P205 CEEFAX 205 Fri 20 May 21:17/04 G SIGNET ACCELERATES CLOSURE OF RATNERS Ratnjrs' days are numbered. Signet Group has brought forward plans to close the discount jewellery chain. Tainted by the memorable rubbishing given one of its products by former chairman Gerald Ratnju, the stores saw sales last year slump by 8.3%. Now, parent Signet Group says it is closing the chain "by mid-year" and taking a one-off charge of £4m. The company reported profits before tax on its jewellery operations of £6.9m, in contrast with the £37.9m loss recorded in 1993/:3. Headlines 201 Results 218 Next News ResultS-Z Exchanges MonjyfileP205 CEEFAX 205 Fri 20 May 21:10/04 2/2 SIGNET TO SELL NUGGAGE STORES UK jewellers Signet Group, formerly known as Ratnjrs, are to dispose of their Salisburys luggage chain As a result, they said, they are making a provision of £87.1m, most of it to cover goodwill written off against resjrvjs. $hj statement said the Signet Board had concluded that Salisburys did not form part of the group's core activities and should bj sold. Salisburys made a trading loss in the year to end-January of £5.3m, after losing £2.2m in 1992/93. Headlines 201 Results 218 Next News ResultS-Z Exchanges Monjyfile