REG - AO World plc - AGM Statement

AO WorldAnnouncement

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RNS Number : 3012Z  AO World plc  15 September 2025

15 September 2025

AO WORLD PLC

 Pre-Close Trading Update for H1 2026

 Double digit B2C Retail revenue growth

Profit forecast updated to the top half of previous guidance

£10m share buyback programme

 

Ahead of its Annual General Meeting at 9am today, AO World plc ("the Group" or
"AO"), the UK's most trusted electricals retailer, provides the following
pre-close trading statement for the period from 1 April 2025 to 30 September
2025 ("H1 2026").

 

The business continues to perform strongly, with B2C Retail revenues expected
to increase by 11% YoY and Group revenue expected to be up 13% YoY.

 

We reiterate our FY26 revenue guidance of double-digit B2C growth and update
our profit expectation for FY26, with adjusted PBT(1) now expected to be £45m
to £50m versus the previous guidance range of £40m to £50m.

 

We expect our H1 2026 cash position to be c£70m with our Revolving Credit
Facility of £120m to be undrawn. Given the Group's strong cash generation and
the Board's ongoing confidence in its future performance, the Group is today
announcing its intention to commence its first-ever share buyback programme of
AO's ordinary shares up to £10m. Full details of this Programme will be
announced following shareholder approval of the Group's buyback authority at
this morning's AGM.

 

John Roberts, AO's Founder and CEO, commented:

 

"I'm delighted that we are on track to deliver yet another period of
double-digit revenue growth and a strong profit performance, whilst
maintaining our globally leading customer service standards.

 

Our strategy as set out at our full year results is working and we have an
exciting pipeline of further value to deliver for customers in H2. Our Five
Star membership programme continues to go from strength to strength as our
customers realise the exceptional value that it offers. This, combined with
our ongoing efforts to broaden our product range, is an increasingly key
driver of our performance.

 

None of this happens by accident and as always I am hugely grateful for each
and every AOer for their continued focus on, and passion for, delivering
brilliant service to our growing customer base."

 

AO expects to publish its Half Year Results to 30 September 2025 on 25
November 2025.

 Enquiries

 AO World PLC                                 Tel: +44(0)1204 672 400

 John Roberts, Founder & CEO                  ir@ao.com (mailto:ir@ao.com)

 Mark Higgins, Group CFO & COO

 Sodali                                       Tel: +44(0) 20 7250 1446

 Rob Greening                                 AO@sodali.com

 Russ Lynch

 

 About AO

 AO World PLC, headquartered in Bolton and listed on the London Stock Exchange,
 is the UK's most trusted major electricals retailer, with a mission to be the
 destination for electricals. Our strategy is to create value by offering our
 customers brilliant customer service and making AO the destination for
 everything they need, in the simplest and easiest way, when buying
 electricals.  We offer major and small domestic appliances and a growing
 range of mobile phones, AV, consumer electricals and laptops. We also provide
 ancillary services such as the installation of new and collection of old
 products and offer product protection plans and customer finance. AO Business
 serves the B2B market in the UK, providing electricals and installation
 services at scale. AO also has a WEEE processing facility, ensuring customers'
 electronic waste is dealt with responsibly.

 (1)Adjusted PBT is defined as a profit before tax, adjusted for any
 non-recurring items as defined by the board.

 Cautionary statement

 This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements (including
 beliefs or opinions) with respect to the operations, performance and financial
 condition of the Group. These statements are made in good faith and are based
 on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future
 events. By their nature, future events and circumstances can cause results and
 developments to differ materially from those anticipated. Except as is
 required by the Listing Rules, Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules and
 applicable laws, no undertaking is given to update the forward-looking
 statements contained in this document, whether as a result of new information,
 future events or otherwise. Nothing in this document should be construed as a
 profit forecast or an invitation to deal in the securities of the Company.
 This announcement has been prepared for the Group as a whole and therefore
 gives greater emphasis to those matters which are significant to AO World plc
 and its subsidiary undertakings when viewed as a whole.

 

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