Interim Results 2000-2001

British Airways PLC 6 November 2000 INTERIM RESULTS 2000-2001 (unaudited) Three months ended Six months ended September 30 Increase/ September30 Increase/ 2000 1999 (Decrease) 2000 1999 (Decrease) Turnover £m 2,552 2,413 5.8% 4,862 4,635 4.9% Operating profit £m 264 117 125.6% 361 211 71.1% Operating margin % 10.3 4.8 5.5pts 7.4 4.6 2.8pts Profit before tax £m 200 40 400.0% 150 240 (37.5)% Retained profit/(loss) for the period £m 137 (27) nm 78 161 (51.6)% Capital and reserves at period end £m 3,577 3,750 (4.6)% 3,577 3,750 (4.6)% Earnings per share Basic p 17.9 2.8 539.3% 12.4 20.3 (38.9)% Diluted p 17.3 2.8 517.9% 12.2 19.7 (38.1)% Dividends per share p 5.1 5.1 0.0% 5.1 5.1 0.0% nm: Not meaningful GROUP PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT (unaudited) Three months ended Sixmonths ended September 30 Increase/ September 30 Increase/ 2000 £m 1999 £m(Decrease)2000 £m 1999 £m (Decrease) Traffic Revenue Scheduled passenger 2,152 2,011 7.0% 4,095 3,879 5.6% Scheduled cargo 152 145 4.8% 292 269 8.6% Non-scheduled services 18 28 (35.7)% 34 49 (30.6)% 2,322 2,184 6.3% 4,421 4,197 5.3% Other revenue 230 229 0.4% 441 438 0.7% TOTAL TURNOVER 2,552 2,413 5.8% 4,862 4,635 4.9% Employee costs 579 667 (13.2)% 1,172 1,269 (7.6)% Depreciation 181 160 13.1% 351 314 11.8% Aircraft operating lease costs 49 44 11.4% 105 88 19.3% Fuel and oil costs 254 193 31.6% 503 366 37.4% Engineering and other aircraft costs 173 179 (3.4)% 338 354 (4.5)% Landing fees and en route charges 168 180 (6.7)% 339 363 (6.6)% Handling charges, catering and other operating costs 357 350 2.0% 688 663 3.8% Selling costs 303 295 2.7% 596 585 1.9% Accommodation, ground equipment costs and currency differences 224 228 (1.8)% 409 422 (3.1)% TOTAL OPERATING EXPENDITURE 2,288 2,296 (0.3)% 4,501 4,424 1.7% OPERATING PROFIT 264 117 125.6% 361 211 71.1% Share of operating profits in associates 28 29 (3.4)% 28 30 (6.7)% TOTAL OPERATING PROFIT INCLUDING ASSOCIATES 292 146 100.0% 389 241 61.4% Other income 2 2 2 3 (33.3)% (Loss)/profit on sale of fixed assets and investments (9) 14 nm (67) 191 nm Interest Net payable (77) (63) 22.2% (147) (128) 14.8% Retranslation charges on currency borrowings (8) (59) nm (27) (67) nm PROFIT BEFORE TAX 200 40 400.0% 150 240 (37.5)% Taxation (4) (7) (42.9)% (10) (17) (41.2)% PROFIT AFTER TAX 196 33 493.9% 140 223 (37.2)% Non equity minority interest* (4) (3) nm (7) (5) nm PROFIT FOR THE PERIOD 192 30 540.0% 133 218 (39.0)% Dividends paid and proposed (55) (57) (3.5)% (55) (57) (3.5)% RETAINED PROFIT/(LOSS) FOR THE PERIOD 137 (27) nm 78 161 (51.6)% nm: Not meaningful * Cumulative Preferred Securities OPERATING AND FINANCIAL STATISTICS (unaudited) MAINLINE SCHEDULED Three months ended Six months ended SERVICES September 30 Increase/ September 30 Increase/ 2000 1999 (Decrease) 2000 1999 (Decrease) TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY RPK (m) 33,059 33,046 0.0% 63,677 62,825 1.4% ASK (m) 42,540 43,554 (2.3)% 84,893 85,936 (1.2)% Passenger load factor(%) 77.7 75.9 1.8pts 75.0 73.1 1.9pts CTK (m) 1,235 1,118 10.5% 2,432 2,151 13.1% RTK (m) 4,554 4,415 3.1% 8,808 8,411 4.7% ATK (m) 6,322 6,309 0.2% 12,544 12,412 1.1% Overall load factor (%)72.0 70.0 2.0pts 70.2 67.8 2.4pts Passengers carried(000) 10,289 10,295 (0.1)% 19,835 19,730 0.5% Tonnes of cargo carried (000) 235 221 6.3% 467 425 9.9% FINANCIAL Passenger revenue per ASK (p) 4.76 4.27 11.5% 4.54 4.17 8.9% Passenger revenue per RPK (p) 6.12 5.63 8.7% 6.05 5.71 6.0% Cargo revenue per CTK(p) 12.22 12.70 (3.8)% 11.92 12.23 (2.5)% Average fuel price before hedging (US cents/US gallon) 99.56 63.62 56.5% 94.24 57.95 62.6% TOTAL GROUP OPERATIONS (including Deutsche BA, 'go', CityFlyer Express and in 1999 only Air Liberte) TRAFFIC AND CAPACITY RPK (m) 35,093 35,873 (2.2)% 67,389 67,905 (0.8)% ASK (m) 45,333 47,465 (4.5)% 90,160 93,278 (3.3)% RTK (m) 4,741 4,689 1.1% 9,148 8,904 2.7% ATK (m) 6,608 6,690 (1.2)% 13,083 13,127 (0.3)% Passengers carried (000) 12,615 12,983 (2.8)% 24,248 24,716 (1.9)% FINANCIAL Total traffic revenue per RTK (p) 48.98 46.57 5.2% 48.33 47.14 2.5% Total traffic revenue per ATK (p) 35.14 32.65 7.6% 33.79 31.97 5.7% Net operating expenditure per RTK (p) 43.41 44.08 (1.5)% 44.38 44.77 (0.9)% Net operating expenditure per ATK (p) 31.14 30.90 0.8% 31.03 30.36 2.2% OPERATIONS Average Manpower Equivalent (MPE) 62,793 65,607 (4.3)% 62,102 65,393 (5.0)% ATKs per MPE (000) 105.2 102.0 3.1% 210.6 200.7 4.9% Aircraft in service at period end 334 340 (6) 334 340 (6) CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Group Performance Group profit before tax for the three months ended September 30, 2000 was £200 million -- up £160 million on last year. The improvement reflected a higher mix of premium passengers and better average fares, combined with continued cost efficiencies. Mainline yields were up on a year ago for the fourth successive quarter. Unit costs increased less than one percent, and productivity improved 3.1%. Operating profit more than doubled to £264 million, despite the impact of higher fuel prices and the suspension of Concorde services; operating margin increased by 5.5 points to 10.3%. Group profit before tax for the six months to September 30 was £150 million; operating profit -- at £361 million -- was up 71% on a year ago. An interim dividend of 5.1 pence per share has been declared, unchanged from last year. The dividend will be payable to shareholders on the register at November 17. Turnover Group turnover for the three months was up 5.8% -- at £2,552 million -- on a flying programme 4.5% smaller. Mainline passenger yields were up 8.7%. In line with our strategy, we continued to grow point-to-point business faster than transfer, premium faster than non-premium, and longhaul faster than shorthaul. Premium traffic grew 7.2%; non premium declined 1%. For the six month period, turnover grew by 4.9% to £4,862 million on a flying programme 3.3% smaller. In the three month period, Cargo revenue increased by 4.8% compared with last year, on tonnage 6.3% higher. Unit Costs Unit costs for the three months were 0.8% higher than the same quarter last year. But for the increase in fuel prices they would have fallen, despite the upward pressure caused by the reduction in Available Tonne Kilometres (ATKs). Cost efficiencies more than offset cost increases in respect of wage and supplier prices, adverse exchange rate changes and added product costs. Productivity for the quarter (as measured by ATKs per manpower equivalent) rose by 3.1% year over year. Non Operating Items Income from associates, primarily our share of Qantas's results, for the three months to September 30, was £28 million -- almost flat year over year. Losses on disposals of fixed assets and investments for the three months were £9 million, chiefly reflecting the scrapping of obsolete engine modifications. In the same period last year, profits on disposals of £14 million were made. For the six month period, losses on disposal were £67 million and included a £56 million book loss on the disposal of Air Liberte, but this was after crediting shareholders' reserves with £173 million of goodwill written off in earlier years. A small profit on the disposal of our 14% trade investment in Hogg Robinson was also made. Last year's profit included £149 million from the disposal of our remaining shares in Galileo International. Net interest expense for the quarter was lower than last year, mainly because book charges for the revaluation of yen debts (used to fund aircraft acquisitions) were £55 million lower. The revaluation -- a non cash item required by standard accounting practice -- results from the strengthening of the yen against sterling. Last year the second quarter charge was £62 million. Earnings Per Share For the three month period, the profit attributable to shareholders was £192 million, equivalent to 17.9 pence per share, compared with earnings of 2.8 pence last year. For the six month period, the profit attributable to shareholders was £133 million, equivalent to 12.4 pence per share, compared with earnings of 20.3 pence last year. Net Debt / Total Capital Ratio Borrowings, net of cash and short term loans and deposits, fell to £5,724 million at September 30, 2000 - down £192 million since March 31, 2000 -- due primarily to the improved operating performance and the normal seasonal increase in cash balances. This reduction lowered the net debt/total capital ratio by 2.4 points to 61.5%. Shareholders' funds increased because of the retained profit for the period and the write back of goodwill on the Air Liberte disposal. Aircraft Fleet In the quarter ending September 30, 2000 the fleet in service reduced by 3 aircraft to 334. This included additions of 4 Airbus A319, 2 Boeing 737-500s and 2 Embraer RJ145. Disposals included 3 Boeing 767-300, 3 Boeing 757-200, 4 Boeing 737-200 and 1 ATR 42 operated by CityFlyer Express. Concorde services are currently suspended following the Air France accident on July 25. We remain confident that the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK will re-issue the certificate of airworthiness; services will resume as soon as possible. In early October we announced that further rationalisation of our winter 2000 and summer 2001 flying programmes would enable us eventually to dispose of four 747-400 aircraft. Subsidiaries and Associates Following the successful establishment of Go as a leading no-frills airline in Europe, BA intends to realise the value created and offer the subsidiary for sale. Effective April 1, 2000 Air Liberte was sold to Taitbout Antibes for net proceeds of £30 million. Alliance Development In late September we announced the decision to terminate talks with KLM. We had made considerable progress but always recognised that this was a complex proposal, involving not only commercial and economic issues, but aeropolitical, regulatory and other matters. It was not possible to resolve these; relations between the two parties remain amicable. We remain committed to the oneworld alliance; its growth continued with the addition of Aer Lingus and LAN Chile in June 2000. Following its purchase by Air Canada, Canadian Airlines, a founder member of oneworld, left the alliance in June 2000. Outlook The outlook for the second half is better than last year. Lower capacity growth in our main markets and continued economic growth are positive factors, although the situation in the Middle East is cause for concern. Benefits from the new fleet and network strategy and from the sustained drive for cost efficiency are now showing up in our financial results, although high fuel prices continue to impact earnings. Further improvements are anticipated from the renewed attention to customer service, the increased focus on employee morale and the phased introduction of new products (initial customer reaction is excellent). Note: Copies of the summary Interim Statement will be issued to all shareholders through the medium of the British Airways Investor newspaper. Copies of the full Interim report are available from the Company's registered office and on the Internet at www.british- airways.com/investor. GROUP BALANCE SHEET (unaudited) September 30 March 31 (unaudited) (audited) 2000 £m 1999 £m 2000 £m FIXED ASSETS Intangible Assets 61 62 Tangible Assets 10,348 10,015 10,294 Investments 483 398 567 10,892 10,413 10,923 CURRENT ASSETS Stocks 73 85 78 Debtors 1,463 1,581 1,368 Cash, short-term loans and deposits 1,295 1,573 1,146 2,831 3,239 2,592 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR (3,341) (3,207) (3,366) NET CURRENT (LIABILITIES)/ASSETS (510) 32 (774) TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 10,382 10,445 10,149 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR Borrowings and other creditors (6,618) (6,492) (6,615) Convertible Capital Bonds 2005 (113) (113) (113) (6,731) (6,605) (6,728) PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES AND CHARGES (74) (90) (81) 3,577 3,750 3,340 CAPITAL AND RESERVES Called up share capital 271 270 270 Reserves 3,114 3,287 2,877 3,385 3,557 3,147 Minority interest 16 16 Non equity minority interest 176 193 177 3,577 3,750 3,340 STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES (unaudited) Six months ended Year ended September 30 March 31 (umaudited) (unaudited) 2000 £m 1999 £m 2000 £m Profit/(loss) for the period 133 218 (21) Other recognised gains and losses relating to the period Exchange and other movements (15) 13 (20) Total recognised gains andlosses 118 231 (41) These summary financial statements were approved by the Directors on November 6, 2000. GROUP CASH FLOW STATEMENT (unaudited) Six months ended Year ended September 30 March 31 (unaudited) (audited) 2000 £m 1999 £m 2000 £m CASH INFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 884 681 1,186 DIVIDENDS RECEIVED FROM ASSOCIATES 44 RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS AND SERVICING OF FINANCE (172) (156) (315) TAXATION 3 7 (2) CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND FINANCIAL INVESTMENT (111) 25 (146) ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSALS 28 (21) (218) EQUITY DIVIDENDS PAID (137) (188) (242) Cash inflow before management of liquid resources and financing 495 348 307 MANAGEMENT OF LIQUID RESOURCES (195) (393) 9 FINANCING (342) 67 (319) (Decrease)/Increase in cash in the period (42) 22 (3) GROUP FINANCING SURPLUS /(REQUIREMENT) Cash inflow before management of liquid resources and finaning 495 348 307 Acquisitions under loans, finance leases and hire purchase arrangements (229) (328) (659) Total financing surplus /(requirement)for the period 266 20 (352) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS For the period ended September 30, 2000 1 ACCOUNTING CONVENTION The accounts have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the Report and Accounts for the year ended March 31, 2000 in accordance with all applicable United Kingdom accounting standards and the Companies Act 1985 and are consistent with those applied in the previous year. Six months ended Year ended September 30 March 31 2000 £m 1999 £m 2000 £m 2 RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING PROFIT TO CASH INFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Group operating profit 361 211 84 Depreciation charges 351 314 648 Other items not involving the movement of cash 8 21 39 (Increase)/decrease in stocksand debtors (115) (200) 4 Increase in creditors 279 335 411 Cash inflow from operating activities 884 681 1,186 3 RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FLOW TO MOVEMENT IN NET DEBT (Decrease)/increase in cash during the period (42) 22 (3) Cash outflow from decrease in debt and lease financing 344 130 516 Cash outflow/(inflow) from liquid resources 195 393 (9) Change in net debt resulting from cash flows 497 545 504 New loans and finance leases taken out and hire purchase arrangements made (229)(328) (659) Divested from subsidiary undertakings sold during the period 69 Assumed from subsidiary undertakings acquired during the year (42) Conversion of Convertible Capital Bonds 13 13 Exchange movements (145) (72) (206) Movement in net debt during the period 192 158 (390) Net debt at April 1 (5,916) (5,526) (5,526) Net debt at period end (5,724) (5,368) (5,916) Three months ended Six months ended September 30 September 30 2000 £m 1999 £m 2000 £m 1999 £m 4 OTHER INCOME AND CHARGES Income from trade investments 1 1 1 2 Other 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 3 Other income and charges represented by: Group 2 2 2 3 Associates 2 2 2 3 Three months ended Six months ended September 30 September 30 2000 £m 1999 £m 2000 £m 1999 £m 5 PROFIT ON SALE OF FIXED ASSETS AND INVESTMENTS Net profit on sale of investment in Galileo International Inc. 149 Net loss on disposal of Air Liberte (Note 1 below) (56) Net (loss)/profit on disposal of other fixed assets and investments (9) 14 (11) 42 (9) 14 (67) 191 Represented by: Group (10) 10 (68) 187 Associates 1 4 1 4 (9) 14 (67) 191 Note 1 - The loss on disposal of Air Liberte is subject to final determination of the cost involved in completing the transaction. 6 INTEREST Net payable: Interest payable less amount capitalised 101 86 191 171 Interest receivable (24) (23) (44) (43) 77 63 147 128 Retranslation charges on currency borrowings 8 59 27 67 85 122 174 195 Net interest payable represented by: Group 80 118 169 191 Associates 5 4 5 4 85 122 174 195 7 TAXATION Tax on the profit on ordinary activities has been provided for on the basis of the estimated rate of charge for the year ending March 31, 2001. 8 DIVIDENDS PAID AND PROPOSED There was no charge to the profit and loss account in relation to 1999-00 final dividends paid to Convertible Capital Bond holders(1998-99: £1 million), who converted their bonds in June 2000, in accordance with the terms of the bonds. 9 EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic earnings per share are calculated on a weighted average of 1,075,267,000 ordinary shares (September 1999: 1,074,528,000)as adjusted for shares held for the purposes of employee share ownership plans including the Long Term Incentive Plan. Diluted earnings per share are calculated on a weighted average of 1,123,463,000 ordinary shares (September 1999: 1,126,460,000) after allowing for the conversion rights attaching to the Convertible Capital Bonds and for adjustments to income to eliminate interest payable on the Convertible Capital Bonds. The number of shares in issue at September 30, 2000 was 1,082,108,000 (September 30, 1999: 1,081,225,000; March 31, 2000: 1,081,515,000) ordinary shares of 25 pence each. September 30 March 31 2000 £m 1999 £m 2000 £m 10 TANGIBLE ASSETS Fleet 8,469 8,294 8,437 Property 1,509 1,419 1,488 Equipment 370 302 369 10,348 10,015 10,294 11 INVESTMENTS Associated undertakings 450 341 507 Trade investments 8 32 35 Investment in own shares 25 25 25 483 398 567 12 CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR Loans 75 199 140 Finance leases 89 88 120 Hire purchase arrangements 311 273 288 475 560 548 Overdrafts - unsecured 6 5 Corporate taxation 30 37 18 Other creditors and accruals 2,836 2,604 2,795 3,341 3,207 3,366 13 BORROWINGS AND OTHER CREDITORS FALLING DUE AFTER MORE THAN ONE YEAR Loans 896 980 903 Finance leases 1,906 1,520 1,768 Hire purchase arrangements 3,629 3,762 3,725 6,431 6,262 6,396 Other creditors and accruals 187 230 219 6,618 6,492 6,615 14 RESERVES Balance at April 1 2,877 3,087 3,087 Retained profit/(loss) for the period 78 161 (216) Exchange and other adjustments (15) 13 (20) Reduction in reserves resulting from shares issued to a Qualifying Employee Share Ownership Trust in relation to the 1993 Share Save Scheme (2) (2) Net Movement on goodwill 173 7 7 Premium arising from issue of ordinary share capital 1 21 21 3,114 3,287 2,877 15 The figures for the three months and six months ended September 30, 2000 and 1999 are unaudited and do not constitute full accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The figures for the year ended March 31, 2000 have been extracted from the full accounts with certain minor presentational changes for that year, which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and on which the auditors have issued an unqualified audit report. INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO BRITISH AIRWAYS Plc Introduction We have been instructed by the Company to review the financial information set out on page 2 and pages 6 to 10 and we have read the other information contained in the interim report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the financial information. Directors' responsibilities The interim report, including the financial information contained therein, is the responsibility of, and has been approved by the directors. The Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority require that the accounting policies and presentation applied to the interim figures should be consistent with those applied in preparing the preceding annual accounts except where any changes, and the reasons for them, are disclosed. Review work performed We conducted our review in accordance with guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/4 issued by the Auditing Practices Board. A review consists principally of making enquiries of the Group's management and applying analytical procedures to the financial information and underlying financial data and based thereon, assessing whether the accounting policies and presentation have been consistently applied unless otherwise disclosed. A review excludes audit procedures such as tests of controls and verification of assets, liabilities and transactions. It is substantially less in scope than an audit performed in accordance with Auditing Standards and therefore provides a lower level of assurance than an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion on the financial information. Review conclusion On the basis of our review we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial information as presented for both the three months and six months ended September 30, 2000. Ernst & Young London November 6, 2000 UNITED STATES GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (US GAAP) INFORMATION The accounts have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles accepted in the United Kingdom which differ in certain respects from those generally accepted in the United States. The significant differences are the same as those set out in the Report and Accounts for the year ended March 31, 2000. The adjusted net income and shareholders' equity applying US GAAP are set out below: Three months ended Six months ended September 30 September 30 2000 £m 1999 £m 2000 £m 1999 £m Profit for the period as reported in the Group profit and loss account 192 30 133 218 US GAAP adjustments 6 14 1 (67) Net income as so adjusted to accord with US GAAP 198 44 134 151 Net income per Ordinary Share as so adjusted Basic 18.5p 4.1p 12.5p 14.1p Diluted 17.8p 4.1p 12.3p 13.8p Net income per American Depositary Share as so adjusted Basic 185p 41p 125p 141p Diluted 178p 41p 123p 38p September 30 March 31 2000 £m 199£m 2000 £m Shareholders' equity as reported in the Group balance sheet 3,385 3,557 3,147 US GAAP adjustments (1,142) (529) (758) Shareholders' equity as so adjusted to accord with US GAAP 2,243 3,028 2,389 AIRCRAFT FLEET Number in service with Group companies at September 30, 2000 Operating leases off On balance balance sheet Future sheet Exten- deli- aircraft dible Other Total veries options MAINLINE (Notes 1 & 2) sheet Concorde (Note 3) 7 7 Boeing 747-200 12 3 15 Boeing 747-400 57 57 Boeing 777 35 35 9 16 Boeing 767-300 22 22 Boeing 757-200 44 2 3 49 Airbus A318 12 12 Airbus A319 (Note 4) 15 15 24 124 Airbus A320 10 10 20 Boeing 737-200 6 6 Boeing 737-300 7 7 Boeing 737-400 22 12 34 Boeing 737-500 5 5 Embraer RJ145 5 5 2 14 Turbo Props (Note 5) 16 16 Sub total 209 20 54 283 67 166 DEUTSCHE BA, 'go' and CITYFLYER EXPRESS (Note 6) Boeing 737-300 31 31 Avro RJ100 10 10 6 6 Turbo Props (Note 7) 10 10 Sub total 20 31 51 6 6 GROUP TOTAL 209 40 85 334 73 172 Notes: 1 Includes those operated by British Airways Plc, British Airways (European Operations at Gatwick) Ltd and Brymon Airways Ltd. 2 Excludes 1 McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30, 4 Boeing 737- 200s, 2 Boeing 767-300s and 3 Boeing 757-200s stood down pending disposal or return to lessor, 1 Boeing 737-500 and 1 Boeing 777-200ER have been delivered but are not yet in service. 3 Concorde services are currently suspended following the Air France accident on July 25. We remain confident that the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK will re-issue the certificate of airworthiness; services will resume as soon as possible. 4 Options include reserved delivery positions and, if taken, may be A319, A320 or A321. 5 de Havilland Canada DHC-8s. 6 Net reductions since March 31, 2000 include 14 McDonnell Douglas aircraft, 15 Fokker aircraft and 3 ATR aircraft, totalling 32 aircraft disposed of with Air Liberte. 7 7 ATR 72s and 3 ATR 42s for CityFlyer Express.

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