COMPANYRESULTS

Sasol financial results for year endedJun 2008

Sasol Ltd has announced financialresults for its fiscal year ended 30 Jun2008. Turnover was R 129.9 bn, up32% from R 98.1 bn the previous year.Operating profit increased by 32% toreach a record of R 34 bn during 2007-2008. Operating profit was boosted byhigher crude oil prices (average datedBrent was $95.51/bbl in 2008compared to $63.95/bbl in 2007). Netprofit for the year was R 23.5 bn, up34% from R 17.5 bn a year earlier.Earnings attributable to shareholdersfor 2007-2008 increased by 32% to R22.4 bn (R 17 bn in 2006-2007), whileearnings/share increased by 36% to R37.3 and headline earnings/share by50% to R 38.09. During 2007-2008:Sasol Gas operating profit decreasedby 8% to R 1785 M; Sasol Synfuelsoperating profit increased by 19% toR 19,416 M; and Sasol Oil operatingprofit increased by 128% to R 5507M. In the chemical cluster, SasolOlefins and Surfactants delivered a33% increase in operating profit to R1512 M, mainly as a result of someimprovement in margins and initialbenefits from the restructuringprocess, which included the shutdownof the Baltimore and Porto Torreslinear alkylbenzene plants as well ascost reductions in all remaining units.Turnover for the business rose 27%from R 22.6 bn in 2007-2007 to R28.8 bn. A 50% oleochemical-basedalcohols joint venture plant with acapacity of 60,000 tonnes/y wassuccessfully commissioned inLianyangang, China [Focus onSurfactants, Jul 2008]. Of the otherchemicals businesses, SasolPolymers reported a 39% increase inoperating profit and Sasol Solvents a115% increase.

Sasol 2007-2008 results, 8 Sep 2008, (Sasol Ltd, 1,Sturdee avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196,South Africa. Tel: +27 11 441 3218. Fax: +27 11 4413189. Website: http://www.sasol.com)

Cognis half-year results 2008

For the six months ended 30 Jun2008, Cognis reported net sales up

7.0% to €1.533 bn (up 12.0% on anorganic basis), with higher salesacross all three core business areas –Care Chemicals, Nutrition & Healthand Functional Products. Theoperating result (adjusted EBITDA)decreased by 5.1% to €176 M; risesin raw material, energy andtransportation costs as well asunfavourable exchange rates werepartly compensated by optimizedcost structures and sale priceincreases. The company’s net profitfor the period was €11 M. The CareChemicals division reported strongnet sales growth of 10.2% to €860 Mfor 1H 2008 (€731 M for its 1H FY2007). This growth was primarilydriven by higher sales of specialityand innovative products in thePerformance Ingredients businessas well as the good performance ofthe Care Surfactants and Alcoholsbusiness segment, reflecting mainlyhigher selling prices due toincreased costs of raw materials.The division reported EBIT of €65 M(€68 M), and EBITDA of €101 M(€104 M) for the six-month period.For its 2Q 2008, this division hasreported net sales of €431 M (€362M for its 2Q FY 2007), EBIT of €32M (€31 M) and EBITDA of €50 M(€49 M).

Press release from: Cognis GmbH, Postfach 130164,D-40551, Düsseldorf, Germany. Website:http://www.cognis.com (27 Aug 2008)

Novozymes: high sales growth for 1H2008

Novozymes’ sales for 1H 2008reached DKR 4.06 bn, up 9% fromDKR 3.37 bn for 1H 2007, withenzyme sales reaching DKR 3.7 bn.Operating profit was DKR 749 M(DKR 788 M for 1H 2007), whilst netprofit was DKR 549 M (DKR 570 Mfor 1H 2007). Overall results in DKRwere challenged by unfavourableexchange rate movements, inparticular the US dollar. By industry,detergent enzymes accounted for31% of sales (DKR 1263 M);technical enzymes 29% (DKR 1151M); food enzymes 23% (DKR 911 M);feed enzymes 9% (DKR 377 M);microorganisms 6% (DKR 258 M);and biopharmaceutical ingredients2% (DKR 99 M). By geographicalarea, 38% of sales (DKR 1537 M)were made in Europe, the Middle

East and Africa (MEA); 36% of salesin North America (DKR 1477 M); 19%of sales in the Asia Pacific region(DKR 763 M); and 7% in LatinAmerica (DKR 282 M). Sales inEurope/MEA rose by 1% in localcurrencies in 1H 2008 due to lowersales within biopharmaceuticalingredients (BPI). Growth for theregion was otherwise healthy,particularly within food and detergentenzymes. North American sales wereup by 36% in local currencies and20% in DKR in the first six months of2008. Growth continued to beprimarily related to enzymes forbioethanol production and detergents,although good growth was seenacross most areas. Latin Americansales rose by 16% in local currenciesand 13% in DKR in 1H 2008.Especially detergent, feed and foodenzymes sold well. Asian Pacificsales increased by 13% in localcurrencies and 6% in DKR in 1H2008. Growth was particularly high infood, feed and detergent enzymesales, whereas the textile industrycontributed negatively.

For its 2Q 2008 (period ends 30Jun 2008), Novozymes reportedsales of DKR 2033 M (DKR 1803 Mfor its 2Q 2007), of which: Europe/MEA accounted for DKR 762 M(DKR 734 M), North America DKR737 M (DKR 592 M), Asia PacificDKR 390 M (DKR 355 M), and LatinAmerica DKR 144 M (DKR 122 M).In 2Q 2008, enzyme sales totalledDKR 1861 M, with detergent enzymesales showing a 13% increase toDKR 627 M (DKR 555 M for its 2Q2007) compared to analysts’predictions of DKR 589 M. Growthwas seen in all geographical areasand within both new and oldproducts. Detergent producerscontinue to increase enzymedosages for both improved washingperformance and additionalfunctionalities in their detergents.Sales of detergent enzymes are alsopositively affected by ongoingmarginal substitution of enzymes forother detergent ingredients as aresult of the higher oil prices. Seenin isolation, sales in 2Q 2008increased by 16% in local currenciesand 13% in DKR compared to 2007.Novozymes has increased its salesgrowth forecast for the whole of2008 from 6-9% to 8-10% and raisedits forecast for growth in results from

6 NOVEMBER 2008

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