| Wed 19 Mar 2003, 9:24 | | Durban Roodepoort Deep, Limited - Announcement |
|
Durban Roodepoort Deep, Limited - Announcement
DURBAN ROODEPOORT DEEP, LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1895/000926/06)
(Share code: DUR)
(ISIN: ZAE 000015079)
(ARBN number 086 277 616)
(NASDAQ Trading Symbol: DROOY)
("DRD" or "the company")
Announcement
In response to questions raised by the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa
("the JSE") at a meeting held on Tuesday, 18 March 2003, the company wishes to
state the following.
DRD confirms that the March quarterly results, due for release at the end of
April, will be affected by the strengthening of the South African Rand against
the US Dollar and, to a lesser degree, by the four-week fire at the company"s
40% held ERPM gold mine. An announcement with regard to the fire was published
on the JSE"s Securities Exchange News Service ("SENS") on Tuesday, 4 February
2003.
The company is unaware of any other material issues, specifically any abnormal
operational issues or price sensitive `illegalities" as alleged in a letter by
Mrs Maryna Eloff dated 13 March 2003.
On the issue of share trading by officers of the company, it states the
following.
Details of all of the trades by directors of DRD alluded to by Mrs Eloff were
published on SENS within the time period stipulated by the Listings Requirements
of the JSE. The company has specified closed periods, as stated in the annual
report. These closed periods apply to all employees.
The trades referred to relate to the exercising of options, as part of the
company"s approved share option scheme, as well as the selling of shares held
beneficially by some of DRD"s directors.
The trades were undertaken in a personal capacity, but relate mostly to the
provision of funds for the payment of provisional tax for the fiscal year of
2002/2003. All trades took place in an open period and do not relate to any
operational issues.
In line with the company"s share option scheme, as approved by shareholders, the
company wishes to state that share options are granted to all qualifying
employees, including non-executive directors, twice a year, the last allocation
of which occurred in October 2002.
Johannesburg
19 March 2003
Queries: Ilja Graulich, Durban Roodepoort Deep, Limited
+27 11 381 7800 (office)
+27 83 604 0820 (mobile)
James Duncan, Russell & Associates
+27 11 880 3924 (office)
+27 82 892 8052 (mobile)
This news release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. Although the Company believes such statements are reasonable, it
can make no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. Such
statements are subject to certain factors that may cause results to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements. Such factors include the risk
factors discussed in the Company"s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed
with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, a copy of which may be obtained
from the Company without charge. The Company undertakes no obligation to
publicly release results of any of these forward-looking statements to reflect
events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of
unexpected results.
