Final Results

Tesco PLC 20 April 2004 20 April 2004 TESCO PLC PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF RESULTS 53 WEEKS ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2004 'UNDERLYING GROUP PROFITS UP 21.9%' GROUP HIGHLIGHTS • GROUP SALES UP 18.7% TO £33.6BN • UNDERLYING PRE-TAX PROFITS* OF £1,708M UP 21.9% • PRE-TAX PROFIT UP 17.6% TO £1,600M • POST TAX RETURN ON CAPITAL EMPLOYED INCREASES TO 10.5% • UNDERLYING DILUTED EPS* UP 16.7% TO 16.31P • DILUTED EPS UP 11.3% TO 14.93P • FULL YEAR DIVIDEND UP 10.3% TO 6.84P • DEBT HAS REDUCED TO £4.1BN FROM £4.7BN • GEARING HAS REDUCED TO 51% FROM 73% • 326,000 EMPLOYEES WORLD-WIDE SHARE A RECORD £148M IN PROFIT SHARE AND SAVE AS YOU EARN • A FURTHER 20,000 JOBS WORLD-WIDE WILL BE CREATED IN 2004/05 UK • SALES ARE UP 16.3% TO £26.9BN (UP 14.2% TO £26.4BN ON A 52 WEEK BASIS) • LIKE FOR LIKE GROWTH OF 6.7%, INCLUDING STRONG VOLUME OF 6.6% INTERNATIONAL • TOTAL INTERNATIONAL SALES UP 29% TO £6.7BN • TOTAL INTERNATIONAL UNDERLYING OPERATING PROFIT UP 44% TO £306M • 48.7% OF GROUP SPACE AND 90,000 STAFF OVERSEAS RETAILING SERVICES • TESCO PERSONAL FINANCE ACHIEVES £160M PROFIT**. TESCO SHARE IS £80M, UP FROM £48M LAST YEAR • TESCO.COM INCREASES SALES*** TO £577M AND PROFITS ARE UP TO £28M FROM £12M LAST YEAR Terry Leahy, Chief Executive, comments: 'Today's figures demonstrate what a great British success Tesco is at home and abroad. The last year has been an exciting time for retail and a great year for Tesco. Sales in our core UK market have grown by more than 14%. We have seen a step change in non-food with an increase in market share. Our retail services are helping us to grow profits strongly by giving our customers choice and value. Internationally we have grown profits by an impressive 44%.' * Underlying pre-tax profit excludes net loss on disposal of fixed assets (£9m), integration costs (£45m) and goodwill amortisation (£54m). ** Pre tax profits post minority interest. *** Sales and profit exclude USA and Korea start up losses Underlying operating profit on the following pages refers to operating profit excluding integration costs and goodwill amortisation. FINANCIAL Group sales including VAT increased by 18.7% to £33.6bn (2003 - £28.3bn) up 16.7% to £33.0bn on a 52 week basis. Group underlying pre-tax profit increased by 21.9% to £1,708m, up 20.2% to £1,684m on a 52 week basis. Pre-tax profit increased by 17.6% to £1,600m (2003 - £1,361m). We have made one accounting adjustment which brings us in line with the latest guidance issued in November 2003 on revenue recognition given by the Accounting Standards Board in relation to FRS 5. The total impact is a £395m reduction in sales this year and £333m last year. This does not materially impact sales growth. Profit and cash flow are not impacted at all. UK sales on a 52 week basis grew by 14.2% to £26.4bn (2003 - £23.1bn) of which 6.7% came from existing stores and 7.5% from net new stores. Existing store growth has been driven by strong volumes of 6.6%. UK underlying operating profit on a 53 week basis was 17.7% higher at £1,526m (2003 - £1,297m). The operating profit margin increased 0.1% to 6.2%. Total international sales grew by 29% to £6.7bn and contributed £306m to underlying operating profits, up 44% on last year. The operating profit margin grew from 4.5% to 5.1%. In The Rest of Europe sales rose by 27.5% to £3.8bn (2003 - £3.0bn) and contributed an underlying operating profit of £184m, up 30.5% on last year. In Asia sales were up 31.1% to £2.8bn and we made an underlying operating profit of £122m up 71.8% on last year. Our share of Total joint ventures' and associates' profit (excluding goodwill amortisation) for the year was £99m compared to £72m last year. Tesco Personal Finance profit was £160m and our share was £80m, up from £48m last year. Tesco.com made a profit of £28m up from £12m and we achieved sales of £577m, up 29% on last year. Net interest payable was £223m (2003 - £180m). Interest cover is strong at 8.2 times. Tax has been charged at an effective rate of 31.1% (2003 - 30.5%). Prior to accounting for the net loss on disposal of fixed assets, goodwill amortisation and integration costs, our underlying tax rate was 29.5% (2003 - 29.6%). Underlying diluted earnings per share increased by 16.7% to 16.31p (2003 - 13.98p). Diluted earnings per share increased by 11.3% to 14.93p (2003 - 13.42p). The Board has proposed a final dividend of 4.77p (2003 - 4.33p). This, together with the interim dividend of 2.07p (2003 - 1.87p), gives a total dividend of 6.84p (2003 - 6.20p). This represents an increase of 10.3%, significantly ahead of inflation and in line with our policy of strong dividend growth whilst increasing cover. Dividend cover increases to 2.38 times from 2.25 times last year. The final dividend will be paid on 25 June 2004 to shareholders on the Register of Members at the close of business on 30 April 2004. Shareholders will continue to have the right to receive the dividend in the form of fully paid ordinary shares instead of cash. The first day of dealing in the new shares will be on 25 June 2004. Group capital expenditure for the year was £2.3bn (2003 - £2.1bn). We anticipate group capital expenditure to be around £2.4bn next year. UK capital expenditure was £1.5bn, including £735m on new stores and £272m on extensions and refits. Total international capital expenditure was £765m including £322m in Asia and £443m in Europe. Although we are investing heavily for growth a strong balance sheet and credit rating are important to us. Operating cash flows are outstripping capital expenditure. This year, we generated £2.9bn of operational cashflow and spent £2.3bn on capital expenditure, leaving £0.6bn to help cover non-operating cash outflows such as tax, dividends and interest costs. Working capital improvements contributed £0.5bn to cashflow this year and whilst £50m is due to the 53rd week, the rest is due to increased management focus. In January we strengthened our balance sheet further by placing 315 million shares, raising £773m which was used to pay down debt. Subsequently our credit rating was confirmed at A+, by S&P. Gearing has now reduced to 51%, from 73% last year, and return on capital employed has increased to 10.5% from 10.2%. Year end debt has reduced to £4.1bn, from £4.7bn last year end. Post year end we completed a property joint venture deal which provided £650m of competitive funding. We have an award winning defined benefit pension scheme for staff. It is a young scheme with over 120,000 members and only 10,000 pensioners. Our FRS 17 post tax pension deficit was £472m at the year end reducing from £540m last year. STRATEGY All four parts of the strategy have contributed to our excellent results:- • Core UK; • Non food; • Retailing Services; and • International. CORE UK BUSINESS We have seen UK sales grow by 14.2%, including 6.6% like for like volume, contributing to 29% volume growth in the last five years. It has been a good year and one of our strongest in recent times. We have been investing in further improving our price position. £70m in January and a further £70m yesterday are the two most recent price campaigns maintaining our position as the UK's best value retailer. During the year we opened 21 Extra stores, of which eight were new and 13 were extensions giving us 83 in total. We have further evidence that customers love our Express stores and we have grown our share of the convenience market to 5.9%. We now have 277 Express stores and the customer offer is the best in the convenience sector achieving high sales per sq. ft. and increasing returns. Our Step Change programme ensures efficiency savings are re-invested for customers. We delivered savings of over £200m this year. NON-FOOD We are growing rapidly and are achieving our goal of being as strong as we are in food. Some highlights include:- • being number one retailer in the baby goods market selling more than both Boots and Mothercare combined; • achieving 60% sales growth in DVD's; and • Cherokee and Florence & Fred contribute to having the fastest growing clothing offer in the UK. RETAILING SERVICES Retailing Services have seen further exciting developments in the year. Tesco Personal Finance has had an exceptional year delivering a profit of £160m in the year. (Tesco share is £80m). Tesco.com achieved sales of £577m and delivers 120,000 customer orders per week. This is a fast growing and profitable business with sales up 67% in the last three years and generating £28m profit this year up from £12m last year. Building a new Telecoms business is the latest stage of our strategy in developing popular retail services. We have repeated our approach to banking, delivering convenience and value to customers seeking lower phone bills from a brand they can trust. INTERNATIONAL We are trading very well against our competitors. Sales are up by 29%, with very strong volume growth. Profits have grown strongly by 44%, and operating margins have increased from 4.5% last year to 5.1%. This year we opened 37 hypermarkets giving us an additional 3m sq. ft. of new sales space. During the year we purchased KIPA, a small hypermarket business in Turkey and C Two-Network, a convenience operator in Japan. In Europe sales are up 27.5% and profits up 30.5%. In Hungary we have seen strong like for like growth in a relatively buoyant market. We opened seven hypermarkets in the year giving us 33 in total and are the clear market leader. In Poland market conditions are tougher and consumer spending is tight. We have successfully completed the HIT integration and opened four further hypermarkets this year giving us 38 in total and market leadership. In Slovakia we are also market leader. This year we opened six new stores giving us 23 in total. We opened our first two 30,000 sq. ft. compact hypermarkets and our third hypermarket in the fast growing city of Bratislava. In the Czech Republic market conditions are challenging. We opened five stores this year giving us 22 in total. In the Republic of Ireland we have seen strong sales and profit growth. Our development programme has really moved on with eight new store openings. We have a strong forward development programme including our first Extra store at Clare Hall in Dublin. In Asia sales are up 31% to £2.8bn and profits are up 72% to £122m. In Thailand we have seen strong sales and increased market share. We opened five hypermarkets, four compact hypermarkets and three Express stores. Margins have improved and we are now self funding. In Korea we are still seeing difficult economic conditions with the tightening of consumer credit availability. We are pushing ahead and have opened seven stores this year taking the total to 28. Our Korean family card is popular and now used by 77% of shoppers and we are also busy developing banking products. Sales, profits and returns have all increased this year. In Taiwan we have four hypermarkets and seen strong like for like growth of 22%. In Malaysia we now have five hypermarkets and a further two stores opening this year. Next year we plan to open a further 51 hypermarkets and 51 other stores in our international markets. CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY We are committed to the communities in which we operate. This year our Corporate Social Responsibility achievements have included:- • Our award winning Race for Life sponsorship for Cancer UK, with 300,000 women taking part, raising £17.5m and helping with a fight for a healthier lifestyle; • Through our Computers for Schools programme we have given away over £84m of computer equipment in the last 12 years; and • Our Regeneration Partnerships continue to be a success. This year we have opened three new sites at Shettlestone, Warrington and Batley creating hundreds of jobs and training for the long term unemployed. CONCLUSION Our staff share in our success. This year staff have benefited from a total of £148m from Save As You Earn and profit share. Our Profit Share scheme is open to all staff with one year's service. Over 100,000 of our staff are now shareholders. All four parts of the strategy have contributed to our outstanding results this year. We have an excellent plan for next year and believe we can continue to deliver the best shopping experience for customers. -ends- Contacts Analysts Steven Butler 01992 644800 Press Jonathan Church 01992 646606 Angus Maitland The Maitland Consultancy 020 7379 5151 This document is available via the Internet at www.tesco.com Today there will be an analysts meeting at 9.00am and a press conference at 11.00am both at Royal Bank of Scotland, 280 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4RB TESCO PLC GROUP PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT Restated Acquisi- Total Total Existing tions 2004 2003 Increase 53 weeks ended 28 Note £m £m £m £m % February 2004 ----- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- Sales at Net Selling Prices 2 33,418 139 33,557 28,280 18.7% ----- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- Turnover including share of joint ventures 30,919 131 31,050 26,197 ----- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- Less share of joint ventures' turnover (236) - (236) (193) ----- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- Turnover excluding value added tax 2 30,683 131 30,814 26,004 18.5% - Normal operating expenses (28,804) (121) (28,925) (24,444) - Employee profit sharing (57) - (57) (51) - Integration costs (45) - (45) (4) - Goodwill amortisation (48) (4) (52) (21) ----- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- Operating profit 3 1,729 6 1,735 1,484 16.9% Share of operating profit of joint ventures and associates 97 - 97 70 Net loss on disposal of fixed assets (9) - (9) (13) ----- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- Profit on ordinary activities before interest and taxation 1,817 6 1,823 1,541 18.3% ----- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- Net interest payable (223) (180) ----- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 1,600 1,361 17.6% Underlying profit before net loss on disposal of fixed assets, integration costs and goodwill amortisation 1,708 1,401 21.9% Net loss on disposal of fixed assets (9) (13) Integration costs (45) (4) Goodwill amortisation (52) (21) Goodwill amortisation in joint ventures and asociates (2) (2) Tax on profit on ordinary activities (498) (415) ----- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 1,102 946 16.5% Minority interests (2) - ----- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- Profit for the financial 1,100 946 16.3% year Dividends (516) (443) ----- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- Retained profit for the financial year 584 503 16.1% ----- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- Pence Pence Earnings per share 5 15.05 13.54 Adjusted for net loss on disposal of fixed assets after taxation 0.11 0.18 Adjusted for integration costs ater taxation 0.55 0.06 Adjusted for goodwill amortisation 0.74 0.32 ----- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- Underlying earnings per 5 16.45 14.10 16.7% share ----- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- Diluted earnings per 5 14.93 13.42 11.3% share Adjusted for net loss on disposal of fixed assets after taxation 0.11 0.18 Adjusted for integration costs after taxation 0.54 0.06 Adjusted for goodwill amortisation 0.73 0.32 ------------------------ ----- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- Underlying diluted earnings per share 5 16.31 13.98 16.7% ----- ------ ------- ------ ------- -------- Dividend per share 6.84 6.20 10.3% Dividend cover (times) 2.38 2.25 5.8% TESCO PLC GROUP BALANCE SHEET 2004 2003 As at 28 February 2004 Note £m £m Fixed assets Intangible assets 965 890 Tangible assets 14,094 12,828 Investments 34 59 Investments in joint ventures Share of gross assets 2,006 1,708 Less: share of gross liabilities (1,712) (1,459) Goodwill 15 17 -------- ------- 309 266 Investments in associates 21 18 ------- -------- 15,423 14,061 Current assets Stocks 4 1,199 1,140 Debtors 840 662 Investments 430 239 Cash at bank and in hand 670 399 ------- -------- 3,139 2,440 Creditors: falling due within one (5,618) (5,372) year ------- -------- Net current liabilities (2,479) (2,932) ------- -------- Total assets less current 12,944 11,129 liabilities Creditors: falling due after more than one year (4,368) (4,049) Provisions for liabilities and charges (586) (521) ------- -------- Total net assets 7,990 6,559 ======= ======== Capital and Reserves Called up share capital 384 362 Share premium account 3,470 2,465 Other reserves 40 40 Profit and loss account 4,051 3,649 ------- -------- Equity shareholders' funds 7,945 6,516 Minority interests 45 43 ------- -------- Total capital employed 7,990 6,559 ======= ======== TESCO PLC GROUP CASH FLOW STATEMENT 2004 2003 53 weeks ended 28 February 2004 Note £m £m Net cash inflow from operating activities 6 2,942 2,375 Dividends from joint ventures and associates Income received from joint ventures and associates 60 11 Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest received 41 37 Interest paid (320) (253) Interest element of finance lease rental payments (17) (2) Cash received on sale of financial instruments 235 - -------- -------- Net cash outflow from returns on investments and servicing of finance (61) (218) Taxation (326) (366) Capital expenditure and financial investment Payments to acquire tangible fixed assets (2,239) (2,032) Receipts from sale of tangible fixed assets 62 32 Purchase of own shares (51) (52) -------- -------- Net cash outflow from capital expenditure and financial investment (2,228) (2,052) Acquisitions and disposals Purchase of subsidiary undertakings (269) (419) Net cash at bank and in hand acquired with subsidiaries 53 33 Invested in joint ventures (48) (43) Invested in associates and other investments (8) (7) -------- -------- Net cash outflow from acquisitions and disposals (272) (436) Equity dividends paid (303) (368) -------- -------- Cash outflow before use of liquid resources and financing (188) (1,054) Management of liquid resources Increase in short-term deposits (220) (14) Financing Ordinary shares issued for cash 868 73 (Decrease) /increase in other loans (180) 774 New finance leases 75 249 Capital element of finance leases repaid (73) (73) -------- -------- Net cash inflow from financing 690 1,023 -------- -------- Increase / (decrease) in cash 282 (45) ======== ======== TESCO PLC GROUP CASH FLOW STATEMENT (continued) 2004 2003 53 weeks ended 28 February 2004 Note £m £m Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt Increase / (decrease) in cash 282 (45) Cash outflow / (inflow) from decrease /(increase) in debt and lease financing 178 (950) Increase in liquid resources 220 14 Loans and finance leases acquired with subsidiaries (5) (172) Amortisation of 4% unsecured deep discount loan stock, (20) (8) RPI bond and LPI bond Other non-cash movements (2) (19) Foreign exchange differences (6) 3 -------- -------- Decrease / (increase) in net debt 647 (1,177) Opening net debt 7 (4,737) (3,560) -------- -------- Closing net debt 7 (4,090) (4,737) ======== ======== TESCO PLC GROUP STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES 2004 2003 53 weeks ended 28 February 2004 £m £m Profit for the financial year 1,100 946 (Loss) / gain on foreign currency net investments (157) 22 -------- -------- Total recognised gains and losses relating to the financial year 943 968 -------- -------- RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS IN SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 2004 2003 53 weeks ended 28 February 2004 £m £m ----------------------------------- -------- -------- Profit for the financial year 1,100 946 Dividends (516) (443) ----------------------------------- -------- -------- 584 503 (Loss) / gain on foreign currency net investments (157) 22 New share capital subscribed less expenses 844 421 Payment of dividends by shares in lieu of cash 158 40 -------- -------- Net addition to shareholders' funds 1,429 986 Opening shareholders' funds 6,516 5,530 -------- -------- Closing shareholders' funds 7,945 6,516 -------- -------- NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS Note 1 Accounting policies These financial accounts have been prepared using the accounting policies set out in the Annual Report and Financial Statements 2003, except for turnover recognition. The Group has revised its accounting policy for turnover in line with FRS 5 Application Note G 'Revenue Recognition' (issued November 2003). The principal adjustments are to report turnover net of vouchers and on a commission-only basis for mobile phone airtime sales. The impact of the change in policy is to restate 2003 turnover and cost of sales by £333m. There is no impact on reported profit or cash flow. As in the prior year the group has continued to account for pensions and other post retirement benefits in accordance with SSAP 24, but has complied with the transitional disclosure requirements of FRS 17. Note 2 Group turnover analysis Restated 2004 2003 Increase 53 weeks ended 28 February 2004 £m £m % Sales (inc VAT) UK 26,876 23,101 16.3 Rest of Europe * 3,834 3,007 27.5 Asia * 2,847 2,172 31.1 -------- -------- -------- Group 33,557 28,280 18.7 ======== ======== ======== Turnover (ex VAT) UK 24,760 21,309 16.2 Rest of Europe * 3,385 2,664 27.1 Asia * 2,669 2,031 31.4 -------- -------- -------- Group 30,814 26,004 18.5 ======== ======== ======== Note 3 Group operating profit analysis 2004 2003 Increase £m £m % UK 1,526 1,297 17.7 Rest of Europe * 184 141 30.5 Asia * 122 71 71.8 -------- -------- -------- 1,832 1,509 21.4 Integration (45) (4) Goodwill amortisation (52) (21) -------- -------- -------- Operating profit 1,735 1,484 16.9 ======== ======== ======== UK operating margin 6.2% 6.1% International operating margin 5.1% 4.5% * Results for Rest of Europe and Asia are for the year ended 31 December 2003, with the exception of the Republic of Ireland which is to 28 February 2004. Note 4 Stocks Stocks comprise goods held for resale of £1,196m (2003 - £1,122m) and development property of £3m (2003 - £18m). Note 5 Earnings per share and diluted earnings per share The calculation of earnings, including and excluding net loss on disposal of fixed assets, integration costs and goodwill amortisation, is based on the profit for the period of £1,100m (2003 - £946m). For the purpose of calculating earnings per share, the number of shares is the weighted average in issue during the 53 weeks of 7,307m (2003 - 6,989m). 53 weeks 2004 52 weeks 2003 Million Million ------------- ------------- Weighted average number of dilutive share options 61 62 Weighted average number of shares in issue in the period 7,307 6,989 ------------- ------------- Total number of shares for calculating diluted earnings per share 7,368 7,051 ------------- ------------- Note 6 Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from operating activities 53 weeks 2004 52 weeks 2003 £m £m Operating profit 1,735 1,484 Depreciation and amortisation 752 602 ---------- ---------- Increase in goods held for resale (92) (129) Decrease in development property 15 3 Decrease / (increase) in debtors 17 (28) Increase in trade creditors 261 238 Increase in other creditors 254 205 ---------- ---------- Decrease in working capital 455 289 ---------- ---------- Net cash inflow from operating activities 2,942 2,375 ========== ========== Note 7 Analysis of changes in net debt At 23 Cash Acquisi- Other Exchange At 28 Feb flow tions non movement Feb 2003 cash 2004 changes £m £m £m £m £m £m Cash at bank and in hand 399 282 - - (11) 670 -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- 399 282 - - (11) 670 Money market investments and deposits 239 220 - - (29) 430 Bank and other loans (1,286) 496 - - 15 (775) Finance leases (55) (12) (1) (1) - (69) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Debt due within one year (1,341) 484 (1) (1) 15 (844) Bank and other loans (3,863) (316) - (20) 19 (4,180) Finance leases (171) 10 (4) (1) - (166) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- Debt due after one year (4,034) (306) (4) (21) 19 (4,346) -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- (4,737) 680 (5) (22) (6) (4,090) ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== Note 8 Accounts The accounts do not constitute statutory accounts. The results for the 53 weeks ended 28 February 2004 are extracts from the Group Annual Report and Financial Statements for that period, which will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies in due course and on which the auditors have given an unqualified report which does not contain a statement under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The results for the 52 weeks ended 22 February 2003 have been extracted from the Annual Report and Financial Statements for that period, which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and on which the auditors have given an unqualified report which did not contain a statement under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. Note 9 Annual Review Copies of the 2004 Annual Review and Summary Financial Statement will be sent to shareholders. Copies of the 2004 Annual Report and Financial Statements will be sent to shareholders who have requested them. Copies of both documents will be available late May 2004 from the Company Secretary, Tesco PLC, PO Box 18, Delamare Road, Cheshunt, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, EN8 9SL. These documents will also be available on the internet at www.tesco.com Note 10 AGM The Annual General Meeting will be held at the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre, Broad Sanctuary, Westminster, London, SW1P 3EE on Friday 18th June 2004 at 11am. Webcast URL http://events.simplywebcast.com//tesco_apr_2004 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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