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Condensed group financial results for the six months ended 30 June 2022 and cash dividend declaration

Published: 2022-08-16 08:30:53 ET
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HOMECHOICE INTERNATIONAL PLC
(Incorporated in the Republic of Mauritius)
Registration number: C171926
JSE share code: HIL
ISIN: MT0000850108
("HIL" or "the group")

CONDENSED GROUP FINANCIAL RESULTS
for the six months ended 30 June 2022 and cash dividend declaration


SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND STRONG PROFIT CONVERSION
- Revenue up 4.0% to R1.8 billion
- Operating profit up 29.5% to R228 million
- Loan disbursements up 33.1% to R2.1 billion
- Retail sales down 10.6% to R0.8 billion
- Earnings per share up 25.4% to 143.9 cents
- Headline earnings per share up 16.6% to 144.8 cents
- Interim dividend declared of 64.00 cents per share (2021: 47.00 cents)
- R0.9 billion of cash and undrawn facilities

Executive chair, Shirley Maltz, commented:
"The board is pleased with the group's strong growth momentum and excellent profit conversion as
operating profit grew by 30%, on 4% growth in revenue.
Weaver   Fintech acquired 139 000 customers in the six-month period, growing the customer base by 32%
to 589   000. The Weaver product innovation and expansion has high customer appeal and is driving
strong   customer adoption, engagement and profitable growth. With a 29% increase in operating profit,
Weaver   Fintech now contributes 84% of the group's profit.
PayJustNow's (PJN) digital payment product is now available at more than 1 500 merchants and
3 650 active points of presence. With almost five million visits to the PJN website, merchants enjoy
high brand awareness from potential customers and this has driven 113% growth in merchants' gross
merchant value.
Our digital-first strategy continues to deliver as 73% of the group's transactions are digitally
executed. This growing digital adoption by our customers yields both cost-efficiency benefits and
with platform agility drives growth.

The Retail turnaround strategy is on track and delivering benefits. 30% of HomeChoice Retail sales
are now digital. A 320 bps improvement in gross profit margin, and a lower restructured cost base
has driven a 19% growth in profit.
Customer cash collections increased by 24% to R3.4 billion, a significant value when compared to
loans disbursed of R2.1 billion and gross receivables of R4.9 billion.
With R0.9 billion cash and available funding facilities, we are well positioned to support the
fast-growing demand for Weaver Fintech's attractive product offering."

DIVIDEND DECLARATION
Notice is hereby given that the board of directors has declared a final gross cash dividend of
64.0000 cents (51.2000 cents net of dividend withholding tax) per ordinary share for the six months
ended 30 June 2022. The dividend has been declared from income reserves. HIL is registered in
Mauritius and the dividend is a foreign dividend. Withholding tax of 20% will be applicable to all
South African shareholders who are not exempt.

The issued share capital at the declaration date is 106 730 376 ordinary shares.
The salient dates for the dividend will be as follows:

Last day of trade to receive a dividend                                      Tuesday,   30 August   2022
Shares commence trading "ex" dividend                                      Wednesday,   31 August   2022
Record date                                                                 Friday, 2   September   2022
Payment date                                                                Monday, 5   September   2022
Share certificates may not be dematerialised or rematerialised between Wednesday, 31 August 2022 and
Friday, 2 September 2022, both days inclusive.


SHORT-FORM ANNOUNCEMENT
This short-form announcement is the responsibility of the directors of HIL. It is a summary of the
information contained in the full announcement and does not contain full or complete details.

Any investment decisions by investors and/or shareholders should be based on a consideration of the
full announcement. The full announcement and a more comprehensive analysis of HomeChoice
International's results and outlook, can be accessed on the following JSE link:
https://senspdf.jse.co.za/documents/2022/JSE/ISSE/HILE/HY2022.pdf and published on
www.homechoiceinternational.com/financial-results/

Copies of the full announcement may be requested from the company secretary at
governance@homechoiceinternational.com


CORPORATE INFORMATION
Registered office: c/o Sanlam Trustees International Limited
Labourdonnais Village, Mapou, Riviere du Rempart, 31803, Mauritius
Executive directors: S Maltz (Chair)*, G Lartigue (Chief Executive Officer), P Burnett
Non-executive directors: A Chorn, A Ogunsanya* (alternate), E Gutierrez-Garcia*, M Harris,
P Joubert (Lead Independent Director) * Non-independent
Company secretary: Sanlam Trustees International (Mauritius)
Sponsor: Rand Merchant Bank (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)

Mauritius, 16 August 2022