French Connection Group PLC Strategic review and pre-close trading update (4975B)
31 Enero 2020 - 1:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMFCCN
RNS Number : 4975B
French Connection Group PLC
31 January 2020
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PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD
CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH
JURISDICTION.
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION. ON PUBLICATION OF
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS
INFORMATION WILL BE CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.
For immediate release
31 January 2020
French Connection Group plc ("French Connection" or the
"Company")
Conclusion of Strategic Review, End of Formal Sale Process &
Pre-Close Trading Update
In October 2018 the board of French Connection (the "Board")
announced that it was in the process of reviewing all strategic
options in order to deliver maximum value for its shareholders (the
"Strategic Review"). Alongside several potential strategic options,
the Strategic Review included the consideration of all types of
corporate and brand transactions, including seeking offers for the
Company pursuant to a formal sale process in accordance with the
City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Code") (the "Formal Sale
Process").
Conclusion of Strategic Review
After completing the review, the Company has concluded that it
will now focus on completing its turnaround and build on the
progress made in recent years, in particular through the following
actions:
-- further right sizing of the store portfolio while
renegotiating the cost base of the ongoing stores;
-- close collaboration with the key wholesale customers to
continue growing the business particularly in the US;
-- increased investment in the online platform to enhance the
customer experience and improve conversion, coupled with additional
spend on marketing to drive traffic;
-- development of the range of license arrangements to seek to
increase the product categories available while expanding the
current businesses; and
-- pursuit of other areas of potential cost savings.
End of Formal Sale process
Having completed its strategic review, the Board of French
Connection therefore announces that the Company is no longer in a
formal sales process pursuant to the Code. As such, the Company has
ceased to be in an "offer period" as defined in the Code. The
disclosure requirements pursuant to Rule 8 of the Code are no
longer applicable.
Pre-Close Trading Update for the current financial year
The Company will announce its preliminary results for the year
ending 31 January 2020 on 10 March. Reflecting the continued
challenging trading conditions on the UK High Street, the Board
currently expects the result to be a loss before taxation of
between GBP1m and GBP2m. UK trading in both the Retail and
Wholesale businesses has been more difficult during the second half
of the year, especially during the fourth quarter.
Enquiries:
French Connection plc
Neil Williams, Chief Operating Officer +44 (0) 20 7036 7206
Numis (Financial Adviser and Corporate Broker
to the Company)
Stuart Ord
Ollie Steele +44 (0) 207 260 1000
Paternoster Communications
Tom Buchanan
Catriona Woolner-Winders +44 (0) 203 012 0241
This announcement contains certain "forward--looking statements"
regarding the business strategy or plans for future operations of
the Company and its subsidiaries. All statements other than
statements of historical fact included in this announcement may be
forward--looking statements. Forward--looking statements also often
use words such as "will", "seek", "expect", "pursuit", "intend",
"anticipate" and words of a similar meaning. By their nature,
forward--looking statements involve risk and uncertainty that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by
them. Much of the risk and uncertainty relates to factors that are
beyond the companies' abilities to control or estimate precisely,
such as future market conditions and the behaviours of other market
participants, and therefore undue reliance should not be placed on
such statements which speak only as at the date of this
announcement. None of the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their
respective directors assume any obligation to, and do not intend
to, revise or update these forward--looking statements, except as
required pursuant to applicable law or regulations.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the
London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct
Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United
Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution
of this information may apply. For further information, please
contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
END
STRSDSFASESSESF
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January 31, 2020 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)
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