Final Results.
Preliminary Results for the 52 weeks to 22 August 2009
Net debt reduced by over 1 billion; early action taken to address market conditions
Financial Performance*
Results in line with expectations
EBITDA of 514 million (2008: 623 million)
Profit before tax of 160 million (2008: 262 million)
Strong cash flow before financing of 479 million
Disposals of 414 million comprised largely of non-core assets. Disposals are earnings accretive after retiring Group debt
Basic earnings per share of 36.1p (2008: 69.9p)
Net Asset Value per share of 260p, post impairments
Statutory Results (after exceptional items) **
Loss after exceptional items of 176 million following a net exceptional charge of 290 million. All of the exceptional charges were non-cash except for 8 million of reorganisation charges
Exceptional items include a 663 million charge for pub impairments to appropriately value the estate