Trading Statement

Victoria PLC 27 January 2003 Issued by Citigate Dewe Rogerson Ltd, Birmingham Date: Monday 27th January 2003 Immediate Release Victoria P.L.C. Trading Update The Interim Statement announced on 19th November 2002, indicated that overall, the Directors were optimistic that the Group should continue to trade well through the second half and were cautiously optimistic that the results for the full year ending 29 March 2003 would show a return to the levels of profitability previously achieved. The Board is therefore pleased to report that in the October to December quarter of the current financial year, trading has been ahead of expectations. In the UK, Victoria Carpets performed very strongly throughout the normally buoyant Autumn selling season, resulting in sales being some 30% higher than the comparable period. The Group's Australian business has also continued to trade strongly, with sales 36% ahead of the comparable quarter. The acquisitions of Munster Carpets in Ireland and Pacific Textiles in Australia, which were completed in October and November last year, are integrating well into the Group. Both businesses are performing well and operational synergies already beginning to come through are further contributing to the Group's profitability. Export markets have seen some signs of recovery and a higher number of orders have been secured. However, with the on-going global economic and political uncertainty it is too early to predict whether this will be sustainable. The strong Autumn trading has carried over into 2003 in the UK, whilst in Australia sales have remained on target during this traditionally quieter summer holiday period. The installation of the new backing line at Kidderminster is near completion and is expected to be commissioned next month and become fully operational by the end of March. Accordingly, prospects look very encouraging across the Group and therefore the Directors believe that the full year results for the year ending March 2003 will be significantly higher than those achieved in 2002 and ahead of the current consensus market forecasts. Enquiries: Bob Gilbert, Non-Executive Chairman Alan Bullock, Group Managing Director Fiona Tooley Mark Lee, Group Finance Director Katie Dale Victoria PLC Citigate Dewe Rogerson Tel: 01562 749300 Tel: 0121 455 8370 Mobile: 07785 325701 (AB) Mobile: 07785 703523 (FT) This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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Victoria (VCP)
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