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DISCOVERY LIMITED - Updated trading statement: six months ended 31 December 2015

Release Date: 17/02/2016 09:22
Code(s): DSY     PDF:  
Wrap Text
Updated trading statement: six months ended 31 December 2015

DISCOVERY LIMITED                                                                                       
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                   
(Registration number: 1999/007789/06)                                            
ISIN: ZAE000022331                                                               
Share Code: DSY                                                                  
("Discovery" or "the Company”)                                                   
 
UPDATED TRADING STATEMENT: SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2015 
 
Shareholders are advised of the following updated guidance for the six months ended 31 December 
2015 (“current period”): 
                                                                 December December 
                                                                           2014        2014 
                                                                  Previously Restated*
                                                                    reported                Guidance for the current period 
                                                                                              Expected range       Expected 
                                                                        (cents)      (cents)          increase/        range  
                                                                                                 (decrease) (%)       (cents)
  Normalised headline earnings per                                       345.0         335.9           0% to 5%       335.9 to 
  share - undiluted                                                                                                   352.7
  Headline earnings per share -                                          602.6         586.6     (45%) to (55%)       322.6 to 
  undiluted                                                                                                           264.0
  Earnings per share - basic                                             608.7         592.6     (45%) to (55%)       325.9 to 
                                                                                                                      266.7
*Restated for the bonus element of the rights issue on 7 April 2015 
 
Normalised headline earnings (which management believe is the most relevant indicator of business 
performance) is expected to increase by between 5% and 10% in the current period. This is lower than 
the Company’s historic growth in normalised headline earnings due to: 
     i.   An increased investment in new initiatives, including the recently awarded Bankmed medical 
          scheme administration and managed care contract, the expansion of the business model into 
          banking and increased costs arising from growth in Ping An Health and other International 
          Partner Markets; and 
    ii.   Higher than expected costs associated with moving VitalityHealth in the UK onto its own system 
          infrastructure. 
           
Normalised headline earnings per share for the current period is impacted by the increase in total shares 
in issue, following implementation of the Rights Issue in April 2015. 
 
Headline earnings per share and basic earnings per share for the prior period were positively impacted 
by the once-off accounting treatment resulting from the lapsing of the put options Prudential held in 
respect of its interest in the UK joint venture – this was due to Discovery’s purchase of the Prudential’s 
remaining 25% of the joint venture in November 2014. As this once-off increase in profits occurred 
during the Company’s 2015 financial year, all results announcements relating to the 2015 financial year 
will be affected for comparative purposes, as previously advised in the results announcement for the 
year ended 30 June 2015 released on SENS on 10 September 2015.  
 
Discovery’s results for the current period are due to be released on SENS on 25 February 2016. 


The financial information on which this trading statement is based has not been reviewed and reported 
on by the Company’s external auditors.  
      
Sandton                                                                          
17 February 2016 
 
Sponsor       
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)  




                                                                                                    

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