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SOUTH32 LIMITED - Quarterly report December 2016

Release Date: 19/01/2017 08:15
Code(s): S32     PDF:  
Wrap Text
Quarterly report December 2016

South32 Limited
(Incorporated in Australia under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth))
(ACN 093 732 597)
ASX, LSE, JSE Share Code: S32
ISIN: AU000000S320


SOUTH32 QUARTERLY REPORT DECEMBER 2016

                                                                           1

 “While stronger commodity prices and our significant operating leverage have enabled us to further strengthen our
 financial position, we continue to focus on the basics; the safety of our people and the optimisation of our operations.

 “At Illawarra Metallurgical Coal we have addressed a number of operational challenges during the quarter and our
 remediation activities are tracking to plan.

 “We have demonstrated the flexibility of our manganese business to respond to favourable market conditions by
 opportunistically increasing ore production.

 “We entered into a binding agreement to purchase the Metropolitan Colliery, consistent with our strategy to invest in
 high quality mining operations where we can create value.”

 Graham Kerr, South32 CEO



 -   Remain on track to achieve production guidance for the majority of our operations, despite a generally
     challenging quarter.

 -   Achieved record production at Brazil Alumina in the December 2016 quarter, while our African aluminium
     smelters continue to operate at benchmark levels of current efficiency.

 -   Increased manganese ore production by drawing down Wessels concentrate stockpiles in South Africa and
     ramping up PC02 ore production at GEMCO to full capacity.

 -   Lower production at South Africa Energy Coal reflects the prior closure of the North Plant at the Wolvekrans-
     Middelburg Complex, scheduled maintenance and the repositioning of draglines.

 -   Production guidance at Cannington remains unchanged and is predicated on the extraction of a high grade
     stope towards the end of FY17 following significantly weaker metal production in the December 2016 half year.

 -   Revised sales guidance for Illawarra Metallurgical Coal of 8.1Mt remains unchanged as Appin Area 7 has
     returned to full capacity and remediation work at Appin Area 9 is continuing as planned.
 
Entered into an agreement to acquire Peabody’s Metropolitan Colliery and associated 16.67% interest in the Port
Kembla Coal Terminal for US$200M.



 
                                                                                     
Production summary
South32’s share                                       1H16         1H17           HoH           2Q16          1Q17         2Q17           QoQ
Alumina production (kt)                              2,666        2,613          (2%)          1,302         1,293        1,320           2%
Aluminium production (kt)                              485          492           1%             241           243          249           2%
Energy coal production (kt)                         17,037       15,709          (8%)          8,339         8,191        7,518          (8%)
Metallurgical coal production (kt)                   3,298        2,829         (14%)          1,219         1,437        1,392          (3%)
Manganese ore production (kwmt)                      2,346        2,433           4%             909         1,180        1,253           6%
Manganese alloy production (kt)                        131          115         (12%)             66            59           56          (5%)
Payable nickel production (kt)                        17.5         17.7           1%             8.8           8.7          9.0           3%
Payable silver production (koz)                     11,878        8,729         (27%)          5,600         4,694        4,035         (14%)
Payable lead production (kt)                          97.5         73.9         (24%)           48.4          38.4         35.5          (8%)
Payable zinc production (kt)                          41.8         42.1           1%            22.2          17.7         24.4          38%

Unless otherwise noted: percentage variance relates to performance during the half year ended December 2016 compared with the half year ended
December 2015 (HoH) or the December 2016 quarter compared with the September 2016 quarter (QoQ); production and sales volumes are reported on
an attributable basis.

    
                                                                                      2
CORPORATE UPDATE

-     Our strong balance sheet and investment grade credit rating remain a priority. During the period, Standard &
      Poor’s and Moody’s reaffirmed their respective BBB+ and Baa1 credit ratings following their annual reviews. Our
      net cash position further benefitted from gross distributions totalling US$137M (South32 share) from equity accounted
      investments in the December 2016 half year.
-     In the December 2016 half year, we invested US$8.2M in exploration of which US$1.5M was capitalised. This
      includes an investment of US$1.4M in exploration in our equity accounted investments of which US$0.9M was
      capitalised. Within the footprint of our existing operations, we focussed on metallurgical coal, manganese and
      silver in Australia, and nickel in Colombia. Consistent with the terms of the option agreement signed with Northern
      Shield Resources, we will fund C$1.3M of exploration in CY17 for Cu-Ni-PGE mineralisation at Huckleberry in the
      Labrador Trough, Canada. Completion of this funding will secure the right to acquire a 50% interest in the
      Huckleberry property.
-     Our Underlying effective tax rate (ETR)[1], which excludes taxation associated with equity accounted
      investments, largely reflects the geographic distribution of the Group’s profit. The corporate tax rates applicable to
      South32 include: Australia 30%; South Africa 28%; Colombia 40%; and Brazil 34%. Permanent differences have
      a disproportionate effect on the Group’s tax rate when the Group’s profit margins are compressed.
-     In the December 2016 quarter, we entered into a binding agreement to acquire Peabody’s Metropolitan Colliery
      and associated 16.67% interest in the Port Kembla Coal Terminal for a consideration of US$200M[2]. Subject to
      approval from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, completion is expected in the March 2017
      quarter.



    Upstream production and FY17 guidance
                                                                     FY16                1H FY17                  FY17e
    (South32’s share)
    Worsley Alumina
    Alumina production (kt)                                          3,961                  1,940                  3,965
    Brazil Alumina
    Alumina production (kt)                                          1,335                    673                  1,320
    South Africa Energy Coal [3]
    Domestic coal production (kt)                                   16,825                  8,847                 17,000
    Export coal production (kt)                                     14,856                  5,978                 13,850
    Illawarra Metallurgical Coal
    Metallurgical coal production (kt)                               7,059                  2,829     Revised down 6,360
    Energy coal production (kt)                                      1,307                    884       Revised up 1,540
    Australia Manganese
    Manganese ore production (kwmt)                                  3,071                  1,499                  3,120
    South Africa Manganese
    Manganese ore production [4] (kwmt)                              1,711                    934      Subject to demand
    Cerro Matoso
    Payable nickel production (kt)                                    36.8                   17.7                   36.0
    Cannington
    Payable silver production (koz)                                 21,393                  8,729                 19,050
    Payable lead production (kt)                                       173                     74                    163
    Payable zinc production (kt)                                        79                     42                     80




                                                                                     3
WORSLEY ALUMINA
(86% share)


                                                                                                  2Q16      1Q17
South32's share                          1H16    1H17      HoH       2Q16      1Q17     2Q17        vs        vs
                                                                                                  2Q17      2Q17
Alumina production (kt)                1,993     1,940     (3%)        962       967      973       1%        1%
Alumina sales (kt)                     1,898     1,909      1%         968       960      949      (2%)     (1%)

Worsley Alumina saleable production decreased by 3% (or 53kt) to 1.9Mt in the December 2016 half year. Hydrate
production remained at an annualised rate of 4.5Mt (100% basis) and FY17 saleable alumina production
guidance remains unchanged at 4.0Mt.


SOUTH AFRICA ALUMINIUM
(100%)


                                                                                                  2Q16      1Q17
South32's share                          1H16    1H17      HoH        2Q16      1Q17     2Q17       vs        vs
                                                                                                  2Q17      2Q17
Aluminium production (kt)                 352     356       1%         174       175      181       4%        3%
Aluminium sales (kt)                      363     347      (4%)        178       178      169      (5%)     (5%)

South Africa Aluminium saleable production increased by 1% (or 4kt) to 356kt in the December 2016 half year as the
smelter continued to operate at high levels of current efficiency, with fewer load-shedding events. Strong performance also
reflected the recommencement of production in the 22 pots that were suspended in the September 2015 quarter.


MOZAL ALUMINIUM
(47.1% share)


                                                                                                  2Q16      1Q17
South32's share                          1H16    1H17      HoH       2Q16      1Q17     2Q17        vs        vs
                                                                                                  2Q17      2Q17
Aluminium production (kt)                 133     136       2%          67        68       68       1%        0%
Aluminium sales (kt)                      121     134      11%          68        64       70       3%        9%

Mozal Aluminium saleable production increased by 2% (or 3kt) to 136kt in the December 2016 half year as current
efficiency continued to improve and the operation experienced fewer load-shedding events. The 11% increase in sales
reflects the timing of shipments between periods.




                                                                                     4
BRAZIL ALUMINA
(36%)


                                                                                                         2Q16      1Q17
South32's share                            1H16     1H17       HoH        2Q16      1Q17       2Q17        vs        vs
                                                                                                         2Q17      2Q17
Alumina production (kt)                     673       673       0%          340       326       347        2%        6%
Alumina sales (kt)                          661       638      (3%)         341       299       339       (1%)      13%

Brazil Alumina saleable production remained unchanged in the December 2016 half year at 673kt as planned
maintenance at the refinery and port in the September 2016 quarter was offset by record production in the December
2016 quarter. FY17 saleable alumina production guidance remains unchanged at 1.3Mt.


SOUTH AFRICA ENERGY COAL
(100%)


                                                                                                         2Q16      1Q17
South32's share                            1H16     1H17       HoH        2Q16      1Q17       2Q17        vs        vs
                                                                                                         2Q17      2Q17
Energy coal production (kt)              16,379    14,825      (9%)       8,087     7,744     7,081     (12%)       (9%)
Domestic sales (kt)                       9,080     8,918      (2%)       4,834     4,446     4,472       (7%)       1%
Export sales (kt)                         8,021     5,856    (27%)        3,889     2,904     2,952     (24%)        2%

South Africa Energy Coal saleable production decreased by 9% (or 1.6Mt) to 14.8Mt in the December 2016 half year.
The decline in production reflects the prior closure of the North Plant at the Wolvekrans-Middelburg Complex (WMC),
scheduled maintenance and the repositioning of draglines. Export sales were also impacted by Transnet’s annual rail
maintenance cycle. FY17 saleable coal production guidance remains unchanged at 30.9Mt (domestic coal 17.0Mt, export
coal 13.9Mt).


ILLAWARRA METALLURGICAL COAL
(100%)


                                                                                                         2Q16      1Q17
South32's share                            1H16     1H17       HoH        2Q16      1Q17       2Q17        vs        vs
                                                                                                         2Q17      2Q17
Metallurgical coal production (kt)        3,298     2,829    (14%)        1,219     1,437     1,392       14%       (3%)
Metallurgical coal sales (kt)             3,132     2,788    (11%)        1,146     1,723     1,065       (7%)     (38%)
Energy coal production (kt)                 658       884      34%          252       447       437       73%       (2%)
Energy coal sales (kt)                      609       817      34%          218       470       347       59%      (26%)

Illawarra Metallurgical Coal saleable production decreased by 6% (or 243kt) to 3.7Mt in the December 2016 half year.
The decline in production primarily reflected challenging ground conditions at Appin Area 9 and a moderation in mining
rates at Appin Area 7 that ensured gas concentrations were maintained at safe levels. These impacts were partially
offset by strong operating performance at Dendrobium. Consistent with our recent update, Illawarra Metallurgical Coal
sales of 8.1Mt are expected in FY17 as Appin Area 7 has returned to full capacity and remediation work at Appin Area 9
is continuing as planned.

As a result of a carry-over shipment in December 2016 associated with the production challenges at Appin and our
declaration of force majeure, our average realised price for metallurgical coal in the December 2016 half year will reflect
a modest discount to the premium low-volatile hard coking coal index on a volume weighted M-1 basis [5]. Another carry-
over shipment will occur in the June 2017 half year.




                                                                                       5
AUSTRALIA MANGANESE
(60% share)


                                                                                                        2Q16      1Q17
South32's share                           1H16      1H17      HoH         2Q16      1Q17      2Q17        vs        vs
                                                                                                        2Q17      2Q17
Manganese ore production (kwmt)           1,589     1,499     (6%)         732       763       736        1%       (4%)
Manganese ore sales (kwmt)                1,457     1,500      3%          735       757       743        1%       (2%)
Manganese alloy production (kt)              85        78     (8%)          41        38        40       (2%)       5%
Manganese alloy sales (kt)                   76        82      8%           38        54        28      (26%)     (48%)

Australia Manganese saleable ore production in the December 2016 half year decreased by 6% (or 90kwmt) from the
prior period’s record rate to 1.5Mwmt as lower yields and reduced plant availability resulted in lower production from the
primary high grade circuit. This impact was partially offset by the opportunistic ramp-up of the Premium Concentrate ore
(PC02) circuit to its annualised capacity of 500kwmt in the December 2016 quarter.

FY17 production guidance of 3.1Mwmt remains unchanged, albeit with an increased proportion of PC02 in the product
mix. The share of PC02 product in H1 FY17 production was 5% (H1 FY16: Nil). Our PC02 fines product has a
manganese content of approximately 40% which leads to both grade and product-type discounts when referenced to the
high grade 44% manganese lump ore index.

Despite the greater contribution of the PC02 circuit in the December 2016 half year, our volume weighted average
realised price for external sales will reflect a modest premium to the high grade 44% manganese lump ore index on an
M-1 basis [6]. Internal sales continue to occur on a commercial basis.

Exploration drilling at GEMCO’s Southern Areas commenced in the December 2016 quarter.
Saleable manganese alloy production decreased by 8% (or 7kt) to 78kt in the December 2016 half year as furnace
instability impacted performance during the period. All four furnaces are expected to operate at full capacity once
scheduled maintenance is completed in the March 2017 quarter.


SOUTH AFRICA MANGANESE
(60% share)


                                                                                                        2Q16      1Q17
South32's share                           1H16      1H17      HoH         2Q16      1Q17      2Q17        vs        vs
                                                                                                        2Q17      2Q17
Manganese ore production (kwmt)             757       934     23%          177        417       517     192%       24%
Manganese ore sales (kwmt)                  879       928       6%         361        417       511      42%       23%
Manganese alloy production (kt)              46        37    (20%)           25        21        16    (36%)      (24%)
Manganese alloy sales (kt)                   50        40    (20%)           25        20        20    (20%)        0%

South Africa Manganese saleable ore production increased by 23% (or 177kwmt) to 934kwmt in the December 2016 half
year as market conditions supported a drawdown of Wessels concentrate stockpiles and the use of higher cost trucking
to access export opportunities. South Africa Manganese ore production will remain configured for an optimised
rate of 2.9Mwmt pa (100% basis), although we will continue to act opportunistically when market
fundamentals are supportive. The Wessels Central Block project remains on track to be completed in the March 2017
quarter.

Our Wessels concentrate product is fine grained, resulting in a substantial product discount when referenced to index
prices. Our volume weighted average realised price for external sales will therefore reflect a discount of approximately 10% to the
medium grade 37% manganese lump ore index on an M-1 basis [7] as a result of the opportunistic drawdown of Wessels
concentrate stockpiles. Wessels concentrate accounted for 15% of
December 2016 half year external sales,(H1 FY16: 4%). Internal sales continue to
occur on a commercial basis.

Manganese alloy saleable production decreased by 20% (or 9kt) to 37kt in the December 2016 half year as a result of
furnace instability. Metalloys continues to operate one of its four furnaces.




SOUTH32 QUARTERLY REPORT DECEMBER 2016                                                      6
CERRO MATOSO
(99.9% share)


                                                                                                                                 2Q16         1Q17
South32's share                                     1H16        1H17         HoH           2Q16         1Q17         2Q17          vs           vs
                                                                                                                                 2Q17         2Q17
Payable nickel production (kt)                      17.5        17.7          1%            8.8          8.7          9.0          2%           3%
Payable nickel sales (kt)                           17.5        17.6          1%            8.8          8.2          9.4          7%          15%


Cerro Matoso payable nickel production remained largely unchanged at 17.7kt in the December 2016 half year as plant
performance was further optimised and higher recoveries were achieved. FY17 payable nickel production guidance
remains unchanged at 36kt.


CANNINGTON
(100%)


                                                                                                                                 2Q16         1Q17
South32's share                                     1H16        1H17         HoH           2Q16         1Q17         2Q17          vs           vs
                                                                                                                                 2Q17         2Q17
Payable silver production (koz)                   11,878       8,729       (27%)           5,600       4,694        4,035       (28%)        (14%)
Payable silver sales (koz)                        11,898       8,860       (26%)           5,695       5,063        3,797       (33%)        (25%)
Payable lead production (kt)                        97.5        73.9       (24%)            48.4        38.4         35.5       (27%)         (8%)
Payable lead sales (kt)                             95.5        73.3       (23%)            46.8        40.1         33.2       (29%)        (17%)
Payable zinc production (kt)                        41.8        42.1         1%             22.2        17.7         24.4        10%          38%
Payable zinc sales (kt)                             41.2        40.8        (1%)            22.2        18.5         22.3         0%          21%

Payable zinc production increased by 1% (or 0.3kt) to 42.1kt in the December 2016 half year, while payable silver and lead
production decreased by 27% and 24%, respectively. Lower silver and lead ore grades were the primary contributors to
the reduction in metal production.

Silver and lead grades are expected to increase significantly in the June 2017 half year as a higher grade stope in close
proximity to the existing underground crusher chamber is scheduled to be extracted towards the end of FY17. The ability
to achieve FY17 production guidance (Silver 19.05Moz, Lead 163kt, Zinc 80kt) is therefore predicated on the timing of
stope extraction, while the development of the replacement underground crusher remains on schedule for commissioning
in the December 2017 quarter.

Finalisation adjustments and the provisional pricing of Cannington concentrates will increase Underlying EBIT [8] by
US$0.5M in the December 2016 half year (-US$11M June 2016 financial year; -US$19M December 2015 half
year). Outstanding concentrate sales (containing 2Moz of silver, 25kt of lead and 12kt of zinc) were revalued at
31 December 2016. The final price of these sales will be determined in the June 2017 half year.


Notes:
1.   The ETR calculation excludes equity accounted investments as they are recorded on an after tax basis.

2.   Agreed offer includes fully funded, cash consideration of US$200M (subject to customary working capital adjustments) and a mechanism whereby
     both companies will share commodity price upside in the first year of production, or on a minimum 1.3Mt, should metallurgical coal prices exceed an
     agreed forward curve. Should 1.3Mt of volume not be achieved in the 12 months post completion, this Contingent Value mechanism shall continue until
     1.3Mt is achieved. In any event, the Contingent Value mechanism will cease by 31 December 2018.

3.   8% of South Africa Energy Coal is owned by a Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) consortium. The interests owned by the
     B-BBEE consortium were acquired using vendor finance, with the loans repayable to South32 via distributions attributable to these parties, pro rata
     to their share in South Africa Energy Coal. Until these loans are repaid, South32’s interest in South Africa Energy Coal is accounted at 100%.

4.   Consistent with the presentation of South32’s segment information, South Africa Manganese ore production and sales have been reported at 60%.
     The Group’s financial statement will continue to reflect a 54.6% interest in South Africa Manganese ore.

5.   The quarterly sales volume weighted average of the premium low-volatile hard coking coal Platts index (FOB Australia) on the basis of a one month
     lag to published pricing (Month minus one or “M-1”) was US$156/t in the December 2016 half year.

6.   The quarterly external sales volume weighted average of the Metal Bulletin 44% manganese lump ore index (CIF Tianjin, China) on the basis of a
     one month lag to published pricing (Month minus one or “M-1”) was US$5.04/dmtu in the December 2016 half year.

7.   The quarterly external sales volume weighted average of the Metal Bulletin 37% manganese lump ore index (FOB Port Elizabeth, South Africa) on
     the basis of a one month lag to published pricing (Month minus one or “M-1”) was US$4.42/dmtu in the December 2016 half year.

8.   Underlying EBIT is earnings before net finance costs, taxation and any earnings adjustments. Underlying EBIT is reported net of South32’s share of
     net finance costs and taxation of equity accounted investments. Underlying EBITDA is Underlying EBIT, before depreciation and amortisation.

9.   The following abbreviations have been used throughout this report: grams per tonne (g/t); tonnes (t); thousand tonnes (kt); thousand tonnes per
     annum (ktpa); million tonnes (Mt); million tonnes per annum (Mtpa); thousand ounces (koz); million ounces (Moz); thousand wet metric tonnes
     (kwmt); million wet metric tonnes (Mwmt); million wet metric tonnes per annum (Mwmt pa); thousand dry metric tonnes (kdmt); Australian Securities
     Exchange (ASX); London Stock Exchange (LSE); and Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).



                                                                                                   7
   

                                                                                                   
OPERATING PERFORMANCE

South32’s share                             1H16     1H17    2Q16    3Q16    4Q16    1Q17    2Q17

Worsley Alumina
(86% share)
Alumina hydrate production (kt)            1,970    1,946     980     989    946     980     966
Alumina production (kt)                    1,993    1,940     962   1,008    960     967     973
Alumina sales (kt)                         1,898    1,909     968   1,017    959     960     949
South Africa Aluminium
(100%)
Aluminium production (kt)                    352      356     174     173    172     175     181
Aluminium sales (kt)                         363      347     178     162    184     178     169
Mozal Aluminium
(47.1% share)
Aluminium production (kt)                    133      136      67      67     66      68      68
Aluminium sales (kt)                         121      134      68      64     69      64      70
Brazil Alumina
(alumina 36% share, aluminium 40% share)
Alumina production (kt)                      673      673     340     326    336     326     347
Alumina sales (kt)                           661      638     341     360    338     299     339
South Africa Energy Coal
(100%)
Energy coal production (kt)               16,379   14,825   8,087   7,692  7,610   7,744   7,081
Domestic sales (kt)                        9,080    8,918   4,834   4,000  4,089   4,446   4,472
Export sales (kt)                          8,021    5,856   3,889   3,575  3,561   2,904   2,952
Illawarra Metallurgical Coal
(100%)
Metallurgical coal production (kt)         3,298    2,829   1,219   1,642  2,119   1,437   1,392
Metallurgical coal sales (kt)              3,132    2,788   1,146   1,595  2,257   1,723   1,065
Energy coal production (kt)                  658      884     252     238    411     447     437
Energy coal sales (kt)                       609      817     218     364    360     470     347
Australia Manganese
(60% share)
Manganese ore production (kwmt)            1,589    1,499     732     743    739     763     736
Manganese ore sales (kwmt)                 1,457    1,500     735     852    775     757     743
Ore grade sold (%, Mn)                      47.6     46.4    47.5    47.1   47.0    46.7    46.1
Manganese alloy production (kt)               85       78      41      26     22      38      40
Manganese alloy sales (kt)                    76       82      38      44     30      54      28
South Africa Manganese
(60% share)
Manganese ore production (kwmt)              757      934     177     462    492     417     517
Manganese ore sales (kwmt)                   879      928     361     466    489     417     511
Ore grade sold (%, Mn)                      40.1     40.3    39.9    40.4   39.2    39.7    40.8
Manganese alloy production (kt)               46       37      25      22     23      21      16
Manganese alloy sales (kt)                    50       40      25      20     40      20      20


                                                                                                        8                                                                                                                                                                                            8
                                                                   
                                                               
South32’s share                                                   1H16        1H17             2Q16         3Q16         4Q16         1Q17         2Q17

Cerro Matoso
(99.9% share)
Ore mined (kwmt)                                                  3,017       2,347           1,486        1,512        1,480        1,238        1,109
Ore processed (kdmt)                                              1,312       1,289             673          704          683          645          644
Ore grade processed (%, Ni)                                        1.53        1.53            1.52         1.53         1.55         1.52         1.55
Payable nickel production (kt)                                     17.5        17.7             8.8          9.7          9.6          8.7          9.0
Payable nickel sales (kt)                                          17.5        17.6             8.8          9.3         10.0          8.2          9.4

Cannington 
(100%)
Ore mined (kt)                                                    1,743       1,639             833          727          819          780          859
Ore processed (kt)                                                1,657       1,669             819          673          819          828          841
Silver ore grade processed (g/t, Ag)                                266         198             260          258          230          216          182
Lead ore grade processed (%, Pb)                                    7.0         5.5             7.1          6.7          5.9          5.7          5.2
Zinc ore grade processed (%, Zn)                                    3.7         3.7             4.0          4.1          3.6          3.2          4.2
Payable silver production (koz)                                  11,878       8,729           5,600        4,478        5,037        4,694        4,035
Payable silver sales (koz)                                       11,898       8,860           5,695        4,364        4,590        5,063        3,797
Payable lead production (kt)                                       97.5        73.9            48.4         36.9         38.8         38.4         35.5
Payable lead sales (kt)                                            95.5        73.3            46.8         37.0         37.2         40.1         33.2
Payable zinc production (kt)                                       41.8        42.1            22.2         18.5         18.7         17.7         24.4
Payable zinc sales (kt)                                            41.2        40.8            22.2         18.6         22.8         18.5         22.3


Forward-looking statements
This release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about currency exchange rates, commodity prices, production forecasts, plans,
development decisions, exploration and capital expenditure. These forward-looking statements reflect expectations at the date of this release; however,
they are not guarantees or predictions of future performance. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are
beyond our control, and which may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the statements contained in this release. Readers are
cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, South32 Limited does not
undertake to publicly update or review any forward looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events. Past performance cannot be
relied on as a guide to future performance.


                                                                                                   9

FURTHER INFORMATION

INVESTOR RELATIONS

Alex Volante                                       Rob Ward
T +61 8 9324 9029                                  T +61 8 9324 9340
M +61 403 328 408                                  M +61 431 596 831
E Alex.Volante@south32.net                         E Robert.Ward@south32.net

MEDIA RELATIONS

Diana Wearing Smith                                James Clothier
T +61 8 9324 9198                                  T +61 8 9324 9697
M +61 436 482 290                                  M +61 413 319 031
E Diana.Smith@south32.net                          E James.Clothier@south32.net


19 January 2017
JSE Sponsor: UBS South Africa (Pty) Ltd



                                                                                                                  

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