Mr. Mark Davis of Master Blaster has published, on an open global platform, very serious defamatory and false claims pertaining to an Arbitrator’s factual findings. In a case that Mr. Davis and his company actually lost, Mr. Davis is now attempting to distort the outcome in his favor by fabricating facts. Sasol, Sasol Dyno Nobel and Dyno Nobel (collectively, “Sasol”) will pursue legal remedies for defamation against Mr. Davis.
Mr. Davis’ company, Master Blaster, together with Northern Explosives (the claimants), have engaged in a protracted legal process against Sasol since 2016. The claimants alleged sabotage and tampering by Sasol with Master Blaster detonators. This claim was rejected in binding arbitration.
The Arbitrator dismissed all claims against Sasol, and the claimants were ordered to pay Sasol’s legal costs. There has never been any criminal charges or other findings regarding criminal conduct on the part of Sasol.
Sasol confirms that in 2013, it obtained a box containing 100 Master Blaster detonators. These Master Blaster detonators were sourced for the purpose of benchmark product testing. These detonators had been removed by the magazine master of Booysendal mine, near Mashishing (Lydenburg), and given to Sasol. The Arbitrator found that the transportation of the detonators without the required permit was improper. Disciplinary action was taken against the Sasol employees involved.
Mr. Davis’ recent statements attempt to twist the Arbitrator’s actual findings into the outcome Mr. Davis hoped for. The reality is that Mr. Davis lost the case. Sasol will pursue appropriate legal remedies for Mr. Davis’ blatant falsehoods.
Forward Looking statements
Sasol may, in this document, make certain statements that are not historical facts that relate to analyses and other information which are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements may also relate to our future prospects, developments and business strategies. Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding exchange rate fluctuations, volume growth, increases in market share, total shareholder return, executing our growth projects (including LCCP), oil and gas reserves and cost reductions, including in connection with our BPEP, RP and our business performance outlook. Words such as “believe”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “intend", “seek”, “will”, “plan”, “could”, “may”, “endeavour”, “target”, “forecast” and “project” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and there are risks that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. If one or more of these risks materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. You should understand that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors are discussed more fully in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed on 28 August 2018 and in other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The list of factors discussed therein is not exhaustive; when relying on forward-looking statements to make investment decisions, you should carefully consider both these factors and other uncertainties and events. Forward-looking statements apply only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Please note: One billion is defined as one thousand million. bbl – barrel, bscf – billion standard cubic feet, mmscf – million standard cubic feet, oil references brent crude, mmboe – million barrels oil equivalent. All references to years refer to the financial year 30 June. Any reference to a calendar year is prefaced by the word “calendar”.