Truworths International Limited - Business update

Truworths International Limited - Business update                               
Truworths International Limited                                                 
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number 1944/017491/06)                                            
JSE Code: TRU                                                                   
NSX Code: TRW                                                                   
ISIN: ZAE000028296                                                              
("Truworths" or "the group")                                                    
BUSINESS UPDATE                                                                 
Truworths is pleased to announce that the group increased retail sales in the 17
weeks to 23 October 2005 to R 1.2 billion, 22% above the corresponding period in
2004.                                                                           
The 22% increase in sales for the period was achieved with 9% more retail space.
Comparable store sales growth was 14% and product inflation averaged about 3%.  
Two new Identity and two new Truworths stores have been opened and three stores 
have been refurbished.                                                          
By the end of the 2006 financial year, at least a further twelve Identity and   
ten Truworths stores will be opened in new shopping destinations and a further  
eleven stores will be refurbished. The group is expecting to increase overall   
trading space by about 8% by the end June 2006 and estimates to spend about R72 
million on store development.                                                   
The group continued to account for bad debts in accordance with existing policy.
A doubtful debts provision has been calculated on a basis consistent with that  
of the prior period.  The quality of the debtors" book remains good.  Arrears   
and net bad debt, as a percentage of the book, is in line with expectations.    
 The strategy to buyback the group"s shares was continued during the period.    
Repurchased shares are held as treasury shares and represent 9% of current      
issued shares. For the period 1 July 2005 to 31 October 2005, 4.2million shares 
have been repurchased for an amount of R83 million, resulting in a total number 
of 43.8 million shares purchased at a total cost of R413 million.               
The group is well placed to benefit from continued buoyant consumer spending    
arising from stronger economic growth and to further extend its record of       
consistent improvements in sales and earnings for both the festive season       
trading period and the remainder of the 2006 financial year.                    
The interim results of the group for the 26-week period to 25 December 2005 are 
scheduled for release on or about 23 February 2006.                             
3 November 2005                                                                 
Cape Town                                                                       
Lead Sponsor: Barnard Jacobs Mellet Corporate Finance (Pty) Ltd                 
Joint Sponsor: Standard Bank                                                    
Date: 03/11/2005 09:30:03 AM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
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