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NOVUS HOLDINGS LIMITED - Further Business Update

Release Date: 09/01/2019 17:23
Code(s): NVS     PDF:  
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Further Business Update

Novus Holdings Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
JSE share code: NVS
ISIN: ZAE000202149
(“Novus Holdings”, “the Company” or “the Group”)


Further Business Update


Further to the Business update released on SENS on 28 September 2018, the Company is now in a
position to provide further guidance to Shareholders on the anticipated headline earnings for the
year to 31 March 2019.

As a result of the Company’s foreign exchange cover policy and conclusion of certain supplier
negotiations, the uncertainty regarding costs of imported input material for the balance of the
financial year is now removed allowing more precise margin forecasting for the remaining period. A
number of other market initiatives that were not yet formalised as at 28 September 2018, have now
been implemented and the impact can be assessed.

Furthermore, following the buyback of shares subsequent to the Business update, a more accurate
estimate of the effective weighted number of shares is known to allow the earnings per share to be
more accurately forecast.

The revised guidance takes the form of a narrower range around a revised mean estimate. It must be
stressed that the earnings guidance continues to be on a basis of earnings from normal trading
activities, and makes no allowance for any once off strategic initiatives that may have an impact on
EBIT or HEPS for the period as may result from any decisions that may be taken by the Board of
directors during the ensuing months up to reporting for the year.

Historic and projected range of headline earnings per share in cents

                Year ended 31 March 2018                  Forecast year ending 31 March 2019
                                                          Current forecast
                         102 c                            between 60 c and 65 c
                                                          Previous forecast
                                                          Between 50 c and 60 c

The abovementioned forecasts are based on the undermentioned key assumptions, namely;
    - General economic conditions which continue to place downward pressure on demand and
       pricing.
    - Retention of existing print contracts in the normal course of business.

Additional factors accounted for in the above projections are the following;
   - Plaslope (Pty) Ltd., an ITB subsidiary has been impacted by the general Industrial action
        initiated in a segment of the plastic packaging industry, this action has run for eight weeks to
        mid December.
    -   Whilst ITB has resolved the industrial action it experienced in August of 2018 the impact on
        production has been felt right through to the current period.

The earnings forecast range is in terms of headline earnings per share as this is seen as a realistic
comparative for sustainable earnings and cash generation. The forecasted gross revenue ranges and
forecasted gross margin ranges for the 12 months ending 31 March 2019 for the Group remain within
the ranges as previously reported in the SENS announcement on 28 September 2018.
Whilst further asset impairments are not specifically contemplated at this time, Management will
continuously assess any assets that may be impaired from the strategic initiatives. Management will
continue to be critical of balance sheet values of any non-performing assets that are identified to be
sold or abandoned.

In line with the stated strategic initiative to enhance the Group’s BBBEE status this rating improved
from level 4 to level 3 on 21 December 2018.

This content has not been reviewed or reported on by Novus Holdings’ external auditor.

By order of the Board

Cape Town
9 January 2019

Sponsor Investec Bank Limited

Date: 09/01/2019 05:23:00 Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE'). 
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