Sasol Limited Group Audited Financial Results 2015
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Notwithstanding a tough macroeconomic environment, we maintained a strong operational
performance across our global integrated value chain over the year. Our Energy Business in Southern Africa
increased its liquid fuels sales volumes by 5% to 61,5 million barrels compared to the prior year. Our Chemicals
Business delivered an exceptional performance, having consistently reported increased sales volumes over
the past two years. Normalising for the impact of the sale of our Solvents Germany and Sasol Polymer Middle
East (SPME) businesses and through focused marketing and sales initiatives, sales volumes for Performance
Chemicals and Base Chemicals both increased by 2% from the prior year.
Internationally, our ORYX GTL facility sustained a solid performance, with an average utilisation rate of
90% for the year, in line with market guidance provided, despite an earlier than planned shutdown during
December 2014 to January 2015.
Cash fixed costs remained flat, in nominal terms, compared to the prior year. Our Business Performance
Enhancement Programme (BPEP) and Response Plan reduced our cash fixed costs, net of the implementation
of the BPEP, by 5%, which was offset by the South African producers’ price index (SA PPI). This was achieved
despite a difficult South African cost environment in respect of labour and electricity charges.
Our company-wide BPEP made significant progress in sustainably reducing our cost base. We delivered actual
cost savings of R2,5 billion, well ahead of our target of R1,5 billion for the 2015 financial year. Implementation
costs for the programme were approximately R200 million below an expected R2,1 billion.
In turn, our Response Plan achieved a R8,9 billion cash conservation benefit, which is at the upper end of our
R6 billion to R10 billion target range for the 2015 financial year.
The reduction in the effective corporate tax rate from 32,6% to 31,7% was impacted by the R1,3 billion partial
impairment of our Canadian shale gas assets.
Cash flow generated from operating activities decreased by 5,6% to R61,8 billion, compared with R65,5 billion
in the prior year. Our net cash position improved by 39% from R38 billion in June 2014 to R53 billion at
30 June 2015, driven largely by the stronger than expected operational business performance.
As previously announced, our revised dividend policy is a dividend cover range based on headline earnings
per share. The dividend cover was 2,7 times at 30 June 2015 (30 June 2014: 2,8 times). Taking into account the
current volatile macroeconomic environment, capital investment plans, our cash conservation initiative, the
current strength of our financial position, and the dividend cover range, the Sasol Limited board of directors
has declared a final gross dividend of R11,50 per share (15% lower than the prior year).
Chief Financial Officer, Bongani Nqwababa says:
“Our strong results for the 2015 financial year are testament to the resilience of our company, the diversity
in our asset portfolio and our ability to decisively respond to the volatile and uncertain global economic
environment.
Through our tailored business planning, we are making steady progress in mitigating the challenges of a low
oil price environment.
Our Business Performance Enhancement Programme is delivering sustainable cost savings ahead of
expectations, while our Response Plan allows us to conserve cash in a volatile environment. Cash flow
generation remains robust, which, together with our solid, ungeared balance sheet, enables us to execute our
growth projects in Southern Africa and the United States. Our US$8,9 billion world-scale ethane cracker and
downstream derivatives complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana remains on track to reach beneficial operation in
2018.”