Grafton Group

Capital/Financing Update • Jul 10, 2019

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RNS Number : 0064F

Grafton Group PLC

10 July 2019

Grafton Group plc

Trading Update for Half Year

10 July 2019 

Grafton Group plc ("Grafton" or "the Group"), the merchanting and DIY Group with operations in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium, issues this trading update for the half year to 30 June 2019 ahead of Interim Results which will be announced on Friday 30 August 2019.

Group Revenue

Group revenue increased by 2.4 per cent to £1.48 billion (Six months to 30 June 2018: £1.45 billion) and by 2.6 per cent in constant currency.  Like-for-like Group revenue increased by 3.9 per cent.

Group trading in May and June was measured against very strong prior year comparatives1.  Market conditions in the Group's UK markets were softer than anticipated during these months reflecting weaker demand in the residential repair, maintenance and improvement and house building markets.

The table below shows the changes in average daily like-for-like revenue and in total revenue compared to the same periods in 2018.

Segment	Average Daily Like-for-Like Revenue Growth  in Constant Currency			Total Revenue Growth
Constant Currency	Sterling
	Four Months to 30 April 2019	Two Months to 30 June 2019	Six Months to 30 June 2019	Six Months to 30 June 2019	Six Months to 30 June  2019
Merchanting
- UK	4.8%	(0.5%)	2.8%	1.4%	1.4%
- Ireland	10.7%	4.3%	8.3%	7.4%	6.7%
- Netherlands	3.5%	2.5%	3.1%	6.2%	5.4%
- Belgium	14.8%	5.7%	10.9%	1.0%	0.3%
Retailing	12.2%	(8.4%)	2.9%	2.9%	2.2%
Manufacturing	7.3%	(5.1%)	2.9%	2.1%	2.1%
Group	6.4%	(0.3%)	3.9%	2.6%	2.4%

Gavin Slark, Chief Executive Officer of Grafton Group plc commented today:                    

"Following a strong start to the year Grafton saw some easing of trends in recent months.  We expect a continuation of the positive trading conditions in our markets in Ireland and the Netherlands.  Activity over the summer in the UK will be an important determinant of momentum entering the significant trading months of September through to November.  Our current expectations for full year profitability, including the benefit of the recently completed Polvo acquisition, remain broadly unchanged." 

1.    Note

Average Daily Like-for-Like Revenue Growth in Constant Currency

Segment	Two Months to 30 June 2018
Merchanting - UK - Ireland - Netherlands - Belgium	5.8% 9.6% 7.7% (2.9%)
Retailing	25.9%
Manufacturing	31.5%
Group	8.2%

Ends

For further information please contact:

Grafton Group plc                       +353 1 216 0600

Gavin Slark                                     Chief Executive Officer

David Arnold                                 Chief Financial Officer

MHP Communications               +4420 3128 8100

Tim Rowntree

Murray                                           +353 1 498 0300

Pat Walsh

About Grafton

Grafton Group plc is an international distributor of building materials to trade customers and has leading regional or national positions in the merchanting markets in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium. Grafton is also the market leader in the DIY retailing market in Ireland and is the largest manufacturer of dry mortar in the UK.

Grafton trades from circa 725 branches and has in the region of 13,500 colleagues. Its portfolio of brands include Selco, Buildbase, Plumbase, Leyland SDM, MacBlair and CPI EuroMix in the UK; Chadwicks, Heiton Buckley and Woodie's in Ireland; Isero, Polvo and Gunters en Meuser in the Netherlands and YouBuild and MPRO in Belgium.

For further information visit www.graftonplc.com

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