RETAIL TRADE – AUSTRALIA

New era as Coles breaks free

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Original article by Eli Greenblat, Sarah-Jane Tasker
The Australian – Page: 17 & 20 : 22-Nov-18

Shares in Coles Group closed at $12.75 on 21 November, after the stock listed at $12.49 following its demerger from Wesfarmers. Coles has a market capitalisation of about $16bn, ranking it among Australia’s 20 largest listed companies. Alphinity Investment Management’s Bruce Smith expects some volatility in Coles’ share price in the near-term, as investors decide whether to buy into the stock or sell their holdings. Vertium Asset Management’s Jason Teh adds that Coles has a higher level of higher investment risk than grocery rival Woolworths.

CORPORATES
COLES GROUP LIMITED – ASX COL, ALPHINITY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, VERTIUM ASSET MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, COSTCO WHOLESALE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, SOUTH32 LIMITED – ASX S32, SUNCORP GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUN, ARISTOCRAT LEISURE LIMITED – ASX ALL

2018 Christmas retails sales to grow 2.9% to $51.5 billion

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Original article by Roy Morgan
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 19-Nov-18

Roy Morgan’s annual Christmas retail sales forecasts indicate that Australians will spend nearly $51.5bn across retail stores during the 46-day Christmas trading period from November 9-December 24. This is 2.9% than the $50bn of retail expenditure during the 2017 Christmas trading period. Growth in retail expenditure is predicted across all six categories measured, with spending on Food expected to grow the fastest (3.7%) from a year ago to nearly $21 billion. Also expected to enjoy strong growth are Hospitality businesses (up 3.2% to over $7.3bn) and Apparel & Household Goods (up 3.1% to $4bn). The Christmas retail sales forecasts are conducted in conjunction with the Australian Retailers Association.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN RETAILERS ASSOCIATION

Coles finally checks out from Wesfarmers

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Original article by Eli Greenblat, Paul Garvey
The Australian – Page: 19 & 29 : 16-Nov-18

The demerger of grocery giant Coles was supported by more than 98 per cent of votes cast at a special meeting of Wesfarmers shareholders on 15 November. The Perth-based conglomerate will retain a 15 per cent stake in Coles when its shares begin trading on a deferred settlement basis on 21 November. Wesfarmers chairman Michael Chaney has dismissed any concerns about an overhang, stressing that the company intends to retain its Coles stake in the long-term. Wesfarmers shareholders will be allocated Coles shares on a one-for-one basis.

CORPORATES
WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, COLES GROUP LIMITED, BUNNINGS GROUP LIMITED, WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, ALDI STORES SUPERMARKETS PTY LTD, AMAZON.COM INCORPORATED, METCASH LIMITED – ASX MTS

Woolies to return $1.7b to shareholders

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 13-Nov-18

Shaun Cousins of JP Morgan estimates that the sale of Woolworths’ fuel retailing business will reduce earnings per share by 7.4 per cent in 2020 and 8.1 per cent in 2021. However, the impact on EPS would be lower if Woolworths opts to return the proceeds of the sale to shareholders via a buyback. Woolworths is widely tipped to return most of the sale proceeds to investors, having initially flagged its intention to use some of the funds to reduce to debt and finance store refurbishments.

CORPORATES
WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, EG GROUP, MASTERS HOME IMPROVEMENT AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BP PLC, CITIGROUP PTY LTD, BIG W DISCOUNT STORES, AUSTRALIAN LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY GROUP LIMITED, ENDEAVOUR DRINKS

Woolworths lures back fickle shoppers to regain share

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 & 24 : 2-Nov-18

Woolworths has advised that its Australian supermarkets recorded same-store sales growth of 1.8 per cent in the September quarter, compared with 3.1 per cent in the three months to June. In contrast, Coles posted same-store sales growth of 5.1 per cent, due to its successful Little Shop promotion and its decision to extend an offer of free reusable shopping bags. However, Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci says same-store sales improved in September and October. Woolworths’ average food prices fell by one per cent in the September quarter as it extended price discounts to more grocery products.

CORPORATES
WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, WOOLWORTHS SUPERMARKETS, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, BIG W DISCOUNT STORES, ENDEAVOUR DRINKS, AUSTRALIAN LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY GROUP LIMITED, DEUTSCHE BANK AG

Myer’s executive clearance carries a $2.5m price tag

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Original article by Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 21 : 26-Oct-18

Myer CEO John King has told shareholders in its latest annual report that he will spend at least two days a week in its stores. King joined the department store chain in June, since which time he has cut at least 30 staff from its management ranks. Myer’s annual report reveals that its recent culling of senior executives, which included former CEO Richard Umbers and CFO Grant Davenport, has cost it over $2.65 million in termination and other payments.

CORPORATES
MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, PREMIER INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX PMV

Coles shifts focus from price to convenience

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 & 20 : 16-Oct-18

Coles’ Little Shop plastic groceries promotion helped it to achieve a 5.1 per cent increase in same-store food sales in the September quarter, as did its free plastic bags offer. However, new MD Steven Cain said it is unlikely to achieve the same sort of growth in the December quarter. With Coles in the process of becoming a stand-alone company as it demerges from Wesfarmers, Cain says his priorities include making life easier for customers by adopting new convenience store formats and improving its online business.

CORPORATES
COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, CITIGROUP PTY LTD

Wesfarmers to outline Coles move

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Original article by Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 19 : 4-Oct-18

There is speculation that Wesfarmers could release the scheme booklet for its proposed demerger of Coles before 15 October, when the supermarket chain will announce its sales figures for the first quarter of 2018-19. JPMorgan has upgraded its forecast for same-store sales growth from 2.5 per cent to four per cent. In contrast, the firm has scaled back Woolworths’ same-store sales growth expectations from 1.8 per cent to 1.3 per cent. However, Shaun Cousins of JPMorgan expects Woolworths to outperform Coles in the medium-term.

CORPORATES
WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, COLES SUPERMARKETS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, WOOLWORTHS SUPERMARKETS, WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, JP MORGAN AUSTRALIA LIMITED

Suppliers revolt over Woolies’ plan to cut data

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Original article by Eli Greenblat
The Australian – Page: 19 : 1-Oct-18

Woolworths will make changes to the sales data it provides to suppliers as from 2019. The retailer states the data will be of a much broader nature, with intellectual property and competitive information being protected from being shared with rival companies. However, suppliers have expressed concern about the proposed changes, stating that not having access to specific sales data will leave them "defenceless" if Woolworths decides to stop stocking their products. They are also concerned that Woolworth’s private label brands will benefit from the changes.

CORPORATES
WOOLWORTHS GROUP LIMITED – ASX WOW, AUSTRALIAN FOOD AND GROCERY COUNCIL

Lew urges Wilson to help fix Myer board

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Original article by Sue Mitchell
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 20 : 17-Sep-18

Geoff Wilson’s Wilson Asset Management has become a substantial shareholder in retailer Myer, with a 5.5 per cent stake. Solomon Lew, whose Premier Investments holds a 10.8 per cent stake in Myer and who has been unhappy with its performance since Premier acquired its stake in March 2017, has called on Wilson to help him toss out the Myer board. However, Wilson has indicated that he is happy to support new Myer CEO John King and his senior managers, while he has queried the rationale behind Lew’s attacks on the Myer board.

CORPORATES
MYER HOLDINGS LIMITED – ASX MYR, WILSON ASSET MANAGEMENT, PREMIER INVESTMENTS LIMITED – ASX PMV