Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment

To promote the economic development of South Africa’s historically disadvantaged black population in a sustainable manner, the company is continuing its strategy of “Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE)” in conjunction with local suppliers. Since the launch of the BBBEE program in 2004, we have raised the quota of BBBEE suppliers from four to seven percent. The share of non-production material purchased from BBBEE suppliers came to 17 percent in 2005, matching the level of the previous year. With regard to production material, the number of local partners has doubled since 2004 to total 28 BBBEE suppliers.