'Net profit before tax increased from A$1.4m to A$2.3m. GROUP PROSPECTS Given the current trading environment we expect to deliver another year of solid growth in headline earnings per share, after adjusting for the non-comparable STC payments. EMPOWERMENT PLANS Woolworths is committed to black economic empowerment(BEE) and is currently evaluating its empowerment initiatives in terms of the recently published codes. Woolworths supports the broad-based ownership approach favoured by the Department of Trade and Industry and as such is developing plans around BEE ownership, which will be presented to shareholders for approval at the forthcoming annual general meeting. CHANGE TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS On 25 November 2005 Nolitha Fakude resigned from the board due to her executive director commitments. We would like to thank her for the meaningful contribution she made to the group. DA Hawton SN Susman Chairman Chief executive officer Cape Town 16 February 2006 DIVIDEND PAYMENT Notice is hereby given that the directors declared an interim dividend of 24.0 cents per share for the six months ended December 2005. The important dates in March 2006 will be as follows: Last day to trade to receive dividend Friday, 3 March Shares commence trading ex dividend Monday, 6 March Record date Friday, 10 March Payment date Monday, 13 March Share certificates may not be dematerialised or rematerialised between Monday, 6 March 2006 and Friday, 10 March 2006, both days inclusive. CL Lowe Group secretary Cape Town 16 February 2006 DIRECTORATE AND STATUTORY INFORMATION Non-executive directors: Buddy Hawton (Chairman), Mair Barnes (British), Nigel Colne (British), Brian Frost, Mike Leeming, Chris Nissen, Sindi Zilwa Executive directors: Simon Susman (CEO), Richard Inskip, Norman Thomson Group secretary: Cherrie Lowe Share code: WHL ISIN: ZAE000063863 Registered address (postal and physical): PO Box 680 Cape Town 8000 Woolworths House 93 Longmarket Street Cape Town 8001 Registration number: 1929/001986/06 Auditors: Ernst & Young and SAB & T Inc Bankers: Standard Bank of South Africa Limited Sponsor: Rand Merchant Bank (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited) Transfer secretaries: Computershare Investor Services 2004 (Pty) Ltd 70 Marshall Street Johannesburg 2001 Visit our investor relations site: www.woolworthsholdings.co.za Date: 16/02/2006 08:00:39 AM Produced by the JSE SENS Department