Shareholders are advised that the company’s earnings per share (“EPS”) for the 6 months ending 30 June 2021(“current period”) in ZAR terms are expected to be between 94.70 cents and 100.00 cents per share compared to the EPS of 53.30 cents per share for the 6 months ended 30 June 2020 (“comparative period”), which is between 77.6% and 87.6% higher than the EPS of the comparative period as reported in ZAR. Headline earnings per share (“HEPS”) for the current period are expected to be between 84.90 cents and 90.20 cents per share compared to the HEPS of 53.30 cents per share for the comparative period, which is between 59.2% and 69.2% higher than the HEPS for the comparative period as reported in ZAR.

Shareholders are further advised that the company’s EPS for the current period in USD terms are expected to be between 6.50 cents and 6.90 cents per share compared to the EPS of 3.20 cents per share for the comparative period, which is between 104.4% and 114.4% higher than the EPS in the comparative period as reported in USD. HEPS for the current period are expected to be between 5.80 cents and 6.20 cents per share compared to the HEPS of 3.20 cents per share for the comparative period, which is between 82.5% and 92.5% higher than the HEPS for the comparative period as reported in USD.

As 2020 was an abnormal trading year due to the effects of Covid-19, the company believes it will provide value if the current performance is also compared with the pre-Covid19 corresponding period, i.e. the six months to 30 June 2019.

Accordingly, the company’s earnings per share (“EPS”) for the 6 months ending 30 June 2021(“current period”) in ZAR terms are expected to be between 94.70 cents and 100.00 cents per share compared to the EPS of 76.67 cents per share for the 6 months ended 30 June 2019 (“pre-Covid 19 comparative period”), which is between 23.5% and 30.4% higher than the EPS of the pre-Covid 19 comparative period as reported in ZAR. Headline earnings per share (“HEPS”) for the current period are expected to be between 84.90 cents and 90.20 cents per share compared to the HEPS of 76.67 cents per share for the pre-Covid 19 comparative period, which is between 10.7% and 17.6% higher than the HEPS for the comparative period as reported in ZAR.

Furthermore, the company’s EPS for the current period in USD terms are expected to be between 6.50 cents and 6.90 cents per share compared to the EPS of 5.40 cents per share for the pre-Covid 19 comparative period, which is between 20.4% and 27.8% higher than the EPS in the pre-Covid comparative period as reported in USD. HEPS for the current period are expected to be between 5.80 cents and 6.20 cents per share compared to the HEPS of 5.40 cents per share for the pre-Covid 19 comparative period, which is between 7.4% and 14.8% higher than the HEPS for the pre-Covid comparative period as reported in USD.

The financial information on which this trading statement is based has not been reviewed or reported on by the Company’s auditors. Master Drilling’s interim results are expected to be released on SENS on or about Tuesday, 31 August 2021.