Africa

safety and productivity. Employees have responded positively to 
the new schedule, resulting in a 44% year-on-year improved safety 
performance (AIFR) and a 11% uplift in productivity. 

Production of 176,000oz at Surface Operations improved for the 
year driven by a 3% increase in production at MWS, from improved 
recoveries with the introduction of the Aachen Shear reactor and 
other initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiencies. 

The main drivers for the improved delivery at the Surface 
Operations were primarily due to: 

•  Improved throughput from better operational performance 

delivery by the contractor; stabilised duty cycle of the 
comminution circuits 

•  A change in strategy to process Mponeng marginal ore dumps 

(MOD) through the Savuka Gold Plant

•  General metallurgical process efficiencies

•  Implementation of grid sampling and grade profiling strategy

The impact of inclement weather remained significant during 2019. 
A remote reclamation project is currently underway with the aim of 
reducing inclement weather disruptions to production. The current 
situation at Eskom also remains a concern as MWS is not able to 
fully function on emergency power and therefore any interruptions 
caused by Eskom load shedding directly impact production activities.

Costs

Costs benefitted from operating efficiencies as well as a weaker 
rand/dollar exchange rate, resulting in a 5% year-on-year decrease 
in total cash cost. This was partially offset by lower gold output 
from the region. Cost reduction initiatives aimed at calibrating both 
on- and off-mine cost structures progressed well through the year 
in line with our focus on Operational Excellence.

All-in-sustaining costs for the region were $1,132/oz, down 4% 
despite the headwinds related to production and inflationary 
pressures. The region successfully delivered on its targeted cost 
savings initiatives for 2019.

Through our Operational Excellence initiatives, cost and capital 
management remained a key priority as we continue to maintain 
asset integrity and safety performance. Project initiatives include a 
wide array of activities aimed at improving metallurgical recoveries 
and throughput and cost saving initiatives.

Operational Excellence began at Mponeng in 2019 and included 
working to increase face length availabilities, improve recovery 
and mine call factors, reduce power consumption, and optimise 
capital spend. 

Capital expenditure

Total capital expenditure for the region was $57m, compared to 
$73m in 2018. This was mainly spent on the completion of the 
Mponeng Phase 1 project, Ore Reserve development (ORD) work, 
as well as the Mponeng life-of-mine extension feasibility study. 
Sustaining capital expenditure was spent on a variety of stay-in-
business projects and the rehabilitation work related to the Carbon 
Leader project. 

PAGE 74

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

Productivity
(oz/TEC)
6

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

3.74

3.56

3.57

5.10

4.45

AIFR
(per million hours worked)

15

12

9

6

3

0

12.02

12.68

10.81

10.25

6.60

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Total cash costs and all-in sustaining costs (1)
(US$/oz)
1500

1200

1,088

1,081

1,084

1,251

881

896

1,182

1,032

1,132

981

900

600

300

0

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Total cash costs

All-in sustaining costs (2)

(1) Years 2015 and 2016 have not been restated for IFRS 5
(2) World Gold Council Standard for AISC

Attributable production
(000oz)
1,200

1,004

967

903

Sustainability performance 

More detailed information on the sustainable development activities 
at each of these operations can be found in the individual .

In the South Africa region, our principal sustainable development 
activities relate to the following material issues:

487

419

Employee safety

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

 Employee and community health

In memoriam
Post year-end we regrettably lost four colleagues in two 
separate fatal incidents at Mponeng. 

On 16 March 2020, we lost Thabo Rakometsi in a 
tragic accident during an underground horizontal 
transport incident. This tragedy followed an accident 
which occurred on 5 March 2020 where three of our 
colleagues – Lucas Maapea, Xolani Ngqwemese, and 
Mokhethea Johannes Radebe – were fatally injured in a 
seismic related incident caused by a large fall of ground, 
roughly 3.6km below surface.

We extend our sincere condolences to the families, 
colleagues, friends and communities of the deceased.

Koekemoerspruit crossing. Further details of these incidents are 
provided in the Mponeng and Surface Operations’ .

Recovery of the impacted section of the Koekemoerspruit will be 
assessed through in-stream bio-monitoring by an independent 
specialist, following clean-up of the watercourse and adjacent 
surface areas impacted by the spill.

At our West Wits operations, we continue to manage acid mine 
drainage (AMD) that flows from disused neighbouring mines. We 
have carefully managed the risk of water spilling from the West Wits 
water circuit by balancing our site water inventories. This somewhat 
delicate balance has thus far been achieved by accelerated 
water evaporation technologies and by using the water for the 
reprocessing of old tailings storage facilities once its acidity has 
been neutralised.

There were no fatalities in the South Africa region in 2019, the 
region’s safest year on record. The AIFR was 6.60 per million hours 
worked for the year, a 36% improvement year-on-year. Safety 
interventions have included changes in planning and information 
systems, the introduction of a new way of mining, and a change in 
shift arrangements as of November 2018. 

To create additional safety awareness during the festive season, 
a campaign named Khumbul’ekhaya, an Nguni word meaning 
‘remember home’, was launched in the last quarter of 2019 and 
rolled over into 2020 to encourage mineworkers to return home 
healthy and safe every day. Khumbul’ekhaya was developed by 
South African mining companies to drive and sustain the local gold 
mining industry’s pursuit of Zero Harm.

The proposed sale of our South African assets will alter the health 
profile of the Company as currently most of our occupational 
disease issues, such as silicosis (see the case study, Court 
approves settlement of silicosis and TB class action in the ) 
and noise-induced hearing loss relate to our South African mines. 
There were 12 cases in 2019 significantly down from 35 in 2018. 

 Contributing to resilient self-sustaining 
communities

Artisanal and small-scale mining

Socio-economic development (SED) initiatives are vitally 
important if we are to ensure self-sustaining communities. 
In South Africa, support for SED initiatives, which includes 
promoting alternative livelihoods, continued with variable 
outcomes. The Masakhisane Enterprise Development Fund, 
which provides interest-free loans, continued to support local 
business development projects disbursing a total of $1.04 
million in 2019. Following consultation, a new social and labour 
plan for the 2020-2024 period was submitted to the Department 
of Mineral Resources and Energy for approval.

Illegal and ASM mining activities continued to pose a significant 
challenge to our operations throughout 2019 in South Africa where 
gold producers continued to face an escalation in violent crime-
related activities as a result of large armed criminal groups and 
illegal miners intruding into and invading mining areas. As a result, 
the region’s Mines Crime Combatting Forum (MCCF) eight-pillar 
initiative was launched to address general criminality resulting from 
the increase of illegal mining activities.

Navigating regulatory and political  
uncertainty and risk

Responsible environmental stewardship

There were two reportable environmental incidents in the region in 
2019. In the first incident, which occurred on 2 September 2019, the 
residue tanks at Savuka’s gold plant overflowed, ultimately affecting 
the Wonderfonteinspruit. Immediate response measures were put 
in place to stop, monitor and mitigate the effects of the spill. The 
second occurred on 20 September when a pipeline conveying 
tailings from the MWS plant to the Kareerand TSF, failed near the 

In South Africa, the industry, through the Minerals Council, is 
challenging aspects of the September 2018 Mining Charter III. The 
main issue is non-recognition of the continuing consequences of 
previous black empowerment transactions in relation to mining 
right transfers and renewals. While agreement through engagement 
is the preferred approach, the Minerals Council lodged a legal 
application for a review of that and two other aspects of the charter 
in March 2019. A court date is expected during 2020.

PAGE 75

2019  
 
 
 
  
REG IO NA L REVI EWS
Americas

O ur Americas region includes three operations, featuring both open 

pit and underground mining – one in Argentina and two in Brazil 
– and two advanced greenfields projects in Colombia.

4

LEGEND

1

2

3

4

Argentina 
Cerro Vanguardia (92.5%)

Brazil 
Serra Grande
AGA Mineração

Colombia 
Gramalote (51%)
La Colosa
Quebradona

Operation

Project

0

400km

2

3

1

Projects

Operations

0

400km

Our operations and projects in this region are:
In Argentina:

•   Cerro Vanguardia, in which AngloGold Ashanti has a 92.5% 

stake and Fomicruz, a state company operating in the province 
of Santa Cruz, the remaining 7.5%. The operation, located in the 
province of Santa Cruz, operates multiple small open pits with 
high stripping ratios and multiple narrow-vein underground mines 
that produces gold and silver as a by-product. The sale process 
for this asset is at an advanced stage and a decision is due shortly

In Brazil:

•  AngloGold Ashanti Córrego do Sítio Mineração (AGA 

Mineração) in the state of Minas Gerais, which comprises the 
Cuiabá complex, the Córrego do Sítio mining operation and the 
Cuiabá and Queiroz gold plants

•   Serra Grande, in the state of Goiás about 5km from the city of 

Crixás, comprises three mechanised underground mines and an 
open pit

In Colombia:

•  Quebradona is situated in the Middle Cauca region of Colombia, 
in the Department of Antioquia, 60km south-west of Medellin. 
Five main targets have been identified, of which Nuevo Chaquiro 
is the most advanced

See  for further information on  
these projects.

In 2019, the Americas region accounted for

21% of group production
24% of group capital expenditure

Operating performance

Production

•  Gramalote, a joint venture between AngloGold Ashanti (51%) 

and B2Gold (49%), is located near the towns of Providencia and 
San Jose del Nus within the municipality of San Roque, north-
west of the Department of Antioquia. It is approximately 124km 
north-east of Medellin, the regional capital of the Antioquia 
Department. B2Gold took over management of the project  
on 1 January 2020

Total production for the Americas region in 2019 declined to 
710,000oz compared with 776,000oz in 2018, a result of production 
declines at all three operations.

At AGA Mineração, performance at Cuiabá was impacted by poor 
ground conditions where, to ensure safe production, the rate of 
mining was slowed while a new surface support regime and mine 

A more detailed description and discussion of each of these operations can be found in the individual .

sequencing plan were introduced. Early indicators show these new 
controls to be successful and condition monitoring will be ongoing as 
mining progresses in the deeper, higher grade areas.

At the Córrego do Sítio complex, geological model changes, open 
pit licence delays for the Rosalino orebody, geotechnical issues and 
unexpected heavy rains in the last two months of the year delayed the 
development and mining of the planned open pit mining areas.

At Serra Grande, the slightly lower production level in 2019 was due 
to lower feed grades, particularly in the second half of the year, and 
reduced drilling productivity and fleet availability. This was partially 
offset by higher tonnage treated following the Mina III pushback.

Cerro Vanguardia’s production was negatively affected in the second 
half of the year by the planned lower grades mined and a 42% decline 
year-on-year in silver production. This was partially compensated for 
by a higher average silver price.

Costs

The total cash cost for the region for the year was $736/oz in 2019 
(2018: $624/oz) and the AISC $1,032/oz (2018: $855/oz). The 
increased costs were largely due to the decline in ounces sold, 
reduced silver by-product revenue from Cerro Vanguardia and 
inflation. The inflationary pressures which affected both Argentina 
and Brazil, included increases in wages, operational materials, this 
coupled with impact of changes in the estimation of rehabilitation 
provisions for the Brazilian operations as required by the new 
legislation. This was slightly offset by weaker currencies.

Capital expenditure

Total capital expenditure for the region was $195m, compared to 
$176m in 2018, with the increase largely driven by higher spend 
in Colombia on feasibility study work at Quebradona. Sustaining 
capital expenditure was spent mainly on Ore Reserve development 
at underground operations in Brazil and Argentina. At Cerro 
Vanguardia, capital expenditure for the year was spent primarily 
on development work and larger trucks to increase hauling and 
loading capacity, and to ultimately improve productivity.

Serra Grande is our only operation in Brazil with an upstream TSF. 
The current dam, which has a reinforced wall, will be converted to 
dry stacking as per the mine plan. Following the implementation of 
new legislation, the process will be accelerated. Decommissioning 
is expected to begin in September 2021 to ensure we comply with 
the revised legislation. 

Growth and improvement

In Brazil, the strategy is to enhance mining flexibility and 
predictability by investing in Ore Reserve development, along with 
Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve conversions. More brownfields 
exploration is planned to increase the Ore Reserve and related 
confidence levels. This work will be vital in the upcoming year.

During 2019, Serra Grande transitioned to full owner development 
and development metres achieved increased by 10% compared 
to 2018 levels. At Cuiabá, a new international contractor in the 
Brazilian market was signed on in March 2019 and has to date 
delivered a 28% year-on-year increase in metres developed. 

Attributable production
(000oz)
1,000

948

820

840

776

710

800

600

400

200

0

1000

800

600

400

200

0

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Productivity
(oz/TEC)
20

15

10

5

0

15.05

13.98

13.34

12.86

11.39

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

AIFR
(per million hours worked)

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

5.61

3.96

3.97

3.84

3.29

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Total cash costs and all-in sustaining costs
(US$/oz)
1200

881

943

799

576

578

638

624

1,032

855

736

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Total cash costs

All-in sustaining costs (1)

(1) World Gold Council Standard for AISC

PAGE 76

PAGE 77

2019 REG IO NA L REVI EWS  CONTINU ED
Americas

Cuiabá is also investigating the potential of new orebodies and a 
plan for deepening the mine.

Employee safety

At Córrego do Sítio (CdS) the focus is to re-open the CdS II 
underground mine. Along with a focus on Mineral Resource 
conversion and stabilising production, CdS will invest in looking at 
the potential of CdS III and the Rosalino open-pit expansion.

At Serra Grande, Palmeiras South underground mine is expected 
to commence delivering ounces in the first half in 2020.

In Argentina, Cerro Vanguardia, which has been in operation for over 
20 years, is expected to see a reduction in grades from the open pit 
mines and lower contributions from silver compared to the previous 
years’ levels. To sustain the production plan, exploration will focus on 
converting new and already existing blue sky tangible and Inferred 
to Indicated Mineral Resource around current pits and underground 
operations in the main production zone. The exploration plan 
includes 25,000m of diamond drilling hole campaign, channels, 
trenches, geophysics surveys, among others.

Sustainability performance 

In the Americas region, our principal sustainable development 
activities relate to the following material issues:

There were no fatalities in the Americas region in 2019. Safety 
improved overall with an AIFR of 3.84 recorded for the year. A 
Safe Production Programme, based on the Dupont Sustainable 
Solutions safety regime, is being trialled at Cuiabá, following the 
fatality that occurred in 2018 in Brazil. The programme aims to 
eliminate fatalities, transform the way we work, and create a 
sustainable organisational culture and work process. See the case 
study: Cuiabá Safety Production Programme, in the . 

The programme is currently being rolled out and will be completed 
by the end of 2020. Once completed, the programme will be 
implemented at all our Brazilian operations. 

 Contributing to resilient self-sustaining 
communities

In line with our values to leave communities better off for our having 
been there, in Brazil, as part of our corporate social responsibility, 
we have established a sustainable partnership programme that 

Serra Grande

PAGE 78

promotes local businesses (see the case study: Brazil’s Sustainable 
Partnerships Programme in the ).

Community-related work included the voluntary resettlement of 
the Santos Reis community adjacent to Serra Grande, progressed 
notably during the year with 41 of 51 families settled in new homes 
in the nearby town of Crixás. The resettlement will allow work to 
begin on the open pit expansion

Responsible environmental stewardship

In Brazil, two unrelated but catastrophic collapses of TSFs (at 
another company) in recent years have heavily influenced the shift 
in global environmental management regulations, particularly those 
relevant to the construction, management and regulation of TSFs, 
which will inevitably lead to increased compliance and operational 
costs. AngloGold Ashanti's Brazilian operations continued to 
accelerate the transition towards compliance with the requirements 
of new local laws and regulations. See the case study: Tailings 
storage facility management in Brazil in the .

Employee, community and asset security

In all countries in which AngloGold Ashanti operates, threat and risk 
assessments are conducted to determine which security resources 
are required. In Colombia, risk assessments categorise threats as 
high and require the involvement of state police and/or military units 
(public security forces) on a near-permanent basis.

Artisanal and small-scale mining

Illegal and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) activities continued 
to pose a significant challenge to our activities in Colombia. We seek 
harmonious co-existence with legal ASMs. Our two-pronged approach 
involves providing direct support for the formalisation of ASM and 
promoting local enterprise development, which contributes to creating 
alternative livelihoods, and working with the country’s law enforcement 
agencies to protect our mining tenements. See case study: Gramalote 
partners with ASM to formalise mining in the 

Navigating regulatory and political  
uncertainty and risk

South America experienced a wave of political volatility, fuelled by 
a long-term decline in living standards and exacerbated by global 
trends of high economic inequality. The rise of anti-establishment 
politics continued to swing between left- and right-wing 
governments, creating some political turbulence in the region. We 
will continue to engage with the relevant government and external 
stakeholders to mitigate this risk.

Cerro Vanguardia

PAGE 79

2019  
 
 
 
 
  
REG IO NA L REVI EWS  CONTINU ED
Australia

A ngloGold Ashanti has two operations in its Australia region, Sunrise Dam and 

Tropicana, both of which are in the north-eastern goldfields of the state of 
Western Australia.

Darwin

Operation

0

1,000km

LEGEND

1

2

Sunrise Dam

Tropicana (70%)

Western
Australia

1

2

Kalgoorlie

Perth

Brisbane

Adelaide

Sydney

Canberra

Melbourne

Our operations in this region are:
In Australia:

Operating performance
Production

•  Sunrise Dam, wholly-owned by AngloGold Ashanti, is located 
220km north-east of Kalgoorlie and 55km south of Laverton. 
Underground mining, carried out by a contract mining 
company, is now the primary source of ore, following the 
cessation of mining in the open pit in 2014.

•  Tropicana, a joint venture in which AngloGold Ashanti has a 

70% holding and which it manages with 30% held by IGO Ltd, is 
located 200km east of Sunrise Dam and 330km east-northeast 
of Kalgoorlie. The operation is a large open pit operation with 
mining carried out by a contractor.

The Australia region produced 614,000oz in 2019 compared to 
625,000oz 2018. The 2% drop in year-on-year production was 
largely the result of lower underground mined volumes and grades at 
Sunrise Dam.

Sunrise Dam experienced operational challenges in the middle of 
the year with limited stope flexibility and paste fill delays, which 
resulted in lower underground volumes and grades. However, 
mining flexibility improved in the fourth quarter of 2019 as 
larger stopes came online, resulting in a record production from 
underground for the fourth quarter.

In 2019, the Australia region accounted for

19% of group production
18% of group capital expenditure

A more detailed description and discussion of each of 
these operations can be found in the individual .

A substantial exploration programme is underway to increase Mineral 
Resource confidence, grow the underground Ore Reserve and 
support development of additional mining areas in the long term. 
Critical for success at Sunrise Dam is increasing flexibility to ensure 
consistently high underground tonnages are available to displace 
lower-grade surface stockpiles. Strategic drill platforms have been 
established to facilitate systematic exploration of the down plunge 
extents of the Vogue mineralised system, while also testing areas to 
the north and south that could generate additional work areas. The 
objective of the drilling is to provide data to facilitate Ore Reserve 
conversion and increase confidence and reliability in the two- to five-
year planning horizon. 

At Tropicana, production at 360,000oz for the year, was 7% higher 
year-on-year. Higher mill throughput, which set new records in 
December 2019, offset lower feed grades in the second half of the 
year and contributed to the increase in gold production. Annual 

tonnes mined also broke site records in 2019. The Tropicana 
open pit was completed during the year and mining continued in 
the Havana South, Havana and Boston Shaker pits. In 2020, it is 
planned that open pit mining will be focused on the Havana pit.

Costs

The region’s AISC was $990/oz in 2019 compared to $1,038/oz for 
2018. Despite the 2% lower production delivered in the region for 
the year, a strong focus on operational excellence coupled with a 
weaker exchange rate contributed to a 4% drop in total cash costs 
and a 5% drop in AISC compared to 2018. Tropicana’s total cash 
costs declined due to higher volumes, and improved efficiencies 
partially offset by unfavourable grades, royalties and inflation while 
total cash costs at Sunrise Dam were negatively impacted by lower 
efficiencies, lower grade and inflation. 

Operational excellence work included a successful trial of 
autonomous open-pit blast hole drilling, which indicated significant 
productivity gains could be achieved by converting all six drill rigs 
to autonomous operation. Autonomous operation can improve drill 
use by enabling their continued operation within the exclusion zone 
during blasting, so extending drill bit life and reducing the number 
of operators needed.

Capital expenditure

Total capital spend for the region was $149m in 2019 compared 
to $156m in 2018. Capital expenditure at Tropicana increased 
by $30m predominately due to the start of the Boston Shaker 
underground growth project at $21m. An increase in waste 
stripping capital expenditure due to the scheduling of open pit 
cutbacks was partially offset by a reduction in stay-in-business 
capital. Capital expenditure at Sunrise Dam reduced by $36m 
due to lower Ore Reserve development and stay-in-business 
capital expenditure. Several key infrastructure projects, such as 
the expansion of the tailings storage facility and the upgrade to 
the ventilation system were completed in 2018 resulting in a $25m 
year-on-year reduction in stay-in-business capital expenditure when 
compared to 2019. 

Growth and improvement

At Sunrise Dam, the underground exploration programme initiated 
in the second half of 2019 is expected to take two years. The 
programme is designed to increase Mineral Resource confidence, 
grow the underground Ore Reserve and support development of 
additional mining areas in the long term. By the end of the year six 
underground diamond drill rigs were in operation testing targets 
including the southern strike extensions of the Midway Shear 
Steeps (MSS) and Elle and areas to the south of the current Vogue 
Indicated Mineral Resource. Surface diamond drilling will target 
southern extensions of Vogue. 

Drilling results returned in 2019 identified extensions of Vogue 
mineralisation over an approximate 180m strike length; 
southern extensions to the Midway Shear Steeps ore domains, 
approximately 190m south of the current Indicated Mineral 

560

Attributable production
(000oz)
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0

520

2015

2016

559

625

614

2017

2018

2019

Productivity
(oz/TEC)
60

55.84

46.81

47.87

49.55

44.85

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

AIFR
(per million hours worked)

10

8.56

9.49

8.53

9.14

7.33

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Total cash costs and all-in sustaining costs
(US$/oz)
1,200

1,082

1,062

1,000

875

702

793

743

762

730

1,038

990

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Total cash costs

All-in sustaining costs (1)

(1) World Gold Council Standard

50

40

30

20

10

0

8

6

4

2

0

800

600

400

200

0

PAGE 80

PAGE 81

2019 REG IO NA L REVI EWS  CONTINU ED
Australia

Resource; and potential repetition of the Midway Sheer Steeps 
ore domains, approximately 100m east of the current Indicated 
Mineral Resource. Drilling also intersected mineralisation 500m to 
the south down plunge of the Mineral Resource, suggesting the 
continuation of the Vogue orebody.

Development of the Boston Shaker underground mine at 
Tropicana began in May 2019 and at year-end the project was 
on track to deliver high-grade ore in mid-2020 as planned. The 
decision to go ahead with the project was announced in March 
2019 and, after a feasibility study confirmed that underground 
mining was technically and financially viable, demonstrating robust 
economics with an anticipated internal rate of return of 39% for a 
capital investment of $79.3 million (100%). 

Boston Shaker is expected to contribute higher-grade mill feed, 
resulting in an improved gold production profile and enhanced 
cash flow, during 2021-2023 when the mine plan includes periods 
of higher waste stripping in the Havana open pit. 

The feasibility study was based on the mining of 6.58 million tonnes, 
grading 3.84g/t, assuming the systematic conversion of Mineral 
Resource to Ore Reserve over the life of the mine. The average 
underground mining rate will be approximately 1.1Mtpa (including 
development) over an eight-year mine life to 2026 to produce a 
total of 732,000oz. Mining methods will comprise conventional 
mechanised mining and underhand sub-level open stoping.

The two raises bore holes required for ventilation and emergency 
egress were tracking ahead of schedule by year end, and 
underground development of 1,640m was ahead of plan. 
Underground reverse circulation grade control drilling began in 
October. Recruitment of the underground workforce is in line with 
plan and the underground operation remains on track to deliver 
first gold in the second half of 2020. Operational excellence work 
is focused on remote bogging, the mechanical operator-controlled 
digging of ore from surface, and on optimising level spacing and 
extraction ratios.

Sustainability performance 

Employee safety

Safety performance improved for the Australia region in 2019, 
continuing a positive trend since the commissioning of Tropicana 
in 2013. At Tropicana, the site ended the year with a record safety 
performance in terms of the AIFR and the lost-time injury frequency 
rate (LTIFR), achieving 14 months without a lost-time injury. At 
Sunrise Dam, the AIFR and LTIFR both increased marginally from 
2018, although the severity of injuries was minor.

in mid-2018, there has been a 51% reduction in fatigue alarms 
among haul truck operators. In 2019, this project was a finalist 
in the Work Health and Safety Excellence Awards, organised 
by the government of Western Australia’s Department of Mines, 
Industry Regulation and Safety. See case study entitled, Tropicana 
implements programme to address sleep disorders in the .

 Contributing to resilient self-sustaining 
communities

AngloGold Ashanti is actively involved in communities across the 
Western Australian goldfields, from Laverton to Kalgoorlie-Boulder 
and beyond, including remote Aboriginal communities such as 
Tjuntjuntjara. Our community projects support education, youth, 
community development and health programmes and local training. 
We also offer employment and business participation opportunities.

During 2019, AngloGold Ashanti Australia awarded a contract 
for ore rehandling and crusher feed at Sunrise Dam to Aboriginal 
contractor Carey Mining Pty Ltd, continuing a business partnership 
that began more than 20 years ago. Carey Mining employs 57 
people on the Sunrise Dam contract.

Responsible environmental stewardship

There were no reportable incidents in 2019 at either Australian 
operation and both sites met all their regulatory reporting 
obligations during 2019.

In the first half of the year, all necessary approvals were received 
to enable development of the Boston Shaker underground mine 
at Tropicana to proceed on schedule. During the year, the Great 
Victoria Desert (GVD) Biodiversity Trust, established in 2013 by the 
Tropicana joint venture as part of the biodiversity offset approach 
for the Tropicana operation, had a range of projects underway 
in 2019. Tropicana is on the GVD’s western edge and the trust 
supports research and on-the-ground conservation in two of the 
desert’s six ecological sub-regions.

The trust funded the first Sandhill Dunnart Research and Adaptive 
Management Plan for the GVD, which incorporates traditional 
owner land management expertise. This work identified two new 
Sandhill Dunnart sites, recorded 52 more fauna species and 
increased total bird and mammal species records for the region 
to 172. The Sandhill Dunnart, a small carnivorous marsupial, is an 
endangered species. The trust supports activities to capture and 
apply traditional ecological knowledge and facilitate indigenous 
land management participation. Projects include research to 
increase fire-management capability and introduce traditional fire 
management practices, as well as traditional owner ranger training.

 Employee and community health

Navigating regulatory and political  
uncertainty and risk

At Tropicana, a programme was initiated to improve health, 
safety and productivity outcomes by identifying and supporting 
people with sleep disorders. Since the start of the programme 

AngloGold Ashanti drafted a whistle-blowing policy for the region, 
which is also aligned with group policy, to address specific 
requirements of the Australian Whistle-blowing Act.

Sunrise Dam

PAGE 82

PAGE 83

2019  
 
 
  
TH R EE - Y EAR  STATISTICS BY OPERATION
Operational, financial and sustainability statistics

Production metrics

Continental Africa
DRC

Kibali (45%)

Ghana

Iduapriem

Obuasi (1)

Guinea

Siguiri (85%)

Mali

Morila (40%)

Sadiola (41%)

Tanzania

Geita

Americas
Argentina

Cerro Vanguardia (92.5%)

Brazil

AGA Mineração

Serra Grande

Australia
Australia

Sunrise Dam

Tropicana (70%)

Continuing operations – total (2)

Discontinued operations
South Africa (2)
Vaal River

Kopanang (3) 

Moab Khotsong (3) 

West Wits

Mponeng

TauTona (including Savuka) (4) 

Surface Operations

Surface Operations (5) 
AngloGold Ashanti – total (6)

Attributable tonnes treated/milled (Mt)

2019

26.6

2018

27.3

2017

28.0

3.4

5.1

–

8.8

2.1

2.0

5.2

7.2

2.7

3.2

1.3

10.2

4.1

6.1

44.0

35.1

1.3

33.8

79.1

3.7

5.3

–

8.9

2.0

2.1

5.3

6.8

2.7

3.0

1.1

9.5

4.0

5.5

43.6

34.9

0.1

0.1

1.2

33.5

78.5

3.4

5.1

–

9.9

2.2

2.1

5.4

7.5

3.1

3.0

1.4

9.4

4.0

5.4

44.9

38.9

0.6

1.1

1.0

0.4

35.8

83.8

(1)   Obuasi was in care and maintenance in 2017, pending the commencement of the redevelopment project. In June 2018, the Parliament of Ghana ratified 
the regulatory and fiscal agreements that cover the redevelopment of the mine, and in December 2019, Obuasi achieved its first gold pour as a modern, 
mechanised mine.

Production metrics

Continental Africa
DRC
Kibali (45%)
Ghana
Iduapriem 
Obuasi (1) 
Guinea
Siguiri (85%)
Mali
Morila (40%)
Sadiola (41%)
Tanzania
Geita
Americas
Argentina 
Cerro Vanguardia (92.5%)
Brazil
AGA Mineração
Serra Grande
Australia
Australia
Sunrise Dam
Tropicana (70%)
Continuing operations – total (2)
Discontinued operations
South Africa (2)
Vaal River
Kopanang (3)
Moab Khotsong (3)
West Wits
Mponeng
TauTona (including Savuka) (4)
Surface Operations
Surface Operations (5)
Technology
Technology
AngloGold Ashanti – total (6) 

Average grade recovered (g/t)

Attributable gold production (000oz)

2019

1.80

3.37

1.67
–

0.75

0.40
0.82

3.61
3.04

4.77

4.32
3.23
1.87

2.42
1.85

5.69

7.33

2018

1.72

3.06

1.47
–

0.85

0.48
0.87

3.28
3.55

6.49

4.21
3.55
2.01

2.73
1.91

6.82

5.88
8.23

8.19

0.17

0.16

2017

1.61

2.44

1.40
–

1.01

0.40
0.96

3.13
3.49

7.50

4.97
2.95
1.89

2.02
1.87

6.93

4.68
8.15

7.33
6.56

0.17

2019

1,538

2018

1,512

2017

1,453

366

275
2

213

27
51

604
710

225

362
123
614

254
360
2,862

419

243

363

254
–

242

30
59

564
776

282

364
130
625

289
336
2,913

487

12
39

265

176

171

3,281

3,400

268

228
3

324

28
63

539
840

283

424
133
559

238
321
2,852

903

91
294

224
91

192

11
3,755

(1)   Obuasi was in care and maintenance in 2017, pending the commencement of the redevelopment project. In June 2018, the Parliament of Ghana ratified 
the regulatory and fiscal agreements that cover the redevelopment of the mine, and in December 2019, Obuasi achieved its first gold pour as a modern, 
mechanised mine.

(2)  The South African operations have been disclosed as a discontinued operation and the comparative results have been restated.

(3)  Sold effective 28 February 2018.

(4)  TauTona mine was placed into orderly closure during the September 2017 quarter.

(2)  The South African operations have been disclosed as a discontinued operation and the comparative results have been restated.

(5)  For the purposes of this report, Surface Operations includes MWS, which is operated and managed as a separate cash-generating unit.

(3)  Sold effective 28 February 2018.

(4)  TauTona mine was placed into orderly closure during the September 2017 quarter.

(5)  For the purposes of this report, Surface Operations includes MWS, which is operated and managed as a separate cash-generating unit.

(6)  Continuing and discontinued operations.

(6)  Continuing and discontinued operations.

PAGE 84

PAGE 85

2019 TH R EE - Y EAR  STATISTICS BY OPERATION  CON TI NU ED
Operational, financial and sustainability statistics

2019 

Productivity (oz/TEC)

Continental Africa
DRC

Kibali (45%)

Ghana

Iduapriem 

Obuasi (1) 

Guinea

Siguiri (85%)

Mali

Morila (40%)

Sadiola (41%)

Tanzania

Geita

Americas
Argentina 

Cerro Vanguardia (92.5%)

Brazil

AGA Mineração

Serra Grande

Australia
Australia

Sunrise Dam

Tropicana (70%)

Continuing operations – total (2)

Discontinued operations
South Africa (2)
Vaal River

Kopanang (3)

Moab Khotsong (3)

West Wits

Mponeng

TauTona (including Savuka) (4)

Surface Operations

Surface Operations (5)
AngloGold Ashanti – total (6)

2019

19.17

2018

20.70

2017

23.01

18.19

26.40

56.49

19.04

–

19.43

–

18.34

–

15.30

17.50

21.69

11.29

18.65

22.16

11.39

9.80

16.66

21.84

12.86

15.76

12.62

22.65

13.34

16.68

20.63

20.97

9.97

9.80

44.85

37.15

52.54

18.32

5.10

4.48

7.95

13.76

10.60

10.50

49.55

41.83

58.91

19.95

4.45

1.67

3.36

4.03

7.83

13.31

11.66

10.13

47.87

40.58

55.20

20.71

3.57

1.97

4.22

3.66

1.92

7.60

9.66

(1)   Obuasi was in care and maintenance in 2017, pending the commencement of the redevelopment project. In June 2018, the Parliament of Ghana ratified 
the regulatory and fiscal agreements that cover the redevelopment of the mine, and in December 2019, Obuasi achieved its first gold pour as a modern, 
mechanised mine.

(2)  The South African operations have been disclosed as a discontinued operation and the comparative results have been restated.

(3)  Sold effective 28 February 2018.

(4)  TauTona mine was placed into orderly closure during the September 2017 quarter.

(5)  For the purposes of this report, Surface Operations includes MWS, which is operated and managed as a separate cash-generating unit.

(6)  Continuing and discontinued operations.

Costs

Continental Africa
DRC
Kibali (45%)
Ghana
Iduapriem 
Obuasi (1) 
Guinea
Siguiri (85%)
Mali
Morila (40%)
Sadiola (41%)
Tanzania
Geita
Americas
Argentina 
Cerro Vanguardia (92.5%)
Brazil
AGA Mineração
Serra Grande
Australia
Australia
Sunrise Dam
Tropicana (70%)
Continuing operations – total (2)
Discontinued operations
South Africa (2)
Vaal River
Kopanang (3)
Moab Khotsong (3)
West Wits
Mponeng
TauTona (including Savuka) (4)
Surface Operations
Surface Operations (5)
AngloGold Ashanti – total (6)

Total cash costs ($/oz produced)

All-in sustaining costs ($/oz sold)

2019

759

572

815
–

1,091

1,205
966

695
736

673

782
707
730

1,014
504
746

2018

773

600

804
–

844

1,145
938

804
624

476

723
660
762

920
594
729

2017

720

784

823
–

725

974
900

608
638

522

671
764
743

919
564
700

2019

896

704

890
–

1,176

1,237
956

894
1,032

859

1,107
1,105
990

1,246
757
978

2018

904

752

977
–

930

1,321
990

940
855

652

973
945
1,038

1,223
843
942

2017

953

1,090

1,033
–

796

1,218
1,019

941
943

772

1,006
1,103
1,062

1,203
885
993

981

1,032

1,084

1,132

1,182

1,251

2,002
1,083

976

977

987
776

1,030
773

1,534
779

1,014
2,044

969
792

2,115
1,247

1,186

1,177

1.043
998

1,094
976

1,593
938

1,259
2,242

1,045
1,054

(1)   Obuasi was in care and maintenance in 2017, pending the commencement of the redevelopment project. In June 2018, the Parliament of Ghana ratified 
the regulatory and fiscal agreements that cover the redevelopment of the mine, and in December 2019, Obuasi achieved its first gold pour as a modern, 
mechanised mine.

(2)  The South African operations have been disclosed as a discontinued operation and the comparative results have been restated.

(3)  Sold effective 28 February 2018.

(4)  TauTona mine was placed into orderly closure during the September 2017 quarter.

(5)  For the purposes of this report, Surface Operations includes MWS, which is operated and managed as a separate cash-generating unit.

(6)  Continuing and discontinued operations.

PAGE 86

PAGE 87

TH R EE - Y EAR  STATISTICS BY OPERATION  CON TI NU ED
Operational, financial and sustainability statistics

Capital expenditure ($m)

Continental Africa
DRC

Kibali (45%)
Ghana
Iduapriem 
Obuasi (1) 
Guinea
Siguiri (85%)
Mali
Morila (40%)
Sadiola (41%)
Tanzania
Geita
Other and non-controlling interests
Americas
Argentina 
Cerro Vanguardia (92.5%)
Brazil

AGA Mineração
Serra Grande
Other and non-controlling interests
Australia
Australia
Sunrise Dam
Tropicana (70%)
Other
Other 
Continuing operations – total (2)

Discontinued operations
South Africa (2)
Vaal River
Kopanang (3)
Moab Khotsong (3)
West Wits
Mponeng
TauTona (including Savuka) (4)
Surface Operations
Surface Operations (5)
Technology
Technology

Equity-accounted investments
AngloGold Ashanti – total (6)

2019

410

51

16
246

19

–
–

75
3

195

31

91
34
39

149

43
106
–

3

757

57

50

7

–
814
(51)

763

2018

313

64

43
48

82

2
1

59
14

176

33

96
35
12

156

79
76
1

3

648

73

–
7

54

12

–
721
(69)

652

2017

409

110

51
–

70

2
7

157
12

234

54

136
38
6

153

62
91
–

7

803

150

8
42

72
13

12

3
953
(123)

830

(1)   Obuasi was in care and maintenance in 2017, pending the commencement of the redevelopment project. In June 2018, the Parliament of Ghana ratified 
the regulatory and fiscal agreements that cover the redevelopment of the mine, and in December 2019, Obuasi achieved its first gold pour as a modern, 
mechanised mine.

(2)  The South African operations have been disclosed as a discontinued operation and the comparative results have been restated.

(3)  Sold effective 28 February 2018.

(4)  TauTona mine was placed into orderly closure during the September 2017 quarter.

Average number of employees (permanent employees and contractors)

Continental Africa
DRC

Kibali (45%)
Ghana

Iduapriem 

Obuasi (1) 
Guinea

Siguiri (85%)
Mali

Morila (40%)

Sadiola (41%)
Tanzania

Geita
Americas

Argentina 

Cerro Vanguardia (92.5%)
Brazil

AGA Mineração

Serra Grande
Australia
Australia

Sunrise Dam

Tropicana (70%)
Other, including corporate 
and non-gold producing 
subsidiaries

2019
Permanent 
employees Contractors

Total

2018
Permanent 
employees Contractors

Total

2017
Permanent 
employees Contractors

Total

15,786

6,131

9,655

14,833

5,697

9,136

13,593

5,467

8,126

2,239

799

1,440

2,497

604

1,893

2,428

402

2,026

1,801

2,924

626

500

1,175

2,424

1,733

1,321

622

290

1,111

1,031

1,598

1,066

628

277

970

789

3,056

1,856

1,200

3,869

1,885

1,984

3,353

1,850

1,503

354

346

5,066

8,114

133

260

1,957

5,869

221

86

3,109

2,245

411

435

150

318

4,567

7,973

1,828

5,755

261

117

2,739

2,218

305

592

4,251

8,511

144

398

1,768

5,888

161

194

2,483

2,623

1,698

1,130

568

1,775

1,179

596

2,001

1,250

751

4,885

1,531

1,140

570

570

3,517

1,222

249

115

134

1,368

309

891

455

436

4,736

1,462

1,051

576

475

3,418

1,158

238

108

130

1,318

304

813

468

345

4,932

1,578

974

489

485

3,465

1,173

226

96

130

1,467

405

748

393

355

1,353

943

410

1,589

1,229

360

2,157

1,753

404

Continuing operations – total (2)

26,393

13,192

13,201

25,446

12,919

12,527

25,235

13,334

11,901

Discontinued operations
South Africa (2)
Vaal River

Kopanang (3)

Moab Khotsong (3)

West Wits

Mponeng

TauTona (including Savuka) (4)

Surface Operations

Surface operations (5)

Other
AngloGold Ashanti – total (6)

7,870

6,682

1,188

18,803

17,049

1,754

26,245

22,738

3,507

4,944

107

2,031

788

4,659

107

1,543

373

285

–

488

415

3,525

6,092

5,400

228

2,290

1,268

3,317

5,450

5,037

228

1,753

1,264

208

642

363

–

537

4

3,879

6,143

5,962

3,822

3,161

3,278

3,628

5,498

5,521

3,399

2,500

2,192

251

645

441

423

661

1,086

34,263

19,874

14,389

44,249

29,968

14,281

51,480

36,072

15,408

(1)   Obuasi was in care and maintenance in 2017, pending the commencement of the redevelopment project. In June 2018, the Parliament of Ghana ratified 
the regulatory and fiscal agreements that cover the redevelopment of the mine, and in December 2019, Obuasi achieved its first gold pour as a modern, 
mechanised mine.

(2)  The South African operations have been disclosed as a discontinued operation and the comparative results have been restated.

(5)  For the purposes of this report, Surface Operations includes MWS, which is operated and managed as a separate cash-generating unit.

(3)  Sold effective 28 February 2018.

(6)  Continuing and discontinued operations.

(4)  TauTona mine was placed into orderly closure during the September 2017 quarter.

(5)  For the purposes of this report, Surface Operations includes MWS, which is operated and managed as a separate cash-generating unit.

(6)  Continuing and discontinued operations.

PAGE 88

PAGE 89

2019 TH R EE - Y EAR  STATISTICS BY OPERATION  CON TI NU ED
Operational, financial and sustainability statistics

Safety

Continental Africa

Ghana

Iduapriem 

Obuasi (2) 

Guinea

Siguiri

Mali

Sadiola

Tanzania

Geita

Americas

Argentina 

Cerro Vanguardia

Brazil

AGA Mineração

Serra Grande

Colombia

Australia

Australia

Sunrise Dam

Tropicana (70%)

Greenfields exploration

South Africa

Vaal River

Kopanang (3)

Moab Khotsong (3)

West Wits

Mponeng

TauTona  
(including Savuka) (4)

Surface Operations

Surface Operations (5)

Other

All injury frequency rate (1)

Number of fatalities

Energy usage (PJ)

Water usage (ML)

Environmental performance (1)

2019

0.62

0.50

1.38

0.45

0.65

0.08

3.84

0.79

4.75

6.11

–

7.33

13.00

3.14

17.12

6.60

2018

0.49

0.75

0.62

2017

0.39

0.39

–

0.22

0.13

0.29

1.25

0.60

3.97

0.43

3.29

0.76

1.77

5.05

5.93

0.77

9.14

11.52

7.34

3.50

10.25

18.90

13.44

3.48

5.49

1.26

8.53

12.10

6.11

2.24

12.68

20.99

15.55

9.57

17.12

18.88

0.00

12.79

3.35

4.63

4.21

2019

2018

2017

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

1

1

0

0

0

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

7

2

1

4

0

0

0

7

Continental Africa

Ghana

Iduapriem 

Obuasi (2) 

Guinea

Siguiri

Mali

Sadiola

Tanzania

Geita

Americas

Argentina 

Cerro Vanguardia

Brazil

AGA Mineração

Serra Grande

Australia

Australia

Sunrise Dam

Tropicana (4)

South Africa

Vaal River (3)

West Wits (3)

Mine Waste Solutions

AngloGold Ashanti – total

2019

9.93

1.41

0.58

2018

9.36

1.58

0.26

2017

9.16

1.46

0.26

2019

2018

2017

15,801

15,575

16,651

80

–

1,636

–

2,137

–

3.02

2.29

2.40

7,083

6,027

6,349

1.23

1.31

1.55

5,409

4,201

3,476

3.69

4.31

3.92

4.13

3.49

4.23

3,229

8,780

3,711

7,813

4,689

8,283

1.86

1.87

1.90

1,512

1,596

1,487

1.83

0.62

7.68

2.67

5.01

4.40

0.60

2.98

0.82

1.72

0.54

6.72

2.49

4.23

5.17

1.20

3.10

0.87

1.77

0.56

6.32

2.18

4.14

6,825

443

8,698

1,898

6,801

4,717

1,500

7,734

1,808

5,926

10.05

14,617

14,770

4.61

4.61

0.83

3,581

3,257

7,779

4,507

3,256

7,007

5,292

1,504

6,783

1,115

5,668

20,503

10,813

3,688

6,002

26.32

25.38

29.76

47,896

45,892

52,219

(1)  Refer to the  for definitions of these environmental indicators.
(2)   Obuasi was in care and maintenance in 2017, pending the commencement of the redevelopment project. In June 2018, the Parliament of Ghana ratified 
the regulatory and fiscal agreements that cover the redevelopment of the mine, and in December 2019, Obuasi achieved its first gold pour as a modern, 
mechanised mine.

(3)  Includes consumption by Surface Operations’ facilities located in these areas.
(4)  Excludes pre-production water use at Tropicana.

AngloGold Ashanti – total 

3.31

4.81

7.49

(1)  Per million hours worked.
(2)   Obuasi was in care and maintenance in 2017, pending the commencement of the redevelopment project. In June 2018, the Parliament of Ghana ratified 
the regulatory and fiscal agreements that cover the redevelopment of the mine, and in December 2019, Obuasi achieved its first gold pour as a modern, 
mechanised mine.

(3)  Sold effective 28 February 2018. Safety numbers have been included to the date of disposal.
(4)  TauTona mine was placed into orderly closure during the September 2017 quarter.
(5)  For the purposes of this report, Surface Operations includes MWS, which is operated and managed as a separate cash-generating unit.

PAGE 90

PAGE 91

2019 TH R EE - Y EAR  STATISTICS BY OPERATION  CON TI NU ED
Operational, financial and sustainability statistics

Environmental performance (1)

Continental Africa

Ghana

Iduapriem 

Obuasi (2) 

Guinea

Siguiri

Mali

Sadiola

Tanzania

Geita

South Africa

Vaal River (3)

West Wits (3)

Mine Waste Solutions

Americas

Argentina 

Cerro Vanguardia

Brazil

AGA Mineração

Serra Grande

Australia

Australia

Sunrise Dam

Tropicana

GHG emissions (000t CO2e)
2019

2018

725

121

64

205

84

676

134

31

156

89

251

1,218

266

1,332

173

835

210

177

101

52

24

449

146

303

317

805

210

168

102

45

21

395

140

255

2017

666

124

36

163

106

238

2,733

1,242

1,290

201

182

106

52

24

372

122

250

AngloGold Ashanti – total

2,570

2,571

3,953

No. of reportable environmental incidents

2019

2018

2017

1

0

0

1

0

0

2

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

1

0

0

1

0

0

1

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

2

0

2

0

0

0

1

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

(1)  Refer to the  for definitions of these environmental indicators.
(2)   Obuasi was in care and maintenance in 2017, pending the commencement of the redevelopment project. In June 2018, the Parliament of Ghana ratified 
the regulatory and fiscal agreements that cover the redevelopment of the mine, and in December 2019, Obuasi achieved its first gold pour as a modern, 
mechanised mine.

(3)  Includes consumption by Surface Operations’ facilities located in these areas.

Social performance (1)

US dollar (000)

Continental Africa

Ghana

Iduapriem 

Obuasi 

Guinea

Siguiri (85%)

Mali

Morila (40%)

Sadiola (41%) and Yatela (40%)

Tanzania

Geita

DRC

Kibali (45%) 

South Africa (2)

Americas

Argentina 

2019

17,946

484

336

2018

8,121

198

122

10,146

2,474

120

403

142

442

2017

9,025

415

120

890

47

455

5,851

4,119

6,331

607

3,999

6,176

624

5,186

9,407

768

5,971

9,834

Cerro Vanguardia (92.5%)

3,864

7,745

8,885

Brazil

AGA Mineração

Serra Grande

Colombia

Denver office

Australia

Australia

Sunrise Dam and Tropicana

Sub-total

Equity-accounted investments

AngloGold Ashanti – total

1,512

1,209

431

278

91

701

701

28,821

(1,129)

27,692

322

128

3

742

742

23,456

(1,207)

22,249

377

114

451

7

684

684

25,515

(1,460)

24,055

(1)  Refer to the  for the definition of this social indicator.
(2) 

 Community investment in the South Africa region is aggregated and is overseen via the corporate entity and includes corporate  
community investment. 

PAGE 92

PAGE 93

2019 y
r
a
m
m
u
s

a

–

E
C
R
U
O
S
E
R
L
A
R
E
N
M

E
V
R
E
S
E
R
E
R
O
D
N
A

I

PAGE 94

RELEVANT STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Ensuring a viable Mineral Resource and 
Ore Reserve pipeline will enable delivery of 
sustained value-adding growth in the long term

MAINTAIN LONG-TERM  
OPTIONALITY

IMPROVE PORTFOLIO  
QUALITY

RELATED RISK

Risk 2: Inability to convert Mineral Resource 
into Ore Reserve

CAPITAL AFFECTED

NATURAL CAPITAL

ACHIEVEMENTS 2019

• Our Ore Reserve increased by 3.5Moz (before 
depletion), indicating the progress made in 
extending the lives of our mining operations

• After depletion and excluding South Africa, 

the Ore Reserve increased by 1.1Moz

FUTURE APPROACH

To improve operating and mining flexibility by 
investing in Ore Reserve development and  
Ore Reserve conversion drilling at sites with 
high geological potential over the next two to 
three years.

MINERAL RESOURCE AND  ORE  RESERVE
A summary

O ur Mineral Resource and Ore Reser ve portfolio, our 

primar y natural capital input, is essential to the 
successful growth of our business. By discovering, 

developing and exploiting viable orebodies sustainably 
and cost efficiently, AngloGold Ashanti positions itself 
to create long-term value. Improving the quality of this 
natural capital, enhances our ability to create value. 

Responsible management of our Ore Reserve and Mineral 
Resource, together with our exploration programme and planning, 
is vital in optimising and maximising the operating lives of our 
portfolio. In so doing, AngloGold Ashanti ensures that it is able 
to deliver on its strategic objectives, namely, to maintain long-
term optionality and improve the quality of our portfolio. See also 
 in this report. 

Currently, Ore Reserve management is focused on ensuring our 
pipeline is maintained and grows, and that depletion is replaced. 
We do this by managing production and organic growth, and by 
ensuring optionality and flexibility in our asset portfolio in order to 
extend and maximise the operating lives of our assets. AngloGold 
Ashanti continuously strives to actively create value by growing 
its major asset – our Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve. This 
drive is supported by active, well-defined exploration programmes, 
innovation in both geological modelling and mine planning, and 
continual optimisation of the asset portfolio.

Price assumptions

The SAMREC code requires application of reasonable economic 
assumptions. These include long-range commodity price and 
exchange rate forecasts. These are reviewed annually and are 
prepared in-house using a range of techniques including historic 
price averages. AngloGold Ashanti selects a conservative Ore 
Reserve price relative to its peers. This is done to fit into the 
strategy to include a margin in the mine planning process. The 
resultant plan is then valued at a higher business planning price. 

At several of our underground operations, primarily in Brazil and 
Australia, a change in methodology in 2019 resulted in significant 
reductions in Mineral Resource. These changes where introduced 
to better meet the requirement for eventual economic extraction. 
The process saw the introduction of a stope optimiser to 
constrain the Mineral Resource in an economically and technically 
defined shape and to clean out existing pillars not considered 
mineable from a geotechnical perspective. This process 
represents a once-off adjustment.

Reporting compliance

Our Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve are reported in 
accordance with the minimum standards described by the 
South African Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, 
Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (The SAMREC 
Code, 2016 edition). 

We achieve this through ensuring the principles of integrity, 
transparency and materiality are central to the compilation 
of the  and through using the reporting criteria and 
definitions as detailed in the SAMREC code. 

The Mineral Resource is inclusive of the Ore Reserve 
component, unless otherwise stated. In complying with 
the 2016 SAMREC Code, changes to AngloGold Ashanti’s 
Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve have been reviewed and 
it was concluded that none of the changes are material to 
the overall valuation of the company. 

AngloGold Ashanti has therefore once again resolved not 
to provide the detailed reporting as defined in Table 1 of the 
code. We will however continue to provide the high level of 
detail it has in previous years in order to comply with the 
transparency requirements of the code.

Gold price

The following local prices of gold were used as the basis for estimation in the December 2019 declaration:

Local prices of gold

Gold price

South Africa

US$/oz

1,100

1,100

1,400

1,400

ZAR/kg

541,501

501,150

693,274

563,331

Australia

AUD/oz

1,512

1,509

1,981

1,778

Brazil

BRL/oz

4,230

3,565

5,166

4,501

Argentina

ARS/oz

57,080

45,443

78,102

51,564

Colombia

COP/oz

3,230,030

–

3,838,220

–

2019 Ore Reserve

2018 Ore Reserve

2019 Mineral Resource

2018 Mineral Resource

Copper price

The following copper price was used as the basis for estimation in the December 2019 declaration:

 2019 Ore Reserve

 2018 Ore Reserve

 2019 Mineral Resource

 2018 Mineral Resource

Copper price

US$/lb

2.65

2.65

3.30

3.30

COP/lb

7,947

–

9,646

–

PAGE 95

2019  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MIN E RA L  RE SO UR CE A ND ORE RESERVE  CON TI NU ED
A summary

Mineral Resource
Gold

Our Mineral Resource reduced from 184.5Moz in December 2018 to 
175.6Moz in December 2019. This gross annual decrease of 8.9Moz 
includes depletion of 4.1Moz. The balance of 4.8Moz resulted 
from reductions of 4.0Moz due to the application of a revised 
methodology at some operations, to constrain the underground 
Mineral Resource and thereby ensure the Mineral Resource meets 
the requirement for reasonable and realistic prospects of eventual 
economic extraction. Further reductions of 2.4Moz were due 
primarily to pillar clean up, 0.6Moz was due to revised geotechnical 
design requirements and other factors resulted in reductions 
of 1.3Moz. These reductions were offset by increases due to 
exploration of 2.9Moz, changes in economic assumptions of 0.3Moz 
and changes in ownership of 0.3Moz. The Mineral Resource was 
estimated at a gold price of $1,400/oz (2018: $1,400/oz).

MINERAL RESOURCE – GOLD

Mineral Resource as at 31 December 2018

Depletions

Additions 

Sub total

Due to:

Quebradona

Remodelling and change in ownership

Obuasi

Geita

Iduapriem

Other

Reductions 

Obuasi 

Exploration of underground and surface targets 

Mineral Resource conversion drilling and reduced mining costs after contract renegotiation

Additions less than 0.5Moz

Sub total

Due to:

Constraining of the Mineral Resource following changes in methodology and removal of Mineral 
Resource at depth resulting from downgrading 

AGA Mineração

Application of a mining constraint on the underground Mineral Resource

Sunrise Dam

Application of a mining constraint on the underground Mineral Resource 

Siguiri

Other

Increased costs

Reductions less than 0.5Moz

Mineral Resource as at 31 December 2019

Copper

Moz

184.5

(4.1)

180.4

1.4

1.0

0.9

0.8

184.5

(3.0)

(2.8)

(1.5)

(1.1)

(0.5)

175.6

Ore Reserve
Gold

Our Ore Reserve reduced from 44.1Moz in 
December 2018 to 43.9Moz in December 
2019. This gross annual decrease of 
0.2Moz includes depletion of 3.7Moz. 

The increase before depletion of 3.5Moz, 
resulted from additions of 3.6Moz due 
to exploration and modelling changes, 
changes in economic assumptions of 
0.4Moz and a change in ownership 
of 0.1Moz. Other factors resulted in a 
0.6Moz reduction. The Ore Reserve was 
estimated using a gold price of  
US$1,100/oz (2018: US$1,100/oz).

ORE RESERVE – GOLD

Ore Reserve as at 31 December 2018

Iduapriem

Depletions

Additions 

Obuasi

Kibali

Geita

Sub total

Due to:

Model updates which resulted in new designs for Sansu, Block 8 and Block 11

Exploration which upgraded Inferred Mineral Resource was partially offset by higher open pit costs 
resulting from the changes in the DRC's mining code. Fresh rock processing costs also increased

Exploration additions at Nyankanga and Star and Comet, as well as the steepening of the planned 
eastern pit wall at Nyankanga Cut

AGA Mineração

Additions to the Cuiabá model, mainly at Serrotinho, which were countered by increased costs used 
in the feasibility study for the mining of secondary orebodies as well as a review of mining methods. At 
Lamego, additions resulted from exploration at Carruagem

Iduapriem

Inclusion of Block 5 in the Ore Reserve given reduced mining costs

Quebradona

Remodelling and change in ownership

Other

Additions of less than 0.3Moz

Reductions 

Other

Sub total

Due to:

Reductions less than 0.3Moz

Ore Reserve as at 31 December 2019

Copper

Moz

44.1

(3.7)

40.4

1.3

0.8

0.8

0.5

0.5

0.3

0.3

44.9

(1.0)

43.9

The AngloGold Ashanti Mineral Resource increased from 3.61Mt (7,954Mlb) in December 2018 to 4.39Mt (9,677Mlb) in December 2019. 
This gross annual increase of 0.78Mt includes an increase of 0.58Mt (1,293Mlb) due to a change in methodology and 0.20Mt (430Mlb) due 
to change in ownership from 94.876% to 100% as B2Gold’s shareholding was converted to a share of profits. The Mineral Resource was 
estimated at a copper price of US$3.30/lb (2018: US$3.30/lb).

Our copper Ore Reserve increased from 1.26Mt (2,769Mlb) in December 2018 to 1.39Mt (3,068Mlb) in December 2019. This gross annual 
increase of 0.14Mt includes an increase of 0.07Mt (150Mlb) due to methodology and 0.07Mt (150Mlb) due to change in ownership from 
94.876% to 100% as B2Gold’s shareholding was converted to a share of profits. The Ore Reserve was estimated at a copper price of 
US$2.65/lb (2018: US$2.65/lb).

MINERAL RESOURCE – COPPER

Mineral Resource as at 31 December 2018

Additions 

Due to:

Quebradona

Remodelling and change in ownership

Mineral Resource as at 31 December 2019

PAGE 96

Mt

Moz

ORE RESERVE – COPPER

3.61

7,954

Ore Reserve as at 31 December 2018

Additions 

Due to:

0.78

4.39

1,723

9,677

Quebradona

Remodelling and change in ownership.

Ore Reserve as at 31 December 2019

Mt

Moz

1.26

2,769

0.14

1.39

300

3,068

PAGE 97

2019  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MIN E RA L  RE SO UR CE A ND ORE RESERVE  CON TI NU ED
A summary

By-products

Several by-products will be recovered as a result of processing of 
the gold and copper Ore Reserve. These include estimates over life 
of mine of 0.39Mt of sulphur from Brazil, 18.76Moz of silver from 
Argentina and 25.95Moz of silver from Colombia.

Governance

Our established Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Steering 
Committee (RRSC) is responsible for setting and overseeing our 
Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve governance framework and for 
ensuring that it meets AngloGold Ashanti’s goals and objectives 
while complying with all relevant regulatory codes. The committee’s 
membership and terms of references are mandated under a policy 
document signed by the Chief Executive Officer.

For more than a decade, the Company has developed and 
implemented a rigorous system of internal and external reviews 
aimed at providing assurance in respect of Ore Reserve and 
Mineral Resource estimates. The following operations were subject 
to an external review in line with the policy that each operation/
project will be reviewed by an independent third party on average 
once every three years:

•  Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve at Siguiri 

•   Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve at Geita

•   Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve at AGA Mineração Cuiabá 

and Lamego

•   Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve at AGA Mineração Córrego 

do Sítio

External reviews were conducted by Golder Associates Pty 
Ltd and certificates of sign-off were received stating that the 
Mineral Resource and/or Ore Reserve estimates are reported in 
accordance with the SAMREC Code.

In addition, numerous internal Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve 
process reviews were completed by suitably qualified Competent 
Persons from within AngloGold Ashanti. No significant deficiencies 
were identified. Our Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve are 
underpinned by appropriate Mineral Resource management 
processes and protocols. These procedures have been developed 
to be compliant with the guiding principles of the Sarbanes-Oxley 
Act of 2002 (SOX). AngloGold Ashanti makes use of a web-based 
group reporting database called the Resource and Reserve Reporting 
System (RCubed) for the compilation and authorisation of Mineral 
Resource and Ore Reserve reporting. It is a fully integrated system 
for reporting and reconciliation of Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve 
that supports various regulatory reporting requirements, including the 
SEC and the JSE under the SAMREC Code. AngloGold Ashanti uses 
RCubed to ensure a documented chain of responsibility exists from 
the competent persons at the operations to the Company’s RRSC.

AngloGold Ashanti has also developed an enterprise-wide risk 
management tool that provides consistent and reliable data that 
allows for visibility of risks and actions across the group. This tool is 
used to facilitate, control and monitor material risks to the Mineral 
Resource and Ore Reserve, thus ensuring that the appropriate risk 
management and mitigation plans are in place.

Competent persons
The information in this report relating to Exploration Results, the Mineral Resource and the Ore Reserve is based on information 
compiled by, or under, the supervision of the Competent Persons as defined in the SAMREC Code. All Competent Persons are 
employed by AngloGold Ashanti, except for Kibali’s and Morila's Competent Person, and have sufficient experience relevant to 
the style of mineralisation, type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which they are undertaking. The legal tenure of 
each operation and project has been verified to the satisfaction of the accountable Competent Person and it has been confirmed 
that all of our Ore Reserve is covered by the required mining permits or there exists a realistic expectation that these permits 
will be issued. This is detailed in the . The Competent Persons consent to the inclusion of Exploration Results, Mineral 
Resource and Ore Reserve information in the , in the form and context in which it appears.

Accordingly, the Chairman of the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Steering Committee, VA Chamberlain, MSc (Mining 
Engineering), BSc (Hons) (Geology), MGSSA, FAusIMM, assumes responsibility for AngloGold Ashanti’s Mineral Resource and 
Ore Reserve processes and is satisfied that the Competent Persons have fulfilled their responsibilities. VA Chamberlain, who 
has 32 years’ experience in exploration and mining, is employed full-time by AngloGold Ashanti and can be contacted at the 
following address: 76 Rahima Moosa Street, Newtown, Johannesburg 2001, South Africa.

A detailed breakdown of the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve and backup detail is provided on the AngloGold Ashanti website, 
www.anglogoldashanti.com, and on our reports website, www.aga-reports.com.

OUR MINERAL RESOURCE AND ORE RESERVE 
ARE UNDERPINNED BY APPROPRIATE 
MINERAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 
PROCESSES AND PROTOCOLS

Geita

PAGE 98

PAGE 99

2019 MIN E RA L  RE SO UR CE A ND ORE RESERVE  CON TI NU ED
A summary

Mineral Resource by region inclusive of Ore Reserve
Gold

Mineral Resource by region exclusive of Ore Reserve
Gold 

As at 31 December 2019

Continental Africa

South Africa

Americas

Australia

AngloGold Ashanti

Copper 

As at 31 December 2019

Americas

AngloGold Ashanti

Ore Reserve by region
Gold

As at 31 December 2019
Continental Africa

South Africa

Americas

Australia

AngloGold Ashanti

PAGE 100

Category

Measured
Indicated

Inferred
Total
Measured
Indicated
Inferred
Total
Measured
Indicated
Inferred
Total
Measured
Indicated
Inferred
Total
Measured
Indicated
Inferred
Total

Category

Measured
Indicated
Inferred
Total
Measured
Indicated
Inferred
Total

Category
Proved
Probable
Total
Proved
Probable
Total
Proved
Probable
Total
Proved
Probable
Total
Proved
Probable
Total

Tonnes

million

48.01
425.15

169.14
642.30
104.63
596.87
24.70
726.21
83.91
1,170.40
677.38
1,931.69
57.88
70.81
28.30
156.99
294.43
2,263.23
899.53
3,457.19

Tonnes

million

57.90
203.77
340.43
602.10
57.90
203.77
340.43
602.10

Tonnes
million

30.89
176.72
207.62
65.00
493.05
558.05
8.27
194.87
203.15
27.62
29.64
57.26
131.79
894.28
1,026.07

Grade

Contained gold

g/t

3.09
2.62

3.65
2.93
1.64
1.91
11.25
2.19
1.58
0.92
0.75
0.89
1.17
1.91
2.69
1.78
1.77
1.53
1.64
1.58

Tonnes

148.48
1,113.36

618.15
1,879.99
171.13
1,142.09
277.85
1,591.07
132.97
1,073.30
504.74
1,711.01
67.82
135.36
76.23
279.40
520.39
3,464.11
1,476.96
5,461.46

Moz

4.77
35.80

19.87
60.44
5.50
36.72
8.93
51.15
4.28
34.51
16.23
55.01
2.18
4.35
2.45
8.98
16.73
111.37
47.49
175.59

Grade

Contained copper

% Cu

Tonnes million

Pounds million

 1.10
 0.89
 0.57
 0.73
 1.10
 0.89
 0.57
 0.73

Grade
g/t
1.71
2.86
2.69
0.36
0.93
0.86
2.36
1.05
1.11
1.17
2.29
1.75
0.97
1.38
1.33

 0.64
 1.81
 1.95
 4.39
 0.64
 1.81
 1.95
 4.39

Contained gold

Tonnes

52.76
505.05
557.80
23.49
457.83
481.32
19.49
205.22
224.72
32.28
67.95
100.23
128.02
1,236.05
1,364.07

1,406
3,981
4,290
9,677
1,406
3,981
4,290
9,677

Moz
1.70
16.24
17.93
0.76
14.72
15.47
0.63
6.60
7.22
1.04
2.18
3.22
4.12
39.74
43.86

As at 31 December 2019

Continental Africa

South Africa

Americas

Australia

AngloGold Ashanti

Copper 

As at 31 December 2019

Americas

AngloGold Ashanti

Copper

As at 31 December 2019

Americas

AngloGold Ashanti

Category

Measured
Indicated
Inferred
Total
Measured
Indicated
Inferred
Total
Measured
Indicated
Inferred
Total
Measured
Indicated
Inferred
Total
Measured
Indicated
Inferred
Total

Category

Measured
Indicated
Inferred
Total
Measured
Indicated
Inferred
Total

Category

Proved
Probable
Total
Proved
Probable
Total

Tonnes

million

9.83
254.04
162.29
426.16
7.37
61.63
17.88
86.88
74.29
971.71
675.56
1,721.56
30.26
41.17
28.30
99.73
121.75
1,328.55
884.03
2,334.33

Tonnes

million

57.90
92.53
340.43
490.86
57.90
92.53
340.43
490.86

Tonnes
million

–
111.24
111.24
–
111.24
111.24

Grade

g/t

3.21
2.60
3.62
3.00
18.83
9.64
15.36
11.60
1.38
0.86
0.74
0.83
1.17
1.64
2.69
1.80
2.53
1.62
1.63
1.67

Contained gold

Tonnes

31.57
659.80
587.45
1,278.81
138.81
593.96
274.73
1,007.49
102.49
831.96
500.64
1,435.09
35.54
67.41
76.23
179.17
308.40
2,153.12
1,439.05
3,900.56

Moz

1.01
21.21
18.89
41.11
4.46
19.10
8.83
32.39
3.30
26.75
16.10
46.14
1.14
2.17
2.45
5.76
9.92
69.22
46.27
125.41

Grade

Contained copper

% Cu

Tonnes million

Pounds million

 1.10
 0.45
 0.57
 0.61
 1.10
 0.45
 0.57
 0.61

Grade
% Cu

–
 1.25
 1.25
–
 1.25
 1.25

 0.64
 0.41
 1.95
 3.00
 0.64
 0.41
 1.95
 3.00

1,406
913
4,290
6,609
1,406
913
4,290
6,609

Contained copper

Tonnes million

Pounds million

–
 1.39
 1.39
–
 1.39
 1.39

–
3,068
3,068
–
3,068
3,068

OUR MINERAL RESOURCE AND ORE RESERVE 
ARE REPORTED IN ACCORDANCE 
w i t h   t h e   m i n i m u m   s t a n d a r d s   d e s c r i b e d   b y   t h e   S A M R E C   C o d e

PAGE 101

2019  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EXP L ORATION A ND  PROJECTS
Planning for the future

E xp loration an d projects withi n A ng l oGol d  A sh a n ti 

focu s on creating  significant valu e fo r th e co mp a n y 
by pr oviding long-ter m optionali ty a nd  i mp rovi n g 
the p ortfolio quality, two of our strat eg i c f ocus  are a s. 
Ou r exp loration prog ramme cov ers g re en fi el d s an d 
brow nfields p rojects. 

These strategic objectives are met by:

•  Greenfields exploration which aims to discover large, high-value 
Mineral Resource, which will eventually lead to the development 
of new gold mines

•  Brownfields exploration focuses on delivering value through 
accretive additions to the Ore Reserve at existing mines as 
well as new discoveries in defined areas around operations. 
Brownfields exploration actively drives the creation of value 
by growing our Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve, our major 
assets. The brownfields exploration programme is based on 
innovation in geological modelling and mine planning, and 
continual optimisation of our asset portfolio

This report serves to highlight the achievements in 2019. In 2020, 
the focus will fall on increasing the Ore Reserve by increased Ore 
Reserve development and exploration drilling, primarily in Brazil 
and Australia.

Greenfields exploration

Exploration was conducted within 5,500km2 of highly prospective 
ground in two countries – Australia and the United States – along 
with licence applications and other ground positions in Argentina, 
Brazil and Tanzania. In total, more than 71km of diamond, reverse 
circulation (RC) and aircore (AC) drilling was completed in 2019.

In Australia, in the Laverton district, AngloGold Ashanti completed 
the 70% earn-in at the Butcher Well and Lake Carey JV. The 
Butcher Well scoping study was updated by integrating the drilling 
results from the second half of 2018. Elsewhere in Laverton, a total 
of 49,200m of aircore drilling and 4,486m of diamond drilling was 
completed on several joint venture and non-joint venture projects. 

Diamond drilling programmes were also completed at the Mt Clark 
prospect in North Queensland (nine holes for 2,748m) and the 
Glandore prospect, located 60km east of Kalgoorlie in Western 
Australia (six holes for 1,846m), with no positive results derived. 

In the United States, at the Silicon project in Nevada, 8,008m of 
RC and 3,300m of diamond drilling were completed in 2019. The 
programme followed up on and further developed understanding 
of the alteration system intersected in earlier drilling as well as 
testing other favourable litho-structural targets within the Silicon-
Thompson structural corridor. An induced polarization (IP) survey 
was also completed along with ground magnetic and gravity 
surveys. The second-year anniversary payment was made to 
Renaissance Gold during the period to maintain the option earn-in 
agreement into the third and final year in 2020.

Also in the United States, in Minnesota, roto-sonic drilling was 
completed over several target areas with 54 holes completed for 
a total of 1,619m. Since the results from the programme were not 
encouraging, work has stopped. AngloGold Ashanti returned all the 
mineral leases to the state of Minnesota.

PAGE 102

In Argentina and Tanzania, exploration properties are on care and 
maintenance. Target generation activities were completed in Brazil 
and West Africa.

Brownfields exploration

Brownfields exploration was carried out in 9 countries, in and 
around AngloGold Ashanti operations. A total of 877,630m of 
Diamond and RC drilling was completed during the year.

South Africa

Exploration continued with one-hole drilled at Mponeng’s Western 
Ultra Deep Levels targeting the Ventersdorp Contact Reef. Drilling 
was stopped due to capital constraints and the final site clearance/
closure certificate signed off in June.

Americas

Argentina: At Cerro Vanguardia, due to budget constraints, 
exploration was focused on mapping, surface sampling and ground 
geophysical surveys.

Brazil: At AGA Mineração, in the Iron Quadrangle, a total of 
263,345m was drilled. At Cuiabá, the underground drilling 
programme focused on Fonte Grande and Serrotinho (upright limb), 
Balancão and Galinheiro (overturned limb). A long-inclined borehole 
drilling project was successfully completed. Positive results with 
significant intercepts were reported for secondary targets including 
the quartz vein project (VQZ) and Viana.

Regionally, drilling at the Descoberto target is ongoing and has 
produced encouraging observations. Land access was granted 
in October 2019 to allow the Matarelli target drill programme to 
begin. A trial unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) magnetic survey was 
successfully completed at Matarelli and a more comprehensive 
survey covering the Matarelli and Tinguá targets is planned. A 
detailed geological map and associated cross sections were 
produced over the Tinguá target area ahead of a geochemical soil 
programme planned for early 2020. 

At Lamego, drilling focused on confirming the continuity of 
Carruagem in a south-westerly direction (both limbs) from levels 1 to 
5. Drilling also took place at Cabeça de Pedra (hinge zone), which 
reported high grades and indicated that the orebody remains open.

Drilling at CdS tested the Rosalino open pit. At CdS I, underground 
drilling in Laranjeiras and Carvoaria confirmed the Mineral Resource 
and indicate good prospectivity for high grades in Carvoaria. In the 
‘Gold Quadrangle’ area of Candeias-Cristina, Mutuca, Cachorro 
Bravo and Pneu, drilling supported Mineral Resource additions in 
the area.

At CdS II, drilling in the shallow north-east portion of São Bento 
confirmed the continuity of the mineralised structure in that 
direction. The Remaining Ounces project identified potential areas 
for high-grade ore within old mining areas. At CdS III, a sterilisation 
drilling campaign is underway and one positive intercept suggests 
the extension of the Anomalia and Jambeiro target trends.

A total of 128,888m was drilled at Serra Grande. Exploration drilling 
at Pitanga, Palmeiras South, Mangaba, Corpo IV, V and Limoeiro 
resulted in the addition of Mineral Resource. The mine acquired 
the Palmeiras South area in late 2018 which contains the southern 

extension of all mineralised trends; subsequent drilling during 2019 
returned positive results along Structure 3.5. 

The Pitanga orebody was discovered along Structure III close to 
Mina Nova mine. Reinterpretation of existing orebodies at Corpo 
IV, Corpo V and Limoeiro, supported exploration drilling and lead 
to new ounce generation. Target generation focused on assessing 
shallow opportunities and using interpreted S2 stacking behaviour 
to identify new potential areas to test in 2020.

Colombia: Limited exploration activities were completed at 
Gramalote. RC drilling started at Trinidad in October and diamond 
drilling at Gramalote in November with no results reported to date.

The La Colosa project continued on care and maintenance 
following the cessation of all field activities in April 2017.

At Quebradona, a total of 10,494m was drilled, focusing on 
geotechnical programmes for site infrastructure, the tunnel trace, 
the mine subsidence area and the crusher chamber. Geological 
and structural models were updated for infrastructure sites, the 
tunnel and mine area.

Continental Africa 

Tanzania: At Geita, a total of 96,407m of drilling was completed  
in 2019. 

The overall results for Star & Comet Cut 2 Mineral Resource 
drilling were positive. While exploratory drilling results identified no 
economic intersections, interpretation and review are ongoing. The 
Star & Comet Cut 3 Mineral Resource drilling results confirmed 
the down-dip continuity. Extension drilling at Star & Comet Cut 
2 and Cut 3 confirmed the presence of open-ended high-grade 
mineralisation along the hanging wall and footwall sides of the 
intrusive, suggesting that the Cut 2 and Cut 3 orebodies might join 
and become one.

Mineral Resource development drilling programmes for Nyankanga 
underground were carried out at Blocks 3, 4 and 5 as well as in the 
gap area between Block 2 and 3. All results were positive. 

the orebody extensions inside and outside the pit margins. While 
exploratory surface drilling at Mabe delineated localised orezones 
of medium to high grade. 

At Geita Hill, underground Blocks 1 and 2 drilling results defined 
low-grade mineralised zones. Drilling initiated at the Roberts 
deposit confirmed the presence and potential of economic ore 
zones within and outside the optimised pit.

Guinea: At Siguiri, a total of 74,939m was drilled during the year. 

Kami drilling has shown that the mineralisation extends into the 
fresh rock and into oxide in Kami East saddle. Bidini drilling shown 
that the mineralisation extends to the east of the pit in oxide. 

Silakoro West drilling was completed and confirmed the 
mineralisation. While at Silakoro North drilling intersected 
mineralisation associated with disseminated sulphides. 

Foulata East drilling results show unmineralised albitite, while 
the main Foulata drillholes indicate the potential extension of 
mineralisation at depth and along the trend. Advanced grade 
control (AGC) drilling at Foulata confirmed the model.

At Saraya, drilling confirmed the extension of shallow mineralisation 
to the north and deeper along the plunge. The Saraya AGC 
drilling confirmed the model despite defining thicker internal waste 
intervals. At Seguelen, PB2 drilling confirmed the extension of the 
mineralisation in the fresh rock. 

The Sanu Tinti infill drilling crossed potentially mineralised breccio-
conglomerates layers. At Niono, reconnaissance drilling showed 
weak potential for oxide mineralisation. The Doko, Block 4, 
reconnaissance drill programme is now 48% complete with some 
economic intersection.

At Balato North, Saraya West EL and Setiguiya West 
reconnaissance drilling showed negative results. Field visits and 
reviews confirmed the potential of the Carbonate Hills (East and 
Central) targets.

Three of eight holes in the surface drilling programme at the Star 
& Comet North Extension returned lower grades than previous 
data. Results from surface drilling completed at Selous confirmed 

Ghana: At Iduapriem, a total of 21,279m was drilled in 2019. 
Exploration focused on Mineral Resource conversion drilling at 
Block 1, Ajopa, Efuanta and Block 4S. Regional mapping of the 

Geita

PAGE 103

2019 EXP L ORATION A ND  PROJECTS  CON TI NU ED
Planning for the future

hydrothermal targets commenced during the year as well as auger 
drilling at Mile 8 and Mile 5W targets. 

underground rig took place during November and an eighth rig was 
commissioned in December 2019.

At Obuasi, drilling started on 27 May 2019 with capital drilling on 
41 level, grade control drilling on 17 and 22 levels, and expensed 
exploratory drilling in the GCS top area.

One surface rig was in operation, targeting the southern extensions 
of the deposit from surface, 520m and 360m south of the current 
Ore Reserve from the Cleo waste dump.

The 41-level drill programme completed 7,921m of combined RC 
and diamond drilling. Two multi-purpose RC/diamond rigs are 
being used to accelerate data acquisition and reduce costs. The 
grade control programme drilled 3,480m and showed continuity of 
the Obuasi fissure in terms of grade and structure. The 5,475m of 
exploratory drilling indicated potential in the footwall splays.

DRC: A total of 25,210m was drilled at Kibali.

The drilling results at Gorumbwa-Sessenge gap support the 
continuity of the mineralisation from Gorumbwa into the gap. 

At Tropicana, mine drilling consisted of infill drilling at Havana to 
upgrade the Mineral Resource confidence and assist in the mining 
option studies. Significant results were returned from the infill drilling 
at Havana, as well as encouraging results from drilling at Havana 
South down-dip.

Regional drilling was concentrated at Iceberg, Tumbleweed, New 
Zebra, Angel Eyes Voodoo Child, Wild Thing, Electra, Mojito and 
Monsoon. Regional drilling produced an important result from RC 
drilling at Voodoo Child that indicates mineralisation is present 
~500m along strike from the defined prospect. 

At Ikamva, drilling observations support the model while at Ikamva-
East, the drilling programme was completed, and the results 
returned support the consistency of the two lenses. Two holes were 
drilled into the Kalimva-Ikamva Hinge zone with results supporting 
the model of a potential link between the two structures. 

Results also suggest the presence of other shoots pertaining to the 
Kalimva system.

The orientation drilling programme along the Zakitoko-Birindi trend 
was completed and indicate an extension down dip and along 
strike. A data review of the Aindi area was conducted leading to 
identification of four zones of interest.

In the Oere-Kalimva Gap, the drilling programme is complete and 
indicates no mineralisation within the gap. While in the Mofu-Oere 
gap, a trenching programme showed weak results from surface 
that increase down dip and plunge.

Eight trenches were excavated in the Mandungu-Memekazi-Renzi 
trend with overall results supporting the model and the trenching 
programme at Memekazi Northeast, returning results that support 
the potential of the area. 

At Sayi, the results support the model and continuity of the 
interpreted mineralisation. While drilling in the Sayi-Mengu gap 
returned narrow intercepts. Results from the Renzi trenching 
programme support the model, though they are relatively low 
grade, while the Oere drilling results support the presence of high-
grade domains within the mineralisation envelope.

A soil sampling programme in the KZ South area returned results 
supporting potential for a mineralised system. At Pakaka, drilling 
results from the hole furthest southeast support a consistently  
thin high-grade mineralisation along the sheared contact  
observed in the pit.

Mali: No drilling was completed in 2019.

Australia

Australia: At Sunrise Dam, six underground rigs were in use during 
the period, with most drilling taking place at Vogue, Midway Shear 
(MWS) Steeps and Elle, as well as at Stella (Target 18) and Steeps 
below Sunrise Shear Zone (Target 01). Commissioning of a seventh 

Tropicana

PAGE 104

Projects
Colombia

The greenfields projects in Colombia make a significant 
contribution to AngloGold Ashanti’s Mineral Resource with 
the three projects, La Colosa, Quebradona and Gramalote, 
collectively contributing 38.5Moz. Quebradona and Gramalote 
contribute 4.3Moz to the gold Ore Reserve. Quebradona also 
has a copper Ore Reserve of 3,068Mlbs. Both Quebradona 
and Gramalote are at various stages of feasibility study 
while the La Colosa project is currently under force majeure, 
pending the necessary environmental permits.

Gramalote project 
The Gramalote project, a joint venture between AngloGold 
Ashanti (51%) and B2Gold (49%) in Colombia, lies on the 
eastern flank of the Cordillera Central, near the towns of 
Providencia and San Jose del Nus in the municipality of San 
Roque, in the north-west of the Antioquia Department. It is 
approximately 230km north-west of Bogota and about 120km 
north-east of Medellin.

In September 2019, AngloGold Ashanti announced that an 
agreement had been reached with B2Gold, in terms of which 
B2Gold would fund an investment and exploration programme 
in 2020 to the value of $13.9m, in order to earn back to a 
50:50 partnership and assume management of the project 
effective 1 January 2020. Completion of the feasibility study 
for Gramalote is targeted for the end of 2020. The project has 
several key infrastructure advantages including reliable water 
supply, its close proximity to key infrastructure and a technically 
capable workforce in country.

As per the agreement, B2Gold assumed management of the 
Gramalote joint venture on 1 January 2020. On 21 January 
2020, B2Gold announced positive results from the updated 
preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for the Gramalote 
Ridge deposit, a part of the Gramalote project. The PEA 
updates and enhances previous studies on the Gramalote 
project in several areas, which are listed in the announcement 
1  made in January 2020

B2Gold is currently completing approximately 42,500m of 
infill drilling at Gramalote Ridge to convert the existing Inferred 
Mineral Resource to the Indicated category, and 7,645m 
geotechnical drilling for site infrastructure.

The Gramalote joint venture will continue to advance 
community resettlement programmes, establish coexistence 
programmes for small artisanal miners, to work on health, 
safety and environmental projects and to continue to work with 
government and local communities on social programmes. 
B2Gold, as manager, plans to continue to complete and submit 
the feasibility work by 31 December 2020. Given that the 
volume of work completed by AngloGold Ashanti over the past 
several years – including extensive testing programmes, work 
with local communities and small miners and the high level 
of engineering performed in 2017 for an internal study – the 
remaining work required to complete the final feasibility study is 
not extensive. The main work programme for feasibility is infill 
drilling to confirm and upgrade the Inferred Mineral Resource to 
the Indicated category. The budget agreed by the joint venture 
partners for the feasibility study is $37m.

The Environmental Impact Study and Project Implementation 
Plan for the Gramalote project have been fully approved by 
the National Authority of Environmental Licences of Colombia. 
Due to necessary modifications to the processing plant and 
infrastructure locations, a Modified Environment Impact Study 
and a Modified Project Implementation plan were submitted 
and are currently in the final stages of approval. If the final 
economics of the feasibility study are positive and the joint 
venture makes the decision to develop Gramalote as an open 
pit gold mine, B2Gold would use its proven internal mine 
construction team to build the mine and mill facilities, and 
operate the mine on behalf of the joint venture. 

Quebradona Project
The Quebradona deposit is located approximately 104km 
south-west from Medellin, Antioquia Department and is a 
porphyry-related, copper-gold mineralised stock work system, 
located within the Western Cordillera of Colombia. Until 2019, 
the project was a joint venture with B2Gold (5.7% and diluting) 
and AngloGold Ashanti (94.3% and operator). During 2019, the 
5% dilution threshold was reached and the parties entered into 
a royalty agreement in which B2Gold transferred the minority 
interest in the joint venture to AngloGold Ashanti in exchange 
for a royalty fee during production.

During the year, AngloGold Ashanti continued with the 
exploration programme, with the key aim of developing the 
feasibility study, completing and submitting the environmental 
and construction licence requests (filled in November 2019), 
and securing the land required for project implementation. The 
Quebradona project is an attractive business case of ~8.7Moz 
gold equivalent, with required capital investment estimated at 
around ~$1b and an internal rate of return at approval stage of 
15% (meeting our required hurdle rate). 

2020 will be a critical year for the project, with an estimated 
investment of approximately $64m, targeted at the following 
key milestones:

•   Complete the feasibility study and present it to the board 

for approval in November 2020

•   Obtain the environmental and construction licence by 

November 2020

•   Complete the process of securing the land for project 

implementation

La Colosa
The La Colosa project is located approximately 150km west of 
Bogota in the Tolima Department. It is a very large porphyry-
style gold deposit discovered by the Colombia greenfields 
exploration team in 2006. The project is 100% owned by 
AngloGold Ashanti. The project comprises a singular large 
deposit likely in excess of 28.33Moz of Mineral Resource and 
endowment. The project’s prefeasibility study began in 2010 
and was formally put on care and maintenance in April 2017. A 
second-time force majeure was granted pending environmental 
permits. The force majeure is expected to be renewed in 
June 2020 if the conditions associated with the environmental 
licence permits remain.

1 Updated Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Gramalote 

Project in Colombia

PAGE 105

2019 S E C T I O N   4

LEADERSHIP
AND 
ACCOUNTABILITY

W e   r e v i e w   o u r   p e r f o r m a n c e 
a n d   p h i l o s o p h y   r e l a t i n g 
t o   c o r p o r a t e   g o v e r n a n c e , 
r e m u n e r a t i o n   a n d   a s s u r a n c e   o f 
t h e   i n f o r m a t i o n   p r e s e n t e d   i n 
t h i s   I n t e g r a t e d   R e p o r t .

Audit and Risk Committee: chairman’s report 

Corporate governance, board and executive committee  

Remuneration and Human Resources Committee: chairman’s letter

Remuneration report – overview of remuneration policy 

Remuneration report – implementation report 

108

110

119

123

138

PAGE 106
PAGE 106

PAGE 107

Obuasi

2019 AU D IT  AND R ISK C OMMITTEE: CHAIRPERS ON’ S  REPORT

O v e r s i g h t   o n   t h e   c o m p l e t e n e s s 
a n d   f a i r   r e p r e s e n t a t i o n   o f   t h e 
C o m p a n y ' s   f i n a n c i a l   p o s i t i o n

INTEGRITY 
CONTROL

Rhidwaan Gasant 
Chairperson: Audit and Risk Committee

T he Audit and Risk Committee’s principal duty is to oversee the integrity of the group’s internal 

controls, systems and environment. 

These duties include responsibility for ensuring that AngloGold Ashanti’s financial statements comply with the International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS) and fairly present the financial position of the group and Company and the results of their operations. The Audit 
and Risk Committee (the committee) executed its duties in terms of the JSE Listing Requirements (paragraph 3.84(g) in particular), section 
94(7) of the Companies Act, King IV, and board-approved terms of reference as set out in the committee’s annual work plan. 

For a detailed report on this work plan, refer to the Audit and Risk Committee Chairperson’s letter in the , pages 1 to 6. 

Non-executive independent committee members

Meetings and attendance

Stakeholders

Rhidwaan Gasant

Rodney Ruston

Maria Richter

Alan Ferguson

Michael Kirkwood – Retired 9 May 2019

5 meetings

100% attendance

•   Shareholders

•   Employees

•   Regulators

Key focus 2019

IFRS16 

XBRL and i-XBRL tagging

Committee’s discussions, decisions and actions

Key focus 2020

Discussed feedback received regularly on the process adopted 
to address the requirements of the new accounting standard 
and where appropriate challenged management on aspects of 
accounting

Monitored the actions of management in meeting the requirements 
and noted the successful and timely filings of the required financial 
reports

Combined assurance

Monitored the progress that was made in involving technical 
disciplines in the combined assurance process

Risk themes considered

Assessed and discussed the management process and controls to 
address the risks associated with:

•  Tailings facility management

•  Critical control management

•  Brazilian operations – risks and opportunities

•  Critical skills and talent management

Monitor the internal control 
environment given recent asset sales

Monitor the cyber crime environment 
and the group’s prevention and 
defence capabilities

Monitoring continuous improvement 
in the identification, mitigation and 
reporting of key risks facing the 
group, including our risk appetite and 
risk ranking methodology

Further consider the group's 
approach to the proposed mandatory 
auditor firm rotation

The committee is satisfied that it fulfilled its responsibilities in accordance with its terms of reference as well as relevant legislative and 
regulatory requirements, as summarised below:

Financial reporting

Governance

•   Reviewed half and full year results, trading statements, 

•   Reviewed developments in reporting standards, 

and market updates

corporate governance best practice and legislation

•   Reviewed and assessed the key audit matters raised as 

•   Evaluated the committee's effectiveness

part of the 2019 year-end audit

•   Considered the integrity of the ,  and the Form 
20-F for the 2019 financial year, and recommended these 
for approval to the board

•   Assessed accounting judgements, estimates and 

impairments

•   Reviewed tax provisions and contingencies

•   Considered the  2019 as well as related feedback 

on this report from the Investment Committee

•   Assessed the going concern assumptions and solvency/

liquidity requirements

•   Monitored the XBRL and i-XBRL filing processes

•   Reviewed and assessed the expertise, experience and 
performance of the finance function, the Chief Financial 
Officer and Group Internal Audit

•   Approved an updated whistle-blowing policy

•   Assessed the feedback of an independent assessment of 

the whistle-blowing process

•   Reviewed the terms of reference of the Audit and  

Risk Committee

•   Held separate meetings with the external and internal 
auditors as well as management at each meeting 

Internal control and risk management

External auditors

•   Assessed the systems to identify, manage and monitor 

•   Assessed their effectiveness

financial, non-financial and fraud risks

•   Reviewed the scope, resources, and results of internal audit

•   Approved the internal audit plan and monitored the 

•   Assessed their suitability and that of the lead audit 
partner and recommended the appointment of the 
independent external auditors by the shareholders

execution thereof

•   Approved their terms of engagement, remuneration and 

•   Ensured that the combined assurance model was further 
refined to provide a co-ordinated approach to assurance 
activities

•   Reviewed significant whistle-blowing reports

•   Monitored the governance of information technology (IT), 

including cyber security

•   Received and reviewed quarterly updates on risk 

management within the group

•   Received and reviewed semi-annual updates on 

compliance related matters

integrated audit plan

•   Pre-approved all non-audit services

•   Assessed their independence and concluded that 

there were no impediments on the external auditors’ 
independence

•   Approved their appointment to provide independent 
limited assurance on certain sustainability indicators 
included in the 

STATEMENT OF INTERNAL CONTROL

The opinion of the board on the effectiveness of the internal control environment is informed by the conclusion of the committee.

Based on the Audit and Risk Committee’s assessment of the results of the formal documented review conducted by Group 
Internal Audit and other identified assurance providers of the evolving combined assurance model of the group’s system of 
internal controls and risk management, including the design, implementation and effectiveness of the internal financial controls, 
and considering information and explanations given by management and discussions with both the internal and external auditors 
on the results of their audits, nothing has come to the attention of the board that caused it to believe that the Company’s system 
of internal controls and risk management is not effective and that the internal financial controls do not form a sound basis for the 
preparation of reliable financial statements.

PAGE 108

PAGE 109

2019 CORP O RATE  GOVERNANCE

A NGLOGOLD ASHANTI is committed to the highest standards of governance, ethics and integrity. Good corporate 

governance is integral to our sustainability. Adherence to the standards and recommendations set out in King IV 
and to other relevant laws and regulations is vital to achieving our strategic priorities. 

Ethical leadership and corporate citizenship
The AngloGold Ashanti board, which has ultimate responsibility for 
corporate governance, is guided by its commitment to ensuring 
sound governance principles and practices are in effect. These 
principles and practices underpin value creation and the long-term 
sustainability of our business, and are crucial to the achievement of 
our business objectives and delivery on the strategy. 

AngloGold Ashanti’s governance structures and processes 
demonstrate our commitment to high standards of business integrity 
and ethics in all its activities, and are underpinned by our values-
driven culture and Code of Business Principles and Ethics (Our 
Code). In making decisions, the board acts with independence, and 
has the appropriate competencies and experience collectively to 
execute its fiduciary duties.

The board is committed to promoting good governance and 
providing ethical leadership. It supports the outcomes described in 
King IV, namely, ethical culture, good performance, effective control 
and legitimacy. AngloGold Ashanti reviewed its application of the 
King IV principles and is satisfied that the Company is materially 
compliant. A statement on our application of these principles is 
available online at www.anglogoldashanti.com. 

Our Code is the defining document for AngloGold Ashanti’s 
values and ethics, and is used in addition to the applicable laws, 
regulations, standards and contractual obligations to guide our 
business decisions in the countries in which we operate. Our Code 
provides a framework and sets requirements for the implementation 
of key corporate policies and guidelines. Among other areas, it 
addresses fraud, bribery and corruption, conflicts of interest, gifts, 
hospitality and sponsorships, the use of company assets, privacy 
and confidentiality, disclosures and insider trading.

The board ensures that at all times AngloGold Ashanti is and is 
seen to be a responsible corporate citizen by not only considering 
our financial performance, but by striving to enhance and invest 
in the economic life of the communities in which we operate and 
society in general, and endeavoring to protect and minimise harm 
to the environment, thus enforcing good ESG practices. The 
board’s Social, Ethics and Sustainability Committee ensures the 
application of the principles of responsible corporate citizenship 
and the executive committee is responsible for ensuring they are 
put into practice and adhered to.

Board composition
AngloGold Ashanti is governed by a unitary board of directors, 
which at year-end consisted of eleven directors – nine independent 
non-executive directors and two executive directors. During the year, 
Michael Kirkwood and David Hodgson retired with effect from  
9 May 2019. Maria Ramos and Nelisiwe Magubane were appointed 
as directors with effect from 1 June 2019 and 1 January 2020, 
respectively. The board comprises directors with a variety of skills, 
professional experience and backgrounds which complement each 
other and are relevant to the business in the execution of the board’s 
duties. The composition of the board promotes the balance of power 
and of authority and precludes any one director from dominating 
decision-making. 

PAGE 110

1

2

Independent non-executive directors

1

Sipho M. Pityana (60) 
(Chairman) 

2

Rhidwaan Gasant (60)  
(Lead independent director) 

3

Alan Ferguson (62)

BA (Hons), MSc, DTech (Honoris)

Appointed: 13 February 2007 and Chairman  
on 17 February 2014

BCompt (Hons), CA (SA), ACIMA, Executive 
Development Programme

BSc, Accountancy and Business Economics, CA

Appointed: 12 August 2010

Appointed: 1 October 2018

C

 C

4

Albert Garner (64)

5

Nozipho January-Bardill (69)

6

Nelisiwe Magubane (54)

3

4

BSE, Aerospace and Mechanical Sciences

BA, MA Applied Linguistics, Diploma Human 
Resources Development

Pr.Eng, BSc, MBA

Appointed: 1 January 2015

Appointed: 1 October 2011

Appointed: 1 January 2020

7

Maria Ramos (61)

8

Maria Richter (65)

9

Rodney Ruston (69)

MSc (Economics), BCom, Banker Diploma, 
Certified Associate of the Institute of Bankers 
(South Africa)

BA, Juris Doctorate

MBA, BE (Mining)

5

6

Appointed: 1 June 2019

Appointed: 1 January 2015

Appointed: 1 January 2012

 C

 C

Independent non-executive directors

Executive directors

10

Jochen Tilk (56)

B Mining Engineering,  
Masters Mining Engineering

Appointed: 1 January 2019

11

Kelvin Dushnisky  
(Chief Executive Officer) (56)

12

Christine Ramon  
(Chief Financial Officer) (52)

BSc (Hons), MSc and Juris Doctorate

BCompt, BCompt (Hons), CA(SA), Senior 
Executive Programme

Appointed: 1 September 2018

Appointed: 1 October 2014

7

8

Detailed CVs of directors are available on the corporate website, www.anglogoldashanti.com

 C

9

1

0

Legend

Audit and Risk Committee
Remuneration and Human Resources Committee

Social, Ethics and Sustainability Committee
Nominations Committee

Investment Committee
Committee Chairman

1

1

1

2

COMMITTED TO 
THE HIGHEST 
GOVERNANCE 
STANDARDS

Obuasi

PAGE 111

2019 CORP O RATE  GOVERNANCE  CON TI NU ED

The information below is as at the date of approval of this report by the board.

Independence of directors

In determining director independence, we are guided by 
King IV, the Companies Act, the JSE Listings Requirements, 
the NYSE independence test and our internal policy on 
independence, as well as by best practice. For 2019, all non-
executive directors were assessed as being independent in 
terms of mind, character and judgement.

Executive directors

Kelvin Dushnisky (CEO)

Christine Ramon (CFO)

Tenure 

Non-executive directors: time on board

AngloGold Ashanti board

Independent non-executive directors

Sipho M Pityana  
(Chairman)

Rhidwaan Gasant  
(Lead independent director) 

Alan Ferguson

Albert Garner

Nozipho January-Bardill

Nelisiwe Magubane

Maria Ramos

Maria Richter

Rod Ruston

Jochen Tilk

9 years and longer

6 to 8 years

3 to 5 years

Less than 3 years

20%

20%

20%

0

10

20

30

40%

40

50

The board appoints new directors on the recommendation of the Nominations Committee, which conducts rigorous credentials 
assessments of each potential candidate. Several factors including relevant legislative requirements, best practice, the candidate’s 
qualifications and skills and the requirements of AngloGold Ashanti’s Directors’ Fit and Proper Standards, as well as regional 
demographics are considered in appointing new board members. Their appointments are subject to shareholder approval at the 
annual general meeting following their appointment.

In terms of our memorandum of incorporation, one-third of directors are required to retire at each annual general meeting and, if 
eligible and available for re-election, will be put forward for re-election by shareholders. The directors due to retire at the forthcoming 
annual general meeting are Sipho Pityana and Albert Garner, who are eligible and have offered themselves for re-election, and 
Nozipho January-Bardill and Rodney Ruston, who have elected not to stand for re-election, in accordance with board policies and 
guidelines. See the .

Board diversity 

AngloGold Ashanti supports the principles and aims of 
diversity at board level and recognises and embraces the 
benefits of having a diverse board. In terms of the board policy 
on the promotion of gender diversity, a target of having at 
least 40% female board members by 2020 was set. Female 
now make up 42% of the board following the appointments of 
Maria Ramos and Nelisiwe Magubane, up from 27% in 2018.  

When considering racial diversity, for AngloGold Ashanti 
to leverage the benefits of a globally diverse board that is 
aligned with our geographic footprint, race is not limited to 
‘black’ as defined by the South African Department of Mineral 
Resources and Energy but includes foreign black nationals. The 
voluntary target for race diversity at board level is 50% black 
representation. At present, black representation from a global 
perspective is 42% and that of historically disadvantaged 
individuals (HDIs) is 50%, up from 36% on a global and 
HDI basis in 2018. This improvement is attributed to the 
appointments of Maria Ramos and Nelisiwe Magubane. 

Board skills and experience

Corporate governance

Economics

Engineering technical

Environment health and safety

Finance/accounting

Government/public policy

Human resources/labour

International relations

Legal

25%

Mergers and acquisitions

Mining

Risk management

Strategy development

33%

42%

42%

Broader diversity, specifically focusing on gender, race, culture, 
age, field of knowledge, skills and experience will be considered 
in determining the optimal composition of the board and 
succession planning, and when possible will be balanced 
appropriately for the board to be effective as a whole.

Female

42%

GENDER
(Target 40% 
female)

Male

HDI

RACE
(Target 50% HDI)

Non-South Africans

58%

50%

50%

AGE

50%

50%

50%

50%

Between 50 and 59

33%

Between 60 and 69

67%

100%

100%

58%

67%

75%

0

20

40

60

80

100

PAGE 112

PAGE 113

1022019 CORP O RATE  GOVERNANCE  CON TI NU ED

Directors’ interests
Directors are required to declare their interests annually and to 
disclose any conflicts of interest, and if they arise, to determine the 
extent to which the conflict may impact their duties at AngloGold 
Ashanti. Once a conflict has been disclosed, it is managed 
appropriately by the board. A Declaration of Interest form is 
maintained by the company secretary and any new interest is 
declared at each meeting. 

Directors’ dealings in shares and closed periods 
In accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements, 
directors, management and any restricted employees may not 
deal directly or indirectly in the securities of the Company during 
specific closed or prohibited periods. All directors and the company 
secretary require prior approval from the chairman to deal in the 
Company’s shares. The company secretary retains a record of all 
such share dealings. 

Executive directors

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kelvin Dushnisky, is responsible 
for execution of AngloGold Ashanti’s strategy and reports to the 
board. He chairs the nine-member executive committee that is 
responsible for the day-to-day management of the group’s affairs. 
The committee’s work is supported by country and regional 
management teams as well as by group corporate functions. 

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is Christine Ramon. As required 
by the JSE Listings Requirements, the Audit and Risk Committee 
annually considers and expresses its satisfaction at the level 
of expertise and experience of the CFO. The Audit and Risk 
Committee concluded that Christine Ramon, together with other 
members of the financial management team, had effectively and 
efficiently managed the group’s financial affairs during 2019, as 
detailed in the CFO’s review, which is included in the .

Both the CEO and CFO are executive directors on the board.

AngloGold Ashanti's board committees

The overriding role of the board is to ensure the long-term 
sustainability and success of the business, for the mutual benefit 
of all stakeholders. Its overall role is one of strategic leadership. 
This includes the setting, monitoring and review of strategic 
targets and objectives, the approval of capital expenditure, 
acquisitions and disposals, and oversight of governance, internal 
controls and risk management.

The board is supported by five committees to which it delegates 
certain functions without abdicating any of its own responsibilities. 
This process of formal delegation involves documented and 
approved terms of reference, which are reviewed at least annually, 
or more often when required. 

Audit and Risk Committee
•  Oversees the integrity of our financial reporting, the existence of 
proper internal controls, the integrity of the , ,  
and of our risk management processes 

•  Assesses AngloGold Ashanti’s continuing ability to operate 
as a going concern, assists the board with oversight of IT 
governance, risk management and implementation of the group 
ethics and regulatory compliance programme

PAGE 114

•  Ensures the Company has qualified external auditors and 

Board and committee meeting attendance

internal auditors

•  More detailed information on the committee’s achievements is 
available in the .

Social, Ethics and Sustainability Committee

•  Key responsibility is to assist the board in monitoring matters 

relating to safety, health, the environment and ethical conduct, 
and to ensure that AngloGold Ashanti develops and behaves as 
a responsible corporate citizen 

•  Ensures that our sustainability strategy positions AngloGold 

Ashanti as a leader in mining and that sustainability objectives 
are effectively integrated into the business 

•  Oversees the integrity of and approves the  

More information on the work done during the year by the 
committee is available in the .

Remuneration and Human Resources Committee

•  Assists the board in ensuring that remuneration policies are in 

AngloGold Ashanti’s long-term interests

•  Ensures that, in terms of decisions made, non-executive 

directors, executive directors, senior management and all other 
employees are fairly and responsibly remunerated and that 
shareholder value is delivered

•  Assists the board in the development of AngloGold Ashanti’s 

human resources environment

More information on the achievements of the committee is available 
in the .

Nominations Committee

•   Develops processes to identify, assess and recommend board 
candidates for appointment as executive and non-executive 
directors, including the Chairman and CEO, as well as for 
the company secretary, and at the same time fully considers 
succession planning and leadership within the group 

•   Reviews board composition, including the balance of gender, 
race, culture, age, field of knowledge, skills, experience and 
independence

•   Develops and implements the annual board evaluation 

processes, whether internal or external

Investment Committee

•  Assesses individual capital projects and investment and 

divestment opportunities to ensure that they and any financing 
proposals are in accordance with AngloGold Ashanti’s primary 
mission to creating sustained shareholder value in the long term

The latest approved board charter and committees’ terms 
of references, containing detailed information regarding their 
respective responsibilities and mandates, are available online  1 . 

1 See under Governance on www.anglogoldashanti.com

Directors’ attendance at board and committee meetings during 2019 was as follows:

Audit  

Board

and Risk Investment

Remuneration 
and Human 
Resources

Social, 
Ethics and 
Sustainability

Nominations

Special 
Committee (5)

NED  
Search (5)

Number of meetings 
in 2019

SM Pityana

KPM Dushnisky 

AM Ferguson 

AH Garner 

R Gasant (1)

DL Hodgson (2)

NP January-Bardill

MJ Kirkwood (3)

KC Ramon

MDC Ramos (4)

MC Richter

RJ Ruston

JE Tilk

7

7

7

7

7

7

2

7

2

7

4

7

7

6

5

n/a

n/a

5

n/a

5

n/a

n/a

2

n/a

n/a

5

5

n/a

4

n/a

n/a

n/a

4

4

1

n/a

n/a

4

2

n/a

4

4

4

4

n/a

4

n/a

n/a

n/a

4

1

n/a

n/a

4

n/a

n/a

5

5

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

2

5

n/a

n/a

2

n/a

n/a

5

2

2

n/a

n/a

2

1

n/a

n/a

1

n/a

n/a

2

n/a

n/a

2

2

2

2

2

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

2

n/a

n/a

n/a

2

2

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

1

2

n/a

1

(1)  R Gasant was appointed to the Nominations Committee with effect from 7 August 2019.

(2)  DL Hodgson retired at the AGM held on 9 May 2019.

(3)  MJ Kirkwood retired at the AGM held on 9 May 2019.

(4)  MDC Ramos was appointed with effect from 1 June 2019.

(5)  Two special purpose committees were established by the board during 2019, the Special Board Committee and the NED Search Committee.

Cuiabá

PAGE 115

2019 CORP O RATE  GOVERNANCE  CON TI NU ED

Board and committee evaluations

We are committed to complying with the following standards:

•  Universal Declaration on Human Rights

•  International Bill of Human Rights

•  International Labour Organisation

In addition, we have group policies and charters to which we 
adhere. Increasingly, customers and consumers want assurance 
that the gold they are purchasing has not contributed to conflict or 
human rights abuse. This has resulted in several measures being 
introduced by industry-related organisations of which we are part, 
to prevent gold and other commodities from being used to fund 
conflict and other violations of human rights. 

By virtue of its shares or depositary receipts being registered with 
the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the United 
States, AngloGold Ashanti is also subject to the various laws 
applicable in that country regarding securities. This is in addition to 
being subject to the various listing requirements applicable for all 
the stock exchanges on which the Company is listed. These are 
the Johannesburg, Ghana and Australian stock exchanges.

South African Employment Equity Act

In compliance with Section 21 of the Employment Equity Act, No 55 
of 1998, AngloGold Ashanti is obliged to file with the Department 
of Labour, the employment equity statistics for its South African 
workforce. A copy of the report filed for the period 1 August 2018 to 
31 July 2019 is available on the AngloGold Ashanti website, in the 
section entitled “Employment Equity Reports”. AngloGold Ashanti 
has also embarked on a new five-year plan (1 August 2019 to 
31 July 2024), in accordance with Section 20 of the Employment 
Equity Act, No 55 of 1998. 

Board performance is evaluated annually and includes an 
assessment of the board as a whole, individual directors and 
each committee by members of the committee. An external board 
evaluation is conducted every third year and for the other two 
years, an internal evaluation is facilitated by the company secretary.

Evaluation of the effectiveness and performance of the board 
and its committees was internally assessed in 2019. The overall 
results indicated the board was performing well and that the 
governance structures are better than satisfactory and closely 
aligned with best practice. 

Company secretary

The company secretary, Maria Sanz Perez, is responsible for 
developing, implementing and maintaining effective processes 
and procedures to support the board and its committees in the 
discharge of their duties and responsibilities. She advises the board 
and individual directors on their fiduciary duties and on corporate 
governance requirements and best practices.

In line with the JSE Listings Requirements, the board evaluated 
the qualifications, competence and experience of the company 
secretary in 2019 and was satisfied that Maria Sanz Perez is 
qualified to serve as company secretary. The board also confirmed 
the company secretary’s independence and that she maintains an 
arms-length relationship with the board and is not a director of the 
Company. Maria Sanz Perez’s qualifications and experience are 
available on the website  1 .

Legal, ethical and regulatory compliance 

The group’s geographical spread makes its legal and regulatory 
environment diverse and complex. Given the critical importance of 
compliance in building a sustainable business, group compliance 
plays an essential role in coordinating compliance with laws and 
regulations, standards and contractual obligations and in assisting 
and advising the board and management on designing and 
implementing appropriate compliance policies and procedures.

External and internal standards and regulations

AngloGold Ashanti adheres strictly to legislative and regulatory 
requirements, including several external and voluntary standards 
which are listed below.

AngloGold Ashanti is a member of and a signatory to the:

•  International Council on Mining and Metals

•   Principles of the United Nations Global Compact

•  Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)

•  United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and  

Human Rights

•  Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights

•  World Gold Council’s Conflict-Free Gold Standard and 

Responsible Gold Mining Principles

Sunrise Dam

1 www.anglogoldashanti.com

PAGE 116

Governance of supply chain management and 
procurement policies

Supply chain management is about more than just procuring the 
right product, at the right time, at the right quality and in the right 
quantities. Effective supply chain management, undertaken with 
integrity and in line with our values and governance principles, can 
add value to our business by improving efficiency, relationships and 
reputation and, ultimately, can affect our long-term sustainability. 
As a global company operating on most of the world’s continents, 
responsible management of our supply chain is an increasingly 
important ethical and human rights consideration. External ratings 
agencies and customers are ever more aware of the implications 
and importance of ethical conduct in the supply chain. 

Responsible supply chain management has the potential to add 
value to communities, local governments and society as a whole, 
particularly in developing countries. We have adopted a cross-
functional approach to supply chain management to ensure best 
practice, which includes complying with international human 
rights and labour standards and the economic participation of 
local stakeholders. 

Tax strategy and tax management policy

Our tax strategy, which is aligned with our business strategy 
and its objectives, is to manage all our global tax obligations in 
a transparent, responsible and sustainable manner, within the 
governance framework established by our Tax Management Policy 
while respecting the differing interests of all our stakeholders.

We recognise that AngloGold Ashanti must earn and maintain 
its social licence to operate in partnership with government 
and community stakeholders, thus contributing towards their 
sustainable future in the countries where we operate. Aligned with 

our vision, mission and values, we acknowledge our obligations as 
a responsible corporate citizen and that our operations contribute 
material tax revenues, in terms of both taxes borne and taxes 
collected, to the economies of the countries in which we conduct 
our business.

As a member of the EITI, a global standard to promote open and 
accountable management of natural resources, AngloGold Ashanti 
is committed to reporting the amounts paid to governments in 
respect of our operations in those countries that have implemented 
the standard. 

The principles governing the group’s tax strategy and policy are 
reviewed and approved by the board which, through the Audit and 
Risk Committee, monitors adherence to the policy.

Our tax policy governs the management of tax throughout 
AngloGold Ashanti and confirms the defined parameters within 
which the board-approved tax strategy is applied. The tax 
governance framework employs a combination of suitably skilled 
resources and internal processes, together with internal and 
external controls. Our approach to tax and our tax strategy are 
each embedded in the organisation, through various regular 
regional governance meetings.

Our overall objective is to act responsibly in ensuring efficiency 
in our tax affairs in all countries in which we operate, to always 
fully comply with the law while taking into account, however, that 
such laws may be subject to regular amendment and differing 
interpretations and practices prevailing from time to time.

PAGE 117

2019 EXE C UT IV E MANAGEMENT

REM UNERATION REPORT
Section one: Remuneration and Human Resources Committee: Chairperson’s letter

1

2

3

A l i g n i n g   r e m u n e r a t i o n   a n d 
h u m a n   r e s o u r c e   p r a c t i c e s 
w i t h   o u r   s t r a t e g i c   o b j e c t i v e s

4

5

6

7

8

9

Independent non-executive directors

1

Kelvin Dushnisky (56) 

2

Christine Ramon (52)

3

Stewart Bailey (46)

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Financial Officer

BSc (Hons), M.Sc. and Juris Doctorate

BCompt, BCompt (Hons), CA(SA), Senior 
Executive Programme

Executive Vice President:  
Corporate Affairs and Sustainability

4

Pierre Chenard (59)

5

Graham Ehm (63)

6

Ludwig Eybers (53)

Executive Vice President: Corporate Development 
and Strategy

Executive Vice President: Group Planning  
and Technical 

Chief Operating Officer: International 

BSc (Min. Eng), Post graduate qualifications

LLB; admitted attorney

BSc (Hons), MAusIMM, MAICD

7

Sicelo Ntuli (41)

8

Maria Sanz Perez (54)

9

Tirelo Sibisi (51)

Chief Operating Officer: Africa 

BSc Eng. (Electrical), MBA

Executive Vice President: General Counsel, 
Compliance and Company Secretary

Executive Vice President: Group  
Human Resources 

BCom LLB, Higher Diploma in Tax, Advanced 
Management Programme, Admitted Attorney

BSSc, Advanced HR Executive Development 
Programme, MBA, Post Graduate Diploma in 
Business Management

Detailed CVs of current executive management are available on the corporate website, www.anglogoldashanti.com

PAGE 118

FAIRNESS
EQUALITY

Maria Richter
Chairperson: Remuneration and 
Human Resources Committee

Dear Shareholders,
As the new Chairperson of the Remuneration and Human 
Resources Committee (the committee), I am pleased to continue 
the important work of ensuring clear alignment of AngloGold 
Ashanti’s remuneration and human resource practices with its 
strategic objectives. Remuneration is a rapidly evolving discipline, 
particularly with respect to executive fair and responsible pay for 
performance, gender diversity, talent management and – especially 
relevant for our business – the development and retention of local 
skills in the jurisdictions in which we have operations or projects. 

Engagement with shareholders is invaluable in ensuring that 
the linkage between strategy and incentive outcomes is clearly 
understood. It is also very important that the views of the 
shareholders are taken into account in the development and 
implementation of our remuneration policy. My predecessor valued 
these engagements and I have committed to continuing that 
tradition, engaging with shareholders – outside of voting season – 
to ensure that we receive unfiltered input on all matters relating to 
our remuneration and human resources practices. 

Continuous improvement is fundamental to long-term success in 
mining and remaining open to enhancement of our remuneration 
practices is no exception. In line with King IV and the JSE 
Listing Requirements, we are reporting for the first time the 
executive management team’s remuneration in Single Total Figure 
Remuneration format. This further improves transparency and 
accountability to shareholders. 

I am also pleased to report that the committee observed 
management’s continued delivery of the Company’s strategy during 
2019. Clear advances were made towards de-risking the asset 
portfolio, while delivering significant improvements in safety, cash 
flows and returns. Meaningful progress was made in the broad area 
of sustainability, as well as in capital allocation and balance sheet 
management, providing a solid foundation upon which AngloGold 
Ashanti can continue to improve its asset base over time.

Performance on safety, health and the 
environment
Success for any mining company relies on the safe operation of 
its mines, the good health of employees and host communities, 
and careful stewardship of the environment. 

AngloGold Ashanti, as part of the global community, is 
experiencing the covid-19 pandemic. As safety is our first value, 
we will continuously focus on the safety of our employees, 
which is aligned to our shareholders’ interests. We will monitor 
the developments of this pandemic, engaging shareholders and 
other stakeholders accordingly.

I am most proud that AngloGold Ashanti passed the calendar 
year without a workplace fatality for the first time ever and 
extended its fatality-free record to 633 days. Tragically, we have 
since lost four of our colleagues in two separate incidents that 
occurred in March 2020 at the Mponeng mine. This places even 
greater focus on our commitment to safety and to working on the 
eradication of all injuries and accidents across our mines.

Our commitment to excellence will however continue with 
much diligence and dedication in the areas of safety, health and 
environment which is underpinned by our Deferred Share Plan 
(DSP), the variable pay programme with 20% of the total annual 
bonus used to reward the positive outcomes of this basket of 
sustainability metrics.

Management performance and achievements

It has been a memorable first year as Chairperson of this 
committee and I am proud to share management’s performance 
and achievements:

•  Free cash flow increased by 90% as annual guidance was 
achieved across key operating metrics for the seventh  
straight year 

•  The Obuasi redevelopment project poured first gold on time and 
within budget and remains on track to mine at a rate of 2,000t 
a day during 2020, climbing to 4,000t a day by year-end. The 
mine will produce gold at an average run-rate of 350,000oz 
– 400,000oz annually for the first ten years, and more than 
400,000oz annually over the life of mine at an all-in sustaining 
cost of around $800/oz

•  The capital allocation framework, with clear leverage and return 

targets, guided the decision to initiate processes to sell assets in 
South Africa, Argentina and Mali. In December 2019, AngloGold 
Ashanti announced the sale of its interest in the Sadiola mine, 
in Mali, to Allied Gold Corp, while an agreement to sell the 

PAGE 119

2019 REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section one: Remuneration and Human Resources Committee: Chairperson’s letter (continued)

remaining South African producing assets and related liabilities 
to Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited was reached in 
February 2020

•  AngloGold Ashanti’s market capitalisation increased by almost 
80% in 2019, as the share price outpaced the gold price and 
its international peer group. The American Depositary Receipts, 
the Company’s most liquid publicly traded security, gained 76% 
in 2019 versus a 39% gain for the Van Eck Vectors Gold Miners 
ETF, a basket of 47 gold shares, and an 18% rise in the price of 
bullion over the year

The committee commends the management team, led by the 
CEO Kelvin Dushnisky, for intensifying its dual focus on protecting 
– and indeed, improving – margins while working to maintain 
and strengthen the social licence to operate. This approach is 
consistent with the remuneration policy which aims to discourage 
excessive risk taking, while recognising efforts to improve 
performance with respect to factors within management’s control 
that will drive value creation over the short-, medium- and long 
term, in an ethical, sustainable and responsible manner.

Notwithstanding the above achievements, production, all-in 
sustaining costs, future optionality – particularly in the area of 
Mineral Resource additions – community and environmental 
elements provide us with further opportunities for improvement as 
evidenced in the DSP 2019 performance outcomes on page 149.

Given the satisfactory performance in 2019 across financial, 
operating and safety metrics, the committee is satisfied with the 
remuneration outcomes of the DSP. 

In terms of the 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) (one of the 
prior year schemes replaced by the DSP in 2018), the strong 
growth in our share price and continued focus on the key value of 
safety yielded a solid performance of 94.46%, payable in March 
2020. This is the final pay-out of the LTIP scheme. (Further details 
are set out on page 148 of the remuneration report.)

Obuasi

PAGE 120

Competitive remuneration

Shareholder engagement

As a large gold mining company with a complex suite of assets 
across developed and emerging markets, AngloGold Ashanti 
requires competitive remuneration structures to attract and retain 
scarce skills and expertise. This is fundamental to our strategy. 
It is also imperative to ensuring that we are able to compete 
and flourish in a volatile global mining industry, with increasingly 
exacting requirements from shareholders, civil society, regulators 
and our host governments. These remuneration structures are well 
considered and have clear guardrails, which are detailed in the 
2019 remuneration policy and structure on page 126. 

Disclosure and transparency

The remuneration policy and implementation report were tabled for 
two separate, non-binding advisory votes at the Annual General 
Meeting (AGM) held on 9 May 2019, in line with the JSE Listings 
Requirements and King IV recommendations. The table below 
details the results of the 2018 AGM (held on 9 May 2019) which 
reflect shareholder concerns over the structure of the CEO’s sign-
on award, together with results of shareholder voting at the 2017 
and 2016 AGMs.

Votes

For

Against

Withheld

Remuneration policy

09 May 2019

16 May 2018

16 May 2017

98.31

98.35

98.23

Remuneration implementation report

09 May 2019

16 May 2018

16 May 2017

58.51

98.96

98.31

1.69

1.65

1.77

41.49

1.04

1.69

0.40

0.21

0.60

0.40

0.21

0.30

This poll alongside showed 98.31% of shareholders voted in favour of the remuneration policy compared with 58.51% for its 
implementation. 

I subsequently engaged with investors representing over 30% of the shareholder base with the aim of better understanding their 
perspectives and to ensure that our remuneration practices and reporting reflect their views. Following these meetings – which were 
supportive and constructive – we have further enhanced the detail of our disclosure, including additional information related to the CEO’s 
joining remuneration in 2018, which can be found on page 138 of the remuneration report. The table below summarises the key themes 
from shareholder engagements, and our responses.

Shareholder feedback

Remuneration committee response

Concern over lack of 
performance criteria 
attached to the CEO’s 
sign-on award

While the payment of $4.2m was disclosed in the 2018 Remuneration report, it was incorrectly described 
as a share buy-out. The correct position is that, at the time of the negotiations, Mr Dushnisky expected 
corporate activity under discussion at the time by his former employer that would entitle him to a substantial 
contractual severance payment. He was prepared to wait for this activity to materialise and for the payment 
to become due, after which time he would join AngloGold Ashanti. However, in light of AngloGold Ashanti’s 
requirement that he start immediately after the departure of the former CEO, the parties agreed to a value 
that took into account Mr Dushnisky’s expected loss of compensation and his willingness to start at the 
earlier date.

The committee determined that it would be in the best interests of our shareholders for the negotiated 
sign-on award to be both staggered over three years and have a significant proportion payable in AngloGold 
Ashanti shares, to create immediate alignment with shareholders’ interests. Should the CEO leave 
AngloGold Ashanti within a certain period of time, a claw-back clause was agreed. We regard the retention 
component of the sign-on award as an essential part of our retention strategy.

Further details of the CEO’s remuneration are included on page 152 of this report.

Lack of transparency 
on the sign-on award  
of CEO

The committee is committed to providing greater transparency with respect to all aspects of remuneration 
and is introducing enhancements to the remuneration policy. The proposed enhancements are included on 
page 122. We would also like to emphasise the following elements of our current recruitment policy:

•  Appointees will not be paid more than what they would have lost at their previous company;

•  A time period is applied to a buy-out with a minimum claw-back; and

•  We will provide full disclosure of any buy-out.

I am grateful for the opportunities to hear directly from the 
shareholders. The committee has enjoyed their strong support 
for the overall remuneration policy which was revised and 
implemented in 2018 and adheres to South African corporate 
governance recommendations. The committee believes that these 
remuneration practices have balanced the needs of shareholders 
and employees and served both constituencies well over time. 

AngloGold Ashanti’s remuneration policy and implementation 
report will be tabled for separate non-binding advisory votes by 
shareholders at the upcoming AGM, as recommended by King IV. 
If either, or both, are voted against by 25% or more of the voting 
rights entitled to be exercised by shareholders at the AGM, the 
committee will embark on an engagement process with dissenting 
shareholders to address legitimate and reasonable objections, 
where appropriate.

Fostering an equitable workplace

The Company continues to focus on the development of an 
equitable workplace and is committed to equal pay and gender 
equity in line with the JSE Listings Requirements, King IV 
guidelines and our diversity policy.

Furthermore, the Company continues to develop the leadership 
succession pool and has implemented strategies to attract, 
motivate and retain a skilled workforce through fair, responsible, 
transparent and competitive remuneration. The attraction and 
retention of suitable local candidates to replace expatriates 
are done through labour planning processes, recruitment from 
the local market and bursar and graduate trainee schemes. 
The group talent, succession management, training and 
development processes at all of our operations ensures that we 
address localisation across our global footprint.

PAGE 121

2019 REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section one: Remuneration and Human Resources Committee: Chairperson’s letter (continued)

REM UNERATION REPORT
Section two: Overview of remuneration policy

The committee is constantly looking at ways to enhance our remuneration policy in line with shareholders' interests and corporate best practice.

Enhancements to the remuneration policy

What is the impact of the change?

•  Tightened recruitment eligibility criteria

•  Aligns with corporate best practice

•  Enhanced the malus and claw-back provisions, see page 18  

•  Further reinforces alignment between executive management and  

in the 

shareholders' interests

•  Increased minimum shareholding requirements for members  

•  Further reinforces alignment between executive management and  

of the Executive Committee, see page 22 in the 

shareholders' interests

•  Enhanced performance management review process,  

•  Aligns Executive Committee performance and pay

see page 16 in the 

Focus areas 2019
In addition to management’s performance achievements for 
2019, the committee’s key focus areas included  
the following: 

•  Enhancing our relationships with our shareholders

•  Ensuring pay for performance

•  Enriching the workplace by building on our  

diversity initiatives

•  Managing our talent successfully by identifying and placing 

internal successors into executive roles

•  Successfully continuing to execute the Chairman’s 

Young Leaders Programme and enhancing development 
opportunities

•  Building the relationship with our employees through the 

engagement survey  1

1 See  in this report

Focus areas 2020
•  Enhancement of our remuneration policy by focusing on the 

following:

•  Confirming that our DSP metrics are still in line with 
shareholders' interests and global best practice

•  Addressing minimum shareholding requirements for the 
Executive Committee (details are included on page 22 of 
the .

•  Performance management review enhancements (details 

are included on page 16 of the )

•  Continued focus on succession planning 

•  Continued engagement with shareholders

•  Continued focus on the implementation of our diversity and 

inclusion framework.

Expression of gratitude

In closing, I would especially like to thank the members of the committee for a warm welcome and their support; our shareholders for their 
constructive engagement and considerable feedback; and our management team who have been relentless in their efforts to create value 
for all stakeholders.

Maria Richter
Chairperson: Remuneration and Human Resources Committee 
27 March 2020

Geita

PAGE 122

A ngloGold Ashanti’s remuneration approach aims to create a sustainable executive 

management team remuneration structure with increased alignment to shareholder 
views and interests, underpinned by our strategic objectives and values. 

At AngloGold Ashanti, the remuneration policy aims to align with the Company’s strategic objectives while working to deliver on both 
internal and external stakeholder priorities, in a manner that recognises uncontrollable market dynamics. This is accomplished by means 
of a governance and application framework that primarily aims to attract, motivate and retain a skilled workforce through fair, responsible, 
transparent and competitive remuneration. 

OUR POLICY IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT  
OUR REMUNERATION PRACTICES

WE DO

•  We pay for performance. This is achieved by 
placing 66% of the CEO’s earnings at risk. 
In addition, the variable pay for executives is 
primarily driven by Company performance

•  We have a minimum shareholding requirement 
policy for the executive management team

•  We have a long-term incentive, the DSP with 

share deferral awards, which vests over five years. 
In the case of an executive leaving AngloGold 
Ashanti's employ due to early or normal retirement, 
retrenchment or mutual separation, these awards 
are not accelerated, however, they vest as per the 
normal dates to ensure sustainable and strategic 
executive decision making

•  We have malus and claw-back provisions 

•  We have various risk mitigation controls  

in place for remuneration programmes across the 
Company

•  Committee members are all independent 

directors

•  As all the terms of group policies were adhered 

to, the committee was not required to exercise its 
discretion 

•  We retain an independent remuneration 
consultant (currently PwC) to advise the 
committee

WE DONT

•  We do not provide guaranteed variable pay

•  We do not grant shares to non-executive 

directors

•  We do not allow the use of unvested shares as 
collateral, nor does the Company use unvested 
share amounts towards the calculation of MSR 
provisions

•  We do not provide financial assistance to 
executive directors or prescribed officers

Key principles of our  
remuneration policy

In order to continue to support 
AngloGold Ashanti’s remuneration 
approach, the remuneration policy is 
based on the following key principles:

Alignment with strategic  
objectives and  
shareholders' interests

Ensure that performance metrics 
are challenging, sustainable and 
cover all aspects of the business 
including both financial and non-
financial drivers, and do not reward 
excessive risk taking.

Remunerate to motivate and 
reward the right behaviour and 
performance of employees and 
executives

Ensure that the remuneration 
structure is aligned to AngloGold 
Ashanti’s values and that the 
correct governance frameworks 
are applied across remuneration 
decisions and practices 

Promote an ethical culture and 
responsible corporate citizenship

Apply the appropriate global 
remuneration benchmarks

Ensure that the remuneration of 
executive management is fair, 
responsible and transparent in 
the context of overall employee 
remuneration in the organisation

Provide competitive rewards to 
attract, motivate and retain highly 
skilled executives and staff vital to 
the success of the organisation

Use performance measures 
that support positive outcomes 
across the economic, social and 
environmental context in which 
AngloGold Ashanti operates

PAGE 123

2019 REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section two: Overview of remuneration policy (continued)

Remuneration design

When determining appropriate remuneration, the committee considers:

•   The potential maximum total remuneration that each member of the executive management team could earn relative to their and the 

Company’s performance 

•   External influences, primarily being: 

•  shareholder views and recommendations associated with executive management team remuneration 

•   economic trends

•  competitive pressure

•   the labour market and the pay-gap between the executive management team and the rest of AngloGold Ashanti's employee population 

•  Market benchmarks, choosing appropriate benchmarks in a market with similar attributes, including complexity, size and  

geographic spread

Remuneration practices are designed to be fair, responsible, transparent and compliant with legislative requirements within all the 
jurisdictions in which AngloGold Ashanti operates. 

Fair and responsible pay

The process of developing a framework that describes fair, responsible and transparent pay is an evolving journey and, as a group, 
AngloGold Ashanti’s remuneration policy reflects the principles of fair and responsible pay as follows:

Remuneration policy element

Fair and responsible pay principle

AngloGold Ashanti’s remuneration is aligned to the 
strategic objectives and shareholder outcomes

Remunerate to motivate and reward the right 
behaviour and performance of employees and 
executive management team

Ensure that performance metrics are challenging, 
sustainable and cover all aspects of the business 
including both critical financial and non-financial drivers

Ensure that the remuneration structure is aligned 
to the organisation's values and that the correct 
governance frameworks are applied across 
remuneration decisions and practices

Promote an ethical culture and responsible 
corporate citizenship

AngloGold Ashanti’s variable pay is directly correlated to the achievement of 
measures linked to its scorecard. These metrics are linked to the creation of value 
over a mix of short-, medium- and long-term periods. Metrics are approved by 
the committee and recommended to the board for approval. AngloGold Ashanti is 
transparent with the approved metrics, and these are reported in the annual report.

Individual performance is measured on an annual basis for all employees. These 
include both individual and Company performance measures; financial and non-
financial drivers including environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and people 
metrics. The DSP incentive scheme includes 37.5% of metrics that measure non-
financial targets. The metrics are reviewed by the committee on an annual basis to 
ensure that they are reflective of stretch performance.

All remuneration falls within the ambit of the committee; all senior management 
remuneration is subject to approval by the committee. The DSP metrics include 
ESG and gender diversity metrics. Safety, community and diversity are included in 
AngloGold Ashanti’s values. The incentive scheme furthermore contains a forfeit/
claw-back and malus clause. The executive management team is subject to a 
minimum shareholding requirement.

It is imperative that all employees receive a minimum level of remuneration that 
enables participation in the economy. At this point, AngloGold Ashanti can confirm 
that all employees are paid at least 25% above the respective regional minimum 
wage, and in most instances much higher than this. Furthermore, benchmarking 
exercises are conducted on an annual basis in each region to ensure that all 
employees are paid a market-related salary for the role which they occupy, with 
due consideration to levels of performance.

All decisions on remuneration are scrutinised to ensure that they are:

•  Impartial and non-discriminatory

•  Rational and objective

•  Aligned to local legislation

Ensure fair and responsible executive remuneration 
in the context of overall employee remuneration in 
the organisation

The difference in pay between job levels is justified in the context of the level of 
responsibility of the job, complexity of the job, and the consequence and impact 
thereof on the organisation. The Gini co-efficient is used to ensure that the income 
dispersion between high- and low-income earners is not outside market norms.

Remuneration policy element

Fair and responsible pay principle

Apply appropriate global remuneration 
benchmarks

The Mercer Survey is used to benchmark salaries for the executive management 
team. For senior management and below, benchmarking is conducted using locally 
available reputable surveys including Remchannel (South Africa), Hay evaluation 
methodology and others. 

Provide competitive reward to attract, motivate 
and retain highly skilled executive management 
team and employees vital to the success of the 
organisation

The executive management team comparison is based on a selected group of 
global competitors (page 138) which is reviewed and approved by the committee 
on an annual basis to ensure that it remains appropriate. In reviewing the 
participants, the committee considers:

•  Global spread and complexity

•  Nature of business

•  Size of the peer group, which should be large enough to create a sufficient 

benchmark from which to draw information

Each component of remuneration (base salary, variable pay and benefits) is analysed 
and compared with the market information and the overall package is reviewed 
accordingly. The market median is generally targeted for most roles, while the 
market 75th percentile is targeted for scarce skills.

AngloGold Ashanti tracks the Gini co-efficient from a South African 
perspective to ensure that the income dispersion between high- 
and low-income earners is not outside market norms. 

The analysis is conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc. (PwC) 
as an independent third party and based on the November 2019 
analysis, PwC concluded that the Gini co-efficient for AngloGold 
Ashanti had deteriorated marginally year on year from 0.43 in 2018 
to 0.48 in 2019. This is comparable to the South African mining 
industry benchmark of 0.42. 

The decline in the Gini co-efficient is mostly attributable to the 
reduction in staff in the South African region, as well as to changes 
to the executive management profile. In addition to the Gini co-
efficient, AngloGold Ashanti tracks the global wage differential. 
The wage differential outcome, as calculated by PwC in November 
2019, indicated that the Chief Executive Officer is paid, on a total 
rewards basis, approximately 79 times the median of all employees 
in AngloGold Ashanti. 

This compares favourably to our competitors when considering 
AngloGold Ashanti’s geographic footprint and market capital.

Diversity and inclusion 

On diversity and inclusion, a framework has been drafted that is 
aligned with the UN Global Compact Principles and also with our 
own objectives and values. We believe this framework will help 
foster the empowerment of all staff, irrespective of race, gender, 
ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. The framework, known 
as the Global Diversity and Inclusion Framework, followed a global 
gender assessment conducted across all operations to determine 

the diversity requirements of each. The document, which has 10 
key pillars including organisational culture and management style, 
will help us breathe life into our corporate values – particularly 
to value diversity – and will assist in continuing to build an 
organisation that better reflects the demographics of the societies 
in which we operate.

Significant work has been completed in the preparation of our 
inclusion in the inaugural Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI). 
This further demonstrates our commitment to paying more than 
lip service to addressing the challenge of gender inequality, both 
internally and in the communities where we operate.

The group executive management team has 33% female 
representation, while 19% of the global workforce is comprised of 
females. The AngloGold Ashanti board of directors has 36% female 
representation, which represents a 9% improvement from 2018 
due to the appointment of Ms Maria Ramos as a non-executive 
director in June 2019. 

The Company subscribes to various bodies and interest groups 
that focus on gender diversity, which has provided the opportunity 
to adopt best practices from other organisations, particularly in the 
mining industry.

Furthermore, our gender diversity metric which forms part of our 
DSP incentive scheme has achieved stretch performance for the 
DSP 2019 results. For our DSP 2020 measures, enhanced targets 
have been approved by the committee as outlined on page 17 
of the , emphasising the Company’s commitment to the 
promotion of gender equality and diversity across all operations.

PAGE 124

PAGE 125

2019 REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section two: Overview of remuneration policy (continued)

2019 remuneration policy and structure

The table alongside sets out the remuneration policy that applies to all employees for 2019. The table details each component’s link to 
AngloGold Ashanti's strategy, objectives, performance measurements and the maximum opportunity associated with  
each component. The full remuneration policy can be found in the . 

Remuneration element  
and link to strategy 

Base salary

A competitive salary provided 
to employees to ensure that 
their experience, contribution 
and appropriate market 
comparisons are fairly 
reflected 

Pension

Provides a defined 
contribution retirement 
benefit, in addition to the base 
salary, aligned to the schemes 
in the respective country in 
which the employee operates

Medical insurance

Provides medical aid 
assistance, in addition to base 
salary, aligned to the schemes 
in the respective country in 
which the employee operates

Benefits

Provided to ensure broad 
competitiveness in the 
respective markets, in 
addition to base salary

Operation and objective

Maximum opportunity

Performance measures

Executive base salary 
increases and increases for  
all non-bargaining unit 
employees are closely aligned, 
where practical. This is 
informed by inflation, which 
can be matched directly or 
above/below consumer price 
index (CPI) 

Individual performance 
on a scale of 1 to 5, 
measured against specific 
key performance indicators 
(KPIs). A CPI increase 
pool is approved annually 
by the committee. In 
high-inflation countries, 
individual increases may 
be differentiated according 
to each individual’s 
performance rating. In low-
inflation countries, a flat CPI 
is generally applied to all 
members of the executive 
management team and 
employees

•  Base salaries are reviewed annually 
and are effective from 1 January  
each year 

•  Employee’s base salaries are 
determined by considering 
performance; market comparison 
against companies with a similar 
geographic spread; market 
complexity, size and industry; and 
internal peer comparisons. AngloGold 
Ashanti positions guaranteed pay at 
the median of the applicable markets 
and where there is a shortage of 
specialist and/or key technical skills, 
will pay higher than the median

•  The CEO makes recommendations 
on the executive management team 
but does not make recommendations 
on his own base salary. This is 
reviewed by the committee and 
approved by the board

•  Funds vary depending on jurisdiction 

and legislation

24.75% of base salary for the 
CEO and lower contributions 
for others, dependent on their 
retirement schemes

Not applicable

•  Provided to all employees 

In line with approved policy

Not applicable

through either a percentage of 
fee contribution, reimbursement 
or Company-provided healthcare 
providers

•  Benefits are provided based on local 
market trends and may include items 
such as life assurance, disability 
and accidental death insurance, 
assistance with tax filing, cash in lieu 
of leave not taken (above legislated 
minimum leave requirements), 
and occasional spousal travel 
(for members of the executive 
management teams)

In line with approved policy

Not applicable

Variable pay

The DSP, as set out below, is driven by a single scorecard, 
comprising short- and long-term metrics. The committee 
believes that this scheme has achieved the objectives that it had 
set out upon the design of the scheme, namely: simplification, 
transparency, increased alignment with shareholder interests, 
while remaining compliant with regulatory requirements. The 
target metrics for the DSP are reviewed annually to ensure that 
they provide suitable stretch, are aligned to the business plan and 
budget, and are within benchmark practices of our competitors. 

The selection of metrics ensures a balance that mitigates excessive 
risk taking, and places focus on items that are within the control 
of employees, such as production and reduction of costs. It is the 
committee’s view that this overall balance drives the right behaviour, 
in line with our values. 

The DSP has placed greater focus on cash generation and capital 
efficiency by reducing measures that are outside of management’s 
control such as the gold price. This is best illustrated as follows, with 
metrics not directly impacted by gold price highlighted by the black 
arc in the diagram below (37.5% out of the total score of 100%):

All-in sustaining costs

2019 DSP performance measure

n

Pro d u ctio

15%

10%

Normalise

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Relative total shareholder return

CORE VA L U E :

  P E O P L

E

Safety, health, environment and community

1

All injuries frequency rate (AIFR)

2 Major hazard management critical control percentage compliance

3

4

Health – site compliance to the global safety standards on 
organisational health, wellness and fitness for work standards
Completion of risk assessments per region, including identification 
of critical controls and actions managed to closure

5 Number of reportable environmental incidents at operating mines

6

Greenhouse gas emissions intensity at gold producing operations, 
measured in kg CO2e/tonne

7 Community: number of human rights violations

8

Number of business disruptions as a result of  
community unrest

Core value: people

9

Strategic successor coverage ratio for leadership roles

10 Key staff retention

11 Gender diversity 

PAGE 126

PAGE 127

2019  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section two: Overview of remuneration policy (continued)

Alignment of strategy, pay and performance in the DSP scheme

In line with AngloGold Ashanti’s strategic objectives, the DSP metrics were designed to deliver on these key focus areas:

Deferred Share Plan (DSP)

Remuneration element  
and link to strategy 

Operation and objective

Iduapriem

O pti m is e o v erh e a d, c o sts  
a n d c a pital e x p e n diture

Im

pro

ve p

ortfolio q

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Supporting our 
strateg y for 
sustainable cash 
flow impro vements 
and returns

Focus on people,  
safety and sustainability

n

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aintain lo

M

Strategic focus area:

Description

Optimise overhead, 
costs and capital 
expenditure

All spending decisions must be thoroughly 
scrutinised to ensure they are optimally 
structured and necessary to fulfil our core 
business objective.

Improve portfolio 
quality

We have a portfolio of assets that must be 
actively managed to improve the overall mix 
of our production base as we strive for a 
competitive valuation as a business.

Maintain long-term 
optionality

While we are focused on ensuring the 
most efficient day-to-day operation of 
our business, we must keep an eye on 
creating a competitive pipeline of long-term 
opportunities.

Focus on people, 
safety and 
sustainability

People are the foundation of our business. Our 
business must operate according to our values 
if it is to remain sustainable in the long term. This 
includes a drive to improve safety performance, 
reduce fatalities, and retain key skills

Supportive DSP metric 

•  Production

•   All-in sustaining costs

•   Normalised cash return on equity

•   Relative and absolute total shareholder return

•   Asset optimisation

•   Safety

•   Mineral Resource additions pre-depletion

•   Ore Reserve pre-depletion

•   Production

•   All-in sustaining costs

•   Relative and absolute total shareholder return

•   Mineral Resource additions pre-depletion

•   Ore Reserve pre-depletion

•   All-in sustaining costs

•   Relative and absolute total shareholder return

•   People

•   Safety

•   Environment, health and community

•   Relative and absolute total shareholder return

Ensure financial 
flexibility

We must ensure our balance sheet  
always remains able to meet our core funding 
needs.

•   Production

•   All-in sustaining costs

AngloGold Ashanti 
has used a single 
incentive for short-
term and long-term 
performance. 

The DSP is designed 
to encourage 
employees to meet 
strategic short-, 
medium- and long- 
term objectives that will 
enable value delivery 
to shareholders, by 
achieving defined 
Company objectives.

Permanent employees who do not participate in a 
production bonus are eligible to participate in the DSP. 
Participation is at the discretion of the committee.

A portion of the award is paid in cash as a bonus, and the 
balance is delivered as either deferred cash (for Stratum 
levels III – middle management – and below) or deferred 
shares (for Stratum level IV – senior management – and 
above), vesting equally over a period of two to five years 
depending on the level.

The total incentive is determined based on a combination 
of Company and individual performance measures, defined 
annually and weightings are applied to each measure. 
The metrics are defined against the objectives that most 
strongly drive Company performance and are weighted to 
financial outcomes, production, cost and sustainability.

Each metric is weighted and has a threshold, target and 
stretch definition based on the Company budget and the 
desired stretch targets for the year.

Maximum 
opportunity

Details of 
threshold, 
on-target and 
maximum 
awards for all 
staff are shown 
in the table 
below. 

Note that 
below threshold 
performance 
will result in no 
payment.

Performance measures

One set of performance metrics is 
used to determine the cash portion 
and deferred portion. Future vesting 
of the deferred portion is subject to 
continued employment.

Details of the performance measure 
weightings of Company and 
individual KPIs are shown in the 
table below.

Company and individual 
performance measures are 
assessed over the financial year, 
with the exception of certain 
Company measures that are 
measured over a trailing three-year 
basis, as indicated below.

The table below sets out the performance measure weightings (Company and individual): threshold, on-target and maximum for the DSP awards.

Performance  
measure 
weightings *

Threshold

On-target

Maximum

)
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100.0% 150.0% 100.0%

92.5% 135.0% 85.0%

87.0% 124.5% 75.0%

39.0% 65.0% 52.0%

27.0% 51.0% 48.0%

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200.0% 300.0% 150.0%

185.0% 270.0% 127.5%

174.0% 249.0% 112.5%

78.0% 130.0% 78.0%

54.0% 102.0% 72.0%

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70% 30% 50.0%

60% 40% 42.5%

60% 40% 37.5%

50% 50% 26.0%

50% 50% 24.0%

40% 60% 16.5% 16.5%

40% 60% 12.5% 12.5%

–

–

33.0% 33.0% 33.0%

25.0% 25.0% 25.0%

–

–

66.0% 49.5% 49.5%

50.0% 37.5% 37.5%

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Employee level  
and stratum 

CEO (VII) *

CFO (VIH) *

Executive  
management (VIL) *

Senior  
management (IVH – V)

Senior management (IVL)

Middle management (IIIH)

Middle management 
(IIIL – IIIM)

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300.0% 450.0%

277.5% 405.0%

261.0% 373.5%

117.0% 195.0%

81.0% 153.0%

–

–

99.0%

75.0%

PAGE 129

PAGE 128

•   Relative and absolute total shareholder return

•   Asset optimisation

* Please see amendments to performance measure weightings in the  on page 16

2019  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maximum 
opportunity

Performance measures

CEO
(Rm)

CEO
(%)

REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section two: Overview of remuneration policy (continued)

Deferred Share Plan (DSP) (continued)

Remuneration element  
and link to strategy 

A single set of 
performance objectives 
are used, reviewed 
and approved annually 
by the committee, 
based on the impact 
on AngloGold Ashanti’s 
performance.

Operation and objective

At the end of each financial year, the Company and the 
CEO’s performance is assessed by both the committee 
and the board against the defined metrics to determine 
the quantum of the cash portion and the quantum of the 
deferred portion namely:

Cash portion:
Base pay x individual performance weighting x on target 
cash percentage x individual performance modifier (KPIs: 
1 – 5 rating)

+

Base pay x Company performance weighting x on-target 
cash percentage x Company performance modifier

Deferred cash/shares:
Base pay x individual performance weighting x on target 
deferred percentage x individual performance modifier 
(KPIs: 1 – 5 rating)

+

Base pay x Company performance weighting x on-target 
deferred percentage x Company performance modifier

The deferred shares are awarded as conditional rights to 
shares with dividend equivalents.

Vesting of the deferred portion occurs over a period of 
time either a two, three, or five- year period, depending on 
the level of the participant. 

Company metrics, each with their 
own weighting, are:

•  Relative total shareholder return*

•  Absolute total shareholder return*

•  All-in sustaining costs

•  Normalised cash return on equity*

•  Production

•  Ore Reserve pre-depletion

•  Mineral Resource additions  

pre-depletion

•  Safety, health, environment  

and community

•  People

The committee reserves the right to 
apply a safety multiplier to the total 
score which can detract from the 
final score. 

Relative total shareholder return 
is measured against a carefully 
selected peer group of seven 
comparators recommended by the 
committee and approved by the 
board. The comparator group is 
retained for measurement for the full 
three-year review period.

Full details of the DSP metrics are 
provided in the remuneration policy.

* These measures are on a trailing three-year backward-looking basis or combination of annual and three-year measures

Malus and claw-back

For details on the enhancements, see page 18 in the .

Remuneration scenarios at different 
performance levels

The graphs alongside depict the pay mix of the executive 
management team in line with the 2019 remuneration policy. The 
graphs alongside represent actual outcomes of the DSP detailed 
above at below threshold performance (which will result in zero 
variable pay), threshold, target and maximum performance. 

Graphs alongside represent the pay mix percentage. Note that 
the long-term incentive (DSP deferred shares) is payable annually 
in five equal tranches.

The committee may determine that an unvested award or part of an 
award may not vest, or may determine that any cash bonus, vested 
shares, or their equivalent value in cash be returned to the Company 
in the event that any of the following matters is discovered:

•  A material misstatement of our results which may have caused 
the over allocation of cash bonus, deferred cash and deferred 
share allocations

•  Misconduct, including but not limited to the participant acting 
fraudulently or dishonestly or being in material breach of their 
obligations to AngloGold Ashanti as described in our Disciplinary 
Code and Procedure policy, will result in the lapse of all deferred 
cash and deferred shares, both vested and unvested, in line with 
the rules of the DSP

•  Where there is an error in the calculation of any performance 

condition used in the calculation of the performance conditions 
which may have resulted in an overpayment

PAGE 130

Below threshold

19

6

Below threshold

100

Threshold

19

6 9

19

Threshold

46

18

36

Target

19

6

20

40

Target

29

24

47

53

49

55

Maximum

19

6

32

0

30

60

65

90

Maximum

20

27

120

150

0

20

40

60

80

100

Base salary        Benefits            DSP cash           DSP deferral

Base salary and benefits            DSP cash           DSP deferral

CFO
(Rm)

CFO
(%)

Below threshold

10

2

Below threshold

100

Threshold

10

2 4

9

Threshold

47

17

36

Target

10

Maximum

10

2

2

0

10

15

20

9

20

Target

29

22

32

Maximum

20

25

30

40

50

60

0

20

40

60

80

100

Base salary        Benefits            DSP cash           DSP deferral

Base salary and benefits            DSP cash           DSP deferral

Executive Committee
(Rm)

Below threshold

Threshold

Target

8

8

8

1

1 3

7

Executive Committee
(%)

Below threshold

100

Threshold

48

16

36

1

7

15

Target

30

21

49

Maximum

8

1

11

25

Maximum

20

24

56

0

10

20

30

40

50

0

20

40

60

80

100

Base salary        Benefits            DSP cash           DSP deferral

Base salary and benefits            DSP cash           DSP deferral

Pay mix for all employees is informed by market surveys. As such, the pay mix for all employees will vary depending on level, jurisdiction 
and the legislation in which we operate. Note that the base salary for Executive Committee members is based on the average earnings for 
current members.

PAGE 131

2019 REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section two: Overview of remuneration policy (continued)

Prior period short- and long-term incentives

As highlighted previously, with effect from January 2018, AngloGold Ashanti implemented the DSP which replaced all previous short- and 
long-term incentive plans. For purposes of the implementation report, which reflects the incentives payable in prior years, the following 
section describes the short- and long-term incentives applicable prior to 2018. The remaining awards under these plans have vested, with a 
final payment in March 2020.

Operation and objective

Maximum opportunity

Performance measures

Short-term incentive plan (STIP): Bonus Share Plan (BSP)

STIP metrics were defined annually and 
weightings were applied to each measure. 
The metrics were defined against the 
objectives that most strongly drive Company 
performance and were heavily weighted to 
production, cost and safety.

Each metric was weighted and had a threshold, 
target and stretch definition based on the 
Company budget and the desired stretch targets 
for the year.

CEO:

Maximum award – 200% of base salary
(cash 80% + deferred equity/cash award 120%)

Target award – 100% of base salary
(cash 40% + deferred equity/ cash award 60%)

Threshold award – 50% of base salary
(cash 20% + deferred equity/ cash award 30%)
Below threshold achievement results in a 0% payment 

CFO:

The STIP was delivered as a cash element and a 
deferred equity element, with 50% vesting  
12 months after the date of issue and remaining 
50% vesting on the 24th month after issue.

Maximum award - 175% of base salary
(cash 70% + deferred equity/cash award 105%)

Target award – 87.5% of base salary
(cash 35% + deferred equity/cash award 52.5%)

CEO: 

Performance measures:

•  70% Company objectives

•  30% individual KPIs (as 
reviewed by the board) 

Both Company and individual 
performance are assessed over 
the financial year

CFO and EXCO:

Performance measures:

•  60% Company objectives

•  40% individual KPIs (as 
reviewed by the CEO) 

Both Company and individual 
performances are assessed over  
the financial year.

The Company metrics  
measured are:

•  Production

•  All-in sustaining costs

•  Adjusted free cash flow

•  Safety, health and environment

•  Ore Reserve pre-depletion

•  Project delivery/capital 

expenditure

Threshold award – 43.75% of base salary
(cash 17.5% + deferred equity/cash award 26.25%)

Below threshold achievement results in a 0% payment

EXCO:

Maximum award – 150% of base salary
(cash 60% + deferred equity/ cash award 90%)

Target award – 75% of base salary
(cash 30% + deferred equity/cash award 45%)

Threshold award – 37.5% of base salary
(cash 15% + deferred equity/cash award 22.5%)

Below threshold achievement results in a 0% payment.

150% of the equity originally invested over a 
deferred 24-month period

Quantum based on STIP 
achievement

At the end of each financial year, AngloGold 
Ashanti's and the CEO’s performances were 
assessed by the committee and the board 
against the defined metrics to determine the 
award to be granted.

Stratum III (middle management) employees and 
above, who did not participate in production 
bonuses, were eligible to participate.

The deferral was intended to be delivered in 
equity, but the committee retained the discretion 
to deliver in cash should there be a requirement, 
for example, where the shares available for 
issue were below the required amount to satisfy 
employee allocation needs. Participation in the 
STIP was at the discretion of the committee.

Co-Investment Plan (CIP)

The CIP was offered annually to create 
shareholdings held by the executive management 
team to meet their minimum shareholding 
requirements (introduced in 2013). These were 
implemented to achieve alignment of shareholder 
and executive management team interests.

The executive management team member 
invests up to 50% of their net cash bonus in 
Company shares, after 12- and 24-month 
periods, AngloGold Ashanti offers 150% of the 
amount originally purchased by the executive, 
in shares purchased on market, provided the 
executive management team member remains in 
employment and retains the original investment.

Operation and objective

Maximum opportunity

Performance measures

Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)

The LTIP metrics were reviewed and defined 
annually in accordance with the strategy. (It is 
important to note that any amendment would 
be applied on a go-forward basis to newly 
allocated awards with no retrospective metric 
changes to existing awards).

CEO:

Range of award – 160 – 250% of base salary

CFO: 

Range of award – 140 – 200% of base salary

Weightings were provided to the metrics which 
must be achieved over a three-year period.

Range of award – 140 – 200% of base salary

EXCO: 

The TSR is measured against a carefully 
selected peer group of 10 comparators that 
was recommended by the committee and 
approved by the board. The comparator group 
was retained for measurement for the full 
three-year review period. 

The score against all relevant measures 
contributed towards the percentage of total 
awards that vested at the end of the  
three-year period.

Only senior management from Stratum IV and 
above were eligible to participate in the LTIP.

A share under the LTIP was a fully paid 
ordinary share in the capital of the Company, 
subject to performance vesting restrictions. 
The dilution may not exceed 5% of the 
Company’s ordinary share capital.

Participation in the LTIP is at the discretion of 
the committee.

The TSR is calculated by 
the growth in capital from 
purchasing a share in the 
Company, assuming that 
the dividends are reinvested 
each time they are paid. The 
TSR is then used to rank the 
performance of the Company 
against its competitors (Barrick, 
Gold Fields, Harmony, Kinross, 
Goldcorp, Newmont, Gold ETF 
(World Gold Council SPDR 
classification), Randgold, 
Newcrest and Sibanye-
Stillwater). 

The remaining 50% performance 
measurement are:

•   Operational performance 

(measured through, all-in cost, 
project delivery and asset 
optimisation)

•   Future optionality (measured 
by technology innovation and 
Mineral Resource and Ore 
Reserve) 

•   Development and attraction 
and retention of people 
(measured by the succession 
cover ratio and talent 
retention) 

•   A safety multiplier applied 

to the total score which can 
either enhance or detract 
from the final score by 
20%. The safety multiplier 
cannot however increase the 
maximum pay-out above the 
defined caps

On 18 February 2020, the committee approved that the 2017 long-term awards be settled as 50% cash settled  
and 50% share settled for executive management and 100% cash settled for the remaining eligible participants.

Dividends

At vesting, equivalent cash payments subject 
to applicable PAYE, are provided to all 
participants of the STIP and LTIP.

In line with AngloGold Ashanti's dividend  
payment policy

Paid post vesting

PAGE 132

PAGE 133

2019 REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section two: Overview of remuneration policy (continued)

Recruitment policy

When recruiting a member of the executive management team, a 
comparative benchmarking exercise is undertaken to determine the 
size, nature and complexity of the role, and skills availability in the 
market prior to making a competitive offer. 

The following will be considered when recruiting external hires: 

•   The committee will also take into account both market practice 
and any relevant commercial factors in considering the terms of 
the buy-out award;

•   A time period is applied to a buy-out with a minimum claw-back

The committee has made enhancements to the recruitment policy 
for 2020 and details can be found on page 19 of the .

•   External appointments will not be paid more than what they 

Termination policy

would have lost at their previous employer within a 12-month 
period. The terms of the payment will reflect the nature of the 
remuneration forfeited (salary, other contractual payments, 
annual bonus and/or share based elements including in-flight 
share awards), time horizons and any performance requirements. 
The committee will not offer any sign-on bonus for example, a 
“golden hello”.

•   In the case of share awards forfeited they will have equivalent 
performance conditions unless the committee determines 
otherwise. 

Members of the executive management team, and all permanent 
employees have open-ended contracts (except where prescribed 
retirement ages apply) with termination periods defined in their 
contracts. In addition, incentive scheme rules clearly specify 
termination provisions by termination category. In the event of a 
termination, the Company has the discretion to allow the employee 
to either work out their notice or to pay the guaranteed pay for the 
stipulated notice period in lieu of notice.

Guaranteed pay includes base salary and other benefits as detailed 
in the table but excludes variable pay.

Voluntary  
resignation

Dismissal/
termination  
for cause

Normal and early retirement,  
retrenchment and death 

Mutual  
separation

Reasons for termination

Base salary

Pension 

Medical 
provisions

Base pay will be paid over 
the notice period or as a 
lump sum

Base pay will 
be paid until 
employment 
ceases

Base pay is paid for a defined period 
based on cause and local policy  
as employees have different 
employment entities

Base pay will be paid over the notice 
period or as a lump sum

Pension contributions 
for the notice period will 
be paid; any lump sum 
does not include pension 
contributions unless 
contractually agreed

Pension 
contributions 
will be paid until 
employment 
ceases 

Where applicable, medical 
provision for the notice 
period will be paid; any 
lump sum does not include 
contributions unless 
contractually agreed

Medical 
provision/
payment will be 
provided until 
employment 
ceases

Pension contributions will be paid until  
employment ceases

Medical provision/payment will be 
provided until employment ceases

Pension contributions for the notice 
period will be paid; any  
lump sum would not include  
pension contributions unless 
contractually agreed

Where applicable, medical  
provision for the notice period 
will be paid; any lump sum would 
not include contributions unless 
contractually agreed

continued overleaf

Iduapriem

PAGE 134

Reasons for termination

(continued)

Voluntary  
resignation

Dismissal/
termination  
for cause

Applicable benefits may 
continue to be provided 
during the notice period but 
will not be paid on a lump 
sum basis

Benefits will 
fall away when 
employment 
ceases

Forfeit, no bonus

No bonus

Unvested awards lapse

Unvested  
awards lapse

Benefits

DSP cash 
bonus

Deferred 
cash awards

Normal and early retirement,  
retrenchment and death 

Mutual  
separation

Benefits will fall away when 
employment ceases

Applicable benefits may continue to 
be provided during the notice period 
but will not be paid on a lump sum 
basis

Discretion to pro-rate for period 
worked 

Discretion to pro-rate for period 
worked 

The vesting date will be accelerated 
to the date of separation and the 
participant shall be entitled to receive 
a pro-rated deferred cash value taking 
into account the period that the 
participant has been in employment 
during the vesting period.

The vesting date will be accelerated 
to the date of separation and the 
participant shall be entitled to receive 
a pro-rated deferred cash value taking 
into account the period that the 
participant has been in employment 
during the vesting period.

Deferred 
share awards

Unvested awards lapse

Unvested  
awards lapse

Retrenchment and retirement (early, 
normal and late):

Senior managers – upon 
termination, the vesting date will be 
accelerated to the date of separation 
and the participant shall be entitled to 
receive pro-rated shares taking into 
account the period that the participant 
has been in employment during the 
vesting period. Vested shares may be 
exercised within six months following 
termination date.

Executives – upon termination of 
employment, vested shares may be 
exercised within six months following 
termination date. The participant will 
continue to hold unvested shares post 
termination of employment to vest at 
the original vesting date. Upon vesting 
of these shares, participant has up to 
six months to exercise vested shares. 

Death: 
All participants – upon death of an 
employee, the vesting date will be 
accelerated, and the participant’s 
estate shall be entitled to receive the full 
vested and unvested deferred shares 
within 12 months from date of death.

Senior managers – upon 
termination, the vesting date will be 
accelerated to the date of separation 
and the participant shall be entitled to 
receive pro-rated shares taking into 
account the period that the participant 
has been in employment during the 
vesting period. Vested shares may be 
exercised within six months following 
termination date.

Executives – upon termination of 
employment, vested shares may be 
exercised within six months following 
termination date. The participant will 
continue to hold unvested shares post 
termination of employment to vest at 
the original vesting date. Upon vesting 
of these shares, participant has up to 
six months to exercise vested shares. 

PAGE 135

2019 REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section two: Overview of remuneration policy (continued)

Minimum shareholding requirements

II.   An amount equivalent to I above, and inclusive of the value 

It is the committee’s opinion that PwC has acted in an independent 

The committee is of the opinion that share ownership by executive management team members demonstrates their commitment to 
AngloGold Ashanti's success and serves to reinforce the alignment between executive and shareholder interests. With effect from March 
2013, a minimum shareholding requirement (MSR) was introduced for the executive management team.

All executive management team members are required to have a minimum shareholding in the Company as per the table below:

Within three years of appointment/from 
introduction of MSR

Within six years of appointment/from  
introduction of MSR

CEO 

100% of net annual base salary

200% of net annual base salary

Executive Management Team 75% of net annual base salary

150% of net base salary

Holding 
requirement

Indefinite

Indefinite

The following count towards an individual MSR:

Change in control 

•   JSE/NYSE shares purchased on the market, either directly or 

indirectly, for personal reasons 

•   Vested shares from AngloGold Ashanti's previous share incentive 
schemes (BSP and LTIP and any other historic schemes), as well 
as vested shares from the current DSP. 

The committee has amended the MSR requirements for 2020. 
Details of the changes can be found on page 22 of the .

Service contracts 

All members of the executive management team have permanent 
employment contracts which entitle them to standard group 
benefits as defined by their specific region and participation in the 
Company’s DSP. 

South African executive management team members are paid 
a portion (of up to 40%) of their remuneration offshore which is 
detailed under a separate contract. This reflects global roles and 
responsibilities and considers offshore business requirements. All 
such earnings are subject to tax in South Africa. 

Executive management team contracts are reviewed annually and 
currently continue to include a change in control provision. The 
change in control provision is subject to the following triggers:

•   The acquisition of all or part of AngloGold Ashanti; or

•   A number of shareholders holding less than 35% of the 

Company’s issued share capital consorting to gain a majority of 
the board and make management decisions; and

•   Executive management team member contracts are either 

terminated or their role and employment conditions are curtailed

In the event of a change in control becoming effective, the 
executive management team member will in certain circumstances 
be subject to both the notice period and the change in control 
contract terms.

Executive management employment contracts provide that, in the 
event of their employment being terminated as a result of a change 
of control, the following is applicable: 

I.  All salary, benefits and bonuses in lieu of their notice pay;

of any pension contributions that would have been made by 
the Company in the notice period following the termination 
date (less such tax and national insurance contributions as the 
Company is obliged to deduct from the sum);

III.   The vesting date will be accelerated to the date of the event 

and the participant shall be entitled to receive pro-rated shares 
taking into account the period that the participant has been in 
employment during the vesting period. 

Remuneration consultants

In line with best common practice, the committee which is 
comprised solely of independent non-executive directors, engages 
independent consultants in relation to remuneration related matters. 
The current advisor is PwC whose appointment, terms of reference 
and fees payable are determined solely by the committee. PwC 
is invited to attend all meetings of the committee and has regular 
access to the committee's Chairperson and members. 

PwC informs and assists the committee’s deliberations by drawing 
on their global reach and perspective on compensation matters 
and trends. They brief the remuneration committee on regulatory 
developments in South Africa and major international markets. 
They comment on technical matters, and generally opine on 
the committee’s work. Each year, the committee evaluates the 
performance of PwC as the independent advisor and sets their 
fees to reflect time commitment, value added and market norms. 
For the year ended on 31 December 2019, fees payable to PwC 
amounted to c. R786,000 (2018: c. R432,000). 

Key focus areas with which PwC assisted in 2019 were:

•  Gini co-efficient, wage differential calculations and associated 

benchmarking

•  Market trends, updates and best practice guidelines

manner, in that they have primarily provided directional and 

strategic advice. 

The committee also made use of the services and output of Mercer, 

who provided global survey data and analysis. Mercer’s charges 

amounted to c. R524,000 (2018: c. R472,000).

Non-executive directors’ remuneration policy 

AngloGold Ashanti’s non-executive directors (NEDs) continue to 

be paid according to their roles. The policy is applied using the 

following principles:

•  A board fee is paid for the six annual board meetings and board 

committee members receive annual committee fees  

for participation

•  Fees are reviewed annually and increases, if any, are 

implemented in July. They are set using a global comparator 

group which is derived from companies with similar size, 

complexity and geographic spread

•  Fees have remained unchanged since 2014

•  NEDs receive a travel allowance for travel outside of their home 

country for site visits and board meetings

•  NEDs are not eligible to receive any short- or long-term 

incentives

•  Based on market data provided by PwC in accordance with the 

selected peer group, a 2% US dollar inflationary increase will be 

proposed to the non-executive director fee only for 2020. (Details 

of the proposed increase are presented on page 7 of the )

•  No increase will be proposed to committee fees as these remain 

•  Committee training, where required

favourably positioned against the market

Iduapriem

PAGE 136

Iduapriem

PAGE 137

2019 REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section three: Remuneration implementation report – January to December 2019

T his section of the Remuneration Report explains 

the implementation of the remuneration policy by 
providing details of the remuneration paid   
to members of the executive management team and   
non-executive directors for the financial year ended   
31 December 2019. 

Executive management team pay

2019 saw the gold price and share price increase. Cost control 
remains a key imperative and the external market reflected  
similar challenges. 

On behalf of AngloGold Ashanti, Mercer conducts a biennial 
bespoke survey of executive management team remuneration. 
For 2019, the committee reviewed the comparator group against 
AngloGold Ashanti to ensure that changes in the market had not 
led to variances that made the current matches inappropriate. The 
review consisted of a detailed analysis of companies who it was felt 
were appropriate for inclusion in the benchmark. 

The companies included in the comparator group were ranked in 
terms of a number of criteria selected in areas which were, aligned 
with AngloGold Ashanti. 

2019 Comparator benchmark group

Information regarding CEO’s remuneration on 
joining AngloGold Ashanti

At the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 9 May 2019, 
58.51% of shareholder voting supported implementation of the 
remuneration report compared with support of 98.31% for the 
remuneration policy. This level of support necessitated engagement 
by the committee Chairperson with 30% of investors to better 
understand their perspectives and ensure that our remuneration 
practices and reporting reflect their views.

As set out in the committee Chairperson’s letter, one of the main 
areas for engagement with shareholders related to the sign-on 
terms accompanying Mr Kelvin Dushnisky’s appointment. The 
Chairperson committed to providing a detailed explanation of the 
approach the committee took in determining the above payments, 
to clarify the disclosure in our 2018 report. 

As previously disclosed in our 2018 Remuneration Report,  
Mr Dushnisky’s payments at joining included:

•  A pro-rata sign-on cash payment of $800,000 in lieu of his 

previous company’s 2018 performance year 

•   A sign-on award valued at $4,200,000, made up of the following 

components and terms as per the tables below: 

Anglo American Platinum

Agnico Eagle Mines

Barrick Gold Corporation

B2Gold Corporation

Eldorado Gold Corporation

Evolution Mining Limited

Gold Fields Limited

IAMGOLD Corporation

Impala Platinum Holdings Limited

Kinross Gold Corporation

Newcrest Mining Limited

Newmont / Goldcorp

Sibanye-Stillwater Limited

South32

Yamana Gold Incorporated

Vesting date

1 January 2019

1 January 2020

Total

Value of cash sign-on bonus in US$

400,000

1,000,000

1,400,000

Number of 
AngloGold 
Ashanti shares

Vesting date

Value of 
shares (US$) (1)

Value of 
shares (ZAR)

1 January 2019

1,400,000

20,188,000

175,877

1 January 2020

700,000

10,094,000

1 January 2021

700,000

10,094,000

87,939

87,939

Total

2,800,000

40,376,000

351,755

(1) 

 Value of shares is based on award date and not vesting date 
calculated on a five-day VWAP prior to Mr Dushnisky’s starting date 
of 1 September 2018. In accordance with the above tables, a cash 
payment of $400,000 was made to Mr Dushnisky on 1 January 2019 
and 175,877 AngloGold Ashanti shares vested on 1 January 2019. 

Cash payment ($800,000)

The sign-on cash payment of $800,000 was in lieu of the annual 
bonus which Mr Dushnisky was eligible for from his previous 
employer, Barrick Gold, but would ordinarily have been forfeited on 
termination of his employment. Notwithstanding his departure, the 
Remuneration Committee of Barrick Gold exercised their discretion to 
make an incentive payment to Mr Dushnisky post the cessation of his 
employment for the flexibility shown by him regarding his departure 
date and the delivery of agreed matters of strategic importance as 
disclosed in the Barrick Gold 2019 Information Circular published in 
March 2019 relating to the financial year ending 31 December 2018. 
In light of this, Mr. Dushnisky has voluntarily repaid the $800,000  
sign-on cash payment to the Company.

Sign-on payment ($4,200,000)

While the payment of $4.2m was disclosed in the 2018 
Remuneration report, it was incorrectly described as a share buy-
out. The correct position is that, at the time of the negotiations, 
Mr Dushnisky expected corporate activity under discussion at the 
time by his former employer that would entitle him to a substantial 
contractual severance payment. He was prepared to wait for this 
activity to materialise and for the payment to become due, after 
which time he would join AngloGold Ashanti.

However, in light of AngloGold Ashanti’s requirement that he start 
immediately after the departure of the former CEO, the parties 
agreed to a value that took into account Mr Dushnisky’s expected 
loss of compensation and his willingness to start at the earlier date.

Annual salary review

In 2019, the January annual increases resulted in each member of 
the executive management team receiving an increase in line with 
the CPI in their respective jurisdictions. This is in line with increases 
for all AngloGold Ashanti employees. The respective CPI increases 
applicable to the executive management team were as follows:

Region

Australia

South Africa

USA

Increase 

3.0%

5.7%

2.5%

All retirees received the standard payments as per the retirement 
policies in place at AngloGold Ashanti. 

Mr Sicelo Ntuli was appointed Executive Vice President: Chief 
Operating Officer: Africa Operations, and Mr Stewart Bailey was 
appointed Executive Vice President: Corporate Affairs, effective 
1 January 2019. Both were internal promotions, confirming our 
commitment to succession planning and developing internal talent.

Mr Pierre Chenard was appointed Executive Vice President: 
Strategy and Corporate Development, on the following terms:

•   Base pay: R8,380,580 per annum

•   Medical aid insurance through BUPA

•   International pension scheme membership

•   A sign-on award, which Mr Chenard received on appointment 

for compensation forfeited from his previous employer. This was 
based on the fair value of unvested share awards which lapsed 
on the cessation of his employment and other remuneration 
and benefits as detailed below. The buy-out award for Mr 
Chenard took into account the proportionate achievement of the 
relevant performance conditions and the time elapsed from the 
date of grant under the terms of the former employer's share 
scheme. As such, it was concluded that the buy-out award 
featured no further corporate performance conditions other than 
new time-based vesting conditions.

Vesting date

1 April 2019

1 April 2020

Total

Vesting date

1 April 2020

1 April 2021

Total

Value of cash sign-on 
bonus in US$

Value of cash sign-on 
bonus in ZAR

 225,000

225,000

450,000

3,165,000

3,165,000

6,330,000

 Value of  
shares  
in US$ (1)

450,000

450,000

Value of  
shares  
in ZAR

Number of 
AngloGold 
Ashanti shares

6,513,255

6,513,255

32,475

32,476

64,951

900,000

13,026,510

Executive movements

In 2019, the following executive management team  
members retired:

•   Mr Charles Carter, Executive Vice President: Strategy, on  

31 March 2019

•   Mr Chris Sheppard, Chief Operating Officer: South Africa on  

15 March 2019

•   Mr David Noko, Executive Vice President: Group Sustainable 

Development, on 28 February 2019

(1) 

 Value of shares is based on award date and not vesting date 
calculated on a five-day VWAP prior to Mr Chenard’s starting date of 
1 April 2019. In accordance with the above tables a cash payment 
of R3,165,000 was made to Mr Chenard on start date, 1 April 2019.

Shares will vest in accordance with the JSE Listings Requirements.

The table overleaf represents the executive management team’s 
remuneration for 2019 and 2018. It comprises an overview of all the 
pay elements received by the executive management team for the 
12-month periods ended 31 December 2019 and 31 December 
2018 respectively.

PAGE 138

PAGE 139

2019 REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section three: Remuneration implementation report – January to December 2019 (continued)

Executive directors’ and prescribed officers’ remuneration 

The following are definitions of terminology used in the adoption of the reporting requirements under King IV:  

The tables below illustrate the single total figure of remuneration and the total cash equivalent received reconciliation of executive directors 
and prescribed officers as prescribed by King IV. They provide an overview of all the pay elements available to the executive management 
team for the year ended 31 December 2019.

Reflected
In respect of the DSP and LTIP plans, remuneration is reflected when 
performance conditions have been met during the reporting period.

Settled 
This refers to remuneration that has been included in prior reporting 
periods and has now become payable (may not yet have been 
paid) to the executive in the current period.

Single total figure remuneration

Base salary

ZAR  
denominated 
portion

ZAR '000

US$/AUD 
denominated 
portion (1)

ZAR '000

Pension  
scheme benefits

Once-off  
relocation costs

Cash in lieu of 
dividends

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

–
 – 
 5,585 
 5,246 
 5,585 
 5,246 

 3,879 
 –  
 –  
 –  
 2,933 
 –  
 –  
 –  
 1,377 
 4,795 
 869 
 4,931 
 4,607 
 –  
 4,481 
 4,196 
 1,159 
 5,213 
 4,944 
 4,778 

 18,608 
 5,740 
 3,981 
 3,446 
 22,589 
 9,186 

 2,560 
 –  
 2,791 
 9,557 
 3,900 
 –  
 9,074 
 8,693 
 7,945 
 3,151 
 396 
 2,083 
 2,871 
 –  
 3,184 
 2,757 
 528 
 2,202 
 2,337 
 1,569 

 24,249 

 23,913 

 35,586 

 30,012 

 4,648 
 1,421 
 779 
 725 
 5,427
 2,146 

 –  
 –  
 5,524 
 1,381 
 –  
 –  
 251 
 248 
 251 
 248 
 117 
 658 
 631 
 –  
 958 
 869 
 160 
 696 
 910 
 793 

 8,802

 4,893 

 2,726 
 –  
 –  
 –  
 2,726 
 –  

 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 1,270 
 –  
 –  
 –  
 1,135 
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  

 2,405 

 –  

 142 
 –  
 194 
 124 
 336 
 124 

 37 
 –  
 –  
 131 
 –  
 –  
 163 
 116 
 64 
 37 
 17 
 92 
 36 
 –  
 169 
 88 
 169 
 40 
 158 
 19 

 813 

 523

Executive directors
KPM Dushnisky

KC Ramon

Total executive directors

Prescribed officers
SD Bailey

CE Carter (6)

PD Chenard (5) (7)

GJ Ehm

L Eybers

DC Noko (6)

S Ntuli

ME Sanz Perez

CB Sheppard (6)

TR Sibisi

Total prescribed officers

2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018

2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018

2019

2018

Awards earned during the period reflected but not yet settled

CSLTIP  
awards (4)

ZAR '000

Sign-on awards  
granted 

ZAR '000

Single total figure remuneration

ZAR '000

US$ '000 (8)

Other  
benefits (2)

ZAR '000

 2,578 
 127 
 893 
 1,038 
 3,471 
 1,165 

 1,160 
 –  
 2,277 
 855 
 1,729 
 –  
 611 
 578 
 2,310 
 1,333 
 1,110 
 314 
 343 
 –  
 68 
 62 
 830 
 349 
 61 
 94 

DSP  
awards (3)

ZAR '000

 61,842 
 19,586 
 29,135
 26,097 
 90,977 
 45,683 

 18,087
 –  
 –  
 27,026 
 18,362 
 –  
 25,329 
 23,577 
 25,054 
 21,985 
 –  
 19,307 
 21,041
 –  
 20,567 
 19,238 
 –  
 20,410 
 19,638
 18,183 

 10,499

 3,585 

 148,078 

 149,726 

 124,827 

 63,615 

 – 
 –  
 33,064 
 10,316 
 33,064 
 10,316 

 5,917 
 –  
 –  
 10,316 
 –  
 –  
 33,064 
 10,316 
 29,160 
 1,719 
 –  
 10,316 
 7,526 
 –  
 26,447 
 10,316 
 –  
 10,316 
 22,713 
 10,316 

 – 
 73,400 
 –  
 –  
 –  
 73,400 

 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 19,356 
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  
 –  

 19,356 

 –  

 90,544 
 100,274 
 73,631 
 46,992
 164,175
 147,266

 31,640 
 –  
 10,592 
 49,266
 47,550 
 –  
 68,492 
 43,528 
 67,296 
 33,268 
 2,509 
 37,701 
 37,055 
 –  
 55,874 
 37,526 
 2,846 
 39,226
 50,761 
 35,752 

 374,615

 276,267

 6,268 
 7,570 
 5,097 
 3,547 
 11,365 
 11,117 

 2,190
 –  
 733 
 3,719 
 3,292
 –  
 4,742 
 3,286 
 4,659 
 2,511 
 174 
 2,846 
 2,565
 –  
 3,868 
 2,833 
 197 
 2,961 
 3,514 
 2,699 

 25,934

 20,855 

(1)  Salary denominated in US$/AUD for global roles and responsibilities converted to ZAR on payment date.

(2) 

(3) 

 Other benefits include health care, group personal accident, disability, funeral cover, accommodation allowance, airfare and surplus leave encashed. Surplus leave 
days accrued are automatically encashed unless work requirements allow for carry over.

 The fair value of the DSP comprises a cash bonus and share awards for the year ended 31 December 2019 with the cash bonus payable in February 2020 and the 
share awards allocated in February 2020, vesting over a five-year period in equal tranches.

(4) 

 The fair value of the CSLTIP granted in 2017 with a three-year performance period ended 31 December 2019. The awards vested on 1 March 2020.

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

 PD Chenard was awarded a sign-on award of ZAR19,356m at start date,1 April 2019, of which ZAR6.33m will be settled in cash with 50% payable upfront, 
the balance on 1 April 2020 and ZAR13,026m will be settled in shares to vest over a two-year period in equal tranches in accordance with the JSE Listing 
Requirements. 

 All salary payments (including salary, performance related payments, pension and other benefits) for CE Carter (retired 28 March 2019), DC Noko (retired 28 February 
2019) and CB Sheppard (retired 15 March 2019) are pro-rated in accordance with their retirement dates. 

 All salary payments (including salary, performance related payments, pension and other benefits) for PD Chenard are pro-rated in accordance with his start date,  
1 April 2019. 

(8) 

 Convenience conversion to US$ at the year-to-date average exchange rate of $1:R14.445 (2018: $1:R13.247). 

PAGE 140

PAGE 141

2019  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section three: Remuneration implementation report – January to December 2019 (continued)

Total cash equivalent received reconciliation

Awards earned during the period reflected but 
not yet settled

BSP, CIP and LTIP share awards settled

Sign-on cash settled

Sign-on shares settled

Single 
total figure 
remuneration 

DSP awards 
(1)

CSLTIP 
awards (2)

Sign-on 
awards 
granted

DSP 2018 
cash portion 
settled

Grant fair 
value (4)

Market 
movement 
since grant 
date (4)

Vesting fair 
value (4)

Grant fair value (4)

Currency 
movement since 
grant date (4)

Settlement fair 
value (4)

Grant fair value (4)

Market movement 
since grant date (4)

Vesting fair 
value (4)

Total cash equivalent  
received reconciliation

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

US$ '000 (5)

Executive directors
KPM Dushnisky

KC Ramon

Total executive directors

Prescribed officers
SD Bailey

CE Carter

PD Chenard (3)

GJ Ehm

L Eybers

DC Noko

S Ntuli

ME Sanz Perez

CB Sheppard

TR Sibisi

Total prescribed officers

2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018

2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018
2019
2018

90,544
100,274
73,631 
46,992
164,175
147,266

31,640
–
10,592
49,266
47,550
–
68,492
43,528
67,296
33,268
2,509
37,701
37,055
–
55,874
37,526
2,846
39,226
50,761
35,753
374,615
276,267

(61,842)
(19,586 )
(29,135)
(26,097)
(90,977)
(45,683)

(18,087)
–
–
(27,026)
(18,362)
–
(25,329)
(23,577)
(25,054)
(21,985)
–
(19,307)
(21,041)
–
(20,567)
(19,238)
–
(20,410)
(19,638)
(18,183)
(148,078)
(149,726)

–
–
(33,064)
(10,316)
(33,064)
(10,316)

(5,917)
–
–
(10,316)
–
–
(33,064)
(10,316)
(29,160)
(1,719)
–
(10,316)
(7,526)
–
(26,447)
(10,316)
–
(10,316)
(22,713)
(10,316)
(124,827)
(63,615)

–
(73,400) 
–
–
–
(73,400)

–
–
–
–
(16,191)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
(16,191)
–

7,119
–
8,378
4,607
15,497
4,607

2,613
–
8,778
4,411
–
–
7,113
4,116
6,701
3,691
5,851
3,173
3,269
–
5,864
3,159
6,186
3,354
5,495
2,886
51,870
24,790

 –  
 –  
 21,504 
 14,843 
 21,504 
14,843

 4,066 
 –  
 26,276 
 13,804 
 –  
 –  
 19,622 
 13,163 
 7,463 
 4,466 
 24,906 
 10,712 
 3,956 
 –  
 18,839 
 10,181 
 25,446 
 4,737 
 17,709 
 2,251 
 148,283 
 59,314 

 –  
 –  
 2,849 
(4,384) 
 2,849 
 (4,384)  

 724 
 –  
 3,913 
(4,079) 
 –  
 –  
(198) 
(3,723) 
 2,825 
(1,389) 
 4,316 
(2,943)
 1,046 
 –  
 1,460 
(2,774)
 4,338 
(1,406)
 876 
(652) 
 19,300 
(16,966) 

 –  
 –  
 24,353 
 10,459 
 24,353 
 10,459  

 4,789 
 –  
 30,188 
 9,725 
 –  
 –  
 19,424 
 9,439 
 10,289 
 3,077 
 29,222 
 7,769 
 5,002 
 –  
 20,299 
 7,407 
 29,783 
 3,331 
 18,585 
 1,599 
 167,581 
 42,347 

(1) 

 The fair value of the DSP comprises a cash bonus and share awards for the year ended 31 December 2019 with the cash bonus payable in February 2020 
and the share awards allocated in February 2020, vesting over a five-year period in equal tranches. 

(2) 

 The fair value of the CSLTIP granted in 2017 with a three-year performance period ending 31 December 2019. The awards vested on 1 March 2020.

(3) 

(4) 

 PD Chenard was awarded a sign-on award of ZAR19,356m at start date,1 April 2019, of which ZAR6.33m will be settled in cash with 50% payable upfront, 
the balance on 1 April 2020 and ZAR13,026m will be settled in shares to vest over a two-year period in equal tranches in accordance with the JSE Listing 
Requirements.

 Reflects the sum of all the grant fair value, the sum of all the share price movements since grant to vesting date and the sum of all the vesting fair value for 
the vested CSLTIP 2016, vested BSP 2017 and 2018, vested CIP 2017 and 2018 vested sign-on share awards and difference in the currency movements 
for the vested sign-on cash settled award. These values include awards vested early for CE Carter, DC Noko and CB Sheppard in accordance with their 
retirement dates as per as per scheme rules. 

(5) 

 Convenience conversion to US$ at the year-to-date average exchange rate of $1:R14.445 (2018: $1:R13.247).

Details of the share incentive scheme awards follow.

17,616
–
–
–
17,616
–

(1,010)
–
–
–
(1,010)

16,606
–
–
–
16,606

20,188
–
–
–
20,188
–

18,357
–
–
–
18,357

38,545
–
–
–
38,545

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
 –  
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

 90,972 
 7,288 
 44,163 
 25,645 
 135,135 
 32,933 

 15,038 
 –  
 49,558 
 26,060 
 12,997 
 –  
 36,636 
 23,190 
 30,072 
 16,332 
 37,582 
 19,020 
 16,759 
 –  
 35,023 
 18,538 
 38,815 
 15,185 
 32,490 
 11,739 
 304,970 
 130,064 

 6,298 
 550 
 3,057 
 1,936 
 9,355 
 2,486 

 1,041 
 –  
 3,431 
 1,967 
 900 
 –  
 2,536 
 1,751 
 2,082 
 1,233 
 2,602 
 1,436 
 1,160 
 –  
 2,425 
 1,399 
 2,687 
 1,146 
 2,249 
 886 
 21,113 
 9,818 

PAGE 142

PAGE 143

2019  
 
 
 
 
 
 
REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section three: Remuneration implementation report – January to December 2019 (continued)

Number of unvested awards and movement during the reporting period

Number of unvested awards and movement during the reporting period continued

Balance at  
1 January 

Granted

Vested, 
deemed 
settled

Forfeited/
lapsed

Balance at 
31 December

 Fair value 
of granted 
awards (1)

 Fair value 
of vested 
awards (2)

Fair value 
of unvested 
awards at  
31 December (3)

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

Sign-on share awards

Executive directors

KPM Dushnisky

2019

 351,755 

–

 175,877 

Total executive 
directors

Prescribed officers

PD Chenard

Total prescribed 
officers

Total sign-on  
share awards

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

–

 351,755

 –  

351,755 

–

175,877 

 –  

 351,755 

–

–

–

–

 64,951 

 64,951 

–

–

 –  

–

–

–

 351,755

 64,951 

 175,877 

–

–

 –  

–

–

–

–

–

–

 175,878 

 –  

 38,545 

 351,755 

 40,376 

–  

 175,878 

–

 38,545 

 351,755 

 40,376 

 –  

 64,951 

 13,026 

–

–

 64,951 

 13,026 

–

–

–

–

–

–

 240,829 

 13,026 

 38,545 

 55,665 

 63,931 

 55,665 

 63,931 

 20,557 

–

 20,557 

–

 76,222

 63,931 

–

 351,755 

–

 –  

 351,755 

 40,376 

–

(1) 

 The fair value of granted awards represents the value of awards, calculated using a five business-day volume weighted average share price prior to 
grant date. The share awards were granted on start date and will vest over a two-year period in equal tranches in accordance with the JSE Listing 
Requirements.

(2)  The fair value of KPM Dushnisky's vested awards represents the value received on settlement dates, 20 and 21 February 2019. 

(3)  The fair value of unvested awards is calculated using the closing share price as at 31 December.

Balance at  
1 January 
2019

Granted

Vested, 
deemed 
settled

Forfeited/
lapsed

Balance at 
31 December 
2019

 Fair value 
of granted 
awards (1)

 Fair value 
of vested 
awards (2)

Fair value 
of unvested 
awards at  
31 December 
2019 (3)

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

 –  

 –  

–

 67,742 

 89,782 

 157,524 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

 19,196 

 98,451 

 –  

 82,037 

 77,380 

 67,548 

 24,006 

 67,712 

 71,409 

 63,424 

 571,163 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

 –  

 –  

 –  

 67,742 

 13,848 

 89,782 

 18,353 

 157,524 

 32,201 

 –  

 19,196 

 3,924 

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

 98,451 

 20,125 

–

–

 82,037 

 16,770 

 77,380 

 15,818 

 67,548 

 13,808 

 24,006 

 4,907 

 67,712 

 13,842 

 71,409 

 14,597 

 63,424 

 12,965 

 571,163 

 116,756 

 –  

 –  

 –  

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

 –  

–

–

 –  

 940,504 

 14,623 

 55,208 

 870,673 

 192,258 

–  1,669,191 

 14,623 

 55,208 

 1,599,360 

 341,215 

4,269

4,269

 21,440 

 28,416 

 49,856 

 6,076 

 31,160 

–

 25,965 

 24,491 

 21,379 

 7,598 

 21,431 

 22,601 

 20,074 

 180,775 

 275,568 

 506,199 

DSP awards

Executive directors

KPM Dushnisky

KC Ramon

Total executive directors

Prescribed officers

SD Bailey

CE Carter

PD Chenard

GJ Ehm

L Eybers

DC Noko

S Ntuli

ME Sanz Perez 

CB Sheppard

TR Sibisi

Total prescribed officers

Other management

Total DSP awards

(1) 

 The fair value of granted awards represents the value of awards, calculated using a five business day volume weighted average share price prior to grant 
date, 21 February 2019.

(2)  The fair value of vested awards represents the value deemed received on settlement date.

(3)  The fair value of unvested awards is calculated using the closing share price as at 31 December 2019.

PAGE 144

PAGE 145

2019 REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section three: Remuneration implementation report – January to December 2019 (continued)

Number of unvested awards and movement during the reporting period continued 

Number of unvested awards and movement during the reporting period continued

Balance at  
1 January 

Granted

Vested, 
deemed 
settled

Forfeited/ 
lapsed

Balance at  
31 December

 Fair value 
of granted 
awards (1)

 Fair value 
of vested 
awards (2)

Fair value of  
unvested awards 
at 31 December (3)

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

CIP awards

Balance at 
1 January 

Granted

Matched

Forfeited/ 
lapsed

Balance at  
31 December

 Fair value 
of granted 
awards (1)

 Fair value 
of matched 
awards (2)

Fair value of 
unvested awards 
at 31 December (3)

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

BSP awards

Executive directors

KPM Dushnisky

KC Ramon

2019

2018

2019

2018

–

 –  

 77,073 

 –  

 –  

–

 –  

 –  

 49,256 

 58,040 

 55,634 

 36,601 

Total executive directors 2019

 77,073 

–

 49,256 

2018

58,040

55,634

36,601

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

–

–

 –  

 –  

 –  

 27,817 

 77,073 

 27,817 

77,073

 8,306 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 10,034 

 6,628 

 3,922 

 –  

 10,034 

6,628

3,922

 –  

 –  

–

 2,903 

 –  

 11,664 

–  

 –  

 8,804 

 14,008 

 8,804 

14,008

 2,629 

 –  

 –  

 67,173 

 5,704 

 4,033 

 12,209 

Prescribed officers

SD Bailey

CE Carter (4)

PD Chenard

GJ Ehm

L Eybers

DC Noko (4)

S Ntuli

ME Sanz Perez 

CB Sheppard (4)

TR Sibisi

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

 22,549 

 –  

 67,173 

–

 –  

 –  

 14,243 

 –  

 58,055 

 9,118 

 56,933 

 47,873 

 37,633 

–

–

 62,783 

 –  

–

 –  

–

–

 39,786 

 49,381 

 45,993 

 32,591 

 53,626 

 –  

 31,338 

 23,627 

 44,575 

 14,576 

 –  

–

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

–

 22,997 

 62,783 

 22,288 

 53,626 

 52,531 

–

 44,415 

 8,116 

–

 37,666 

 38,718 

 23,853 

 28,221 

 –  

 17,584 

–

 52,842 

–

–

–

 33,770 

 39,394 

 38,143 

 24,695 

 –  

–

 –  

–

 –  

 52,531 

 10,637 

–

 19,072 

 52,842 

 55,534 

–

 47,374 

 8,160 

 –  

 34,281 

 40,931 

 19,678 

 47,221 

–

 29,516 

 23,621 

 35,410 

 11,810 

 –  

–

 –  

 55,534 

 17,705 

 47,221 

–

–

 –  

 5,480 

 –  

 5,311 

 –  

 4,613 

 –  

–

 –  

 4,544 

 –  

 4,877 

 –  

 4,219 

–

–

 8,109 

 3,492 

 6,419 

 1,562 

9,070

 2,556 

 3,587 

–

 6,879 

 2,646 

9,584

 2,109 

 6,021 

 1,266 

Total prescribed officers 2019

 442,480 

–

 316,081 

 25,394 

 101,005 

 –  

 64,236 

2018

 264,903

 291,643 

 164,836 

 –  

 391,710 

 34,748 

 17,664 

Other management

2019 2,482,900 

–  1,595,362 

 70,586 

 816,952 

 –  

 321,706 

2018 2,276,381   2,170,797  1,554,165 

 359,343 

 2,533,670 

 258,629 

 166,752 

Total BSP awards

2019 3,002,453

–  1,960,699 

 95,980 

 945,774 

–

 395,976 

2018 2,599,324  2,518,074 

 1,755,602 

 359,343 

 3,002,453 

 300,005 

 188,338 

 –  

–

 7,279 

 11,411 

 7,054 

 9,747 

–

 9,548 

 3,367 

–

 6,036 

 9,604 

 –  

 10,093 

 5,604 

 8,582 

 31,969 

 71,194 

 258,565 

 460,495 

299,338

 545,697 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

–

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

Executive directors

KPM Dushnisky

KC Ramon

2019

2018

2019

2018

–

 –  

 23,270 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 14,795 

 17,817 

 16,950 

 11,497 

Total executive directors 2019

 23,270 

 –  

 14,795 

2018

 17,817 

 16,950 

 11,497 

Prescribed officers

SD Bailey

CE Carter

PD Chenard

GJ Ehm (4)

L Eybers

DC Noko (5)

S Ntuli

ME Sanz Perez 

CB Sheppard (5)

TR Sibisi

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

 – 

–

 949 

 1,897 

 – 

–

 16,500 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

–

–

 949 

 948 

–

–

 –  

 16 500 

 9,000 

 12,000 

 4,500 

 16,788 

 –  

 10,198 

 7,218 

 13,179 

 3,609 

 15,370 

 –  

 15,370 

 12,929 

 10,606 

 8,165 

–

–

 16,039 

 –  

–

 –  

–

–

 10,297 

 9,109 

 11,484 

 4,554 

 14,358 

 –  

 14,358 

 8,016 

 10,350 

 9,304 

 6,127 

 –  

 6,240 

 4,008 

 6,184 

 3,063 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

–

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 8,475 

 23,270 

 8,475 

 23,270 

 –  

–

 –  

 949 

 –  

–

 –  

 16,500 

 6,590 

 16,788 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 1,889 

 –  

 1,889 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 3,004 

 1,304 

 3,004 

1,304

 – 

 – 

 175 

 107 

 – 

 – 

 –  

 1,379 

 505 

 –  

 1,983 

 1,501 

 394 

 –  

 2 974 

 15,370 

 1,195 

 930 

–

–

 5,742 

 16,039 

 –  

 –  

–

 –  

 1,298 

–

–

 2,104 

 496 

 –  

 2,855 

 14,358 

 1,121 

 –  

 676 

 442 

 1,249 

 334 

 3,120 

 9,304 

 15,452 

 89,308 

 –  

 –  

–  

 –  

 2,682 

 4,229 

 2,682 

 4,229 

 –  

 – 

 –  

 172 

 –  

 – 

 –  

 2,999 

 2,086 

 3,051 

 –  

 2,793 

–

–

 1,817 

 2,915 

 –  

 2,610 

 987 

 1,691 

 4,890 

 –  

 –  

 7,572 

 20,460

Total prescribed officers

2019

 89,308 

 –  

 57,356 

 16,500 

 –  

 11,340 

Other management

2018

2019

2018

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

Total CIP awards

2019  112,578 

 72,151 

 16,500 

 23,927 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 14,344 

 54,296 

 63,859 

 28,847 

 7,170 

 3,208 

 16,231 

2018

 72,113 

 80,809 

 40,344 

–

 112,578 

 9,059 

 4,512 

(1)   The fair value of granted awards represents the value of awards, calculated using a five business-day volume weighted average share price prior to grant 

date. Closed scheme, no awards granted in 2019.

(2) 

 The fair value of vested awards represents the value deemed received on settlement date. 

(3)  The fair value of unvested awards is calculated using the closing share price as at 31 December.

(1) 

 The fair value of granted awards represents the value of awards, calculated using the original investment share price on purchase date. Closed scheme, no 
awards granted in 2019.

(2) 

 The fair value of matched awards represents the value received on settlement dates.

(3) 

 The fair value of unvested awards is calculated using the closing share price as at 31 December.

(4) 

 Includes awards vested early and lapsed for CE Carter, DC Noko and CB Sheppard in accordance with their retirement dates, as per scheme rules.

(4) 

 These awards lapsed for GJ Ehm, in line with the rules of the scheme.

(5) 

 Includes awards vested early for DC Noko and CB Sheppard in accordance with their retirement dates, as per scheme rules.

PAGE 146

PAGE 147

2019 REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section three: Remuneration implementation report – January to December 2019 (continued)

Number of unvested awards and movement during the reporting period continued

Minimum shareholding requirements

Balance at  
1 January 

Granted

Vested, 
deemed 
settled

Forfeited/ 
lapsed

Balance at  
31 December

 Fair value 
of granted 
awards (1)

 Fair value 
of vested 
awards (2)

Fair value 
of unvested 
awards at  
31 December (3)

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

ZAR '000

LTIP awards

Executive directors

KPM Dushnisky

KC Ramon

Total executive directors

Prescribed officers

SD Bailey

CE Carter (4)

PD Chenard

GJ Ehm

L Eybers

DC Noko (4)

S Ntuli

ME Sanz Perez 

CB Sheppard (4)

TR Sibisi

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

2019

2018

–

 –  

 230,595 

 345,232 

 230,595 

 345,232 

 39,793 

 –  

 230,595 

 352,962 

–

 –  

 230,595 

 349,831 

 117,535 

 142,113 

 208,850 

 302,693 

 40,173 

 –  

 208,463 

 301,898 

 213,928 

 231,328 

 195,971 

 195,971 

Total prescribed officers

2019 1,485,903 

2018 1,876,796 

Other management

2019 2,099,263 

2018 4,266,105 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 56,760 

 63,240 

 110,595 

 47,047 

 67,590 

 230,595 

 56,760 

 63,240 

 110,595 

 47,047 

 67,590 

 230,595 

 9,460 

 10,540 

 19,793 

 –  

 –  

 93,205 

 137,390 

 –  

 –  

 50,219 

 72,148 

 230,595 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 56,760 

 63,240 

 110,595 

 48,934 

 70,302 

 230,595 

 9,460 

 10,540 

 97,535 

 10,086 

 14,492 

 117,535 

 85,036 

 123,814 

 –  

 38,513 

 55,330 

 208,850 

 7,095 

 7,905 

 25,173 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 56,760 

 63,240 

 88,463 

 38,345 

 55,090 

 208,463 

 87,220 

 126,708 

 –  

 7,140 

 10,260 

 213,928 

 56,760 

 63,240 

 75,971 

 –  

 –  

 195,971 

 461,756 

 606,617 

 417,530 

 193,237 

 277,622 

 1,405,937 

 510,922 

 635,904 

 952,437 

 634,493  1,452,383 

 2,179,229 

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 –  

 11,315 

 5,232 

 11,315 

 5,232 

 1,886 

 –  

 18,349 

 5,585 

 –  

 –  

 11,315 

 5,442 

 1,886 

 1,122 

 17,178 

 4,283 

 1,414 

 –  

 11,315 

 4,264 

 17,344 

 780 

 11,315 

 –  

–  

 –  

 35,003 

 41,911 

 35,003 

 41,911 

 6,264 

 –  

 –  

 41,911 

–  

 –  

 35,003 

 41,911 

 30,870 

 21,362 

 –  

 37,958 

 7,967 

 –  

 27,999 

 37,888 

 –  

 38,881 

 24,045 

 35,618 

 92,002 

 21,476 

 101,852 

 70,562

 205,169 

 97,270 

 132,148 

 255,529 

 301,446 

 396,075 

 468,597 

 693,515 

Total LTIP awards

2019 3,815,761 

 –   1,029,438  1,305,761 

 1,480,562 

2018 6,488,133 

 –  

 874,777  1,797,595 

 3,815,761 

(1)   The fair value of granted awards represents the value of awards, calculated using a five business-day volume weighted average share price prior to grant 

date. Closed scheme, no awards granted in 2019.

(2)  The fair value of vested awards represents the value deemed received on settlement date.

(3)  The fair value of unvested awards is calculated using the closing share price as at 31 December.

(4) 

 Includes awards vested early and lapsed for CE Carter, DC Noko and CB Sheppard in accordance with their retirement dates, as per scheme rules. 

For the purposes of the MSR calculation, only fully owned and vested awards will count towards the determination of the MSR.

Executive

Executive directors

KPM Dushnisky

KC Ramon

Prescribed officers

SD Bailey (1)

PD Chenard (2)

GJ Ehm 

L Eybers

S Ntuli (1)

ME Sanz Perez

TR Sibisi

Six-year target  
achievement date

MSR holding as at  
31 December 2019  
as a percentage  
of net base pay

Three -year MSR target 
achievement percentage 

Six-year MSR target 
achievement percentage 

 March 2024

 March 2021

 March 2025

 March 2026

 March 2019

 March 2023

 March 2025

 March 2019

 March 2022

279

507

81

0

321

169

34

532

155

100

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

75

200

150

150

150

150

150

150

150

150

(1) Appointed prescribed officer with effect from 1 January 2019 and the three-year MSR achievement is only due in March 2022. 

(2) Appointed prescribed officer with effect from 1 April 2019 and the three-year MSR achievement is only due in March 2023. 

DSP performance outcomes 

The DSP measures resulted in an achievement of 103.25% out of 100%.

The table below summarises AngloGold Ashanti’s remuneration metrics, their weightings, and performance against these metrics applicable 
to the DSP during 2019:

DSP performance measure

Financial 

Measures

Relative total 
shareholder return

Weighting

10.00%

Threshold 
measures

Target measures

Stretch measures

Actual 
achievement

2019 
achievement %

Median TSR of 
comparators

Halfway between 
median and 
upper quartile

Upper quartile 
TSR of 
comparators

18.88%

15.00%

Absolute total 
shareholder return

Normalised cash return 
on equity (nCROE)

10.00%

15.00%

US$ COE

US$ COE + 2% US$ COE + 6%

18.88%

15.00%

Production

12.50% 3.280Moz

3.350Moz 

3.420Moz 

All-in-sustaining costs

15.00% US$998/oz

US$983/oz

US$968/oz

3.280Moz

US$991/oz

US$ COE

US$ COE + 2% US$ COE + 6%

14.00%

22.50%

6.34%

10.90%

Future 

Optionality

6.25%

6.25%

Ore Reserve additions 
(pre-depletion, asset 
sales, mergers and 
acquisitions)

Mineral Resource 
(pre-depletion, asset 
sales, mergers and 
acquisitions)

Plus 0.9Moz

Plus 1.7Moz

Plus 2.6Moz

Plus 3.34Moz

9.38%

Plus 2.8Moz

Plus 5.7Moz

Plus 8.5Moz

Plus 1.11Moz

0.00%

PAGE 148

PAGE 149

2019  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section three: Remuneration implementation report – January to December 2019 (continued)

Threshold 
measures

≥5% 
performance 
improvement 
(4.57)

90% of major 
hazards 
identified, 
assessed and 
controlled.

Target measures

Stretch measures

Actual 
achievement

2019 
achievement %

≥10% 
performance 
improvement 
(4.33)

92.5% of 
major hazards 
identified, 
assessed and 
controlled.

≥15% 
performance 
improvement 
(4.09)

95% of major 
hazards 
identified, 
assessed and 
controlled.

3.31

6.00%

98.47%

6.00%

90% 
compliance

95% compliance

100% 
compliance

99.27% 
compliance

2.14%

21 
Assessments 
completed 
group wide

2.25%

1

2

3.00%

2.00%

2

1

3

0

DSP performance measure

Safety, 

health, 

AIFR – three-year  
rolling average 

Weighting

4.00%

4.00%

1.50%

1.50%

environment 

and 

community

Major hazard 
management critical 
control percentage 
compliance

Health – site compliance 
to the global safety 
standards on 
organisational health, 
wellness and fitness for 
work standard

Completion of risk 
assessments per region, 
including identification 
of critical controls and 
actions managed to 
closure

Number of reportable 
environmental incidents 
at operating mines

Greenhouse gas 
emissions intensity 
at gold producing 
operations, measured in 
Kg CO2e/tonne
Community: number of 
human rights violations

Vesting outcomes of the 2017 LTIP awards

The table below summarises AngloGold Ashanti’s 2017 LTIP metrics, their weightings and performance against these metrics, which vested 
in March 2020:

2017 LTIP performance measure

Relative total shareholder return (TSR)

Absolute total shareholder return (TSR)

nCroe

Portfolio optimisation (20%)

– Project delivery 

– Asset optimisation 

Future optionality (20%)

– Mineral Resource 

– Ore Reserve

– Colombia

Core value: People (10%)

– Strategic coverage ratio

– Retention of top talent pool 

Sub-total 

Multiplier

Core value: Safety

% weighting

% achievement

15%

15%

20%

10%

10%

10%

5%

5%

5%

5%

100%

±20%

15.00%

15.00%

20.00%

3.74%

7.06%

0%

5%

5%

5%

5%

80.80%

16.90%

3

0.00%

– Percent compliance with AngloGold Ashanti safety standards

TOTAL

100%

94.46%

For comparison purposes, the historical LTIP performance achievements are indicated as follows:

7.171

7.150

7.121

7.69

0.00%

Historical LTIP performance achievement

1.50%

(0.3)% off base (0.6)% off base

(1)% off base

≤ 2 human 
rights violations

≤ 1 human rights 
violations

0 human rights 
violations

0

2.25%

2012

37.4%

2013

32.4%

2014

26.1%

2015

41.04%

2016

47.3%

Number of business 
disruptions as a result of 
community unrest

2.50%

Core value: 

Strategic coverage ratio 2.00%

People

Total

Key staff retention 

Gender diversity

2.00%

1.00%

100%

5

3

1

23

0.00%

1:1.375

85% pa

1:1.5

90% pa

1:1.75

95% pa

13% female 
representation

15% female 
representation

17% female 
representation

1:1.375

95.5%

19.27%

1.00%

3.00%

1.50%

103.25%

PAGE 150

PAGE 151

2019 REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section three: Remuneration implementation report – January to December 2019 (continued)

Total remuneration outcomes – Kelvin Dushnisky, Chief Executive Officer

CEO – Key objectives and achievements 2019

Start date:

Notice period:

Change in control  
(as described in the Remuneration Policy section “Change in control” on page 136):

1 September 2018

12 months

12 months

CEO
(%)

Maximum

Target

Actual earnings

19

19

19

6

6

6

20

21

32

65

40

41

0

30

60

90

120

150

Base salary        Benefits            DSP cash           DSP deferral

Total actual pay for Mr Dushnisky in 2019, which could result from the remuneration policy stated above, is shown in relation to target and 
maximum earning potential. 

Maximum DSP cash bonus opportunity: 150%

Maximum DSP share awards opportunity: 300%

Total DSP opportunity: 450% (as % of base pay)

Final cash bonus result: 109.8%

Final share award result: 219.6%

Final DSP result for 2019: 329.4%  
(as % of base pay)

Key performance 
indicators

Achievements

Safety (20%)

•  Achieved record AIFR in the history of the Company, delivering a 31% improvement on 2018

Market guidance 
(15%)

Obuasi 
redevelopment 
project (15%)

Colombia strategy 
(5%)

•  Achieved the target of zero fatalities for the year, a first in the Company’s history 

•  Maintained a strong culture of safety, driven by the Company’s core values

•  Achieved 2019 full year production, cost and capital guidance, despite several unpredicted externalities and 

operating challenges (e.g. Brumadinho TSF failure in Brazil)

•  Achieved record production at Kibali, Tropicana and Iduapriem; Geita delivered highest production in 14 years

•  Delivered first gold pour at Obuasi on time and within budget, and with strong support of key stakeholders

•  Reached an agreement with B2Gold to assume operatorship and advance feasibility studies at Gramalote  

in Colombia

•  Successfully divested of unwanted Colombian exploration tenements, reducing liabilities and annual holding costs 

•  Advanced feasibility study activities for Quebradona which includes project permitting and extensive  

 Balance sheet 
(5%)

consultation activities 

•  Constructively engaged with key stakeholders at all levels

•  Reduced leverage ratio target from 1.5x to 1.0x to enforce further discipline

•  Maintained balance sheet flexibility and improved liquidity to strongest levels in recent years

•  Improved adjusted net debt to adjusted EBITDA to 0.91 times

•  Increased free cash flow before growth capital by 106% to $448; cash flow from operating activities increased by 

22% to $1,047m 

•  Annual dividend increased by 57% to 11 US cents per share year-on-year

•  Reached agreements to sell Yatela and Sadiola mines in Mali

•  Meaningfully advanced process to sell the South African assets and Cerro Vanguardia

•  Established and maintained our licence to operate in every jurisdiction 

•  Led engagements with heads-of-state and other critical stakeholders to ensure alignment to the Company’s 

strategy and gain support for key business activities

•  Implemented initiatives to support the revised COO structures aimed at improving collaboration and information 

sharing, and efficiencies between the operations and corporate centre

•  Effective integration of the investor relations, communication and ESG functions under the EVP: Corporate 

Affairs and Sustainability

•  Seamless onboarding of new EVP: Business Development and Strategy 

•  Appointment of new SVP: Supply Chain and updated the supply chain structure for improved efficiencies

•  Proactive engagement with media resulting in a factual and positive representation of the Company in the public 

•  Active shareholder engagement through marketing non-deal roadshows and key investor conferences

•  Delivered improved share-price performance, an 80% increase for the year, which compares favourably with the 

peer group 

•  Streamlined board reports and meeting structures to improve efficiency and promote impactful outcomes

Asset divestment 
(10%)

 Government 
relations (2.5%)

Organisational 
design (10%)

 Investor relations 
(15%)

Board and 
enterprise risk 
reporting (2.5%)

PAGE 152

PAGE 153

2019 REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section three: Remuneration implementation report – January to December 2019 (continued)

CEO’s performance bonus outcome 2019

2019 DSP performance year 
bonus outcome

Financial performance targets

Relative total shareholder return
Absolute total shareholder return
nCroe
Production
All-in sustaining costs ($m)
2019 Ore Reserve pre-depletion (Moz)
2019 Mineral Resource additions pre-depletion (Moz)
Safety, health, environment and community
Core value: people
Total % for Company performance:

Organisational performance weighting:

Weighting

10.0%
10.0%
15.0%
12.5%
15.0%
6.25%
6.25%
20.0%
5.0%
100.0%

A - Organisational performance weighted outcome:

Individual performance results

Actual individual targets and strategic objectives are not 
disclosed in order to maintain commercial confidentiality in 
competitive markets.
Individual performance weighting:

Performance rating bonus correlation:

B - DSP opportunity based on individual performance:

Total % of cash bonus pay opportunity (A+B)

On-target total cash bonus opportunity (as % of base pay)
On-target total deferred share award opportunity (as % of base pay)

Final cash bonus result (as % of base pay)
Final deferred share award result (as % of base pay)
Base pay as at December 2019 (all offshore payments converted to ZAR at exchange rate of ZAR14.445: USD1

Annual cash portion of DSP:
Annual deferred share portion of DSP (to vest over five years):
Total 2019 deferred share plan award:

DSP Cash 
payment outcome

15.00%
15.00%
22.50%
6.34%
10.90%
9.37%
0.00%
18.64%
5.50%
103.25%
x
70.00%
=

72.3%

30.00%
X
125.00%
=

37.5%

109.78%
x
100.00%
200.00%
=
109.8%
219.6%
x
 18,778,500 
=
 20,614,098 
 41,228,197 
 61,842,295

Total remuneration outcomes – Christine Ramon, Chief Financial Officer

Start date:

Notice period:
Change in control  
(as described in the Remuneration Policy section “Change in control” on page 136):

1 October 2014

6 months

6 months

CFO
(%)

Maximum

Target

Actual earnings

10

10

10

2

2

2

9

9

15

32

20

20

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Base salary        Benefits            DSP cash           DSP deferral

Maximum DSP cash bonus opportunity: 127.5%
Maximum DSP share awards opportunity: 277.5%
Total DSP opportunity: 405%  
(as % of base pay)

CFO – Key objectives and achievements 2019 

Key performance 
indicators

Achievements

Final cash bonus result: 95.20%
Final share award result: 207.10%
Final DSP result for 2019: 302.30%  
(as % of base pay)

Leadership (5%)

•  Actively engaged with relevant stakeholders, to ensure that they are fully informed on the Company's strategy 

•  Informed policy and regulatory matters as chair of the listed companies' CFO Forum in South Africa 

•  Influenced global policies on ethics and worked to improve alignment between public interests and the accounting 

profession

Integration into 
operations, people 
and cost drivers 
(10%)

•   Ensured that group finance, supply chain and IT functions support the overall group strategic objectives

•  Achieved cost performance within market guidance 

•   Overall capital expenditure has been well contained and below budget/market guidance

 Cost discipline (20%) •   Corporate costs were contained within budget 

•   Delivered total forecasted savings related to procurement exceeding the 2019 target by 30%

 Liquidity, credit 
ratings, balance 
sheet (20%)

•   Optimised shared services for the South Africa region

•   Achieved second Investment Grade rating from Fitch 

•   Maintained good liquidity levels and sufficient headroom on all facilities 

•   Successfully renewed local facilities at Geita and Siguiri 

•   Maintained credit ratings by S&P and Moody's 

•  Achieved an adjusted net debt to EBITDA ratio of 0.91 times, below the Group target of 1 times through the cycle

Risk management 
(10%)

•   Implemented selective and limited hedging strategies to manage both the oil input cost risk and the ZAR gold price risk, 

providing certainty to the business from a cash flow perspective

•   Carefully monitored and managed industry legislation changes and other impacts in the Brazilian mining industry related  

to tailings

•   Performed a full review of management practices related to strategic, operational and catastrophic risks 

•  Advised finance, tax and treasury functions on all transactions, restructuring and fiscal negotiations

Transactional 
support (10%)

PAGE 154

PAGE 155

2019 DSP Cash 
payment outcome

15.00%
15.00%
20.00%
10.80%
10.00%
10.00%
80.80%
16.90%
94.46%
x
 110,595 
 x 

 277.77
x
 29,016,612 

REMU NE RATI ON REPORT  CON TI NU ED
Section three: Remuneration implementation report – January to December 2019 (continued)

CFO – Key objectives and achievements 2019 (continued)

CFO’s performance bonus outcome 2019 (continued)

Key performance 
indicators

Reporting and 
compliance (10%)

Achievements

•  Optimised reporting timelines to report earlier in line with the North American peer group

•  Enhanced financial reporting to better meet business requirements

•  Promoted a culture of compliance across the operations

Tax (10%)

•   Continued to offset VAT in certain African jurisdictions in a legally compliant manner

•   Thoroughly assessed uncertain tax positions and addressed from a disclosure/accounting perspective

•   Engaged with the joint venture partner at Gramalote before the transfer of operatorship was concluded

•   Ensured that the Company remained tax compliant

2017 LTIP performance measures 

Relative total shareholder return

Absolute total shareholder return

nCroe

Portfolio optimisation 

Future optionality

Core value: people

Total

Core value: safety multiplier

Weighting

15%

15%

20%

20%

20%

10%

100%

±20%

Information 
technology (5%)

•  Efficiently managed governance, cyber security and business effectiveness of the overall information management – using 

technology – function across the business

A - LTIP performance measures:

CFO’s performance bonus outcome 2019

2019 DSP performance year bonus outcome

Financial performance targets

Relative total shareholder return
Absolute total shareholder return
nCroe
Production
All-in sustaining costs ($m)
2019 Ore Reserve pre-depletion (Moz)
2019 Mineral Resource additions pre-depletion (Moz)
Safety, health, environment and community
Core value: people
Total % for Company performance:

Organisational performance weighting:

Weighting

10.0%
10.0%
15.0%
12.5%
15.0%
6.25%
6.25%
20.0%
5.0%
100.0%

A - Organisational performance weighted outcome:

Individual performance results

Actual individual targets and strategic objectives are not 
disclosed in order to maintain commercial confidentiality in 
competitive markets.
Individual performance weighting:

Performance rating bonus correlation:

B - DSP opportunity based on individual performance:

Total % of cash bonus pay opportunity (A+B)

On-target total cash bonus opportunity (as % of base pay)
On-target total deferred share award opportunity (as % of base pay)

Final cash bonus result (as % of base pay)
Final deferred share award result (as % of base pay)
Base pay as at December 2019 (all offshore payments converted to ZAR at exchange rate of ZAR14.445:USD1

Annual cash portion of DSP:

Annual deferred share portion of DSP (to vest over five years):
Total 2019 deferred share plan award:

B - 2017 number of shares allocated based on 200% of annual basic salary

DSP Cash 
payment outcome

C - Share price as at 28 February 2020

Value of 2019 vesting

15.00%
15.00%
22.50%
6.34%
10.90%
9.37%
0.00%
18.64%
5.50%
103.25%
x
60.00%
=
62.0%

40.00%
X
125.00%
=
50.0%

111.95%
x
85.00%
185.00%
=
95.2%
207.1%
x
 9,638,912 
=
 9,172,148 

 19,962,910 
 29,135,058 

Non-executive directors’ fees and allowances 

The board elected not to take an increase in 2019, given prevailing market conditions. Non-executive directors have not received an 
increase in their fees since 2014. Note that while the fees have not changed, the absolute figures will vary according to the number of 
meetings held in the particular year.

The table below summarises directors’ fees for the period as well as the comparative totals for 2018 and 2017:

Non-executive directors’ fees and allowances (US dollars)

Director fees

Committee fees

Travel allowance

Total

SM Pityana (Chairman)

AH Garner

AM Ferguson (1)

MJ Kirkwood (2)

NP January-Bardill

R Gasant

RJ Ruston

MDC Richter

DL Hodgson (2)

JE Tilk (1)

M Ramos (3)

Total

  303,000 

  123,500 

  123,500 

  33,500 

  123,500 

  123,500 

  123,500 

  123,500 

  33,500 

  123,500 

  70,000 

2019

 73,750 

 37,000 

 50,500 

 22,250 

 56,000 

 63,500 

 56,000 

 71,750 

 13,500 

 47,000 

 30,500 

 10,000 

 35,000 

 42,500 

 6,250 

 6,250 

 6,250 

 38,750 

 35,000 

  – 

 60,000 

 6,250 

 386,750 

 195,500 

 216,500 

  62,000 

 185,750 

 193,250 

 218,250 

 230,250 

  47,000 

 230,500 

 106,750 

Total 

2018

 441,000 

 200,000 

 52,500 

 246,750 

 197,500 

 229,500 

 260,750 

 235,250 

 189,750 

– 

– 

2017

 372,250 

 200,750 

   – 

 230,750 

 179,500 

 182,000 

 212,000 

 203,250 

 167,000 

 –

 –

 1,304,500 

 521,750 

 246,250 

 2,072,500 

 2,053,000 

 1,747,500 

(1)  Director's travel allowance includes travel for site inductions.

(2)  Directors resigned effective 9 May 2019

(3)  Director joined on 1 June 2019

PAGE 156

PAGE 157

2019 FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT S

ADMINISTRAT ION  A ND  CORPORATE IN FOR MATIO N

Certain statements contained in this document, other than 
statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, those 
concerning the economic outlook for the gold mining industry, 
expectations regarding gold prices, production, total cash 
costs, all-in sustaining costs, all-in costs, cost savings and other 
operating results, productivity improvements, growth prospects 
and outlook of AngloGold Ashanti’s operations, individually or in 
the aggregate, including the achievement of project milestones, 
commencement and completion of commercial operations 
of certain of AngloGold Ashanti’s exploration and production 
projects and the completion of acquisitions, dispositions or 
joint venture transactions, AngloGold Ashanti’s liquidity and 
capital resources and capital expenditures and the outcome and 
consequence of any potential or pending litigation or regulatory 
proceedings or environmental health and safety issues, are 
forward-looking statements regarding AngloGold Ashanti’s 
operations, economic performance and financial condition. These 
forward-looking statements or forecasts involve known and 
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause 
AngloGold Ashanti’s actual results, performance or achievements 
to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or 
achievements expressed or implied in these forward-looking 
statements. Although AngloGold Ashanti believes that the 
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and 
forecasts are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such 
expectations will prove to have been correct. Accordingly, results 
could differ materially from those set out in the forward-looking 
statements as a result of, among other factors, changes in 
economic, social and political and market conditions, (including 
as a result of the covid-19 pandemic), the success of business 
and operating initiatives, changes in the regulatory environment 
and other government actions, including environmental approvals, 

fluctuations in gold prices and exchange rates, (including as 
a result of the covid-19 pandemic), the outcome of pending 
or future litigation proceedings, and business and operational 
risk management. For a discussion of such risk factors, refer 
to AngloGold Ashanti’s annual reports on Form 20-F filed with 
the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. These 
factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could 
cause AngloGold Ashanti’s actual results to differ materially 
from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Other 
unknown or unpredictable factors could also have material 
adverse effects on future results. Consequently, readers are 
cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking 
statements. AngloGold Ashanti undertakes no obligation to 
update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking 
statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date 
hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except 
to the extent required by applicable law.

All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements 
attributable to AngloGold Ashanti or any person acting on its 
behalf are qualified by the cautionary statements herein.

Non-GAAP financial measures

This communication may contain certain “Non-GAAP” financial 
measures. AngloGold Ashanti utilises certain Non-GAAP 
performance measures and ratios in managing its business. Non-
GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not 
as an alternative for, the reported operating results or cash flow 
from operations or any other measures of performance prepared 
in accordance with IFRS. In addition, the presentation of these 
measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures other 
companies may use.

AngloGold Ashanti Limited

Directors

Share registrars

Registration No. 1944/017354/06
Incorporated in the Republic of  
South Africa

Executive
KPM Dushnisky § (Chief Executive Officer)
KC Ramon ^ (Chief Financial Officer)

Share codes:

ISIN: ZAE000043485
JSE: ANG
NYSE: AU
ASX: AGG
GhSE: (Shares) AGA
GhSE: (GhDS) AAD

JSE Sponsor: 
The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited

Auditors:  
Ernst & Young Inc.

Offices

Registered and corporate
76 Rahima Moosa Street
Newtown 2001
(PO Box 62117, Marshalltown 2107)
South Africa
Telephone: +27 11 637 6000
Fax: +27 11 637 6624

Australia
AMP Building,
140 St George’s Terrace 
Perth, WA 6000
(PO Box Z5046, Perth WA 6831)
Australia
Telephone: +61 8 9425 4600
Fax: +61 8 9425 4662

Ghana
Gold House, 
Patrice Lumumba Road
(PO Box 2665)
Accra, 
Ghana
Telephone: +233 303 773400
Fax: +233 303 778155

Non-executive
SM Pityana ^ (Chairman)
AM Ferguson *
AH Garner # 
R Gasant ^ 
NP January-Bardill ^ 
NVB Magubane ^
M Ramos ^ 
MDC Richter #
RJ Ruston ~
JE Tilk §

* British § Canadian # American
~ Australian ^ South African

Officers
Executive Vice President: General Counsel, 
Compliance and Company Secretary
ME Sanz Perez

Investor relations contacts

Sabrina Brockman
Telephone: +1 646 880 4526
Mobile: +1 646 379 2555
E-mail: sbrockman@anglogoldashantina.com

Fundisa Mgidi
Telephone: +27 11 637 6763
Mobile: +27 82 821 5322
E-mail: fmgidi@anglogoldashanti.com

Yatish Chowthee
Telephone: +27 11 637 6273
Mobile: +27 78 364 2080
E-mail: yrchowthee@anglogoldashanti.com

General e-mail enquiries
Investors@anglogoldashanti.com

AngloGold Ashanti website
www.anglogoldashanti.com

Company secretarial e-mail
Companysecretary@anglogoldashanti.com

South Africa
South Africa Computershare Investor Services 
(Pty) Limited
Rosebank Towers, 15 Biermann Avenue,
Rosebank, 2196
(Private Bag X9000, Saxonwold, 2132)
South Africa
Telephone: 0861 100 950 (in SA)
Fax: +27 11 688 5218
E-mail: queries@computershare.co.za
Website: www.computershare.com

Australia
Computershare Investor Services  
Pty Limited
Level 11, 172 St George’s Terrace
Perth, WA 6000
(GPO Box D182 Perth, WA 6840) 
Australia
Telephone: +61 8 9323 2000
Telephone: 1300 55 2949 
(Australia only)
Fax: +61 8 9323 2033

Ghana
NTHC Limited
Martco House
Off Kwame Nkrumah Avenue
PO Box K1A 9563 Airport
Accra,
Ghana
Telephone: +233 302 235814/6
Fax: +233 302 229975

ADR Depositary
BNY Mellon (BoNY)
BNY Shareowner Services
PO Box 30170
College Station, TX 77842-3170
United States of America
Telephone: +1 866-244-4140 
(Toll free in USA) or 
+1 201 680 6825 (outside USA)
E-mail:  
shrrelations@cpushareownerservices.com
Website: www.mybnymdr.com

Global BuyDIRECTSM
BoNY maintains a direct share purchase  
and dividend reinvestment plan for 
ANGLOGOLD ASHANTI
Telephone: +1-888-BNY-ADRS

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