Final Results.
PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2011
OPERATING AND FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
RESILIENT FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN CHALLENGING CONDITIONS
Adjusted earnings` up 3% to £1,333 million; 25.8 pence adjusted basic earnings per share`
British Gas Residential operating profit* down 30% to £522 million
Upstream UK operating profit* up 33% to £1,023 million
North America operating profit* up 33% to £312 million
Adjusted tax charge^ increased from £761 million to £891 million; 40% effective tax rate^
£500 million cost reduction programme underway to maintain competitiveness and enable growth
DELIVERING INVESTMENT FOR GROWTH
£1.6 billion invested in 2011; already announced a further £1.4 billion of acquisitions for 2012
Established long term strategic partnerships with Qatargas and Statoil
Commitments to secure gas for the UK now total over £50 billion
Upstream UK gas and oil production expected to increase by over 25% in 2012
Lincs offshore windfarm on track to produce first power this year
DELIVERING FOR OUR CUSTOMERS
First of the major energy suppliers to cut prices in 2012
Cheapest standard electricity of any major supplier at average consumption
Actual household dual fuel bill £37 lower on average in 2011 at £1,024
Introduced tariff checker for customers
Widest eligibility for Warm Home Discount
DELIVERING FOR OUR SHAREHOLDERS
Full year dividend up 8% to 15.4 pence per share, reflecting long-term growth through investment
S2011 was a tough year, both for Centrica and our customers. But the strength of our integrated business and balance sheet means we"ve been able to take the lead in helping customers through these difficult times, as well as delivering growth and making the investments on which Britain"s energy future depends.⬝
Sam Laidlaw
Chief Executive
STATUTORY RESULTS
Operating profit⬡: £1,414m (2010: £3,074m)
Earnings: £421m (2010: £1,942m)
Basic earnings per ordinary share: 8.2p (2010: 37.6p)
Earnings include exceptional items relating to provisions for onerous contracts, impairments, restructuring costs, contract migration, a change in the UK upstream tax rate, an exceptional credit relating to pension curtailment and a loss on disposal of Oxxio. The total impact is a charge of £522 million after taxation.
A definition of the profit measures used throughout these results is provided in the Group Financial Review. A reconciliation between operating profit and adjusted operating profit is provided in note 5(b) and a reconciliation between the earnings measures is provided in note 10. Further details on exceptional items are included in the Group Financial Review and in note 6.