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Trading Statement for the Year Ending 30 June 2020 and Impact of COVID-19
ITALTILE LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number: 1955/000558/06)
Share code: ITE ISIN: ZAE000099123
(“Italtile” or “the Group”)
TRADING STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30 JUNE 2020 AND IMPACT OF COVID-19
The Group will be reporting its results for the year ending 30 June 2020 on or about 25 August 2020.
In the interim, given the general uncertainty in the economy and trading environment caused by the
COVID-19 global pandemic, management believes it is appropriate to update shareholders regarding
the Group’s performance over the past 48 weeks to 31 May 2020, with specific emphasis on the period
since the Group’s interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2019 which were published
on SENS on 13 February 2020.
The results reported in this announcement include the contribution of Ceramic Industries Proprietary
Limited (“Ceramic”), in which the Group holds a 95.47% stake, and Ezee Tile Adhesive Manufacturers
Proprietary Limited (“Ezee Tile”), in which the Group holds an effective 71.54% stake. Sales related to
Ceramic and Ezee Tile are referred to as “manufacturing” sales to distinguish them from “retail” sales
reported by Italtile’s retail brands, namely CTM, Italtile Retail, TopT and U-Light.
TRADING STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30 JUNE 2020 AND IMPACT OF BBBEE TRANSACTION
ON EARNINGS PER SHARE (“EPS”) AND HEADLINE EARNINGS PER SHARE (“HEPS”)
In terms of paragraph 3.4(b) of the JSE Limited ("JSE") Listings Requirements, and in light of the impact
of the pandemic on the business and the economy, the Board of Directors (“the Board”) is satisfied
that a reasonable degree of certainty exists that the expected ranges of the Group's EPS and HEPS for
the year ending 30 June 2020 will be as set out in the table below.
Furthermore, as announced on SENS on 7 February 2020, the Group incurred a once-off charge of
R39.0 million related to the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (“BBBEE”) transaction
concluded with Yard Investment Holdings Proprietary Limited (“Yard”). Accordingly, the guidance
below also illustrates the expected impact of the BBBEE transaction on projected EPS and HEPS for
the year ending 30 June 2020.
Year ended Forecast: year ending Percentage
30 June 2019 30 June 2020* change
Excluding BBBEE charge
- Earnings per share 102.6 cents 74.9 cents to 85.2 cents -27% to -17%
- Headline earnings per share 101.8 cents 76.4 cents to 86.5 cents -25% to -15%
Including BBBEE charge
- Earnings per share 102.6 cents 71.8 cents to 82.1 cents -30% to -20%
- Headline earnings per share 101.8 cents 73.3 cents to 83.5 cents -28% to -18%
*While it is difficult to predict with accuracy the Group’s performance for the balance of the current
financial year, being the remainder of June 2020, early indications are that sales will continue to pick
up, and will exceed the strong sales reported in June 2019. Should this not materialise and the actual
earnings for the year ending 30 June 2020 differ from the forecast above, a further trading statement
will be issued after 30 June 2020.
IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE GROUP’S SALES PERFORMANCE
The Group’s results for the second six months of the current financial year, being 1 January to 30 June
2020, are best analysed in the context of the progression of the pandemic in our trading markets. In
the pre-COVID-19 era, up to 27 March 2020 when the national lockdown was implemented, sales were
on track with management’s stated target to deliver growth in line with the first six months of the
current financial year, being 1 July 2019 to 31 December 2019. However, subsequent to the
commencement of the lockdown, sales across the manufacturing, supply chain and retail operations
were severely impacted as illustrated below.
Date (2020) and Impact on Group operations Impact on Group revenue
level of economic
activity according to
Government’s risk-
adjusted economic
activity model
27 March – 30 April SA
Level 5 Manufacturing and supply chain No revenue was generated by
operations were closed. supply chain and manufacturing
Retail stores were permitted to sell operations and only minimal
emergency supplies to essential service revenue was generated by the
providers and registered tradespersons retail stores.
only (a limited number of stores traded
only during the last week of April).
Rest of Africa
Retail stores and manufacturing Minimal revenue was
operations in East Africa were permitted generated by the retail stores.
to trade.
1 May – 31 May SA
Level 4 Easing of trading regulations: Curtailed sales in
30% to 50% of manufacturing capacity manufacturing and supply chain
and all supply chain operations brought operations reported compared
back on-stream. to prior year.
All retail stores re-opened. Robust retail sales, specifically
Reduced staff numbers in all operations. in certain rural markets, with
growth being recorded on the
prior year’s sales results.
In summary, total retail store sales for the 48 weeks ended 31 May 2020 decreased by 5%, while like-
for-like retail store turnover declined by 10% compared to the prior corresponding period.
Manufacturing sales for the 48 weeks were 10% lower when compared to the prior comparable
period.
In terms of individual brand performance, Italtile Retail’s sales were substantially lower than the prior
comparable period. This is due to a combination of factors including the continued deterioration of
the commercial projects market in the premium-end segment and the general decline in size of the
top-end residential market in the wake of private investor capital exiting SA. The inability of
contractors to operate during the lockdown further restricted sales in the high-end home renovations
segment.
Prior to the lockdown period, CTM’s sales were solid and in line with the performance reported in the
year ended 30 June 2019. However, sales during Level 5 of the lockdown were minimal. The
subsequent easing of restrictions in Level 4 resulted in an increase in turnover compared to the prior
year, with a clear disparity between rural-based stores which traded robustly, and suburban stores
where sales were more obviously impacted by cautious consumer behaviour in light of the pandemic
and sustained limited disposable income.
TopT has reported a surprisingly strong performance in the second half of the current financial year,
notwithstanding restricted trading in line with regulations. This is underpinned by improved
operational disciplines in the business, as well as higher spend in certain regions where homeowners
returned to their rural homes to wait out the lockdown. Consumers in this segment typically continue
to invest incrementally in their homes as funds become available, and with the full re-opening of
stores in May 2020, brisk sales resumed with double digit growth achieved.
For the most part, post-lockdown, the franchise network across the brands is healthy and stable.
The Group’s well-established online sales and delivery platform recorded a pleasing performance over
the period pre-lockdown, and with restrictions placed on consumers shopping in-store during the
lockdown, this channel benefitted from growing traffic and increased quotes and sales. This trend is
likely to become entrenched, aligned with consumer behaviour which adapted and changed due to
restrictions imposed by lockdown regulations and will likely become a permanent feature.
The Group’s robust cash reserves and engrained disciplines of working capital management and cost
leadership have been a significant advantage for the business, specifically since lockdown.
Additionally, with the onset of the pandemic and trading restrictions, management implemented
immediate and urgent measures to further optimise cashflow and preserve cash. These measures
included further cost savings across the operations; temporary deferral of operational and capital
expenditure and headcount costs; and salary and fee sacrifices by executive and non-executive
directors, as well as management at various levels. Management continues to aggressively review the
Group’s cost base and remains cautiously optimistic regarding improved trading and continued solid
cash flows going forward.
COVID-19 RISK-MITIGATING MEASURES
The safety of our customers, employees and neighbouring communities is a key priority for the Group
and extensive measures are in place in our stores and factories to ensure operational health and safety
protocols comply with prescribed government regulations to curb the spread of the virus. Where
practicable, work-from-home practices are also still in place for administration and finance employees.
REVIEW OF RESULTS
The information on which this announcement is based and any forecast financial information included
in this announcement has not been reviewed or reported on by Italtile's auditors.
Johannesburg
17 June 2020
Sponsor
Merchantec Capital
Date: 17-06-2020 08:00:00
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