Merafe Resources

On 6 March 2017, the Board of directors (the Board) of Merafe Resources Limited (the Company) approved the audited consolidated annual financial statements of the Merafe Group (Group) and the Company for the year ended 31 December 2016.

These summarised consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the framework concepts, the measurement and recognition requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), the requirements of the Companies Act 71 of 2008, as amended, the SAICA Financial Reporting Guides as issued by the Accounting Practices Committee, the Financial Pronouncements as issued by Financial Reporting Standards Council and the presentation and disclosure requirements of IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting.

The Board takes full responsibility for the preparation of the summarised consolidated annual financial statements, which is unaudited, and the financial information has been correctly extracted from the underlying audited consolidated annual financial statements.

The accounting policies applied in the preparation of the audited consolidated annual financial statements from which the summarised consolidated financial statements were derived are in terms of IFRS and are consistent with those accounting policies applied in the preparation of the previous audited consolidated annual financial statements.

New Standards and amendments to published standards

In 2016 the Group did not early adopt any new, revised or amended accounting standards or interpretations. The accounting standards, amendments to issued accounting standards and interpretations which are relevant to the Group but not yet effective at 31 December 2016 are being evaluated by management for the impact to the Group.

The Group annual financial statements from which the summarised consolidated financial statements were derived have been audited by the Group`s auditors, KPMG Inc. Their unqualified audit report and the audited consolidated annual financial statements are available on our website (www.meraferesources.co.za).

Merafe`s revenue and operating income is generated from the Glencore-Merafe Chrome Venture (the Venture) which is one of the market leaders in ferrochrome production, with a total installed capacity of 2.3m tonnes of ferrochrome per annum. Merafe shares in 20.5% of the earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) from the Venture.

Merafe’s share of revenue from the Venture increased by 29% from the prior year to R5 702m. Ferrochrome revenue increased by 25% year-on-year to R4 923m primarily as a result of an 18% increase in ferrochrome sales volumes to 437kt (2015: 372kt) and the 15% weaker average Rand/US Dollar exchange rate (2016: R14.7, 2015: R12.8) which was partially offset by a 7% decline in net ferrochrome prices. The average European benchmark ferrochrome price decreased by 11% from 107USc/lb in 2015 to 95.5USc/lb in 2016.

Chrome ore revenue increased by 61% year-on-year to R778m. This was as a result of a 38% increase in chrome ore sales volumes to 372kt (2015: 270kt), a 7% increase in USD CIF prices and the weaker Rand/Dollar exchange rate. Chrome ore revenue as a percentage of total revenue increased from 11% in 2015 to 14% in 2016.

Merafe’s share of EBITDA from the Venture for the 2016 year was R1 176.2m (2015: R851.9m) which was 38% higher than the comparative year. The EBITDA includes a foreign exchange loss of R78.2m (2015: R83.4m foreign exchange gain) and Merafe’s attributable share of standing charges of R96.7m (2015: R92.4m).

Merafe Corporate costs, excluding share based payment expenses, was R30.2m in 2016 compared to R34.0m for the prior year. The share based payment expense increased from R1.9m in 2015 to R12.8m in 2016 as a result of the significant increase in the share price which is a key input to the share based payment valuation.

Profit and total comprehensive income for the year was R532.4m (2015: R343.4m) after taking into account depreciation of R329.9m (2015: R267.4m), net financing costs of R59.4m (2015: R63.1m), current tax expense of R147.1m (2015: R63.7m) and deferred tax expense of R64.5m (2015: R72.0m). The balance of unredeemed capital expenditure is nil at 31 December 2016 (2015: R173.8m).

Depreciation increased year-on-year primarily as a result of the additional depreciation on Project Lion II and the accelerated depreciation arising from the re-assessment of useful lives and residual values in accordance with IAS 16: Property, plant and equipment.

Property, plant and equipment increased from the prior year as a result of capital expenditure of which R276.0m (2015: R259.2m) was sustaining and R11.6m (2015: R44.3m) was expansionary.

Trade and other receivables increased from R317.4m in 2015 to R1 278.1m in 2016 primarily as a result of the significant increase in prices and sales volumes in the last quarter of 2016, the lower utilisation of the debtors’ facility and earlier than expected receipts from customers in the comparative year which was non-recurring in the current year. The utilisation of the debtors’ financing facility reduced to R309.1m (2015: R411.4m).

Trade and other payables increased from R444m in 2015 to R668m in 2016 primarily as a result of the increase in selling expenses and commission arising from the significant increase in sales volumes and prices in the last quarter of 2016.

Merafe closed the year with a net cash balance of R263.3m (2015: R309.6m). Cash in Merafe’s accounts was R208.7m (2015: R108.7m) and Merafe’s share of the cash balance in the Venture was R54.6m (2015: R200.9m).

During the year Merafe substantially reduced its debt. At 31 December 2016, Merafe had head-office debt of R363m (2015: R559m) and unutilised debt facilities of R283m (2015: R191m). Post year-end, R137m of the R363m debt was repaid resulting in a balance of R226m.

The interim dividend that was paid in August 2016 amounted to R20m (2015: R25m) and a final dividend of R100.4m was declared by the Board on 6 March 2017 (2016: R30m).

Sadly there was a fatality at the Venture’s Helena mine on 20 September 2016. Our condolences are extended to the family and friends of Mr Johan Cronje who sustained fatal injuries.

Safety remains a critical focus area and all efforts continue to be made to ensure that the highest standards of safety remain in place at all the Venture’s operations. The Venture’s total recordable injury frequency rate (TRIFR) improved slightly from 4.17at the end of 2015 to 4.15 at the end of 2016 as a result of ongoing safety campaigns and programs at its operations.

Merafe’s ferrochrome production from the Venture was 4% higher than the prior year due to the timing of refurbishments in 2016 compared to 2015, leading to more available furnace hours, and the benefits of operating Lion II for the full year whereas it was ramping up in the first half of 2015.

Total production cost per tonne increases were well below inflation which is an exceptional achievement especially in light of above inflation price increases in electricity and labour, the impact of the weaker Rand on imported reductants and higher UG2 input costs. This was primarily as a result of higher production volumes, the impact of low cost volumes from Lion II and various cost saving initiatives across all operations.

The Venture’s operations were not significantly impacted by electricity supply constraints during 2016. Post year end, NERSA approved a 2.2% electricity price increase according to the Multi Year Price Determination after taking into account the tariff increases of 12.7% and 9.4% during the prior two years. This increase is effective from 1 April 2017.

There were no major labour disputes during the year under review.

During 2016, there were no material changes to the mineral reserves, mineral resources and mining rights of the Venture.

Stainless Steel Market
Global stainless steel production totalled 45.2m* tonnes in 2016, equivalent to 8.8%* year-on-year growth. A surge in Chinese stainless steel production was the leading influence behind the global increase, as China increased its annual output to 24.4m* tonnes which is equivalent to a 13.3%* year-on-year growth.

Other significant stainless steel-producing regions also recorded year-on-year growth. Favourable trade and anti-dumping conditions in Europe, India and the USA supported increases of 1.8%*, 6.6%* and 6.7%* respectively. Collectively, these regions produced 13.2m* tonnes in 2016 which is an increase of 3.9%* year-on-year.

Ferrochrome Market
In early 2016, ferrochrome prices decreased to the lowest levels seen since 2009 when the second quarter European Benchmark was settled at 82.00 USc/lb. This decrease was largely driven by destocking of chrome ore, ferrochrome and stainless steel. In the same period, the Metal Bulletin “Imported Charge Chrome 50% Index, CIF China” decreased to 54.00 USc/lb which is the lowest price quoted since the index was introduced in 2012.

A surge in Chinese stainless steel production positively impacted ferrochrome demand and resulted in global ferrochrome demand increasing 7.6%* year-on-year. Chinese stainless steel mills were the largest contributors to this increase, with demand growth of 9.4%* year-on-year to 7.0m* tonnes. Chinese mills typically employ lower scrap utilisation ratios compared to global averages and therefore require a significantly larger portion of primary chrome units to meet stainless steel production increases.

Ferrochrome prices have continued to increase since the second quarter of 2016 on the back of increased ferrochrome demand, lower stock levels and increased chrome ore prices. The European Benchmark ferrochrome price for the fourth quarter of 2016 was settled at 110.00 USc/lb which is a 34.1% increase compared to the price in the second quarter of 2016. The Metal Bulletin “Imported Charge Chrome 50% Index, CIF China” price increased to 135.00 USc/lb by year-end which is a 150.0% increase compared to the price in March 2016.

Global ferrochrome production increased 4.9%* year-on-year to 11.1m* tonnes. Significant increases were recorded from Kazakhstan and Chinese producers (19.2%* and 11.8%* respectively), while South African production decreased by 3.2%* which is as a result of multiple producer closures in late 2015 and early 2016. China remained the world’s largest ferrochrome producer, with a 2016 output of 4.2m* tonnes.

Chrome Ore Market
The increased demand for ferrochrome, coupled with tightness in global chrome ore supply, resulted in positive price movements for chrome ore. Between February 2016 and December 2016, the Metal Bulletin “Imported UG2 Chrome Ore 42%, CIF China” rose from 77.00-80.00 USD/t to 390.00-400.00USD/t, equivalent to a 400.0% increase.

Chinese chrome ore importers continued to increase their dependence on South African chrome ore in 2016, as South African material accounted for 73.3%* of all imported material (72.9%* in 2015). Chinese chrome ore imports totalled 10.6m* tonnes in 2016, compared to 10.4m* tonnes in 2015.

As previously reported, Mr Zed van der Walt, an independent non-executive director resigned with effect from 7 March 2016.

Towards the end of 2016, the European Benchmark ferrochrome price for the first quarter of 2017 was announced as 165.00 USc/lb which is the highest quoted price since 2008. The price increase was indicative of a market still in deficit, and highlighted the positive sentiment for 2017.

Stainless steel production is projected to increase by 3.5%* and 3.8%* in 2017 and 2018 respectively, indicating strong demand prospects for ferrochrome in the short-to-medium term. The Venture is well positioned to take advantage of the increased demand.

We remain on track to achieving our strategy of further reducing Merafe debt and increasing dividends.

The Company has a hybrid dividend policy that has features of a stable dividend policy and a residual dividend policy. The Company intends to pay a stable dividend of a minimum of 30% of headline earnings atleast once a year, based on the annual financial performance, expansionary projects and economic circumstances prevailing at the time. In addition, in any given year, the Board may consider an additional distribution in the form of special dividends and/or share buy-backs dependent on the Company’s financial position, future cash requirements, future earnings prospects, availability of distributable reserves and other factors.

The Board declared a final dividend of R100.4m on 6 March 2017. Notice is hereby given that a gross final ordinary dividend in the amount of 4 cents per ordinary share has been declared by the Board, payable to holders of ordinary shares. The dividend will be paid out of distributable reserves.

The ordinary dividend will be subject to a dividend withholding tax rate of 20%. The net ordinary dividend to those shareholders who are not exempt from paying dividend withholding tax is therefore 3.2 cents per ordinary share. The number of ordinary shares in issue at the date of the declaration is 2 510 704 248. Merafe Resources Limited’s income tax reference number is 9550 008 602.

The important dates pertaining to the dividend are as follows:

Sandton

7 March 2017

Reference: *Heinz H. Pariser/February 2017