Mondi Group: Trading Statement

As part of the dual listed company structure, Mondi Limited and Mondi plc (together 'Mondi Group') notify both the JSE Limited and the London Stock Exchange of matters required to be disclosed under the Listings Requirements of the JSE and/or the Disclosure and Transparency and Listing Rules of the United Kingdom Listing Authority.

In terms of paragraph 3.4(b) of the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited, companies are required to publish a trading statement as soon as they become reasonably certain that the financial results for the period to be reported on next will differ by at least 20% from those of the previous corresponding period.

Mondi is currently finalising its results for the half year ended 30 June 2012, which will be released on 7 August 2012. As announced in Mondi’s Interim Management Statement released on 3 May 2012, the Group’s underlying operating profit in the first quarter 2012 of EUR120 million was below that of the comparable prior year period of EUR179 million. It can now be confirmed that the underlying operating profit for the second quarter of 2012 is expected to be higher than that of the first quarter, but below that achieved in the comparable prior year period (EUR175 million). As such, underlying operating profit for the half year ended 30 June 2012 is expected to be lower than that of the comparable prior year period.

Accordingly, Mondi advises that it expects earnings per share (‘EPS’) for the half year ended 30 June 2012 to be within the ranges shown below:

• basic underlying earnings per share (euro cents) 28 to 33 (2011 38.2)
• basic earnings per share (combined operations) (euro cents) 29 to 34 (2011 41.6)
• basic headline earnings per share (euro cents) 28 to 33 (2011 39.4)

Mondi has disclosed basic underlying EPS, which is defined as basic EPS excluding the impact of special items, as the directors believe this provides a useful additional measure of the Group’s underlying performance. Mondi has disclosed basic EPS (combined operations) which comprises the total operations of the Group including the discontinued operation in 2011 and the effect of special items. The disclosure of basic headline EPS is required under the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited and has been calculated in accordance with Circular 3/2009 as issued by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.

The above information has neither been reviewed nor audited by Mondi’s auditors.

Editors' notes:

Mondi is an international packaging and paper Group, with production operations across 28 countries and revenues of EUR5.7 billion in 2011. The Group's key operations are located in central Europe, Russia and South Africa and as at the end of 2011, Mondi Group employed 23,400 people.

Mondi Group is fully integrated across the paper and packaging process, from the growing of wood and the manufacture of pulp and paper (including recycled paper), to the conversion of packaging papers into corrugated packaging, industrial bags and coatings.

The Group is principally involved in the manufacture of packaging paper, converted packaging products and uncoated fine paper (UFP).

Mondi Group has a dual listed company structure, with a primary listing on the JSE Limited for Mondi Limited under the ticker code MND and a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange for Mondi plc, under the ticker code MNDI. The Group has been recognised for its sustainability through its inclusion in the FTSE4Good Global, European and UK Index Series (since 2008) and the JSE's Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index since 2007. The Group was also included in the FTSE350 Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index for the second year.

Sponsor in South Africa: UBS South Africa (Pty) Ltd

Mondi Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number: 1967/013038/06)
JSE share code: MND ISIN: ZAE000156550

Mondi plc
(Incorporated in England and Wales)
(Registration number: 6209386)
JSE share code: MNP ISIN: GB00B1CRLC47
LSE share code: MNDI

Last change: 11.11.2013