Final Results

Barr(A.G.) PLC 26 March 2003 26 March 2003 A.G. BARR p.l.c. PRELIMINARY RESULTS A.G. Barr p.l.c., the Scottish based manufacturer of soft drinks including the popular Irn-Bru, Tizer and Orangina brands, announces its preliminary results today for the 12 months to 25 January 2003. Key Points • Profit on ordinary activities before tax increased by 14% to £12.2 million (2002 - £10.7 million). • Turnover increased 3% to £120 million (2002 - £116.3 million). • An increase in the final dividend of 10.5% to give a total dividend for the year of 23.1p an increase of 6.9 % over the previous year. • Irn-Bru litreage growth figures in England and Wales show a year-on-year increase of well over 16%. • Significant growth outside of the core carbonates business. Growth over 30% in Findlays Natural Mineral Water and Simply Citrus brands. • Turnover for the first 8 weeks of the current year has been 4.5% up on the same period last year. Commenting Robin Barr, the Executive Chairman, said: 'Although at the time this Statement is written, we face, in addition to the ongoing commercial challenges, quite abnormal financial and political threats on a worldwide scale, it is some comfort to reflect that our business is part of a relatively stable food and drinks sector and we believe that our brands, handled in an appropriate manner, will enable us to develop and prosper even in uncertain times.' For further information: A.G. Barr Robin Barr, Chairman or Roger White, Managing Director or Iain Greenock, Finance Director Tel: 0141 554 1899 Buchanan Communications: Tim Thompson/Nicola Cronk Tel: 020 7466 5000 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Review of Results Reflecting an excellent performance in the second six months, profit on ordinary activities before taxation for the year to January 2003 was £12.2 million compared with £10.7 million for the previous year - an increase of 14%. We have thus achieved a significant step in a recovery towards the record level of £13.9 million recorded for the year to January 2001. Although competitive pressures in the market place continued unabated, internally generated efficiencies allied to a more advantageous channel/product mix enabled us during the second half of the year to achieve an improvement in year-on-year margins despite only a modest increase in turnover. This resulted in a second half profit of £6.0 million compared with £5.0 million for the same period last year. For the full year to January 2003 turnover was £120.0 million, an increase of 3% over the previous year. The increase during the second six months was only 2% which reflected both the lack of buoyancy in the soft drinks market generally on account of the awful summer weather during 2002 and also the earlier timing compared with 2001/02 of the major promotional activity for our Irn-Bru brand in England and Wales which had moved some sales into the first half of the year. Earnings per share on issued share capital were 43.78p compared with 38.47p for the previous year. Your Directors are pleased to be able to recognise both this improvement and the satisfactory cash position shown in our Balance Sheet by recommending an increase in the final dividend to 15.75p per share to give a total dividend for the year of 23.10p. This would represent an increase of 10 1/2% in the final dividend and just under 7% in the total dividend compared with the amounts paid last year. Defined Benefit Pension Schemes Shareholders will be well aware that the recent sustained fall in worldwide stock exchange values has led to funding problems for defined benefit schemes. Our own schemes are similarly affected by this problem although we have limited our ongoing exposure by closing our staff pension scheme to new entrants in March 2002 and substituting a revised money purchase scheme for both staff and works employees. We currently await the triennial actuarial valuation for our defined benefit schemes which is being conducted by our Pension Advisers as at 1st November 2002 and, since it is likely that these schemes will show a substantial underfunding, your Board has felt it prudent to make a provision in the Accounts to January 2003 of an additional pension charge of £0.25 million to reflect the first three months subsequent to the valuation date. We will of course thoroughly review the situation when the valuation has been completed. Shareholders should note that triennial valuations are the basis on which the actual contributions which a company must make over the years to fund the pension promises are assessed. This differs from the calculations demanded by FRS17 which are again shown in this year's Accounts but which I criticised, on their introduction last year, as being potentially misleading. Performance Related Bonus Scheme We have recently completed, in conjunction with external Consultants, a review into current best practice in respect of incentives for directors and senior managers. This has resulted in the Remuneration Committee proposing and the Board agreeing that it is now appropriate to discontinue the existing Performance Related Share Scheme which was introduced in 1997 and to replace it with a new incentive plan. Details of this plan are contained in the attached letter and the two resolutions which would implement it will be proposed as special business at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. Personnel Roger White joined the Company as Managing Director in September 2002 after a total of fifteen year's service with Rank Hovis McDougall Ltd and his considerable experience in the grocery sector has enabled him to settle quickly into his new position and to make an early contribution to our future plans. I am pleased to recommend that his appointment be confirmed at the Annual General Meeting. I am also pleased to again have the opportunity to thank, on behalf of shareholders, each employee for their individual skills and effort which taken altogether have contributed to the improving performance which we have achieved over the last twelve months. Trading Outlook Turnover for the first eight weeks of the new financial year has been 41/2% up on the same period last year - a positive start during what is of course a time of seasonally low demand. The market place has recently seen a modest uplift in prices which we are following but that benefit will be impacted both by the increase in the price of sugar in the UK on account of the recent fall in the value of the £ sterling against the Euro as well as the extra costs which we face in respect of our pension schemes to which I referred earlier. In addition we face higher NHI contributions from April 6th and general insurance premiums have also increased substantially in some categories. The fall in the value of the £ sterling, while harmful to our sugar costs, should if sustained lead to a reduction in the recent levels of soft drinks imported into the UK and consequently a more stable market place. Although at the time this Statement is written we face, in addition to the ongoing commercial challenges, quite abnormal financial and political threats on a worldwide scale, it is some comfort to reflect that our business is part of a relatively stable food and drinks sector and we believe that our brands, handled in an appropriate manner, will enable us to develop and prosper even in uncertain times. Robin Barr Chairman 26 March 2003 MANAGING DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT Simplicity and focus remain the key attributes of A.G. Barr's continuing success. Business performance in 2002/03 has improved. We continue to follow our growth based strategy which is focused on a core group of differentiated and well supported brands. Sales volume increased by 6% Profit increased by 14% Our Purpose A.G. Barr is simply about soft drinks. Providing consumers with a choice of exciting, enjoyable and truly differentiated brands across the complete soft drinks category is our purpose. We deliver this each and every day to thousands of outlets treating each customer as an individual and aiming to differentiate through our service as well as our brands. Our Market Place The soft drinks category is as vibrant and exciting as ever. Competition is intense and only the best will survive. A.G. Barr continues to punch well above its weight. The total soft drinks market grew in volume by 3% in the year to Jan '03. This figure includes the carbonates sector which has significantly slowed its growth from 3% in the year to Jan '02 to only 0.4% growth in the last 12 months. A.G. Barr's growth, however, does break this trend with our carbonates business growing at over 4% outstripping both total soft drinks and growing at ten times the market rate of carbonates. Outside our core carbonates business we have experienced significant growth. In both bottled water and fruit based drinks through Findlays Natural Mineral Water and Simply Citrus brands, growth was well over 30% in the year. Our brand Irn-Bru continues to go from strength to strength. Sales have grown in both standard and diet variants and across all pack sizes, from impulse cans to 4 x 2 litre take home packs. Litreage sales have increased in our high penetration traditional core territory where we are also extremely proud that Irn-Bru has retained the accolade of No. 1. Scottish Grocery Brand continuing to defeat all comers across all categories to be the nation's favourite. The execution of our Irn-Bru plans across England and Wales has driven both growth and brand awareness. Last year's diverse mix of marketing activity has recruited and, importantly, retained large numbers of new Irn-Bru consumers outside our traditional areas of strength. Irn-Bru litreage growth figures in England and Wales show a year-on-year increase of well over 16% and key marketing measures of household penetration and brand awareness levels continue to rise. Irn-Bru is still the largest single flavoured brand (excluding Colas) in the UK, and in the last year has increased its lead over its nearest rival. The investment and activity behind the growth plans for Irn-Bru across all trade channels and territories will continue to dominate our focus throughout the business in 2003/04. Excellent growth in the UK has been mirrored by our first successful year in conjunction with our partners Pepsi Bottling Group in Russia. Irn-Bru has now captured almost of 1% of the huge Russian market, an exceptional performance and a strong basis for future growth in this and other export markets. Our Partners Lipton Ice Tea featured strongly in our impulse programme for 2002/03. The partnership between A.G. Barr and Unilever Bestfoods to introduce Lipton Ice Tea to the UK consumer has commenced on a solid basis. The strength of our route to market and our executional focus has made Lipton Ice Tea an exciting newcomer to the impulse trade. The continuing support programmes of both partners in this relationship will make Lipton Ice Tea a key growth feature of our portfolio in the years to come. Pernod Ricard, our franchise partner for the Orangina range in the UK, awarded A.G. Barr the Gold Bottling trophy 2002 for excellent sales growth and for the successful introduction of the Orangina Rouge product in the UK. We are delighted to see Orangina again performing well in its market segment with sales growth of over 7% in 2002/03. Investing For The Future Investing in our people has always been a core strength of A.G. Barr and I am pleased to report, as one of the newest recruits, that people really do come first in our business. The enthusiasm, experience and commitment of the teams across the whole company remains beyond question and, when that is harnessed with training and strong business processes, we are fit to meet the challenges of the future. Investment in improved efficiency across our manufacturing base and the supply chain has also continued at a pace throughout the past year. This investment has insured we can improve not only our efficiency but also our ability to deliver improved customer and consumer solutions. The development of multi-pack technology, in-store display pallet merchandising and outstanding on-pack branding opportunities through improved printed film technology are only a sample of our continuing ambition to meet and exceed consumer and customer expectations. Innovation The soft drinks market has been awash with product extensions and new product ideas in the past 12 months. Whilst some have proved extremely successful, many have fallen by the wayside. Much of our success has been through innovation, not only in products, but also in innovative communication and in-store execution. The growth of Findlays Natural Mineral Water, Simply Citrus and Simply Clear along with many successes in new packaging formats with our established brands have driven incremental new sales across all trade channels. Delivering Our Promises - The Future We have a solid asset base and a growing consumer penetration from our key brands. Our portfolio is diverse and truly different. We are learning more and more about our consumers. We have commenced a programme of rigorous review to include all our core business processes and procedures and this will be followed by the development of plans to increase the effective execution of our simple strategy. We will continue to deliver growth by developing brands that consumers love, products and services that customers need and will thereby deliver sustainable financial returns to all our shareholders and stakeholders. The coming year will see our longer-term strategic goals develop further, based on our improved consumer insights and sound business plans. At all times this will be accompanied by increased focus on excellent day-to-day execution. Our business operates in a highly dynamic and competitive sector but we are confident that our strategy - focused on providing consumers a choice of differentiated, well supported and exciting brands - will continue to deliver for us. Roger White Managing Director 26 March 2003 A.G. BARR p.l.c. and its Subsidiary Companies Consolidated profit and loss account for the year ended 25 January, 2003 The following are the unaudited results for the 12 months to 25 January, 2003. The Board recommends the payment of a final dividend of 15.75p per share which if approved by the shareholders will be posted on 4 June, 2003. The total distribution proposed for the year amounts to 23.10p per share (2002 - 21.6p) Year ended Year ended 25.01.03 26.01.02 £000 £000 Turnover 120,005 116,261 Profit on ordinary activities before interest 11,873 10,487 Interest received 340 253 Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 12,213 10,740 Tax on profit on ordinary activities 3,693 3,254 Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 8,520 7,486 Consolidated Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses Profit as above 8,520 7,486 Adjustment for prior periods - FRS 19 deferred taxation (see note) - (3,293) Total gains and losses recognised since last annual report 8,520 4,193 Note FRS 19 (Deferred tax) requires full provision to be made for deferred tax assets and liabilities arising from timing differences between the recognition of gains and losses in the financial statements and their recognition for tax purposes. Previously, under the now superseded SSAP 15, provision was only required in respect of those timing differences which were expected to reverse in the foreseeable future without being replaced. Earnings per share on issued share capital 43.78 p 38.47 p Basic earnings per share 45.36 p 39.90 p Fully diluted earnings per share 43.20 p 37.97 p Dividend per share 23.10 p 21.60 p Dividend (£000) 4,496 4,202 Record date: 02 May, 2003 Ex-div date : 30 April, 2003 The financial information set out in this announcement does not constitute statutory accounts. The financial information for the year ended 26 January 2002 is derived from the statutory accounts for that year which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors have reported on those accounts and their report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under S237 Companies Act 1985. Balance Sheets as at 25 January, 2003 GROUP COMPANY 2003 2002 2003 2002 £000 £000 £000 £000 Fixed assets Tangible assets 42,255 42,580 41,685 41,971 Investment in subsidiaries and associated undertakings - - 205 205 42,255 42,580 41,890 42,176 Current assets Stocks 12,185 11,536 12,093 11,437 Debtors 20,269 21,078 19,972 20,818 Investment 3,092 2,623 3,092 2,623 Cash at bank 15,545 8,265 15,432 8,265 51,091 43,502 50,589 43,143 Creditors: Due within one year 27,282 24,113 27,435 24,259 Net current assets 23,809 19,389 23,154 18,884 Total assets less current liabilities 66,064 61,969 65,044 61,060 Provisions for liabilities and charges Deferred credit 636 645 636 645 Deferred taxation 5,011 4,931 5,011 4,930 5,647 5,576 5,647 5,575 60,417 56,393 59,397 55,485 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 4,865 4,865 4,865 4,865 Share premium account 905 905 905 905 Profit and loss account 54,647 50,623 53,627 49,715 60,417 56,393 59,397 55,485 Cash Flow Statement For the year ended 25 January, 2003 2003 2002 £000 £000 £000 £000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 19,737 12,989 Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest received 352 268 Interest paid (12) (11) Interest element of hire purchase paid - (4) Net cash inflow from returns on investments and servicing of finance 340 253 Taxation Corporation tax paid (3,349) (4,181) Capital expenditure and financial investment Purchase of tangible fixed assets (5,411) (7,750) Sale of tangible fixed assets 328 258 (5,083) (7,492) Acquisitions and disposals Investment in subsidiary - (105) Net overdraft acquired with subsidiary - (90) - (195) 11,645 1,374 Dividends paid (4,204) (4,200) 7,441 (2,826) Financing Issue of share capital - 50 Capital element of hire purchase repaid - (304) Loans repaid - (30) - (284) Increase / (decrease ) in cash 7,441 (3,110) This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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