MTN - MTN Group Limited - Trading Statement

MTN - MTN Group Limited - Trading Statement                                     
MTN Group Limited                                                               
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number 1994/009584/06)                                            
Share code: MTN                                                                 
ISIN ZAE000042164                                                               
("MTN")                                                                         
TRADING STATEMENT                                                               
MTN is finalising its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2011.    
These results are expected to be announced on Wednesday 7 March 2012.           
In terms of paragraph 3.4 (b) of the Listings Requirements of the JSE           
Limited, issuers are required to publish a trading statement as soon as they    
are satisfied that a reasonable degree of certainty exists that the earnings    
for the period to be reported upon next will differ by at least 20% from        
those of the previous corresponding period.                                     
Shareholders are advised that MTN expects an increase of between 41.8% and      
46.8% in Adjusted headline earnings per share ("Adjusted HEPS") for the year    
ended 31 December 2011 when compared against the previously reported            
corresponding period. Attributable earnings per share are expected to           
increase by between 41.7% and 46.7%, and Basic HEPS to increase by between      
37.9% and 42.9% for the same period against those reported for the previous     
corresponding period.                                                           
Prior year reported earnings included a R2.9 billion charge associated with     
the implementation of the MTN Zakhele scheme which had the effect of            
negatively impacting the prior year`s reported earnings. If this charge is      
excluded, current year`s earnings growth would have been between 56% and 61%    
lower. The current year`s earnings are also positively affected by lower net    
finance costs.                                                                  
This trading statement has neither been reviewed nor reported on by MTN`s       
external auditors.                                                              
The information provided in this announcement does not contain and should       
not be construed as containing any forward looking statements or projections    
of any nature whatsoever for periods beyond 31 December 2011.                   
Fairland                                                                        
2 March 2012                                                                    
Sponsor                                                                         
Deutsche Securities (SA) (Proprietary) Limited                                  
Date: 02/03/2012 17:23:01 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
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