CLICKS GROUP LIMITED - Trading update for 20 Weeks to 12 January 2020

Trading update for 20 Weeks to 12 January 2020

Clicks Group Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Registration number: 1996/000645/06
JSE share code: CLS
ISIN: ZAE000134854
CUSIP: 18682W205
LEI: 378900E967958A677472

TRADING UPDATE FOR 20 WEEKS TO 12 JANUARY 2020

-   Group turnover up 9.9%
-   Retail health and beauty sales up 9.0%
-   UPD turnover up 13.1%

Group turnover increased by 9.9% to R12.9 billion in the 20 weeks to 12 January
2020 (2019: increase of 5.2%).

Retail health and beauty sales, including Clicks and the franchise brands of The
Body Shop, GNC and Claire’s, increased by 9.0% (2019: 8.6%) for the period.

Health and beauty sales in comparable stores increased by 5.4% (2019: 5.1%)
and showed real volume growth of 3.0% (2019: 4.3%) as selling price inflation
averaged 2.4% (2019: 0.8%) for the 20 weeks.

Total group retail sales increased by 7.9% (2019: 7.8%) and by 4.7% (2019:
4.5%) in comparable stores, with selling price inflation of 2.6% (2019: 1.1%).

UPD increased reported turnover by 13.1% (2019: 2.5%). Total managed
turnover, combining wholesale turnover and turnover managed on behalf of bulk
distribution clients, increased by 10.2% (2019: 16.2%) as the business traded
well and benefited from gaining new wholesale and distribution contracts.

Segmental turnover
                        Sales growth (%)         Inflation (%)
Retail                               7.9                   2.6
Distribution                        13.1                   2.1
Intragroup turnover                  9.1                     -
Total group                          9.9                   2.4

Clicks Group chief executive Vikesh Ramsunder said the strong trading
performance in the weak consumer economy again demonstrated the resilience
of the Clicks brand and the defensive nature of the health and beauty markets in
which the group trades.
“Our wide range of gifting and value offering, supported by the convenience of
the Clicks chain’s extensive retail and pharmacy footprint, ensured that we
maintained our robust sales momentum of recent years and sustained volume
growth.

“This was achieved despite the increasing pressures on consumer disposable
income, negative sentiment and the serious impact of electricity load shedding on
retail trading hours and shoppers in general over the past two months,” he said.

The financial information in this trading update has not been reviewed or reported
on by the group’s independent auditor.

Clicks Group’s interim results for the six months to 29 February 2020 will be
released on SENS on or about 23 April 2020.

Cape Town
23 January 2020

For further information contact
Tier 1 Investor Relations
Tel: +27 (21) 702 3102

Sponsor
Investec Bank Limited

Date: 23-01-2020 10:00:00
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