/ 17 February 2005

Kumba declares 18-month dividend

Mining company Kumba Resources declared a final dividend of 90 cents per share for the 18-month period ending December 2004, the company said on Thursday.

”This will result in a total dividend for the period of 145 cents per share,” said Con Fauconnier, Kumba’s Chief Executive Officer.

”The dividend is payable to shareholders recorded in the books of the company at close of business on 11 March 2005,” he said in a statement.

Kumba’s year-end period changed from June 30 to December 31 after Anglo American acquired a 66,6% stake in December 2003, extending Kumba’s financial year to 18 months.

Fauconnier said Kumba’s revenue for the period under review stood at R12,6-billion and net operating profit at R1,86-billion.

”Attributable and headline earnings per share were respectively 314 cents and 339 cents for this period,” he said.

For the 12-month period ending in December last year, revenue rose by 15% and net operating profit by 41% when compared with 12 months ending in December 2003.

”The increased revenue and net operating profit were achieved despite the substantial strengthening of the rand,” he said. – Sapa