REG - South32 Limited - Quarterly Report March 2018

South32Announcement

19/04/2018 07:05

RNS Number : 4022L
South32 Limited
19 April 2018
 

South32 Limited
(Incorporated in Australia under the Corporations Act 2001)
(ACN 093 732 597)
ASX / LSE / JSE Share Code: S32 ADR: SOUHY

ISIN: AU000000S320
south32.net
South32 Limited
QUARTERLY REPORT MARCH 2018
 "We delivered production records at Mozal Aluminium and Australia Manganese and have increased full year guidance for both of our manganese operations in light of strong market demand.
"At the Appin colliery we further prioritised coal clearance and ground rehabilitation activities during the quarter, setting the foundation for a return to historical rates of production at Illawarra Metallurgical Coal of more than 8 million tonnes per annum.
"We also continued to benefit from elevated prices in our key commodity markets, strengthening our net cash balance by US$477 million to US$1.9 billion after allocating a further US$85 million to our on-market share buy-back."
Graham Kerr, South32 CEO




•


Strong commodity prices and a partial unwind of working capital delivered a US$477M increase in net cash to US$1.9B after allocating a further US$85M to our on-market share buy-back in the quarter.




•


Delivered a year to date production record at Mozal Aluminium as the smelter continued to test its maximum technical capability and increased payable nickel production at Cerro Matoso by 21% as the performance of La Esmeralda continued to exceed expectations.




•


Increased payable silver production at Cannington by 28% in the quarter as mining entered a higher grade sequence of stopes.




•


Increased production guidance at Australia Manganese by 6% and South Africa Manganese by 5% on the back of strong market demand and record operating performance at Australia Manganese.




•


Revised FY18 production guidance at Illawarra Metallurgical Coal to 4.1Mt as we further prioritised coal clearance and ground rehabilitation activities during the March 2018 quarter in support of the Appin colliery restart plan.




•


Finalised plans at Illawarra Metallurgical Coal that are expected to deliver more productive longwall and development performance, underpinning a recovery in production to more than 6Mt in FY19 and an anticipated return to historical rates above 8Mtpa from H2 FY20.




•


Advanced our plans to manage South Africa Energy Coal as a stand-alone business from the June 2018 quarter, which will allow us to simplify our business, lower overhead costs and fundamentally change the way we work.




 




Production summary


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 




South32's share


9M

YTD17


9M

YTD18


YoY


 


3Q17


2Q18


3Q18


QoQ




Alumina production (kt)


3,901


3,773


(3%)


 


1,288


1,262


1,232


(2%)




Aluminium production (kt)


737


737


0%


 


245


246


242


(2%)




Energy coal production (kt)


22,567


21,097


(7%)


 


6,858


6,987


7,096


2%




Metallurgical coal production (kt)


4,260


2,076


(51%)


 


1,431


788


794


1%




Manganese ore production (kwmt)


3,718


4,199


13%


 


1,285


1,526


1,369


(10%)




Manganese alloy production (kt)


162


180


11%


 


47


62


62


0%




Payable nickel production (kt)


26.8


32.5


21%


 


9.1


10.1


10.7


6%




Payable silver production (koz)


12,277


8,257


(33%)


 


3,548


2,412


3,082


28%




Payable lead production (kt)


105.2


73.0


(31%)


 


31.3


23.6


23.6


0%




Payable zinc production (kt)


57.2


28.8


(50%)


 


15.1


9.2


8.6


(7%)




Unless otherwise noted: percentage variance relates to performance during the nine months ended March 2018 compared with the nine months ended
           March 2017 (YoY) or the March 2018 quarter compared with the December 2017 quarter (QoQ); production and sales volumes are reported on an
           attributable basis.
 
 
 
CORPORATE UPDATE
 




•


Net cash increased by US$477M to US$1.9B1 during the March 2018 quarter as commodity prices remained elevated, the prior build in working capital partially unwound, and we received net distributions totalling US$158M2 from our manganese equity accounted investments (EAI) (South32 share) and US$44M (pre-tax) from the sale of a financial asset. Our strong financial position allowed us to return a further US$85M to shareholders during the period with the continuation of our on-market share buy-back.




•


To 31 March 2018 we had completed US$390M of our approved US$1B capital management program, having bought back 176M shares at an average price of A$2.89 per share. Subsequent to the end of the quarter we returned an additional US$154M in the form of a special dividend, bringing total returns under our approved US$1B capital management program to US$544M. We also paid a fully franked interim dividend of US$221M on 5 April 2018.




•


As a result of lower volumes, Operating unit costs at Illawarra Metallurgical Coal are expected to remain elevated in FY18 at US$150/t (prior guidance US$135/t) before benefitting from stronger production as our ramp up plan gains momentum. While FY18 Operating unit cost guidance at all other operations remains unchanged, the potential for a greater proportion of higher margin export tonnes at South Africa Energy Coal may increase Operating unit costs by approximately 5%. Stronger alumina prices, of which we are a net beneficiary, will also impact the cost base of our aluminium smelters over the remainder of FY18.




•


Capital expenditure (including EAI) guidance of US$525M for FY18 is unchanged with the rate of spend expected to increase in the June 2018 quarter as long lead time items are purchased for the Klipspruit Life Extension project.




•


We remain on track to manage South Africa Energy Coal as a stand-alone business during the June 2018 quarter, having concluded our structural consultation processes with impacted employees. This will allow us to simplify our business, lower overhead costs and fundamentally change the way we work.




•


We invested US$32.5M in exploration programs during the nine months ended 31 March 2018 (US$1.4M capitalised). This included US$1.1M for our EAI (US$0.6M capitalised) and US$16.5M of expenditure across 13 projects associated with our portfolio of early stage greenfield exploration opportunities.




•


Our Underlying Effective Tax Rate (ETR), which excludes tax associated with our EAI, largely reflects the geographic distribution of the Group's profit. The corporate tax rates applicable to the Group include: Australia 30%, South Africa 28%, Colombia 37%3, Mozambique 0%3 and Brazil 34%.




 




Production guidance

(South32's share)


FY17


9M

YTD18


FY18e


Commentary




Worsley Alumina


 


 


 


 




Alumina production (kt)


3,892


2,783


3,975


Expect to approach guidance as hydrate conversion rates improve in the June 2018 quarter with a reduction in calciner maintenance




South Africa Aluminium


 


 


 


 




Aluminium production (kt)


714


533


720


Expect to approach guidance despite an electric arc incident in the December 2017 quarter




Mozal Aluminium


 


 


 


 




Aluminium production (kt)


271


204


269


 




Brazil Alumina


 


 


 


 




Alumina production (kt)


1,329


990


1,345


 




South Africa Energy Coal4


 


 


 


 




Energy coal production (kt)


28,913


20,164


27,500


 




Domestic coal production (kt)


16,717


11,059


16,000




Export coal production (kt)


12,196


9,105


11,500




Illawarra Metallurgical Coal


 


 


 


 




Total coal production (kt)


7,073


3,009


↓4,100


Guidance reduced by 9% as we further prioritised coal clearance and ground rehabilitation activities at the Appin colliery during the March 2018 quarter




Metallurgical coal production (kt)


5,697


2,076


↓2,950




Energy coal production (kt)


1,376


933


1,150




Australia Manganese


 


 


 


 




Manganese ore production (kwmt)


2,994


2,531


↑3,300


Guidance increased by 6%
(subject to market demand)




South Africa Manganese


 


 


 


 




Manganese ore production5 (kwmt)


2,038


1,668


↑2,150


Guidance increased by 5%
(subject to market demand)




Cerro Matoso


 


 


 


 




Payable nickel production (kt)


36.5


32.5


41.6


Tracking ahead of plan with the potential to marginally exceed guidance




Cannington


 


 


 


 




Payable silver production (koz)


15,603


8,257


12,200


 




Payable lead production (kt)


132


73


102




Payable zinc production (kt)


70


29


39




 
WORSLEY ALUMINA
(86% share)
 




South32's share


9M

YTD17


9M

YTD18


YoY


 


3Q17


2Q18


3Q18


3Q18

vs

3Q17


3Q18

vs

2Q18




Alumina production (kt)


2,904


2,783


(4%)


 


964


923


918


(5%)


(1%)




Alumina sales (kt) 


2,927


2,796


(4%)


 


1,018


920


910


(11%)


(1%)




 
Worsley Alumina saleable production decreased by 4% (or 121kt) to 2.8Mt in the nine months ended March 2018, despite the performance of the input circuit remaining largely unchanged at an annualised rate of 4.5Mt (100% basis). Further calciner maintenance was undertaken in the March 2018 quarter and the refinery has established a substantial hydrate position. While FY18 production guidance remains unchanged, it is predicated on our ability to convert hydrate to calcined alumina during the June 2018 quarter.
First ore from the West Marradong sublease was processed during the March 2018 quarter. West Marradong is expected to reduce average caustic consumption at the refinery from the June 2018 quarter.
 
SOUTH AFRICA ALUMINIUM
(100%)
 




South32's share


9M

YTD17


9M

YTD18


YoY


 


3Q17


2Q18


3Q18


3Q18

vs

3Q17


3Q18

vs

2Q18




Aluminium production (kt)


534


533


(0%)


 


178


178


175


(2%)


(2%)




Aluminium sales (kt) 


510


528


4%


 


163


182


184


13%


1%




 
South Africa Aluminium saleable production decreased by 1kt to 533kt in the nine months ended March 2018 as the smelter progressively returned all pots to service following an electric arc incident in the December 2017 quarter. Despite this incident, FY18 production is expected to approach annual guidance of 720kt.
 
MOZAL ALUMINIUM
(47.1% share)
 




South32's share


9M

YTD17


9M

YTD18


YoY


 


3Q17


2Q18


3Q18


3Q18

vs

3Q17


3Q18

vs

2Q18




Aluminium production (kt)


203


204


0%


 


67


68


67


0%


(1%)




Aluminium sales (kt) 


200


198


(1%)


 


66


82


51


(23%)


(38%)




 
Mozal Aluminium saleable production increased by 1kt to a record 204kt in the nine months ended March 2018 as the smelter continued to test its maximum technical capability. Aluminium sales declined by 38% in the March 2018 quarter as our inventory position normalised following a drawdown in the prior quarter. FY18 production guidance remains unchanged at 269kt.
 
BRAZIL ALUMINA
(36% share)
 




South32's share


9M

YTD17


9M

YTD18


YoY


 


3Q17


2Q18


3Q18


3Q18

vs

3Q17


3Q18

vs

2Q18




Alumina production (kt)


997


990


(1%)


 


324


339


314


(3%)


(7%)




Alumina sales (kt) 


994


963


(3%)


 


356


316


314


(12%)


(1%)




 
Brazil Alumina saleable production decreased by 1% (or 7kt) to 990kt in the nine months ended March 2018 as unplanned maintenance impacted performance during the March 2018 quarter.  FY18 production guidance remains unchanged at 1.3Mt.
 
SOUTH AFRICA ENERGY COAL
(100%)
 




South32's share


9M

YTD17


9M

YTD18


YoY


 


3Q17


2Q18


3Q18


3Q18

vs

3Q17


3Q18

vs

2Q18




Energy coal production (kt)


21,500


20,164


(6%)


 


6,675


6,734


6,741


1%


0%




Domestic sales (kt) 


12,974


11,169


(14%)


 


4,056


3,546


3,835


(5%)


8%




Export sales (kt)


8,729


9,337


7%


 


2,873


3,117


3,472


21%


11%




 
South Africa Energy Coal saleable production decreased by 6% (or 1,336kt) to 20.2Mt in the nine months ended March 2018. Export coal production continued to exceed expectations as the Wolvekrans-Middelburg Complex (WMC) benefitted from ongoing investment that is providing access to higher margin tonnes. In contrast, domestic production from the WMC was lower as demand from the Duvha power station remained subdued and scheduled maintenance was undertaken. Export sales increased by 11% in the March 2018 quarter as the prior weather related supply chain constraint at Richards Bay Coal Terminal was cleared.
Whilst FY18 production guidance remains unchanged at 27.5Mt (11.5Mt export; 16.0Mt domestic) persistent weakness in domestic demand may result in a reduction of loss making domestic volumes across the remainder of FY18 and FY19. While any reduction in domestic sales volumes or a reweighting towards export markets would be margin accretive, average Operating unit costs would be impacted by increased washing logistics costs, and reduction in volumes.
 
illawarra metallurgical coal
(100%)
 




South32's share


9M

YTD17


9M

YTD18


YoY


 


3Q17


2Q18


3Q18


3Q18

vs

3Q17


3Q18

vs

2Q18




Total coal production (kt)


5,327


3,009


(44%)


 


1,614


1,041


1,149


(29%)


10%




Total coal sales (kt)


5,585


2,751


(51%)


 


1,980


882


1,091


(45%)


24%




Metallurgical coal production (kt)


4,260


2,076


(51%)


 


1,431


788


794


(45%)


1%




Metallurgical coal sales (kt)


4,482


1,817


(59%)


 


1,694


654


760


(55%)


16%




Energy coal production (kt)


1,067


933


(13%)


 


183


253


355


94%


40%




Energy coal sales (kt)


1,103


934


(15%)


 


286


228


331


16%


45%




 
Illawarra Metallurgical Coal total saleable production decreased by 44% (or 2,318kt) to 3.0Mt in the nine months ended March 2018 as the Appin colliery continued to ramp-up production following an extended outage. Given a greater focus on coal clearance and ground rehabilitation activities at the Appin colliery during the quarter, and with two longwall moves planned before the end of the financial year, we now expect Illawarra Metallurgical Coal to produce 4.1Mt of saleable coal in FY18 (versus prior guidance of 4.5Mt). As a result, Operating unit costs are expected to remain elevated in FY18 at US$150/t (prior guidance US$135/t) before benefitting from increased production in FY19 as our ramp up plan gains momentum. In this context, more productive longwall and development performance is expected to underpin a recovery in production to more than 6Mt in FY19 and an anticipated return to historical rates of production above 8Mtpa from H2 FY20.
 
Australia manganese
 (60% share)
 




South32's share


9M

YTD17


9M

YTD18


YoY


 


3Q17


2Q18


3Q18


3Q18

vs

3Q17


3Q18

vs

2Q18




Manganese ore production (kwmt)


2,218


2,531


14%


 


719


893


830


15%


(7%)




Manganese ore sales (kwmt)


2,249


2,415


7%


 


749


822


803


7%


(2%)




Manganese alloy production (kt)


106


123


16%


 


28


43


41


46%


(5%)




Manganese alloy sales (kt)


119


115


(3%)


 


37


42


37


0%


(12%)




 
Australia Manganese saleable ore production increased by 14% (or 313kwmt) to a record 2.5Mwmt in the nine months ended March 2018 as the PC02 circuit exceeded its annualised capacity of 500kwmt (100% basis). We have increased our FY18 production guidance by 6% to 3,300kwmt, despite the impact of the wet season in the March 2018 quarter.
 
Manganese alloy saleable production increased by 16% (or 17kt) to 123kt in the nine months ended March 2018 as all four furnaces continued to operate.
 
SOUTH AFRICA manganese
(60% share)
 




South32's share


9M

YTD17


9M

YTD18


YoY


 


3Q17


2Q18


3Q18


3Q18

vs

3Q17


3Q18

vs

2Q18




Manganese ore production (kwmt)


1,500


1,668


11%


 


566


633


539


(5%)


(15%)




Manganese ore sales (kwmt)


1,482


1,543


4%


 


554


539


476


(14%)


(12%)




Manganese alloy production (kt)


56


57


2%


 


19


19


21


11%


11%




Manganese alloy sales (kt)


54


49


(9%)


 


14


14


21


50%


50%




 
South Africa Manganese saleable ore production increased by 11% (or 168kwmt) to 1.7Mwmt in the nine months ended March 2018 as we continued to utilise higher cost trucking and sell lower quality fines product to take advantage of favourable market conditions. We have increased our FY18 production guidance by 5% to 2,150kwmt, despite planned major maintenance at the Wessels underground mine in the June 2018 quarter.
 
Manganese alloy saleable production increased by 2% (or 1kt) to 57kt in the nine months ended March 2018 as Metalloys continued to operate one of its four furnaces.
 
cerro matoso
(99.9% share)
 




South32's share


9M

YTD17


9M

YTD18


YoY


 


3Q17


2Q18


3Q18


3Q18

vs

3Q17


3Q18

vs

2Q18




Payable nickel production (kt)


26.8


32.5


21%


 


9.1


10.1


10.7


18%


6%




Payable nickel sales (kt)


26.8


32.1


20%


 


9.2


9.9


10.8


17%


9%




 
Cerro Matoso payable nickel production increased by 21% (or 5.7kt) to 32.5kt in the nine months ended March 2018, despite major maintenance of the furnace being completed during the quarter, as planned. The operation is currently tracking ahead of expectations with the potential to marginally exceed production guidance of 41.6kt in FY18.
Production has not been impacted by the decision handed down by the Constitutional Court of Colombia in relation to alleged health and environmental impacts at the community surrounding the operation. We are in the process of appealing the decision. 
 
cannington
(100%)
 




South32's share


9M

YTD17


9M

YTD18


YoY


 


3Q17


2Q18


3Q18


3Q18

vs

3Q17


3Q18

vs

2Q18




Payable silver production (koz)


12,277


8,257


(33%)


 


3,548


2,412


3,082


(13%)


28%




Payable silver sales (koz)


12,404


8,443


(32%)


 


3,544


2,503


3,014


(15%)


20%




Payable lead production (kt)


105.2


73.0


(31%)


 


31.3


23.6


23.6


(25%)


0%




Payable lead sales (kt)


105.8


72.1


(32%)


 


32.5


22.7


23.5


(28%)


4%




Payable zinc production (kt)


57.2


28.8


(50%)


 


15.1


9.2


8.6


(43%)


(7%)




Payable zinc sales (kt)


57.6


32.0


(44%)


 


16.8


12.1


6.3


(63%)


(48%)




 
Cannington silver, lead and zinc payable production decreased by 33%, 31% and 50%, respectively, in the nine months ended March 2018 as the operation transitioned to its replacement underground crusher and the mine plan moved through a lower grade sequence of stopes. The replacement underground crusher was commissioned during the March 2018 quarter ahead of schedule and payable silver production increased by 28% as the mine plan entered a higher grade sequence of stopes. FY18 production guidance (silver 12,200koz, lead 102kt, zinc 39kt) remains unchanged with ore grades expected to increase in the June 2018 quarter, consistent with the mine plan.
 
Notes:
1.     Net cash number is unaudited.
2.     Net distributions from equity accounting investments includes net debt movements and dividends, which are unaudited.
3.     The Colombian corporate tax rate was 40% until 31 December 2017. The Mozambique operations are subject to a royalty on revenues instead of income tax.
4.    8% of South Africa Energy Coal is owned by a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) consortium. The interests owned by the B-BBEE consortium were acquired using vendor finance, with the loans repayable to South32 via distributions attributable to these parties, pro rata to their share in South Africa Energy Coal. Until these loans are repaid, South32's interest in South Africa Energy Coal is accounted at 100%.
5.    Consistent with the presentation of South32's segment information, South Africa Manganese ore production and sales have been reported at 60%. The Group's financial statement will continue to reflect a 54.6% interest in South Africa Manganese ore.
6.     The following abbreviations have been used throughout this report: grams per tonne (g/t); tonnes (t); thousand tonnes (kt); thousand tonnes per annum (ktpa); million tonnes (Mt); million tonnes per annum (Mtpa); thousand ounces (koz); million ounces (Moz); thousand wet metric tonnes (kwmt); million wet metric tonnes (Mwmt); million wet metric tonnes per annum (Mwmt pa); thousand dry metric tonnes (kdmt).
 
operating performance




South32's share


9M

YTD17


9M

YTD18


 


3Q17


4Q17


1Q18


2Q18


3Q18




Worsley Alumina

(86% share)


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 




Alumina hydrate production (kt)


2,939


2,885


 


993


959


974


973


938




Alumina production (kt)


2,904


2,783


 


964


988


942


923


918




Alumina sales (kt)


2,927


2,796


 


1,018


920


966


920


910




South Africa Aluminium
(100%)


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 




Aluminium production (kt)


534


533


 


178


180


180


178


175




Aluminium sales (kt)


510


528


 


163


203


162


182


184




Mozal Aluminium
(47.1% share)


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 




Aluminium production (kt)


203


204


 


67


68


69


68


67




Aluminium sales (kt)


200


198


 


66


73


65


82


51




Brazil Alumina

(36% share)


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 




Alumina production (kt)


997


990


 


324


332


337


339


314




Alumina sales (kt)


994


963


 


356


322


333


316


314




South Africa Energy Coal

(100%)


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 




Energy coal production (kt)


21,500


20,164


 


6,675


7,413


6,689


6,734


6,741




Domestic sales (kt)


12,974


11,169


 


4,056


3,948


3,788


3,546


3,835




Export sales (kt)


8,729


9,337


 


2,873


3,068


2,748


3,117


3,472




Illawarra Metallurgical Coal

(100%)


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 




Total coal production (kt)


5,327


3,009


 


1,614


1,746


819


1,041


1,149




Total coal sales (kt)


5,585


2,751


 


1,980


1,711


778


882


1,091




Metallurgical coal production (kt)


4,260


2,076


 


1,431


1,437


494


788


794




Metallurgical coal sales (kt)


4,482


1,817


 


1,694


1,470


403


654


760




Energy coal production (kt)


1,067


933


 


183


309


325


253


355




Energy coal sales (kt)


1,103


934


 


286


241


375


228


331




Australia Manganese

(60% share)


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 




Manganese ore production (kwmt)


2,218


2,531


 


719


776


808


893


830




Manganese ore sales (kwmt)


2,249


2,415


 


749


838


790


822


803




Ore grade sold (%, Mn)


46.3


45.7


 


46.0


46.2


46.1


46.0


45.0




Manganese alloy production (kt)


106


123


 


28


41


39


43


41




Manganese alloy sales (kt) 


119


115


 


37


36


36


42


37




South Africa Manganese

(60% share)


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 




Manganese ore production (kwmt)


1,500


1,668


 


566


538


496


633


539




Manganese ore sales (kwmt)


1,482


1,543


 


554


542


528


539


476




Ore grade sold (%, Mn)


40.2


40.2


 


40.1


39.8


40.7


39.9


40.1




Manganese alloy production (kt)


56


57


 


19


17


17


19


21




Manganese alloy sales (kt) 


54


49


 


14


20


14


14


21




 




South32's share


9M

YTD17


9M

YTD18


 


3Q17


4Q17


1Q18


2Q18


3Q18




Cerro Matoso

(99.9% share)


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 




Ore mined (kwmt)


3,391


2,918


 


1,044


1,056


1,051


1,036


831




Ore processed (kdmt)


1,937


2,012


 


648


624


696


644


672




Ore grade processed (%, Ni)


1.56


1.81


 


1.60


1.69


1.91


1.75


1.76




Payable nickel production (kt) 


26.8


32.5


 


9.1


9.7


11.7


10.1


10.7




Payable nickel sales (kt)


26.8


32.1


 


9.2


9.8


11.4


9.9


10.8




Cannington

(100%)


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 




Ore mined (kwmt)


2,314


1,780


 


675


595


647


562


571




Ore processed (kdmt)


2,408


1,712


 


739


628


593


575


544




Silver ore grade processed (g/t, Ag)


194


178


 


183


196


175


155


207




Lead ore grade processed (%, Pb)


5.4


5.1


 


5.3


5.2


5.2


4.9


5.2




Zinc ore grade processed (%, Zn)


3.5


2.5


 


3.0


3.1


2.8


2.3


2.5




Payable silver production (koz)


12,277


8,257


 


3,548


3,326


2,763


2,412


3,082




Payable silver sales (koz)


12,404


8,443


 


3,544


3,866


2,926


2,503


3,014




Payable lead production (kt)


105.2


73.0


 


31.3


26.9


25.8


23.6


23.6




Payable lead sales (kt)


105.8


72.1


 


32.5


32.3


25.9


22.7


23.5




Payable zinc production (kt)


57.2


28.8


 


15.1


13.2


11.0


9.2


8.6




Payable zinc sales (kt)


57.6


32.0


 


16.8


9.8


13.6


12.1


6.3




 
Forward-looking statements
 
This release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about trends in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; demand for commodities; production forecasts; plans, strategies and objectives of management; capital costs and scheduling; operating costs; anticipated productive lives of projects, mines and facilities; and provisions and contingent liabilities. These forward-looking statements reflect expectations at the date of this release, however they are not guarantees or predictions of future performance. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, and which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements contained in this release. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, the South32 Group does not undertake to publicly update or review any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events. Past performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance. The denotation (e) refers to an estimate or forecast year.
 
Further information




INVESTOR RELATIONS                       MEDIA RELATIONS




Alex Volante
T      +44 20 7798 1778
M     +44 74 6853 3005
E     Alex.Volante@south32.net


Hayley Cardy
T      +61 8 9324 9008
M     +61 409 448 288
E     Hayley.Cardy@south32.net


James Clothier

T      +61 8 9324 9697
M     +61 413 319 031
E     James.Clothier@south32.net




 
19 April 2018

JSE Sponsor: UBS South Africa (Pty) Ltd
 



This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
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