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BOK Booker just rising off the baseline of an uptrend channel with 40p minimum here on the cards and fairly quickish. Secondary indicators are also showing the stock ripe for a buy at the moment.



Fundies also support the Buy case all and every broker with a Buy reco on the stock and the company trades on a forard P/E of just over 12 to 2010 and beyond.

You cant get a much better SET UP than that on a stock both fundies and TA in cink with each other............ Nice.

Booker Group PLC

FORECASTS
2010 2011

Date Rec Pre-tax () EPS (p) DPS (p) Pre-tax () EPS (p) DPS (p)

Investec Securities
25-06-09 BUY 48.63 2.70 0.90 51.22 2.81 0.94

Singer Capital Markets Ltd
22-06-09 BUY 49.10 2.70 1.00 52.80 2.90 1.10

Evolution Securities Ltd
03-06-09 BUY 51.40 2.90 0.90 54.60 3.00 1.00

Shore Capital
22-05-09 BUY 46.00 2.60 0.90 51.00 2.80 0.90

2010 2011
Pre-tax () EPS (p) DPS (p) Pre-tax () EPS (p) DPS (p)

Consensus 48.86 2.70 0.90 51.72 2.84 1.00

1 Month Change 2.36 0.10 0.90 1.80 0.09 1.00
3 Month Change 4.06 0.22 0.02 2.76 0.14 0.04


GROWTH
2009 (A) 2010 (E) 2011 (E)

Norm. EPS 38.08% 3.19% 5.18%
DPS % 21.95% 11.11%

INVESTMENT RATIOS
2009 (A) 2010 (E) 2011 (E)

EBITDA 72.30m 74.86m 79.50m

EBIT 57.60m 61.29m 64.52m

Dividend Yield 2.11% 2.57% 2.86%

Dividend Cover 3.54x 3.00x 2.84x

PER 13.38x 12.96x 12.32x

PEG 0.35f 4.06f 2.38f

Net Asset Value PS -10.80p p p

StockMarketWire.com
Booker Group will announce its fourth quarter trading update on 5th April 2012.

Booker Group plc
Quarter Four Trading Update

Booker, the UK's leading food wholesaler, is pleased to announce that total sales in the 12 weeks to 23 March 2012 rose by 4.8% on the same period last year, with total like-for-likes up by 4.8%. Non-tobacco like-for-likes rose by 4.1%, while like-for-like tobacco sales increased by 5.9%.

Total sales in the 52 weeks to 23 March 2012 were £3.9bn, up by 7.3%, and total like-for-likes were up by 6.1%. Like-for-like non-tobacco sales rose by 5.1%, while like-for-like tobacco sales increased by 7.8%. Like-for-like sales to caterers rose by 6.1% and retailers by 6.1%. Customer numbers increased by 5% to 481,000 and customer satisfaction improved further. Internet sales increased by 21% to £635m. Our delivered wholesale businesses are doing well and our expansion in India continues following the opening of our second branch in Mumbai.

This year has the impact of a 53rd week. Week 53 increased sales by £76m and will benefit operating profits by circa £1m for the full year.

The Group had around £63m net cash at the end of the year, compared to £27m a year ago. Profits for the 53 weeks to 30 March 2012 remain in line with expectations.

Charles Wilson, Booker Chief Executive, said:

"Booker continues to make good progress. Customer satisfaction for choice, price and service has improved and we are serving 22,000 more customers than last year. This has helped the Group increase sales by over £260m in the past 52 weeks. Our plans to Focus, Drive and Broaden the business remain on track."


ENDS

ive been patient with this. holding tight but not yet reinstating or taking more profit.
now looks very weak to me short / medium term so will be sitting through possible and likely pull back with stop loss levels in place.
plus at same time looking to now add on further weakness. but where and at what point? that is difficult. will just follow the chart as best i can. will advise as and when.rightly or wrongly.
still like it.
regards
jkd

have added today.
50% tight stop loss.(trade) 50% wider stop loss for longer term holding.
regards
and good luck
jkd

Preliminary Results.

Financial Highlights


· Total sales for 53 weeks +9.4% to £3.9bn (2011: £3.6bn) (52 weeks: +7.3%)

· Like for like sales +6.1% (52 weeks)

- non tobacco +5.1% (2011: +5.3%)

- tobacco +7.8% (2011: +4.9%)

- sales to caterers +6.1% (2011: +6.3%)

- sales to retailers +6.1% (2011: +4.6%)

· Operating profit up 17% to £89.6m (52 weeks: up 16% to £88.6m)

· Profit before tax up 27% to £90.8m (52 weeks: up 26% to £89.7m)

· Profit after tax up 27% to £74.9m (52 weeks: up 25% to £74.0m)

· Basic earnings per share up 0.93 pence to 4.83 pence

· Net cash of £63.4m (2011: £27.1m)

· Proposed final dividend up 39% at 1.95 pence per share, making total dividend for the year of 2.28 pence per share, up 37%

Operational Highlights

· Improved customer satisfaction

· Customer numbers increased by 22,000 to 481,000

· 27 business centres converted to 'Extra' format, taking total conversions to 142 of the 172 business centres in the UK

· Internet sales up 21% (52 weeks) to £635m (2011: £526m)

· Booker Direct is performing well and the creation of "Chef Direct" to serve major foodservice customers remains on track

· Our Indian business continues to progress; our business centres in Mumbai and Pune are trading well

Outlook
The economy is expected to remain challenging in the year ahead and the food wholesale market remains very competitive. Nevertheless, we expect to continue to make progress in this difficult environment. Booker has made a good start to the current financial year, even compared to the very strong performance in the first seven weeks of last year and, in spite of the fact that tobacco sales have been slow, we remain on course to meet our expectations for the year.

Proposal for Booker Group to acquire Metro UK


Booker Group Plc ("Booker"), a leading UK food wholesaler, and Metro Group AG ("Metro"), the German retail and wholesale group, are pleased to announce that they have entered into an agreement for Booker to acquire Makro UK ("Makro UK"), Metro's wholesale business in the UK, in exchange for new Booker Shares, representing 9.99 per cent of the current issued share capital of Booker and a cash consideration of £15.8 million.

Based on the closing price on 29 May 2012, being the last practicable date prior to this announcement, of a Booker share of 79.1p, the value of the New Ordinary shares to be issued is £123.9 million which, combined with the cash sum of £15.8 million, values Makro UK at £139.7 million.

Makro - they have been struggling for years - I've used them since the 70's but they can't compete anymore - time will tell if this is a good move.

The news seems to be going down well - currently up 7.5%.

And ex-divi next wed, so win / win for current holders!

blimey!
and in this environment who'd believe it?
90p might be next stop,but who knows ?
not I. stop losses still in but fortunately now distant enough to make me comfortable
and to forget.
good luck to all
regards
jkd

StockMarketWire.com
Booker Group has completed the acquisition of Makro UK.

Interim Management Statement.

"Non tobacco sales rose by 3.9% (3.8% on a like for like basis) whilst tobacco sales fell by 1.7%. Tobacco has been adversely impacted by the phasing of duty mark up versus a year ago. Total sales in the 12 weeks to 22 June 2012 rose by 1.7% on the same period last year (1.7% on a like-for-like basis). After a good start, we anticipate that Booker Group is on course to meet expectations for the year ending 29 March 2013.

The acquisition of Makro UK completed on 4 July 2012, post the end of the first quarter."

New 12 month high today @94.6p

Trading Statement

Total sales (excluding Makro) in the 12 weeks to 14 September 2012 rose by 4.3% on the same period last year. Non-tobacco sales were 3.9% higher, while tobacco sales rose by 5.1%. On a like-for-like basis total sales rose by 4.4%, non-tobacco sales by 3.8% and tobacco sales by 5.4%.

Total sales (excluding Makro) in the 24 weeks to 14 September 2012 rose by 3.3% on the same period last year. Non-tobacco sales were 4.2% higher, while tobacco sales rose by 2.0%. On a like-for-like basis total sales rose by 3.1%, non-tobacco sales by 3.8% and tobacco sales by 1.8%.

Booker Wholesale, our cash and carry division, had a good half. Customer satisfaction further improved, customer numbers were up and sales matched expectations.

Booker Direct, our delivered wholesale division, also had a good half. Ritter Courivaud, our speciality foods business, performed well. Classic, our on-trade wholesaler, had a good period and has been rolled out into a further five Booker branches. Chef Direct, the foodservice business we launched in January, is making good progress having secured several catering accounts.

In India our two branches in Mumbai and joint venture branch in Pune are performing as we planned. We are looking to open a further two branches in the second half.

We acquired Makro on July 4th. Makro has been struggling for the past few years and its performance in the past ten weeks has continued to be challenging. We notified the transaction to the OFT and the competition review process is ongoing. Until this review is complete, we are required to hold the Makro business separate from Booker, pursuant to undertakings given to the OFT in the normal way. Under accounting rules (IFRS 3), Makro will initially be held as an investment in Booker Group plc's balance sheet and will be consolidated into its financial statements once competition clearance is obtained.

The senior management of Booker and Makro are confident that, by working together, we will be able to improve choice, prices and service to the caterers, retailers and small and medium sized enterprises that we serve. We will be able to offer foods and non foods via the internet, delivery and cash and carry. This will help Booker Group in its ambition to become the UK's leading wholesaler.

As at 14 September 2012 net cash was £70m versus net cash of £59m a year ago. Following a good first half the outlook for the year as a whole remains unchanged.

Interim Results

Financial Highlights (Makro not consolidated)

• Total sales £1.9 bn, +3.3%

• Like-for-like sales were +3.1%:

- non-tobacco +3.8%
- tobacco +1.8%

• Like-for-like sales to caterers were +4.7% and to retailers +2.2%

• Operating profit (pre £3m exceptional charge related to Makro acquisition costs) +12.4% to £51.6m (2011: £45.9m)

• Profit before tax (post exceptional charge) +13.3% to £51.0m (2011: £45.0m)

• Profit after tax (post exceptional charge) +13.0% to £40.8m (2011: £36.1m)

• Basic earnings per share (post exceptional charge) +6.4% to 2.50p (2011: 2.35p)

• Net cash £69.8m (2011: £58.7m), after spending £15.8m on the cash element of the Makro consideration

• Interim dividend per share up 15.2% to 0.38 pence (2011: 0.33 pence)

• Subject to obtaining competition clearance, we expect Makro to reduce Group operating profit in 2012/13 by £nil to £10m, and increase operating profit in 2013/14 by circa £10m

Operating Highlights

• Customer satisfaction has improved which has driven like-for-like sales

• Conversion of another 3 branches into the 'Extra' format, taking the total number of 'Extra' branches to 145

• Internet sales +10.7% to £332m (2011: £300m)

• Booker Direct, Ritter Courivaud and Classic are performing well

• Chef Direct is becoming the new force in foodservice

• Following competition clearance, Booker and Makro will seek to become the UK's leading wholesaler to caterers, retailers and small companies

• Our 3 branches in India are on track and we expect to open 2 more branches in
the second half

Outlook

Group turnover in the second half to date (excluding Makro) is ahead of the same period last year. Working capital levels and costs are in line with plan. Overall, Booker Group plc continues to trade in line with management expectations.

OFT REFERS CASH AND CARRY MERGER TO COMPETITION COMMISSION

The OFT today referred the completed acquisition by Booker Group plc (Booker) of Makro Holding Limited (Makro) to the Competition Commission for further investigation due to concerns that it could reduce competition between cash and carry outlets.

Booker and Makro are both major national cash and carry wholesalers to independent retailers and caterers. The cash and carry market is worth an estimated £11 billion in the UK.

The OFT's investigation found that the acquisition raised competition concerns at the national level, where the evidence available to the OFT showed that the merger parties are close competitors in the supply of grocery products to caterers. The OFT has found that many caterers rely on cash and carry outlets. The merger brings together two close cash and carry competitors and reduces the number of national operators from four (Booker, Makro, Bestway and Costco) to three.

http://www.moneyam.com/action/news/showArticle?id=4480816

Quarter Three Interim Management Statement

Booker is pleased to announce its trading performance for the 16 weeks to 4 January 2013. Total Sales, excluding Makro (see Notes), rose by 3.1% on the same period last year. Non-tobacco sales were 4.2% higher, while tobacco sales rose by 1.3%. On a like-for-like basis total sales rose by 3.1%, non-tobacco sales rose by 4.1% and tobacco sales by 1.3%.

Booker Wholesale, our cash and carry division, had a good quarter. Customer satisfaction further improved, customer numbers were up and sales were in line with expectations. Fresh departments continued to perform well, with fruit and vegetable sales up 30% on the same period last year.

Booker Direct and Ritter Courivaud, our speciality foods business, performed well. We are expanding Classic to become a national wholesaler to the on trade. Since September Classic is operating from a further five Booker branches. Following start up costs the performance is encouraging.

Chef Direct, the foodservice business we launched last year, is making good progress including the award of the Aramark business in the UK. Aramark is one of the UK's leading contract caterers and we are delighted to be serving this prestigious client. Chef Direct is incurring start up costs, but its performance is on track.

We acquired Makro on July 4th 2012. The Competition Commission is reviewing the transaction and during its review we are required to hold the Makro business separate from the rest of Booker. Makro has been struggling for the past few years and its performance in the last quarter has continued to be challenging, but in line with our expectations. The senior management of Booker and Makro remain confident that, by working together, we will be able to improve choice, prices and service to the caterers, retailers and small and medium sized enterprises that we serve. We will be able to offer foods and non foods via the internet, delivery and cash and carry. This will help the customers of both Booker and Makro prosper.

Expansion in India continues with the opening of our third and fourth branches in Mumbai in Spring 2013.

The outlook for profits and net cash for the year remains in line with expectations.

COMPETITION COMMISSION PROVISIONALLY CLEARS BOOKER'S ACQUISITION OF MAKRO
Booker Group plc welcomes today's announcement from the Competition Commission that it has provisionally decided to approve its acquisition of Makro Holding Limited. The Commission has reviewed the transaction and provisionally concluded that it does not expect it to result in a substantial lessening of competition at a national or local level.

The Commission is expected to publish its final report by 24 April 2013, the statutory deadline for completion of its inquiry. Booker will continue to work closely with the Commission throughout the remainder of the inquiry

Quarter Four Interim Management Statement

Booker, the UK's leading wholesaler, is pleased to announce its trading performance for the 12 weeks to 29 March 2013. Total Sales, excluding Makro (see Notes), rose by 2.3% on the same period last year. Non-tobacco sales were 4.3% higher, while tobacco sales fell by 0.8%. On a like-for-like basis total sales rose by 2.2% compared to the same period last year, non-tobacco sales rose by 4.2% and tobacco sales fell by 0.9%.

Total sales in the 52 weeks to 29 March 2013 excluding Makro were £4.0bn, up by 3.5% compared to last year, and total like-for-likes were up by 3.3%. Like-for-like non-tobacco sales rose by 4.5%, while like-for-like tobacco sales increased by 1.3%. Sales to caterers rose by 6.2% and retailers by 2.0%. Customer numbers increased by 5% to 504,000 and customer satisfaction improved further. Internet sales increased by 11% to £704m. Our delivered wholesale businesses are progressing and our expansion in India continues with the opening of our third branch in Mumbai.

The Group had around £77m net cash at the end of the year, compared to £63m a year ago. This is after paying a part cash consideration of £15.8m for the Makro business. Profits for the 52 weeks to 29 March 2013 remain in line with expectations.

We acquired Makro on July 4th 2012. The Competition Commission is finalising its review of the transaction and during this review we are required to hold the Makro business separate from the rest of Booker. The Competition Commission has provisionally cleared the acquisition and we anticipate the final report being issued by 24 April 2013. In the last quarter Makro has been trading in line with our expectations. The senior management of Booker and Makro remain confident that, by working together, we will be able to improve choice, prices and service for caterers, retailers and small and medium sized enterprises. We will be able to offer foods and non foods via the internet, delivery and cash and carry to an enlarged customer base. This will help the customers of both Booker and Makro to prosper.

COMPETITION COMMISSION CLEARS BOOKER'S
ACQUISITION OF MAKRO


The Board of Booker Group plc is pleased to note that the Competition Commission, in its final report published today, has unconditionally cleared the completed acquisition of Makro Holding Limited.