FOR THE QUARTER ENDED 30 JUNE 2002 (All financial numbers are in Australian dollars unless otherwise stated)
A STRONG JUNE QUARTER AND ONE MILLION OUNCE GOLD PRODUCTION LEVEL ACHIEVED
On 27 May 2002, Placer Dome launched an unsolicited takeover of AurionGold offering shareholders 17.5 Placer Dome shares for every 100 AurionGold shares. This valued AurionGold at $2 billion or $4.51 per share at the time. However, the implied offer price has since fallen to $3.19 per share, at close of trade on 16 July 2002, as a result of the significant decline in Placer Dome's share price. Prior to the offer, AurionGold's share price closed at $3.48. AurionGold's directors recommend that shareholders REJECT Placer Dome's offer.
Summary of achievements:
- AurionGold achieved attributable gold production of 275,385 ounces at an average cash cost of $302/oz and total cost of $426/oz for the June quarter. AurionGold's attributable production for the financial year is 790,775 ounces at $316/oz (US$165/oz) cash cost and $433/oz (US$227/oz) total cost.
- The combined Delta Gold, Goldfields and AurionGold attributable production from all sources for the financial year was 1,017,805 ounces which exceeds the forecast made at the time of the merger of Delta Gold and Goldfields.
- Cumulative production from the Granny Smith mine passed 4 million ounces during the quarter and Kanowna Belle cumulative production passed 2 million ounces.
- Exploration drilling adjacent to the Kanowna Belle orebody has shown potential for a new mineralised zone to the east of the orebody as well as a possible high grade depth extension to developed reserves.
- Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources increased to 7.7 million ounces and 25 million ounces respectively.
- AurionGold will be releasing its 2001/02 year results during August with an expected after-tax profit result of $63 million.
- The potential for $8 million of annual cost savings from the company's Kalgoorlie operations has been identified. This is in addition to the $15 million pre-tax savings already achieved since the merger.
- The realised A$ gold price exceeded spot price for the seventh consecutive year.
T Burgess MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CEO
MORE TO FOLLOW
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