FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Special Report of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a - 16 or 15d - 16 of
The Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
For the date of August 3, 2006
SIGNET GROUP plc
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
15 Golden Square
London W1F 9JG
England
(Address of principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40F.
Form 20-F x Form 40-F ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ¨ No x
If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| SIGNET GROUP plc | ||||
| By: | /s/ WALKER BOYD | |||
| Name: | Walker Boyd | |||
| Title: | Group Finance Director | |||
Date: August 3, 2006
Embargoed until 12.30 p.m. (BST) 3 August 2006
Signet Group plc (LSE: SIG and NYSE: SIG)
SIGNET LIKE FOR LIKE SALES UP 7.9% IN SECOND QUARTER
Signet Group plc (LSE: SIG and NYSE: SIG), the world’s largest speciality retail jeweller, today announced its second quarter 2006/07 sales performance for the 13 week period from 30 April 2006 to 29 July 2006.
13 WEEKS TO 29 JULY 2006
Group like for like sales rose by 7.9% in the 13 week period. Total sales were up by 10.5% on a reported basis to £390.9 million (13 weeks to 30 July 2005: £353.7 million) reflecting an underlying increase of 12.8% at constant exchange rates (see Note 1). The breakdown of the sales performance was as follows:
| Sales |
Change on Previous Year |
|||||||||||||
| £m |
% of Total |
Reported |
At Constant Exchange Rates |
Like for Like |
||||||||||
| US |
296.6 | 75.9 | % | 13.3 | %(a) | 16.6 | %(a) | 10.3 | %(a) | |||||
| UK |
94.3 | 24.1 | % | 2.5 | % | 2.5 | % | 0.6 | %(b) | |||||
| GROUP |
390.9 | 100.0 | % | 10.5 | % | 12.8 | % | 7.9 | % | |||||
| (a) | The growth in US total sales in the quarter is estimated to have been favourably affected by over 3% as a result of a change in the timing of Mother’s Day. The like for like sales comparison has been similarly affected. |
| (b) | H.Samuel like for like sales were down by 0.9% and Ernest Jones up by 2.3%. |
26 WEEKS TO 29 JULY 2006
Group like for like sales rose by 5.2% in the 26 week period. Total sales were up by 12.1% on a reported basis to £810.5 million (26 weeks to 30 July 2005: £722.9 million) reflecting an underlying increase of 9.9% at constant exchange rates (see Note 1). The average US dollar exchange rate for the period was £1/$1.81 (2005/06 H1: £1/$1.86). The breakdown of the sales performance was as follows:
| Sales |
Change on Previous Year |
|||||||||||||
| £m |
% of Total |
Reported |
At Constant Exchange Rates |
Like for Like |
||||||||||
| US |
624.9 | 77.1 | % | 15.8 | % | 12.7 | % | 7.0 | % | |||||
| UK |
185.6 | 22.9 | % | 1.3 | % | 1.3 | % | 0.0 | %(c) | |||||
| GROUP |
810.5 | 100.0 | % | 12.1 | % | 9.9 | % | 5.2 | % | |||||
| (c) | H.Samuel like for like sales were down by 1.6% and Ernest Jones up by 1.8%. |
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Terry Burman, Group Chief Executive, commented, “In the second quarter the US business experienced an excellent Mother’s Day trading period, and a solid performance during June and July. The UK division achieved a like for like sales increase of 0.6% in the second quarter, an improvement over the first quarter.
The Group has had a good first half with like for like sales up 5.2%. The US division performed particularly well with like for like sales up 7.0% while the UK business has seen a return to growth in total sales.”
Enquiries:
| Terry Burman, Group Chief Executive | +44 (0) 20 7317 9700 | |
| Walker Boyd, Group Finance Director | +44 (0) 20 7317 9700 | |
| Mike Smith, Brunswick | +44 (0) 20 7404 5959 | |
| Pamela Small, Brunswick | +44 (0) 20 7404 5959 |
Signet operated 1,847 speciality retail jewellery stores at 29 July 2006; these included 1,257 stores in the US, where the Group trades as “Kay Jewelers”, “Jared The Galleria Of Jewelry” and under a number of regional names. At that date Signet operated 590 stores in the UK, where the Group trades as “H.Samuel”, “Ernest Jones” and “Leslie Davis”. Further information on Signet is available at www.signetgroupplc.com. See also www.kay.com, www.jared.com, www.hsamuel.co.uk and www.ernestjones.co.uk.
Investor Relations Programme Details
The Interim Results for the 26 weeks ended 29 July 2006 are expected to be announced on Wednesday 30 August 2006. On that date there will be an analysts’ meeting at 2.00 p.m. (BST) (9.00 a.m. EDT). For all interested parties there will be a simultaneous audio webcast available on the Signet Group website (www.signetgroupplc.com) and a live telephone conference call. The details for the conference call are:
| European dial-in: |
+44 (0) 20 7138 0816 |
|||||
| European 48 hr. replay: |
+44 (0) 20 7806 1970 |
Access code: | 6039543# | |||
| US dial-in: |
+1 718 354 1171 |
|||||
| US 48 hr. replay: |
+1 718 354 1112 |
Access code: | 6039543# | |||
A video webcast of the presentation is expected to be available from close of business on 30 August 2006 at www.signetgroupplc.com and on the Thomson CCBN platform.
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Note 1 - Impact of constant exchange rates
The Group has historically used constant exchange rates to compare period-to-period changes in certain financial data. This is referred to as ‘at constant exchange rates’ throughout this release. The Group considers this to be a useful measure for analysing and explaining changes and trends in the Group’s results. The impact of the re-calculation of sales at constant exchange rates, including a reconciliation to the Group’s GAAP sales, is shown below.
| 13 weeks to 29 July 2006 |
13 weeks ended 29 July 2006 as reported |
13 weeks ended 30 July 2005 |
Growth at actual exchange rates |
Impact of exchange rate movement |
13 weeks ended 30 July 2005 at constant (non-GAAP) |
Growth at constant exchange rates (non-GAAP) |
|||||||||
| £m |
£m |
% |
£m |
£m |
% |
||||||||||
| Sales by origin and destination |
|||||||||||||||
| UK, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland |
94.3 | 92.0 | 2.5 | % | — | 92.0 | 2.5 | % | |||||||
| US |
296.6 | 261.7 | 13.3 | % | (7.3 | ) | 254.4 | 16.6 | % | ||||||
| 390.9 | 353.7 | 10.5 | % | (7.3 | ) | 346.4 | 12.8 | % | |||||||
| 26 weeks to 29 July 2006 |
26 weeks ended 29 July 2006 as reported |
26 weeks ended 30 July 2005 |
Growth at actual exchange rates |
Impact of exchange rate movement |
26 weeks ended 30 July 2005 at constant exchange rates (non-GAAP) |
Growth at constant exchange rates (non-GAAP) |
|||||||||
| £m |
£m |
% |
£m |
£m |
% |
||||||||||
| Sales by origin and destination |
|||||||||||||||
| UK, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland |
185.6 | 183.3 | 1.3 | % | — | 183.3 | 1.3 | % | |||||||
| US |
624.9 | 539.6 | 15.8 | % | 14.9 | 554.5 | 12.7 | % | |||||||
| 810.5 | 722.9 | 12.1 | % | 14.9 | 737.8 | 9.9 | % | ||||||||
This release includes statements which are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, based upon management’s beliefs as well as on assumptions made by and data currently available to management, appear in a number of places throughout this release and include statements regarding, among other things, our results of operation, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which the Group operates. Our use of the words “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “may,” “forecast,” “objective,” “plan” or “target,” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to general economic conditions, the merchandising, pricing and inventory policies followed by the Group, the reputation of the Group, the level of competition in the jewellery sector, the price and availability of diamonds, gold and other precious metals, seasonality of the Group’s business and financial market risk.
For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially, see the “Risk and Other Factors” section of the Company’s 2005/06 Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 4, 2006 and other filings made by the Company with the Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein may not be realised. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
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