Final Results
Highlights
Speciality Food Ingredients sales up 4% (up 4% in constant currency) at £983 million with adjusted operating profit in line with the prior year (up 1% in constant currency) at £213 million:
Continued strong growth in Asia and Latin America
Acquisition of Biovelop, and in China, the formation of Tate & Lyle Howbetter and agreement to acquire Winway Biotechnology
Bulk Ingredients adjusted operating profit 5% lower (4% lower in constant currency) at £172 million due to soft beverage season and unusually cold and prolonged winter in the US
Adjusted profit before tax 2% lower (flat in constant currency) at £322 million
Balance sheet remains strong with reduction in net debt of £126 million to £353 million (2013 – £479 million)
Final dividend of 19.8p proposed making a total dividend of 27.6p (2013 – 26.2p) up 5.3% on prior year
Successful deployment of upgraded IS/IT platform across Europe with US and Singapore on track for the summer
Board approval of capital investment of £100 million over the next two years in Speciality Food Ingredients to expand capacity for existing and pipeline products
Outlook
In Speciality Food Ingredients, we expect to deliver volume growth across all major product categories but a lower profit contribution from SPLENDA® Sucralose is expected to offset a good performance elsewhere in the division. Profits in this division are expected to be more evenly weighted between the first and second halves than the previous financial year.
In Bulk Ingredients, we now anticipate a slower start in the US in our first quarter associated with the prolonged and severe winter, combined with lower European sugar prices in our second half, to outweigh a better performance across other product categories.
Overall, and before the impact of currency movements7, while we expect the Group’s performance for the full year to be slightly lower than the comparative period, we are well placed to deliver growth in the longer term.
1 Excluding the results of discontinued operations in both periods unless otherwise stated.
2 Restated for the adoption of IAS 19 (Revised 2011) ‘Employee Benefits’ (see Note 16 to the accompanying financial information).
3 Before net exceptional charge of £14 million (2013 – £12 million) and amortisation of acquired intangible assets of £10 million (2013 – £10 million).
4 Before net exceptional charge of £14 million (2013 – £12 million), amortisation of acquired intangible assets of £10 million (2013 – £10 million) and net retirement benefit interest expense of £8 million (2013 – £4 million) and, for adjusted diluted earnings per share, the tax effect of these items.
5 Free cash flow is operating cash flow, based on adjusted operating profit from continuing operations, after working capital, interest, taxation and capital expenditure.
6 Changes in constant currency are calculated by retranslating comparative period results at current period exchange rates.
7 The estimated annual movement in operating profit and profit before tax caused by a one cent movement in the US dollar is £1.7 million and £1.6 million respectively.
Cautionary statement
This statement of full year results contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial condition, results, operations and businesses of Tate & Lyle PLC. These statements and forecasts involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend upon circumstances that will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and forecasts. Nothing in this statement of full year results should be construed as a profit forecast.
A copy of this statement of full year results for the year ended 31 March 2014 can be found on our website at www.tateandlyle.com. A hard copy is also available from The Company Secretary, Tate & Lyle PLC, 1 Kingsway, London WC2B 6AT.
SPLENDA® is a trademark of McNeil Nutritionals, LLC.
Webcast and Conference Call Details
A presentation of the results by Chief Executive, Javed Ahmed and Chief Financial Officer, Tim Lodge will be audio webcast live at 10.00 (BST) today. To view and/or listen to a live audio-cast of the presentation, please visit: http://view-w.tv/p/797-1031-14363/en. Please note that remote listeners will not be able to ask questions during the Q&A session. A webcast replay of the presentation will be available within two hours of the end of the live broadcast on the link above.