P205 CEEFAX 2 205 Wed 12 Jan 21:46/14 DIXONS TO RETURN £121m, PROFITS SOAR Electrical goods chain Dixons Group has unveiled plans to return 25p a share to investors — a total windfall of £121m. It also announced plans for a four-for- one share split and said it would set up separate holding companies for itself and Freesjrvj. The news accompanied first-half data, showing pre-tax profits before one-off items soaring to £299.4m from £68.9m. Stripping out the contribution from its Freesjrvj internet service provider, pre-tax profits were £92.5m (£81.4m). 1/2 Headlines 200 Commodities 246 Savings 250 Front page 100 Next News Sport YourMoney Main MenuP205 CEEFAX 2 205 Wed 12 Jan 21:53/24 MARGINS ALERT PROMPTS BROKER DOWNGRADE A City broker has downgraded its forecast of Dixons Group's annual profits after the electrical retailer's warning that margins were down. Broker WjstLB Panmure said it now expected pre-tax profits for the year to May 1 2000 to bj £234m compared to earlier forecasts of £244m. It has also cut its number for the following year to £255m from £278m. Analysts at SG Securities said they would lower their full-year profit forecasts by around 2%-3%. 2/2 Headlines 200 Commodities 246 Savings 250 Front page 100 Next News Sport YourMoney Main Menu