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Wed 4 May 2005, 8:36 Lonmin plc - Interim Statement March 2005
Lonmin plc - Interim Statement March 2005                                       
Lonmin plc                                                                      
(Reg no: 1969/000015/10)                                                        
Code: LON                                                                       
ISIN: GB0031192486                                                              
(`Lonmin`)                                                                      
4 May 2005                                                                      
Production and Cost Recovery                                                    
* Earnings before interest and tax $152 million up 19 per cent (including       
insurance recoveries and metallurgical recoveries)                              
* Underlying earnings per share 48.7 cents up 23 per cent                       
* Smelter returned to full operation and full year cost and production impact   
minimised                                                                       
* Platinum production of 366,781 ounces and total PGM production of 666,303     
ounces                                                                          
* Costs managed in line with previous guidance at R2,431 per PGM ounce sold     
* Dividend maintained at 30 cents per share                                     
* Southern Platinum acquisition expected to complete by 1 July 2005, providing: 
  * Long term growth potential from realisation of Messina resource base        
* Substantial synergy benefits particularly through improved smelter          
recoveries                                                                      
  * Earnings enhancing from 2007                                                
     Financial highlights -                                                     
continuing operations             2005         2004                        
     Six months to 31 March                                                     
     Turnover                          $421m        $444m                       
     EBITDA (i)                        $177m        $155m                       
EBIT (ii)                         $152m        $128m                       
     Profit before taxation            $142m        $117m                       
     Earnings per share                48.7c        26.2c                       
     Underlying earnings per share     48.7c        39.7c                       
(iii)                                                                      
     Interim dividend per share (iv)   30.0c        30.0c                       
     Net borrowings                    $473m        $277m                       
     Interest cover (v)                32.3x        21.4x                       
NOTES ON HIGHLIGHTS                                                             
(i) EBITDA is Group operating profit before interest, tax, depreciation and     
amortisation.                                                                   
(ii) EBIT is total operating profit.                                            
(iii) Underlying earnings per share are calculated on attributable profit       
excluding exchange, the effects of a change in the South African tax rate on the
opening deferred tax balance and exceptional items (prior period only) as       
disclosed in note 7.                                                            
(iv) The interim dividend will be paid on 5 August 2005 to shareholders on the  
registers on 8 July 2005.                                                       
(v) Interest cover is calculated for the 12 month periods to 31 March 2005 and  
31 March 2004.                                                                  
Commenting on the results, Brad Mills, Chief Executive Officer said:            
`I am pleased with the progress we have made, as shown by these results, in     
overcoming the financial impact of the smelter accident.   Our production and   
costs are both improving, in order to manage our cost efficiencies, we have     
decided to reduce the amount of higher cost open cast Merensky ore processed in 
the second half.  We therefore expect Platinum production for the year to 30    
September 2005 to be between 905,000 and 925,000 ounces without any benefit from
Southern Platinum.  Our full year cost guidance remains at R2,475 per PGM ounce 
sold. Our longer term growth plans remain on track and are enhanced by our      
Southern Platinum acquisition.`                                                 
Enquiries:                                                                      
Alex Shorland-Ball, Lonmin Plc +44 (0) 20 7201 6060                             
Anthony Cardew/ Nadja Vetter, CardewGroup: +44 (0)20 7930 0777                  
This press release is available on www.lonmin.com.  A live webcast of the       
interim results` presentation starting at 09.30hrs (London) on 4 May 2005 can be
accessed through the Lonmin website. There will also be a web question facility 
available during the presentation. An archived version of the presentation,     
together with the presentation slides, will be available on the Lonmin website. 
Chief Executive Officer`s Comments                                              
Introduction                                                                    
The first six months of the 2005 financial year were challenging for Lonmin.  We
experienced an accident at our smelting facility on 18 November 2004, which     
resulted in the loss of nine weeks of metal production.  Repairs have been      
completed and the smelter came back on line on 20 January 2005.                 
The final cost of the smelter accident and repairs is $14 million (including the
costs of running the Pyromet furnaces and toll refining), of which $9 million   
has been expensed in the first half.  These costs were offset by insurance      
settlements during the first half from prior outstanding claims of $22 million. 
On 22 March 2005 we made a cash offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares  
of Southern Platinum Corp. for $190 million.  This transaction will add         
substantially to our future Platinum growth potential and is expected to close  
by 1 July 2005, subject to approval by Southern Platinum shareholders and the   
South African Competition Commission.                                           
Key Accomplishments                                                             
* Recovery from the smelter accident and minimising cost and production impacts 
for the full year.                                                              
* Platinum production of 366,781 ounces. Total PGM production of 666,303 ounces.
Cost per PGM ounce sold of R2,431 achieved in the first half (excluding any     
benefit of insurance settlements) in line with full year guidance of R2,475.    
* Filing of our new order mining rights conversion application on 14 December   
2004.                                                                           
* Offer to acquire Southern Platinum on 22 March 2005.                          
* Sudbury PGM Exploration JV with Inco signed.                                  
Financial Results                                                               
The key financial results for the period were:                                  
* A 19% growth in EBIT to $152 million (including insurance recoveries and      
metallurgical recoveries);                                                      
* A 23% increase in underlying earnings per share from 39.7 cents in 2004 to    
48.7 cents in 2005, despite the smelter accident;                               
* A maintained interim dividend; and                                            
* Cash outflow in the period on working capital which is expected to be reversed
in the second half.                                                             
Platinum Operations                                                             
Our safety performance improved significantly during the first half of the      
fiscal 2005 year compared to last year.  We suffered one industrial related     
fatality and deeply regret that two children drowned in one of our unfenced mine
reclaim water ponds during the period.  This result compares to eight industrial
fatalities for the whole of last year.  We remain deeply committed to our goal  
of `Zero Harm` in our mining operations in South Africa.  We currently have a   
major programme underway to reduce all lost time injuries in our operations.    
Mining operations produced 5,427,000 tonnes milled (5,405,000 tonnes mined) from
underground operations and 1,480,000 tonnes milled (1,244,000 tonnes mined) from
open cast operations.  These raw ore tonnes were converted to 66,852 tonnes of  
concentrate (62,248 tonnes of concentrate despatched) containing 22,810 kgm of  
PGMs.  This was in line with budget expectations.  Metallurgical operations     
produced 366,781 ounces of Platinum and 666,303 ounces of total PGMs.           
We have made significant progress with our mechanisation and automation projects
during the period.  Our fully mechanised ULP (Ultra Low Profile) Merensky mining
site has successfully achieved its target of 12,000 tonnes per month per set of 
equipment at a total mining cost of less than R230 per tonne.  We are now       
committed to rolling out this mining method with an additional two sets of      
equipment at the Karee mine, which will ramp up to 37,000 tonnes per month      
Merensky ore production by year-end and ultimately to 70,000 tonnes per month by
mid-2006 at an expected cost of less than R190 per tonne, as compared to current
average traditional mining method costs of around R200 per tonne.  Plans are    
also in an advanced stage to expand this mining method into the UG2 reef at     
Karee mine and other potential sites across the property.                       
Our capital growth programme to increase production to 1.1 million ounces of    
Platinum by 2010 (without any benefit from Southern Platinum) remains on        
schedule and on budget (in Rand terms).  The $72 million Hossy shaft complex is 
the most advanced of the three major capital projects being undertaken.         
Expenditure is 64% complete and we continue to expect full production during    
2008.  The Hossy Vertical is complete with the Sub Incline at 20% completion.   
Costs                                                                           
The metallurgical recovery rates assumed in the Base Metal Refinery and Precious
Metal Refinery have been conservatively estimated in the past and as a result of
actual outturns we have now increased the ongoing achievable recoveries.        
The reported unit costs of R2,431 per PGM ounce sold include the effects of $9  
million of smelter incident costs, $3 million redundancy costs and an $11       
million benefit arising from the spreading of a $29 million improvement in      
metallurgical recoveries over the overall anticipated sales for the year.  No   
benefit has been taken in these unit costs for the insurance proceeds of $22    
million.                                                                        
Due to the cost profile of the open cast operations, we have elected to         
accelerate the switch in production sources from lower grade, higher cost open  
cast ounces to higher grade, lower cost underground ounces.  This transition    
will help ensure that we meet our long-term production ramp up profile while    
helping keep costs in check.                                                    
In the second half we will lower the proportion of open cast Merensky ore       
processed.  As a result of this we now estimate that overall production for the 
year will be between 905,000 and 925,000 ounces of Platinum and our cost        
guidance for the year remains unchanged at R2,475 per PGM ounce sold.           
Our Six Sigma programme has identified significant saving opportunities and we  
expect to capture R70 million of net EBIT benefits in the second half of the    
year.                                                                           
We are currently working on the introduction of a central shared services       
function. This will replace duplicated technical and administrative             
infrastructure at our mines and shafts and is anticipated to result in further  
cost savings.                                                                   
Working Capital                                                                 
Due to the smelter accident in November we experienced a cash outflow on working
capital in the period as stocks built up ahead of the smelter.  We expect this  
outflow to be reversed in the second half.                                      
Exploration                                                                     
Our exploration group completed a joint venture agreement with Inco Limited     
during the period to explore for PGM deposits adjacent to some of their         
historically important nickel properties in the geologically prolific Sudbury   
Basin.                                                                          
Black Economic Empowerment                                                      
We made good progress on all fronts of our BEE effort in the first half,        
submitting our new order mining licence conversion application in December 2004.
We currently hope to receive approval of this application before the end of     
2005.                                                                           
Our BEE partner, Incwala, has performed well during the period and has provided 
valuable support and guidance for our mining licence application and BEE        
programme.                                                                      
Markets                                                                         
PGM prices have been well supported in the period under review both by sound    
underlying auto catalyst demand and industrial demand for the full suite of     
commodities.  The supply outlook has been restrained by the current low Rand    
basket value of metals.                                                         
Southern Platinum                                                               
We have made a $190 million offer for Southern Platinum, a Canadian listed group
with platinum mining operations at Messina in South Africa.  Southern Platinum  
has PGM resources of 20 million ounces, over a strike length of 23 kilometres,  
and will boost Lonmin`s current resource base by 17%.  Messina currently        
produces around 45,000 ounces of Platinum a year from a strike length of just 4 
kilometres.  Our initial plan is to increase Platinum production to 75,000      
ounces by 2007.  Exciting potential exists to exploit the larger untapped       
resource on the remaining strike length of the property.  We will start         
developing plans for the realisation of this once the acquisition closes.       
In addition to its growth potential, Messina also offers considerable synergy   
benefits.  Smelting the base metal rich Messina ore with our existing high      
chrome ores is expected to improve overall smelter recoveries by around 2%.     
Although the Messina operations are currently operating at a loss, we believe   
that a successful mine turnaround, plus anticipated smelter benefits, will      
enhance earnings from 2007 onwards.                                             
Outlook and Dividend                                                            
We expect our markets to remain strong during the second half of our fiscal     
year.                                                                           
We are making significant progress in our discussions with the Unions on a new  
long-term labour agreement, which is intended to allow us to achieve longer-term
operational stability.  As a result we will be able to increase our focus on    
safety, growth and cost management.                                             
Our acquisition of Southern Platinum, when completed, together with the organic 
growth at our existing operations, will enable us to target 1.1 million ounces  
of Platinum production by 2008.  Growth beyond 2008 will be supported by organic
growth from our core Lonplats operations and Messina.                           
The Board has maintained the interim dividend at 30.0 cents per share.          
A number of important appointments have been made in the last six months.  Karen
de Segundo (formerly of Shell) has joined our Board in a non-executive position.
Alistair Ross (formerly of Inco) has accepted the role of President, Platinum   
Operations in South Africa. Alex Shorland-Ball (formerly of Finsbury Group) has 
joined us in the role of Vice-President Investor Relations and Communications   
and Khumo Seopela (formerly of De Beers) has joined us as Vice-President Human  
Capital in South Africa.  I would like to welcome all of them to Lonmin.        
Lonmin is in the process of transforming itself into a world class mining       
company benchmarking itself against the `best of breed` on measures such as     
safety performance, operational efficiency, capital returns and human           
productivity.  This process is never easy and I would like to thank all of      
Lonmin`s employees, contractors and community members who are supporting this   
effort.  I would especially like to thank all of the employees and contractors  
at the smelter. Your professionalism in managing the impact of the smelter      
accident and minimising the damage and financial costs of this incident is most 
appreciated.                                                                    
Bradford A Mills                                                                
Chief Executive Officer                                                         
Commentary on the Group Financial Review                                        
The financial information presented has been prepared on the same basis and     
using the same accounting policies as those used to prepare the financial       
statements for the year ended 30 September 2004.                                
Analysis of results                                                             
Profit and loss account                                                         
A comparison of the interim 2005 EBIT from continuing operations with the prior 
period is set out below:                                                        
                                         $m                                     
     EBIT - six months to 31 March 2004  128                                    
     Increase in sales prices            42                                     
Decrease in sales volumes           (22)                                   
     Insurance receipts                  22                                     
     Smelting incident costs             (9)                                    
     Incwala                             4                                      
Exchange                            (21)                                   
     Improved recoveries                 29                                     
     Other cost increases                (21)                                   
     EBIT - six months to 31 March 2005  152                                    
Prices, costs and exchange                                                      
The average price realised for the basket of metals sold at $18,889/kg was 15%  
higher than the prior period.  Sales volumes of PGMs decreased from 793,526     
ounces to 671,591 ounces due to the smelter incident in November 2004 and       
turnover amounted to $421 million for the six months to 31 March 2005.  Unit    
costs in rand at R2,431 per PGM ounce sold were only 3.5% higher than the prior 
period. The improved recoveries reflected an improvement in underlying          
metallurgical recoveries which led to an increase in the 2004 year-end stock    
valuation. The strength of the South African rand against the US dollar impacted
on costs in dollar terms with the average exchange rate appreciating 9% on the  
prior period.  The investment in Platinum Australia was sold on 31 March 2005   
for book value with no material profit impact.  The resulting EBIT, which       
included $4 million for our 23.56% share of Incwala`s operating profits,        
amounted to $152 million.                                                       
Profit before taxation for the 2005 interim period amounted to $142 million     
compared with $117 million for the 2004 interim period.                         
Interest                                                                        
Net interest payable and similar items were $10 million compared with $11       
million in 2004.    Borrowing levels were higher during the 2005 interim period 
resulting in higher interest payable but this was offset by lower amortisation  
charges on bank loan facilities and lower exchange losses due to the majority of
borrowings being held in US dollars.                                            
Tax                                                                             
The 2005 interim tax charge was $57 million compared with $65 million in the    
prior period and included $11 million of exchange losses (March 2004 - $30      
million). The corporate tax rate in South Africa was reduced to 29% during the  
period and was applicable to taxable results from 1 October 2004.  The change in
tax rate resulted in an adjustment to the opening deferred tax balance at 1     
October 2004 to reduce it by $11 million. The effective tax rate, excluding the 
effects of exchange, the adjustment to the opening deferred tax balance and     
exceptional items (prior period only) was 40% compared with 33% during the last 
interim period due to the significantly higher incidence of STC in 2005 than the
same period in 2004.                                                            
Net profit                                                                      
Profit for the 2005 interim period rose to $69 million from $37 million in the  
prior period and included minority deductions at 18% of the platinum operations 
results after tax compared with 27% in the prior period.  Basic earnings per    
share were 48.7 cents for the six months to 31 March 2005 compared with 26.2    
cents in the prior period.  Underlying earnings per share, being earnings       
excluding exchange on tax balances, the adjustment to the opening deferred tax  
balance as a result of a change in the South African corporate tax rate and     
exceptional items (prior period only) amounted to 48.7 cents (March 2004 - 39.7 
cents), an increase of 23%.                                                     
On 30 September 2004 the Group increased its effective holding in its underlying
platinum assets from 73% to 82% at a cost of $311 million. In addition it       
invested $90 million in 23.56% of Incwala Resources and advanced $34 million of 
loans to HDSA and seed capital investors in Incwala Resources.                  
The effects of these acquisitions in the first half of 2005 have been to improve
reported earnings per share by 3 cents.                                         
Balance sheet                                                                   
Equity interests were $771 million at 31 March 2005 compared with $744 million  
at 30 September 2004 mainly reflecting the profit of $69 million earned during  
the period offset by the 2005 interim dividend declared of $43 million.         
Stock levels were $177 million at the March 2005 balance sheet date compared    
with $81 million at the September 2004 balance sheet date due to stock build-up 
following the smelter incident in November 2004.                                
Net borrowings amounted to $473 million at 31 March 2005 and gearing was 36%    
compared with 27% at 30 September 2004 and 31 March 2004, calculated on net     
borrowings attributable to the Group divided by these attributable net          
borrowings and the equity interests outstanding at the relevant balance sheet   
dates.                                                                          
Cash flow                                                                       
The following table summarises the main components of the cash flow during the  
period:                                                                         
March     March                      
                                          2005      2004                        
                                           $m        $m                         
Operating profit - Group                   148       129                        
Working capital                            (132)     (3)                        
Other items (mainly depreciation)          27        35                         
Net cash inflow from operating activities  43        161                        
Interest and finance costs                 (8)       (9)                        
Tax                                        (57)      (49)                       
Trading cash flow                          (22)      103                        
Capital expenditure                        (87)      (85)                       
Associate dividend received                2         -                          
Minority dividends paid                    (21)      (34)                       
Free cash flow                             (128)     (16)                       
Acquisitions                               (10)      (6)                        
Shares issued                              -         4                          
Equity dividends paid                      (59)      (59)                       
Cash outflow                               (197)     (77)                       
Opening net borrowings                     (275)     (197)                      
Exchange                                   (1)       (3)                        
Closing net borrowings                     (473)     (277)                      
Trading cash flow per share                (15.5)c   72.9c                      
Free cash flow per share                   (90.4)c   (11.3)c                    
Net cash inflow from operating activities was $43 million during the six months 
to 31 March 2005 and included an outflow on working capital of $132 million due 
to stock build-up and settlement of 2004 year-end creditors. After interest and 
finance costs paid of $8 million and tax payments of $57 million, trading cash  
flow amounted to an outflow of $22 million against an inflow of $103 million in 
the prior period.  Trading cash flow per share amounted to (15.5) cents for the 
2005 interim period compared with 72.9 cents in the 2004 interim period.        
Capital expenditure of $87 million was similar to the prior period in dollar    
terms but reduced in rand terms by 10%. Associate and minority dividends in 2005
represented dividends received and paid to Incwala and free cash flow amounted  
to an outflow of $128 million.  Free cash flow per share was (90.4) cents (March
2004 - (11.3) cents).  Acquisitions represented expenses incurred on the Incwala
and Eastern and Western Platinum transactions that completed on 30 September    
2004.  After accounting for equity dividends paid of $59 million, the cash      
outflow was $197 million and net borrowings amounted to $473 million at 31 March
2005.                                                                           
It is expected that the significant cash outflow on working capital will reverse
in the second half of the financial year as the smelter processes the backlog of
concentrate built up during the first six months.                               
Dividend                                                                        
The Board has declared an interim dividend of 30.0 cents per share (March 2004 -
30.0 cents per share). This represents a cover of 1.6 times on earnings (March  
2004 - 0.9 times).  On an underlying earnings basis, this represents a cover of 
1.6 times compared with 1.3 times in 2004.                                      
International financial reporting standards (IFRS)                              
All European listed companies are required to prepare their consolidated        
financial statements in accordance with IFRS for accounting periods beginning on
or after 1 January 2005.  Consequently, the Group will be implementing IFRS from
1 October 2005.                                                                 
The first financial information to be reported by the Group in accordance with  
IFRS will be for the six months ending 31 March 2006 but the requirement to     
present comparative information means that a balance sheet as at 30 September   
2004 and primary statements for the six months to 31 March 2005 and the year to 
30 September 2005, prepared in accordance with IFRS, will also be required.  The
Group will continue to report its consolidated financial statements in          
accordance with UK GAAP for the year to 30 September 2005.                      
The Group has undertaken a preliminary assessment of the impact of IFRS on its  
accounting policies and published financial statements and a detailed impact    
study is continuing.                                                            
Based on the work carried out to date, the following areas could impact on the  
Group`s financial statements:                                                   
Post retirement benefits                                                        
Under UK GAAP, the Group accounts for defined benefit pension schemes in        
accordance with SSAP 24 - Accounting for pension costs.  Surpluses or deficits  
are spread on a straight-line basis over the expected average remaining service 
lives of employees in the scheme.  Under IAS 19 - Employee benefits (amended    
December 2004), there are three alternative ways in which surpluses or deficits 
can be recognised.  It is likely that the Group will choose to recognise        
surpluses or deficits directly in shareholders` funds through the statement of  
recognised income and expense. This treatment is similar to FRS 17 - Retirement 
benefits.  The Group currently reports the effects of FRS 17 in the notes to the
annual financial statements.                                                    
Share-based payments                                                            
Under UK GAAP, the cost of share options is based on the intrinsic value of the 
award, being the difference between the exercise price and the grant price.     
Hence, options granted to employees at market price or under Inland Revenue     
approved SAYE schemes do not generate an expense.  Under IFRS 2 - Share-based   
payments, the economic cost of all share-based payments granted since 7 November
2002 is to be recognised by reference to the fair value on the grant date using 
options pricing models and charged to the income statement over the expected    
vesting period.                                                                 
Proposed dividends                                                              
Under UK GAAP, proposed dividends are accrued for as an adjusting post balance  
sheet event in the period to which they relate in accordance with SSAP 17 -     
Accounting for post balance sheet events.  Under IAS 10 - Events after the      
balance sheet date, dividends that do not represent a present obligation at the 
reporting date are not accrued for in the balance sheet.  Instead, they are     
recognised in the accounting period in which they are declared.                 
Financial instruments                                                           
The IFRS requirements for financial instruments are included in IAS 32 -        
Financial instruments: disclosure and presentation and IAS 39 - Financial       
instruments: recognition and measurement.   Financial assets and liabilities are
measured at fair value or amortised cost and foreign currency borrowings and    
derivative contracts are designated as hedges of specific assets, liabilities,  
income and/or expenses. The convertible bonds contain an embedded derivative in 
the form of a conversion right, which the Company can settle in cash. The debt  
and embedded derivative elements are separated and the amount relating to the   
embedded derivative is subject to fair value accounting under IFRS. This may    
introduce some material volatility to reported earnings but will have no impact 
on cashflow.                                                                    
The above summary is not intended to be a complete list of areas.  Further      
differences may arise as a result of the Group`s continued detailed assessment  
and interpretations of IFRS and any further pronouncements issued by the        
International Accounting Standards Board (`IASB`).                              
John Robinson                                                                   
Chief Financial Officer                                                         
Platinum Operating Statistics                                                   
                                                       March   March            
                                                      2005    2004              
Mining                                                                         
 Tonnes milled         - underground           (000)    5,427   5,646           
 (excluding slag)                                                               
                       - opencast              (000)    1,480   1,582           
- total                 (000)    6,907   7,228           
 Tonnes mined          - underground           (000)    5,405   5,617           
                       - opencast              (000)    1,244   1,158           
                       - total                 (000)    6,649   6,775           
Metallurgy                                                                     
 Noble metals in matte                         (kg)     22,810  26,161          
 Refined production of - platinum              (oz)     366,78  402,877         
 1                                                     1                        
- palladium             (oz)     157,05  176,245         
                                                      8                         
                       - rhodium               (oz)     35,253  46,660          
                       - total PGMs            (oz)     666,30  729,474         
3                         
 Sales1                                                                         
                       - platinum              (oz)     365,65  412,533         
                                                      3                         
- palladium             (oz)     152,72  181,682         
                                                      5                         
                       - rhodium               (oz)     39,330  59,039          
                       - total PGMs            (oz)     671,59  793,526         
1                         
 Prices                                                                         
 Average price         - platinum              (R)      5,000   5,358           
 received per ounce                                                             
($)      842     811             
                       - palladium             (R)      1,170   1,485           
                                               ($)      196     227             
                       - rhodium               (R)      7,855   3,488           
($)      1,320   531             
 Basket price of PGMs and base metals          ($/kg)   18,889  16,387          
 Costs                                                                          
 Cash cost per refined ounce of PGM sold       (R)      2,433   2,366           
(incl royalties)                                                               
                                               ($)      409     343             
 Cash cost per refined ounce of PGM sold       (R)      2,431   2,348           
 (excl royalties)                                                               
($)      409     340             
 Cash cost per refined - underground           (R)      2,421   2,555           
 ounce of                                                                       
     PGM produced                              ($)      409     392             
(excl royalties)                                                               
                       - opencast              (R)      2,612   1,934           
                                               ($)      441     297             
                       - total                 (R)      2,452   2,423           
($)      415     372             
 Capital Expenditure                           (R       510     567             
                                              million                           
                                              s)                                
($       87      85              
                                              million                           
                                              s)                                
 Exchange rates                                                                 
Average exchange      - Sterling              (GBP/$)  0.53    0.56            
 rates                                                                          
                       - S A Rand              (R/$)    5.94    6.51            
 Closing exchange      - Sterling              (GBP/$)  0.53    0.55            
rates                                                                          
                       - S A Rand              (R/$)    6.22    6.31            
Consolidated profit and loss account                                            
                                              6 months to 6 months to           
31 March    31 March                 
                                           2005        2004                     
                                           $m          $m                       
 Turnover                                     421         444                   
EBITDA (ii)                             177         155                   
      Depreciation                          (29)        (26)                    
      Operating profit/(loss)  Group         148         129                    
                               Associates    4           (1)                    
Total operating profit                 152         128                    
      Net interest payable     Group         (9)         (11)                   
 and similar items             Associate     (1)         -                      
      Profit before taxation                  142         117                   
Taxation (iii)                        (57)        (65)                    
      Profit after taxation                   85          52                    
      Equity minority                       (16)        (15)                    
 interest                                                                       
Profit for the period                   69          37                    
      Interim dividend                      (43)        (42)                    
      Retained profit/(loss)                  26          (5)                   
 for the period                                                                 
Earnings per share                      48.7c       26.2c                 
      Underlying earnings per                 48.7c       39.7c                 
 share (iv)                                                                     
      Diluted earnings per                    48.5c       25.6c                 
share                                                                          
      Interim dividend per                    30.0c       30.0c                 
 share                                                                          
      Financial ratios                                                          
Tax rate (v)                            40%         33%                   
      Net debt to EBITDA (vi)                 1.2 times   0.8 times             
      Interest cover (vii)                    32.3 times  21.4 times            
Notes:                                                                          
(i) The results for both periods relate to continuing operations.               
(ii) EBITDA is Group operating profit before interest, tax, depreciation and    
amortisation.                                                                   
(iii) The taxation charge includes exchange losses of $11 million (March 2004 - 
$30 million) as disclosed in note 5.                                            
(iv) Underlying earnings per share are calculated on profit for the period      
excluding exchange, the effect of a change in the South African tax rate on the 
opening deferred tax balance and exceptional items (prior period only) as       
disclosed in note 7.                                                            
(v) The tax rate has been calculated excluding exchange, the effect of a change 
in the South African tax rate on the opening deferred tax balance and           
exceptional items (prior period only) as disclosed in note 5.                   
(vi) EBITDAs used in this calculation are for the 12 month periods to 31 March  
2005 and 31 March 2004.                                                         
(vii) Interest cover is calculated for the 12 month periods to 31 March 2005 and
31 March 2004.                                                                  
Consolidated balance sheet                                                      
                                       As at       As at       As at            
                                       31 March    30          31 March         
                                       2005        September   2004             
$m          2004        $m               
                                                   $m                           
      Fixed assets                                                              
 Tangible assets                       1,430       1,370       1,042            
Investments:                          132         133         288              
 Associates                                                                     
 Other investments                                                              
                                       91          90          3                
41          43          285              
 Total fixed assets                    1,562       1,503       1,330            
 Current assets                                                                 
 Stocks                                177         81          128              
Debtors                               128         124         132              
 Investments                           5           5           3                
 Cash and short-term deposits          10          20          68               
 Total current assets                  320         230         331              
Creditors:     amounts falling due    (324)       (217)       (281)            
 within one year                                                                
 Current loans and overdrafts          (209)       (23)        (129)            
 Other                                 (115)       (194)       (152)            
Net current (liabilities)/assets      (4)         13          50               
 Total assets less current liabilities 1,558       1,516       1,380            
 Creditors:     amounts falling due    (272)       (268)       (212)            
 after more than one year                                                       
Convertible debt                      (213)       (212)       (212)            
 Other loans                           (58)        (56)        -                
 Other                                 (1)         -           -                
 Provisions for liabilities and        (369)       (353)       (326)            
charges                                                                        
                                       917         895         842              
 Capital and reserves                                                           
 Called up share capital               142         142         141              
Reserves                              629         602         503              
 Equity shareholders` funds            771         744         644              
 Equity minority interest              146         151         198              
                                       917         895         842              
Net borrowings                        473         275         277              
Note:  Statutory Disclosure                                                     
The balance sheet at 30 September 2004 is taken from, but does not constitute,  
the Company`s statutory accounts for the year ended 30 September 2004.  Accounts
for that year have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.  The Auditors  
made an unqualified report thereon and such report did not contain a statement  
under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985.                          
Consolidated cash flow statement                                                
6 months   6 months        
                                                     to         to              
                                                     31 March   31 March        
                                                     2005       2004            
$m         $m              
      Net cash inflow from operating                 43         161             
  activities                                                                    
                                                     2          -               
Dividend received from associate                                              
                                                     (29)       (43)            
       Returns on investment and servicing of                                   
  finance                                                                       
Net interest paid                             (8)        (6)             
       Finance expenses                              -          (3)             
       Dividends paid to minority                    (21)       (34)            
       Taxation                                      (57)       (49)            
Capital expenditure and financial             (87)       (85)            
  investment                                                                    
                                                     (10)       (6)             
       Acquisitions and disposals                                               
(59)       (59)            
       Equity dividends paid                                                    
  Net cash outflow before financing                  (197)      (81)            
  Financing                                          1          3               
Short-term loans                              (1)        (1)             
       Long-term loans                               2          -               
       Issue of share capital                        -          4               
  Decrease in cash in the period                     (196)      (78)            
Reconciliation of Group operating profit to net                               
  cash inflow from operating activities:                                        
  Operating profit - Group                             148       129            
  Depreciation charge                                  29        26             
Increase in working capital                          (132)     (3)            
  Other items                                          (2)       9              
  Net cash inflow from operating activities            43        161            
Note: The cash flows for both periods relate to continuing operations.          
Statement of total consolidated recognised gains and losses                     
                                                    6 months   6 months         
                                                    to         to               
                                                    31 March   31 March         
2005       2004             
                                                    $m         $m               
  Profit/(loss) for the period  - Group             66         38               
            - Associate                             3          (1)              
Total consolidated recognised gains and losses    69         37               
  relating to the period                                                        
Reconciliation of movement in equity shareholders` funds                        
                                                    6 months    6 months        
to          to               
                                                   31 March    31 March         
                                                   2005        2004             
                                                   $m          $m               
Total consolidated recognised gains and losses    69          37              
relating to the period                              (43)        (42)            
Interim dividend                                                                
Retained profit/(loss) for the period               26          (5)             
Amortisation of share-based payments                1           -               
Shares issued on the exercise of share options      -           4               
Net increase/(decrease) in equity shareholders`     27          (1)             
funds in the period                                 744         645             
Equity shareholders` funds at 1 October                                         
Equity shareholders` funds at 31 March              771         644             
1. Basis of preparation                                                         
The interim accounts have been prepared on the same basis and using the same    
accounting policies as those used to prepare the financial statements of the    
Lonmin Group for the year ended 30 September 2004.                              
2. Segmental analysis                                                           
By business origin:                                                             
6 months to 31 March 2005                               
                                          Total     Profit    Net               
                                          operatin  before    operatin          
                        Turnove  EBITDA   g         tax       g                 
r        $m       profit    $m        assets            
                        $m                $m                  $m                
   Platinum             421      191      166       161       1,392             
  Exploration           -        (3)      (3)       (3)       -                 
Other                 -        1        1         1         -                 
  Corporate             -        (12)     (12)      (17)      6                 
                        421      177      152       142       1,398             
  South Africa          421      183      158       153       1,389             
Other                 -        6        6         6         3                 
  Corporate             -        (12)     (12)      (17)      6                 
                        421      177      152       142       1,398             
                        6 months to 31 March 2004                               
Total     Profit    Net               
                                          operatin  before    operatin          
                        Turnove  EBITDA   g         tax       g                 
                        r        $m       profit    $m        assets            
$m                $m                  $m                
  Platinum              444      166      141       134       869               
  Gold                  -        -        -         -         277               
  Exploration           -        (2)      (3)       (3)       3                 
Other                 -        (1)      (1)       (1)       -                 
  Corporate             -        (8)      (9)       (13)      12                
                        444      155      128       117       1,161             
  South Africa          444      158      133       126       866               
Ghana                 -        -        -         -         277               
  Other                 -        5        4         4         6                 
  Corporate             -        (8)      (9)       (13)      12                
                        444      155      128       117       1,161             
A reconciliation of net operating assets to net assets per the balance sheet is 
as follows:                                                                     
                                          As at               As at             
                                          31 March            31 March          
2005                2004              
                                          $m                  $m                
   Net operating assets per above         1,398               1,161             
  Loans receivable                        35                  -                 
Net borrowings                          (473)               (277)             
  Interim dividend proposed               (43)                (42)              
  Net assets per balance sheet            917                 842               
3. Net interest and similar items                                               
6 months   6 months       
                                                      to         to             
                                                      31 March   31 March       
                                                      2005       2004           
$m         $m             
   Net financing      - Group                         8          8              
  costs payable       - Associate                     1          -              
  Exchange differences on net borrowings              1          3              
Net interest payable and similar items              10         11             
4. Exceptional items                                                            
                                                    6 months   6 months         
                                                    to         to               
31 March   31 March         
                                                    2005       2004             
                                                    $m         $m               
  Sale of Brakspruit mineral rights:                                            
Taxation                                          -          4                
   Minority interest                                -          (1)              
  Net exceptional profit                            -          3                
The exceptional tax credit in the 6 months to 31 March 2004 represented the     
closing US dollar value of South African tax over-provided in 2003 on the       
disposal of the Brakspruit mineral rights.                                      
5. Taxation                                                                     
                                                       6 months  6 months       
to        to             
                                                       31 March  31 March       
                                                       2005      2004           
                                                       $m        $m             
United Kingdom:                                                               
  Corporation tax at 30% (March 2004 - 30%)            42        12             
  Double tax relief                                    (42)      (12)           
                                                       -         -              
Overseas:                                                                     
  Current taxation                                     43        25             
  Excluding tax on local currency exchange profits at     31         18         
  29% (March 2004 - 30%)                                  (1)        -          
Tax on local currency exchange profits                  14         5          
  Tax on dividends remitted                               (1)        2          
  Exchange on current taxation                                                  
  Deferred taxation                                    14        47             
Origination and reversal of timing differences          12         19         
  Change in South African corporate tax rate to 29%       (11)       -          
  (March 2004 - 30%)                                      13         28         
  Exchange on deferred taxation                                                 
Prior year items                                     -         (7)            
  Exceptional                                             -           (4)       
  Other                                                   -           (3)       
  Tax charge                                           57        65             
Tax charge excluding exceptional items, tax rate     57        39             
  adjustment and exchange                                                       
  Effective tax rate excluding exceptional items, tax  40%       33%            
  rate adjustment and exchange                                                  
6. Dividend                                                                     
An interim dividend of 30.0 cents per share (30.0 cents per share for the six   
months to 31 March 2004) will be paid on                                        
5 August 2005 to shareholders on the registers at the close of business on 8    
July 2005.                                                                      
7. Earnings per share                                                           
The calculation of earnings per share is based on a weighted average number of  
141,625,478 ordinary shares in issue for the six months to 31 March 2005        
(141,242,151 ordinary shares in issue for the six months to 31 March 2004).     
Diluted earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of ordinary 
shares in issue adjusted by dilutive outstanding share options and shares       
issuable on conversion of the convertible bonds during the period as follows:   
6 months to 31 March 2005    6 months to 31 March        
                                                    2004                        
                       Profit   Number    Per     Profit  Number    Per         
                       for      of        share   for     of        share       
the      shares    amount  the     shares    amount      
                       period             cents   period            cents       
                       $m                         $m                            
  Basic EPS            69       141,625,  48.7    37      141,242,  26.2        
Share option         -        478       (0.1)   -       151       (0.1)       
  schemes              5        249,745   (0.1)   2       618,316   (0.5)       
  Convertible bonds             10,576,9                  10,576,9              
                                93                        93                    
Diluted EPS          74       152,452,  48.5    39      152,437,  25.6        
                                216                       460                   
Underlying earnings per share are based on the profit for the period adjusted to
exclude exchange, the effect of a change in the South African tax rate on the   
opening deferred tax balance and exceptional items (prior period only) as       
follows:                                                                        
                        6 months to 31 March 2005     6 months to 31 March      
                                                      2004                      
Profit   Number    Per      Profit  Number   Per        
                        for      of        share    for     of       share      
                        the      shares    amount   the     shares   amount     
                        period             cents    period           cents      
$m                          $m                          
  Basic EPS             69       141,625,  48.7     37      141,242, 26.2       
  Taxation on           -        478       -        (4)     151      (2.8)      
  exceptional items              -                          -                   
Tax rate change -     (11)               (7.8)    -                -          
  effect on opening     11       -         7.8      30      -        21.3       
  deferred tax balance  -        -         -        (7)     -        (5.0)      
  Exchange on tax                -                          -                   
balances                                                                      
  Minority interest                                                             
  Underlying EPS        69       141,625,  48.7     56      141,242, 39.7       
                                 478                        151                 
Analysis of net borrowings                                                      
                         As at                                   As at          
                         1 October                Exchange       31 March       
                         2004      Cash flow      movements      2005           
$m        $m             $m             $m             
Cash                     20        (10)           -              10             
Overdrafts               (22)      (186)          (1)            (209)          
                         (2)       196)           (1)            (199)          
Convertible bonds        (216)     -              -              (216)          
Loans due after one year (56)      (2)            -              (58)           
Loans due within one                                                            
Year                    (1)       1              -              -               
Net borrowings          (275)     (197)          (1)            (473)           
_______________________________                                                 
Note: 1. These statistics exclude sales of slag.                                
Date: 04/05/2005 08:16:29 AM                     
Produced by the JSE SENS Department                                             
Profile Group (Pty) Ltd. has taken care in preparing all information on this website, but does not accept any liability for errors or out-of-date information.
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