Australia's largest gold miner has returned to profit and decided to retain its Telfer mine in Western Australia, one of its main assets.
Newcrest made a net profit of $546 million in the year to June, a turnaround on the $2.2 billion loss made in the prior year due to massive asset impairments related to its Lihir mine in Papua New Guinea.
Underlying profit in the 2014/15 year, which excludes one-off items, rose 19 per cent to $515 million.
Newcrest said its bottom line was boosted by lower costs, greater gold and copper production and a weaker Australian dollar.
However, it again decided against paying a dividend to shareholders.
Newcrest investors have not received a dividend since April 2013.
The miner says its board will consider returning to paying a dividend when its debt pile, which fell by $US819 million to $US2.9 billion during the year, is reduced further.
The company had had a good year, with the only blight being two deaths at the company's mining operations during fiscal 2015, and another fatality in July.
"The group's FY15 financial performance was good, with improved profitability, increased free cashflow and substantial reduction in our US dollar denominated debt," chief executive Sandeep Biswas said.
"Newcrest's improved financial position provides a platform for future growth."
Mr Biswas said Newcrest had decided to retain the Telfer mine, which has been in its portfolio for over 35 years.
Newcrest started reviewing options for the Telfer mine - including a partial or full sale - in February.
Mr Biswas said the decision represented the best value for our shareholders and Newcrest had achieved good returns from Telfer in the past 12 months.
He also noted that Newcrest's costs dropped 12 per cent in the year, while copper production rose 12 per cent and gold output was one per cent higher.
The company's forecast range for gold production in 2015/16 indicates a rise of up to seven per cent, but copper production could fall by as much as 17 per cent.
Mr Biswas said Newcrest was assessing growth options for the company.
He described Newcrest's Golpu advanced exploration project near Lae in PNG's Morobe Province as a world-class growth option, and feasibility studies are expected to be completed by the end of December 2015.
Morningstar analyst Mathew Hodge said Newcrest's improved cash flow, cost cuts and sizeable debt reduction were all positive.
"There was a lot of concern around equity raising and stuff like that. It really looks like they (Newcrest) have passed the worst of that," Mr Hodge said.
Shares in Newcrest closed 49 cents, or 4.5 per cent, higher at $11.44.
COST CUTS AND HIGHER PRODUCTION BOOST NEWCREST
* Annual net profit of $546m, up from $2.22b loss
* Revenue up 8pct at $4.34b
* No final dividend, unchanged
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