Trading Statement

RNS Number : 5798M

ASOS PLC

19 September 2012

 



19 September 2012

ASOS plc ("the Company")

Global Online Fashion Store

Trading Statement for the 3 months ended 31 August 2012

	3 months to 31 August			Year to 31 August
£'000s	2011/12	2010/11	Increase	2011/12	2010/11	Increase
UK retail sales	49,854	43,421	15%	205,258	186,748	10%
US retail sales	13,097	7,919	65%	49,585	25,950	91%
EU retail sales	30,678	25,110	22%	117,748	91,047	29%
ROW retail sales	47,413	31,021	53%	165,296	85,349	94%
Total International retail sales	91,188	64,050	42%	332,629	202,346	64%
Total retail sales	141,042	107,471	31%	537,887	389,094	38%
Total group revenues*	145,168	110,694	31%	552,854	403,008	37%

* Includes retail sales, delivery receipts and third party revenues.

Q4 Highlights

·    Retail sales +31% year on year (UK +15%, International +42%)

·    International sales 65% of total (60% last year)

·    Retail gross margin up 70bps on prior year

·    5 million active customers* at 31 August 2012 (+35% year on year)

Nick Robertson, CEO, commented:

""I am pleased to report that trading for the three months to 31 August 2012 has been strong, with total retail sales up 31% to £141m. Retail sales for the year to 31 August 2012 increased 38% to £538m.

"Our UK performance was encouraging at +15%, and our International business grew by +42%.  International equated to 65% of our sales over the period up from 60% last year.  Our sales performance in those markets where we have a website continue to outperform.  Despite investing in our pricing, I'm pleased to say that our retail gross margin improved by 70bps over the period.

"Profit for the five months ended 31 August 2012 and pro forma full year, are expected to be in line with expectations, and we approach our new financial year with continued confidence."

*Defined as having shopped in the last 12 months

For further information:

ASOS plc	Tel: [phone]
Nick Robertson, Chief Executive
Nick Beighton, Finance Director Greg Feehely, Head of Investor Relations
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 on the ASOS.com website 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 twenty-somethings globally, ASOS attracts 18.8 million unique visitors a month (Q4 2011 11.1 million) and as at 31 August 2012 had 9.2 million registered users (31 August 2011: 6.4 million) and 5.0 million active customers* (31 August 2011: 3.7 million) 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

www.asos.com/au

www.asos.it

www.asos.es

m.asos.com

marketplace.asos.com

fashionfinder.asos.com

Appendix 1

Pro forma split of retail sales by quarter for the year ending 31 August 2012

£'000s	Q1	YOY%	Q2	YOY%	Q3	YOY%	Q4	YOY%	YTD 2011/12	YOY%
UK retail sales	49,942	5%	59,025	12%	46,437	8%	49,854	15%	205,258	10%
US retail sales	12,144	190%	10,993	73%	13,351	78%	13,097	65%	49,585	91%
EU retail sales	28,911	55%	27,935	18%	30,224	27%	30,678	22%	117,748	29%
ROW retail sales	36,123	233%	37,848	113%	43,912	71%	47,413	53%	165,296	94%
International retail sales	77,178	129%	76,776	61%	87,487	54%	91,188	42%	332,629	64%
Total retail sales	127,120	57%	135,801	35%	133,924	34%	141,042	31%	537,887	38%

Pro forma split of retail sales by quarter for the year ending 31 August 2011

£'000s	Q1	YOY%	Q2	YOY%	Q3	YOY%	Q4	YOY%	2010/11	YOY%
UK sales	47,383	23%	52,857	20%	43,087	20%	43,421	1%	186,748	16%
International sales	33,680	128%	47,719	161%	56,897	154%	64,050	153%	202,346	151%
-     US sales	4,186	254%	6,365	227%	7,480	176%	7,919	144%	25,950	186%
-     EU sales	18,647	79%	23,576	105%	23,714	68%	25,110	77%	91,047	81%
-     ROW sales	10,847	241%	17,778	265%	25,703	363%	31,021	295%	85,349	298%
Total retail sales	81,063	53%	100,576	62%	99,984	71%	107,471	58%	389,094	61%

 

END

 

 

MSCQVLFFLKFEBBV