JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sasol (NYSE: SSL) announced in January 2009 that as part of the Group's ongoing legal compliance programme Sasol Limited had initiated a comprehensive competition law compliance review of all Sasol businesses in July 2008. As previously announced Sasol will, in the course of conducting the competition law compliance review, adopt appropriate remedial steps and make disclosures on material findings and developments as and when appropriate. These activities are still in progress across all of Sasol's businesses. Although it was envisaged in January 2009 that the review process would be completed during the first half of 2009 current progress indicates that the review should be completed in the second half of 2009. Although the competition law compliance review of Sasol Nitro has not been completed in all respects, Sasol is now in a position to disclose the following material developments in respect of the phosphoric acid and fertiliser businesses of Sasol Nitro. As indicated in our announcement made in January 2009, additional information has been revealed by the competition law compliance review process relevant to previously disclosed competition law legal proceedings in respect of the Nutri-Flo matter and the phosphoric acid investigation (See pages 179 - 181 of the 2008 Annual Financial Statements and pages 75 - 77 of the 2008 Annual Report submitted on Form 20-F to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for the previous public disclosures in these matters) and that settlement discussions had commenced with the South African Competition Commission. These discussions with the Competition Commission have progressed to the extent that a settlement agreement has been concluded with the Competition Commission. Subject to confirmation by the Competition Tribunal, the agreement will have the effect of a full and final settlement and conclusion of all proceedings between the Commission and Sasol Chemical Industries Limited relating to any alleged contraventions by Sasol Chemical Industries Limited (Sasol Nitro division) of section 4(1)(b) (prohibiting collusive conduct) of the South African Competition Act that were the subject of the Commission's investigations in respect of the Nutri-Flo matter (under case numbers 31/CR/May05) and the phosphoric acid investigation (under 2007Aug3147 and 2007Dec3382). In terms of the agreement Sasol Chemical Industries Limited will pay an administrative penalty of R188, 01 million. Provisions raised this financial year are sufficient to cover this administrative penalty. Steps have been taken by Sasol Nitro to address these areas of non-compliance. The allegations by the Competition Commission relating to excessive pricing and exclusionary conduct flowing from the Nutri-Flo and Profert complaints are not, however, part of the settlement agreement. Sasol has been in discussions with the Commission about these matters and hope to resume discussions at an opportune time. These matters have not proceeded sufficiently to assess any potential adverse financial impact with reasonable accuracy. Shareholder's attention is drawn to the media release attached to this announcement regarding the above settlement agreement. Sasol settles with Competition Commission regarding allegations of collusion in its fertiliser and phosphoric acid businesses Sasol Nitro, a division of Sasol Chemical Industries Limited, has reached a settlement agreement with the Competition Commission of South Africa, relating to its fertiliser and phosphoric acid businesses. The agreement is subject to confirmation by the Competition Tribunal. In January this year, Sasol announced that as part of its ongoing legal compliance programme, Sasol Limited initiated a competition law compliance review in July 2008 of all Sasol businesses. The competition law compliance review proactively analyses business activities across Sasol Limited and its subsidiaries to ensure that such activities are compliant. Although it was envisaged in January 2009 that the review process would be completed during the first half of 2009 current progress indicates that the review should be completed in the second half of 2009. "We announced at the start of this year that the compliance review is rigorously scrutinising all our businesses and that in some areas problems of potential non-compliance had been identified. We have worked closely with the Competition Commission in seeking resolution to these matters and while this settlement agreement is an important step, there is much work ahead and we remain committed to following through on each matter in order to achieve full compliance," Sasol chief executive Pat Davies said. As a result of findings by the internal competition law compliance review, Sasol engaged with the Competition Commission in December 2008, with the intent to settle the Sasol Nitro matters including alleged collusive conduct in the fertiliser business, issues referred to the Competition Tribunal by Nutri-Flo and Profert as well as issues related to phosphoric acid. The settlement agreement relates to matters of alleged collusion. Sasol and the Commission remain in discussion regarding outstanding allegations of abuse of dominance. Fertiliser business During December 2008, Sasol's internal competition law compliance review revealed evidence of potentially collusive conduct in the fertiliser business of Sasol Nitro. The matter was reported to the Competition Commission by Sasol management when they became aware of the conduct. The review indicated that the conduct in respect of fertilisers ceased in 2004 and although these activities are not identical to those referred to in the Nutri-Flo matter a further review concluded that committees were set up to coordinate business practices, derive forecasted market shares and ensure balance of supply and demand. Accordingly, Sasol entered into settlement discussions with the Commission in respect of the Nutri-Flo matter. The remainder of the Nutri-Flo matter and the Profert matter, which deal with allegations of abuse of dominance in the market place, form the subject-matter of continuing engagement between Sasol and the Competition Commission. Phosphoric acid business In August of 2007, the Competition Commission initiated a complaint against Foskor and Sasol relating to possible contraventions of the Competition Act in respect of phosphoric acid. The complaint against Sasol related to its agreement with Foskor which was concluded to ensure the continued viability of Sasol's Phalaborwa phosphoric acid operations and was not intended to breach any competition laws. Upon receiving external legal advice, Sasol concluded that certain provisions of these agreements may be a contravention of the Competition Act. The restrictive clause within the agreement was terminated in 2007. Settlement conclusion An administrative penalty of the amount of R188,01 million has been agreed by Sasol and the Competition Commission. While many of these activities took place and then ceased some years ago, Sasol deeply regrets that these activities occurred. Sasol remains committed to rooting out any non-compliance within its businesses and to achieving full compliance with all legislation. "The conduct, identified in these investigations of the Sasol Nitro business, is unacceptable and runs counter to our Sasol values," said Sasol Nitro MD, Marius Brand. "This settlement agreement is an important step and we are looking forward to concluding outstanding matters," Brand said. Contact: Jacqui O'Sullivan Sasol: group communication manager Tel: +27 11 441 3252 Fax: +27 11 522 9994 Email: DATASOURCE: Sasol Limited CONTACT: Jacqui O'Sullivan of Sasol Limited, +27 11 441 3252, fax, +27 11 522 9994,

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