Trading Statement

Bovis Homes Group PLC Bovis Homes Group PLC Trading Update 11 January 2006 Bovis Homes Group PLC is today issuing the following update on trading ahead of reporting the Group's preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2005, on Monday 13 March 2006. Legal completions for the year were in line with 2004 with an average sales price of approximately £175,500. The Group's operating margin has remained strong and is anticipated to be approximately 23.5% for 2005. The Group's decision to expand progressively the social and partnership housing business has proved timely, with legal completions in 2005 almost doubling to 22% of the Group's total. The increase in social and partnership housing units along with the Group's focus on delivering smaller more affordable private homes has generated a notable change in product mix in 2005. The average size of home legally completed has reduced by 11%. The average sales price per square foot for private units legally completed in 2005 was 3% higher than 2004. The base for future trading activity has been improved with the closing land bank at the end of December 2005 standing at almost 13,000 consented plots, representing a net increase of approximately 1,500 plots during the year. A significant proportion of the land added in 2005 was generated from the Group's strategic land bank at a substantial discount to market value. Notwithstanding the healthy increase in the Group's consented land bank, the year end gearing remained low at approximately 10%. The Group anticipates announcing profits for the 2005 financial year marginally below the average of brokers' current forecasts. This update follows The Group's guidance, provided at the time of announcing interim results in September 2005, which resulted in external market expectations of the Group's profit performance for 2005 moderating. Progressive changes to products and processes were implemented during 2005, the most significant of which was a decision to release products into the marketplace earlier than before. These changes have delivered positive results. Sales reservations during the last quarter were good, with cumulative reservations to the end of 2005 of 3,360 homes, providing a carry forward of 660 sales for 2006, which is a 22% increase over the previous year. Private forward sales have an average gross margin slightly higher than the gross margin achieved on private legal completions in 2005. Whilst it is early for housing market conditions in 2006 to be predicted, based upon the last quarter of 2005 there are encouraging signs of improving consumer confidence. Enquiries: Malcolm Harris, Chief Executive Andrew Best David Ritchie, Finance Director Share Value Limited Bovis Homes Group PLC Tel: 020 7321 5022 Tel: 01474 876200/01474 876350 *T

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