Woolworths slides into full year loss territory after David Jones impairment, first in at least 16yrs

By Vernon Wessels

(Bloomberg) – Woolworths Holdings Ltd., South Africa’s largest clothing and food retailer, said charges related to its struggling Australian business will result in a full-year loss, its first in at least 16 years.

David Jones Ltd. branded shopping bags hang near a sales counter inside the company’s Bourke Street store in Melbourne, Australia. Photographer: Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg

The company will probably report a per-share loss of between R3.40 to R3.97 for the 52 weeks ended June 24, the Cape Town-based company said in a statement Thursday. That will be the first annual loss since Bloomberg records on Woolworths began in 2002. Headline earnings per share, which exclude one-time items, fell as much as 20 percent.

The shares declined 1.2 percent in early trade in Johannesburg, extending declines for the year to 20 percent.

Woolworths is struggling to contend with difficult trading conditions in its main South African and Australian markets, with overall sales increasing 1.6 percent in the year. Poor product choice in some areas of women’s wear resulted in a drop in South African fashion, beauty and home sales. Food revenue in the country rose by a “market-leading” 8.4 percent, the company said.

A revaluation of its David Jones business in Australia resulted in a non-cash impairment charge of 712.5 million Australian dollars ($527 million) in the first half, while the unit’s head was fired earlier this year.

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