Superdry owner rushes out annual financial results after 'theft'

The owner of the Superdry fashion chain has taken the rare step of releasing core figures from its annual results a week early, blaming a "theft".

SuperGroup (Frankfurt: 49S.F - news) said the move was precautionary as a "random theft from an employee" meant an "external party may have had sight" of a draft copy detailing its performance.

It is believed it was a reaction to a bag being stolen.

Such information could potentially be financially useful to someone in possession of the document though the company's statement suggested it was not believed to be a deliberate act.

It said it would now release its full annual results statement to the City on Monday 3 July.

Supergroup, which is listed on the FTSE 250 index, said it made a pre-tax profit of £84.8m in the year to 29 April - a jump of more than 53% on the previous 12 months.

Revenues grew by more than 27% to £752m as comparable sales jumped by almost 13%. It maintained its profit guidance for the current year.

Shares (Berlin: DI6.BE - news) were mostly flat in response to the unexpected development - closing 0.1% up.