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Pepkor Holdings Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number: 2017/221869/06)
Share Code: PPH
Debt Code: PPHI
ISIN: ZAE000259479
('Pepkor' or the 'group')
VOLUNTARY TRADING UPDATE AND UPDATED TRADING STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR
ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2020
VOLUNTARY TRADING UPDATE
The aim of this voluntary trading update is to provide shareholders and noteholders with an
appreciation of the performance of the group and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the
group and its operations. This trading update covers the financial year ended 30 September 2020
('FY20') and follows the previous trading update published on 24 July 2020 which covered the
nine months ended 30 June 2020 ('Nine-month Trading Update').
Trading conditions since the relaxation of national lockdown measures have favoured Pepkor's
defensive discount and value positioning. This resulted in the exceptional outcome of achieving
revenue growth in FY20 compared to the prior year.
The group's focus on less discretionary and more affordable products and services has resulted
in substantial market share gains. Pepkor's retail brands benefited from consumers seeking value
while its expansive store footprint appealed to customers choosing to shop in more convenient
locations closer to their homes.
Group revenue including discontinued operations increased by 1.9% to R70.9 billion compared
to R69.6 billion in the prior financial year ended 30 September 2019 ('FY19'). Revenue from
continuing operations increased by 3.6% to R63.7 billion (FY19: R61.5 billion).
The trade restrictions imposed in terms of the national lockdown prevented retail stores from
trading and revenue of approximately R5.0 billion was lost during the five-week level-5 lockdown
period. Further trading restrictions resulted in the group not being able to trade in its full
merchandise range until June 2020.
Discontinued operations
As per the 4 August 2020 SENS announcement, the group's portfolio strategy to focus on its core
business resulted in the decision to dispose of The Building Company. Pepkor's Building materials
reporting segment, in its entirety, will therefore be classified as discontinued operations in the
group's FY20 financial results. The Building Company contributed c.10% to FY20 group revenue
(including revenue from discontinued operations).
Discontinued operations further include Pep Africa's operations in Zimbabwe following the
decision in FY19 to exit the country. The exit from Zimbabwe was concluded on
30 September 2020.
Clothing and general merchandise
The clothing and general merchandise segment reported an increase in revenue of 1.4% for the
year to R45.6 billion. This includes revenue growth of 12.1% during the fourth quarter, recovering
from a 15.9% decline reported during the third quarter.
Pep and Ackermans in aggregate, reported an increase in sales of 2.6% with a decrease in like-
for-like sales of 0.5% for FY20. Retail space expanded by 2.5% year-on-year as new store
openings slowed during the second half of the year. Pep and Ackermans opened 145 new stores
during the year.
Lower credit sales in Ackermans resulted in a reduction in the credit sales contribution to 17%
from 19% in FY19. Notwithstanding good collections, provision levels on the Tenacity credit book
were increased to 22% from 17% in FY19.
In Pep Africa's continuing operations, constant currency sales declined by 7.0%, while like-for-
like sales decreased by 9.6%. Weakening currencies resulted in a decrease of 16.2% in sales at
actual rates.
The Speciality business reported a decrease in sales of 3.6% with like-for-like sales decreasing
by 4.6% for the year.
Like-for-like sales growth % Nine months ended Three months Year ended
(year-on-year) 30 June 2020* ended 30 September 2020
30 September 2020 FY20
Q4
Pep and Ackermans (3.5%) 9.8% (0.5%)
Pep Africa (14.0%) 6.1% (9.6%)
(constant currency)
Speciality (9.8%) 13.3% (4.6%)
* As reported in the Nine-month Trading Update
Furniture, appliances and electronics
The furniture, appliance and electronics segment reported revenue growth of 1.4% to R9.5 billion
for the year. Merchandise sales for the year decreased by 0.4% with a decrease in like-for-like
sales of 1.6%.
Curtailed credit granting and good post-lockdown collections resulted in a reduction in the gross
Connect credit book from R1.8 billion at 31 March 2020 to R1.6 billion at 30 September 2020.
Total credit sales contribution reduced from 19% in FY19 to 13%, most notably in the furniture
division where the credit sales mix reduced to 20% (FY19: 27%). Credit book provision levels
were increased to 42% compared to 33% in FY19.
Like-for-like sales growth % Nine months ended Three months Year ended
(year-on-year) 30 June 2020* ended 30 September 2020
30 September 2020 FY20
Q4
JD Group (total) (9.5%) 23.4% (1.6%)
Consumer electronics and (2.6%) 37.7% 7.0%
appliances division
Furniture division (15.5%) 11.2% (9.1%)
* As reported in the Nine-month Trading Update
Fintech
The Fintech segment reported revenue growth of 20.4% for the year to R8.6 billion.
FINTECH SEGMENT Nine months ended Three months Year ended
30 June 2020* ended 30 September 2020
30 September 2020 FY20
Q4
Revenue growth 23.8% 11.8% 20.4%
* As reported in the Nine-month Trading Update
The FLASH business achieved strong growth during the fourth quarter. Virtual turnover in the
informal trader business increased by 25.7% for the year.
Collections on the Capfin credit book exceeded expectations and conservative credit granting
resulted in the gross Capfin credit book reducing to R1.9 billion at 30 September 2020 from
R2.6 billion at 31 March 2020. The credit book provision level was increased to 26% from 15% in
the prior year.
Building materials - discontinued operations
The Building Company reported a decline in sales of 12.6% and a decrease in like-for-like sales
of 11.3% for the year.
Like-for-like sales growth % Nine months ended Three months Year ended
(year-on-year) 30 June 2020 ended 30 September 2020
30 September 2020 FY20
Q4
The Building Company (16.2%) 2.7% (11.3%)
* As reported in the Nine-month Trading Update
Balance sheet and liquidity
The trading performance resulted in lower inventory levels and very strong cash generation. This,
in addition to the accelerated bookbuild completed in June 2020 which raised R1.9 billion, enabled
the group to reduce net debt from R14.1 billion at 31 March 2020 to c.R7.0 billion at
30 September 2020 (excluding the adoption of IFRS 16).
Substantial progress was therefore made to enhance the efficiency and flexibility of the Pepkor
balance sheet.
UPDATED TRADING STATEMENT
In terms of the JSE Limited Listings Requirements, a listed company is required to publish a
trading statement once it is satisfied that a reasonable degree of certainty exists that its results
will differ by at least 20% compared to FY19.
Pepkor published an initial Trading Statement on SENS on 15 October 2020 advising
shareholders and noteholders that a reasonable degree of certainty existed that Pepkor's FY20
earning per share ('EPS') and headline earnings per share ('HEPS') results would decrease by
at least 20% compared to the previous corresponding period. Pepkor is now able to provide an
updated trading statement.
The following aspects will impact Pepkor's FY20 results and have been communicated as part of
previous results announcements and/or trading updates:
1. Adoption of IFRS 16: Leases
The group adopted IFRS 16: Leases (IFRS 16) on 1 October 2019 using a modified retrospective
approach with no restatement of the FY19 reported results. The adoption of IFRS 16 will have a
negative impact on Pepkor's results.
2. Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted performance of the group in many areas, most notably
through lost sales and increased credit book provision levels. The uncertainty surrounding the
longer term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the group's forecasting ability.
Pepkor has therefore applied a conservative approach in areas such as capital allocation and
expenditure.
The conservative outlook further contributed to the impairment of carrying values of goodwill and
intangible assets. Following the completion of impairment assessments an impairment of
R4.8 billion will be recognised in FY20 and is allocated to the respective operations as indicated
in the table below.
The impairment is a result of constrained future growth expectations in Pep Africa, Speciality,
Tekkie Town and the JD Group in addition to an increased weighted average cost of capital.
The impairment will impact basic earnings from continuing operations but will be excluded from
headline earnings from continuing operations - as prescribed by Circular 1: 2019 - Headline
Earnings as issued by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).
Reporting segment / operations Goodwill and intangible Impairment of goodwill
assets associated with the and intangible assets to
operations at be recognised in FY20
30 September 2019
(R million) (before impairment)
Clothing and general merchandise
Ackermans, Dunns, John Craig, Pep,
Pep Africa, Refinery, Shoe City and 55 301 3 019
Tenacity
Tekkie Town 3 017 1 645
Furniture, appliances and
electronics
Bradlows, HiFi Corporation, Incredible
Connection, Rochester, Russells, 920 103
Sleepmasters
Total 59 238 4 767
Pepkor hereby advises shareholders and noteholders that a reasonable degree of certainty exists
that the group's FY20 statutory EPS and HEPS compared to FY19 are expected to fall within the
ranges reflected in the tables below.
Statutory results FY19 FY20 expected range FY20 expected change
actual
IAS 17 basis IFRS 16 basis IFRS 16 basis
(cents) (cents) (%)
EPS - including 62.6 (90.8) to (84.5) (245.0%) to (235.0%)
discontinued operations
EPS - continuing 93.8 (86.7) to (77.3) (192.5%) to (182.5%)
operations
HEPS - including 96.8 59.8 to 69.5 (38.2%) to (28.2%)
discontinued operations
HEPS - continuing 95.5 56.9 to 66.4 (40.5%) to (30.5%)
operations
The financial information on which this trading statement is based has not been reviewed or
reported on by Pepkor's external auditors.
Publication of results
Pepkor's FY20 results will be published on SENS on Monday, 23 November 2020. A live webcast
of the results presentation will be broadcast at 12:00pm (SAST). The webcast registration link is:
https://www.corpcam.com/Pepkor23112020 and is also available on the Pepkor website:
www.pepkor.co.za
Pro forma constant currency disclosure
The group discloses unaudited constant currency information to indicate Pep Africa's
performance in terms of sales growth, excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations. To
present this information, current period turnover for Pep Africa reported in currencies other than
ZAR are converted from local currency actuals into ZAR at the prior year's actual average
exchange rates. The table below sets out the percentage change in sales, based on the actual
results for the year, in reported currency and constant currency for the basket of currencies in
which Pep Africa operates.
% change in sales compared to the prior year Reported currency Constant currency
Pep Africa (16.2%) (7.0%)
The constant currency information has been prepared for illustrative purposes only. The
information included in this announcement is the responsibility of the directors and does not
constitute an earnings forecast and has not been reviewed and reported on by the group's
external auditors.
Parow
6 November 2020
Equity Sponsor
PSG Capital
Debt Sponsor
Rand Merchant Bank (A division of Firstrand Bank Limited)
7
Date: 06-11-2020 02:00:00
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