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Preliminary Reviewed Condensed Consolidated Results for the year ended 31 August 2018
CLICKS GROUP LIMITED
Registration number: 1996/000645/06
Share code: CLS
ISIN: ZAE000134854
CUSIP: 18682W205
PRELIMINARY REVIEWED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED RESULTS
For the year ended 31 August 2018
Group turnover up 9.1%
Health and beauty sales up 11.7%
Cash generated by operations R2.5 billion
Diluted HEPS up 15.1%
Total dividend up 18.0%
Included in FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index
COMMENTARY
Overview
Clicks Group continued its strong growth momentum despite increasingly challenging trading
conditions in the second half of the financial year. The group encountered several headwinds as
consumer spending came under further pressure, selling price inflation declined to almost zero and
the lower incidence of colds and flu compared to last winter depressed medicine sales.
Retail health and beauty sales increased by 11.7% as volume growth accelerated over the last year
and Clicks gained market share in all product categories.
UPD, the group's pharmaceutical distributor, also performed well as it gained market share and
maintained its operating margin despite the low increase granted in the single exit price (SEP)
of medicines in 2018.
Diluted headline earnings per share (HEPS) increased by 15.1% to 578 cents. The total dividend
grew by 18.0% to 380 cents per share, with the dividend payout ratio being increased from 60% to
62%. The group continues to deliver a high return on equity of 38.2%.
Over the past 10 years the group has returned more than R6.7 billion to shareholders and generated
a compound annual total shareholder return of 32.5%. Diluted HEPS has grown by a compound rate of
16.0% per annum and dividend per share by 20.1% per annum.
Financial performance
Group turnover increased by 9.1% to R29.2 billion, with retail sales growing by 10.8% and
distribution turnover by 8.4%. Selling price inflation for the group averaged only 1.9% for the
year compared to 5.3% in the previous year.
Total income grew by 10.5% to R7.9 billion. The group's total income margin strengthened by
30 basis points to 27.0% owing to the faster growth of the retail business.
Retail expense growth of 10.3% was contained below sales growth despite the extensive investment
in new stores and pharmacies. Comparable retail costs increased by 5.1%. UPD continued to
demonstrate good cost control with expenses up 6.5% on last year.
The group's operating profit increased by 12.6% to reach the R2.0 billion mark for the first time,
with the group's operating margin expanding by 20 basis points to 7.0%.
Working capital continues to be well managed and the group's net working capital improved from
37 to 36 days through good trade debtor management and improved creditor days.
Cash generated by operations increased by 20.7% to R2.5 billion. The group returned R812 million
to shareholders in dividends. Capital expenditure of R671 million (2017: R518 million) was invested
mainly in new stores and pharmacies, store refurbishments, supply chain and information technology.
Cash resources increased by R823 million over the previous year and the group ended the year with
cash of R1.5 billion.
Trading performance
Retail health and beauty sales, including Clicks and the franchise brands of The Body Shop, GNC
and Claire's, increased by 11.7%. Comparable stores sales grew by 6.2%, with selling price inflation
of only 1.1%, reflecting volume growth of 5.1%.
Clicks opened a record 41 new stores and expanded the store footprint to 663. The pharmacy network
was increased to 510 as a net 37 pharmacies were opened. Clicks ClubCard increased active membership
by over 800 000 to 7.8 million, with the loyalty programme accounting for 77.2% of sales.
UPD grew turnover by 8.4% and increased market share from 25.6% to 26.0%. The business increased its
bulk distribution portfolio to 23 clients by gaining three new contracts. UPD's total managed
turnover, combining wholesale and bulk distribution, increased by 8.9% to R17.9 billion.
Outlook for 2019
The current pressures on consumer spending are unlikely to abate in the months ahead and the retail
trading environment will therefore remain challenging.
Selling price inflation is expected to remain low in the first half of the new financial year and the
SEP increase for 2019 is likely to be only marginally higher than 2018. The group will therefore
continue to operate in a constrained environment.
The group's core health and beauty markets and business model are resilient. The business continues
to trade well in these challenging economic conditions and management is confident of maintaining
sales momentum and sustaining volume growth in the year ahead.
Capital investment of R700 million is planned for the 2019 financial year as the group continues to
invest for long-term growth. This includes the opening of 25 to 30 new Clicks stores and 30 to
35 new pharmacies, and 60 store refurbishments. A significant investment will also be made in the
retail and pharmaceutical supply chain as well as in IT systems to support the increased scale of
the group.
Final dividend
The board of directors has approved a final gross ordinary dividend of 277.5 cents per share
(2017: 234.0 cents per share) and a 38.0 cents per ordinary "A" share (2017: 32.2 cents per share).
The source of the dividend will be from distributable reserves and paid in cash.
Additional information
Dividends Tax (DT) of 20% amounting to 55.5 cents per ordinary share and 7.6 cents per ordinary
"A" share will be withheld in terms of the Income Tax Act. Ordinary shareholders who are not
exempt from DT will therefore receive a dividend of 222.0 cents net of DT and ordinary "A"
shareholders will receive a dividend of 30.4 cents net of DT.
The company has 253 948 352 ordinary shares and 14 576 648 ordinary "A" shares in issue.
Its income tax reference number is 9061/745/71/8.
Shareholders are advised of the following salient dates in respect of the final dividend:
Last day to trade "cum" the dividend Tuesday, 22 January 2019
Shares trade "ex" the dividend Wednesday, 23 January 2019
Record date Friday, 25 January 2019
Payment to shareholders Monday, 28 January 2019
Share certificates may not be dematerialised or rematerialised between Wednesday, 23 January 2019
and Friday, 25 January 2019, both days inclusive.
The board of directors has determined that dividend cheques amounting to R50.00 or less due to any
ordinary shareholder will not be paid unless a written request to the contrary is delivered to the
transfer secretaries, Computershare Investor Services Proprietary Limited, by no later than close
of business on Tuesday, 22 January 2019, being the day the shares trade "cum" the dividend.
Unpaid dividend cheques will be aggregated with other such amounts and donated to a charity to be
nominated by the directors.
By order of the board
Matthew Welz
Company secretary
25 October 2018
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
R'000 Year to Year to
31 August 31 August %
2018 2017 change
Revenue 30 982 592 28 342 607 9.3
Turnover 29 239 688 26 809 101 9.1
Cost of merchandise sold (23 062 579) (21 185 124) 8.9
Gross profit 6 177 109 5 623 977 9.8
Other income 1 717 147 1 523 005 12.7
Total income 7 894 256 7 146 982 10.5
Expenses (5 852 575) (5 333 405) 9.7
Depreciation and amortisation (319 976) (283 227) 13.0
Occupancy costs (927 661) (794 796) 16.7
Employment costs (3 094 845) (2 845 838) 8.7
Other costs (1 510 093) (1 409 544) 7.1
Operating profit 2 041 681 1 813 577 12.6
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment (1 287) (4 868)
Profit before financing costs 2 040 394 1 808 709 12.8
Net financing income/(costs) 2 065 (37 337)
Financial income 25 757 10 501 145.3
Financial expense (23 692) (47 838) (50.5)
Profit before earnings from associate 2 042 459 1 771 372 15.3
Share of profit of an associate 2 541 2 900 (12.4)
Profit before taxation 2 045 000 1 774 272 15.3
Income tax expense (569 790) (496 630) 14.7
Profit for the year 1 475 210 1 277 642 15.5
Other comprehensive income/(loss):
Items that will not be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss - 3 236
Remeasurement of post-employment benefit obligations - 4 495
Deferred tax on remeasurement - (1 259)
Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss
Exchange differences on translation of foreign subsidiaries 9 242 (6 561)
Cash flow hedges 58 154 (13 234)
Change in fair value of effective portion 80 770 (17 892)
Deferred tax on movement of effective portion (22 616) 4 658
Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year, net of tax 67 396 (16 559)
Total comprehensive income for the year 1 542 606 1 261 083
Earnings per share (cents) 611.9 540.2 13.3
Diluted earnings per share (cents) 577.6 505.7 14.2
HEADLINE EARNINGS RECONCILIATION
R'000 Year to Year to
31 August 31 August %
2018 2017 change
Total profit for the year 1 475 210 1 277 642
Adjusted for:
Loss net of tax on disposal of property, plant and equipment 927 3 506
Gain on consolidation of the New Clicks Foundation Trust - (12 596)
Headline earnings 1 476 137 1 268 552 16.4
Headline earnings per share (cents) 612.3 536.3 14.2
Diluted headline earnings per share (cents) 578.0 502.1 15.1
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
R'000 As at As at
31 August 31 August
2018 2017
Non-current assets 3 232 664 2 854 281
Property, plant and equipment 1 843 402 1 533 935
Intangible assets 476 761 457 603
Goodwill 103 510 103 510
Deferred tax assets 477 352 572 223
Investment in associate 20 044 20 039
Loans receivable 15 003 4 500
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 82 482 27 580
Derivative financial assets 214 110 134 891
Current assets 8 331 413 6 866 834
Inventories 4 227 336 3 753 794
Trade and other receivables 2 331 531 2 212 719
Loans receivable 9 675 9 000
Cash and cash equivalents 1 523 815 700 473
Derivative financial assets 239 056 190 848
Total assets 11 564 077 9 721 115
Equity and liabilities
Total equity 4 427 868 3 300 350
Non-current liabilities 447 546 402 257
Employee benefits 245 407 209 231
Operating lease liability 202 139 193 026
Current liabilities 6 688 663 6 018 508
Trade and other payables 6 198 435 5 475 182
Employee benefits 418 216 394 460
Provisions 4 993 6 733
Income tax payable 67 019 132 991
Derivative financial liabilities - 9 142
Total equity and liabilities 11 564 077 9 721 115
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
R'000 Year to Year to
31 August 31 August
2018 2017
Operating profit before working capital changes 2 273 606 2 040 098
Working capital changes 181 949 (5 790)
Cash generated by operations 2 455 555 2 034 308
Net interest received/(paid) 16 301 (31 090)
Taxation paid (267 341) (472 023)
Cash inflow from operating activities before dividends paid 2 204 515 1 531 195
Dividends paid to shareholders (811 578) (677 399)
Net cash effects from operating activities 1 392 937 853 796
Net cash effects from investing activities (726 900) (512 368)
Capital expenditure (671 233) (517 850)
Other investing activities (55 667) 5 482
Net cash effects from financing activities 157 305 (10 755)
Proceeds from sale of treasury shares 49 855 -
Acquisition of derivative financial assets (83 115) (39 064)
Transaction cost on the issue of shares (283) -
Settlement of derivative financial asset 190 848 28 309
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 823 342 330 673
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 700 473 369 800
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 1 523 815 700 473
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
R'000 Year to Year to
31 August 31 August
2018 2017
Opening balance 3 300 350 2 452 241
Dividends paid to shareholders (811 578) (677 399)
Total comprehensive income for the year 1 542 606 1 261 083
Transaction cost on share issue (283) -
Share-based payment reserve movement 341 284 264 425
Net treasury share movement 49 855 -
Withholding tax on distribution to shareholders* 5 634 -
Total 4 427 868 3 300 350
Dividend per share (cents)
Interim paid 102.5 88.0
Final declared/paid 277.5 234.0
380.0 322.0
* Release of withholding tax overprovision related to the 2012 interim dividend
SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS
The group's reportable segments under IFRS 8 are Retail and Distribution.
R'000 Profit
before Total Capital Total
Turnover taxation assets expenditure liabilities
Twelve months to 31 August 2018
Retail 21 062 952 1 704 561 5 186 195 539 775 3 244 674
Distribution 13 376 110 362 314 6 301 347 74 512 4 391 389
Inter-segmental (5 199 374) (25 194) (3 227 746) - (3 165 735)
Total reportable segmental balance 29 239 688 2 041 681 8 259 796 614 287 4 470 328
Non-reportable segmental balance - 3 319 3 304 281 56 946 2 665 881
Total group balance 29 239 688 2 045 000 11 564 077 671 233 7 136 209
Twelve months to 31 August 2017
(restated)*
Retail 19 015 139 1 486 266 4 392 678 436 715 2 889 499
Distribution 12 334 386 328 712 5 556 532 30 529 4 009 778
Inter-segmental (4 540 424) (1 401) (2 610 724) - (2 573 907)
Total reportable segmental balance 26 809 101 1 813 577 7 338 486 467 244 4 325 370
Non-reportable segmental balance - (39 305) 2 382 629 50 606 2 095 395
Total group balance 26 809 101 1 774 272 9 721 115 517 850 6 420 765
* Refer to note 1.2
R'000 Year to Year to
31 August 31 August
2018 2017
Non-reportable segmental profit before taxation consists of:
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment (1 287) (4 868)
Financial income 25 757 10 501
Financial expense (23 692) (47 838)
Share of profit of an associate 2 541 2 900
3 319 (39 305)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
As at As at
31 August 31 August
2018 2017
Number of ordinary shares in issue (gross) ('000) 253 948 245 969
Number of ordinary shares in issue including "A" shares issued
in terms of employee share ownership programme (gross) ('000) 268 525 275 122
Number of ordinary shares in issue (net of treasury shares) ('000) 244 505 236 526
Weighted average number of shares in issue (net of treasury shares)('000) 241 073 236 526
Weighted average diluted number of shares in issue
(net of treasury shares) ('000) 255 385 252 641
Net asset value per share (cents) 1 811 1 395
Net tangible asset value per share (cents) 1 574 1 158
Depreciation and amortisation (R'000) 339 142 297 066
Capital expenditure (R'000) 671 233 517 850
Capital commitments (R'000) 698 949 680 513
ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND NOTES
1.1 These condensed consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2018 have been
prepared in accordance with the requirements of the JSE Limited Listings Requirements for
preliminary reports and the requirements of the Companies Act of South Africa. The Listings
Requirements require preliminary reports to be prepared in accordance with the framework
concepts and the measurement and recognition requirements of International Financial Reporting
Standards (IFRS) and the SAICA Financial Reporting Guides as issued by the Accounting Practices
Committee and Financial Pronouncements as issued by the Financial Reporting Standards Council
and to also, as a minimum, contain the information required by IAS 34 - Interim Financial Reporting.
Ernst & Young Inc., the group's independent auditor, has reviewed the preliminary condensed
consolidated financial statements contained above and has expressed an unmodified review conclusion
on the preliminary condensed consolidated financial statements. Their review report is available
for inspection at the company's registered office together with the preliminary condensed
consolidated financial statements identified in the auditor's report. These condensed financial
statements have been prepared under the supervision of Mr M Fleming CA (SA), the Chief Financial
Officer of the group.
The accounting policies used in the preparation of the financial results for the year ended
31 August 2018 are in terms of IFRS and are consistent with those applied in the Audited
Financial Statements for the year ended 31 August 2017.
1.2 The segmental analysis for the year ended 31 August 2017 has been restated due to a change in
the composition of reporting segments. Clicks Direct Medicines was previously included in
Distribution and is now included in Retail due to a change in management reporting. This has
resulted in an increase of turnover of R121.6 million, R24.0 million in total assets and
R15.4 million in total liabilities for the Retail segment whilst turnover was increased by
R13.8 million, total assets was decreased by R3.6 million and total liabilities was increased
by R4.9 million for the Distribution segment. The intragroup elimination for turnover was
increased by R135.4 million and the elimination relating to total assets and total liabilities
was increased by R20.3 million.
1.3 Related party transactions for the current year are similar to those disclosed in the group's
annual financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2017. During the year Clicks Group
Limited issued 284 155 ordinary shares to the New Clicks Foundation Trust arising from the
unwind of 50% of the employee share ownership scheme. No other significant related party
transactions arose during the year.
1.4 In terms of the unwind of 50% of the Clicks Group Employee Share Ownership Scheme,
7 979 384 ordinary shares were issued to beneficiaries of the scheme and 14 576 647 ordinary
"A" shares were repurchased by Clicks Group Limited from the Employee Share Ownership Trust.
The New Clicks Foundation Trust sold 284 155 Clicks Group Limited ordinary shares subsequent
to acquiring them through the unwind of the scheme. No other equity share transactions
occurred during the year.
1.5 The carrying value of all financial instruments approximates fair value. All financial
instruments are held at amortised cost, with the exception of derivative instruments,
the investment in Guardrisk Insurance Company Limited and investments held by the New Clicks
Foundation Trust which are accounted for at fair value through profit or loss. The fair value
of financial instruments that are not traded in active markets are determined by using valuation
techniques; if all significant inputs required to fair value an instrument are observable,
the instrument is included in level 2 and if the significant inputs required to fair value an
instrument are unobservable, the instrument is included in level 3. The derivative instruments
comprise equity derivative hedges which are calculated using a Monte Carlo option pricing model
with reference to the closing share price, 250-day historical volatility, the 12-month trailing
dividend yield and the risk-free rate; and forward exchange contracts which are calculated
using standard market calculation conventions with reference to the relevant closing market
spot rates, forward foreign exchange rates and interest rates. All financial instruments
accounted for at fair value through profit or loss are considered to be level 2 investments,
with the exception of investments held by the New Clicks Foundation Trust which are considered
to be level 1 instruments. There have been no transfers between levels 1, 2 and 3 during the year.
The majority of the non-current and current derivative financial assets are to hedge obligations
under the cash-settled share compensation scheme.
Registered address: Cnr Searle and Pontac Streets, Cape Town 8001. PO Box 5142, Cape Town 8000
Directors: DM Nurek* (Chairman), F Abrahams*, JA Bester*, F Daniels*, BD Engelbrecht, M Fleming
(Chief Financial Officer), NN Gobodo*, DA Kneale# (Chief Executive Officer), M Rosen*
* Independent non-executive # British
Company secretary: M Welz
Registration number: 1996/000645/06
Share code: CLS ISIN: ZAE000134854 CUSIP: 18682W205
Transfer secretaries: Computershare Investor Services Proprietary Limited
Rosebank Towers, 15 Biermann Avenue, Rosebank 2196. PO Box 61051, Marshalltown 2107
Sponsor: Investec Bank Limited
www.clicksgroup.co.za
Date: 25/10/2018 08:00:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE').
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