Presentation of annual results

Homebase, the UK DIY chain, achieved a 6 per cent increase in sales for a total of £ 1.580 bn (€ 2.335 bn) in the 2004/2005 financial year (to 28 February 2005). The like-for-like increase was 3 per cent. The operating profit grew by 7.7 per cent to £ 110.1 mio (€ 162.7 mio). The company, which is part of the Argos Group, increased its total of outlets by 9 to 287 during the recently completed financial year. The number of stores with a mezzanine floor rose from 67 to 111.