Country for PR: United Kingdom
Contributor: PR Newswire Europe
Monday, August 16 2021 - 20:57
AsiaNet
Sasol delivered a strong set of results for the year ended 30 June 2021
JOHANNESBURG, August 16, 2021 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -

    Sasol delivered a strong set of results for the year ended 30 June 2021. 
Our earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of R16,6 billion increased by more 
than 100% compared to the prior year. This performance was underpinned by a 
strong cost, working capital and capital expenditure performance, despite the 
continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and adverse weather events. 

    A notable gross margin recovery was recorded in the second half of the 
financial year, supported by the combined impact of higher Brent crude oil and 
chemicals prices, offset by a stronger rand/US dollar exchange rate.

    Our earnings were mainly impacted by the following non-cash adjustments the 
net of which amounted to R15,4 billion:
    - Net impairments of R28,7 billion mainly due to adjustments to our 
long-term exchange rate outlook and higher cost to procure gas over the longer 
term;
    - Net profit on disposal of businesses of R2,2 billion, including the Air 
Separation Units;
    - R3,4 billion gain on the realisation of the foreign currency translation 
reserve (FCTR), mainly on the divestment of a 50% interest in the LCCP Base 
Chemicals business;
    - Gains of R5,5 billion on the translation of monetary assets and 
liabilities due to a 18% strengthening of the closing rand/US dollar exchange 
rate compared to June 2020; and
    - Gains of R2,3 billion on the valuation of financial instruments and 
derivative contracts.

Key metrics	                             2021	    2020	Change %
		                                         Restated	
EBIT/(LBIT) (R million)	                   16 619	(111 926)	>100
Adjusted EBITDA1 (R million)	           48 420	  34 976	  38
Headline earnings/(loss) (R million)	   24 503	  (7 106)	>100
Basic earnings/(loss) per share (Rand)	    14,57	 (148,49)	>100
Headline earnings/(loss) per share (Rand)   39,53	  (11,50)	>100
Core headline earnings per share2 (Rand)    27,74	   15,08	  84
Dividend per share (Rand)			
-   Interim (Rand)	                        -	       -	   -
-   Final (Rand)	                        -	       -	   -

    1.	Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adjusting EBIT for depreciation, 
amortisation, share-based payments, remeasurement items, change in discount 
rates of environmental provisions, all unrealised translation gains and losses, 
and all unrealised gains and losses on our derivatives and hedging activities. 
We believe Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure of the Group’s underlying cash 
flow performance. However, this is not a defined term under IFRS and may not be 
comparable with similarly titled measures reported by other companies. 
(Adjusted EBITDA constitutes pro forma financial information in terms of the 
JSE Limited Listings Requirements and should be read in conjunction with the 
basis of preparation and pro forma financial information as set out in the full 
set of audited summarised financial statements).

    2.  Core HEPS is calculated by adjusting headline earnings per share with 
non-recurring items, earnings losses of significant capital projects (exceeding 
R4 billion) which have reached beneficial operation and are still ramping up, 
all translation gains and losses (realised and unrealised), all gains and 
losses on our derivatives and hedging activities (realised and unrealised), and 
share-based payments on implementation of B-BBEE transactions. Adjustments in 
relation to the valuation of our derivatives at period end are to remove 
volatility from earnings as these instruments are valued using forward curves 
and other market factors at the reporting date and could vary from period to 
period. We believe core headline earnings are a useful measure of the Group´s 
sustainable operating performance. (Core HEPS constitutes pro forma financial 
information in terms of the JSE Limited Listings Requirements and should be 
read in conjunction with the basis of preparation and pro forma financial 
information as set out in the full set of audited summarised financial 
statements.

Net asset value	                    2021	2020	Change %
		                              Restated	
Total assets (R million)	  360 743      474 535	    (24)
Total liabilities (R million)	  208 272      318 618	     53
Total equity (R million)	  152 471      155 917	     (2)


    Turnover		                          EBIT/(LBIT)
    2020	2021		                2021	   2020
				                         Restated
  R million   R million		             R million	R million
		        Energy business		
  19 981	21 704	Mining	                 3 227	  2 756
  12 419	10 990	Gas	                 6 656	  5 527
  62 553	60 649	Fuels	               (18 170)	(11 609)
		        Chemicals business		
  54 310	60 597	Africa	                 6 957	(17 035)
  28 809	29 360	America	                 8 116	(77 556)
  39 989	46 038	Eurasia	                 4 680	   (894)
      30	    26	Corporate Centre         5 153	(13 115)
 218 001	229 364	Group performance       16 619	(111 926)
 (27 634)	(27 454)Intersegmental turnover	
 190 367	201 910	External turnover	


    Balance sheet management
    Cash generated by operating activities increased by 6% to R45,1 billion 
compared to the prior year. This, together with the asset divestment programme, 
enabled the repayment of approximately R81 billion of debt, including the 
settlement of our rand denominated banking facilities of approximately R4 
billion.

    Actual capital expenditure amounted to R16,4 billion compared to R35,2 
billion during 2020. The reduction in capital expenditure was carefully 
executed as a result of our optimised risk management focus whilst ensuring 
asset integrity and safety were not compromised.

    Our net debt to EBITDA ratio at 30 June 2021, based on the revolving credit 
facility (RCF) and US dollar term loan covenant definition, was 1,5 times, 
significantly below the agreed threshold level. Although this ratio meets our 
targeted net debt to EBITDA level, we will continue with our efforts to reduce 
leverage and absolute debt levels further. This will create valuable financial 
flexibility as we execute our Future Sasol strategy in the midst of an 
uncertain macroeconomic environment. Our objective remains to steer the balance 
sheet metrics toward restoration of our investment grade levels. 

    During the year bonds of US$1,5 billion (R21,4 billion) were issued and 
listed on the New York Stock Exchange. At 30 June 2021, our total debt was 
R102,9 billion compared to R189,7 billion at 30 June 2020. During the year, we 
utilised proceeds from our asset divestments to repay the US dollar syndicated 
loan, a portion of our RCF and term loans, reducing our US dollar denominated 
debt by almost R76 billion (US$5 billion).

    Our gearing decreased from 117,0% at 30 June 2020 to 61,5% at 30 June 2021 
mainly due to repayment of US dollar debt and a stronger closing rand/US dollar 
exchange rate. 

    As at 30 June 2021, our liquidity headroom was R84 billion (US$5,9 
billion), well above our outlook to maintain liquidity in excess of US$1 
billion, with available rand and US dollar-based funds improving as we advance 
our focused management actions. We have no significant debt maturities before 
November 2022 when the US$1 billion bond becomes due.

    In line with our financial risk management framework, we continue to make 
good progress with hedging our foreign currency, crude oil and ethane exposure. 
We have been successful in hedging our total oil exposure for 2022 which 
increases the certainty of future cash flows to reduce debt levels and enable 
us to execute on our Future Sasol strategy. For further details of our open 
hedge positions we refer you to our Analyst Book (www.sasol.com).

    Dividend
    The restoration of dividends is a key priority, but in the context of the 
high level of macroeconomic uncertainty the Board believes it is prudent not to 
declare a dividend at this stage. 

    Changes in Directors
    The following change to the Board occurred after the publication of the 
Company’s interim financial results on 22 February 2021:

    Mr S Subramoney was appointed as independent non-executive director and 
member of the Audit Committee with effect from 1 March 2021. The Company 
announced the appointment of Ms GMB Kennealy, an independent non-executive 
director, as Chairman of the Audit Committee effective 1 September 2021 upon 
the retirement of Mr C Beggs as independent non-executive director and Chairman 
of the Audit Committee on 31 August 2021.

    Mr P Victor has informed the Company that he will step down as Chief 
Financial Officer (CFO) and executive director of Sasol Limited on 30 June 
2022. Mr H Rossouw has been appointed as CFO designate and executive director 
designate of Sasol to succeed Mr Victor. He will join Sasol on 4 April 2022 and 
will succeed Mr Victor as executive director and CFO on 1 July 2022.

    Short-form statement
    This announcement is the responsibility of the directors. The information 
in this short-form announcement, including the financial information on which 
the outlook is based, has not been audited and reported on by Sasol Limited’s 
external auditors. Financial figures in this announcement have been correctly 
extracted from the audited financial results. The audited financial results 
have been audited by the group’s auditors, PwC who expressed an unmodified 
opinion thereon. A key audit matter relating to “Impairment assessment of 
property, plant and equipment and investments in subsidiaries” is addressed in 
PwC’s independent auditor’s report. This announcement does not include the 
information required pursuant to paragraph 16A(j) of IAS 34 ‘Interim Financial 
Reporting. It is only a summary of the information contained in the full 
announcement and does not contain full or complete details. Any investment 
decision should also take into consideration the information contained in the 
full announcement, published on SENS on 16 August 2021, via the JSE link. The 
full announcement and the FY21 audited financial results, which includes the 
auditor’s report, will be available on the Company's website at 
https://www.sasol.com/investor-centre/financial-reporting/annual-integrated-reporting-set.


    CAPITAL MARKETS DAY

    Sasol’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Fleetwood Grobler, together 
with his executive leadership team will be hosting a virtual Capital Markets 
Day, including a Q&A session, on Wednesday, 22 September 2021 at 12:00 (SA 
time).

    Please join us for our 2021 virtual Capital Markets Day where we will 
provide an update on Sasol’s longer-term strategy and sustainability ambitions, 
including our transition pathway until 2050.

    The agenda and participation details will follow closer to the event. 
Please direct any queries to: investor.relations@sasol.com or call +27 10 344 
9280.


    Note to Editors: 

    The pre-recorded presentation is available on the following link: 
https://www.corpcam.com/Sasol16082021

    The JSE link is as follows: 
https://senspdf.jse.co.za/documents/2021/JSE/ISSE/SOL/FY21Result.pdf

    The President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer will 
host a conference call via webcast on Monday, 16 August 2021, at 15:00 (SA 
time) to discuss the results and give an update of the business.

    Live conference call link: https://www.corpcam.com/Sasol16082021Q 


    Conference call details:			
    Monday, 16 August, 2021	Time		
    South Africa	       15:00		
    United Kingdom	       13:00		
    United States (ET)	       08:00		
			
    Issued by:

    Matebello Motloung
    Manager: Group Media Relations
    Direct telephone: +27 (0) 10 344 9256
    Mobile: +27 (0) 82 773 9457
    matebello.motloung@sasol.com

    Alex Anderson
    Senior Manager: Group External Communication
    Direct telephone: +27 (0) 10 344 6509
    Mobile: +27 (0) 71 600 9605
    alex.anderson@sasol.com 

    Source: Sasol Limited

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Japanese