De Beers Interim Results

Anglo American PLC 25 July 2003 News Release 25 July 2003 De Beers Societe Anonyme ("Dbsa") today reported headline earnings for the six months ended 30 June 2003 of US$414 million. Anglo American plc ("AA plc") arrives at its headline earnings in respect of De Beers by accounting for the interests arising from the ordinary shares and the 10% preference shares it holds in DB Investments ("DBI"). AA plc will therefore report headline earnings of US$248 million for the six months ended 30 June 2003 from its investment in DBI, as reconciled in the table below: Reconciliation of headline earnings for the 6 months ended 30 June 2003 US$ million Total Ordinary Preference shares shares (3) • DBI headline earnings (100%) 414 - - • GAAP adjustments (1) 58 - - • DBI headline earnings - UK GAAP (100%) 472 417 55 • AA plc's 45% ordinary share interest 188 188 - • Additional 3.65% ordinary share interest 15 15 - (2) • AA plc's portion of the preference shares 45 - 45 (3) • AA plc headline earnings 248 203 45 (1) GAAP adjustments relate to mark-to-market adjustments which are recorded in De Beers' earnings, principally the US$70 million in respect of the mark-to-market of interest rate hedging contracts referred to in Dbsa's press release, but which are excluded from AA plc's UK GAAP results, and associated tax effects. (2) As a result of the De Beers' partial interest in Debswana Diamond Company (Proprietary) Limited (one of the shareholders in DBI), AA plc accounts for an additional 3.65% of DBI's post-tax earnings attributable to ordinary shares. (3) AA plc grosses up its preference share income to the operating profit level and accounts for its preference share interest in operating profit, exceptional items, investment income and net interest, tax and minorities, in the same way as it accounts for its ordinary share interest in these balances. This treatment is in accordance with FRS9, paragraph 33, which indicates that where preference shares are an integral part of the investor's long-term interest, it is appropriate to include the preference share interest with the ordinary share interest in determining the investor's overall share of an associate's results. The headline earnings attributable to AA plc's US$35 million preference share income are arrived at by adjusting for a proportion of exceptional items (+US$2 million) and goodwill amortisation (+US$8 million) in the same way as the ordinary share interest is calculated. In the six months ended 30 June 2003, AA plc received from DBI US$56 million dividends on ordinary shares relating to FY 2002 and US$35 million dividends representing the second US$35 million payment on preference shares for 2002. A US$35 million interim dividend on preference shares for 2003 is scheduled for payment on 31 July 2003. In the six months ended 30 June 2002, AA plc received from DBI US$29 million dividends on ordinary shares and US$42 million dividends on preference shares (representing 7 months of 2001 following the De Beers transaction). A US$35 million interim dividend on preference shares for 2002 was received from DBI during the second half of 2002. Reconciliation of headline earnings for the 6 months ended 30 June 2002 US$ million Total Ordinary Preference shares shares • DBI headline earnings (100%) 308 - - • GAAP adjustments - - - • DBI headline earnings - UK GAAP (100%) 308 258 50 • AA plc's 45% ordinary share interest 116 116 - • Additional 3.65% ordinary share interest 9 9 - • AA plc's portion of the preference shares 41 - 41 • AA plc headline earnings 166 125 41 The above figures are unaudited De Beers Societe Anonyme (Incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg) 25 July 2003 INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2003 Buoyed by good results in 2002, the diamond industry started this year in a cautiously optimistic mood. Retail sales in the first two months were encouraging but then lost momentum as the global economy slowed sharply. War in the Middle East and the impact of the SARS virus on the Asian economies undermined consumer confidence. More recently, retail sales have shown signs of recovery in line with growing consumer confidence and global retail sales of diamond jewellery for the first half of 2003 are anticipated to be flat to slightly positive compared to the first half of last year. Throughout the first half, demand for rough diamonds from the cutting centres was strong largely due to a willingness to hold higher levels of inventory as interest rates continued to decline. Sales by the DTC, the marketing arm of De Beers, for the first six months of 2003 totalled US$2,920 million, 2.75% higher than the equivalent period in 2002. De Beers' results for the six months ended 30 June 2003 include headline earnings of US$414 million, 34% higher than for the first half of 2002, a reduction in diamond stocks of over US$600 million during the period and operating cash flow generated of US$1.1 billion. If the strong demand for rough diamonds continues through the second half, De Beers' results for the year as a whole should be ahead of the previous year. In view of the exceptionally strong operating cash flow generated in the two-year period to June 2003, De Beers has decided to refinance its existing bank facilities by replacing the existing term loan and revolving credit facilities, arranged on leveraged buyout terms, with a five-year US$2.5 billion Syndicated Multi-Currency Revolving Credit facility on standard commercial terms. Syndication was launched on 26 June and has recently been successfully completed. Following clearance, in January, from the European Commission of its Supplier of Choice strategy, the DTC embarked on a rigorous process of assessing prospective and existing clients against diamonds they were applying for and the DTC's own availabilities. As a result of this process, applicants were recently advised as to their future status as Sightholders of the DTC. All successful applicants are being supplied by the DTC with effect from July. Existing clients who did not qualify as Sightholders under Supplier of Choice are continuing to be offered supplies by the DTC for the remainder of the year. De Beers and the Russian diamond producer, Alrosa, have continued to engage in constructive dialogue with the European Commission to address its concerns relating to the five-year trade agreement jointly notified to the Commission for clearance in March 2002. De Beers announces interim results as follows: De Beers Societe Anonyme Consolidated Income Statement for the half-year ended 30 June 2003 (Abridged) US Dollar millions 6 months to 6 months to 12 months to 30 June 30 June 2002 31 December 2002 2003 Diamond sales -DTC 2 920 2 842 5 154 -Other 201 197 380 Trade investment and other income 258 305 592 3 379 3 344 6 126 Deduct: Cost of sales 2 469 2 518 4 444 Depreciation and amortisation (Note 1) 128 114 250 Sorting and marketing 214 198 398 Exploration and research 64 47 126 Corporate expenses 23 18 42 Net diamond account 481 449 866 Add: Surplus on realisation of fixed assets and 2 investments 481 451 866 Deduct: Net interest paid 54 76 144 Costs related to reorganisation and restructuring 5 24 44 Net income before taxation and debt redemption costs 422 351 678 Taxation 112 115 271 Net income after taxation but before debt redemption 310 236 407 costs Attributable to outside shareholders in subsidiaries 10 6 14 Own earnings before debt redemption costs 300 230 393 Share of retained income of joint ventures 103 31 41 Total net earnings before debt redemption costs 403 261 434 Costs of early debt redemption (Note 3) 95 Total net earnings 308 261 434 Headline earnings Total net earnings 308 261 434 Adjusted for : Amortisation of intangible fixed assets 84 81 163 After tax surplus on realisation of fixed assets (3) (34) (27) less costs related to restructuring and provisions Facility fees (Note 3) 25 Headline earnings 414 308 570 Cash available from operating activities 1 115 1 144 1 611 Consolidated Balance Sheet 30 June 2003 (Abridged) US Dollar millions 30 June 2003 30 June 2002 31 December 2002 4 458 3 784 4 023 Shareholders' interests Outside shareholders' interests 109 89 96 4 567 3 873 4 119 Net interest bearing debt (Note 2) 927 2 081 1 716 Other liabilities 1 031 850 958 6 525 6 804 6 793 Fixed assets 4 690 4 284 4 405 Investments and loans 49 25 33 Diamond stocks and other assets 1 786 2 495 2 355 6 525 6 804 6 793 Notes and Comments 1. Amortisation amounting to US$72 million in respect of the goodwill attributable to De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited and De Beers Centenary AG has been expensed in the current period. US$144 million was expensed during the year ended December 2002. 2. Cash has been offset against interest bearing debt. A further repayment of US$355 million was made on the Senior Debt facility on 10 March 2003 which reduced the outstanding debt to US$2,130 million. The US$1 billion revolving credit facility was not utilised during the period under review. The Senior Debt and revolving credit facilities, arranged on leveraged buyout terms, have been replaced with a US$2.5 billion revolving credit facility on standard commercial terms with a five year tenor. 3. The costs associated with the early debt redemption referred to in note 2 have been expensed in the current period. These costs comprise the balance of US$25 million of facility fees not yet amortised, and US$70 million in respect of the mark-to-market of interest rate hedging contracts that were required to be entered into under the terms of the original Senior Debt facility. These contracts were being hedge accounted in terms of AC133 (Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement). US$2.5 billion Syndicated Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility De Beers S.A. ("De Beers") is pleased to announce that a US$2.5 billion Syndicated Multi-Currency Revolving Credit Facility (the "Facility") has been successfully arranged by Barclays Capital, Citigroup Global Markets Limited (" Citigroup"), Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein ("DrKW"), Royal Bank of Scotland and WestLB (the "Mandated Lead Arrangers") on its behalf. Barclays Capital, Citigroup, and DrKW have been appointed Bookrunners and Dresdner Bank Luxembourg S.A. has been appointed Agent. Syndication was launched 26 June, 2003 and has recently been completed. The transaction, which was aimed at a selected group of De Beers' relationship banks, was oversubscribed raising in excess of US$ 3 billion. More than 25 banks representing 11 different countries have joined the facility, which is expected to be signed on 30 July, 2003. The Facility has a tenor of five years. It will refinance the Company's existing US$4.55 billion syndicated loan facility signed in March 2001 and will also serve for general corporate purposes. Contacts: De Beers London: Lynette Hori +44 20 7430 3509/+44 7740 393260 De Beers South Africa Brian Roodt +27 11 374 6582/+27 82 412 6133 Pride Mogorosi +27 11 374 7155/+27 83 391 7240 Visit the official De Beers Group website for more information on the company and where you can view and download a selection of images - www.debeersgroup.com. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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