LONDON, Nov. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Signet Group plc (LSE and NYSE: SIG), the world's largest speciality retail jeweller, today announced its sales performance for the 13 weeks and for the 39 weeks to 3 November 2007. 13 WEEKS TO 3 NOVEMBER 2007 Group like for like sales rose by 3.2% in the 13 weeks to 3 November 2007. Total sales were up by 10.0% on a reported basis to $678.7 million (13 weeks to 28 October 2006: $616.8 million) reflecting an underlying increase of 7.9% at constant exchange rates (see note 1). The breakdown of the sales performance was as follows: Sales Change on Previous Year $m % of Reported At Constant Like for Total Exchange Rates Like US 488.1 71.9% 10.1% 10.1% 2.5% UK 190.6 28.1% 9.9% 2.7% 4.8%(a) GROUP 678.7 100.0% 10.0% 7.9% 3.2% (a) Like for like sales: H.Samuel up by 3.5% and Ernest Jones up by 6.5%. 39 WEEKS TO 3 November 2007 Group like for like sales rose by 3.2% in the 39 week period. Total sales were up by 9.4% on a reported basis to $2,280.6 million (39 weeks to 28 October 2006: $2,084.0 million) reflecting an underlying increase of 7.0% at constant exchange rates (see note 1). The average US dollar exchange rate for the period was 1 pound Sterling/$2.00 (39 weeks to 28 October 2006: 1 pound Sterling/$1.83). The breakdown of the sales performance was as follows: Sales Change on Previous Year $m % of Reported At Constant Like for Total Exchange Rates Like US 1,705.1 74.8% 8.3% 8.3% 2.7%(b) UK 575.5 25.2% 13.0% 3.4% 4.7%(c) GROUP 2,280.6 100.0% 9.4% 7.0% 3.2% (a) The underlying growth in US like for like sales in the 39 weeks to 3 November 2007 is estimated to have been 2.0% after adjusting for the adverse impact of weather disruption over Valentine's Day and the benefit from the timing of promotional events. (b) Like for like sales: H.Samuel up by 3.3% and Ernest Jones up by 6.4%. Terry Burman, Group Chief Executive, commented "Third quarter Group like for like sales growth was in line with the first half. In the US, the like for like performance during August and September was stronger than in October. In the UK, the business again performed well, with Ernest Jones once more achieving a robust like for like sales increase. While the trading environment remains uncertain on both sides of the Atlantic, we have continued to improve the quality of execution in both businesses and are well positioned to compete during the very important fourth quarter." Enquiries: Terry Burman, Group Chief Executive +44 (0) 20 7317 9700 Walker Boyd, Group Finance Director +44 (0) 20 7317 9700 Tom Buchanan, Brunswick +44 (0) 20 7404 5959 Signet operated 1,953 speciality retail jewellery stores at 3 November 2007; these included 1,383 stores in the US, where the Group trades as "Kay Jewelers", "Jared The Galleria Of Jewelry" and under a number of regional names. At that date Signet operated 570 stores in the UK, where the Group trades as "H.Samuel", "Ernest Jones" and "Leslie Davis". Further information on Signet is available at http://www.signetgroupplc.com/. See also http://www.kay.com/, http://www.jared.com/, http://www.hsamuel.co.uk/ and http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/. Investor Relations Programme Details Third Quarter Results The results for the 13 and 39 week periods to 3 November 2007 are expected to be announced at 12.30 p.m. (GMT) on Tuesday 27 November 2007. On that day there will be a conference call chaired by Terry Burman at 2.00 p.m. (GMT) (9.00 a.m. Eastern Time and 6.00 a.m. Pacific Time) and a simultaneous audiocast available at http://www.signetgroupplc.com/. The details for the conference call on the results are: European dial-in: +44 (0) 20 7138 0839 European 48hr replay: +44 (0) 20 7138 0838 Access code: 4574130# US dial-in: +1 718 354 1362 US 48hr replay: +1 718 354 1112 Access code: 4574130# Las Vegas Store Tour, 29 November 2007 There will be a tour of a Jared and a Kay store in Las Vegas, Nevada on the morning of Thursday, November 29, 2007 for professional investors. The tour will be hosted by Mark Light, Signet US CEO and Tim Jackson, Investor Relations Director. Note 1 - Impact of constant exchange rates The Group has historically used constant exchange rates to compare period- to-period changes in certain financial data. This is referred to as 'at constant exchange rates' throughout this release. The Group considers this to be a useful measure for analysing and explaining changes and trends in the Group's results. The impact of the re-calculation of sales at constant exchange rates, including a reconciliation to the Group's GAAP sales, is shown below. 13 weeks to At Growth at 3 November 2007 13 weeks 13 weeks Growth Impact constant constant to 3 to 28 at of exchange exchange November October actual exchange rates rates 2007 as 2006 as exchange rate (non- (non- reported reported rates movement GAAP) GAAP) $m $m % $m $m % Sales by origin and destination UK, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland 190.6 173.4 9.9 12.2 185.6 2.7 US 488.1 443.4 10.1 - 443.4 10.1 678.7 616.8 10.0 12.2 629.0 7.9 39 weeks to At Growth at 3 November 2007 39 weeks 39 weeks Growth Impact constant constant to 3 to 28 at of exchange exchange November October actual exchange rates rates 2007 as 2006 as exchange rate (non- (non- reported reported rates movement GAAP) GAAP) $m $m % $m $m % Sales by origin and destination UK, Channel Islands & Republic of Ireland 575.5 509.5 13.0 47.3 556.8 3.4 US 1,705.1 1,574.5 8.3 - 1,574.5 8.3 2,280.6 2,084.0 9.4 47.3 2,131.3 7.0 This release includes statements which are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, based upon management's beliefs as well as on assumptions made by and data currently available to management, appear in a number of places throughout this release and include statements regarding, among other things, our results of operation, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which the Company operates. Our use of the words "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "estimates," "may," "forecast," "objective," "plan" or "target," and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to general economic conditions, the merchandising, pricing and inventory policies followed by the Group, the reputation of the Group, the level of competition in the jewellery sector, the price and availability of diamonds, gold and other precious metals, seasonality of the Group's business and financial market risk. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially, see the "Risk and Other Factors" section of the Company's 2006/07 Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on May 4, 2007 and other filings made by the Company with the Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied therein may not be realised. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. DATASOURCE: Signet Group plc CONTACT: Terry Burman, Group Chief Executive, +44 (0) 20 7317 9700, Walker Boyd, Group Finance Director, +44 (0) 20 7317 9700, both of Signet Group plc; or Tom Buchanan, of Brunswick, +44 (0) 20 7404 5959 Web site: http://www.signetgroupplc.com/

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