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Pepkor Struggles to Shrug Off Steinhoff Effect as JSE Slaps Fine

Pepkor Struggles to Shrug Off Steinhoff Effect as JSE Slaps Fine

(Bloomberg) -- Pepkor Holdings Ltd.’s efforts to distance itself from majority owner Steinhoff International Holdings NV received a blow as Johannesburg’s stock exchange fined the South African retailer for breaking listing rules when it was spun off in 2017.

Key Insights

  • Part of the censure related to a 500 million rand ($36 million) writedown Pepkor took in May, related to a controversial management-incentive plan that pre-dated the listing.
  • The 5 million rand fine imposed by the JSE on Monday may make investors nervous about the potential of other, as-yet-unknown problems related to Steinhoff, which almost collapsed amid an accounting scandal a year ago.
  • The operator of clothing chains including Pep and Ackermans is also embroiled in a court battle against former executives of shoe retailer Tekkie Town, which Steinhoff bought in 2016.

Market Reaction

  • Pepkor shares have slumped 25 percent since Steinhoff’s announcement almost a year ago that it had uncovered accounting irregularities and its CEO had resigned.

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  • Pepkor said it’s working “intensively to improve its disclosure where necessary and appropriate.”
  • The extent that Steinhoff-related issues distracts management from running the business should not be underestimated, said Syd Vianello, an independent retail analyst in Johannesburg.
  • For more details on the news, click here.

To contact the reporter on this story: Janice Kew in Johannesburg at jkew4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Eric Pfanner at epfanner1@bloomberg.net, John Bowker

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