SPUR CORPORATION LIMITED - Trading statement for the six months ended 31 December 2020
24 February 2021 8:30
Trading statement for the six months ended 31 December 2020

SPUR CORPORATION LIMITED
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1998/000828/06)
Share Code: SUR & ISIN: ZAE000022653
(“the company” or “the group”)


TRADING STATEMENT FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2020


Shareholders are referred to the sales update released on SENS on 29 January 2021 in which
the group advised that total franchised restaurant sales declined by 29.4% to R2.9 billion for
the six months to 31 December 2020 (“the reporting period”), against the R4.1 billion
reported for the six months to 31 December 2019 (the “prior comparative period”).


Ongoing COVID-19 pandemic lockdown trading restrictions, although at reducing levels in the
first half of the reporting period, compounded by the second wave of the pandemic and the
resultant implementation of revised level 3 restrictions in the key trading month of December
2020, curtailed franchised restaurant sales in the period. As expected, these restrictions,
combined with weaker consumer disposable income, were the main contributors to the
decline in total franchised restaurant sales.


Group revenue has been further impacted by temporary fee reductions (“concessions”)
granted to franchisee partners for both franchise and marketing fees. The concessions were
implemented to assist the franchisee base through the difficult trading periods from the start
of the lockdown in March 2020. The concessions are reviewed monthly by the executive team
and have gradually been revised as trading conditions have improved and hard lockdown
restrictions eased.


Sales and profit from the group’s sauce manufacturing kitchen as well as sales volumes from
the group’s outsourced product distribution business were impacted by the lower franchised
restaurant sales. This was partially offset by increased sales of the group’s retail sauces.
Earnings for the period were further impacted by costs related to a voluntary retrenchment
programme undertaken during the period as part of the group's austerity measures in
response to COVID-19. A charge against earnings was recorded in the current reporting period
to recognise the present value of once-off employee benefit liabilities. These combined costs
totalled R11.8 million.


Profit for the prior comparative period includes a financial instrument impairment net
reversal of R10.2 million relating primarily to the unwinding of the Grand Parade Investments
Limited (“GPI”) black economic empowerment transaction in October 2019, which is not
repeated in the current period.


In addition, net finance income declined as a result of the conclusion of the aforementioned
GPI transaction and related share repurchase in October 2019, and lower cash generated
from subdued trading activities as a result of COVID-19.


As a result of the factors outlined above, the group expects to report the following earnings
performance for the reporting period:
                                        Six months to 31    Six months to 31     % change
                                         December 2020       December 2019
 Earnings per share (“EPS”) (cents)         29,0 – 35,3               125,9     72% – 77%

 Diluted EPS (cents)                        28,8 – 35,0               125,0     72% – 77%

 Headline earnings per share (cents)        28,9 – 35,2               125,8     72% – 77%

 Diluted HEPS (cents)                       28,7 – 35,0               124,9     72% – 77%



As previously reported, month-on-month restaurant sales showed a pleasingly steady post-
lockdown recovery across most of the group’s brands in the first four months of the financial
year to October 2020. Furthermore, trading has improved in February since the easing of level
3 trading restrictions announced on 2 February 2021. The improving trading environment is
encouraging for both the company and its franchisee partners. The group’s balance sheet
remains ungeared.

The financial information on which this trading statement is based is the responsibility of the
directors and has not been reviewed or reported on by the group’s independent auditor.


The group’s unaudited interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2020 are
expected to be released on 2 March 2021.




Cape Town
24 February 2021


Sponsor
SASFIN CAPITAL
A member of the Sasfin Group

Date: 24-02-2021 08:30:00
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