SuperGroup forced to announce year-end results highlights early

Superdry parent, SuperGroup, has been obliged to release the highlights of its year-end results early after the random theft of a bag from a member of staff containing a draft of the figures may have meant that someone had had sight of them in advance.

Under such circumstances PLCs are obliged to release the figures to the Stock Exchange even if there has been no improper market activity.

The unaudited highlights from the results show a 53.1% uplift in pre-tax profits to £84.8m in the 53 weeks to 29 April 2017. Revenues were up 27.4% to £752m with retail like-for-like sales growth up by 12.7%.

SuperGroup said it had continued with its strategy to drive efficiencies throughout the business through reducing inventory and had continued with "disciplined" investment and growth. During the period under review it opened 60 new branded franchise stores (up 20% year on year) and 125,000 sq ft of new owned space (75,000 in the UK and 50,000 in the US).

The group will announce its full year-end results on 3 July.