Wrap Text
Sales update for the 52 weeks ended 27 December 2020
Massmart Holdings Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration Number: 1940/014066/06)
Share code: MSM
ISIN: ZAE000152617
(“Massmart” or the “Company” or the “Massmart Group”)
SALES UPDATE FOR THE 52 WEEKS ENDED 27 DECEMBER 2020 AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES
AGREEMENT WITH GENPACT COVERING FINANCIAL TRANSACTION PROCESSING ACTIVITIES
1. Sales update for the 52 weeks ended 27 December 2020
Further to the sales update for the 9 months ended 27 September 2020
released on SENS on 23 October 2020, Massmart hereby provides an update
on sales for the 52 weeks ended 27 December 2020.
Trading for the 4th quarter of 2020 saw many of the previously imposed
Covid-19 related trading restrictions lifted, which allowed trading to
resume in most categories. Liquor trading, however, continued to be
impacted by limitations on trading hours as well as reinstated trading
restrictions as announced by the Government in mid-December.
The economic impact of the pandemic on consumer spending was evidenced by
a general reduction in foot traffic, particularly in regional shopping
malls, impacting sales in many merchandise categories during the 4th
quarter. Specifically, and aligned to what was seen throughout the sector,
sales over the traditional November 2020 Black Friday trading period were
softer than those seen in 2019. The Company’s extension of Black Friday
promotions throughout the month of November did mitigate the impact of
softer Black Friday weekend sales to some extent.
Foot traffic and sales remained muted in December, albeit with stronger
sales performance in home improvement and DIY categories. Total 4th quarter
sales of R25.6 billion represented a decrease of 4.1% over the same period
last year, with comparable store sales decreasing by 3.6%. This
represented a slight improvement in the trajectory of H2 sales, which
ended with a decrease of 5.9% over the same period last year, with
comparable store sales decreasing by 5.6%.
For the 52-week period, total sales amounted to R86.5 billion,
representing a decrease of 7.7% over the same period last year, while
comparable store sales decreased by 7.5%. Sales in our South African
stores decreased by 7.9% (comparable stores decreased by 7.6%) while sales
from our stores in the Rest of Africa decreased by 5.4% (comparable stores
decreased by 6.6%). As previously announced, Massmart estimates lost sales
as a result of Covid-19 trading restrictions, to be around R5.7 billion.
Massmart will provide further detail on its sales performance as part of
its annual results release on 8 March 2021.
This sales update information has not been reviewed or reported on by the
Company’s external auditors.
2. Management services agreement with Genpact covering financial
transaction processing activities
In January 2020 Massmart announced a project to re-organise the Massmart
Group into a leaner, more agile two business unit structure supported by
shared Centres of Excellence. This initiative moved quickly and included
the closure of Dion-Wired and outsourcing our SAP applications development
and support to the Walmart India Development Centre. It also resulted in
the successful centralisation of previously autonomous support functions
into shared, group-wide, Centres of Excellence covering: Real Estate,
Supply Chain, Information Technology, Goods Not for Resale procurement
and Human Resources.
In a further development we now announce that Massmart has concluded a
managed services agreement covering our financial transaction processing
activities with Genpact, a strategic partner of Walmart Enterprise
Business Services (“Walmart EBS”). Genpact is a leader in finance and
accounting transformation, and manages operations for many Global Fortune
500 companies across several industries, including retail and consumer
goods, which is its fastest growing business. Genpact is not a related
party to Walmart or to Massmart. The managed services will affect Accounts
Payable, Accounts Receivable, and defined activities in Financial
Control, Tax, Treasury and FP&A transaction processing in the Massmart
head office and our trading banner home offices. The agreement will become
effective in March 2021.
In a separate agreement, Walmart, through Walmart EBS, will assist
Massmart and Genpact with the managed services as EBS has executed
multiple finance transformation programmes for Walmart in recent years
across the United States, Canada, Latin America and other geographies
(the “Transaction”). The Transaction agreement will be entered into,
which will provide for, inter alia, the reimbursement of certain costs to
be incurred by Walmart on behalf of Massmart. Further details regarding
this transaction will be announced in due course once the agreement has
been concluded.
3. Results for the 52 week ended 27 December 2020
The Massmart Group results for the 52 week ended 27 December 2020 will be
released on Monday 8 March 2021 on SENS followed by a virtual results
presentation.
Johannesburg
21 January 2021
JSE Sponsor: J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Date: 21-01-2021 07:05:00
Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE').
The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of
the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct,
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,
information disseminated through SENS.
Sharenet Sites 
