Q4 Trading Update

RNS Number : 7983E

ASOS PLC

13 April 2011

 



ASOS plc

Leading online fashion store

Trading Statement for the 3 months ended 31 March 2011

	Q4	Q4			Full Year
£'000s	2010/11	2009/10	Increase	2010/11	2009/10	Increase
Retail sales	93,377	54,850	70%	324,825	205,491	58%
-  UK sales	44,945	36,281	24%	183,703	147,571	24%
-  Total International sales	48,432	18,569	161%	141,122	57,920	144%
-       US sales	7,065	2,195	222%	18,926	5,536	242%
-       EU sales	21,335	12,087	77%	73,851	40,636	82%
-       ROW sales	20,032	4,287	367%	48,345	11,748	312%
Group revenues*	96,634	59,293	63%	340,416	222,999	53%

*Includes retail sales, postage and packaging (P&P) income and 3^rd party revenues

Q4 Highlights (January - March 2011)

·      Retail sales accelerated + 70 % year on year (Q3 +59%)

·      UK retail sales + 24 % / International retail sales + 161 %

·      International sales mix 52%

·      ASOS Fashion Finder launched March 2011

 Full Year Highlights (April 2010 - March 2011)

·      Retail sales up 58 % year on year (UK + 24 % / International + 144 %)

·      Profit before tax likely to be towards the top end of expectations

·      Small increase in retail gross margin, in line with guidance

·      Investment in free shipping and returns has led to a reduction in overall gross margin

Nick Robertson, CEO, commented:

"I am pleased to report another successful quarter with retail sales accelerating +70%, up from +59% in our third quarter. Importantly our UK business remained strong +24%, vs +23% in the third quarter. 

With International becoming an increasingly significant part of our future, I was pleased to see our International sales mix exceed that of the UK for the first time, accounting for 52% of our retail sales.   

Profit before tax, pre exceptional, for the full year to March 2011 is likely to be towards the top end of expectations.  

We have approached the new financial year with confidence and are excited about the prospects for both our UK and International businesses."

13 April 2011

Preliminary results and future trading updates

ASOS will announce its final results for the year ended 31 March 2011 on Thursday 2 June 2011, when it will provide a full overview and update on the business.

Analyst Conference call

A conference call for investors and analysts will take place at 8.30am today. Dial in details for the call are as follows:

Dial in	[phone]
Conference ID:	58310397

For further information:

ASOS plc	Tel: [phone]
Nick Robertson, Chief Executive
Nick Beighton, Finance Director
College Hill	Tel: [phone]
Matthew Smallwood / Justine Warren / Jamie Ramsay
JPMorgan Cazenove	Tel: [phone]
Luke Bordewich / Gina Gibson
Numis Securities	Tel: [phone]
Alex Ham

Background note

ASOS is a global online fashion and beauty retailer and offers over 50,000 branded and own label product lines across womenswear, menswear, footwear, accessories, jewellery and beauty with approximately 1,500 new product lines being introduced each week.

Aimed at fashion forward 16-34 year olds globally, ASOS attracts over 13 million unique visitors a month and as at 31 March 2011 had 5.3 million registered users and 3.0 million active customers from 160 countries (defined as having shopped in the last 12 months).

www.asos.com 

www.us.asos.com

www.asos.de

www.asos.fr

m.asos.com

Appendix: Split of Retail Sales by Quarter for the Year to Date 2010/2011

£'000s	Q1	YOY%	Q2	YOY%	Q3	YOY%	Q4	YOY%	2010/11	YOY%
UK sales	38,758	32%	43,680	21%	56,320	23%	44,945	24%	183,703	24%
International sales	22,954	111%	26,017	128%	43,719	156%	48,432	161%	141,122	144%
-     US sales	2,812	199%	3,752	293%	5,297	267%	7,065	222%	18,926	242%
-     EU sales	14,176	70%	13,880	71%	24,460	102%	21,335	77%	73,851	82%
-     ROW sales	5,966	266%	8,385	259%	13,962	300%	20,032	367%	48,345	312%
Total retail sales	61,712	54%	69,697	47%	100,039	59%	93,377	70%	324,825	58%

Appendix: Split of Retail Sales by Quarter for the Year Ended 2009/2010

£'000s	Q1	YOY%	Q2	YOY%	Q3	YOY%	Q4	YOY%	2009/10	YOY%
UK sales	29,311	34%	36,045	33%	45,934	11%	36,281	19%	147,571	22%
International sales	10,890	145%	11,411	110%	17,050	110%	18,569	76%	57,920	103%
-     US sales	941	216%	955	141%	1,445	71%	2,195	128%	5,536	121%
-     EU sales	8,317	125%	8,118	96%	12,114	96%	12,087	45%	40,636	82%
-     ROW sales	1,632	205%	2,338	189%	3,491	257%	4,287	203%	11,748	215%
Total retail sales	40,201	53%	47,456	45%	62,984	28%	54,850	34%	205,491	38%

 

END

 

 

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