To view the PDF file, sign up for a MySharenet subscription.

SASOL LIMITED - Trading statement for the financial half year ending 31 December 2019 and update on balance sheet management

Release Date: 25/11/2019 07:05
Code(s): SOL SOLBE1     PDF:  
Wrap Text
Trading statement for the financial half year ending 31 December 2019 and update on balance sheet management

Sasol Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1979/003231/06)
Sasol Ordinary Share codes:              JSE: SOL              NYSE: SSL
Sasol Ordinary ISIN codes:               ZAE000006896          US8038663006
Sasol BEE Ordinary Share code:           JSE: SOLBE1
Sasol BEE Ordinary ISIN code:            ZAE000151817
(“Sasol” or “Company”)

TRADING STATEMENT FOR THE FINANCIAL HALF YEAR ENDING 31 DECEMBER
2019 AND UPDATE ON BALANCE SHEET MANAGEMENT

The Company hereby advises that for the half year ending 31 December 2019:

-   Headline earnings per share (HEPS) are expected to decrease by at least 20%, or
    R4,65, compared to the HEPS of R23,25 reported for the period ended 31 December
    2018; and
-   Earnings per share (EPS) are expected to decrease by at least 20%, or R4,78,
    compared to EPS of R23,92 reported for the period ended 31 December 2018.

A more detailed trading statement will be published as soon as more certainty has been
attained with respect to the range of the decrease in HEPS and EPS.

Our results for the six months ending 31 December 2019 may be further affected by
adjustments resulting from our half year-end closure process. This may result in a change
in the estimated earnings noted above. This trading statement only deals with the
comparison to the prior period.

The financial information on which this trading statement is based has not been reviewed
and reported on by the Company's external auditors. Sasol's results for the financial half
year ending 31 December 2019 will be announced on Monday, 24 February 2020.

The Company has taken a number of actions consistent with its ongoing commitment to
balance sheet flexibility, access to liquidity, and maintaining an optimal funding mix. This
includes putting in place incremental liquidity through a US$1 billion syndicated loan facility
with Bank of America, Citi, Mizuho and MUFG of up to 18 months and two bilateral facilities
with a combined quantum of US$250 million, and a tenor of two years. These facilities
enhance the Company’s US$ liquidity position during the peak gearing phase as the Lake
Charles Chemicals Project ramps up. These incremental facilities should not affect Sasol’s
net debt position.

In these new facilities, consistent with the Company’s existing revolving credit facility and
US$ Term Loan facility, the covenant has been set at 3,0x net debt: earnings before
interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA). However, across all of these
facilities, the lenders have agreed that for the financial reporting periods ending December
2019 and June 2020 the covenant will be increased to 3,5x.

Sasol remains committed to its investment grade credit rating. Sasol is currently rated
BBB-/A-3 and Baa3/P-3 by S&P and Moody’s respectively.

25 November 2019
Sandton

Sponsor: Merrill Lynch South Africa Proprietary Limited

Date: 25-11-2019 07:05:00
Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE'). 
The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of
 the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, 
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,
 information disseminated through SENS.

Share This Story