Grafton : Trading Update

Grafton Group plc

Half Year Trading Update

11 July 2018

Grafton Group plc, the international builders merchanting and DIY Group, issues this trading update for the period from 1 January 2018 to 30 June 2018. Interim Results for the Half Year to 30 June 2018 are due to be released on 22 August 2018.

Group Revenue

Group revenue increased by 8.6 per cent to £1.45 billion (Six months to 30 June 2017: £1.33 billion) and by 7.9 per cent in constant currency. Like-for-like Group revenue increased by 3.8 per cent.

The table below shows the changes in average daily like-for-like revenue and in total revenue compared to the same periods in 2017.

Segment	Average Daily Like-for-Like Revenue Growth in Constant Currency			Total Revenue Growth
				Constant Currency	Sterling
	Four Months to 30 April 2018	Two Months to 30 Jun 2018	Six Months to 30 June 2018	Six Months to 30 June 2018	Six Months to 30 June 2018
Merchanting
- UK	(0.3%)	5.8%	1.8%	6.7%	6.7%
- Ireland	4.6%	9.6%	6.3%	7.6%	10.0%
- Netherlands	8.0%	7.7%	7.9%	18.8%	21.4%
- Belgium	(4.8%)	(2.9%)	(3.9%)	(2.9%)	(0.8%)
Retailing	4.7%	25.9%	13.4%	13.4%	15.8%
Manufacturing	15.1%	31.5%	21.0%	21.0%	21.1%
Group	1.3%	8.2%	3.8%	7.9%	8.6%

Gavin Slark, Chief Executive Officer of Grafton Group plc commented today:

'We were pleased with the Group's performance in the first half though the trading pattern was heavily influenced by the weather. The very cold conditions experienced in March and April have been followed by a hot and dry May and June which has benefited a number of businesses, particularly Woodie's. In the UK, the Group's growth has been influenced by the Selco store opening programme and the acquisition of Leyland SDM in February, where we are pleased with progress to date. Our businesses in Ireland and the Netherlands continue to perform well. We enter the second half well placed to deliver our expectations for the financial year.'

Ends

For further information please contact:

Grafton Group plc [phone]

Gavin Slark Chief Executive Officer

David Arnold Chief Financial Officer

MHP Communications [phone]

James White

Murray [phone]

Pat Walsh

About Grafton

Grafton Group plc is an international distributor of building materials to trade customers and has leading regional or national positions in the merchanting markets in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium. Grafton is also the market leader in the DIY retailing market in Ireland and is the largest manufacturer of dry mortar in the UK.

Grafton trades from circa 675 branches and has over 12,500 employees. Its portfolio of brands include Selco, Buildbase, Plumbase, Leyland SDM, MacBlair and CPI EuroMix in the UK; Chadwicks, Heiton Buckley and Woodie's in Ireland; Isero and Gunters en Meuser in the Netherlands and YouBuild and MPRO in Belgium.

For further information visit www.graftonplc.com