Harmony Gold Mining Company (JSE:HAR) News - Trading statement and operating update for the six months ended 31 December 2021

Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited
Registration number 1950/038232/06
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa
ISIN: ZAE000015228
JSE share code: HAR
(“Harmony” and/or “the Company”)

Trading statement and operating update for the six months ended
31 December 2021

Johannesburg, Friday, 18 February 2022. In terms of paragraph 3.4(b) of
the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited ("JSE"), a company listed
on the JSE is required to publish a trading statement as soon as they
are satisfied that a reasonable degree of certainty exists that the
financial results for the period to be reported upon next - being its
interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2021 ("H1FY22") -
will differ by at least 20% from the financial results for the comparable
six months ended 31 December 2020 ("the previous comparable period"
and/or "H1FY21").

Expected basic and headline earnings for H1FY22

Shareholders of Harmony are advised that a reasonable degree of certainty
exists that basic earnings for H1FY22 will be 68-72% lower than for
H1FY21 primarily due to:

    • a non-recurring gain on bargain purchase recognised for the
      acquisition of the assets and liabilities of Mponeng operations
      and related assets in H1FY21;
    • a decreased gross profit as result of higher production costs,
      which offset the increase in production and revenue;
    • a translation loss on the US$ denominated debt at 31 December 2021
      (compared to a gain at 31 December 2020); and
    • a derivative loss recorded in H1FY22 compared to a gain in H1FY21.


The decrease in earnings were partially offset by the decrease in the
taxation expense due to changes in the utilisation of unredeemed capital
allowances and assessed losses period on period.

As a result of a correction of an error related to deferred taxation and
the conclusion of the IFRS 3 fair value and accounting exercise related
to the acquisition of Mponeng operations and related assets, the 31
December 2020 results have been restated (for details refer to Harmony’s
annual financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2021, published on 28
October 2021 on www.harmony.co.za).

The expected movements in earnings for H1FY22 compared to the previous
corresponding period are due mainly to:


                                     
    Production costs

    Production costs increased mainly due to the inclusion of six months
    of costs in respect of Mponeng and related assets in H1FY22 compared
    to three months in H1FY21. Inflationary increases also impacted on
    various facets such as labour and consumables costs.

    Foreign exchange rate movement impact

    A foreign exchange translation loss of approximately R298 million
    (US$20 million), compared to a R652 million gain (US$40 million) in
    H1FY21, is predominantly attributable to the Rand weakening against
    the US dollar.

    Included in H1FY22 were derivative    losses of close to R35 million
    (US$2 million) compared to gains of   R902 million (US$56 million) in
    H1FY21. The derivative losses are     primarily as a result of the
    weakening of the Rand exchange rate   against the US Dollar.

    Taxation

    The factors above resulted in the increase of assessed losses and
    unredeemed capital expenditure resulted in a lower deferred tax
    expense.

Earnings per share (“EPS”) are expected be between 214 and 245 South
African cents per share – which is a decrease of between 72% and 68% on
the restated earnings of 763 South African cents per share for the
previous comparable period. In US dollar terms, the earnings per share
is expected to be between 15 and 18 US cents per share, which is a
decline of between 68% and 62% on restated earnings of 47 US cents per
share reported for the previous comparable period.

Headline earnings per share (“HEPS”) are expected to between 233 and 268
South African cents, which represents a decrease of between 67% and 62%
from the restated headline earnings per share of 713 South African cents
reported in the previous comparable period. In US dollar terms, the
headline earnings per share is expected to be between 15 and 18 US cents
per share, which is a decrease of between 66% and 59% on the restated
headline earnings of 44 US cents per share reported for the previous
comparable period. Headline earnings exclude the gain on bargain purchase
(from acquisitions) recorded in H1FY21.


The financial information on which this trading statement has been based
has not been reviewed or reported on by Harmony’s external auditors.


                                    
Harmony will publish its financial results for the six months ended
31 December 2021 on Monday, 28 February 2022. Please see Harmony’s
website for more details: www.harmony.co.za.


For more details, contact:

Jared Coetzer
Head of Investor Relations
+27 (0) 82 746 4120

Johannesburg, South Africa

18 February 2022



Sponsor:

J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa Proprietary Limited



FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This market release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe
harbour provided by Section 21E of the Exchange Act and Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), with respect to our financial
condition, results of operations, business strategies, operating efficiencies,
competitive positions, growth opportunities for existing services, plans and
objectives of management, markets for stock and other matters.

These forward-looking statements, including, among others, those relating to our
future business prospects, revenues, and the potential benefit of acquisitions
(including statements regarding growth and cost savings) wherever they may occur in
this market release and the exhibits, are necessarily estimates reflecting the best
judgement of our senior management and involve a number of risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the
forward-looking statements. As a consequence, these forward looking statements should
be considered in light of various important factors, including those set forth in this
market release.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates
or projections contained in the forward-looking statements include, without
limitation: overall economic and business conditions in South Africa, Papua New
Guinea, Australia and elsewhere (including as a result of the coronavirus disease
("COVID-19” or “pandemic”); estimates of future earnings, and the sensitivity of
earnings to gold and other metals prices; estimates of future gold and other metals
production and sales; estimates of future cash costs; estimates of future cash flows,
and the sensitivity of cash flows to gold and other metals prices; estimates of
provision for silicosis settlement; statements regarding future debt repayments;
estimates of future capital expenditures; the success of our business strategy,
exploration and development activities and other initiatives; future financial
position, plans, strategies, objectives, capital expenditures, projected costs and
anticipated cost savings and financing plans; estimates of reserves statements
regarding future exploration results and the replacement of reserves; the ability to
achieve anticipated efficiencies and other cost savings in connection with past and
future acquisitions, as well as at existing operations; fluctuations in the market
price of gold; the occurrence of hazards associated with underground and surface gold

                                          
mining; the occurrence of labour disruptions related to industrial action or health
and safety incidents; power cost increases as well as power stoppages, fluctuations
and usage constraints; supply chain shortages and increases in the prices of
production imports and the availability, terms and deployment of capital; our ability
to hire and retain senior management, sufficiently technically-skilled employees, as
well as our ability to achieve sufficient representation of historically disadvantaged
HDSAs in management positions; our ability to comply with requirements that we operate
in a sustainable manner and provide benefits to affected communities; potential
liabilities related to occupational health diseases; changes in government regulation
and the political environment, particularly tax and royalties, mining rights, health
and safety, environmental regulation and business ownership including any
interpretation thereof; court decisions affecting the South African mining industry,
including, without limitation, regarding the interpretation of mining rights; our
ability to protect our information technology and communication systems and the
personal data we retain; risks related to the failure of internal controls; the
outcome of pending or future litigation or regulatory proceedings; fluctuations in
exchange rates any further downgrade of South Africa’s credit rating; and currency
devaluations and other macroeconomic monetary policies; the adequacy of the Group’s
insurance coverage; and socio-economic or political instability in South Africa, Papua
New Guinea, Australia and other countries in which we operate.

For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors (such as availability
of credit or other sources of financing), see the Company’s latest Integrated Annual
Report and Form 20-F which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as
well as the Company’s other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward
looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this market
release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by
law. The foregoing factors and others described under “Risk Factors” should not be
construed as exhaustive.




                                          

Date: 18-02-2022 05:07:00
Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE'). 
The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of
 the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, 
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,
 information disseminated through SENS.