UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE
13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934
Report on Form 6-K for February 8, 2013
Commission File Number 1-31615
Sasol Limited
1 Sturdee Avenue
Rosebank 2196
South Africa
(Name and address of registrant's principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F __X__ Form 40-F _____
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in
paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission in paper
of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an attached annual report to
security holders.Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting
the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission in paper of
a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other document that the
registrant foreign private issuer must furnish and make public under
the laws of the jurisdiction in which the registrant is incorporated,
domiciled or legally organized (the registrant's home country), or under
the rules of the home country exchange on which the registrant's securities
are traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press release,
is not required to be and has not been distributed to the registrant's
security holders, and, if discussing a material event, has already been the
subject of a Form 6-K submission or other Commission filing on EDGAR.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also
thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes _____ No __X__
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):82-_______________.
Enclosures: Trading statement for the six months ended 31 December 2012
Sasol Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1979/003231/06)
Sasol Ordinary Share codes: JSE : SOL NYSE : SSL
Sasol Ordinary ISIN codes: ZAE000006896 US8038663006
Sasol BEE Ordinary Share code: JSE : SOLBE1
Sasol BEE Ordinary ISIN code: ZAE000151817
("Sasol")
Trading statement for the six months ended 31 December 2012
Shareholders are advised that Sasol's headline earnings per share
(HEPS) for the six months ended 31 December 2012 are expected to
increase by between 0% and 5%, and earnings per share (EPS) for
the six months ended 31 December 2012 are expected to decrease by
between 10% and 20%, compared to the prior comparable period. The
decline in the earnings per share is due to the impairment of our
share of the investment in Arya Sasol Polymers Company (ASPC),
which is detailed further below.
Although Sasol's profitability for the 2013 financial year to date
benefited from the improved production performance of its
foundation businesses, as well as the effect of an 11% weakening
of the average rand/US dollar exchange rate, this has been largely
offset by a softening in the average Brent crude oil price,
depressed chemical prices and a product margin squeeze that
negatively impacted our chemical businesses. In addition, cost
inflation was compounded by the weaker rand as well as higher
labour and maintenance costs.
We continue to actively engage with interested parties to divest
from our share in ASPC. During the current reporting period, the
investment was impaired by R1 974 million based on our assessment
of the fair value of the asset, which takes into account the
uncertainty associated with the Iranian environment in which we
operate. In terms of International Financial Reporting Standards
(IFRS), further losses relating to the foreign currency
translation reserve of approximately US$100 million may be
recognised in income once we finally divest from ASPC. There may
be further potential impairments linked to the fair value of the
asset as a result of a deteriorating Iranian environment and the
accounting requirement to continue recognising operating profits,
which might not be recuperated through the divestiture. Despite a
solid operational performance by ASPC, results for the six month
reporting period have been negatively impacted by the devaluation
of the Iranian currency, which resulted in translation losses of
approximately R1 015 million being recognised in the income
statement.
Our financial results for the six months ended 31 December 2012
may be further affected by any adjustments resulting from our
half-year end closure process. This may result in a change in the
estimated earnings.
This trading statement only deals with the comparison to the first
half of the 2012 financial year. The lower earnings base of the
second half of the 2012 financial year, which included significant
once-off charges and reporting period end adjustments, will
strongly influence a comparison of the full 2013 financial year
results with 2012. Guidance will be provided on the full 2013
financial year results when there is a reasonable degree of
certainty in this regard.
The financial information on which this trading statement is based
has not been reviewed or reported on by the Company's external
auditors.
Sasol remains a strong cash generator and maintains its solid
financial position. We accordingly remain committed to our
progressive dividend policy, which supports a minimum total
dividend equal to our 2012 full year dividend, barring any
material and unforeseen events or significant fluctuations in the
global macroeconomic environment.
Sasol's financial results for the six months ended 31 December 2012
will be announced on Monday, 11 March 2013.
Sponsor: Deutsche Securities (SA) (Pty) Ltd
8 February 2013
Forward-looking statement disclaimer:
Sasol may, in this document, make certain statements that are not
historical facts and relate to analyses and other information
which are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of
amounts not yet determinable. These statements may also relate to
our future prospects, developments and business strategies.
Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not
limited to, statements regarding exchange rate fluctuations,
volume growth, increases in market share, total shareholder return
and cost reductions. Words such as "believe", "anticipate",
"expect", "intend", "seek", "will", "plan", "could", "may",
"endeavour" and "project" and similar expressions are intended to
identify such forward-looking statements, but are not the
exclusive means of identifying such statements. By their very
nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and
uncertainties, both general and specific, and there are risks that
the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking
statements will not be achieved. If one or more of these risks
materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our
actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.
You should understand that a number of important factors could
cause actual results to differ materially from the plans,
objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in
such forward-looking statements. These factors are discussed more
fully in our most recent annual report under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 on Form 20-F filed on 12 October 2012 and in
other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission. The list of factors discussed therein is not
exhaustive; when relying on forward-looking statements to make
investment decisions, you should carefully consider both these
factors and other uncertainties and events. Forward-looking
statements apply only as of the date on which they are made, and
we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any of
them, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant, Sasol Limited, has duly caused this report to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: February 8, 2013 By: V D Kahla
Name: Vuyo Dominic Kahla
Title: Company Secretary