The board of directors drew the attention of shareholders to the interim results at 31 August 2009, which reflected a loss for the six month period of R162.3 million. Trading conditions have continued to weaken in the second half of the year as revenue levels have decreased due to low levels of liquidity available to meet required volumes. Shareholders were therefore advised that basic earnings per share and headline earnings per share attributable to ordinary shareholders for the year ended 28 February 2010 are expected to be more than 20% lower than the restated basic earnings per share and headline earnings per share of 15.92 cents and 12.73 cents, respectively, for the previous comparable period. As reported in the interim results, the decline in the company's results is mainly attributable to: * Restricted levels of funding available in the market emanating from the global financial crisis, which has limited the company's ability to grow its loan book. * Operating costs being disproportionately high when compared to revenue owing to the lower than expected levels of available funding. * Increase in the impairment of loan advances particularly in the South African portion of the loan book. * Weakening in many of the local African market currencies against the rand. The company has taken many positive steps to improve trading, including a significant saving in operating expenses, a reduction in the number of trading branches in South Africa, rationalisation in some African countries, and emphasis on shorter term cash generative loan products. In addition, discussions with funders and other potential investors continue with the main objective of recapitalising the company and securing new funding lines going forward. An updated trading statement will be released once the company is able to quantify, with reasonable certainty, the expected range of the profit decline. Reminder of cautionary Shareholders were referred to the renewal of cautionary announcement dated 24 February 2010, and were reminded that the negotiations referred to therein are still in progress and, if successfully concluded, may have an effect on the price at which the company's securities trade on the JSE Ltd. Accordingly, shareholders were advised to continue exercising caution when dealing in the company's securities until a further announcement in this regard was made.