Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 13-Mar-18

The recent Arctic-like weather that afflicted the UK and Ireland was a mixed blessing for Wesfarmers’ struggling Bunnings business there. The inclement weather did not help its nursery operations, but it did lead to increased demand for products like sand, salt and snow shovels. The impact of the bad weather may extend the time needed for the strategic review that Wesfarmers CEO Rob Scott announced into Bunnings UK and Ireland in February to be completed. JP Morgan has concluded that it will cost Wesfarmers less to pull out of the UK and Ireland than it will for it to stay there.

CORPORATES
WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW