Trading statement for the six months ended 31 December 2017
Johannesburg, Friday, 9 February 2018. In terms of paragraph 3.4(b) of the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited, a company listed on the JSE is required to publish a trading statement as soon as they are satisfied that a reasonable degree of certainty exists that the financial results for the period to be reported upon next will differ by at least 20% from the financial results for the previous corresponding period.
Shareholders of Harmony are advised that a reasonable degree of certainty exists that headline earnings per share (“HEPS”) for the six months ended 31 December 2017 are expected to increase to between 210 and 240 South African cents per share, which is between 40% and 60% higher than the headline earnings of 150 South African cents per share reported for the six months ended 31 December 2016 (“previous comparable period”). In US dollar terms, HEPS are expected to be between 15 and 18 US cents per share, which is between 40% and 60% higher than the headline earnings of 11 US cents per share reported for the previous comparable period.
Headline earnings are higher due to an improved operational performance recorded by the South African operations as previously announced on 16 January 2018.
Earnings per share (“EPS”) are expected to decrease to between 158 and 229 South African cents per share, which is between 55% and 35% lower than the 352 South African cents per share reported for the previous comparable period. In US dollar terms, EPS are expected to be between 13 and 18 US cents per share, which is between 50% and 30% lower than the earnings of 25 US cents per share reported for the previous comparable period.
Earnings for the six months ended 31 December 2017 will be lower than the previous comparable period, mainly due to the once-off gain on bargain purchase of R848 million (US$61 million) recorded on the acquisition of full ownership of Hidden Valley that was recognised in the comparative period (excluded from headline earnings).
The financial information on which this trading statement has been based, has not been reviewed or reported on by Harmony’s external auditors.
Harmony will publish its financial results for the six months ended 31 December 2017 on Tuesday, 13 February 2018.
JSE Sponsor:
J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa Proprietary Limited
For more details contact:
Lauren Fourie
Investor Relations Manager
+27 (0) 071 607 1498 (mobile)
Marian van der Walt
Executive: Corporate and Investor Relations
+27 (0) 82 888 1242 (mobile)
Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (Harmony), a world-class gold mining and exploration company, has operations and assets in South Africa and Papua New Guinea (PNG). Harmony, which has more than 60 years’ experience in the industry, is the third largest gold producer in South Africa. Our assets include one open pit mine and several exploration tenements in PNG, as well as 9 underground mines and 1 open pit operation and several surface sources in South Africa. In addition, we own 50% of the significant Golpu project in a joint venture in PNG.
The company’s primary stock exchange listing is on the JSE with a secondary listing on the New York Stock Exchange. The bulk of our shareholders are in South Africa and the United States. Additional information on the company is available on the corporate website, www.harmony.co.za.