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Definitions and glossary

Definitions

In this website the following words and expressions shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings:

Administrative expenses
Costs not directly incurred in the purchase, processing and distribution of merchandise or support of retail outlets
Adopted IFRS
International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union
ADR
American Depositary Receipt evidencing title to an ADS
ADS
American Depositary Share representing ten Signet Group plc shares
APB
Accounting Principles Bulletin (US)
Annual Report
Annual Report and Accounts
c.a.g.r.
Compound annual growth rate
Company
Signet Group plc
Depositary
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, depositary under the amended and restated deposit agreement for the issue of ADRs
Directors
The directors of the Company
Earnings per share (EPS)
Profit attributable to shareholders divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue
ESOT
Signet Group Employee Share Trust
FAS
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (US)
Fixed charge cover
The ratio of earnings before interest, tax, amortisation, rent, rates and operating lease expenditure to net finance income and expense plus rents, rates and operating lease expenditure.
FRS
Financial Reporting Standard (UK)
FURBS
Signet Group Funded Unapproved Retirement Benefit Scheme
GAAP (UK or US)
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
Gearing
Net debt as a percentage of total equity
Group
Signet Group plc and its subsidiary undertakings
Historic UK GAAP
UK GAAP as at 29 January 2005
HMRC
HM Revenue and Customs
Holding company
Signet Group plc
IAS
International Accounting Standard
IFRS
International Financial Reporting Standard
Independent (directors)
Considered to be independent under the Combined Code
LIBOR
London Inter-Bank Offered Rate
LTIP
Long Term Incentive Plan
NASD
National Association of Securities Dealers
Nasdaq
National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations
Net debt
Cash and cash equivalents, less borrowings falling due within one year and borrowings falling due in more than one year
NYSE
New York Stock Exchange
Pounds, £, pound sterling, pence or p
Units of UK currency
QUEST
Signet Group Qualifying Employee Share Trust
Return on capital employed (ROCE)
Operating profit divided by monthly average capital employed
RPI
Retail Price Index
Sarbanes-Oxley Act
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
SEC
Securities and Exchange Commission
Shares
Ordinary shares of 0.5 pence each in Signet Group plc to 4 February 2007; which were redenominated into ordinary shares of 0.9 cents of a US dollar on 5 February 2007
Signet
Signet Group plc and its subsidiary undertakings
SORIE
Statement of Recognised Income and Expense
SSAP
Statement of Standard Accounting Practice (UK)
UK or United Kingdom
United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland
US or United States
United States of America
US dollar, $, ¢ or cents
Units of US currency
 

Glossary of terms

Terms used in Annual Report & Accounts US equivalent or brief description
Accounts Financial statements
Allotted Issued
Bank loans/loan notes Long-term debt
Called up share capital Shares, issued and fully paid
Capital allowances Tax term equivalent to US tax depreciation allowances
Cash at bank and in hand Cash and cash equivalents
Creditors Payables
Debtors Receivables
Finance expense Interest expense
Finance income Interest income
Finance lease Capital lease
Freehold Ownership with absolute rights in perpetuity
Like for like sales Same store sales at constant exchange rates
Profit Income
Profit and loss account Income statements
Profit and loss account reserve Retained earnings
Profit attributable to shareholders Net income
Property, plant and equipment Property and equipment
Share capital Capital stock or common stock
Share option Stock option
Shareholders’ funds Shareholders’ equity/net assets
Share premium account Additional paid-up capital or paid-in surplus (not distributable)
Shares in issue Shares outstanding
Stocks Inventories
Tangible fixed assets Property and equipment
Value Added Tax (VAT) UK sales tax

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