Clicks Group raises ARC stake to 61 percent: what it means for Clicks Group stock

Published on 10/13/2026 at 04:37 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

ARC has 12 stores and targets 20 to 30 in South Africa. For Clicks Group stock, the deal adds ZAR 507 million and 35.3 percent ownership.

Clicks Group raised its ARC Store ownership to 61 percent through a ZAR 507 million purchase announced on September 28, 2026.
ARC has 12 stores and plans to expand to 20 to 30 locations, giving Clicks greater exposure to premium beauty.
Clicks Group reported 8.1 percent diluted headline earnings growth for the six months ended February 28, 2026.
The company remains part of the FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index and is listed on the JSE.

Clicks, ZAE000134854, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Clicks Group (ISIN ZAE000134854) had raised its stake in premium beauty retailer ARC Store to 61 percent on September 28, 2026, after agreeing to buy a further 35.3 percent for ZAR 507 million. Sharenet identifies the transaction, the share code CLS and the ISIN, while Clicks Group describes ARC's operating footprint and the transaction terms.

ARC adds a premium beauty platform

The deal moved Clicks from a 25.7 percent holding to control of ARC, extending a relationship that began in 2021. ARC operates 12 stores and has an online presence, while its medium-term plan calls for an expansion to 20 to 30 stores.

Clicks said the premium beauty market is valued at more than ZAR 6 billion annually. ARC customer spending in Clicks rose 16 percent to ZAR 836 million over the year cited in the September 28 announcement, creating a measurable link between the existing store network and the acquired platform.

What does the deal add to growth?

The answer is a wider beauty offering rather than an immediate earnings forecast. ARC management is committed to remaining through at least 2028, while the transaction still requires competition authority approval before its expected effective date.

The operating backdrop was positive in the six months ended February 28, 2026. Clicks Group reported group turnover growth of 7.4 percent, retail turnover growth of 5.4 percent and distribution turnover growth of 13.0 percent, according to the company's investor-relations material dated April 23, 2026.

Three dated milestones frame the move

On October 23, 2025, Clicks reported 14.1 percent growth in diluted headline earnings per share for the fiscal year ended August 2025. On April 23, 2026, it reported 8.1 percent growth for the six months ended February 28, 2026 and an interim dividend of 258 cents per share, up 8.4 percent. On September 28, 2026, it announced the ARC transaction, taking ownership to 61 percent for ZAR 507 million.

Margins and cash flow remain central

For the February 2026 half-year, the trading margin was 9.1 percent, cash generated by operations reached ZAR 1.9 billion and return on equity was 45.7 percent. The company also said it returned ZAR 2.3 billion to shareholders through the interim payout and other distributions.

Clicks keeps its JSE profile

Clicks Group has been listed on the JSE since 1996 and has remained in the FTSE/JSE Top 40 Index for eight years, according to the company material. Its retail and pharmaceutical wholesale operations give the ARC investment a direct connection to its existing health, beauty and wellness strategy.

The further course of trading is shown by the continuously updated real-time quote of Clicks stock.