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WHL - Woolworths Holdings Limited - Trading update and trading statement Woolworths Holdings Limited (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) Registration number: 1929/001986/06 Share code: WHL ISIN: ZAE000063863 ("Woolworths Holdings" or "the group") TRADING UPDATE AND TRADING STATEMENT TRADING UPDATE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 26 JUNE 2011 Group sales increased 9.4% for the year ended 26 June 2011, with sales in comparable stores up 6.3%. Clothing sales in South Africa increased 11.5% (9.4% in comparable stores) and Food sales increased 10.7% (8.4% in comparable stores). General Merchandise growth was impacted by the rationalisation of the cellular handset business in the first half of the year. Excluding this rationalisation, General Merchandise grew 5.2% (5.1% in comparable stores). SA retail space grew 7.6%, which included 22,850m2 of franchise conversions, which largely occurred towards the end of the year. Excluding these conversions, corporate space in South Africa grew 2.1%. Sales in Australia through the group`s Australian subsidiary Country Road contracted 2% as the Australian retail environment continues to struggle, with comparable sales down 10.9%. Store expansions and the continued roll out of Trenery-branded stores resulted in space growth of 9.3% in Australia. Country Road`s South African sales are included in the South African geographic segment in the table below. Sales growth Comparable Price stores sales movement growth South Africa - Clothing 11.5% 9.4% 3.3 % - General merchandise -2.7% -3.5% -6.8% - Food 10.7% 8.4% 3.0% Australia AU$ -2.0% -10.9% Group 9.4% 6.3% The Woolworths Financial Services closing debtors` book was 4.8% up on last year. The impairment charge as a percentage of average gross receivables was 1.4 % (2009: 5.1%). TRADING STATEMENT We expect that both earnings per share and headline earnings per share for the year will be between 20% and 30% higher than the corresponding reporting period. Shareholders are advised that the financial information contained in this announcement has not been reviewed and reported on by the group`s external auditors. The group`s results for the year are due to be released on SENS on or about 25 August 2011. Contact: Ian Moir (Group chief executive officer) on 021 407 2809 Norman Thomson (Group finance director) on 021 407 3337 Cape Town 19 July 2011 Sponsor RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited) Date: 19/07/2011 08:00:01 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited (`JSE`). The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on, information disseminated through SENS.
