Anglo American Platinum will release its financial results for the twelve months ended 31 December 2016 (“the period”) on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange News Service (“SENS”) on 15 February 2017.
The Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited require companies to publish a trading statement as soon as they are satisfied that a reasonable degree of certainty exists that the financial results to be reported on next will differ by at least 20% from those of the previous corresponding period.
Shareholders are referred to the Company’s trading statement released on SENS on 10 November 2016 in which the Company advised that headline earnings and headline earnings per share (“HEPS”) for the period were expected to be at least 20% (R21 million or 8 cents per share) higher than for the twelve months ended 31 December 2015 (“comparative period”) and that basic earnings and basic earnings per share (“EPS”) for the period were also expected to be at least 20% (R2.425 billion or 928 cents per share) higher than for the comparative period.
Headline earnings for the period is likely to increase to between R1.64 billion and R2.00 billion and HEPS for the period is likely to increase to between 625 and 760 cents per share. This compares to headline earnings in the prior period of R107 million and HEPS of 41 cents per share.
Basic earnings and EPS for the period are likely to increase to between R550 million and R670 million and per share to between 210 cents and 255 cents respectively. This compares to basic earnings in the prior year of a loss of R12.125 billion and a loss per share of 4,638 cents.
The increase in basic earnings in the period is largely due to impairments and write offs in the comparative period of R14.0 billion (post-tax). Of these impairments, R1.8 billion impacted headline earnings. In addition, higher restructuring costs in the comparative period of R850 million (post-tax) impacted both basic and headline earnings.
The Company has additional impairments in the second half of 2016 of R283 million (post tax) of which R130 million is in respect of an impairment of the investment in Bokoni, and R153 million in respect of an impairment of the investment in Pandora following the signature of a conditional Sales and Purchase Agreement to sell the Company’s 38% interest in Pandora to Lonmin plc. These impairments will impact basic earnings only and will not impact headline earnings.
Following the completion of the sale of Rustenburg Operations to Sibanye Gold Limited released on SENS on 1 November 2016, basic earnings has been impacted in the period by a loss on disposal of the
Rustenburg Operations of R919 million (post-tax). The loss on disposal of the Rustenburg Operations has not impacted headline earnings.
During 2016, the Company concluded a Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) transaction with regards to its Amandelbult Chrome plant, granting 26% of the equity of the plant to its BBBEE partners. An upfront consideration was received by Anglo American Platinum, which is less than the fair value of the equity granted. The remaining consideration was settled through vendor financing assistance provided by the Company. This transaction therefore resulted in the Company recognising R156 million or 60 cents per share in the form of an IFRS 2 (share-based payment) charge which impacts both basic and headline earnings for the year to 31 December 2016. This is a one-off charge calculated on conclusion of the transaction.
Basic and headline earnings were impacted by the lower USD metal prices, a lower 2016 stock count gain than 2015 (which was abnormally high), offset by a weaker ZAR and cost improvement initiatives across the Company.
The financial information on which this trading statement is based has not been reviewed or reported on by the Company’s external auditors.
Johannesburg
6 February 2017
Sponsor
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)