Trading Statement
Kingfisher PLC
14 February 2002
EMBARGOED UNTIL 0700 HOURS
Thursday 14 February 2002
Trading statement for the fourth quarter and full year ended 2 February 2002
KINGFISHER REPORTS SALES GROWTH OF 9.9%
BOOSTED BY 17.0% GROWTH AT B&Q
Kingfisher plc, the leading European retail group, today reports that total
sales for its continuing operations, excluding the now separated General
Merchandise businesses, grew 9.9% to £2.6 billion during the fourth quarter
ended 2 February 2002. Overall the Group's like-for-like sales increased by
2.1%.
For the full year for the continuing businesses, total sales were up 11.1%
including the impact of an extra 53rd week in the previous year to 3 February
2001. Like-for-like sales were ahead by 4.1%.
Commenting on the Group's sales figures, Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy, Kingfisher's
Chief Executive, said: 'This has been a year of delivery against both our
strategic and financial goals. We are now focused on our core strengths with
some of the strongest brands in Europe positioned in growth markets.
'Our focus on margins, product cost reduction and cost efficiencies has meant we
have finished a tough year in good shape. Despite poor consumer confidence
levels in Continental Europe and the distraction of successfully introducing the
Euro in our stores, the French and German electrical businesses in particular
will have achieved solid results in the circumstances. Accordingly, we expect to
announce pre-exceptional profit before tax and goodwill amortisation around the
upper end of current market expectations.'
He added: 'By leveraging our leading market positions, we expect to continue to
perform well relative to our competitors during the coming year despite the
uncertain economic climate. Our anticipated sales growth is underpinned by new
and planned store space and our focus remains on costs and cash control along
with the turnaround of German electricals. We remain committed to the objective
we published in last year's preliminary results announcement of achieving
average annual adjusted earnings growth of at least 10% over the next five
years.'
Home Improvement
B&Q once again boosted the sector's performance with UK total sales growing by
17.0%, up 6.3% on a like-for-like basis. During the period, demand slowed in
early January before picking up towards the end of the month. After the
exceptional double-digit levels achieved for the preceding three quarters, the
quarter's overall like-for-like sales growth was at a more normal level.
In France, Brico Depot continued to out-perform the market, delivering strong
like-for-like sales growth. This offset a disappointing performance at the
Castorama main chain stores which showed a small decline in like-for-like sales
during the period.
Electrical and Furniture
Similar to the trends seen in the third quarter, the UK saw stronger like-for-
like sales growth in the fourth quarter than France. Comet grew total sales by
9.2%, up 4.7% on a like-for-like basis. In France, where markets have been
difficult all year, the strongest performer was BUT which grew total sales by
11.1% and like-for-like sales by 2.9%. Darty grew total sales by 2.2%,
performing well in its core white product and high value brown product
categories, with like-for-like sales again flat reflecting reduced levels of
demand for mobile phones and PCs.
In Germany, the strategy of focusing on profitable sales as part of the overall
turnaround plan led to significantly higher gross margins than during the same
period last year. Cost control and stock management initiatives all contributed
to an improved performance in line with plan, reversing the previous trend.
Kingfisher's preliminary results for the year to 2 February 2002 will be
announced on Wednesday 20 March 2002.
-end-
This news release contains forward-looking statements based on current
assumptions and forecasts made by Kingfisher's management. Various known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to substantial
differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development
or performance of the Group and the estimates given here. The Group accepts no
obligation to continue to report or update these forward-looking statements or
adjust them to future events or developments.
Company profile:
Kingfisher plc is one of Europe's leading retailers operating principally in the
international Home Improvement, Electrical and Furniture markets and operates
some of the best known retail brands in Europe including B&Q, Brico Depot,
Castorama, Comet, Darty and BUT.
More than half of the Group's turnover arises overseas, making it the UK's most
international retailer. Kingfisher employs around 90,000 people in over 1,300
stores across 16 countries.
Further enquiries:
Broker and Institutional Enquiries
Ian Harding, Director of Investor Relations +44 (0) 20 7725 4889
Media Enquiries
Andrew Mills, Director of Corporate Affairs +44 (0) 20 7725 5776
France
Graham Fairbank, Head of Corporate Communications +33 (0) 1 43 18 52 26
Kingfisher plc +44 (0) 20 7724 7749
Kingfisher Website www.kingfisher.com
QUARTER 4 TRADING STATEMENT
Fourth quarter 2001/02
Sales for the 13 week period ended 2 February 2002
% increase/(decrease)
2001/02 2000/01 Total sales Like-for-like
£m £m % %
Home Improvement sector
UK (1) 742.1 634.1 17.0% 6.3%
France (2) 418.3 387.6 7.9% 2.7%
Other (3) 198.1 149.9 32.2% 5.3%
Sector total 1,358.5 1,171.6 16.0% 4.9%
Electrical and Furniture sector
UK (4) 426.7 390.8 9.2% 4.7%
France (5) 548.5 521.6 5.2% 0.4%
Germany (6) 176.1 192.1 (8.3%) (12.8%)
Other (7) 69.7 72.0 (3.2%) (8.1%)
Sector total 1,221.0 1,176.5 3.8% (0.8%)
Total Continuing Operations (8) 2,579.5 2,348.1 9.9% 2.1%
Home Improvement France (EURm) 676.8 640.7 5.6%
Electrical and Furniture France (EURm) 886.5 851.1 4.2%
Electrical and Furniture Germany (EURm) 284.8 323.4 (11.9%)
The like-for-like increases are shown at constant exchange rates
Notes:
(1) Home Improvement UK comprises B&Q and Screwfix.
(2) Home Improvement France relates to domestic French operations only
(Castorama France, Brico Depot, Dubois Materiaux and Amiland).
(3) Home Improvement Other includes all Home Improvement activities outside
France and the UK. B&Q China included for the 3 months to 31 December 2001
(last year 3 months to 31 December 2000).
(4) Electrical and Furniture UK relates to Comet.
(5) Electrical and Furniture France comprises Darty and BUT.
(6) Electrical and Furniture Germany relates to ProMarkt, included for the 3
months to 31 January 2002 and the 3 months to 31 December 2000 respectively.
(7) Electrical and Furniture Other comprises BCC, Vanden Borre and Datart.
Datart included for the 3 months to 31 December 2001 and 31 December 2000
respectively. Last year includes sales of £9.1m from Electric City.
(8) Sales from operations outside the UK are reported on a calendar month basis.
QUARTER 4 TRADING STATEMENT
Fourth quarter 2001/02
Sales for the 52 week period ended 2 February 2002
% increase/(decrease)
2001/02 2000/01 Total sales Like-for-like
£m £m % %
Home Improvement sector
UK (1) 3,214.6 2,766.9 16.2% 10.8%
France (2) 1,833.5 1,707.5 7.4% 3.4%
Other (3) 785.8 619.1 26.9% 1.0%
Sector total 5,833.9 5,093.5 14.5% 7.0%
Electrical and Furniture sector
UK (4) 1,253.2 1,135.1 10.4% 5.2%
France (5) 1,700.0 1,605.4 5.9% 0.7%
Germany (6) 624.7 605.7 3.1% (11.1%)
Other (7) 206.9 218.7 (5.4%) (8.1%)
Sector total 3,784.8 3,564.9 6.2% (0.4%)
Total Continuing Operations (8) 9,618.7 8,658.4 11.1% 4.1%
Home Improvement France (EURm) 2,959.0 2,798.9 5.7%
Electrical and Furniture France (EURm) 2,743.4 2,631.7 4.2%
Electrical and Furniture Germany (EURm) 1,008.1 1,002.7 0.5%
The like-for-like increases are shown at constant exchange rates
Notes:
(1) Home Improvement UK comprises B&Q and Screwfix. The financial year to
3 February 2001 included 53 weeks.
(2) Home Improvement France relates to domestic French operations only
(Castorama France, Brico Depot, Dubois Materiaux and Amiland).
(3) Home Improvement Other includes all Home Improvement activities outside
France and the UK. B&Q China included for the 12 months to 31 December
2001 (last year 12 months to 31 December 2000).
(4) Electrical and Furniture UK relates to Comet. The financial year to
3 February 2001 included 53 weeks.
(5) Electrical and Furniture France comprises Darty and BUT.
(6) Electrical and Furniture Germany relates to ProMarkt, included for the 13
months to 31 January 2002 and 12 months to 31 December 2000 respectively.
(7) Electrical and Furniture Other comprises BCC, Vanden Borre and Datart.
Datart included for the 12 months to 31 December 2001 and the 3 months to
31 December 2000 respectively. Last year includes sales of £35.7m from
Electric City.
(8) Sales from operations outside the UK are reported on a calendar month basis.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange