JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 9, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd. (Other OTC:IMPAF) (Pink Sheets:IMPUY): The company participated today by telephone in the Reuters Mining Summit in New York. The salient points made in response to questions are set out below for the purposes of confirming the information provided.
Keith Rumble, CEO, said that, in respect of anticipated headline earnings for the full year, while in the interim results announcement in February this year the company would, at that stage, have forecast a similar sort of performance for the full year, a softer rand, good operational performance and strong metal prices, particularly nickel, meant that he thought that "we will be materially better than that."
He said that a consensus forecast for headline earnings for the full year was just under 36 Rand. "I think it will be somewhat better than that."
He also advised that platinum production was expected to be double that of the first half, plus 4%.
He also indicated that in addition to the amount declared in the interim results as spent at that time on share buy backs, a further R100m had been spent to date.
The results for the year ended June 30, 2005 can be expected to be influenced by the rand dollar exchange rate. If the expected results are confirmed with a reasonable degree of certainty and require a trading statement in terms of the JSE Securities Exchange South Africa's Listings Requirements, a trading statement will be published immediately.
The above statement has not been reviewed or reported on by Implats external auditors.
As soon as the full transcript of the telephonic interview becomes available, the transcript will be posted on the Implats website (www.implats.co.za).
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