Pre-Close Trading Statement

26 Jun 2009 07:00



26 June 2009

H&T GROUP PLC

PRE-CLOSE TRADING STATEMENT

H&T Group plc ("H&T" or the "Group"), the UK's leading pawnbroking business by size of pledge book, is pleased to issue today a trading statement ahead of entering its close period, prior to the announcement of its interim results for the six months ending 30 June 2009. H&T expects to report its interim results for the six months to 30 June 2009 on 26 August 2009.

The Group has performed strongly for the year to date, with all business segments demonstrating growth when compared to the same period in 2008. Disposition profits have contributed substantially to the out-performance of the Board's expectations for the year to date, driven predominantly by the sustained price of gold and the success of the Group's gold purchasing strategy.

The Board is mindful of the economic climate and the uncertainty of both the gold price and retail sales over the second half of 2009.

While noting this uncertainty, the Board is however pleased to announce its expectations for strong first-half results and to deliver full-year profit before taxation towards the top end of current market expectations. This is despite the costs of its continued store expansion programme, with three stores having opened so far this year and a further nine having identified start dates during 2009.

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