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Massmart Holdings Limited - Results for the 52 weeks ended 29 December 2019
Massmart Holdings Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Company registration No. 1940/014066/06
JSE Code: MSM
ISIN: ZAE 000152617
("Massmart", "Company" or the "Group")
MSM: MASSMART HOLDINGS LIMITED – Results for the 52 weeks ended 29 December 2019
Date: 2020/02/27
Massmart, with total sales of R93.7 billion, comprises four Divisions operating 443 stores, in 13 sub-Saharan countries.
Through our widely-recognised, differentiated retail and wholesale formats, we have leading shares in the General
Merchandise, Liquor, Home Improvement and Wholesale Food markets. Our key foundations of high volume, low cost
and operational excellence enable our price leadership.
Performance summary
Rm 52 weeks 52 weeks 52 weeks
Period
December IFRS 16 December December Adjusted*
%
2019 adjustment* 2019 2018 % change
change
(Reviewed) (Adjusted)* (Audited)
Sales 93,660.0 - 93,660.0 90,941.6 3.0 3.0
Trading profit before
1,111.2 (682.9) 428.3 2,068.9 (46.3) (79.3)
interest and taxation
(Loss)/profit for the
(1,296.4) 435.4 (861.0) 868.7 (249.2) (199.1)
period
Basic EPS (cents) (600.6) 199.8 (400.8) 410.6 (246.3) (197.6)
Headline
(1,147.4) 400.1 (747.3) 901.2 (227.3) (182.9)
(loss)/earnings
Headline EPS (cents) (527.1) 183.8 (343.3) 416.5 (226.6) (182.4)
Total dividend (cents) - - - 208.0 (100.0) (100.0)
*To provide a more meaningful comparison of the current period’s performance, the performance summary has been
prepared on a like-on-like basis which excludes the impact of IFRS 16 ‘Leases’ in 2019.
Group performance, including IFRS 16 in 2019
Massmart’s total sales for the 52-weeks ended 29 December of R93.7 billion represents sales growth of 3.0%, with
comparable sales growth of 1.5%. Trading pressures resulted in the gross margin declining by 54 basis points, with
expenses increasing by 5.9%. This resulted in a trading profit of R1.1 billion, 46.3% lower than 2018. During the year,
assets, including those relating to non-profitable stores in Massdiscounters and Masscash, were impaired resulting in
an additional expense of R229.5 million. Fluctuations in African currencies negatively impacted the Group resulting in
a foreign exchange loss of R143.0 million. Net finance costs increased to R1.8 billion as a result of the adoption of
IFRS 16 and increased borrowings during the period. The Group reported a loss of R1.3 billion compared to a profit of
R0.9 billion during 2018, and a headline loss of R1.1 billion compared to a profit of R0.9 billion during 2018.
Group performance, excluding IFRS 16 in 2019
The adoption of the IFRS 16 ‘Leases’ standard from 1 January 2019 complicates performance comparisons between
the results of the current and prior year. To provide a more meaningful assessment of the current year’s performance,
and unless otherwise stated, the commentary below has been provided on a like-on-like basis, i.e. excluding the impact
of IFRS 16 in 2019.
Group overview
Massmart’s total sales for the 52 weeks of R93.7 billion represents sales growth of 3.0%, with comparable sales growth
of 1.5% and year-to-date internal sales inflation of 2.5%. Sales from our South African stores increased by 2.7%, with
comparable stores sales increasing by 1.3%. Total sales from our rest of Africa stores increased by 6.4% in Rands,
and by 5.5% in constant currencies.
The sales performance across our major categories is reflective of the spending pattern of a financially constrained
consumer who continues to prioritise spending on non-Durables over Durable Goods. Food and Liquor sales of R53.5
billion increased by 5.1% (2018: R50.9 billion), Home Improvement sales of R14.2 billion increased by 3.4%
(2018:R13.8 billion) and General Merchandise sales of R25.9 billion represents a decrease of 1.3% (2018: R26.3
billion).
A combination of increased promotional activity during the year and the shift of consumers prioritizing lower margin
categories (Food and Liquor) over higher margin categories (General Merchandise and Home Improvement) resulted
in gross margins declining from 19.5% to 18.9%.
While expense growth of 10.2% exceeded our sales growth of 3.0% during 2019, the second half of the year saw
expenses increasing at a lower rate (8.6%) than the first half (11.8%) due to cost saving initiatives implemented by the
Group. Expense growth however, still outpaced sales growth in the second half of 2019. Employment costs, the Group’s
biggest cost category increased by 8.0% (with a comparable increase of 7.8%), mainly impacted by the legislative
requirement of converting temporary contractors to permanent associates in late 2018, in addition to the impact of new
stores and annual labour cost inflation.
During the period, seven net new stores were opened, including the Makro store in Cornubia, north of Durban.
Consequently, and further impacted by increased municipal tariffs, electricity costs and the cost associated with power
generation as a result of load-shedding in February and again in December, occupancy costs increased by 8.4%.
Contributing to the 17.3% increase in depreciation and amortisation during the period was the impact of new stores
and increased cost associated with the new SAP Hybris web and fulfilment platform in Makro.
Other operating expenses increased by 14.2%. This was impacted by costs associated with the current economic
climate: 5.8% increase in credit card costs as we see bigger credit sales participation; 9.6% increase in security costs
driven by the need to increase our security efforts; and a 66.1% increase in bad debts. In addition, pre-opening costs
associated with opening new stores, increased by 21.2%.
The combination of the factors explained above culminated in trading profit decreasing by 79.3%.
The evaluation of loss-making stores conducted during the period and an assessment of non-current assets held for
sale resulted in impairment costs of R169.5 million recognised during the period.
Currency weaknesses continued into the second half of the year, resulting in a foreign exchange loss of R53.3 million.
Net finance costs increased by 10.6% to R689.8 million.
The Group’s effective tax rate of -67.4% (2018: 31.5%) is as a result of impairing certain deferred taxation assets
previously raised, limiting the recognition of further deferred tax assets and the impact of the taxation charge on profit-
making entities. In addition to this, the decrease in share price further impacted the deferred tax asset recognised on
the Group share scheme.
Consequently, the Group incurred a net loss for the year of R861.0 million, down from a profit of R868.7 million in 2018.
Headline losses amounted to R747.3 million, down from headline earnings of R901.2 million in 2018.
The Group’s net asset value of R4,800.8 million is 23.8% lower than 2018 of R6,301.5 million, which includes the IFRS
16 adoption adjustment.
The interim condensed consolidated results from which the information above have been extracted, have been
reviewed by the Group’s Independent External Auditors, Ernst & Young Inc. and their unmodified review report is
available for inspection at the Company’s registered office.
Outlook and trading update
Massmart’s total sales for the seven weeks to16 February 2020 amounted to R11.4 billion and represents an increase
of 2.2% over the prior year. Comparable store sales increased by 1.0% and product inflation is estimated at 2.3%. The
subdued economic environment experienced in the latter part of 2019 continues and we expect margin pressure to
persist in 2020.
The financial information on which this trading update is based has not been reviewed and reported on by the
Company’s external auditors.
About this announcement
This short-form announcement is the responsibility of the Company’s Board of Directors and is a summary of the
information in the full results announcement and as such does not contain full or complete details of the full results
announcement. The full announcement has been released on the JSE Stock Exchange News Service at
https://senspdf.jse.co.za/documents/2020/jse/isse/MSM/MSMDec2019.pdf and is also available on the Company’s
website: https://www.massmart.co.za/results2019. Copies of the full announcement are available for inspection and
may be requested at the Company’s registered office, at no charge, during office hours. Any investment decisions by
investors and/or shareholders, in relation to the Company’s shares, should be based on a consideration of the full
announcement.
By order of the board
Mitchell Slape Mohammed Abdool-Samad
Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer
27 February 2020
Sponsor: JP Morgan Equities South Africa (Pty) Ltd
Date: 27-02-2020 07:05:00
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