AGM Statement

Mothercare PLC 15 July 2005 15th July 2005 Mothercare plc Annual General Meeting Statement At the Mothercare Annual General Meeting to be held at 10:30 this morning, Ian Peacock, Chairman, will give the following update on trading: Company Performance Company sales for the 15 weeks ended 8th July 2005 were up 3.3%. Our UK business has traded resiliently in the difficult UK trading environment. Our International business has continued to grow strongly and has helped to offset the tougher trading conditions in the UK. UK performance Total UK sales for the 15 weeks ended 8th July 2005 were up 0.1%. UK store like for like sales were down 1.8% over this period. Taking account of growth in our Direct business, UK like for like sales were down 1.4%. Last year in the 15 weeks to 9th July 2004, UK like for like sales were up 4.8%. We estimate that the timing of Easter compared to last year has impacted the comparison adversely to last year by some -0.8%. We have opened five new UK stores in this period, taking the total to 235. Our UK gross margin continues to show satisfactory growth, with five weeks remaining of our summer Sale. International International sales have increased by 30.7%. This figure has benefited from the earlier timing of the despatch of product to our franchisees this year as a result of our more efficient distribution network. The underlying growth is driven by good franchisee like for like sales, combined with our continuing International store opening programme. We have opened 16 International stores during this period, taking the total to 236 - overtaking the number of UK stores for the first time. Update on new National Distribution Centre (NDC) Phase 1 of our move to our new NDC was successfully completed in May - on time and on budget. 20% of our sales value and 50% of our product cubic volume are now being distributed through this new facility. All key performance indicators are being achieved. The next phase of our relocation plan takes place in the autumn of 2005, with the final phases of the move due to be completed in mid 2006. IFRS Mothercare will today issue an update on the impact of the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards. The update includes a restated profit and loss account for the year ended 26th March 2005 and a restated balance sheet as at 26th March 2005. Enquiries to: Mothercare plc Ben Gordon, Chief Executive 01923 206001 Steven Glew, Finance Director 01923 206187 Brunswick Group LLP Susan Gilchrist/Catherine Hicks/Anna Jones 020 7404 5959 Mothercare expects to make a pre-close statement in early October ahead of its interim results announcement for the 28 weeks to 8th October 2005. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

Companies

Mothercare (MTC)
UK 100

Latest directors dealings