Final Results
Financial Highlights
· Total sales £4.7bn, +17.3%
· Booker like-for-like sales (excluding Makro) +2.1%. Non tobacco sales up 4.4% and tobacco sales down 1.7%
· Operating profit (pre £3.4m net exceptional credit related to Makro acquisition) +23% to £120.4m
· Operating profit (post exceptionals) £123.8m, +30%
· Profit before tax (pre exceptionals) £118.7m, +25%
· Profit after tax (post exceptionals) £105.2m, +38%
· Basic earnings per share up 1.55 pence to 6.06 pence
· Net cash improved to £149.6m (2013: £77.2m)
· Total dividend of 3.20 pence per share, up 22%
· 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
· Our best ever customer satisfaction at Booker and Makro
· Makro turnaround is on track, having delivered £26m of synergies
· Internet sales up 10% to £777m
· Booker Direct, Ritter Courivaud, Classic and Chef Direct continue to make good progress
· We now have six branches in India, having opened two branches in the year
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 is proposing to implement a capital return to shareholders of 3.50 pence per ordinary share (at a cost of approximately £61m, 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 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 9 July 2014. 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 2015 and will provide an update on this at the 2015 Final Results announcement in May 2015, 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. 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 the Makro synergy plans and 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.