Sasol's Annual Profit up 5%

South African petrochemicals group Sasol on Monday reported a 5% rise in annual profit and shelved its final dividend as the firm sought to strengthen its balance sheet in light of a challenging trading environment.

Core headline earnings per share (HEPS), which strips out certain one-off items and is the primary profit gauge in South Africa, rose to 38.13 rand ($2.61) for the 12 months ended June. 30 from 36.38 rand, a year earlier.

Adjusted Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) decreased 9% compared to the prior year due to lower chemical product prices and higher operating costs from its Lake Charles Chemicals Project.

($1 = 14.6162 rand)

(Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka and Tanisha Heiberg. Editing by Shri Navaratnam)