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Woolworths Holdings Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Registration number 1929/001986/06
Share code: WHL
ISIN: ZAE000063863
('the Group')
TRADING UPDATE AND TRADING STATEMENT: 52 WEEKS TO 24 JUNE 2012
TRADING UPDATE
Group sales for the year increased by 11.8% over the comparable
period in 2011. Sales in comparable stores grew by 7.1%.
Clothing sales in South Africa grew by 12.6% with a price movement of
6.5%. Sales in comparable stores grew by 5.9%.
Food sales grew by 11.9% with price movement of 6.4%. Sales in
comparable stores grew by 7.8%.
General merchandise grew by 7.0% and by 4.7% in comparable stores.
Woolworths retail space, including Africa, grew by 3.6% year-on-year,
net of closures and excluding franchise conversions. Fifty nine local
franchise stores have now been converted to corporate and 16 will
remain franchised. Converted franchise stores are treated as non-
comparable.
Sales in Australia and New Zealand contracted 2.6% in Australian
dollar terms, with sales in comparable stores declining by 6.6%. Net
space in Australia grew by 1.3%. Country Road's South African sales
are included in the South African clothing segment.
The Woolworths Financial Services debtors' book reflected year on
year growth of 8.3% with the impairment rate for the year at 1.9%
compared with 1.4% for the equivalent period last year.
TRADING STATEMENT
We expect that both earnings per share ('EPS') and headline earnings
per share (`HEPS') for the 52 week period to 24 June 2012 will be
between 20% and 30% higher than the corresponding reporting period
last year. Included in both EPS and HEPS is R45m representing
unrealised post tax foreign exchange gains that will unwind in
subsequent reporting periods.
Shareholders are advised that the financial information contained in
this announcement has not been audited and reported on by the Group's
external auditors.
The Group's year end results for the 52 week period to 24 June 2012
are scheduled to be announced on SENS on or about 23 August 2012.
Ian Moir (Group chief executive officer) on 021 407 2809
Norman Thomson (Group finance director) on 021 407 3337
InvestorRelations@woolworths.co.za
Cape Town
17 July 2012
Sponsor
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)
Date: 17/07/2012 08:00:00 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za
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