3 out of 4 UK Retailers are Worth Less Than Last Year

STOCKTON, England, May 19, 2010 - 303 of the UK's top 450 Retailers are worth less than they were last year
as the extent of the damage the recession caused on the High Street becomes
clearer.

In fact, 131 UK based Retailers have lost over a third of their value
according to new research from market analysts Plimsoll.

David Pattison, author of the new Plimsoll Analysis - Retailers
(www.plimsoll.co.uk/industry-report.aspx?Industry=retailers), explains
the impact the last couple of years have had on the value of UK operators,
"It's not surprising that values have taken such a pounding, but the extent
of the squeeze is striking. Only 157 operators managed to increase their
value - a record low"

Aside from an obvious lack of acquisition activity as credit dried up and
private equity retreated, Pattison suggests there are more fundamental
reasons for the big dip in valuations, "A number of factors have affected
values. As demand slackened many companies discounted heavily to keep the
tills ringing and profitability fell as a result. Declining margins have been
the biggest weight on values. The 131 companies that have suffered 30% and
more falls in their value have all seen their profit margins plunge too".

So is there any hope for UK Retailers post recession? Pattison suggests
there is, "157 companies are worth more than they were last year. Considering
the recession and the encroachment of supermarkets into ever more product
lines that is a quite remarkable achievement. Granted, many have benefitted
from the demise of a major competitor but I sincerely hope it points to
better times ahead for British Retailers".

This new report has been in the pipeline for 2 years but, as Pattison
explains, the timing has not been right in recent years, "Valuing a company
during the turbulence of the past few years has been a 'finger in the air'
exercise in guesswork. With conditions now more stable, we have released the
study to show how much each Retailer is worth and what affect the recession
has had on their health."

In addition to valuing 461 companies, the new Plimsoll Industry Analysis
- Retailers (
www.plimsoll.co.uk/industry-report.aspx?Industry=retailers) will tell
you instantly which companies are prospering in the post recession market
place, those taking a big gamble and those heading for trouble. It gives an
instant performance rating on each company and highlights those ripe for
acquisition. Each company is assessed using the Plimsoll Model - A graphical
and written analysis that lays bare the facts and gives you instant opinion.

The Plimsoll Analysis - Retailers is available at
www.plimsoll.co.uk and is priced from GBP350.

    Christopher Evans
    Plimsoll Publishing Ltd
    Scotswood House
    Teesdale South
    Stockton
    TS17 6SB
    Tel: +44(0)1642-626400
    Fax: +44(0)1642-626410
    Email: c.evans@plimsoll.co.uk
    Web: www.plimsoll.co.uk

Christopher Evans, Plimsoll Publishing Ltd, Scotswood House, Teesdale South, Stockton, TS17 6SB, Tel: +44(0)1642-626400, Fax: +44(0)1642-626410, Email: c.evans at plimsoll.co.uk