Shareholders are advised that Exxaro will release its reviewed financial results for the six-month period ended 30 June 2015 on 20 August 2015.

Further to the trading statement released by Exxaro on the Stock Exchange News Service on 19 May 2015 in which the Company indicated that, for the period ended 30 June 2015,

  • the attributable loss per share would likely show an improvement of at least 20%, and
  • headline earnings per share would likely be at least 20% lower

than the six-month period ended 30 June 2014, shareholders are advised that Exxaro and its directors have obtained a reasonable degree of certainty relating to the expected financial results of Exxaro for the six-month period ended 30 June 2015.

The group is expected to record net operating profit for the six-month period ended
30 June 2015 compared to the net operating loss recorded in the comparative period in 2014, primarily due to the non-recurring pre-tax impairment loss of the Mayoko iron ore project amounting to R5 807 million at 30 June 2014.

Lower net operating profit is expected from the carbon operations for the six-month period ended 30 June 2015 mainly due to lower domestic and export coal sales volumes at lower average Rand selling prices recorded in 2015, combined with the non-recurrence of the shortfall income recorded in 2014. This was partly offset by higher Eskom sales due to the Medupi power station ramp up.

Attributable earnings for the period ended 30 June 2015 are expected to be between
R1 027 million and R1 202 million. This equates to an expected range of basic attributable earnings per share of between 289 cents and 339 cents, representing an improvement when measured against the attributable loss per share of 688 cents in the comparative period in 2014 of between 142% and 149%. The 2014 loss was primarily due to the non-recurring post-tax impairment loss of the Mayoko Iron Ore Project amounting to R5 208 million at
30 June 2014.

Basic headline earnings for the period ended 30 June 2015 are expected to be between R948 million and R1 099 million. This equates to an expected range for basic headline earnings per share of between 267 cents and 310 cents, representing a decrease of between 61% and 66% on the 793 cents headline earnings per share reported for the six-month period ended 30 June 2014. This decrease is primarily attributable to the decrease in income from the equity-accounted investments, Sishen Iron Ore Company Proprietary Limited and Tronox Limited, as a result of the significant decrease in the export iron ore and mineral sands and pigment prices during the period.

The forecast financial information on which this trading statement is based has not been reviewed, audited nor reported on by Exxaro's external auditors. This statement is issued in compliance with the JSE Limited Listings Requirements.

Editor's note:
Exxaro is one of the largest South African based diversified resources companies, with interests in the carbon, titanium dioxide and chemicals and ferrous commodities. www.exxaro.com

Enquiries:
Wim de Klerk
Finance Director
Tel: + 27 12 307 4848
Mobile: +27 82 652 5145
Email: wim.deklerk@exxaro.com

Pretoria
07 August 2015

Sponsor
Deutsche Securities (SA) Proprietary Limited

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