Interim Results.
Financial Results
Worldwide network sales(1) 623.9m, up 5.4% (2010: 592.0m)
Group sales 412.9m, up 4.0% (2010: 397.1m)
Group underlying loss(1) before tax 4.4m (2010: profit of 12.2m)
One-off exceptional charge of 78.5m (59.6m non cash, 18.9m cash). Includes write-down of UK goodwill and other intangibles (55.0m) and UK property restructure charge (19.8m)
Group loss before tax after exceptional charge and other non-underlying items 81.4m (2010: profit of 0.3m)
Net debt 24.6m (2010: 8.6m); total credit facility 90.0m
Underlying basic EPS 5.1p loss (2010: 10.3p profit)
Interim dividend 2.0p (2010: 6.4p)
Key Highlights
International performance:
Strong first half with International retail sales(1) 338.3m (2010: 292.5m), up 15.7%
81 new overseas stores taking total to 975 in 55 countries at H1. Opened 350th overseas Early Learning Centre
First stores opened in Latin America; new joint venture in Ukraine
UK performance:
Weak first half with total UK sales 281.1m, down 4.3%. Like-for-like sales(1) down 7.0% (down 6.0% inc. VAT). Direct in Home sales 42.6m, down 4.2%. Gross margin down 4.0%
New Mothercare website on target for launch in 2012; Wholesale sales 18.4m (2010: 8.3m), up 121.7%
UK property restructure announced in May 2011 on track to deliver significant benefits over next 18 months, targeting a reduced portfolio of 266 stores