AngloGold, Gold Fields May Have Ratings Cut to Junk by S&P

AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. (ANG) and Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI), the third- and fourth-largest producers of the metal, may have their ratings cut to junk, Standard & Poor’s said, as strikes halted about half of South Africa’s output.

Business risks “increased in light of continuing strike action in South Africa and the possible implications of increasing social tensions for the mining industry,” the company said in a statement today. It also revised its outlook on Anglo American Plc (AAL)’s rating to negative from stable.

Stoppages have halted gold, platinum, chrome and iron-ore mines in the country since Lonmin Plc (LMI) awarded workers pay increases of 11 percent to 22 percent last month to end a six- week unauthorized strike in which about 44 people were killed, including 34 shot by police.

S&P last week lowered South Africa’s sovereign rating one step to BBB, in line with Brazil, Russia and Mexico, “to reflect the deterioration in the social and economic environment.”

AngloGold’s dollar-denominated bonds due in May 2022 erased gains, with the yield rising two basis points to 4.91 percent by 5:57 p.m. in London. Gold Fields’ dollar debt maturing in October 2020 pared earlier increases with the yield little changed from yesterday’s close at 4.91 percent.

S&P rates both AngloGold and Gold Fields BBB-, its lowest investment-grade rating.

Cash Costs

Placing Gold Fields on watch for possible downgrade also reflects “the rapid rise in Gold Fields’s unit cash cost, which we already consider to be comparatively high,” S&P said. “The cash cost could increase further in the event of wage rises as part of the strike resolution, or general inflationary pressure.” AngloGold’s cash costs could also climb, it said.

AngloGold produces about a third of its output in South Africa while mines in the continent’s biggest economy account for about half of Gold Fields’ production.

S&P revised its outlook on Anglo American as the company generates more than half of its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization in South Africa, it said in a statement. Strikes have halted about eight of Anglo American Platinum’s mines and the company fired 12,000 workers on Oct. 5. A stoppage at the Sishen mine, a unit of Anglo’s Kumba Iron Ore, ended this week when police removed workers that had illegally occupied the site and seized equipment.

At least 160,000 ounces of output have been lost through the wave of strikes in South Africa. Gold Fields said yesterday the stoppages have cost 65,000 ounces so far, while AngloGold said it’s losing 30,000 to 32,000 ounces a week. Harmony Gold Mining Co.’s Kusasalethu mine is losing about 20 kilograms (643 ounces) to 25 kilograms a day, the company said Oct. 4.

To contact the reporter on this story: Carli Cooke in Johannesburg at clourens@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: John Viljoen at jviljoen@bloomberg.net