Overview
The Group is pleased with the performance of its businesses during the current period; considering the constrained consumer environment.
Earnings attributable to shareholders and headline earnings increased by 44.7% and 44.3% respectively over the prior comparable period. Basic earnings per share (EPS) and basic headline earnings per share (HEPS) are 70.1 cents per share and 70.3 cents per share respectively; an increase of 44.7% and 44.3% respectively. Diluted earnings per share and diluted headline earnings per share are 70.0 cents per share and 70.2 cents per share respectively; an increase of 44.6% and 44.2% respectively.
Revenue
During the six-month period from 1 March 2022 to 31 August 2022, Dis-Chem recorded Group revenue growth of 9.3% to R16.3 billion.
Retail revenue grew by 9.3% to R14.4 billion with comparable pharmacy store revenue growth at 3.6%. Retail revenue growth was impacted by COVID-19 vaccine administration and testing services in the prior period compared to the current period. If the contribution of COVID-19 vaccines and testing are excluded from both periods, retail revenue grew by 10.0%. During the six months to 31 August 2022, five retail pharmacy stores were opened, eight retail pharmacy stores closed (all former Medicare stores) and three retail baby stores were opened. A net 15 Baby Boom stores were acquired, effective 1 March 2022, extending our baby retail leadership position, resulting in 251 retail pharmacy stores and 53 retail baby stores at 31 August 2022.
Wholesale revenue grew by 10.6% to R12.1 billion. Wholesale revenue to our own retail stores, still the biggest contributor, grew by 10.7%, while external revenue to independent pharmacies and The Local Choice (TLC) franchises grew by 9.7% over the comparable period. When excluding wholesale revenue to Medicare stores in
the prior period (internalised since 1 October 2021), external revenue grew by 20.4%, comprising independent pharmacy growth of 15.8% and TLC growth of 22.5%. The TLC growth is due to a combination of an increase in TLC franchise stores from 134 to 153 together with increasing support of the supply chain from existing TLC franchisees. Independent pharmacy growth is attributable to both new customers and increased support from the current base.
Total income
Total income grew by 22.8% to R5.2 billion, with the Group’s total income margin being 31.7% compared to 28.2% in the prior comparative period. The Group has exceeded the targeted 30% total income margin eighteen months sooner than initially anticipated. This increase has resulted in improvements in both EBITDA and operating margins.
Retail total income grew by 19.1% with the retail margin increasing from 27.7% to 30.2% over the comparable period. The Group continued to see increases in transactional gross margin of core categories due to the normalisation of gross margins with fewer lower margin COVID-19 related lines as well as continued improvement in back-end trading terms and service income through increasing scale and focus on return on invested capital (ROIC).
Wholesale total income grew by 31.2% with the wholesale margin now at 8.9%. On 1 April 2022, the Group acquired 100% of the shares of CT Distribution Proprietary Limited, KZN Warehouse Proprietary Limited and Eleadora Proprietary Limited. This was a related party transaction due to the companies acquired being owned by directors, previous directors and prescribed officers of Dis-Chem, who are also shareholders of Dis-Chem. These acquisitions resulted in the release of the existing lease liability and right-of-use asset on the statement of financial position; resulting in a R72 million gain recognised in other income in the statement of comprehensive income.
If this once-off gain was excluded from the wholesale segment, wholesale total income grew by 22.3% with the wholesale margin at 8.3%. This increase is attributable to a higher contribution of more profitable pharmacy volume following the Medicare acquisition, together with a continued focus on increasing fees earned on the back of ever increasing wholesale scale.
Other expenses
Expenses grew by 20.7% over the comparable period. Excluding the Medicare and Baby Boom acquisitions, expenses grew by 15.5%.
Retail expenses grew by 20.0% (excluding Medicare and Baby Boom 14.0%) as the Group invested in new stores and acquisitions since the comparable period. Employee costs (excluding Medicare and Baby Boom) increased by 12.9%, which is below retail total income growth of 19.1%.
Wholesale expenses grew by 12.9% due to the increase in third-party sales and higher fuel prices resulting in higher delivery costs compared to the prior comparable period. Expenses were also impacted by an increase in casual labour shifts to accommodate increased volumes through the wholesale environment.
Net finance costs
Net financing costs decreased by 8.3% from the prior comparable period. Excluding finance costs from IFRS 16 and interest on the new term loan, net financing costs decreased by 13.8%. R125 million in capital repayments were made on the Absa loan, reducing the interest paid on the long-term loan. The new term loan facility taken out with Standard Bank amounted to R455 million and was used to fund the acquisition of the warehouse properties.
Net working capital
During the current period, the Group’s inventory increased by R336 million or 5.8% from February 2022 due to the additional inventory held in new stores and the distribution channel. Inventory has been well managed, with inventory days decreasing to 87.3 days from 88.6 days in the prior period, and creditors days improving from 86.5 days to 87.4 days.
Net working capital, at 24.2 days has continued to improve from 26.5 days at 28 February 2022, as the Group continues to focus on ROIC.
Capital expenditure
Capital expenditure on tangible and intangible assets of R690 million comprised of R114 million for expansionary expenditure as the Group invested in additional stores as well as information technology enhancements across both the retail and wholesale segments. The balance of R576 million relates to replacement expenditure incurred to maintain the existing retail and wholesale networks as well as the purchase of the warehouse properties.
Directorate
On the 14 July 2022, Ms. H Masondo was appointed as a non-executive director and Mr. SE Saltzman and
Mr. SRN Goetsch were appointed as executive directors. Mr. M Bowmen resigned as a non-executive director and Ms. LF Saltzman as an executive director on 14 July 2022.
Outlook
For the two-month period 1 September to 31 October 2022, Group revenue grew by 5.8% over the prior comparable period. Excluding the contribution of COVID-19 vaccines and testing from both periods, Group revenue grew by 9.3%. Retail revenue (excluding the contribution of COVID-19 vaccines and testing) grew by 8.9% and wholesale external revenue by 12.8%.
The Group expects that the consumer will continue to remain constrained due to the current economic climate. With the focus on ROIC, the resilient nature of the markets in which the Group operates, together with the brand position, the Group continues to adapt to the current environment, with a focus on mitigating the near-term impact whilst positioning itself for success in the future.