Table of Contents
Quarterly results are coming up, so it’s time to talk about some write-downs: in this case, the top ten of this summer. It’s not the best time for the mining companies, with gold hitting new record lows this past quarter and commodity prices generally dropping, something you might be able to “see” in the numbers.
1. Barrick Gold Corp.
$8.7 billion
Canada-based Barrick Gold has the summer’s highest write-down, which brings this year’s total impairments to $13 billion. The largest chunk is related to the Chilean Pascua Lama project.
2. Newcrest Mining
$5 to $6 billion
One of Australia’s largest gold miners infuriated investors by announcing its latest write-down, but the company calmed the shareholders by saying that it had spending cuts in mind.
3. AngloGold Ashanti
$2.6 billion
The gold producer AngloGold Ashanti recently announced a hit of up to $2.6 billion. The company has registered serious labour issues in South Africa over the past year.
4. Kinross Gold
$2.2 billion
The Canadian-based gold miner Kinross is the fourth on the list: the company booked a $2.29 billion non-cash write-down.
5. GoldCorp
$1.9 billion
The gold mining firm, based in Canada, comes next. GoldCorp reached a $1.96 write-down this quarter, related to the company’s Peñasquito mine in Mexico.
6. Newmont Mining
$1.8 billion
Newmont Mining, related to GoldCorp, took a $1.8 billion impairment charge thanks to two Australian mines in Boddington and Tanami.
7. African Barrick Gold
$727 million
African Barrick Gold – Tanzania’s largest gold miner – booked $727 million in charges this quarter.
8. Osisko Mining
$488 million
The Canada-based Osisko Mining booked $488 million as a result of lower bullion prices.
9. Alacer Gold
$412 million
In ninth place, we have Alacer Gold: the company wrote-down $412 million on its Australian operations.
10. Polymetal International
$340 million
The last one on the list is the Russian company Polymetal International, which also works in the gold field.