H&T Group PLC Trading Update and Notice of Results (8137N)
23 January 2019 - 6:00PM
UK Regulatory
TIDMHAT
RNS Number : 8137N
H&T Group PLC
23 January 2019
23 January 2019
H&T Group plc
("H&T" or "the Group" or "the Company")
TRADING UPDATE AND NOTICE OF RESULTS
H&T Group plc ("H&T" or "the Group") is pleased to
provide a trading update for the financial year ended 31 December
2018.
H&T expects to report its results for the year ended 31
December 2018 on 12 March 2019.
The Board is pleased to announce that, following a strong
quarter four performance for pawnbroking and retail, at this stage
we anticipate the full year profit before tax to be in line with
the Board's and current market expectations.
The key components of the results are:
-- another good performance in its lending operations, with the
pledge book increasing by 8% due to increased customer numbers and
an increase in loans on quality watches;
-- a 35% growth in the Personal Loans book because of the
expansion in our longer term, lower interest rate loan product;
-- the continued momentum of the jewellery retail business that
delivered 7% sales growth on prior year;
-- strong income growth from the foreign exchange segment, up 22% on prior year.
John Nichols, chief executive, commented:
"We continued to make good progress in delivering our strategy
in the past year, particularly in developing our digital capability
to complement our store estate. We have also seen growth in our
secured pawnbroking lending, primarily driven by increased customer
numbers. Our personal loan product offering has also been refined
with a focus towards in-store lending, with more customers
qualifying for our lower cost loans.
The growth in retail sales has come through an expanded range of
new jewellery and the development of both click-and-collect and
online sales.
We are particularly pleased with the growth of our foreign
exchange proposition.
The Group's performance over the past three years demonstrates
the success of our strategy to access new customers and markets.
Demand for our products remains strong and we look to the future
with confidence."
- ENDS -
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END
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