Public companies are required to disclose risks that can affect the business and impact the stock. These disclosures are known as “Risk Factors”. Companies disclose these risks in their yearly (Form 10-K), quarterly earnings (Form 10-Q), or “foreign private issuer” reports (Form 20-F). Risk factors show the challenges a company faces. Investors can consider the worst-case scenarios before making an investment. TipRanks’ Risk Analysis categorizes risks based on proprietary classification algorithms and machine learning.
Anglogold Ashanti PLC disclosed 9 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Anglogold Ashanti PLC reported the most risks in the “Legal & Regulatory” category.
Risk Overview Q4, 2022
Risk Distribution
67% Legal & Regulatory
22% Finance & Corporate
11% Production
0% Tech & Innovation
0% Ability to Sell
0% Macro & Political
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
This chart displays the stock's most recent risk distribution according to category. TipRanks has identified 6 major categories: Finance & corporate, legal & regulatory, macro & political, production, tech & innovation, and ability to sell.
Risk Change Over Time
2020
Q4
S&P500 Average
Sector Average
Risks removed
Risks added
Risks changed
Anglogold Ashanti PLC Risk Factors
New Risk (0)
Risk Changed (0)
Risk Removed (0)
No changes from previous report
The chart shows the number of risks a company has disclosed. You can compare this to the sector average or S&P 500 average.
The quarters shown in the chart are according to the calendar year (January to December). Businesses set their own financial calendar, known as a fiscal year. For example, Walmart ends their financial year at the end of January to accommodate the holiday season.
Risk Highlights Q4, 2022
Main Risk Category
Legal & Regulatory
With 6 Risks
Legal & Regulatory
With 6 Risks
Number of Disclosed Risks
9
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 31
9
No changes from last report
S&P 500 Average: 31
Recent Changes
2Risks added
2Risks removed
3Risks changed
Since Dec 2022
2Risks added
2Risks removed
3Risks changed
Since Dec 2022
Number of Risk Changed
3
+2
From last report
S&P 500 Average: 3
3
+2
From last report
S&P 500 Average: 3
See the risk highlights of Anglogold Ashanti PLC in the last period.
Risk Word Cloud
The most common phrases about risk factors from the most recent report. Larger texts indicate more widely used phrases.
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 9
Legal & Regulatory
Total Risks: 6/9 (67%)Above Sector Average
Regulation5 | 55.6%
Regulation - Risk 1
Changed
Item 4B: Business Overview-The Regulatory Environment Enabling AngloGold Ashanti to Mine-Americas-Colombia
".
AngloGold Ashanti's existing board-approved development projects and exploration initiatives as well as its potential development projects will require significant funding. The Company's capital expenditure plans and requirements are subject to a number of risks, contingencies and other factors, some of which are beyond its control, including volatile or sustained lower gold prices, and therefore the actual future capital expenditure and investments may differ significantly from the current planned amounts.
Should the cash flow from operations be insufficient, AngloGold Ashanti could breach its financial and other covenants. Covenant breaches, if interpreted as events of default under one or more debt agreements, could allow lenders to accelerate payment of such debt. Any such acceleration could result in the acceleration of indebtedness under other financial instruments. As a result, the Company may be required to refinance all or part of the existing debt, use existing cash balances, issue additional equity or sell assets. However, the Company may be unable to sell assets on reasonable or profitable terms as and when necessary. Additionally, AngloGold Ashanti cannot be sure that it will be able to refinance its debt on commercially reasonable terms, if at all.
result of events beyond the Company's control or as a result of previous claims. This can result in higher premia and periodically being unable to maintain the levels or types of insurance the Company typically carries.
Regulation - Risk 2
Autoridad Nacional de Licencias Ambientales
or "ANLA") officially notified AngloGold Ashanti of its decision to ‘archive' the environmental licence application relating to the Quebradona project. ANLA has neither denied nor granted the licence, but deemed that the information provided by AngloGold Ashanti is not sufficient for this authority to make a substantive decision. On 18 November 2021, AngloGold Ashanti appealed the archiving decision in order to secure further details on the specific additional information ANLA requires to make a determination. ANLA denied the appeal on 29 April 2022 and the archiving decision was confirmed. AngloGold Ashanti is in the process of preparing a new Environmental Impact Assessment for the project to submit to ANLA in connection with its environmental licence application.
misconduct. In the event the concession is voided, AngloGold Ashanti could be required to abandon the relevant project and, depending on the severity of the violations or misconduct, the Colombian mining authority may cancel its other existing mining concession contracts. Pending proposals for new mining concession contracts could also be cancelled and the Company could be banned from doing business with the Colombian government for a period of five years.
adversely affect AngloGold Ashanti's asset values, earnings and cash flows. Further, sudden changes in a life-of-mine plan or the accelerated closure of a mine may give rise to the recognition of additional liabilities that are not anticipated.
Construction at the Calcinados TSF is expected to begin later in 2023, and the timeline for completion will be determined once the engineering and geotechnical work has been completed by external consultants. Tailings deposition at the Calcinados TSF, as well as processing of gold concentrate at the Queiroz plant, which services the Cuiabá mine complex, is suspended until additional buttressing of the Calcinados TSF impoundment is complete.
acquisition of Corvus Gold Inc. in January 2022 and Coeur Sterling, Inc. in November 2022. AngloGold Ashanti's decision to acquire properties is based on a variety of factors, including historical operating results, estimates and assumptions regarding the extent of the existing or potential Mineral Reserve, cash and other operating costs, gold prices, projected economic returns and evaluations of existing or potential liabilities associated with the relevant property and its operations and how these factors may change in the future. Other than historical operating results, these factors are uncertain and could have an impact on revenue, cash and other operating costs, as well as the process used to estimate the relevant Mineral Reserve.
AngloGold Ashanti's procurement policy is to source mining, processing equipment and consumables from suppliers that meet its corporate values and ethical standards. Although AngloGold Ashanti monitors and assesses suppliers on their governance conduct, there is a risk that the Company may fail to identify actual instances of unethical conduct by those suppliers or other activities that are inconsistent with its values and standards. In certain locations, where a limited number of suppliers meet these standards, additional strain is placed on the supply chain, thereby increasing the cost of supply and delivery times. In addition, AngloGold Ashanti's efforts to monitor supply chain activities, including freight and logistics routes, and its engagement with its suppliers to identify disruptions on its ability to source materials or equipment or otherwise impact its operations, may not be sufficient to avoid disruptions that could have a material adverse effect on AngloGold Ashanti's business or operations.
exploration asset. These competitors may have greater financial resources, operational experience and technical capabilities than AngloGold Ashanti and may also be lower on the industry cost curve or have lower cost of capital and better access to scarce capital than AngloGold Ashanti. Competition may increase AngloGold Ashanti's cost of acquiring suitable claims, properties and assets, which could have a material adverse effect on its financial condition and results of operations.
(the "Obuasi TCA") with the government of Ghana. As a result of the parliamentary ratification of the Obuasi DA and Obuasi TCA in June 2018, the 2004 Ghana Stability Agreement ceased to apply to the Obuasi mine but continued to apply to the Iduapriem mine until it expired in April 2019. See "
Regulation - Risk 3
Item 4B: Business Overview-The Regulatory Environment Enabling AngloGold Ashanti to Mine-Africa Region-Tanzania
". In the DRC, AngloGold Ashanti calculates that its attributable share of the net recoverable VAT balance (including recoverable fuel duty and after discounting provisions) owed to it by the DRC government amounted to $86 million (2021: $73 million) as of 31 December 2022. Whilst an agreement was reached with the DRC government on the reimbursement of the refundable VAT in the last quarter of 2018, uncertainty remains regarding the timing and level of cash receipts and offsets against other taxes for purposes of the recovery of AngloGold Ashanti's VAT receivables in the DRC. See "
Regulation - Risk 4
Item 4B: Business Overview-The Regulatory Environment Enabling AngloGold Ashanti to Mine-Africa Region-Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
". Similarly, as a general matter, it is not certain when or whether AngloGold Ashanti will be refunded all tax-related amounts due from any other government.
litigation. Although significant judgement was applied in estimating the costs incurred to settle the silicosis and tuberculosis class action claim, the final costs and related expenditure may differ from current cost estimates. In addition, even though management believes the assumptions are appropriate, changes in the assumptions may materially affect the provision and final costs of settlement. For example, the final settlement costs and related expenditure may be higher than the recorded provision depending on various factors, such as, among other things, potential changes in the settlement terms, differences in the number and profile of eligible claimants actually compensated compared to current estimates and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. There can be no assurance that ultimately this matter will not result in losses in excess of the recorded provision, which may have a material adverse effect on AngloGold Ashanti's financial position. The sale of the Company's South African operating assets and liabilities to Harmony did not include the silicosis obligation relating to South African employees, which was retained by AngloGold Ashanti. For further information, see "
Regulation - Risk 5
Added
Item 4B: Business Overview-The Regulatory Environment Enabling AngloGold Ashanti to Mine-Africa Region-Ghana
". Any future amendments to the Ghanaian mining regime, negotiation of new agreements, or attempts or failures to renegotiate existing agreements on the same favourable conditions or at all may have a material adverse effect on AngloGold Ashanti's results of operations or financial condition.
these amounts.
See "
Environmental / Social1 | 11.1%
Environmental / Social - Risk 1
Changed
AngloGold Ashanti is subject to extensive and rapidly changing environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Failure to comply with these requirements could result in enforcement proceedings, claims, suspension of operations, community protest and/or additional capital or operating expenditures that could adversely impact AngloGold Ashanti's financial condition or reputation
". The remote location of many mining properties, delays in obtaining or failure to obtain necessary environmental and other governmental permits and approvals, the impact of public health crises, epidemics or pandemics (including the COVID-19 pandemic) as well as third-party legal challenges to individual mining projects and broader social or political opposition to mining may increase the cost, timing and complexity of mine development and construction. For example, in December 2019, AngloGold Ashanti applied for the required environmental authorisations to develop the Quebradona project in Colombia. On 4 November 2021, the National Environmental Licensing Authority of Colombia (
Finance & Corporate
Total Risks: 2/9 (22%)Below Sector Average
Accounting & Financial Operations2 | 22.2%
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 1
Added
intangible assets and goodwill on the balance sheet. If the carrying amount of its assets is not recoverable, AngloGold Ashanti may be required to recognise an impairment charge, which could be significant
". The market value of gold inventory may be reduced, and marginal stockpile and heap leach inventories may be written down to net realisable value or may not be processed further as it may not be economically viable at lower gold prices. In addition, AngloGold Ashanti is obliged to meet certain financial covenants under the terms of its borrowing facilities and its ability to continue to meet these covenants could be adversely affected by a further sustained decrease in the price of gold. The use of lower gold prices in Mineral Reserve estimates or life-of-mine plans from those prices used previously to determine Mineral Reserve or life-of-mine plans could also result in material impairments of the Company's investment in mining properties or a reduction in its Mineral Reserve estimates and corresponding restatements of its Mineral Reserve and increased amortisation, reclamation and closure charges. Whilst, from time to time, AngloGold Ashanti may enter, and has in the past entered, into gold price hedges on an
Accounting & Financial Operations - Risk 2
Changed
Item 18: Financial Statements-Note 1.2-Statement of Compliance-Significant Accounting Judgements and Estimates-Use of Estimates-Provision for silicosis
".
For example, despite the scale of mining activities in many African countries, recruitment of skilled personnel has been challenging as the local development of critical skills struggles to match an increasing demand. Recruitment remains difficult due to university offerings and other training institution offerings often not well-suited to the specific needs of the mining industry, as well as other factors such as language barriers and low literacy skills. Furthermore, local workers with critical skills, such as jumbo operators and tele-remote bogger operators from the DRC, Ghana and Tanzania are increasingly being targeted for expatriate opportunities across the continent. In addition, it has become increasingly difficult to secure work permits for AngloGold Ashanti's expatriate workforce in Tanzania as a result of the Tanzanian government's efforts to promote the employment of Tanzanian citizens. Difficulties in obtaining such non-citizen work permits due to increased pressure for localisation of labour, if continuing, may have an adverse impact on the Company's operations in Tanzania. Similar impacts may occur elsewhere, including in the DRC, Ghana and Guinea. Certain jurisdictions, such as Ghana, have also adopted local content and local participation policies.
Certain of the countries in which AngloGold Ashanti has mineral deposits or mining or exploration operations, including the DRC, Guinea, Ghana, Tanzania, Colombia and Brazil, have in the past experienced, and in certain cases continue to experience, a difficult security environment. In particular, various illegal groups active in regions in which the Company is present may pose a credible threat of organised crime, military repression, terrorism, civil unrest and disturbances, sabotage, extortion and kidnapping, which could have an adverse effect on its operations in these and other regions.
actions cannot be excluded and may have a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations and financial condition, especially if these actions have a long duration. Furthermore, IndustriALL, representing more than 50 million workers globally, is expected to continue its attempts to enter into a global framework agreement with mining and resource companies. A global framework agreement will expose AngloGold Ashanti to the risk of standardisation and equalisations of labour terms and conditions across the Group, irrespective of the peculiar conditions applicable in the various jurisdictions in which the Group operates. Any labour unrest and disruptions caused by such international trade unions could have a material adverse effect on AngloGold Ashanti's results of operations and financial condition.
In Colombia, a government agency grants exclusive concession contracts for exploration and development which contain specified timelines for the completion of the various phases of a mining project. The Company must comply with these timelines unless performance is suspended, for example, due to force majeure or these timelines are extended or modified. If AngloGold Ashanti does not comply with the specified timelines for the completion of the various phases of a mining project, it may be found in breach of its concession contract or mining licence and such breach could constitute grounds for the mining authority to terminate such concession contract or mining licence. Force majeure was declared at the La Colosa project by the Colombian mining authority, stopping all activities, pending issuance of permits required to continue the next phase of operations. During the period when force majeure is in force, the specified timelines for completing the various phases of the mining project under the concession contract are suspended. The force majeure has been extended multiple times and is now expected to expire in June 2023, after which such declaration will once more need to be extended in case the relevant permits have not been granted. However, there can be no guarantee that such declaration, if required to be extended, will be extended at that time. Force majeure generally remains in force as long as the underlying circumstances which led to its declaration persist. See also "
Production
Total Risks: 1/9 (11%)Below Sector Average
Employment / Personnel1 | 11.1%
Employment / Personnel - Risk 1
ad hoc
basis on a portion of its production, the Company does not systematically do so. In addition, even when AngloGold Ashanti enters into gold price hedges, there is no certainty that such hedges will adequately protect the Company against gold price volatility.
more dependent on fuel, are most sensitive to changes in the price of oil. Even when fuel prices are in decline, expected savings may be partly offset by increases in governments' fixed fuel levies or the introduction of new levies.
-a reduction in the availability of credit, which may make it more difficult for the Company to obtain financing for its operations and capital expenditures or make that financing more costly;less developed political and regulatory environments, and within numerous and complex frameworks, its governance and compliance processes may not prevent potential breaches of law, accounting principles or other governance or customary practices.
stopped. Extreme rainfall events are also an increasingly significant risk for AngloGold Ashanti's Australian operations. A significant increase in rainfall has the potential to adversely impact normal TSF operating procedures as well AngloGold Ashanti's ability to operate processing plants in the event it is unable to discharge process water due to insufficient capacity in the receiving TSF pool. In contrast, increasing water stress at some of AngloGold Ashanti's operations in Africa could, in the future, negatively impact the Company's ability to successfully implement its environmental rehabilitation programmes and/or to suppress dust from its operations. These events or conditions also could have adverse effects on AngloGold Ashanti's workforce and on the communities around its mines, such as an increased risk of food insecurity, drinking water scarcity, access to power and prevalence of disease.
See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.
FAQ
What are “Risk Factors”?
Risk factors are any situations or occurrences that could make investing in a company risky.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires that publicly traded companies disclose their most significant risk factors. This is so that potential investors can consider any risks before they make an investment.
They also offer companies protection, as a company can use risk factors as liability protection. This could happen if a company underperforms and investors take legal action as a result.
It is worth noting that smaller companies, that is those with a public float of under $75 million on the last business day, do not have to include risk factors in their 10-K and 10-Q forms, although some may choose to do so.
How do companies disclose their risk factors?
Publicly traded companies initially disclose their risk factors to the SEC through their S-1 filings as part of the IPO process.
Additionally, companies must provide a complete list of risk factors in their Annual Reports (Form 10-K) or (Form 20-F) for “foreign private issuers”.
Quarterly Reports also include a section on risk factors (Form 10-Q) where companies are only required to update any changes since the previous report.
According to the SEC, risk factors should be reported concisely, logically and in “plain English” so investors can understand them.
How can I use TipRanks risk factors in my stock research?
Use the Risk Factors tab to get data about the risk factors of any company in which you are considering investing.
You can easily see the most significant risks a company is facing. Additionally, you can find out which risk factors a company has added, removed or adjusted since its previous disclosure. You can also see how a company’s risk factors compare to others in its sector.
Without reading company reports or participating in conference calls, you would most likely not have access to this sort of information, which is usually not included in press releases or other public announcements.
A simplified analysis of risk factors is unique to TipRanks.
What are all the risk factor categories?
TipRanks has identified 6 major categories of risk factors and a number of subcategories for each. You can see how these categories are broken down in the list below.
1. Financial & Corporate
Accounting & Financial Operations - risks related to accounting loss, value of intangible assets, financial statements, value of intangible assets, financial reporting, estimates, guidance, company profitability, dividends, fluctuating results.
Share Price & Shareholder Rights – risks related to things that impact share prices and the rights of shareholders, including analyst ratings, major shareholder activity, trade volatility, liquidity of shares, anti-takeover provisions, international listing, dual listing.
Debt & Financing – risks related to debt, funding, financing and interest rates, financial investments.
Corporate Activity and Growth – risks related to restructuring, M&As, joint ventures, execution of corporate strategy, strategic alliances.
2. Legal & Regulatory
Litigation and Legal Liabilities – risks related to litigation/ lawsuits against the company.
Regulation – risks related to compliance, GDPR, and new legislation.
Environmental / Social – risks related to environmental regulation and to data privacy.
Taxation & Government Incentives – risks related to taxation and changes in government incentives.
3. Production
Costs – risks related to costs of production including commodity prices, future contracts, inventory.
Supply Chain – risks related to the company’s suppliers.
Manufacturing – risks related to the company’s manufacturing process including product quality and product recalls.
Human Capital – risks related to recruitment, training and retention of key employees, employee relationships & unions labor disputes, pension, and post retirement benefits, medical, health and welfare benefits, employee misconduct, employee litigation.
4. Technology & Innovation
Innovation / R&D – risks related to innovation and new product development.
Technology – risks related to the company’s reliance on technology.
Cyber Security – risks related to securing the company’s digital assets and from cyber attacks.
Trade Secrets & Patents – risks related to the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property and to infringement claims against the company as well as piracy and unlicensed copying.
5. Ability to Sell
Demand – risks related to the demand of the company’s goods and services including seasonality, reliance on key customers.
Competition – risks related to the company’s competition including substitutes.
Sales & Marketing – risks related to sales, marketing, and distribution channels, pricing, and market penetration.
Brand & Reputation – risks related to the company’s brand and reputation.
6. Macro & Political
Economy & Political Environment – risks related to changes in economic and political conditions.
Natural and Human Disruptions – risks related to catastrophes, floods, storms, terror, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic/COVID-19.
International Operations – risks related to the global nature of the company.
Capital Markets – risks related to exchange rates and trade, cryptocurrency.