STRICTLY EMBARGOED
UNTIL 7AM THURSDAY 13 JUNE 2024
FULLER, SMITH & TURNER
P.L.C.
("Fuller's", the "Company",
or the "Group")
A year of excellent
progress
Financial and Operational Highlights
|
|
|
|
52 weeks
ended
30
March
|
53
weeks
ended
1
April
|
|
2024
|
2023
|
|
£m
|
£m
|
Revenue and other
income
|
359.1
|
336.6
|
Adjusted EBITDA1
|
60.8
|
51.8
|
Adjusted profit before tax2
|
20.5
|
12.7
|
Statutory profit before tax
|
14.4
|
10.3
|
Basic earnings per share3
|
15.16p
|
12.98p
|
Adjusted earnings per share3
|
24.48p
|
16.10p
|
Dividend per share3
|
17.75p
|
14.68p
|
Net debt excluding lease
liabilities4
|
133.1
|
132.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All figures above are from continuing
operations.
1 Earnings before interest, tax,
depreciation, amortisation, profit on disposal of property, plant
and equipment, and separately disclosed items.
2 Adjusted profit before tax is the profit
before tax excluding separately disclosed items.
3 Per 40p 'A' or 'C' ordinary share. Basic
EPS is calculated using earnings attributable to equity
shareholders after tax including separately disclosed items.
Adjusted EPS excludes separately disclosed items.
4 Net debt excluding lease liabilities
comprises cash and short-term deposits, bank overdraft, bank loans,
debenture stock and preference shares net of debt issue
costs.
Financial and Operational Highlights (cont)
·
Revenue up 7%, against a 53-week year, to £359.1
million (FY2023: £336.6 million), driven
by strong performances across the estate
·
Like for like sales up 11.0%, significantly
outperforming the industry's CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker
on average by four percentage points
·
Strong profit conversion, with adjusted profit
before tax increased by 61% to £20.5 million (FY2023: £12.7
million)
·
Operating cash flow used to fund estate
enhancements and finance shareholder returns in the form of
dividends and share buybacks - net debt stable at £133.1 million
(FY2023: £132.8 million)
·
Total dividend increased by 21% to 17.75p
(FY2023: 14.68p)
·
Bought back three million 'A' shares since
September 2022, with a further one million 'A' shares in progress
since March 2024. Today we announce our intention to buy up to a
further two and a half million 'A' shares - bringing the total
number of shares repurchased to 6.5 million shares.
Strategic Highlights
·
An excellent year for the Company, with strong
like for like sales and volume growth across all areas of the
business:
o Food like for like sales increased by 14.5%
o Drink like for like sales increased by 9.8%
o Accommodation like for like sales increased by
7.8%
·
Invested £27.2 million in our existing estate of
iconic properties, including transformational schemes at The Rising
Sun in the heart of the New Forest, The Windmill at Portishead, The
Butcher's Hook & Cleaver in Smithfield, and The Forester in
Ealing
·
Completed the roll out of our Lead Your Way programme to all General
Managers - demonstrating our commitment to develop our
people
·
Continued proactive management of the estate to
enhance shareholder value:
o Transferred 23 pubs from Managed Pubs and Hotels to Tenanted
Inns, generating an incremental £1.0 million profit in a full
year
o Agreed terms on the sale of The Mad Hatter in SE1, which will
realise £20 million of value - due July 2024
o Agreed sale of a portfolio of 37 non-core pubs to Admiral
Taverns for £18.3 million, at a £1.6 million premium to the gross
asset value of £16.7 million.
Current Trading
·
Good sales momentum continuing, with like for
like sales for the 10 weeks to 8 June 2024 up 4.4%
·
Completed or on site at seven investment schemes
since the start of new financial year including The Astronomer in
Liverpool Street and The Head of the River in Oxford
·
Company in a great position for future
growth.
Chief Executive Simon Emeny said:
"It has been a strong year for
Fuller's and I am pleased and proud of the progress we have made.
All parts of the Company have performed well - with like for like
sales in our Managed Pubs and Hotels increasing by 11%, Tenanted
Inns operating profit rising 4% and adjusted profit before tax
rising 61% to £20.5 million.
"Fuller's has delivered these
excellent results in the last financial year, despite the high
inflationary environment. As of today, those inflationary pressures
- especially in regard to food and energy - have reduced, which
gives us additional confidence in the coming year.
"We have continued to build on
this strong momentum with like for like sales in the first 10 weeks
of the year rising by 4.4%. We have commenced a wide-ranging
investment programme, with seven schemes already on site or
completed since the start of the new financial year. Complementing
this investment in our properties is continued investment in our
people. We will be rolling out our leadership development programme
to our support centre managers and Head Chefs and continuing to
provide development opportunities to team members at all levels
across the business.
"As a Company, we are primed for
further success and growth. We will continue with our share buyback
programme, and we will benefit from the sale of The Mad Hatter in
July 2024 for a total consideration of £20 million, and
£18.3 million from the sale of 37 non-core pubs to Admiral
Taverns.
"With the solid financial
foundation of a strong Balance Sheet and a first-class,
predominately freehold estate of iconic pubs and hotels, combined
with a team that has the ability and capacity to drive the business
forward, we are confident and excited by the opportunities the
future will bring.
-Ends-
For further information, please contact:
Fuller, Smith & Turner
P.L.C.
Simon Emeny, Chief
Executive
020 8996 2000
Neil Smith, Finance
Director
020 8996 2000
Georgina Wald, Corporate Comms
Manager
020 8996 2198
Instinctif Partners
Justine
Warren
020 7457 2010
Forthcoming dates in the financial
calendar:
AGM: 23 July 2024
Half year results announcement FY
2025: 13 November 2024
Full year results announcement
FY 2025: 12 June 2025
Notes to Editors:
Fuller, Smith & Turner PLC is the premium pubs and
hotels business that is famous for beautiful and inviting pubs with
delicious fresh food, a vibrant and interesting range of drinks,
and engaging service from passionate people. Our purpose in life is
to create experiences that nourish the soul. Fuller's has 179
managed businesses, with 1,009 boutique bedrooms, and 190 Tenanted
Inns. The Fuller's pub estate stretches from Brighton to
Birmingham and from Bristol to the Greenwich Peninsula. Our
Managed Pubs and Hotels include Cotswold Inns & Hotels - seven
stunning hotels in the Cotswolds, and Bel & The Dragon - six
exquisite modern English inns with boutique rooms located in the
Home Counties. In summary, Fuller's is the home of great pubs,
outstanding hospitality and passionate people, where everyone is
welcome and leaves that little bit happier than they arrived.
Photography is available from the Fuller's Press Office on
020 8996 2000 or by email at pr@fullers.co.uk.
This statement will be available on the Company's
website, www.fullers.co.uk.
An accompanying presentation will be available from 12 noon on 13
June 2024.
FULLER, SMITH & TURNER
P.L.C.
FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE 52
WEEKS ENDED 30 MARCH 2024
CHAIRMAN'S
STATEMENT
It has been an excellent year for
your Company - with significant progress and growth in all areas of
the business. Of particular note is the rise in like for like sales
in our Managed Pubs and Hotels of 11% and a 13% rise in our
Tenanted Inns revenue.
Against this backdrop, we have
seen total revenues rise by 7%, against a 53-week year, and
adjusted profit before tax rise by 61%. This has resulted in an
increase of the full year dividend of 21%, showing a continued
return to a progressive dividend policy.
Simon Emeny and his team have made
some excellent new appointments over the last couple of years. Sam
Bourke, who we added to our team in the role of Marketing Director
in autumn 2022, is making a real difference to the way we
communicate with customers and the campaigns we undertake to
attract new business and further build on our food, drink and
accommodation offer. Carrie Joslin, our new Food & Drink
Director who joined in September 2023, is already making an
excellent contribution.
Meanwhile our People & Talent
Director Dawn Browne - who may not be new to Fuller's but joined
the Board in July 2023 - has brought her expertise in both people
and operations to the boardroom, while also driving further
investment in our talented team members.
On the property front, we have
continued investing in our existing estate to deliver further
value. A plethora of outstanding schemes have been completed during
the year from Portishead in the West to EC3 in the East, building
on our commitment to always having one of the best estates in the
industry. While some of these are transformational schemes, which
will open sites like The Rising Sun in the beautiful New Forest and
The Forester in Ealing to new audiences, others are primarily to
ensure our wonderful, iconic sites are always looking their best
and deserving of their premium position.
During the year, we have used our
capital wisely - buying back our own shares, which we know are
currently still at a considerable discount to their true value. In
2021, you will remember that we raised equity through a placing of
6.5 million 'A' shares at £8.30 each. Since September 2022, we have
bought back over 3 million of our shares and today we have
announced that we intend to continue the buyback programme, aiming
to repurchase up to the 6.5 million 'A' shares that were issued in
2021. To date, the buyback has been completed at a 30% discount to
the £8.30 price of the share issue. This leaves your Company in a
strong financial position and ready to take advantage of
appropriate acquisition opportunities.
Finally, it just remains for me to
pay tribute to our amazing team members across the business. They
are the backbone of the Company and the source of our success. I am
proud to be their Chairman and I thank each and every one for their
continued contribution, dedication and enthusiasm.
DIVIDEND
The Board is pleased to announce a
final dividend of 11.12p (FY2023: 10.0p) per 40p 'A' and 'C'
ordinary share and 1.112p (FY2023: 1.0p) per 4p 'B' ordinary share,
representing a year on year increase of 11%. This will be paid on
25 July 2024 to shareholders on the share register as at 5 July
2024. The total dividend of 17.75p (FY2023: 14.68p) per 40p 'A' and
'C' ordinary share and 1.775p (FY2023: 1.468p) per 4p 'B' ordinary
share represents a 21% year-on-year increase.
Michael Turner
Chairman
12 June 2024
CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S
REVIEW
OVERVIEW
It has been a strong year for
Fuller's, and I am pleased and proud of the progress we have made.
All parts of the Company have performed well - with like for like
sales in our Managed Pubs and Hotels increasing by 11%, Tenanted
Inns operating profit rising 4% and adjusted profit before tax
rising 61% to £20.5 million.
The actions we have undertaken
during the year, doubling down on investing in our iconic pubs and
hotels and in our amazing team, have delivered excellent results
this year and will ensure continued growth in the future. The
long-term strengths of the Company - a predominately freehold
estate, premium position and strong Balance Sheet - provide
excellent foundations for our consistent, clear and long-term
strategy.
Investing in our iconic pubs and
hotels ensures we maintain our premium position, which in turn
optimises revenue and profit from our sites. Meanwhile our focus on
ensuring we have the best training and development for our people
delivers an outstanding customer experience, setting Fuller's apart
and delivering profitable sales growth. This will result in further
growth both organically and by generating the financial strength
that will enable us to capitalise on appropriate acquisition
opportunities if and when they arise.
We took a number of strategic
decisions during the year which have also delivered excellent
results including the transfer of 23 sites from our Managed Pubs
and Hotels division to Tenanted Inns, which is on track to deliver
an incremental £1 million in profit in a full year. We have also,
as previously announced, agreed the sale of The Mad Hatter in
Southwark for a total value of £20 million, and post year end,
we agreed the sale of 37 non-core pubs to Admiral Taverns for £18.3
million.
TRADING UPDATE
Our success during the year has
been due to outstanding work by our teams across the estate and in
our support office at Pier House. The team has rolled out new
initiatives, focused on our long-term strategy and vision and
delivered excellent results. We set ourselves a goal at the
beginning of the financial year to deliver a record number of
record sales weeks - and our teams across the business rose to the
challenge. We smashed our target - not only generating great sales,
but also motivating our team and giving plenty of opportunities to
recognise, acknowledge and celebrate success.
Giving our customers reasons to visit
Knowing your customers is key for
any business and during the year we have completed work to better
understand our key customer groups. This work not only allows us to
refine our offer, and monitor changes in behaviour post-covid, but
also to identify potential customers with similar characteristics
that we can target both on and offline.
To further aid development, ideas
and growth in our food business, and building on the appointment of
Carrie Joslin as Food & Drink Director last autumn, we have
opened a new development kitchen and training centre in Reading.
This facility will allow for even more creativity and innovation,
and we are excited by what the future could bring in this
area.
This customer work has been
particularly useful for transformational refurbishments and to
target marketing activity, post-investment, at a number of our
sites. This additional customer knowledge has driven decisions on
menu options, drinks range, decor, and the events and activities we
stage within our sites. While it is early days, the initial signs
are positive and we continue to learn, develop and improve this
process.
Supporting this wider piece of
work is our desire to keep our customers coming back with exciting
in-pub events. We have continued with our cultural events programme
- with another successful summer season of Shakespeare and opera,
while adding panto, classic plays and a host of other events and
activities. We have also upweighted our focus on sport, including a
wider range of sharing options on the menu and improved promotion
of forthcoming sporting events. We have increased the number of
sites that show sport, and we have exciting plans to build on this
activity in the coming year, particularly around the imminent UEFA
European Football Championship.
Strong growth across food, drink and
accommodation
During the year, we have seen
growth in like for like sales and volumes in all our key areas -
food, drink and accommodation.
Our food sales have risen by 14.5%
on a like for like basis. This comes on the back of work completed
to improve our menu development process, allowing for better
bespoke dish creation and changes to the way menus are designed and
presented that reflect the customer segment for that particular
site. In addition, we have launched an exciting new kids' menu -
by kids, for kids - during
the year, appealing to our important family market. This has
improved margins and was nominated for a Restaurant Marketer and
Innovator award.
A first-class premium drinks range
has always been at the heart of the great Fuller's pub, and our
like for like drinks sales have risen by 9.8%. We have hosted over
100 guest cask ales in our pubs during the year - including a
number of brews that are unique to Fuller's pubs from breweries
including Siren and Tiny Rebel. Although we have always had a
premium range, we have introduced a number of super premium spirits
including Casamigos Tequila. We also continue to widen our appeal
to those seeking low or no alcohol alternatives and sales in this
category, for beers alone, have risen by 81% in value. Our bottled
sales of no and low alcohol beers now account for one in five of
all packaged sales.
Our accommodation business has
also seen impressive growth during the year, with like for like
accommodation sales rising 7.8%, RevPAR rising to £97.26 (FY2023:
£89.47), a rise in occupancy rates to 79% (FY2023: 78%) and a 9%
increase in average room rate to £119.84. We also continue to grow
our direct bookings - which are up by 36% during the year - and we
are using our digital platforms to make sure that our customers can
enhance their stay with dinner bookings and events easily booked at
the same time.
Investing for the future in our pubs and
people
Over the last 12 months, we have
taken the opportunity to increase investment in the pubs we already
own and the teams that operate them. Hence, the last quarter of the
financial year has been particularly busy for investments across
our estate - both in terms of transformational schemes aimed at
broadening the appeal of our wonderful pubs and hotels to new
audiences, and light-touch investment to keep our pubs looking
their absolute best. As a result, total investment spend for the
year was £27.2 million.
Investment highlights over the
last year include a substantial scheme at The Rising Sun in the
heart of the New Forest, a pub we acquired in late summer 2022. A
transformational refurbishment has broadened the pub's appeal and
we have increased covers both inside and outside, with a wonderful
garden scheme to maximise summer months and shoulder period
trading.
We have also undertaken
trade-enhancing investment schemes at sites including The Windmill
in Portishead, overlooking the Severn Estuary, The Butcher's Hook
& Cleaver in Smithfield, and The Forester in Ealing - a site
that we transferred from our Tenanted Inns division to our Managed
Pubs and Hotels business in June 2023. The results from all sites
are already looking very positive.
On the people front, we have
invested heavily in our leaders with a new leadership framework
called Lead Your Way,
which combines residential courses with online and face to face
learning. This has been rolled out to all our General Managers, and
in the coming financial year will be extended to Head Chefs and
support centre managers. The programme has been incredibly well
received and we are already seeing the benefits of this
work.
It has been another busy year for
our People Team. We held our first General Managers' Conference for
four years, completed a review and relaunch of our flagship
Management Training Programme for the leaders of the future,
recruited 144 new apprentices and
launched our Inclusion Action Plan
with a focus on age, neurodiversity and inclusion training for all
our senior leaders.
Life is too good to
waste
We have made good progress in all
areas of our Life is too good to
waste campaign - working on initiatives relating to our
people, our planet and our communities. Starting with the last of
these, we continue to raise awareness of, and money for, Special
Olympics Great Britain. Last year's popular Bridge Walk and
Football Tournaments raised a total of £37,000 across the two and
we also completed work on a neurodiverse recruitment guide that was
launched in April.
Work continues on our commitment
to achieve Net Zero by 2040 (2030 for Scope 1 & 2) and we were
pleased to have had our science-based emissions reduction target
approved by the Science Based Targets initiative. We now have 15
Sustainability Champions across our pubs and hotels to support our
sustainability programme, help embed new initiatives, roll out best
practice and share new ideas. We have committed to reduce our food
waste by 50% by 2030 as a signatory to the Courtauld Commitment and
we continue to improve our recycling rates.
The benefits of the focus on
sustainability include reducing our electricity usage by 3.5% and
our gas by 6.5% during the last financial year, with considerable
associated cost savings. Other highlights for the year include
increasing the number of fully electric kitchens - 10% of our
Managed Pubs and Hotels now have fully electric kitchens -
achieving the Green Tourism Bronze Award in 12 hotels and gaining
BII Sustainability Champion status for our entire Managed
estate.
TENANTED INNS
It has been another good year for
our Tenanted Inns with revenue rising by 13%. The Business
Development Team has strong relationships with all our Tenants and
we have invested in further support around marketing and promotion
to ensure our Tenants can grow their business - which in turn grows
ours. Our core Tenanted business is very strong and delivers
excellent returns for the business with high margins and relatively
low capital.
The 23 pubs we transferred from
our Managed Pubs and Hotels division to our Tenanted Inns during
the first half of the year have performed well, generating £1
million of incremental annualised profit. It is particularly
pleasing to see our former General Managers in some of these sites
relishing their new life as Tenants. Despite the obvious additional
responsibility, they are showing creativity and innovation - and
that individuality allows these sites to flourish.
Fuller's is committed to owning
and operating both Managed and Tenanted pubs as an integral part of
the Company's future strategy - each operating model has its
strengths and can learn from the other. The Company actively
manages its pub estate, continually evaluating strategic
opportunities, and has agreed the sale of 37 pubs to Admiral
Taverns allowing the Company to focus on the development of its
retained Managed and Tenanted estates. The sale proceeds are £18.3
million, and it is due to complete on 25 June 2024.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
We are pleased to have delivered
an excellent set of financial results, showing significant progress
in the year. Revenue grew by 7% to £359.1 million (FY2023: £336.6
million) and adjusted profit before tax increased by 61% to £20.5
million (FY2023: £12.7 million).
The increased revenues, combined
with effective cost management, has enabled operating profits to
grow by 37% to £34.5 million with operating margins improving to
9.6% (FY2023: 7.4%). This was achieved despite a challenging
inflationary environment with food inflation averaging 9.3% and the
increase in National Living Wage resulting in labour inflation of
6.3%. However, there were some movements in our favour, with total
utilities costs for the year reducing to £11.6 million, saving £2
million on the prior year (FY2023: £13.6 million), albeit remaining
significantly higher than the £6.3 million charged in
FY2020.
In our Managed Pubs and Hotel
business, like for like sales grew by 11% compared to the prior
year, with total sales increasing by 6%. In the year, we
transferred 23 sites from our Managed business to our Tenanted
business, and excluding the impact of those sites, total sales were
up 10%. The performance of our urban sites was particularly strong,
with like for like sales up 15.6%, which follows an increase of
32.8% in the prior year. The revenues generated by Managed Pubs and
Hotels are well balanced across all categories, with drink like for
like sales up 9.8% and food like for like sales up 14.5%. We
delivered volume increases in both categories, up 1.1% and 3.8%
respectively, reflecting strong underlying growth and recognition
of our customers' appreciation of our offer. Accommodation also
performed well with total sales up 5.3% and RevPAR increasing by
£7.79 to £97.26.
Tenanted Inns revenue grew by 13%
from £29.8 million to £33.8 million. Operating profits also
increased by 4% up to £13.7 million (FY2023: £13.2 million). There
was a marginal decline in operating margins as a result of one-off
costs associated with the transfer of the 23 sites from the Managed
business.
Total net finance costs (before
separately disclosed items) have increased by £1.6 million to £14.0
million. This increase is due to the rise in the Bank of England
base rate at the beginning of the year, which has remained high at
5.25%. The Group has a zero premium cap and collar over £60 million
of the term facility, which has a floor of 310bps and a cap of
500bps. This gave some protection when the rate went over 500bps in
August 2023. The Group also repaid one of its debentures of £6
million in December 2023 which had a fixed interest rate of 10.7%.
Overall, this has meant that the average cost of borrowing was 8.0%
in the current financial year compared to 7.0% in the prior
year.
The net position on separately
disclosed items is an expense of £6.1 million (FY2023: £2.4 million
expense). This consists of a release of a VAT provision of £1.1
million on settlement of a claim; a net credit of £0.4 million for
legal and insurance claims; a finance credit of £0.7 million on the
Group's pension surplus; offset by an £8.3 million impairment
charge relating to the write down of a number of properties and
right-of-use assets to their recoverable value net of the reversals
of impairments on five properties.
The underlying effective tax rate
has increased to 28.3% (FY2023: 22.8%). The increase in the
effective tax rate is mainly due to the withdrawal of the capital
allowance super-deduction from April 2023. The main driver of the increase in effective tax
rate on adjusted profits over the standard rate of
tax is non-deductible depreciation on assets that do
not qualify for capital allowances.
The Group has unsecured banking
facilities of £200 million, comprising a revolving credit facility
of £110 million and a term loan of £90 million. During the year,
the Group agreed with its lenders to extend these facilities for a
further year through to May 2027. The facilities bear interest at a
margin dependent on the leverage covenant plus a base rate of
SONIA.
Net debt (excluding leases) was at
£133.1 million (FY2023: £132.8 million). This was a marginal
increase from last year as the Group has implemented its capital
allocation framework through investment in the estate and returns
to shareholders. A total of £27.2 million was invested in the
existing estate in the year with transformational schemes at The
Sanctuary House in Westminster, The Rising Sun in the New Forest,
The Forester in Ealing and The Counting House in the
City.
A share buyback programme of two
million 'A' shares was completed in FY2024 for a total of £12.4
million. A further share buyback programme of one million 'A'
shares started at the end of March 2024 and is ongoing, and an
intention to buy back up to an additional 2.5 million 'A' shares
was announced today.
The improvement in EBITDA has
meant that net debt/EBITDA is now at 2.5x which remains in line
with our capital allocation framework and provides headroom for
acquisition opportunities if they arise.
The defined benefit pension scheme
surplus has increased by £2.7 million to £17.3 million accounting
surplus (FY2023: £14.6 million surplus) as a result of a decrease
in the present value of pension obligations as the discount rate
increased from 4.75% to 4.85%, offset by only a small decline in
the fair value of scheme assets. As the Group has an unconditional
right to refund under the pension trust deed, an asset has been
recognised as at 30 March 2024.
The proposed final dividend of
11.12p per 'A' and 'C' ordinary share (FY2023: 10.0p), together
with the interim dividend of 6.63p per share already paid makes a
total of 17.75p per share, which is an increase of 21% on the prior
year and continues our return to a progressive dividend
policy.
CURRENT TRADING AND OUTLOOK
We have continued to build on the
strong momentum of the last year with like for like sales in the
first 10 weeks of the year rising by 4.4%. We have commenced a
wide-ranging investment programme, with seven schemes already on
site or completed since the start of the new financial
year.
Complementing this investment in
our properties is continued investment in our people. We will be
rolling out our leadership development programme to our support
centre managers and Head Chefs and continuing to provide
development opportunities to team members at all levels across the
business.
Fuller's has delivered excellent
results in the last financial year, despite the high inflationary
environment. As of today, those inflationary pressures - especially
in regard to food and energy - have reduced, which gives us
additional confidence in the coming year.
As a Company, we are primed for
further success and growth. We will continue with our share buyback
programme and we will benefit from the sale of The Mad Hatter in
July 2024 for a total consideration of £20 million, and
£18.3 million from the sale of 37 non-core pubs to Admiral
Taverns.
With the solid financial
foundation of a strong Balance Sheet and a first-class,
predominately freehold estate of iconic pubs and hotels, combined
with a team that has the ability and capacity to drive the business
forward, we are confident and excited by the opportunities the
future will bring.
Simon Emeny
Chief Executive
12 June 2024
Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C.
Condensed Group Income Statement
For the 52 weeks ended 30 March
2024
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
52 weeks ended 30 March
2024
|
|
53 weeks
ended 1 April 2023
|
|
Note
|
Before separately disclosed
items
£m
|
Separately disclosed
items
£m
|
Total
£m
|
|
Before
separately disclosed items
£m
|
Separately disclosed items
£m
|
Total
£m
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
2
|
359.1
|
-
|
359.1
|
|
336.6
|
-
|
336.6
|
Operating costs
|
|
(324.6)
|
(6.8)
|
(331.4)
|
|
(311.5)
|
(14.2)
|
(325.7)
|
Operating profit
|
|
34.5
|
(6.8)
|
27.7
|
|
25.1
|
(14.2)
|
10.9
|
Finance costs
|
3,4
|
(14.0)
|
0.7
|
(13.3)
|
|
(12.4)
|
-
|
(12.4)
|
Profit on disposal of
properties
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|
-
|
11.8
|
11.8
|
Profit before tax
|
|
20.5
|
(6.1)
|
14.4
|
|
12.7
|
(2.4)
|
10.3
|
Tax
|
5
|
(5.8)
|
0.5
|
(5.3)
|
|
(2.9)
|
0.5
|
(2.4)
|
Profit for the year
|
|
14.7
|
(5.6)
|
9.1
|
|
9.8
|
(1.9)
|
7.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C.
Condensed Group Income Statement
(continued)
For the 52 weeks ended 30 March
2024
Group
|
Note
|
52 weeks
ended
30 March
2024
Pence
|
53
weeks
ended
1 April
2023
Pence
|
Earnings per share per 40p 'A' and 'C' ordinary
share
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
6
|
15.16
|
12.98
|
Diluted
|
6
|
15.04
|
12.96
|
Adjusted
|
6
|
24.48
|
16.10
|
Diluted adjusted
|
6
|
24.29
|
16.07
|
Earnings per share per 4p 'B' ordinary
share
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
6
|
1.52
|
1.30
|
Diluted
|
6
|
1.50
|
1.30
|
Adjusted
|
6
|
2.45
|
1.61
|
Diluted Adjusted
|
6
|
2.43
|
1.61
|
|
|
|
|
Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C.
Condensed Group Statement of Comprehensive
Income
For the 52 weeks ended 30 March
2024
|
Note
|
52 weeks
ended
30 March
2024
£m
|
53
weeks
ended
1 April
2023
£m
|
Profit for the year
|
|
9.1
|
7.9
|
Net gains on valuation of
financial assets and liabilities
|
|
-
|
0.1
|
Net actuarial losses on pension
schemes
|
12
|
(0.3)
|
(2.5)
|
Tax related to items that will not
be reclassified to profit or loss
|
5
|
0.1
|
0.6
|
Other comprehensive losses for the year, net of
tax
|
|
(0.2)
|
(1.8)
|
Total comprehensive income for the year, net of
tax
|
|
8.9
|
6.1
|
Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C.
Condensed Group Balance Sheet
30 March 2024
|
Note
|
At 30 March
2024
£m
|
At 1
April 2023
£m
|
Non-current assets
|
|
|
|
Intangible assets
|
|
28.6
|
29.0
|
Property, plant and
equipment
|
8
|
581.9
|
583.3
|
Investment properties
|
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
Retirement benefit
obligations
|
12
|
18.7
|
16.1
|
Right-of-use assets
|
10
|
58.7
|
66.4
|
Other financial assets
|
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
Total non-current assets
|
|
689.5
|
696.4
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
Inventories
|
|
4.0
|
4.2
|
Trade and other
receivables
|
|
8.4
|
10.2
|
Current tax receivable
|
|
0.1
|
0.7
|
Cash and cash
equivalents
|
11
|
12.2
|
14.1
|
Total current assets
|
|
24.7
|
29.2
|
Assets classified as held for
sale
|
|
8.4
|
7.0
|
Total assets
|
|
722.6
|
732.6
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
Trade and other
payables
|
|
(59.7)
|
(54.6)
|
Provisions
|
|
(0.8)
|
(0.5)
|
Borrowings
|
11
|
-
|
(6.0)
|
Lease liabilities
|
10
|
(4.4)
|
(4.8)
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
(64.9)
|
(65.9)
|
Non-current liabilities
|
|
|
|
Borrowings
|
11
|
(145.3)
|
(140.9)
|
Lease liabilities
|
10
|
(61.5)
|
(67.0)
|
Retirement benefit
obligations
|
12
|
(1.4)
|
(1.5)
|
Deferred tax
liabilities
|
|
(18.2)
|
(14.7)
|
Total non-current liabilities
|
|
(226.4)
|
(224.1)
|
Net assets
|
|
431.3
|
442.6
|
|
|
|
|
Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C.
Condensed Group Balance Sheet
(continued)
30 March 2024
|
|
At 30 March
2024
£m
|
At 1
April 2023
£m
|
Capital and reserves
|
|
|
|
Share capital
|
|
25.4
|
25.4
|
Share premium account
|
|
53.2
|
53.2
|
Capital redemption
reserve
|
|
3.7
|
3.7
|
Own shares
|
|
(32.9)
|
(21.3)
|
Hedging reserve
|
|
-
|
-
|
Retained earnings
|
|
381.9
|
381.6
|
Total equity
|
|
431.3
|
442.6
|
Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C.
Condensed Group Cash Flow
Statement
For the 52 weeks ended 30 March
2024
|
Note
|
52 weeks
ended
30 March
2024
£m
|
53 weeks
ended
1
April
2023
£m
|
Profit before tax for continuing operations
|
|
14.4
|
10.3
|
Net finance costs before
separately disclosed items
|
4
|
14.0
|
12.4
|
Separately disclosed
items
|
3
|
6.1
|
2.4
|
Depreciation and
amortisation
|
|
26.3
|
26.7
|
|
|
60.8
|
51.8
|
Difference between pension charge
and cash paid
|
|
(2.6)
|
(2.3)
|
Share-based payment
charges/(credit)
|
|
1.7
|
(0.4)
|
Change in trade and other
receivables
|
|
0.6
|
2.5
|
Change in inventories
|
|
0.2
|
(0.6)
|
Change in trade and other
payables
|
|
6.9
|
(3.0)
|
Cash impact of operating
separately disclosed items
|
3
|
1.7
|
(0.5)
|
Cash generated from operations
|
|
69.3
|
47.5
|
Tax paid
|
|
(1.0)
|
-
|
Net Cash generated from operating
activities
|
|
68.3
|
47.5
|
Cash flow from investing activities
|
|
|
|
Purchase of property, plant and
equipment
|
|
(27.2)
|
(30.7)
|
Sale of property, plant and
equipment, right-of-use assets and assets held for sale
|
|
-
|
16.0
|
Net Cash outflow from Investing activities
|
|
(27.2)
|
(14.7)
|
Cash flow from financing activities
Purchase of own shares
|
|
(12.4)
|
(4.8)
|
Receipts on release of own shares
to option schemes
|
|
0.5
|
0.1
|
Interest paid
|
|
(10.4)
|
(8.7)
|
Preference dividends
paid
|
7
|
(0.1)
|
(0.1)
|
Equity dividends paid
|
7
|
(10.0)
|
(7.4)
|
Drawdown of bank loans
|
11
|
4.5
|
-
|
Repayment of the
debenture
|
11
|
(6.0)
|
-
|
Surrender of leases
|
|
-
|
(2.1)
|
Principal elements of lease
payments
|
11
|
(8.7)
|
(9.8)
|
Payment of loan arrangement
fees
|
11
|
(0.4)
|
(1.5)
|
Net cash outflow from financing
activities
|
|
(43.0)
|
(34.3)
|
Net movement in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
(1.9)
|
(1.5)
|
Cash and cash equivalents at the
start of the year
|
11
|
14.1
|
15.6
|
Total cash and cash equivalents at the end of the
year
|
11
|
12.2
|
14.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C.
Notes to the Condensed Financial
Statements
For the 52 weeks ended 30 March
2024
1. Preliminary
statement
The consolidated financial
statements of Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C. for the 52 weeks
ended 30 March 2024 were authorised for issue by the Board of
Directors on 12 June 2024.
The financial information presented
does not constitute the Group's annual report and accounts for
either the 52 weeks ended 30 March 2024 or the 53 weeks ended 1
April 2023 within the meaning of Section 435 of the Companies Act
2006, but is derived from those accounts. The Group's statutory
accounts for 2023 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies
and those for 2024 will be delivered following the Company's annual
general meeting. The independent auditor's
reports on both the 2024 and 2023 accounts were not qualified or
modified. The independent auditor's reports for both 2024
and 2023 did not contain any statements under Section 498 of the
Companies Act 2006.
The Group financial statements are presented
in Sterling and all values are shown in millions of pounds (£m)
rounded to the nearest hundred thousand pounds, except when
otherwise indicated. The accounting policies used have been applied
consistently, except where set out below, and are described in full
in the statutory financial statements for the 52 weeks ended 30
March 2024, which will be mailed to shareholders on or before 28
June 2024 and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The
financial statements will also be available from the Company's
registered office: Pier House, 86-93 Strand-on-the-Green, London,
England, W4 3NN, and on its website, from that date.
Going concern
At 30 March 2024, the Group
Balance Sheet comprises of 88% of the estate being freehold
properties and available headroom on facilities of £75.0 million
and £12.2 million of cash with resulting net debt of £133.1
million. The Group has unsecured banking facilities of £200
million, split between a revolving credit facility of £110 million
and a term loan of £90 million. Under the facilities agreement, the
covenant suite (tested quarterly) consist of net debt to adjusted
EBITDA (leverage) and adjusted EBITDA to net finance charges.
During the period, the Group agreed with its lenders to extend
these facilities for a further year through to May 2027. The Group
repaid £6 million of its debentures during the period out of the
Group's current facilities. The remaining debentures of £20m are
not due for repayment until 2028.
The Group has modelled financial
projections for the going concern period, which is defined as the
12-month period from the date of approval of these financial
statements to 28 June 2025, based upon two scenarios, the 'base
case' and the 'downside case'. The base case is the Board approved
FY2025 budget as well as the Q1 FY2026 plan which forms part of the
Board approved three-year plan. The base case assumes that sales
will continue to grow, but with only modest food and drink volume
growth. The base case also assumes that food and drink inflationary
pressures ease and inflation returns to manageable levels. However,
the base case assumes that staff costs will be impacted by National
Living Wage resulting in continued wage inflation across all job
roles. The base case scenario indicates that the Group will have
sufficient resources to continue to settle its debts as they fall
due and operate well within its covenants for the going concern
assessment period.
The Group has also modelled a
'downside case' which assumes that sales volume reduces by 10% in
FY2025 and 5% in FY2026 from the 'base case' and that cost
inflation continues at a higher rate than assumed in the 'base
case'. In this 'downside case', management would implement
mitigating actions such as overhead cost reduction, reduction of
capital expenditure and other property spend to essential
maintenance and a decrease in bonus pay out. Under this scenario,
the Group would still have sufficient resources to settle
liabilities as they fall due and headroom on its covenants through
the duration of the period.
The Group has also performed a
'reverse stress case' which shows that the Group could withstand a
30% reduction in volumes from those assessed in the 'base case'
throughout the going concern period before the covenants would be
breached in June FY2026. The Directors have concluded that
the reduction in sales volumes required to breach the covenants is
too remote and that this scenario is therefore considered
implausible.
Under both the base and downside
scenarios modelled, the Group would have sufficient headroom on its
facilities throughout the going concern assessment period.
Additionally, under the downside scenario there are further
mitigating actions which the Group has in its control to either
improve EBITDA or reduce net debt, such as further reduction in
capex spend to only essential maintenance and a decision not to pay
dividends and all bonuses. Further mitigating actions would also
include disposals of licensed and unlicensed
properties.
1. Preliminary statement (continued)
The Directors have also determined
that, over the period of the going concern assessment, there is not
expected to be a significant impact because of climate
change.
After due consideration of the
matters set out above, the Directors are satisfied that there is a
reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to
continue in operational existence for the going concern assessment
period, being the period to 28 June 2025, and have therefore
adopted the going concern basis in the preparation of these
financial statements.
2.
Segmental Analysis
Operating Segments
For management purposes, the Group's
operating segments are:
- Managed Pubs
and Hotels, which comprises managed pubs, managed hotels, Bel &
The Dragon and Cotswold Inns & Hotels.
- Tenanted
Inns, which comprises pubs operated by third parties under tenancy
or lease agreements.
The most important measure used to
evaluate the performance of the business is adjusted profit, which
is the profit before tax, adjusted for separately disclosed
items. The operating segments are organised and managed separately
according to the nature of the products and services provided, with
each segment representing a strategic operating unit.
The Managed Pubs and Hotels operating segments
have been aggregated to one reportable segment on the basis they
have similar economic characteristics. Economic indicators assessed
in determining that the aggregated operating segments share similar
characteristics included expected future financial performance,
operating and competitive risks and return on capital. As such the
operating segments meet the aggregation criteria in paragraph 12
IFRS 8 Operating Segments.
As segment assets and liabilities
are not regularly provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker,
the Group has elected, as provided under IFRS 8 Operating Segments
(amended), not to disclose a measure of segment assets and
liabilities.
|
|
52 weeks ended 30 March 2024
|
Managed Pubs and
Hotels
£m
|
Tenanted
Inns
£m
|
Unallocated1
£m
|
Total
£m
|
Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
Sale of goods and
services
|
288.1
|
24.1
|
-
|
312.2
|
Accommodation income
|
35.5
|
-
|
-
|
35.5
|
Total revenue from contracts with customers
|
323.6
|
24.1
|
-
|
347.7
|
Rental income
|
1.7
|
9.7
|
-
|
11.4
|
Revenue
|
325.3
|
33.8
|
-
|
359.1
|
Segment result
|
41.6
|
13.7
|
(20.8)
|
34.5
|
Operating separately disclosed
items
|
|
|
|
(6.8)
|
Operating profit
|
|
|
|
27.7
|
Net finance costs
|
|
|
|
(13.3)
|
Profit before tax
|
|
|
|
14.4
|
Other segment information
|
|
|
|
|
Additions to property, plant &
equipment
|
23.0
|
3.9
|
0.1
|
27.0
|
Depreciation and
amortisation
|
22.4
|
3.0
|
0.9
|
26.3
|
Impairment of property and
right-of-use assets net of reversal of impairments
|
5.1
|
3.2
|
-
|
8.3
|
Fuller, Smith & Turner P.L.C.
Notes to the Condensed Financial
Statements
For the 52 weeks ended 30 March
2024
|
|
53 weeks ended 1 April 2023
|
Managed Pubs and
Hotels
£m
|
Tenanted
Inns
£m
|
Unallocated1
£m
|
Total
£m
|
Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
Sale of goods and
services
|
271.6
|
21.2
|
-
|
292.8
|
Accommodation income
|
33.7
|
-
|
-
|
33.7
|
Total revenue from contracts with customers
|
305.3
|
21.2
|
-
|
326.5
|
Rental income
|
1.5
|
8.6
|
-
|
10.1
|
Revenue
|
306.8
|
29.8
|
-
|
336.6
|
Segment result
|
30.0
|
13.2
|
(18.1)
|
25.1
|
Operating separately disclosed
items
|
|
|
|
(14.2)
|
Operating profit
|
|
|
|
10.9
|
Profit on disposal of
properties
|
|
|
|
11.8
|
Net finance costs
|
|
|
|
(12.4)
|
Profit before tax
|
|
|
|
10.3
|
Other segment information
|
|
|
|
|
Additions to property, plant &
equipment
|
25.2
|
4.7
|
0.1
|
30.0
|
Depreciation and
amortisation
|
23.4
|
2.3
|
1.0
|
26.7
|
Impairment of property,
right-of-use assets and assets classified as held for
sale
|
12.5
|
1.8
|
-
|
14.3
|
1 Unallocated expenses
represent primarily the salaries and costs of central management
and support services. Unallocated capital expenditure relates to
additions to the head office
3. Separately Disclosed Items
The Group presents separately
disclosed items on the face of the Income Statement for those
material items of income and expense which, because of the nature
or expected infrequency of the events giving rise to them, merit
separate presentation to allow shareholders to understand better
the elements of financial performance in the year.
|
52 weeks
ended
30 March
2024
£m
|
53 weeks
ended
1 April
2023
£m
|
Amounts included in operating profit:
|
|
|
Reorganisation costs
|
-
|
(0.5)
|
Impairment of properties,
right-of-use assets and assets classified as held for sale net of
reversal of impairments (note 9)
|
(8.3)
|
(14.3)
|
Insurance and legal
claims
|
0.4
|
(0.2)
|
VAT provision release
|
1.1
|
0.8
|
Total separately disclosed items included in operating
profit
|
(6.8)
|
(14.2)
|
Profit on disposal of properties
|
-
|
11.8
|
Separately disclosed finance
credits/(expenses):
|
|
|
Finance credit on net pension
liabilities
|
0.7
|
0.5
|
Finance charge on the write down
of arrangement fees
|
-
|
(0.5)
|
Total separately disclosed finance credits
|
0.7
|
-
|
Total separately disclosed items before tax
|
(6.1)
|
(2.4)
|
Exceptional tax:
|
|
|
Profit on disposal of
properties
|
-
|
(1.0)
|
Change in tax rate
|
-
|
0.5
|
Other items
|
0.5
|
1.0
|
Total separately disclosed tax
|
0.5
|
0.5
|
Total separately disclosed items
|
(5.6)
|
(1.9)
|
The impairment charge of £8.3
million (1 April 2023: £14.3 million) relates to an impairment
charge of £10.4 million for the write down of thirty properties and
three right-of-use assets to their recoverable value (1 April 2023:
22 properties) net of a reversal of impairment of £2.1
million.
The insurance and legal claims of
£0.4m relate to three separate proceedings. A credit of £0.3
million on the part settlement of a legal claim that the Group has
brought against its insurers in relation to the pandemic. The
matter is still ongoing. A credit of £0.3 million in relation to
the settlement of a class action which the Group was part of. This
is net of a £0.2 million provision in relation to an ongoing legal
claim against the Group. Further information has not been disclosed
as it could prejudice the outcome of the proceedings.
The VAT provision release of £1.1
million relates to the unwind of a provision on the settlement of a
VAT claim.
There were no disposals of
properties in the year (1 April 2023: £11.8 million realised on the
sale of nine properties).
The cash impact of operating
separately disclosed items before tax for the 52 weeks ended 30
March 2024 was £1.7 million cash inflow (1 April 2023: £0.5 million
cash outflow).
4. Finance Costs
|
52 weeks
ended
30 March
2024
£m
|
53 weeks
ended
1 April
2023
£m
|
Finance Income
Interest income from financial
assets
|
0.3
|
0.2
|
Finance Costs
Interest expense arising
on:
|
|
|
Financial liabilities at amortised
cost - loans and debentures
|
(11.1)
|
(9.6)
|
Financial liabilities at amortised
cost - preference shares
|
(0.1)
|
(0.1)
|
Financial liabilities at amortised
cost - lease liabilities
|
(3.1)
|
(2.9)
|
Net Finance costs before separately disclosed
items
|
(14.0)
|
(12.4)
|
Finance credit on net pension
liabilities (note 3)
|
0.7
|
0.5
|
Finance charge on the write down
of arrangement fees (note 3)
|
-
|
(0.5)
|
Net finance costs after separately disclosed
items
|
(13.3)
|
(12.4)
|
5. Taxation
Group
|
52 weeks
ended
30 March
2024
£m
|
53 weeks
ended
1 April
2023
£m
|
Tax charged in the Income Statement
|
|
|
Corporation tax
|
1.7
|
-
|
Total current tax expense
|
1.7
|
-
|
Deferred tax:
|
|
|
Origination and reversal of
temporary differences
|
4.0
|
3.6
|
Amounts over provided in previous
years
|
(0.4)
|
(1.2)
|
Total deferred tax expense
|
3.6
|
2.4
|
Total tax charged in the Income Statement
|
5.3
|
2.4
|
Analysed as:
|
|
|
Before separately disclosed
items
|
5.8
|
2.9
|
Separately disclosed
items
|
(0.5)
|
(0.5)
|
|
5.3
|
2.4
|
Reconciliation of the Total Tax
Charge
The tax expense in the Income Statement for the
year is higher (2023: higher) than the standard rate of corporation
tax in the UK of 25% (2023: 19%). The differences are
reconciled below:
|
52
weeks ended
30 March 2024
£m
|
53 weeks ended
1 April 2023
£m
|
Profit before tax expense
|
14.4
|
10.3
|
Accounting profit multiplied by the
UK standard rate of corporation tax of 25% (2023: 19%)
|
3.6
|
2.0
|
Items not deductible for tax
purposes
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
Deferred tax over provided in
previous years
|
(0.4)
|
(1.2)
|
Net movements in respect of
property
|
1.9
|
1.4
|
Total tax charged in the Income Statement
|
5.3
|
2.4
|
5. Taxation (continued)
Deferred tax charged/(credited) to the Income
Statement
|
52
weeks ended
30 March 2024
£m
|
53 weeks ended
1 April 2023
£m
|
Deferred tax
depreciation
|
1.2
|
1.5
|
Unrealised capital gains (on
PP&E)
|
(1.2)
|
1.7
|
Retirement benefit
obligations
|
0.8
|
1.8
|
Tax losses
|
2.9
|
0.7
|
Other
|
(0.1)
|
(3.4)
|
Corporate interest
restriction
|
-
|
0.1
|
Deferred tax in the Income Statement
|
3.6
|
2.4
|
|
|
|
Tax relating to Items credited to the
Statement
of Comprehensive Income
Deferred tax:
|
|
|
Net actuarial losses on pension
scheme
|
(0.1)
|
(0.6)
|
Total tax credited in the Statement of Comprehensive
Income
|
(0.1)
|
(0.6)
|
|
|
|
Tax relating to Items charged directly to
equity
Deferred tax:
|
|
|
Share based payments
|
-
|
0.2
|
Total tax charged to equity
|
-
|
0.2
|
6.
Earnings Per Share
Group
|
52 weeks
ended
30 March
2024
£m
|
53 weeks
ended
1 April
2023
£m
|
Profit attributable to equity shareholders
|
9.1
|
7.9
|
Separately disclosed items net of
tax
|
5.6
|
1.9
|
Adjusted earnings attributable to equity
shareholders
|
14.7
|
9.8
|
|
Number
|
Number
|
Weighted average share capital
|
60,043,000
|
60,875,000
|
Dilutive outstanding options and
share awards
|
482,000
|
90,000
|
Diluted weighted average share capital
|
60,525,000
|
60,965,000
|
40p 'A' and 'C' ordinary
share
|
Pence
|
Pence
|
Basic earnings per
share
|
15.16
|
12.98
|
Diluted earnings per
share
|
15.04
|
12.96
|
Adjusted earnings per
share
|
24.48
|
16.10
|
Diluted adjusted earnings per
share
|
24.29
|
16.07
|
4p 'B' ordinary share
|
Pence
|
Pence
|
Basic earnings per
share
|
1.52
|
1.30
|
Diluted earnings per
share
|
1.50
|
1.30
|
Adjusted earnings per
share
|
2.45
|
1.61
|
Diluted adjusted earnings per
share
|
2.43
|
1.61
|
For the purposes of calculating the
number of shares to be used above, 'B' shares have been treated as
one-tenth of an 'A' or 'C' share. The earnings per share
calculation is based on earnings from continuing operations and on
the weighted average ordinary share capital which excludes shares
held by trusts relating to employee share options and shares held
in treasury of 3,410,735 (2023: 2,134,152).
Diluted earnings per share amounts
are calculated using the same earnings figure as for basic earnings
per share, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary
shares outstanding during the year plus the weighted average number
of ordinary shares that would be issued on the conversion of all
the dilutive potential ordinary shares into ordinary
shares.
Adjusted earnings per share are
calculated on profit before tax excluding separately disclosed
items and on the same weighted average ordinary share capital as
for the basic and diluted earnings per share. Adjusted earnings per
share measures have been included as the Directors consider that
these measures better reflect the underlying earnings of the
Group.
7. Dividends
|
52 weeks
ended
30 March
2024
£m
|
53 weeks
ended
1
April 2023
£m
|
|
Declared and paid during the year
|
|
|
|
Equity dividends on ordinary
shares:
|
|
|
|
Final dividend for 2023: 10.0p
(2022: 7.41p)
|
6.1
|
4.6
|
|
Interim dividend for 2024: 6.63p
(2023: 4.68p)
|
3.9
|
2.8
|
|
Equity dividends paid
|
10.0
|
7.4
|
|
Dividends on cumulative preference
shares (note 4)
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
|
Proposed for approval at the Annual General
Meeting
|
|
|
|
Final dividend for 2024: 11.12p
(2023: 10.0p)
|
6.5
|
6.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The pence figures above are for the 40p 'A'
ordinary shares and 40p 'C' ordinary shares. The 4p 'B' ordinary
shares carry dividend rights of one-tenth of those applicable to
the 40p 'A' ordinary shares. Own shares held in the employee share
trusts do not qualify for dividends as the Trustees have waived
their rights. Dividends are also not paid on own shares held as
treasury shares.
8. Property, Plant and Equipment
Group
|
Land
& buildings - owned & used
£m
|
Land
& buildings - owned & lessor
£m
|
Plant
machinery
&
vehicles
£m
|
Fixtures & fittings
£m
|
Total
£m
|
Cost
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 26 March 2022
|
493.6
|
109.6
|
6.3
|
179.5
|
789.0
|
Additions
|
12.0
|
2.3
|
-
|
15.7
|
30.0
|
Disposals
|
(1.4)
|
(0.3)
|
-
|
(6.6)
|
(8.3)
|
Transfer to asset held for
sale
|
(7.8)
|
-
|
-
|
(1.4)
|
(9.2)
|
At 1 April 2023
|
496.4
|
111.6
|
6.3
|
187.2
|
801.5
|
Additions
|
7.7
|
5.2
|
-
|
14.1
|
27.0
|
Disposals
|
(0.1)
|
(0.1)
|
-
|
(2.8)
|
(3.0)
|
Transfer of use
|
(30.2)
|
30.2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Transfer to asset held for
sale
|
(1.4)
|
-
|
-
|
(0.3)
|
(1.7)
|
At 30 March 2024
|
472.4
|
146.9
|
6.3
|
198.2
|
823.8
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and impairment
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 26 March 2022
|
54.9
|
10.3
|
1.7
|
129.4
|
196.3
|
Provided during the
year
|
4.8
|
1.0
|
-
|
13.3
|
19.1
|
Disposals
|
(0.8)
|
-
|
-
|
(6.3)
|
(7.1)
|
Impairment loss (note
9)
|
13.4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
13.4
|
Transfer to assets held for
sale
|
(2.3)
|
-
|
-
|
(1.2)
|
(3.5)
|
At 1 April 2023
|
70.0
|
11.3
|
1.7
|
135.2
|
218.2
|
Provided during the
year
|
4.9
|
1.7
|
-
|
13.1
|
19.7
|
Disposals
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(2.7)
|
(2.7)
|
Transfer of use
|
(4.8)
|
4.8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Impairment loss net of reversals
(note 9)
|
3.8
|
3.2
|
-
|
-
|
7.0
|
Transfer to assets held for
sale
|
(0.1)
|
-
|
-
|
(0.2)
|
(0.3)
|
At 30 March 2024
|
73.8
|
21.0
|
1.7
|
145.4
|
241.9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net book value at 30 March 2024
|
398.6
|
125.9
|
4.6
|
52.8
|
581.9
|
Net book value at 1 April
2023
|
426.4
|
100.3
|
4.6
|
52.0
|
583.3
|
Net book value at 26 March
2022
|
438.7
|
99.3
|
4.6
|
50.1
|
592.7
|
9.
Impairment
Group
|
2024
£m
|
2023
£m
|
Impairment losses
|
|
|
Property, plant and
equipment
|
9.1
|
13.4
|
Right-of-use assets
|
1.3
|
0.5
|
Assets held for sale
|
-
|
0.4
|
Reversal of impairments
|
(2.1)
|
-
|
Total net impairment charge
|
8.3
|
14.3
|
|
|
|
During the 52 weeks ended 30 March
2024, the Group recognised an impairment loss of £9.1 million
(2023: £13.4 million) on property, plant and equipment, £1.3
million of impairment on right-of-use assets (2023: £0.5 million)
and £nil on assets held for sale (2023: £0.4 million) in
respect of the write down of a number of licensed properties where
their asset values exceeded the higher of fair value less costs to
sell or their value in use. The impairment losses were driven
principally by changes in the local competitive environment in
which the pubs are situated. Net of the impairment loss there are
£2.1 million of impairment reversals recognised for pubs where
either an investment has led to a significant growth in performance
or through changing the operating model from Managed to
Tenanted.
10. Leases
Amounts recognised in the Balance
Sheet
Group
|
2024
£m
|
2023
£m
|
Right-of-use assets
|
|
|
Properties
|
58.6
|
66.2
|
Equipment
|
0.1
|
0.2
|
|
58.7
|
66.4
|
|
|
|
Lease liabilities
|
|
|
Current
|
4.4
|
4.8
|
Non-current
|
61.5
|
67.0
|
|
65.9
|
71.8
|
10. Leases (continued)
Set out below are the carrying
amounts of right-of-use assets recognised and the movements during
the period:
Group
|
Property
£m
|
Equipment
£m
|
Vehicles
£m
|
Total
£m
|
Net carrying value as at 1 April
2023
|
66.2
|
0.2
|
-
|
66.4
|
Lease
amendments1
|
(0.2)
|
-
|
-
|
(0.2)
|
Depreciation
|
(6.1)
|
(0.1)
|
-
|
(6.2)
|
Impairment
|
(1.3)
|
-
|
-
|
(1.3)
|
Net carrying value as at 30 March 2024
|
58.6
|
0.1
|
-
|
58.7
|
1 Lease amendments include lease terminations, modifications,
reassessments and extensions to existing lease
agreements.
11. Analysis of Net Debt
52 weeks ended 30 March 2024
|
At 1
April
2023
£m
|
Cash
flows
£m
|
Non
cash1
£m
|
At 30
March
2024
£m
|
Cash and cash equivalents:
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and short-term
deposits
|
14.1
|
(1.9)
|
-
|
12.2
|
|
14.1
|
(1.9)
|
-
|
12.2
|
Financial liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
Lease liabilities
|
(71.8)
|
8.7
|
(2.8)
|
(65.9)
|
|
(71.8)
|
8.7
|
(2.8)
|
(65.9)
|
Debt:
|
|
|
|
|
Bank loans2
|
(119.4)
|
(4.1)
|
(0.3)
|
(123.8)
|
Debenture stock
|
(25.9)
|
6.0
|
-
|
(19.9)
|
Preference shares
|
(1.6)
|
-
|
-
|
(1.6)
|
Total borrowings
|
(146.9)
|
1.9
|
(0.3)
|
(145.3)
|
Net
debt
|
(204.6)
|
8.7
|
(3.1)
|
(199.0)
|
11. Analysis of Net Debt (continued)
53 weeks ended 1 April 2023
|
At 26
March
2022
£m
|
Cash
flows
£m
|
Non
cash1
£m
|
At 1 April
2023
£m
|
Cash and cash equivalents:
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and short-term
deposits
|
15.6
|
(1.5)
|
-
|
14.1
|
|
15.6
|
(1.5)
|
-
|
14.1
|
Financial liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
Lease liabilities
|
(80.7)
|
11.9
|
(3.0)
|
(71.8)
|
|
(80.7)
|
11.9
|
(3.0)
|
(71.8)
|
Debt:
|
|
|
|
|
Bank loans2
|
(120.0)
|
1.5
|
(0.9)
|
(119.4)
|
Debenture stock
|
(25.9)
|
-
|
-
|
(25.9)
|
Preference shares
|
(1.6)
|
-
|
-
|
(1.6)
|
Total borrowings
|
(147.5)
|
1.5
|
(0.9)
|
(146.9)
|
Net
debt
|
(212.6)
|
11.9
|
(3.9)
|
(204.6)
|
1 Non-cash movements relate to the amortisation of arrangement
fees, arrangement fees accrued, and movements in lease
liabilities.
2 Bank loans are net of arrangement fees and cash flows include
the payment of arrangement fees.
12. Pensions
The amount included in the Balance
Sheet arising from the Group's obligations in respect of its
defined benefit retirement plan are:
|
2024
£m
|
2023
£m
|
Fair value of Scheme
assets
|
112.3
|
113.4
|
Present value of Scheme
liabilities
|
(95.0)
|
(98.8)
|
Surplus in the Scheme
|
17.3
|
14.6
|
Included within the total present
value of Group Scheme liabilities of £95.0 million (2023: £98.8
million) are liabilities of £1.4 million (2023: £1.5 million) which
are entirely unfunded. These have been shown separately on the
Balance Sheet as there is no right to offset the assets of the
funded Scheme against the unfunded Scheme.
12. Pensions (continued)
|
Defined
benefit obligation
|
Fair
value of Scheme assets
|
Net
defined surplus
|
|
2024
£m
|
2023
£m
|
2024
£m
|
2023
£m
|
2024
£m
|
2023
£m
|
Balance at beginning of the
year
|
(98.8)
|
(129.6)
|
113.4
|
143.9
|
14.6
|
14.3
|
Included in profit and loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net interest credit
|
(4.6)
|
(3.9)
|
5.3
|
4.4
|
0.7
|
0.5
|
|
(4.6)
|
(3.9)
|
5.3
|
4.4
|
0.7
|
0.5
|
Included in Other Comprehensive Income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actuarial losses relating
to:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actual return less expected return
on Scheme's assets
|
-
|
-
|
(4.0)
|
(32.0)
|
(4.0)
|
(32.0)
|
Experience gains arising
on Scheme liabilities
|
3.7
|
29.5
|
-
|
-
|
3.7
|
29.5
|
|
3.7
|
29.5
|
(4.0)
|
(32.0)
|
(0.3)
|
(2.5)
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employer contributions
|
-
|
-
|
2.6
|
2.3
|
2.6
|
2.3
|
Benefits paid
|
4.7
|
5.2
|
(4.7)
|
(5.2)
|
-
|
-
|
Administrative expenses
|
-
|
-
|
(0.3)
|
-
|
(0.3)
|
-
|
|
4.7
|
5.2
|
(2.4)
|
(2.9)
|
2.3
|
2.3
|
Balance at end of the year
|
(95.0)
|
(98.8)
|
112.3
|
113.4
|
17.3
|
14.6
|
Key assumptions
The key assumptions used in the
valuation of the Scheme are set out below:
Mortality assumptions
|
2024
Years
|
2023
Years
|
Current pensioners (at 65) -
males
|
21.4
|
22.0
|
Current pensioners (at 65) -
females
|
23.8
|
24.2
|
Future pensioners (at 65) -
males
|
22.7
|
23.3
|
Future pensioners (at 65) -
females
|
25.2
|
25.6
|
The Scheme is now closed to future
accrual. The average age of members who were active at closure is
59 for males and 56 for females. The average of all non-pensioners
is 58.
Key financial assumptions used in the valuation
of the Scheme
|
2024
|
2023
|
Rate of increase in pensions in
payment
|
3.05%
|
3.20%
|
Discount rate
|
4.85%
|
4.75%
|
Inflation assumption -
RPI
|
3.10%
|
3.20%
|
Inflation assumption - CPI (pre
2030/post 2030)
|
2.20%/3.10%
|
2.3%/3.2%
|
12. Pensions (continued)
Assets in the Scheme
|
2024
£m
|
2023
£m
|
Corporate bonds
|
46.0
|
56.4
|
Index linked debt
instruments
|
31.6
|
28.7
|
Overseas equities
|
8.0
|
6.6
|
Alternatives
|
20.8
|
19.0
|
Cash
|
3.6
|
0.3
|
Annuities
|
2.3
|
2.4
|
Total market value of assets
|
112.3
|
113.4
|