21 May 2015

 

Booker Group plc

 

Final Results of Booker Group plc

for the 52 weeks ended 27 March 2015

 

This announcement contains the final results of Booker Group plc ('Booker' or the 'Company') for the 52 weeks ended 27 March 2015.  Booker is the UK's leading food wholesaler.

 

Financial Highlights

·    Total sales £4.8bn, +1.5%

·    Booker like-for-like sales (excluding Makro) +2.3%.  Non tobacco sales (excluding Makro) +2.9% and tobacco sales +1.1%

·    Operating profit £140.3m, +17% (pre prior year £3.4m net exceptional credit relating to Makro acquisition)

·    Profit after tax (post exceptionals) £117.7m, +12%

·    Basic earnings per share up 0.67 pence to 6.73 pence

·    Net cash £147.0m (2014: £149.6m)

·    Final dividend of 3.14p, taking the total dividend to 3.66 pence per share, an increase of 14%

·    Proposed return of capital of 3.50 pence per share

 

Operational Highlights

·     Our plan to Focus, Drive and Broaden Booker Group continues to make progress

·     Customer satisfaction continued to improve

·     Makro turnaround is on track

·     Internet sales up 12% to £874m

·     Booker Direct, Ritter Courivaud, Classic and Chef Direct continue to make good progress

·     Premier our symbol group and Family Shopper our local discount format had a strong year

·    Sales in India are on track

·    We have refined the Group structure to improve choice, prices and service to all our customers

 

Return of Capital

In July 2012 Booker Group plc issued £124m of shareholder equity to acquire Makro in the UK.  Following the successful integration of Makro into the Group and a period of strong cash generation, the Board implemented a capital return to shareholders of 3.50 pence per ordinary share (at a cost of approximately £61m) in July 2014.  Given the continued successful development of the Group, the Board is proposing a second capital return to shareholders of 3.50 pence per ordinary share (at a cost of approximately £62m, based on the current issued share capital of the company).  It is again proposed that this is achieved by the issue of a new class of "B" shares which shareholders will be able to redeem for cash.  The return of capital requires the approval of shareholders, which will be sought at the Annual General Meeting on 8 July 2015.  Further details of the proposed return of capital will be set out in a circular to shareholders which will accompany the notice convening this year's Annual General Meeting. 

 

We currently anticipate returning a similar amount to shareholders in July 2016 and will provide an update on this at the 2016 Final Results announcement in May 2016 in light of circumstances prevailing at that time. 

 

Outlook

The Group's trading in the first seven weeks of the current financial year is ahead of last year.  However, we anticipate that the challenging consumer and market environment will persist through the coming year and the UK's food market remains very competitive.

Whilst there is increasing price competition in the UK grocery and discount sectors, we will continue to deliver our plans to offer our customers even better choice, prices and service supported by the continued delivery of our efficiency programmes. We are on track to deliver an outcome for the new financial year in line with our plans and to make progress in this challenging environment.

 

Charles Wilson, Chief Executive of Booker, said:

 

"This was a good year.  Customer satisfaction continued to improve, which helped grow Group sales to £4.8bn.  Our plans to Focus, Drive and Broaden the business remain on track.  We look forward to helping our customers prosper in the years ahead."

 

For further information contact:

Tulchan Communications (PR Adviser to Booker Group plc)

020 7353 4200

 

Jonathan Sibun

Will Smith

 

A presentation for analysts will be held at 8.30am on Thursday 21 May 2014 at Tulchan Communications, 85 Fleet Street, London EC4Y 1AE

Webcast: http://www.axisto-live.com/investis/clients/booker-group/presentations/554ca3e71ea863420b370bef/fr15

 

 

For further details please contact Charlotte Evans at Tulchan Communications on 020 7353 4200 or cevans@tulchangroup.com

 

 

 

NOTES:

 

·      Sales are stated net of value added tax

 

·      Booker Wholesale supplies independent retailers and caterers via the internet, delivery and cash and carry

 

·      Booker India is a wholesaler in India operating from four sites in Mumbai, one in Surat and, via a joint venture, one site in Pune

 

·      Booker acquired Makro Holding Limited and two subsidiaries: Makro Properties Limited and Makro Self Service Wholesalers Limited, ('Makro') on 4 July 2012.  Makro is a wholesaler supplying independent retailers and caterers, and small companies and offices.  Booker notified the transaction to the Office of Fair Trading who then referred the matter to the Competition Commission.  Full clearance of the transaction was received from the Competition Commission on 19 April 2013 and Makro's results were consolidated into the Group's accounts from that date

 

·      In 2013/14 a net exceptional item relating to the Makro acquisition of £3.4m has been credited to income.  This is the aggregate of the fair value of the assets and liabilities of Makro of £156.1m, less the fair value of consideration paid of £144.9m, less restructuring and integration costs of £5.8m and stock write downs following a rationalisation of product ranges of £2.0m

 

BUsiness prOFile AND key performance indicators

 

In the UK, the Group has 201 Business Centres and a national delivery network.

 

52 Weeks	Customer Numbers 000's¹	Sales £bn 2011	Sales² £bn 2012	Sales £bn 2013	Sales³ £bn 2014	Sales £bn 2015
Caterers	468	1.11	1.22	1.28	1.59	1.62
Retailers	123	2.41	2.56	2.62	2.69	2.76
SME/Others	782	0.08	0.08	0.09	0.40	0.37
Total	1,373	3.60	3.86	3.99	4.68	4.75

 

Of our sales, £3.23bn is non-tobacco and £1.52bn is tobacco.

 

52 Weeks	Sales £bn 2011	Sales² £bn 2012	Sales £bn 2013	Sales³ £bn 2014	Sales £bn 2015
Non Tobacco	2.24	2.39	2.50	3.17	3.23
Tobacco	1.36	1.47	1.49	1.51	1.52
Total	3.60	3.86	3.99	4.68	4.75

 

£3.36bn of our sales are collected from the business centres by the customer. £1.39bn is delivered to the customers' premises.

 

52 Weeks	Sales £bn 2011	Sales² £bn 2012	Sales £bn 2013	Sales³ £bn 2014	Sales £bn 2015
Collected from business centres/stores	2.67	2.81	2.84	3.41	3.36
Delivered to customers' premises	0.93	1.05	1.15	1.27	1.39
Total	3.60	3.86	3.99	4.68	4.75

 

Substantial progress has been achieved.

 

		2011	2012²	2013⁴	2014³	2015
Sales Change (52 Weeks)	%	+6.2	+7.3	+3.5	+17.3	+1.5
Customer Satisfaction	%	83.3	83.6	84.4	85.4	85.6
Operating Profit (52 Weeks)⁵	£m	76.5	88.6	97.9	120.4	140.3
Net Cash	£m	27.1	63.4	77.2	149.6	147.0

 

¹ Includes approximately 523,000 customers of Booker Wholesale, 825,000 of Makro, 19,000 of Booker India, 3,000 of Ritter-Courivaud and 3,000 of Classic Drinks.  Makro "other" customers have reduced as the business has focused on professional ranges

 

² 2012 was a 53 week statutory reporting period

 

³ Includes Makro from 19 April 2013 (49 weeks)

⁴ Operating profit restated for the revision to IAS19 (Revised) in relation to pension accounting

⁵ Operating profit is stated before exceptional items

 

chairman's Statement

 

I am pleased to report that Booker Group plc has delivered another good performance. In the 52 weeks to 27 March 2015 sales rose by 1.5% to £4.8bn and operating profit (before exceptional items) of £140.3m was up 17%.  Customer satisfaction continued to improve, once again achieving best ever scores. The financial performance was good and the Group ended the financial year with net cash of £147.0m.  The drive into the catering market is working, with Booker like-for-like total sales to caterers (excluding Makro) up by 2.0%. Booker like-for-like total sales to retailers (excluding Makro) increased by 2.7%. 

 

The plans to 'Broaden' the business are going well.  In the 52 weeks to 27 March 2015 Booker distributed £1.4bn of product to our customers' premises versus £1.3bn last year as we continue to expand our delivered service.  Booker Direct, Chef Direct, Classic and Ritter Courivaud, our specialist delivered businesses, remain on track.  Internet sales were £874m compared to £777m in the previous year and sales at Booker India are making good progress. 

 

Makro has made a good contribution to the Group.  We now have everybody operating on common systems and have eleven combined Makro / Booker business centres which are performing well.

 

I should like to thank all our colleagues for their contribution to the success of the Group in the year just ended.

 

Basic earnings per share were 6.73 pence, up from 6.06 pence last year.  Given the strong operational performance and cash flow of the business the Board recommends the payment of a final dividend of 3.14 pence per share (2014: 2.75 pence per share) which, together with the interim dividend, makes a total dividend for the year of 3.66 pence per share (2014: 3.20 pence per share).  The final dividend is payable on 10 July 2015 to shareholders on the register on 12 June 2015.

 

In addition to the final dividend, the Board is recommending a special capital return to shareholders of 3.50 pence per ordinary share (at a cost of approximately £62m, based on the current issued share capital of the Company).  This follows the capital return of 3.50 pence per share to shareholders in July 2014.  We currently anticipate returning a similar amount to shareholders in July 2016.

 

Having been Chairman of Blueheath Plc, which merged with Booker in 2007, and then Chairman of the combined Group, I have been in the Chair for nine years.  During this time there has been considerable progress by the Group.  Given the strength of the Group, I feel it is a good time to move on.  I will step down at the AGM in keeping with corporate governance best practice, and I wish the Company the best for the years ahead.  The process to identify my successor is well underway and an update will be provided.

 

 

Outlook

The Group's trading in the first seven weeks of the current financial year is ahead of last year.  However, we anticipate that the challenging consumer and market environment will persist through the coming year and the UK's food market remains very competitive.

Whilst there is increasing price competition in the UK grocery and discount sectors, we will continue to deliver our plans to offer our customers even better choice, prices and service supported by the continued delivery of our efficiency programmes. We are on track to deliver an outcome for the new financial year in line with our plans and to make progress in this challenging environment.

 

Annual General Meeting

Our Annual General Meeting will be held on 8 July 2015. The notice of Annual General Meeting and a circular setting out further details of the proposed return of capital, which itself requires shareholder approval, will be issued to shareholders in due course.

 

 

 

 

Richard Rose

Chairman

 

 

Chief Executive's Review

 

Since November 2005 Booker Group has been seeking to 'Focus, Drive and Broaden' the business.  We continue to make good progress.

 

FOCUS (commenced November 2005)

Booker seeks to become the most efficient operator in our sector. We continue to improve business efficiency.  We 'stop, simplify and standardise' work and invest most of the resulting savings in customer service.    

 

DRIVE (commenced March 2006)

Booker Wholesale, our cash and carry business, served 523,000 customers this year up from 503,000 last year.  We continue to 'Drive' choice, price and service for our customers.  Each year we survey 40,000 customers to identify where improvements can be made.  Customer satisfaction improved again this year.  Customer satisfaction is a key measure within the business and we have made significant progress since 2006.

 

Choice Up

·      Booker seeks to grow brands and own brand volumes.

·      In 2010 we launched Farm Fresh.  Sales in the year to 27 March 2015 were £65m.  This is despite considerable deflation in the fresh markets.  The quality and freshness of the produce is second to none and can be delivered to our customers within 48 hours of being harvested.

·      We launched CleanPro last year.  This range of professional cleaning products has been well received by customers.  We have 50,000 customers buying CleanPro each week with sales of £39m per annum.

·      We are very proud that our own-label products offer our customers award winning quality.  This includes our Prosecco, which has won a Silver International Wine Challenge award, and also 60% of own-label wine entered at the International Wine Challenge was award winning.  Ten products from our spirits range have also won medals at the International Spirits Challenge.  More recently our exclusive Chef's Larder Sirloin steak has been awarded a Gold Medal by Eblex.

 

Prices Down

·      We operate in a very price competitive market. Every week we monitor prices versus competitors and during the year our price index remained competitive. We are continuing to keep our core line prices at market leading levels to provide the best possible margin for our customers.  During the year we saw significant price deflation, particularly in the catering sector.  Booker has consistently offered low prices on these core products and maintains its promise of helping the customer during challenging times.

 

Better Service

·      Our people are doing an excellent job.  Our customers rate Booker people highly.  Business Centre teams across the Group have been trained in PRIDE to help improve the Parking, Reception, Internal, Delivery and Exit experience.

·      We have continued to expand and improve our delivery service.

·      We have more specialist butchers and greengrocers within the business than last year.  We also have skilled fish mongers operating in our Makro Business Centres.

 

Catering

·      Catering like for like sales grew by 2.0%, as our choice, prices and service continued to improve.  Our catering development sales force continues to serve our existing customers and to introduce new customers to Booker. 

 

Premier

·      Premier, Booker's symbol group, grew to 3,082 stores (2,902 stores last year). Sales to these customers grew by 14%. The retail development team has put a lot of work into both compliance and building the sales and profits of existing Premier stores.

·      For the first time we advertised Premier on the television this year.  This was well received by Premier retailers and consumers.

·      Premier still remains unique by operating a no cost model for members, and has the advantage for retailers of having deliveries and also the ability to top-up at their local Booker branch.  We install the fascia and imagery free of charge and also provide a market leading promotion every four weeks.  All goods are delivered at cash and carry prices.

·      We are committed to Premier and continue to see attractive opportunities for independent retailers to proper in the UK's convenience market.

 

Customer Delivery

·       Booker offers a seven days a week multi-temperature delivery service to both retail and catering customers (70% of the fleet has multi temperature capacity).  All of our delivery customers pay the same price for goods as our collect customers.  Our delivery business continues to grow (from £600m in 2008/9 to £1.4bn in 2014/15).

 

Classic Drinks

·       We are now operating Classic, our specialist on trade wholesale business, via the Booker and Makro business centres.  This is working well.

 

BROADEN (commenced April 2007)

In the UK, Booker seeks to offer the best choice, price and service to caterers, retailers and small business.  We also seek to become the suppliers' preferred route to market.  In addition, we want to sell new products and services and reach new customers.  In India we seek to become the best supplier to Kirana stores.  To achieve these objectives, we are 'Broadening' the business.  'Broaden' includes:

 

Makro

·       Makro has had a good year.  In eleven locations we have combined Makro and Booker.  This has been tailored to the local market. Critically, Makro is helping increase our capacity to grow delivered sales.  This should help the Group grow to an estimated £6bn of sales in the next few years.

 

Digital

·      Sales at booker.co.uk were £874m, up from £777m last year and £15m in 2005.  All these sales are delivered to our customers' premises.  We have 408,000 customers registered on the website compared to 334,000 last year.  Customers can view their account details, use an iPhone app and order products.  We have also doubled the number of stock keeping units available to a typical customer on the website through our special order system.  This has generated sales of £5m.

 

Booker Direct/Ritter-Courivaud and Chef Direct

·      Booker Direct serves national accounts from our distribution centres, including the prison service in England and Wales, Marks & Spencer and most of the cinema chains in the UK.

·      In 2010 we acquired Ritter-Courivaud, a leading speciality food supplier to restaurants.  Through combining the logistics expertise we have in Booker Direct, with the catering knowledge from Ritter-Courivaud and the Groups' buying scale, we launched Chef Direct in 2012.  Chef Direct is based in Didcot and has won some important clients such as Aramark and Wagamama.  Aramark serves 250,000 meals a day and, through working with Booker Direct, their road miles have been halved and service has been improved.

 

Family Shopper

·       We continue to develop Family Shopper, a local discount format.  This is doing well.  At May 2015, we have thirty stores and, although it is early days, the response to this format has been encouraging.

 

Booker India

·        In September 2009 we opened our first business centre in Mumbai.  We now have 19,000 customers and have also launched 190 Happy Shopper symbol retailers which harness the lessons learned from Premier in the UK for the Kirana stores of Mumbai.  We now have four branches in Mumbai, one in Surat and one joint venture branch in Pune.  We continue to review growth options in India and look forward to developing the Booker offer to become the best choice, price and service supplier to Kirana stores and caterers.

 

Sustainability

·      Booker was the first UK wholesaler to achieve a third consecutive Carbon Trust Standard and the first in the UK to achieve the new Carbon Trust Waste Standard.  Booker are also The Grocer Gold "Green Wholesaler of the Year" 2014.

·      Over 20,000 customers are now recycling with Booker through our packaging and used cooking oil recycling services.  This helps our customers save money, increase recycling levels and support more sustainable communities throughout the UK.

·     We installed our first sales floor LED lighting trial.

·     We donated surplus food equivalent to over 288,000 meals to local charities in the last year.

·     We are committed to helping our retail and catering customers serve communities throughout the United Kingdom.

 

Structure

·       Rather than having the business structured as Booker Wholesale, Makro, Booker Direct, Chef Direct and Ritter Courivaud, we have restructured to reflect our customers.  Steve Fox will be responsible for all our retailers whether they are Premiers, Family Shoppers, independents, chains or multiple accounts.  Stuart Hyslop has become responsible for all our caterers and small business customers.  Andrew Muldoon runs all the business centres, whether they are Booker or Makro.  Andrew Thompson with the Directors of Trading will be responsible for Group Buying.  This team reports through to Guy Farrant and myself.  This allows us to best deploy the strengths of Booker Group to all our customers.

 

People

·      Again our team have done a great job this year.  We are committed to continuing to make Booker better and safer for colleagues.  We are also developing talent.  For example, there is a shortage of butchers in the trade, so we have partnered with the University of West London to develop a formal "butchery apprenticeship".  28 new butchers graduated this year.  We developed a similar scheme for greengrocers with 50 colleagues graduating this year.  We intend to run both schemes again in 2015/16.

·       Investment in our people has continued to make progress

‒   All of our drivers and managers have had an annual refresher course of Safe, Secure and Legal training and our vocational drivers have now completed five years for the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), which is run by our team of in house trainers and delivery support managers.

‒   Further training has been developed this year.  From 2015 we are running a driver apprenticeship scheme, open to internal and external drivers who wish to develop their career with Booker.  We are also launching two new annual training days for managers, to support them by improving their day to day operation to increase customer satisfaction and continue helping us to drive cash profit.

·      For the tenth year running, the performance of the business means our people have shared in our success through our bonus system.  With this great team of people, Booker will continue to make progress in the year ahead.

·       During the year Richard Rose, our Chairman, and Mark Aylwin, who ran Booker Direct / Chef Direct and Ritter Courivaud, announced they would step down in April.  They joined the Group in 2007 when Booker merged with Blueheath.  Both have made a real contribution to the Group and we wish both of them the very best for the future.

 

Our plan to Focus, Drive and Broaden the business remains on track.  Customer satisfaction continued to improve.  We grew the Group to £4.8bn of sales.  We strive to provide our customers with improved choice, prices and service via the internet, delivery and cash and carry.  We have a great team and together we will help our customers prosper in the year ahead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles Wilson

Chief Executive

group finance director's report

 

Financial Review

 

The summary of results for the Group is as follows:

	2015 £m	2014 £m	Change %
Revenue	4,753.0	4,681.6	+ 2
Operating profit (before exceptional items)	140.3	120.4	+ 17
Operating profit (after exceptional items)	140.3	123.8	+13
Profit before tax	138.8	122.1	+ 14
Profit after tax	117.7	105.2	+12
Basic earnings per share (pence)	6.73	6.06	+ 11

Makro has been consolidated since 19 April 2013

 

Overall Group revenue increased by 1.5% to £4.8bn. Booker non tobacco like for like sales (excluding Makro) increased by 2.9% while like for like tobacco sales rose by 1.1%.

 

Operating margin increased by 0.38 percentage points to 2.95% (2014: 2.57%) increasing group operating profit by £19.9m to £140.3m.   

 

In the prior year, a net £3.4m exceptional credit was taken to the income statement.  The credit related to the £11.2m difference between the fair value of Makro's assets and liabilities at the date of consolidation and the fair value of consideration paid, offset by £7.8m of exceptional costs.  No exceptional costs were charged or credited in the current financial year.

 

The net finance charge of £1.5m (2014: £1.7m) relates mainly to the unwind of the discounting of provisions.

 

Profit before tax rose £16.7m to £138.8m (2014: £122.1m), an increase of 14%.

 

The underlying effective tax rate (the tax charge as a percentage of profit before taxation and exceptional items) for the Group of 15.2% (2014: 14.8%) was below the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 21% (2014: 23%).  This was due principally to the utilisation of ACT and tax losses from prior years. The Group holds significant tax assets, notably Makro tax losses and ACT, which continue to be unrecognised as the quantum and timing of their utilisation remains uncertain. If the Group is able to utilise these assets, this could result in the underlying effective rate of tax remaining below 20% for the next three years.

Profit after tax was £117.7m, an increase of £12.5m compared to 2014.

 

Basic earnings per share rose to 6.73p, up 11% from 6.06p in 2014.

 

Dividend

The Board is recommending a final dividend of 3.14 pence per share (2014: 2.75 pence per share), up 14%, payable (subject to shareholder approval at the Annual General Meeting, to be held on 8 July 2015) on 10 July 2015 to shareholders on the register at 12 June 2015. The shares will go ex-dividend on 10 June 2015.

 

The final dividend increases the total dividend for the year to 3.66 pence per share, an increase of 14% on 2014 (2014: 3.20 pence per share).

 

Return of Capital

In July 2012 Booker Group plc issued £124m of shareholder equity to acquire Makro in the UK.  Following the successful integration of Makro into the Group and a period of strong cash generation, the Board implemented a capital return to shareholders of 3.50 pence per ordinary share (at a cost of approximately £61m) in July 2014.  Given the continued successful development of the Group, the Board is proposing a second capital return to shareholders of 3.50 pence per ordinary share (at a cost of approximately £62m, based on the current issued share capital of the company).  It is again proposed that this is achieved by the issue of a new class of "B" shares which shareholders will be able to redeem for cash.  The return of capital requires the approval of shareholders, which will be sought at the Annual General Meeting on 8 July 2015.  Further details of the proposed return of capital will be set out in a circular to shareholders which will accompany the notice convening this year's Annual General Meeting.

 

We currently anticipate returning a similar amount to shareholders in July 2016 and will provide an update on this at the 2016 Final Results announcement in May 2016 in light of circumstances prevailing at that time. 

Cash Flow

Management has continued to focus on cash resulting in a net inflow of £115.2m, before dividend payments in the year of £56.9m and the capital repayment of £60.9m.  Net cash at 27 March 2015 was £147.0m (2014: £149.6m). Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation ('EBITDA') of £161.5m in the year, funded capital additions of £24.6m (2014: £18.0m), working capital absorption of £13.3m (2014: generation of £3.1m) and corporation tax payments of £15.1m (2014: £12.3m).

 

Pensions

The Booker Pension Scheme ('the Scheme') is a defined benefit scheme that was closed to new members in October 2001, and was closed to future accruals for existing members in August 2002.  At 27 March 2015, the Scheme had an IAS 19 deficit of £19.7m (2014: £3.6m), comprising Scheme assets of £649.5m and estimated liabilities of £669.2m. The Group contributed £2.4m (2014: £9.6m) in the year.

 

Following the 2013 Triennial valuation, there will be no cash contributions required from the Company after the scheduled quarterly payment of £2.4m paid on 31 March 2014, subject to the results of subsequent Triennial valuations.  The next Triennial valuation date is 31 March 2016.

 

Impairment

The net book value of tangible and intangible fixed assets on the balance sheet is £646.4m (2014: £643.2m). The goodwill carrying value is more than supported by expected future cash flows discounted back to present day values at a pre-tax discount rate of 9.7% (2014: 10.5%).

 

Capital Structure

The Group finances its operations through a combination of bank facilities, leases and retained profits and its capital base is structured to meet the ongoing requirements of the business. As at 27 March 2015, the Group had net cash of £147.0m (2014: £149.6m).

 

Borrowing Facilities

The Group entered into a five year facility on 28 July 2011 comprising an unsecured £120.0m revolving credit facility. 

 

The Group's borrowings are subject to covenants set by the lenders. In the event of a failure to meet certain obligations, or if there is a covenant breach, the principal amounts due and any interest accrued are repayable on demand.

 

The financial covenants are Fixed Charge Cover, measured by the ratio of EBITDAR (earnings before interest, tax, exceptional items, depreciation, amortisation and rent) to interest plus rent (tested half yearly on a rolling basis) being greater than 1.5, and Leverage, measured by the ratio of net debt to EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) (tested half yearly on a rolling basis) being less than 3.0.

 

The Group complied with its covenants throughout the year. At 27 March 2015 the Group achieved a Fixed Charge Cover of 4.3 and Leverage of nil, comfortably exceeding its covenant obligations.

 

In addition to these financial covenants the Group's borrowing agreements include general covenants and potential events of default. The Group has complied in all respects with the terms of its borrowing agreements at the date of this report.

 

Interest Rates

Funds drawn on the revolving credit facility bear floating interest rates linked to LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25%, where the ratio of net debt/ EBITDA is less than one.  A commitment fee is payable at 0.5% of the unutilised facility. 

 

The net cost of the facility during the year was £0.2m (2014: £0.2m).

 

Liquidity

At 27 March 2015, the Group held £147.0m in cash and cash equivalents.  The Group also had in issue £6.3m of guarantees (2014: £4.9m) leaving undrawn facilities at 27 March 2015 of £113.7m.

 

The Company did not draw down on its revolving credit facility on a cleared basis in the year to 27 March 2015 giving a minimum facility headroom in the year of £113.0m after taking into account the guarantees facility of £7.0m.

 

 

 

 

Jonathan Prentis

Group Finance Director

 

 

Disclaimer

This announcement may include "forward-looking statements" with respect to certain of Booker Group plc's ('Booker') plans and its current goals and expectations relating to its future financial condition, performance and results.  These forward-looking statements sometimes contain words such as 'anticipate', 'target', 'expect', 'intend', 'plan', 'goal', 'believe', 'may', 'might', 'will', 'could' or other words of similar meaning.  By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties because they relate to future events and circumstances which may be beyond Booker's control, including, among other things, UK domestic and global economic and business conditions, market-related risks such as fluctuations in interest rates and exchange rates, the policies and actions of regulatory authorities, the impact of competition, the possible effects of inflation or deflation, the impact of tax and other legislation and regulations in the jurisdictions in which Booker operates, as well as the other risks and uncertainties set forth in our announcement of preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended 27 March 2015, released on 21 May 2015.  As a result, Booker's actual future financial condition, performance and results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the plans, goals and expectations set forth in any forward-looking statements, and persons receiving this presentation should not place reliance on forward-looking statements.

 

Booker expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking (except as required by applicable law) to update the forward-looking statements made in this presentation or any other forward-looking statements it may make or to reflect any change in Booker's expectation with regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.  Forward-looking statements made in this presentation are current only as of the date on which such statements are made.

 

All oral or written forward-looking statements attributable to the Directors of Booker or persons acting on their behalf are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.

None of the statements in this presentation are, nor are any intended to be, a profit forecast and none should be interpreted to mean that the profits or earnings per share of Booker in the current or any future financial period necessarily are or will be above or below the equivalent figure for any previous period.

 

Condensed Consolidated Income Statement

For the 52 weeks ended 27 March 2015

 

		52 weeks ended 27 March 2015	52 weeks ended 28 March 2014
		Total	Before exceptional items	Exceptional items (Note 4)	Total
	Note	£m	£m	£m	£m
Revenue		4,753.0	4,681.6	-	4,681.6
Cost of sales		(4,524.8)	(4,473.4)	(2.0)	(4,475.4)
		----------	----------	----------	----------
Gross profit		228.2	208.2	(2.0)	206.2
Administrative expenses		(87.9)	(87.8)	5.4	(82.4)
		----------	----------	----------	----------
Operating profit		140.3	120.4	3.4	123.8
Financial expenses	2	(1.5)	(1.7)	-	(1.7)
		----------	----------	----------	----------
Profit before tax		138.8	118.7	3.4	122.1
Tax	3	(21.1)	(17.6)	0.7	(16.9)
		-----------	-----------	-----------	-----------
Profit for the period attributable to the owners of the Group		117.7	101.1	4.1	105.2
		======	======	======	======
Earnings per share (Pence)
Basic	5	6.73p			6.06p
		======			======
Diluted	5	6.63p			5.94p
		======			======

 

All of the Group's operations during the period shown above represent continuing operations.

There are no exceptional items in the year ended 27 March 2015.

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the 52 weeks ended 27 March 2015

 

	52 weeks ended	52 weeks ended
	27 March 2015	28 March 2014
	£m	£m
Profit for the period	117.7	105.2
Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss
Remeasurements of the pension scheme	(18.5)	(6.4)
Tax on pension scheme remeasurements	3.7	1.4
Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss
Currency translation differences	-	(1.0)
	-----------	-----------
Total other comprehensive expense	(14.8)	(6.0)
	-----------	-----------
Total comprehensive income for the period	102.9	99.2
	======	======

 

Consolidated Balance Sheet

As at 27 March 2015

 

	Note	27 March 2015 £m	28 March 2014 £m
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment	7	207.1	204.5
Intangible assets		439.8	438.7
Investment in joint venture		1.4	1.1
Deferred tax asset		28.1	20.1
		----------	----------
		676.4	664.4
Current assets
Inventories		328.1	327.6
Trade and other receivables		124.5	113.6
Cash and cash equivalents		147.0	149.6
		----------	----------
		599.6	590.8
		----------	----------
Total assets		1,276.0	1,255.2
		----------	----------
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables		(586.0)	(586.2)
Current tax		(19.9)	(15.8)
		----------	----------
		(605.9)	(602.0)
Non-current liabilities
Other payables		(26.9)	(27.5)
Retirement benefit liabilities	8	(19.7)	(3.6)
Provisions		(25.4)	(25.5)
		----------	----------
		(72.0)	(56.6)
		----------	----------
Total liabilities		(677.9)	(658.6)
		----------	----------
Net assets		598.1	596.6
		======	======
EQUITY
Share capital		17.6	17.4
Share premium		41.2	36.4
Merger reserve		260.8	260.8
Capital redemption reserve		60.9	-
Other reserves		75.8	136.8
Share option reserve		11.2	8.5
Retained earnings		130.6	136.7
		----------	----------
Total equity attributable to equity holders		598.1	596.6
		======	======

 

 

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

For the 52 weeks ended 27 March 2015

 

	52 weeks ended	52 weeks ended
	27 March 2015	28 March 2014
	£m	£m
Cash flows from operating activities
Profit before tax	138.8	122.1
Depreciation	20.3	20.4
Amortisation	0.9	0.7
Net finance costs	1.5	1.7
Loss/(profit) on disposal of property, plant and equipment	0.2	(0.5)
Equity settled share based payments	5.3	4.3
(Increase)/decrease in inventories	(0.5)	6.8
Increase in debtors	(10.9)	(6.9)
(Decrease)/increase in creditors	(1.9)	20.7
Decrease in amount due to investment	-	(5.6)
Contributions to pension scheme	(2.4)	(9.6)
Decrease in provisions	(1.4)	(4.1)
Non cash item: Gain on bargain purchase	-	(11.2)
	----------	----------
Net cash flow from operating activities	149.9	138.8
Net interest paid	(0.2)	(0.3)
Tax paid	(15.1)	(12.3)
	----------	----------
Cash generated from operating activities	134.6	126.2
	----------	----------
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(23.6)	(15.5)
Acquisition of intangible asset	(1.0)	(2.5)
Investment in joint venture	(0.3)	(0.5)
Sale of property, plant and equipment	0.5	17.6
Net debt arising from acquisition of subsidiary	-	(7.9)
	----------	----------
Net cash outflow from investing activities	(24.4)	(8.8)
	----------	----------
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares	5.0	1.6
Redemption of B shares	(60.9)	-
Dividends	(56.9)	(46.6)
	----------	----------
Net cash outflow from financing activities	(112.8)	(45.0)
	----------	----------
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	(2.6)	72.4
Cash and cash equivalents at the start of the period	149.6	77.2
	-----------	-----------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period	147.0	149.6
	======	======

 

 

 

Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net cash in the period

 

	£m	£m
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	(2.6)	72.4
Opening net cash	149.6	77.2
	-----------	-----------
Net cash at the end of the period	147.0	149.6
	======	======

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

 

52 weeks ended 27 March 2015

	Share capital	Share premium	Merger reserve	Capital redemption reserve	Other reserve	Share option reserve	Retained earnings	Total
	£m	£m	£m	£m	£m	£m	£m	£m
At 28 March 2014	17.4	36.4	260.8	-	136.8	8.5	136.7	596.6
Profit for the period	-	-	-	-	-	-	117.7	117.7
Remeasurements of the pension scheme	-	-	-	-	-	-	(18.5)	(18.5)
Tax on pension scheme remeasurements	-	-	-	-	-	-	3.7	3.7
	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------
Total comprehensive income for the period	-	-	-	-	-	-	102.9	102.9
Dividends to shareholders	-	-	-	-	-	-	(56.9)	(56.9)
Issue B shares	-	-	-	-	(61.0)	-	-	(61.0)
Redemption of B shares	-	-	-	60.9	-	-	(60.9)	-
Share options exercised	0.2	4.8	-	-	-	(2.6)	2.6	5.0
Share based payments	-	-	-	-	-	5.3	-	5.3
Tax on share schemes	-	-	-	-	-	-	6.2	6.2
	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------
At 27 March 2015	17.6	41.2	260.8	60.9	75.8	11.2	130.6	598.1
	======	======	======	======	======	======	======	======

 

 

52 weeks ended 28 March 2014

	Share capital	Share premium	Merger reserve	Capital redemption reserve	Other reserves	Share option reserve	Retained earnings	Total
	£m	£m	£m	£m	£m	£m	£m	£m
At 29 March 2013	17.3	34.9	260.8	-	136.8	6.6	81.7	538.1
Profit for the period	-	-	-	-	-	-	105.2	105.2
Remeasurements of the pension scheme	-	-	-	-	-	-	(6.4)	(6.4)
Tax on pension scheme remeasurements	-	-	-	-	-	-	1.4	1.4
Currency translation differences	-	-	-	-	-	-	(1.0)	(1.0)
	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------
Total comprehensive income for the period	-	-	-	-	-	-	99.2	99.2
Dividends to shareholders	-	-	-	-	-	-	(46.6)	(46.6)
Share options exercised	0.1	1.5	-	-	-	(2.4)	2.4	1.6
Share based payments	-	-	-	-	-	4.3	-	4.3
	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------	----------
At 28 March 2014	17.4	36.4	260.8	-	136.8	8.5	136.7	596.6
	======	======	======	======	======	======	======	======

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to the Group Financial Statements

 

1. General information

 

a) Overview

Booker Group plc is a public limited company incorporated in the United Kingdom (Registration number 05145685). The Company is domiciled in the United Kingdom and its registered address is Equity House, Irthlingborough Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 1LT.

 

b) Status of financial information

The financial information set out herein does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts for the 52 weeks ended 27 March 2015 or the 52 weeks ended 28 March 2014 but is derived from those accounts. Statutory accounts for 2014 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies, and those for 2015 will be delivered in due course. The auditors have reported on those accounts; their report was (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include references to any matters to which the auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report, and (iii) did not contain statements under sections 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

 

c) Basis of accounting

In accordance with EU law (IAS Regulation EC 1606/2002), the group financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS') adopted for use in the EU as at 27 March 2015 ('adopted IFRS'), International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee ('IFRIC') interpretations and those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The preliminary results consolidate those of the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the 'Group').

 

d) Basis of consolidation

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. Control exists when the Group is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with an entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power to direct the relevant activities. In assessing control, potential voting rights that are currently exercisable or convertible are taken into account. The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases.

 

e) Accounting standards adopted in the period

The Group has adopted the following new standards:

·      IFRS 10 'Consolidated Financial Statements'

·      IFRS 11 'Joint Arrangements'

·      IFRS 12 'Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities'

The Group has adopted the following amendments and interpretations:

·      IAS 27 (revised 2011) 'Separate Financial Statements'

·      IAS 28 (revised 2011) 'Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures'

·      Amendments to IAS 32 'Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities'

·      Improvements to IFRS 2013

·      IAS 36 'Recoverable amount disclosures for Non Financial Assets'

·      Amendments to IFRS 7 'Disclosures - Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities'

 

The new standards, amendments and interpretations adopted have not had a significant impact on the financial statements.

 

2. Finance income and expense	2015 £m	2014 £m
Bank interest receivable	0.5	0.4
	----------	----------
Interest on bank loans and overdrafts	(0.7)	(0.6)
Unwinding of discount on provisions	(1.3)	(1.5)
	----------	----------
Finance expense	(2.0)	(2.1)
	----------	----------
Net financial expenses	(1.5)	(1.7)
	======	======

 

 

 

3. Tax

 

Tax of £21.1m (2014: £16.9m), on the profit for the period results in an effective rate of 15.2% (2014: 13.8%).

 

 

 

4. Exceptional items	2015 £m	2014 £m
Included within administrative expenses:
Gain on bargain purchase	-	(11.2)
Restructuring and integration costs	-	5.8
	----------	----------
	-	(5.4)
Included within cost of sales:
Stock writedowns following range rationalisation	-	2.0
	----------	----------
	-	(3.4)
	======	======
Tax credit on exceptional costs	-	0.7
	======	======

 

 

5. Earnings per share

 

a) Basic earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit for the period attributable to the owners of the Group by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period.

 

	2015	2014
Profit for the period attributable to the owners of the Group (£m)	117.7	105.2
Weighted average number of shares (m)	1,748.1	1,735.9
Basic earnings per share (pence)	6.73p	6.06p
	======	======

 

b) Diluted earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue adjusted by dilutive outstanding share options and dilutive shares issuable under the Group's share plans. The number of shares included in the diluted EPS in relation to the SAYE and the share option schemes has been calculated in accordance with IAS 33 'Earnings per Share'.

	2015	2014
Profit for the period attributable to the owners of the Group (£m)	117.7	105.2
Weighted average number of shares (m) used in basic EPS	1,748.1	1,735.9
Effects of employee share options (m)	26.7	34.4
	----------	----------
Weighted average number of shares (m) used in diluted EPS	1,774.8	1,770.3
	----------	----------
Diluted earnings per share (pence)	6.63p	5.94p
	======	======

 

 

6. Dividends and return of capital

 

Dividends charged to reserves	2015	2014
	£m	£m
Final dividend of 2.75 pence per share (2014: 2.25 pence per share) paid in respect of the prior period	47.8	38.8
Interim dividend of 0.52 pence per share (2014: 0.45 pence per share) paid in respect of the current period	9.1	7.8
	--------	--------
	56.9	46.6
	=====	=====

 

The Directors are proposing a final dividend of 3.14 pence per share, which will absorb £55m of distributable reserves. Subject to shareholder approval at the AGM, to be held on 8 July 2015, the dividend will be paid on 10 July 2015 to shareholders on the register at 12 June 2015. The shares will go ex-dividend on 10 June 2015.

 

Return of Capital

On 21 July 2014 the Company issued 1,743,934,763 B shares that were redeemable by the shareholder. On 22 July 2014 the Company redeemed 1,740,934,613 B shares for 3.5 pence per share (a total of £60.9m) and the shares were cancelled. The 3,000,150 remaining B shares (a total of £0.1m) have been classified as a financial liability in accruals and deferred income, and were redeemed on 30 April 2015 for 3.5 pence per share. Following the redemption, such B shares were cancelled.

 

The Board is proposing to implement another capital return to shareholders of 3.50 pence per ordinary share (at a cost of approximately £62m, based on the current issued share capital of the company).  It is proposed that this is achieved by the issue of a new class of "B" shares.  The return of capital requires the approval of shareholders, which will be sought at the AGM on 8 July 2015.

 

 

7. Property, plant and equipment

	2015	2014
Net book value	£m	£m
At start of period	204.5	71.9
On acquisition of Makro	-	154.6
Additions	23.6	15.5
Disposals	(0.7)	(17.1)
Depreciation charge	(20.3)	(20.4)
	----------	----------
At end of period	207.1	204.5
	======	======

 

 

 

8. Retirement benefit liabilities

	2015	2014
	£m	£m
Fair value of scheme assets	649.5	611.0
Present value of defined benefit obligation	(669.2)	(614.6)
	---------	---------
Net liability arising from defined benefit obligation	(19.7)	(3.6)
	======	======

 

 

 

9. Post balance sheet events

 

On 20 May 2015, the Group signed a sale and purchase agreement to acquire the entire issued share capital of Musgrave Retail Partners GB Ltd for £40m, to be satisfied in cash. Completion of the acquisition is conditional on the approval of the Competition and Markets Authority.