Newmont Announces Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2018 Results

Newmont Mining Corp. (NYSE: NEM) (Newmont or the Company) announced full year and fourth quarter 2018 results.

Full Year 2018 Summary

• Net income: Delivered GAAP net income from continuing operations attributable to stockholders of $280 million or $0.53 per diluted share; delivered adjusted net income¹ of $718 million or $1.34 per diluted share, down $0.11 compared to the prior year
• EBITDA: Generated $2.6 billion in adjusted EBITDA², a decrease of two percent from the prior year
• Cash flow: Reported consolidated cash flow from continuing operations of $1.8 billion and free cash flow³ of $805 million
• Gold costs applicable to sales (CAS)⁴: Reported CAS of $708 per ounce, in line with the Company’s full year guidance
• Gold all-in sustaining costs (AISC)⁵: Reported AISC of $909 per ounce, beating the Company’s full year guidance
• Attributable gold production: Produced 5.1 million ounces of gold, in line with the Company’s full year guidance
• Portfolio improvements: Advanced Tanami Expansion 2 to definitive feasibility study and progressed the Tanami Power Project in Australia; completed the Cripple Creek & Victor (CC&V) concentrates project, reached commercial production at Twin Underground and Northwest Exodus, acquired 50 percent interest in Galore Creek, and progressed Long Canyon Phase 2 to feasibility study in North America; reached commercial production at Subika Underground, progressed the Ahafo Mill Expansion, and advanced Akyem Underground to prefeasibility study in Africa; reached first gold at Quecher Main, advanced Yanacocha Sulfides to definitive feasibility study, and completed the primary crusher at Merian in South America; divested royalty portfolio to Maverix Metals and formed strategic partnerships with Teck Resources Limited, Sumitomo Corporation, Evrim Resources, Miranda Gold and Orosur Mining.
• Financial strength: Ended the year with $3.4 billion cash on hand and net debt of $0.9 billion; an industry-leading balance sheet with investment-grade credit profile; declared dividends of $0.56 per share
• Outlook: Attributable production at 5.2 million ounces, CAS at $710 per ounce and AISC at $935 per ounce, unchanged from December 2018

“Newmont continued to deliver on its commitments in 2018, generating $2.6 billion in adjusted EBITDA and $805 million in free cash flow, and returning $400 million to shareholders through an industry-leading dividend and share repurchases,” said Gary J. Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer. “This performance gave us the means to complete expansions in the US and Africa, advance projects and exploration on four continents, and pursue an agreement to create the world’s leading gold business as measured by assets, people, prospects and value. Strong operational execution – including more than $600 million in Full Potential sustainable cost and efficiency gains and recognition for leading sustainability practices – was overshadowed, however, by the loss of seven colleagues during the year.”

Fourth Quarter 2018 Summary

• Net loss: Delivered GAAP net loss from continuing operations attributable to stockholders of $(3) million or $0.00 per diluted share; delivered adjusted net income of $214 million or $0.40 per diluted share, up $0.01 compared to the prior year quarter
• EBITDA: Generated $759 million in adjusted EBITDA, up five percent from the prior year quarter
• Cash flow: Reported consolidated cash flow from continuing operations of $742 million and free cash flow of $473 million
• Gold CAS: Reported CAS decreased five percent to $658 per ounce from the prior year quarter
• Gold AISC: Reported AISC decreased nine percent to $845 per ounce from the prior year quarter
• Attributable gold production: Produced 1.44 million ounces of gold, an increase of eight percent from the prior year quarter

Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2018 Results

Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Newmont stockholders for the full year was $280 million or $0.53 per diluted share, up $356 million from the prior year, primarily due to lower income tax expense and a gain from the sale of our royalty portfolio in June 2018, partially offset by increased impairments of exploration and long-lived assets in North America and lower production at various sites. Net loss from continuing operations attributable to Newmont stockholders for the quarter was $(3) million or $0.00 per diluted share, an increase of $546 million from the prior year quarter, primarily due to lower income tax expense.

Adjusted net income was $718 million or $1.34 per diluted share for the full year, compared to $774 million or $1.45 per diluted share from the prior year. Adjusted net income for the quarter was $214 million or $0.40 per diluted share, compared to $206 million or $0.39 per diluted share in the prior year quarter. The primary adjustments to fourth quarter net income include $0.23 per diluted share related to net tax adjustments and valuation allowances and $0.07 per diluted share related to the impairment of an equity and cost method investments.

Revenue for the full year decreased two percent to $7,253 million primarily due to lower production at various sites. Fourth quarter revenue rose six percent to $2,048 million primarily due to higher gold production at various sites, partially offset by lower average realized metal prices.

Average realized price⁶ for gold was in line for the full year at $1,260 per ounce and three percent lower for the quarter at $1,233 per ounce, compared to the prior year. The average realized price for copper for the full year was three percent lower at $2.74 per pound and was 18 percent lower for the quarter at $2.62 per pound.

Gold CAS rose two percent to $708 per ounce for the full year, primarily due to lower ounces sold, higher stockpile and leach pad inventory adjustments, and higher oil prices. Gold CAS decreased five percent to $658 per ounce for the quarter due to higher ounces sold at Ahafo and lower power costs in Africa.

Gold AISC rose two percent to $909 per ounce for the full year, primarily due to higher CAS per ounce. Gold AISC decreased nine percent to $845 per ounce for the quarter, primarily due to higher ounces sold and lower sustaining capital spend.

Attributable gold production decreased three percent to 5.10 million ounces for the full year primarily due to lower grades at various sites and lower leach tons placed at Carlin, Phoenix, CC&V and Yanacocha, partially offset by higher grades and recovery at Tanami and Ahafo. Production for the fourth quarter rose eight percent to 1.44 million ounces primarily due to higher grades and recovery at CC&V and Ahafo, partially offset by lower grades at KCGM.

Attributable copper production decreased four percent to 49,000 tonnes for the full year, primarily due to lower grades at Phoenix and Boddington. For the quarter, production was in line at 11,000 tonnes.

Copper CAS increased 15 percent to $1.69 per pound for the full year and 10 percent to $1.78 per pound for the quarter, primarily due to lower production, higher strip ratio, and higher oil prices at Boddington.

Copper AISC increased 12 percent to $2.02 for the full year, primarily due to higher CAS per ounce. For the quarter, AISC was in line at $2.09.

Capital expenditures⁷ increased by 19 percent to $1,032 million for the full year with increased investment in Quecher Main, Subika Underground, the Ahafo Mill expansion, and Ahafo North. For the quarter, capital expenditures decreased by 13 percent to $269 million, primarily due to the completion of Subika Underground.

Consolidated operating cash flow from continuing operations decreased 14 percent to $1,837 million for the full year, primarily due to lower sales volumes and unfavorable changes in working capital, partially offset by lower interest and higher realized gold prices. Operating cash flow for the quarter was in line at $742 million. Free cash flow decreased 37 percent to $805 million for the full year due to unfavorable working capital changes and higher capital expenditures on development projects primarily at Yanacocha and Ahafo. Free cash flow increased eight percent to $473 million for the quarter, primarily due to the completion of underground development projects in North America in the second quarter and Africa during the fourth quarter.

Balance sheet ended the quarter with $3.4 billion cash on hand, a leverage ratio of 0.3x net debt to adjusted EBITDA and one of the strongest balance sheets in the mining sector. The Company is committed to maintaining an investment-grade credit profile.

Shareholder returns: Delivered a sustainable annual dividend of $0.56 per share and executed share repurchases, resulting in approximately $400 million returned to shareholders in 2018.

Corporate update

On January 14, 2019, the Company entered into a definitive agreement (as amended by the first amendment to the arrangement agreement, dated as of February 19, 2019) to acquire all outstanding common shares of Goldcorp Inc. (Goldcorp) in a primarily stock transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Goldcorp shareholders will receive 0.3280 shares of Newmont’s common stock and $0.02 in cash for each Goldcorp common share they own, for a total transaction value of approximately $10 billion as of the announcement date on January 14, 2019. The transaction, which is subject to approval by both Newmont and Goldcorp shareholders, and other customary conditions and regulatory approvals, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019⁸. Upon closing, the combined company will be known as Newmont Goldcorp⁹.

Projects update

Newmont’s capital-efficient project pipeline supports stable production with improving margins and mine life. Near-term development capital projects are presented below. Funding for Ahafo Mill Expansion, Quecher Main and Tanami Power projects has been approved and these projects are in execution. Additional projects represent incremental improvements to production and cost guidance. Internal rates of return (IRR) on these projects are calculated at a $1,200 gold price.

• Ahafo Mill Expansion (Africa) is designed to maximize resource value by improving production margins and accelerating stockpile processing. The project also supports profitable development of Ahafo’s highly prospective underground resources. Both first production and commercial production are expected in the second half of 2019. The expansion is expected to increase average annual gold production by between 75,000 and 100,000 ounces per year for the first five years beginning in 2020. Capital costs for the project are estimated between $140 and $180 million with expenditure of approximately $35 to $45 million in 2019. The project has an IRR of more than 20 percent.
  
  The Ahafo Mill Expansion, together with the Company’s recently completed Subika Underground project, will improve Ahafo’s production to between 550,000 and 650,000 ounces per year for the first five full years of production (2020 to 2024). During this period Ahafo’s CAS is expected to be between $650 and $750 per ounce and AISC is expected to be between $800 and $900 per ounce. This represents average production improvement of between 200,000 and 300,000 ounces at CAS improvement of between $150 and $250 per ounce and AISC improvement of $250 to $350 per ounce, compared to 2016 actuals.

• Quecher Main (South America) will add oxide production at Yanacocha, leverage existing infrastructure and enable potential future growth at Yanacocha. Commercial production expected in the second half of 2019. Quecher Main extends the life of the Yanacocha operation to 2027 with average annual gold production of approximately 200,000 ounces per year between 2020 and 2025 (100 percent basis). During the same period, incremental CAS is expected to be between $750 and $850 per ounce and AISC between $900 and $1,000 per ounce. Capital costs for the project are expected to be between $250 and $300 million with expenditure of $95 to $105 million in 2019. The project IRR is expected to be greater than 10 percent.
• Tanami Power (Australia) will lower Tanami power costs by approximately 20 percent beginning in 2019, mitigate fuel supply risk and reduce carbon emissions by 20 percent. The project includes the construction of a 450 kilometer natural gas pipeline connecting the Tanami site to the Amadeus Gas Pipeline, and construction and operation of two on-site power stations. The gas supply, gas transmission and power purchase agreements are for a 10 year term with options to extend. The project is expected to result in net cash savings of approximately $34 per ounce beginning in 2019. Capital costs are estimated between $225 and $275 million with annual cash lease payments over a 10 year term beginning in 2019. The project IRR is expected to be greater than 50 percent at $0.75 AUD.

Outlook

Newmont’s outlook reflects steady gold production and ongoing investment in its operating assets and most promising growth prospects. Newmont does not include development projects that have not yet been funded or reached execution stage in its outlook which represents upside to guidance.

Attributable gold production is expected to be 5.2 million ounces in 2019, primarily driven by a full year of higher grade production from the recently completed Subika Underground project in Africa. Production is expected to be 4.9 million ounces in 2020 and longer-term production is expected to remain stable at between 4.4 and 4.9 million ounces per year through 2023 excluding development projects which have yet to be approved.

• North America production is expected to be 1.9 million ounces in 2019 as higher grade production from Northwest Exodus and Twin Underground are offset by the depletion of Silverstar ore at Carlin and lower gold production at Phoenix as mining shifts to higher copper grade ore from the Bonanza pit. Production remains at 1.9 million ounces in 2020 and 2021 as higher grades at Long Canyon following the stripping campaign help offset lower grades at CC&V. North American production may be impacted by approximately 70,000 ounces following the Gold Quarry wall slip but mine plan optimization work is ongoing. The Company continues to pursue profitable growth opportunities at Carlin, Long Canyon, CC&V and Galore Creek.
• South America production is expected to be 650,000 ounces in 2019 as productivity improvements at Merian offset the transition to harder ore. Production is expected to decrease to 560,000 ounces in 2020 and 450,000 ounces in 2021 as the Tapado Oeste pit and Yanacocha laybacks are mined out and Merian transitions from saprolite to hard rock. The Company continues to advance near-mine growth opportunities at Merian and both oxide and sulfide potential at Yanacocha.
• Australia production is expected to be 1.5 million ounces in 2019 with higher grades and throughput and productivity gains at Tanami, offset by lower mining rates at KCGM following the wall slips and the continuation of stripping at Boddington. Production is expected to be 1.5 million ounces in 2020 and 1.6 million ounces in 2021 as Boddington accesses higher grade ore. KCGM’s near-term production has been lowered due to the wall slips, but optimization work continues to recover the impacted ounces as part of the broader Golden Mile Growth Study. The Company continues to advance studies for a second expansion at Tanami and expects to reach a full-funds decision in the second half of 2019.
• Africa production is expected to be 1.1 million ounces in 2019 with a full year of production from Subika Underground, higher grades from the Subika open pit and improved mill throughput in the second half of the year with the mill expansion. Production is expected to be 930,000 ounces in 2020 with lower grades at Akyem and Subika open pit which are partially offset by higher underground grades at Ahafo and a full year of production from the Ahafo Mill Expansion. In 2021, production is expected to be 1 million ounces as Akyem reaches higher grades near the bottom of the pit. The company continues to advance the Ahafo North project and other prospective surface and underground opportunities.

Gold cost outlook – CAS is expected to be $710 per ounce for 2019 following higher production at Ahafo, lower mining costs at Yanacocha and lower operational costs at Tanami with the completion of the Tanami Power Project. The Company continues to implement Full Potential cost and efficiency improvements and advance technology initiatives to offset inflation and input cost pressures. CAS is expected to be $750 per ounce for 2020 and between $690 and $740 per ounce longer-term through 2023. AISC is expected to be $935 per ounce in 2019 on improved CAS in Africa and South America partially offset by higher sustaining capital. AISC is expected to be $975 per ounce in 2020 and between $875 and $975 longer-term through 2023. Future Full Potential savings and profitable ounces from projects that are not yet approved represent additional upside not currently captured in guidance.

• North America CAS is expected to be $785 per ounce in 2019 as lower leach grades drive inventory cost increases at CC&V which are partially offset by cost improvements across the other North American operations. CAS is expected to be $760 per ounce in 2020 and $790 per ounce in 2021 with higher production at Twin Creeks as the Turquoise Ridge Joint Venture (TRJV) optimization project ramps up. AISC is expected to be $975 per ounce in 2019 on improved unit CAS. AISC is expected to be $925 per ounce in 2020 and 2021. North American CAS and AISC guidance may be impacted by the Gold Quarry wall slip and mine plan optimization work is ongoing.
• South America CAS is expected to be $640 per ounce in 2019 driven by a lower stripping ratio at Yanacocha partially offset by higher labor and mill maintenance costs at Merian. CAS is expected to increase to $825 per ounce in 2020 with higher inventory costs and strip ratio at Yanacocha. CAS is expected to be $830 per ounce in 2021 as Merian fully transitions into harder rock which is partially offset by lower operating costs at Yanacocha as the oxide mill shuts down. AISC is expected to be $800 per ounce in 2019 due to lower CAS and sustaining capital. AISC is expected to be $995 per ounce in 2020 and $1,000 per ounce in 2021 on higher CAS and increases in sustaining capital.
• Australia CAS is expected to be $775 per ounce in 2019 driven by increased stripping at Boddington and the drawdown of lower grade stockpiles at KCGM, partially offset by higher production and lower power costs at Tanami from switching to natural gas. CAS is expected to be $750 per ounce in 2020 and $645 per ounce in 2021 as Boddington reaches higher grades. AISC is expected to be $945 per ounce in 2019 on increased CAS. AISC is expected to be $925 per ounce in 2020 and $800 per ounce in 2021.
• Africa CAS is expected to be $570 per ounce in 2019 due to higher grades from Subika Underground and Subika open pit and the Ahafo Mill Expansion coming online. CAS is expected to be $660 per ounce in 2020 and $625 per ounce in 2021 with mine sequencing at the Ahafo and Akyem pits driving production changes. AISC is expected to be $735 per ounce in 2019 on improved unit CAS, partly offset by higher sustaining capital for the Ahafo tailing storage facility expansion. AISC is expected to be $830 per ounce in 2020 and $780 per ounce in 2021.

Copper – Attributable production is expected to be 45,000 tonnes in 2019 and 2020 as Phoenix reaches higher grade copper ore from the Bonanza pit which is offset by lower production at Boddington. Copper production increases to between 45,000 and 65,000 tonnes longer-term through 2023 driven primarily from higher grades at Boddington following completion of the next stripping campaign. CAS is expected to rise to $2.05 per pound in 2019 and $2.10 per pound in 2020 due to higher stripping at Boddington. CAS is expected to improve to $1.55 to $1.75 per pound longer-term through 2023 as production at Boddington increases offsetting lower copper grades at Phoenix. AISC is expected to rise to $2.45 per pound in 2019 on increased CAS. AISC is expected to be $2.55 per pound in 2020 and $1.80 to $2.10 per pound longer-term.

Capital – Total consolidated capital is expected to be $1,070 million for 2019 and $730 million for 2020. Development capital of $390 million in 2019 includes investments in the Tanami Power Project in Australia, Ahafo Mill Expansion in Africa, Quecher Main in South America, and the TRJV third shaft in North America and expenditures to advance studies for future projects. Development capital is expected to be $70 million in 2020 and approximately $50 million longer-term until additional projects are approved. Sustaining capital is expected to be $680 million for 2019, $660 million for 2020 and between $450 and $550 million per year longer-term to cover infrastructure, equipment and ongoing mine development.

Consolidated expense outlook – Interest expense is expected to be $215 million for 2019 from leases related to the Tanami Power Project and lower capitalized interest. Investment in exploration and advanced projects is expected be $430 million in 2019 with increased near-mine and greenfield exploration spend across all regions and higher advanced project spend in North America. 2019 outlook for general & administrative costs is stable at $245 million and guidance for depreciation and amortization is expected to be $1,370 million as Subika Underground and the Tanami Power Project come into service.

Assumptions and sensitivities – Newmont’s outlook assumes $1,200 per ounce gold price, $2.50 per pound copper price, $0.75 USD/AUD exchange rate and $65 per barrel WTI oil price. Assuming a 35% portfolio tax rate, $100 per ounce increase in gold price would deliver an expected $335 million improvement in attributable free cash flow. Similarly, a $10 per barrel reduction in the price of oil and a $0.05 favorable change in the Australian dollar would deliver an expected $25 million and $45 million improvement in attributable free cash flow, respectively. These estimates exclude current hedge programs; please refer to Newmont’s Form 10-K which was filed with the SEC on February 21, 2019 for further information on hedging positions.

2019 Outlook^a

^a2019 Outlook in the above table are considered “forward-looking statements” and are based upon certain assumptions. For example, 2019 Outlook assumes $1,200/oz Au, $2.50/lb Cu, $0.75 USD/AUD exchange rate and $65/barrel WTI; AISC and CAS estimates do not include inflation, for the remainder of the year. Production, CAS, AISC and capital estimates exclude projects that have not yet been approved. The potential impact on inventory valuation as a result of lower prices, input costs, and project decisions are not included as part of this Outlook. Such assumptions may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ from those anticipated, including variation beyond a +/- 5% range. Amounts may not recalculate to totals due to rounding. See cautionary note at the end of this release.
^bAll-in sustaining costs or AISC as used in the Company’s Outlook is a non-GAAP metric; see below for further information and reconciliation to consolidated 2019 CAS outlook.
^cIncludes $225-$275M for capital leases related to the Tanami Power Project paid over a 10 year term beginning in 2019.
^dProduction outlook does not include equity production from stakes in TMAC (28.64%) or La Zanja (46.94%) as of December 31, 2018.
^eConsolidated expense outlook is adjusted to exclude extraordinary items, such as certain tax valuation allowance adjustments.
^fConsists of $75 of mining taxes and $135 of income taxes and is based on a $1,200/oz. gold price and $2.50/lb. copper price. Income taxes and mining taxes are particularly sensitive to pricing and actual expense will vary if realized prices differ significantly from these amounts.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Non-GAAP financial measures are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standard meaning prescribed by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). These measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Unless otherwise noted, we present the Non-GAAP financial measures of our continuing operations in the tables below.

Adjusted net income (loss)

Management uses Adjusted net income (loss) to evaluate the Company’s operating performance and for planning and forecasting future business operations. The Company believes the use of Adjusted net income (loss) allows investors and analysts to understand the results of the continuing operations of the Company and its direct and indirect subsidiaries relating to the sale of products, by excluding certain items that have a disproportionate impact on our results for a particular period. Adjustments to continuing operations are presented before tax and net of our partners’ noncontrolling interests, when applicable. The tax effect of adjustments is presented in the Tax effect of adjustments line and is calculated using the applicable regional tax rate. Management’s determination of the components of Adjusted net income (loss) are evaluated periodically and based, in part, on a review of non-GAAP financial measures used by mining industry analysts. Net income (loss) attributable to Newmont stockholders is reconciled to Adjusted net income (loss) as follows:

Earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization and Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization

Management uses Earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and EBITDA adjusted for non-core or certain items that have a disproportionate impact on our results for a particular period (“Adjusted EBITDA”) as non-GAAP measures to evaluate the Company’s operating performance. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not represent, and should not be considered an alternative to, net income (loss), operating income (loss), or cash flow from operations as those terms are defined by GAAP, and do not necessarily indicate whether cash flows will be sufficient to fund cash needs. Although Adjusted EBITDA and similar measures are frequently used as measures of operations and the ability to meet debt service requirements by other companies, our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA is not necessarily comparable to such other similarly titled captions of other companies. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results in the same manner as our management and Board of Directors. Management’s determination of the components of Adjusted EBITDA are evaluated periodically and based, in part, on a review of non-GAAP financial measures used by mining industry analysts. Net income (loss) attributable to Newmont stockholders is reconciled to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as follows:

Free Cash Flow

Management uses Free Cash Flow as a non-GAAP measure to analyze cash flows generated from operations. Free Cash Flow is Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of discontinued operations less Additions to property, plant and mine development as presented on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The Company believes Free Cash Flow is also useful as one of the bases for comparing the Company’s performance with its competitors. Although Free Cash Flow and similar measures are frequently used as measures of cash flows generated from operations by other companies, the Company’s calculation of Free Cash Flow is not necessarily comparable to such other similarly titled captions of other companies.

The presentation of non-GAAP Free Cash Flow is not meant to be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net income as an indicator of the Company’s performance, or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity as those terms are defined by GAAP, and does not necessarily indicate whether cash flows will be sufficient to fund cash needs. The Company’s definition of Free Cash Flow is limited in that it does not represent residual cash flows available for discretionary expenditures due to the fact that the measure does not deduct the payments required for debt service and other contractual obligations or payments made for business acquisitions. Therefore, the Company believes it is important to view Free Cash Flow as a measure that provides supplemental information to the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, to Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, which the Company believes to be the GAAP financial measure most directly comparable to Free Cash Flow, as well as information regarding Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities and Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities.

Costs applicable to sales per ounce/pound

Costs applicable to sales per ounce/pound are non-GAAP financial measures. These measures are calculated by dividing the costs applicable to sales of gold and copper by gold ounces or copper pounds sold, respectively. These measures are calculated for the periods presented on a consolidated basis. Costs applicable to sales per ounce/pound statistics are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. The measures are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under GAAP. Other companies may calculate these measures differently.

The following tables reconcile these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.

All-In Sustaining Costs

Newmont has developed a metric that expands on GAAP measures, such as cost of goods sold, and non-GAAP measures, such as Costs applicable to sales per ounce, to provide visibility into the economics of our mining operations related to expenditures, operating performance and the ability to generate cash flow from our continuing operations.

Current GAAP measures used in the mining industry, such as cost of goods sold, do not capture all of the expenditures incurred to discover, develop and sustain production. Therefore, we believe that all-in sustaining costs is a non-GAAP measure that provides additional information to management, investors, and analysts that aid in the understanding of the economics of our operations and performance compared to other producers and provides investors visibility by better defining the total costs associated with production.

All-in sustaining cost (“AISC”) amounts are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. The measures are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under GAAP. Other companies may calculate these measures differently as a result of differences in the underlying accounting principles, policies applied and in accounting frameworks such as in International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), or by reflecting the benefit from selling non-gold metals as a reduction to AISC. Differences may also arise related to definitional differences of sustaining versus development (i.e. non-sustaining) capital activities based upon each company’s internal policies.

The Company recently revised its calculation of AISC to exclude development expenditures related to developing new or major projects at existing operations where these projects will materially benefit the operation included in Advanced projects, research and development and Exploration amounts presented in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The following disclosure provides information regarding the adjustments made in determining the all-in sustaining costs measure:

Costs applicable to sales. Includes all direct and indirect costs related to current production incurred to execute the current mine plan. We exclude certain exceptional or unusual amounts from Costs applicable to sales (CAS), such as significant revisions to recovery amounts. CAS includes by-product credits from certain metals obtained during the process of extracting and processing the primary ore-body. CAS is accounted for on an accrual basis and excludes Depreciation and amortization and Reclamation and remediation, which is consistent with our presentation of CAS on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. In determining AISC, only the CAS associated with producing and selling an ounce of gold is included in the measure. Therefore, the amount of gold CAS included in AISC is derived from the CAS presented in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations less the amount of CAS attributable to the production of copper at our Phoenix and Boddington mines. The copper CAS at those mine sites is disclosed in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The allocation of CAS between gold and copper at the Phoenix and Boddington mines is based upon the relative sales value of gold and copper produced during the period.

Reclamation costs. Includes accretion expense related to Reclamation liabilities and the amortization of the related Asset Retirement Cost (ARC) for the Company’s operating properties. Accretion related to the Reclamation liabilities and the amortization of the ARC assets for reclamation does not reflect annual cash outflows but are calculated in accordance with GAAP. The accretion and amortization reflect the periodic costs of reclamation associated with current production and are therefore included in the measure. The allocation of these costs to gold and copper is determined using the same allocation used in the allocation of CAS between gold and copper at the Phoenix and Boddington mines.

Advanced projects, research and development and exploration. Includes incurred expenses related to projects that are designed to sustain current production and exploration. We note that as current resources are depleted, exploration and advanced projects are necessary for us to replace the depleting reserves or enhance the recovery and processing of the current reserves to sustain production at existing operations. As these costs relate to sustaining our production and are considered a continuing cost of a mining company, these costs are included in the AISC measure. These costs are derived from the Advanced projects, research and development and Exploration amounts presented in the Consolidated Statements of Operations less incurred expenses related to the development of new operations, or related to major projects at existing operations where these projects will materially benefit the operation in the future. The allocation of these costs to gold and copper is determined using the same allocation used in the allocation of CAS between gold and copper at the Phoenix and Boddington mines.

General and administrative. Includes costs related to administrative tasks not directly related to current production, but rather related to support our corporate structure and fulfill our obligations to operate as a public company. Including these expenses in the AISC metric provides visibility of the impact that general and administrative activities have on current operations and profitability on a per ounce basis.

Other expense, net. We exclude certain exceptional or unusual expenses from Other expense, net, such as restructuring, as these are not indicative to sustaining our current operations. Furthermore, this adjustment to Other expense, net is also consistent with the nature of the adjustments made to Net income (loss) attributable to Newmont stockholders as disclosed in the Company’s non-GAAP financial measure Adjusted net income (loss). The allocation of these costs to gold and copper is determined using the same allocation used in the allocation of CAS between gold and copper at the Phoenix and Boddington mines.

Treatment and refining costs. Includes costs paid to smelters for treatment and refining of our concentrates to produce the salable metal. These costs are presented net as a reduction of Sales on our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Sustaining capital. We determined sustaining capital as those capital expenditures that are necessary to maintain current production and execute the current mine plan. Capital expenditures to develop new operations, or related to major projects at existing operations where these projects will materially benefit the operation, are generally considered non-sustaining or development capital. We determined the classification of sustaining and development (i.e. non-sustaining) capital projects based on a systematic review of our project portfolio in light of the nature of each project. Sustaining capital costs are relevant to the AISC metric as these are needed to maintain the Company’s current operations and provide improved transparency related to our ability to finance these expenditures from current operations. The allocation of these costs to gold and copper is determined using the same allocation used in the allocation of CAS between gold and copper at the Phoenix and Boddington mines.