Sasol Limited - REVISED TRADING STATEMENT
August 26 2009 - 4:37AM
PR Newswire (US)
Headline Earnings per Share ("HEPS") and Earnings per Share ("EPS")
for the financial year ended 30 June 2009 better than expected.
HEPS expected to decrease by between 32% and 37% and EPS expected
to decrease by between 37% and 42% compared to the prior year.
JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sasol Limited
(JSE:SOL) ( NYSE: SSL) -- Introduction In our trading statement
issued on 19 June 2009, we indicated that our EPS and HEPS were
expected to decrease by between 40% and 50%. At the time we
cautioned that our results may be further impacted by changes in
the oil and product prices, the impact of a much stronger rand on
closing financial assets and liabilities as well as any adjustments
resulting from our year-end process and that these may result in a
change in the estimated earnings. Developments in final month of
trading The negative effect of the stronger R/USD closing exchange
rate was less than anticipated on closing balances, the
strengthening of the Brent crude oil price and product prices
during June 2009 exceeded expectations and higher refining margins
as well as greater positive stock effects than forecasted were
experienced. In addition, the decline in the Sasol share price
during June 2009 resulted in lower share-based payment expenses.
All of these positive factors contributed to the current profit
expectation being better than expected than at the time of the
issuance of the trading statement on 19 June 2009. Provision in
respect of Escravos Gas-to-Liquids (EGTL) interest Management has
prudently decided to make a provision in the amount of R1,279
million in respect of the EGTL interest disposed of. Further
details will be provided in the final financial results
announcement. Revised profit outlook for full 2009 financial year
Taking cognisance of the above mentioned factors, the HEPS for the
full 2009 financial year are expected to decrease by between 32%
and 37%, and EPS are expected to decrease by between 37% and 42%
compared to the prior year. Sasol's financial results for the year
ended 30 June 2009 will be announced on Monday, 14 September 2009.
The financial information on which the above information is based
has not been reviewed or reported on by the Company's auditors. The
Sasol Investor Relations team Tel.: +27 11 441 3113 / 3563 / 3321
Forward looking statements Sasol may, in this document, make
statements that are not historical facts and relate to analyses and
other information based on forecasts of future results and
estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These are
forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believe",
"anticipate", "expect", "intend", "seek", "will", "plan", "could",
"may", "endeavour" and "project" and similar expressions are
intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but are not
the exclusive means of identifying such statements. By their very
nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and
uncertainties, both general and specific, and there are risks that
predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking
statements will not be achieved. If one or more of these risks
materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect,
actual results may be very different from those anticipated. The
factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially
from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions
expressed in such forward-looking statements are discussed more
fully in our registration statement under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 on Form 20-F filed on 7 October, 2008 and in other
filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Forward-looking statements apply only as of the date on which they
are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or
revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise. DATASOURCE: Sasol Limited CONTACT: Sasol
Investor Relations team, +27-11-441-3113, +27-11-441-3563, or
+27-11-441-3321, Web Site: http://www.sasol.com/
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