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REG-Travis Perkins Travis Perkins plc : Full year results for the twelve months ended 31st December 2020

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Travis Perkins (TPK)
Travis Perkins plc : Full year results for the twelve months ended 31st December 2020

02-March-2021 / 07:00 GMT/BST
Dissemination of a Regulatory Announcement, transmitted by EQS Group.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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                                                    Travis Perkins plc

                             Full year results for the twelve months ended 31st December 2020

                                     Resilient trading amidst significant uncertainty

 

Highlights

  • Continued progress on  strategic agenda  across digital enablement,  customer fulfilment,  process simplification  and
    branch network rationalisation despite the challenges of Covid-19
  • Toolstation strong outperformance maintained with like-for-like growth  of 22.2%; branch rollout continues at pace  in
    UK and Europe
  • Robust H2 recovery in Merchanting and P&H driven by RMI demand
  • Wickes taking market share in core DIY with like for like revenue growth of 19.3%**; demerger process recommenced
  • Strong free cashflow generation; covenant net debt reduced by £304m to £40m; successful refinancing of September  2021
    bond

 

£m (unless otherwise stated)      Note FY 2020 FY 2019    Change
Revenue                                  6,158   6,956   (11.5)%
Like-for-like revenue growth1       18  (7.1)%    3.8% (10.9)ppt
Adjusted operating profit1          6a     227     442   (48.6)%
Adjusted earnings per share1       12b   42.4p  112.7p   (62.4)%
ROCE1                              16f    5.5%   10.1%  (4.6)ppt
Covenant net debt1                 15a      40     344     (304)
Dividend per share                  13    0.0p   15.5p  
Operating profit                            77     232  
Total (loss) / profit after tax           (22)     123  
Basic (loss) / earnings per share  12a  (8.8)p   48.9p          

(1) Alternative performance measures are used to provide a guide to underlying performance. Details of calculations can be
found in the notes listed

Financial headlines

  • Total revenue from  continuing businesses  returned to  growth in H2  at 1.4%*,  demonstrating the  resilience of  the
    Group's business models
  • Adjusted operating profit of  £227m reflecting lower volumes  partially offset by actions  to reduce operating  costs,
    including both short term controls and acceleration of longer term plans, coupled with appropriate government  support
    in the merchant businesses
  • Delivered £120m annualised cost savings with the focus on strengthening the core business by closing smaller, subscale
    branches and delayering management
  • Net adjusting items of £140m, primarily relating to the restructuring programme

*Total Group  revenue excluding  Tile Giant  and Primaflow  F&P which  were disposed  during 2020.  Toolstation Europe  is
included as if fully consolidated for both 2019 and 2020.

** On a calendar year basis. For the 52 weeks to 26th December 2020 Wickes Core like-for-like sales were +18.8%

 

Nick Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"2020 was  a year  of unprecedented  challenges and  I am  full of  admiration for  the energy  and determination  of  our
colleagues to ensure the safety of our customers, suppliers and each other. 

Despite these  challenges,  we have  shown  great agility  and  versatility in  adapting  our working  practices,  further
digitalising our engagement with customers and reshaping our business to suit the changing demands of our markets. 

Our teams  have also  been able  to make  excellent  progress on  a number  of key  initiatives supporting  our  strategic
objectives, particularly around  simplifying commercial  deals and  refining our  pricing architecture,  which will  drive
future benefits.

In addition, I am  pleased today to  be able to  confirm that the process  to demerge Wickes  has recommenced. The  Wickes
digitally-led model has proved highly effective during  the pandemic and the business is  in great shape to embark on  its
journey as a standalone entity.

Whilst uncertainty remains,  we have seen  a good  recovery through the  second half  which gives us  confidence that  the
fundamental drivers in our markets are robust. The continuing  progress against our strategic plans leaves the Group  well
placed to outperform in those markets."

Management  are  hosting  a  virtual   results  presentation  at  10.00am.  Please   register  at  the  following   link: 
https://www.investis-live.com/travis-perkins/602407799a13881000ca64fe/nmsl

Enquiries:

Travis Perkins                          Powerscourt
Matt Worster                            Justin Griffiths / James White
+44 (0) 7990 088548                     +44 (0) 207 2501446
 1 matt.worster@travisperkins.co.uk     travisperkins@powerscourt-group.com
                                         
Heinrich Richter                         
+44 (0) 7392 125417                      
heinrich.richter2@travisperkins.co.uk    

 

Cautionary Statement:

This announcement contains "forward-looking statements"  with respect to Travis  Perkins' financial condition, results  of
operations and business and  details of plans  and objectives in  respect to these  items. Forward-looking statements  are
sometimes, but not always, identified by their use of a date in the future or such words as "anticipates", "aims",  "due",
"could", "may", "will", "should", "expects", "believes", "seeks", "intends", "plans", "potential", "reasonably  possible",
"targets", "goal" or  "estimates", and  words of  similar meaning.  By their  very nature  forward-looking statements  are
inherently unpredictable,  speculative and  involve risk  and uncertainty  because they  relate to  events and  depend  on
circumstances that  will  occur in  the  future. There  are  a number  of  factors that  could  cause actual  results  and
developments to differ  materially from  those expressed  or implied by  these forward-looking  statements. These  factors
include, but are  not limited to,  the Principal Risks  and Uncertainties disclosed  in the Group's  Annual Report and  as
updated in this statement, changes in the economies and  markets in which the Group operates; changes in the  legislative,
regulatory and competition frameworks in  which the Group operates;  changes in the capital  markets from which the  Group
raises finance; the impact of legal or  other proceedings against or which affect  the Group; and changes in interest  and
exchange rates. All forward-looking statements, made in this announcement or made subsequently, which are attributable  to
Travis Perkins or  any other  member of the  Group or  persons acting  on their behalf  are expressly  qualified in  their
entirety by the factors referred to above. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements in this document
will be realised. Subject  to compliance with  applicable law and regulations,  Travis Perkins does  not intend to  update
these forward-looking statements  and does  not undertake any  obligation to  do so. Nothing  in this  document should  be
regarded as a profits forecast.

Without prejudice to the above:

(a) neither Travis Perkins plc nor any other member of the Group, nor persons acting on their behalf shall otherwise  have
any liability whatsoever for  loss howsoever arising, directly  or indirectly, from the  use of the information  contained
within this announcement; and

(b) neither  Travis Perkins  plc  nor any  other  member of  the Group,  nor  persons acting  on  their behalf  makes  any
representation or warranty, express  or implied, as to  the accuracy or completeness  of the information contained  within
this announcement.

This announcement is current as of 2 March  2021, the date on which it is  given. This announcement has not been and  will
not be updated to reflect any changes since that date.

Past performance of the shares of  Travis Perkins plc cannot be  relied upon as a guide  to the future performance of  the
shares of Travis Perkins plc.

 

 

                                                         Summary

After an encouraging start to 2020, the first lockdown in the spring significantly disrupted both the Group's trading  and
supply chain. While the Group recovered well in the  second half led by the domestic Repairs, Maintenance and  Improvement
(RMI) market,  overall revenue  in 2020  declined by  11.5% to  £6,158m.  Despite  ongoing restrictions,  performance  was
encouraging, demonstrating the agility and resilience of the Group's portfolio of businesses.

Throughout the pandemic, the health and safety of our colleagues, customers and suppliers has been our first priority. The
Group continues to work with all parties involved in the construction industry, including government and trade bodies,  to
set standards to maintain safe working practices and support the ongoing recovery in the sector.

At the start of  the initial lockdown  in late March,  the majority of the  Group's businesses were  closed and focus  was
solely on supporting essential projects, such as the construction of the Nightingale hospitals, with staffing reduced to a
minimum to adhere to strict safety  guidelines. Wickes and Toolstation, due  to their advanced digital capabilities,  were
able to repurpose their branches  as fulfilment centres to support  the local trade either via  click and collect or  home
delivery, although the Wickes showrooms business remained closed.

Through May and  June, with the  majority of the  construction industry having  been classified as  essential and  workers
returning to building sites,  all businesses across  the Group began  to cautiously reopen,  adapting operating models  to
ensure compliance with Covid-19 safety requirements. Revenues over the first half of the year were thus down by 19%. 

The high growth in the DIY market, which started during the first lockdown, has been sustained, benefiting Wickes and,  to
a slightly lesser extent, Toolstation.  The broader domestic RMI market also recovered strongly, driven by the high number
of housing transactions and homeowners having  both the resources and need to  invest in their properties as working  from
home has become far  more prevalent. The Group  has, however, seen a  slower return to activity  in new housebuilding  and
major commercial projects resulting from fewer new projects starting.

With the  Group overall  well placed  to benefit  from the  shape of  the recovery,  underlying revenues  from  continuing
businesses returned to growth  in the second half,  up 1.4%*. Given the  largely fixed cost nature  of the Group's  branch
network and lower  revenues, adjusted  operating profit  fell to  £227m from £442m  in 2019.  During the  year, the  Group
utilised £74m  of government  assistance in  the Merchanting  and Plumbing  & Heating  businesses. All  support  initially
received in Toolstation and Wickes, amounting to £46m, was repaid due to their strong performance.

Taking into account £140m of  adjusting items (principally resulting from  the business restructuring programme  described
below), the Group delivered a statutory operating profit of £77m (2019: £232m).

Adjusted earnings per share fell  to 42.4p per share  (2019: 112.7p per share).  Basic EPS reduced to  a loss of 8.8p  per
share, with the difference primarily driven by the costs of the restructuring programme.

Cash generation during  2020 was extremely  strong, reflecting the  Group's focus on  liquidity management throughout  the
pandemic. Dedicated focus on working  capital ensured both the  timely receipt of debtor  balances and that all  suppliers
were paid to terms, while inventory levels were reduced as the Brexit contingency was unwound. This work enabled the Group
to reduce covenant net debt by £304m during the year to £40m.

*Total Group  revenue excluding  Tile Giant  and Primaflow  F&P which  were disposed  during 2020.  Toolstation Europe  is
included as if fully consolidated for both 2019 and 2020.

 

Strategic and operational progress

At a Capital  Markets event in  December 2018, the  Group laid out  its plans for  the years ahead,  with two  overarching
strategic aims being (i) to focus on best serving trade customers, and (ii) to simplify the business to increase  agility,
speed up decision making and enable a leaner cost base.

During 2020, the Group has accelerated progress on a number of strategic initiatives, in some cases driven by the need  to
adapt quickly and effectively to the challenges presented by the  Covid-19 pandemic but also as part of the overall  drive
for business process simplification.

Customer interaction

The Group has set out the objective of creating a "modern merchant" capable of omni-channel interaction with customers  in
all of its businesses.  The initial lockdown  required a move to  predominantly remote transactions  and, to support  that
shift, a number of projects were delivered as outlined below:

  • The Travis Perkins General Merchant website was  rebuilt to significantly improve information on product  availability
    and facilitate a notable rise in web-based transactions;
  • Portals to allow online account management were developed to enable customers to obtain invoices or proof of  delivery
    and make credit account payments;
  • Good progress has been made on the development of customer apps that will enable customers to interact via smartphone;
  • Toolstation, which already had  strong digital capability,  was able to quickly  move its IT  infrastructure to a  new
    platform to support significantly more traffic and future proof the business as it continues to grow at pace;
  • The Benchmarx kitchens and joinery brand was integrated  into the Travis Perkins General Merchant to enable  customers
    to purchase from either  business via the  same credit account.  Internal structures and  incentive schemes have  been
    adjusted to drive cross-selling and win a greater share of existing customers' spend;
  • The rollout of a new  delivery management system commenced,  initially in Keyline and  CCF, which will optimise  route
    planning and allow customers to track their deliveries.

Whilst a large proportion of trade  has returned to traditional methods  of purchase, these developments have  highlighted
the significant opportunity presented  by digitally led service,  reinforcing the requirement to  continue to develop  the
Group's digital capability across all businesses.

Process simplification

In order to protect short term liquidity and also bring forward planned activity, the Group commenced a programme  working
with suppliers which led to the netting out of over half of the fixed price discount from current commercial  arrangements
across the Merchanting and Plumbing & Heating businesses.

These changes form a key part of  the ongoing work to improve cost price  visibility in branch and support local  decision
making. Conversations are  well advanced with  other key suppliers  regarding further significant  netting of fixed  price
discounts into the invoiced price during 2021.

Alongside the changes  to cost  pricing outlined above,  the Merchant  businesses have simplified  selling price  guidance
available to the branch teams. These improvements provide greater consistency of pricing and also more relevant shelf-edge
pricing on lightside products, further improving customer experience.

 

Restructuring Programme

In June 2020, reflecting the  challenging outlook for the Group's  end markets and the fixed  cost nature of an  extensive
branch network, the Group announced a significant restructuring programme  which will result in the closure of around  190
branches across the Merchanting  and Plumbing &  Heating segments. In addition,  a number of  support function roles  were
removed across the  business and head  office resulting in  a reduction  of around 2,500  roles, equivalent to  9% of  the
workforce.

In the Travis  Perkins General  Merchant, branch  closures targeted  smaller, subscale  branches where  either there  were
difficulties in operating safe  social distancing practices,  or where the  scale of the  branch meant that  profitability
would be difficult in a lower volume environment. In  the specialist merchants, where the majority of sales are  delivered
to customer sites, the branch closures were also focused on branches limited by size, geography or operational layout.

Across all merchant businesses, the restructuring programme has accelerated  plans to close these sites and, over time  as
demand rebuilds,  establish larger  branches that  offer a  greater depth  and range  of stock,  alongside more  efficient
warehousing and delivery operations.

Where branches have closed, sales  retention has been in  line with expectations, ranging from  around a third in  smaller
general merchant branches to over two-thirds in the specialist merchants where the customer base comprises larger regional
contractors allowing an easier transfer of business to remaining branches.

The June restructuring programme will deliver gross cost savings  of approximately £120m on an annualised basis, with  the
majority of actions completed by the end  of August 2020. As volumes recover  from the 2020 level, some variable  overhead
will be reinvested to support increased activity.  An adjusting item  of £121m has been recognised in 2020 in relation  to
the restructuring programme.  Against the  potential maximum cash restructuring costs  of £85m identified in June,  around
half is expected to be offset by freehold disposals and, since June, this figure has been further reduced by  satisfactory
exit of around £10m of lease obligations.

Portfolio Actions

Having completed the vast majority of the  work on the Wickes demerger, on 20  March 2020 the Group announced that it  had
placed the process on hold in order to focus on managing through the pandemic and to maximise liquidity across the  Group.
With the Group, and  Wickes in particular,  having demonstrated the resilience  of their operating  models, the Board  has
taken the decision to recommence the demerger process which is expected to complete in Q2 2021.

Wickes delivered an excellent performance during  2020 with like-for-like sales up 5.5%**,  driven by the strength of  the
Core DIY segment which saw like for like growth of 19.3%**, a trend which has continued into 2021. Showroom closures  have
had a marked impact on Kitchen & Bathroom sales, down (27.4)%** on a like-for-like basis over the year, and this has  been
exacerbated in the early weeks of 2021 by the third national lockdown. Web-based leads remain strong and indicate a  level
of pent up demand once restrictions are eased.

In line with  previous plans, Wickes  will have a  capitalisation of around  £130m as at  the year end,  funded by  Travis
Perkins.

Allied to the Group's stated objectives  of simplifying the portfolio and focusing  on the trade customer, the Tile  Giant
business was sold in September 2020.

** On a calendar year basis. For the 52 weeks to 26th December 2020 Wickes like-for-like sales were +5.0% with Core +18.8%
and Kitchens & Bathrooms down (27.8)%

 

Although market conditions to date have not supported the sale of the core P&H segment, the Group did take the opportunity
to dispose of the low margin Primaflow  F&P wholesale activity in January 2020. It  remains the intention of the Board  to
sell the  remaining P&H  business  when the  time is  right  whilst in  the short  term  continuing to  drive  operational
improvements to enhance returns further and to optimise value for shareholders.

Capital Markets Update

Travis Perkins' aim post demerger is to continue its focus on delivering best-in-class service to its trade customers  and
leveraging the market leading positions of its portfolio of businesses. Management will frame the Group's future ambitions
with a Capital Markets Update in the summer.

Dividend

Given the significant impact of  the pandemic on financial  performance and the risk to  the Group's liquidity, the  Board
took the decision in March 2020  to suspend the dividend.  The Board  recognises the importance of dividend  distributions
and intends  to reinstate  dividend distributions  in 2021  assuming there  is no  further deterioration  in the  external
environment.

Outlook

The long  term  fundamentals  of  the  Group's  end  markets remain  robust  with  ongoing  demand  for  new  housing  and
underinvestment in the repair, maintenance and improvement of  the existing UK housing stock. This is further  underpinned
by the UK Government's commitment to infrastructure investment, alongside stimulus measures such as green home improvement
schemes.

End markets recovered well during the second  half of 2020 with robust RMI  activity outstripping a lag in the  commercial
and housebuilding  sectors.  Performance  to date  in 2021  has followed  a similar  trend despite  the stricter  lockdown
conditions.

The Group continues to focus on strengthening its core business and investing to develop a modern merchanting  proposition
which will leave the Group well placed to continue to outperform its markets and generate value for shareholders.

Technical guidance

The Group's technical guidance for 2021 is as follows:

  • Effective tax rate of 20%
  • Base capital expenditure of around £90m to £100m, excluding Wickes
  • Property profits of around £20m

 

                                                             

                                                             

                                                             

 

                                                             

                                                  Segmental performance

Merchanting

                           FY 2020 FY 2019    Change
Total revenue              £3,065m £3,703m   (17.2)%
Like-for-like growth       (14.0)%    3.3% (17.3)ppt
Adjusted operating profit*   £152m   £284m   (46.5)%
Adjusted operating margin     5.0%    7.7%  (270)bps
ROCE                            7%     12%    (5)ppt
Branch network                 846     984     (138)

*Segmental adjusted operating profit figures are presented excluding property profits

After a solid start to the year,  Trade Merchanting sales were severely impacted  by the initial lockdown period with  the
majority of branches closed and  focus on support only  for essential projects, including the  building of the network  of
Nightingale hospitals. Following  the classification of  the majority  of construction activities  as essential,  branches
progressively re-opened from late April  onwards although the disruption  to the supply chain  caused by the lockdown  was
significant and took several months to unwind, particularly in the specialist merchants.

The second half recovery was very encouraging though, particularly in the Travis Perkins General Merchant, led by domestic
RMI demand where volumes were approaching 2019 levels by  the end of the year. Housebuilding and commercial  construction,
to which the specialist merchants are primarily exposed, were slower to recover with volumes still down by between 10% and
15% during the fourth quarter.

During the crisis, in order to continue to support customers safely, all of the Merchant businesses moved to pre  arranged
collection models, organised either by phone or online. This has proven successful across the full range of customers  and
work continues to develop this offer as a permanent part of the customer proposition.

Gross margins in the Merchanting segment were modestly lower than 2019, primarily reflecting a reduction in annual  volume
rebates.  Input cost inflation was low for the year as a whole although there were increases in certain product categories
in the second half of  the year. Prices were adjusted  to mitigate the impact of  these increases, while investments  were
made predominantly in lightside categories to ensure relevant shelf edge pricing.

With significant uncertainty regarding near term volumes, as part of the restructuring plans 140 Merchanting branches were
closed. These closures, together with the restructuring of sales and above-branch support teams, are expected to  generate
around £90m of  annualised cost savings.  These changes  have accelerated the  planned network strategy  to exit  subscale
branches, leading to  an increase  of 7% in  the average  turnover per branch  across Merchanting  which, complemented  by
investment in larger branches as the businesses rebuild, will drive longer term operational efficiencies.

These cost actions  helped to  soften the impact  of lost  sales volume but,  with social  distancing regulations  driving
inefficiencies, a relatively high fixed cost base and gross margins down as described above, operating margin for the year
reduced by 270bps.

Throughout the pandemic the Merchant businesses have had a clear focus on cash, in particular the collection of monies due
from credit customers. A successful collaboration between the  credit, sales and branch teams to leverage the  businesses'
strong customer relationships has resulted in excellent cash collections throughout the year with the sales ledger in good
shape going into 2021.

 

Toolstation

 

                           FY 2020 FY 2019   Change
Total revenue                £633m   £445m    42.1%
Like-for-like growth         22.2%   16.3%   5.9ppt
Adjusted operating profit*     £8m    £25m  (68.0)%
Adjusted operating margin     1.2%    5.5% (430)bps
ROCE                            2%      7%   (5)ppt
Branch network (UK)            460     400       60
Branch network (Europe)         83      66       17

 

 

Memo:                                     
Adjusted operating profit - UK £24m £29m (17.2)%

*Segmental adjusted operating profit figures are presented excluding property profits

Toolstation revenues increased by £188m in the year, up 42.1%, with the consolidation of Toolstation Europe (following the
acquisition in Q4 2019) accounting for £48m of the  increase. Like-for-like growth in Toolstation UK of 20.9%  represented
an exceptional performance, especially when considering the level of disruption from the lockdown in late March and April.

Alongside the ongoing work to continue to ensure a truly compelling customer proposition, the Toolstation UK business also
made significant progress  in developing  the infrastructure  of the  business. With  branches unable  to serve  customers
directly during the initial lockdown,  the branches operated as  click & collect fulfilment  centres. To support this  the
Toolstation website  was rebuilt  in a  matter of  days,  before the  wider IT  infrastructure of  the business  was  then
replatformed over the following weeks in order to be scalable and more resilient as the business grows.

The pivot to digital trading required a significant increase in direct-to-customer deliveries, and to satisfy this  demand
the Redditch distribution centre was successfully expanded and repurposed from store replenishment to customer fulfilment.

Despite a pause  in the network  expansion programme between  March and  June as fitters  could not access  sites, 60  new
branches were  opened in  the UK  during the  year as  planned. New  formats continue  to be  trialled, including  smaller
footprint branches and variations on  the click & collect  model to improve both  the customer experience and  operational
efficiency. The number of new stores for 2021 is expected to be broadly similar to 2020.

The costs involved in adapting and running the distribution network  on a socially distanced basis, as well as the  higher
proportion of delivered sales  and the costs  to make the  necessary improvements to  the business' digital  capabilities,
increased the operating costs of the business during the year, more than offsetting the growth in gross profit  generation
in the UK.

For Toolstation Europe, the response to Covid-19 has differed across the countries in which the business operates but,  in
all cases,  the strength  of the  customer proposition  has driven  further market  share gains.  The combination  of  the
multichannel offering and consistent  availability of stock has  been extremely well received  by tradespeople across  the
Netherlands, Belgium and France  and has allowed branches  to trade effectively throughout  the pandemic when  competitors
have been forced to close.

These competitive advantages have seen underlying revenue* increase by  79% in the Netherlands and Belgium (60% on a  like
for like basis) where 9 new branches were opened, taking the  total to 64. In France underlying revenue* grew by 92%  with
like-for-like sales up 75%. 8 new branches  were added, taking the total to 19,  and a new distribution centre in Lyon  is
now operational, laying the foundations for future expansion.

With the European business  very much at the  initial rollout stage, and  with the disruption of  the pandemic, a loss  of
£(16)m was recorded  for 2020.  Losses in  2021 are expected  to be  at a  similar level as  the rollout  of new  branches
continues at pace.

*A controlling  interest  was acquired  in  Toolstation Europe  on  30 September  2019.  Underlying revenues  reflect  the
performance of the business for the whole of the financial year including the period January to September 2019.

Retail

 

                           FY 2020 FY 2019   Change
Total revenue              £1,391m £1,342m     3.6%
Like-for-like growth          5.0%    8.6% (3.6)ppt
Adjusted operating profit*    £77m    £97m  (20.6)%
Adjusted operating margin     5.5%    7.2% (170)bps
ROCE                            6%      7%   (1)ppt
Store network - Wickes         233     235      (2)
Store network - Tile Giant       0      94     (94)

2019 figures include £47m of revenue and £0.1m of adjusted  operating profit from Tile Giant, which was sold in  September
2020.

2020 figures include  £31m of  revenue and an  adjusted operating  loss of £0.2m,  plus the  £1.4m profit on  sale of  the
business.

*Segmental adjusted operating profit figures are presented excluding property profits

Demonstrating the strength of its balanced business model, Wickes  delivered a highly credible 5.5%** like for like  sales
growth for the full year, despite periods of lockdown and disruption to trading operations throughout the year.

This performance was driven  by strong Core sales  growth of 19.3%** on  a like for like  basis,  leveraging Wickes'  well
developed digital and flexible  fulfilment capability and increasing  market share across the  year. Sales also  benefited
from heightened DIY  customer demand  across a  broad range  of categories  as customers  renewed their  interest in  home
improvement.

Do-It-For-Me sales were significantly impacted by restrictions in trading operations, ending the year down (27.4)%** on  a
like-for-like basis. In-store  kitchen and bathroom  showrooms were, at  times, completely closed  and customers  remained
cautious throughout the year to progress installation projects in their homes. A fully digitally enabled virtual  customer
journey was developed and launched in the  second half of the year, enabling  Wickes to continue to trade despite  ongoing
showroom closures.

Gross profit margin was marginally higher year-on-year as  a reduction in promotional activity outweighed an  unfavourable
shift in  product mix,  principally as  a result  of  the loss  of showroom  driven business.  The significant  change  in
fulfilment methods, with  delivery to customer  order volumes more  than doubling across  the year and  click and  collect
volumes increasing by  over 450%,  increased fulfilment  costs. Work  is underway  to drive  efficiencies in  distribution
overhead given the expectation that digital sales participation will continue to grow over time.

Overheads were impacted by £9m of costs directly as a  result of the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure customers and  colleagues
remained safe. The business also had  to carry around £7m of unproductive  labour costs during the first lockdown  period,
principally relating to Kitchen & Bathroom sales, delivery and installation colleagues.

Following the strong sales performance of Wickes, the decision was taken in December 2020 to repay all government support,
which is therefore excluded from the Retail segment results. 

With the continued strong performance of the Wickes business and more stable market conditions, the Board has re-commenced
the demerger process with a view to completion in Q2 2021. 

In September 2020, the Group completed the sale of its Tile Giant business.

** On a calendar year basis. For the 52 weeks to 26th December 2020 Wickes like-for-like sales were +5.0% with Core +18.8%
and Kitchens & Bathrooms down (27.8)%

 

Plumbing & Heating (P&H)

 

                           FY 2020 FY 2019   Change
Total revenue              £1,069m £1,465m  (27.0)%
Like-for-like growth       (11.2)%  (1.7)% (9.5)ppt
Adjusted operating profit*    £19m    £48m  (60.4)%
Adjusted operating margin     1.8%    3.3% (150)bps
ROCE                            5%     13%   (8)ppt
Branch network                 354     375     (21)

2019 figures include £269m of revenue and £7.4m of adjusted operating profit from PF&P wholesale, sold in January 2020.

2020 figures include  £28m of  revenue and  £0.7m of  adjusted operating  profit, plus  the £1.8m  profit on  sale of  the
business.

*Segmental adjusted operating profit figures are presented excluding property profits

During the first  national lockdown,  P&H was  the most significantly  impacted of  the Group's  businesses with  branches
initially being forced to close, customers restricted to essential maintenance work and the subsequent challenges faced by
installers who had to adopt a very careful approach to working in domestic properties.

The recovery in the second half of  the year has been robust, however, with  like-for-like sales up 0.9% driven by  strong
demand through the branch and showroom network. The new build and social housing sectors have lagged though, as have sales
on major contracts.

The performance  of the  specialist digital  businesses -  Underfloor Heating  Store and  Plumbnation -  was  particularly
encouraging with total sales of £51m during the year representing 7% growth.

Gross margins were ahead of prior year,  with the impact of lower annual volume  rebates offset by the shift in sales  mix
towards smaller installer  customers and the  business mix change  following the sale  of the PF&P  wholesale business  in
January.

The combination of encouraging sales, higher gross margin and cost  actions led to an operating profit in the second  half
of £27m, some  12.5% ahead of  the previous year,  which indicates the  health of the  business. Over the  full year,  the
disruption of the first half led to an operating profit of £19m (2019: £48m).

It remains the intention of the Group to divest the  P&H business when the market conditions are suitable. The Board  will
continue to focus on implementing strategic  actions to improve the remaining  Plumbing & Heating business further  whilst
assessing opportunities to optimise value for shareholders.

 

Government Assistance

During 2020, in order to mitigate in  part the impact of reduced volumes, the  Group undertook a number of cost  reduction
actions and was also  able to access  government assistance from the  Coronavirus Job Retention  Scheme during the  second
quarter of the year while many branches were closed. The Group also utilised Business Rates Relief arrangements throughout
2020 as sales volumes gradually recovered.

 

Given the surge in DIY demand, having initially made claims under both schemes for the Wickes and Toolstation  businesses,
the decision was taken in December to repay government  assistance to those businesses of £46m.  Government assistance  to
the Merchanting  and  Plumbing and  Heating  businesses  in 2020  totalled  approximately  £74m.  No  further  claims  are
anticipated under either scheme in 2021.

Central costs

Unallocated central costs rose by £7m in 2020, driven by  £15m of stranded costs relating to the separation of Wickes  and
P&H from the  Group as disclosed  in March  2020. This increase  was partially  offset by savings  from the  restructuring
programme and substantially reduced management incentive charges.

Property transactions

Given the impact of  the pandemic, fewer property  transactions were completed in  the year than in  2019.  After a  quiet
first half, good progress was made on disposing of surplus freehold assets in the second half of the year, generating £11m
of property profits for  the year as a  whole (2019: £21m).  Significant  progress has already been  made in exiting  both
freehold and leasehold sites vacated as part of the restructuring programme announced in June.

 

                                                  Financial Performance

Revenue analysis

Sales across the  Merchanting and P&H  businesses were hit  hard by the  initial lockdown but  recovered well through  the
second half of the year. As described above, Toolstation was able to adapt its business model during lockdown to  maintain
trade and subsequently to build on those changes to drive exceptional growth during the balance of the year.

Retail was impacted by the closure of Kitchen & Bathroom showrooms during the first lockdown, which account for around one
third of sales.  The Wickes  core business,  however, was  ideally placed  to benefit  from the  surge in  DIY demand  and
delivered excellent growth from June onwards.

  Volume, price and mix analysis

 

Total revenue                                Merchanting Toolstation Retail Plumbing & Heating   Group
Volume                                           (13.4)%       23.6%   5.3%            (15.0)%  (7.2)%
Price and mix                                     (0.6)%      (1.4)% (0.3)%               3.8%    0.1%
Like-for-like revenue growth                     (14.0)%       22.2%   5.0%            (11.2)%  (7.1)%
Network changes and acquisitions / disposals      (3.5)%       19.6% (1.7)%            (16.2)%  (4.7)%
Trading days                                        0.3%        0.3%   0.3%               0.4%    0.3%
Total revenue growth                             (17.2)%       42.1%   3.6%            (27.0)% (11.5)%

 

At a Group level, price inflation was  neutral across the year reflecting a  benign input cost environment. There was  one
extra trading day  in the year  but the merchant  businesses closed earlier  than usual in  December, as management  teams
wished to ensure that colleagues  could take a longer break  after a challenging year. This  is reflected in the  December
like-for-like sales which saw a slight dip after a strong upward trajectory in the second half.

Toolstation total sales include fully consolidated sales from  Toolstation Europe from 1 October 2019, partly driving  the
significant step up in growth between LFL and total sales alongside expansion of the Toolstation network. Conversely,  P&H
total sales figures were impacted by the disposal of the PF&P Wholesale business in January 2020 and Retail by the sale of
Tile Giant in September 2020.

  Quarterly like-for-like revenue analysis

 

Like-for-like revenue growth Merchanting Toolstation  Retail Plumbing & Heating Total Group
Q1 2020                           (8.7)%        9.1%    4.5%             (1.9)%      (3.8)%
Q2 2020                          (42.8)%       16.5% (19.8)%            (48.4)%     (34.8)%
Q3 2020                           (3.1)%       25.5%   18.3%               0.4%        3.9%
Q4 2020                             1.3%       34.7%   20.0%               1.4%        7.7%
H1 2020                          (25.8)%       12.9%  (8.2)%            (22.8)%     (19.3)%
H2 2020                           (1.0)%       30.4%   19.6%               0.9%        5.9%
FY 2020                          (14.0)%       22.2%    5.0%            (11.2)%      (7.1)%

 

 

Operating profit and margin

The significant drop in revenue, combined with a predominantly fixed overhead base, negatively impacted on  profitability.
As outlined  above,  the  Group  therefore took  swift  and  appropriate  actions to  reduce  costs,  tightly  controlling
discretionary spend and commencing a restructuring programme in June 2020. As a result, adjusted operating profit for  the
year was £227m (2019: £442m).

 

£m                                         FY 2020 FY 2019  Change
Merchanting                                    152     284 (46.5)%
Toolstation                                      8      25 (68.0)%
Retail                                          77      97 (20.6)%
Plumbing & Heating                              19      48 (60.4)%
Property                                        11      21 (47.6)%
Unallocated costs                             (40)    (33) (21.2)%
Adjusted operating profit                      227     442 (48.6)%
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets     (9)     (9)        
Adjusting items                              (140)   (200)        
Operating profit                                77     233        

 

Adjusting items in 2020 are primarily related to the restructuring  programme at a cost of £121m.  In addition, the  Group
recognised adjusting items  of £13m in  relation to Wickes  store impairments and  £11m in relation  to costs to  separate
Wickes from the Group ahead of the planned demerger.  Further details are provided in note 7.

Adjusting items in 2019 primarily  related to the impairment  charge taken against the  IT improvement programme, and  the
costs to separate the P&H business from the Group.

Finance charge

Net finance charges, shown in note 10, were £85m (2019:  £87m). In the year, £10m of accelerated interest was incurred  on
the early repayment of  the 2014 bond  but this was  more than offset by  a £12m favourable  year-on-year movement on  the
remeasurement of foreign exchange and derivatives.

Interest costs overall were in line with the previous year, as was interest recognised on lease liabilities at £59m.

Taxation

The tax charge for continuing activities for the period to  31 December 2020, including the effect of adjusting items,  is
£14m (2019: £58m). This represents an effective tax rate (ETR) of negative 184.4% (2019: 32.1%).

The tax charge for the  year before adjusting items is  £37m (2019: £69m) giving an  adjusted ETR of 25.7% (standard  rate
19%, 2019 actual  19.7%). The  adjusted ETR  rate is  higher than the  standard rate  due to  the effect  of expenses  not
deductible for tax purposes (such as depreciation of property), unutilised overseas losses and a decrease in the  deferred
tax asset related to employee share schemes following a decrease in the share price in 2020.

 

Earnings per share

The Group reported a statutory loss after tax of £22m (2019:  profit of £123m) resulting in a basic loss per share of  8.8
pence (2019: earnings of 48.9 pence). There is no difference between basic and diluted basic earnings per share.

Adjusted profit after tax was £105m  resulting in adjusted earnings per share  (note 12(b)) of 42.4p (2019: 112.7  pence).
There is no difference between adjusted basic and adjusted diluted earnings per share.

 

                                               Cash flow and balance sheet

Throughout the pandemic, the Group has maintained a close focus on cash flow and its liquidity position. The actions taken
by the Group have  protected liquidity throughout, generating  significant cash from working  capital during the year  and
maintaining a strong balance sheet.

As a result of  the Government's decision,  driven by the  Covid-19 crisis, to allow  deferral of VAT  payments due on  or
before 30 June 2020,  the Group received  a deferred cash benefit  on tax payments  of £107m in H1  2020. This amount  was
required to be paid to HMRC  on or before 31 March  2021 but, given the strength  of the Group's liquidity position,  this
amount was paid in full during December 2020.

Free cash flow

 

(£m)                                                       FY 2020 FY 2019
Group adjusted operating profit excluding property profits     215     421
Depreciation of PPE and other non-cash movements               122     141
Change in working capital                                      195   (129)
Net interest paid (excluding lease interest)                  (28)    (26)
Interest on lease liabilities                                 (59)    (57)
Tax paid                                                      (45)    (53)
Adjusted operating cash flow                                   400     297
Capital investments                                                 
Capex excluding freehold transactions                        (108)   (121)
Proceeds from disposals excluding freehold transactions         12      19
Free cash flow before freehold transactions                    304     195

 

The key driver  of the improvement  in free cash  flow was  a significant reduction  in working capital  during the  year,
partially offset by the decline in adjusted operating profits previously outlined.

The significant cash inflow from working capital was driven primarily by a reduction in inventory of £97m, principally the
result of the utilisation of around £60m of additional stock held  at the end of 2019 to mitigate a possible no-deal  exit
from the EU. The remainder  of the working capital movement  largely related to the efficient  use of stock from  branches
closed as part of the restructuring and tight controls in place to manage stock holding over the second half of the  year,
offsetting increases from the expansion of the Toolstation  network; and lower receivables balances, driven by an  ongoing
focus on cash collections throughout the second  half of the year and building on  the excellent work of the credit  teams
during the first phase of the pandemic.

 

Capital investment

Net capital expenditure  was £9m higher  than previous year,  primarily a result  of lower disposal  proceeds as  property
transactions were paused during the initial lockdown.

(£m)                      FY 2020 FY 2019
Maintenance                  (42)    (56)
IT                           (15)    (12)
Growth Capex                 (51)    (53)
Base capital expenditure    (108)   (121)
                                   
Freehold property            (26)    (22)
Gross capital expenditure   (134)   (143)
Disposals                      64      82
Net capital expenditure      (70)    (61)

Base capital expenditure was £13m lower during the year driven by lower spend during the early phases of the pandemic.

The reduction was mainly on maintenance capital expenditure where  the Group has taken the opportunity to rephase  planned
vehicle replacements, including the reallocation of vehicles previously aligned to branches which have now been closed.

IT programme spend  was slightly  ahead of  last year,  reflecting the  investment in  projects to  modernise the  Group's
infrastructure, both as  a response to  the Covid crisis  and also to  accelerate planned changes  to enhance the  Group's
customer proposition.

Growth capital investment was  in line with  previous year after a  drive during the  second half of the  year to get  the
Toolstation UK branch  rollout back  on track  following delays during  the first  lockdown. Two  larger footprint  Travis
Perkins General Merchant branches were also opened during the year.

Uses of free cash flow

 

                                             FY 2020 FY 2019
Free cash flow (£m)                              304     195
Investments in freehold property                (26)    (22)
Disposal proceeds from freehold transactions      52      64
Acquisitions / disposals                          54    (43)
Dividends                                          -   (116)
Pension payments                                (12)    (10)
Sale / (purchase) of own shares                    6     (8)
Cash payments on adjusting items                (65)    (90)
Other                                           (15)    (18)
Change in cash and cash equivalents              298    (48)

 

 

During the year, the focus on protecting the liquidity position of the Group was highly successful and led to an  increase
in cash and cash equivalents of £298m. The key drivers of the improvement were:

  • Strong free cash flow from tight working capital management
  • Suspension of dividend payments during the year
  • £50m from the sale of Primaflow F&P

Net debt and funding

The strong focus on cash and liquidity, and the resulting cash position of the Group, has driven a significant improvement
in the net debt position.

 

                                    FY 2020 FY 2019  Change
Covenant net debt                      £40m   £344m £(304)m
Covenant net debt / adjusted EBITDA    0.1x    0.7x  (0.6)x
Net debt under IFRS16               £1,397m £1,788m £(391)m
Net debt / adjusted EBITDA             2.8x    2.5x    0.3x

Note - the covenant test under financing agreements is based on 'frozen GAAP' before the introduction of IFRS16.  Leverage
covenant for June 2020 was relaxed from 3.0x  to 3.5x. It was waived for December  2020 and will be reinstated at 3.0x  at
June 2021.

Covenant net debt  reduced by £304m  from 31 December  2019 to £40m.  As described above,  this movement was  a result  of
increased cash  balances primarily  due to  excellent working  capital management  through the  year.  This  was also  the
principal driver of the corresponding reduction in net debt under IFRS16.

Despite the significant  step down in  profitability of the  Group, the reduction  in IFRS16 net  debt caused the  rolling
12-month Net debt / adjusted EBITDA ratio to increase only modestly year-on-year to 2.8x. The medium term leverage  target
for the Group remains 2.5x.

In May 2020 the Group took the prudent step to agree with its lenders a relaxation of its financial covenants for the test
dates at the end of June and December 2020:

  • The interest cover covenant was waived for both June and December 2020
  • The net leverage covenant was relaxed to 3.5x for June 2020
  • The net leverage covenant was waived for December 2020
  • A minimum liquidity headroom covenant was established for September and December 2020

Funding

As at 31 December 2020, the Group's committed funding of £950m comprised:

  • £300m guaranteed notes due September 2023, listed on the London Stock Exchange 
  • £250m guaranteed notes due February  2026, listed on the  London Stock Exchange. These  notes were issued in  November
    2020 at a coupon of 3.75%.  Proceeds were used to buy in notes due to mature in September 2021
  • A revolving credit facility  of £400m, refinanced in  January 2019, of  which £54m matures in  2024 and the  remaining
    £346m matures in 2025.

As at 31 December  2020, the Group had  undrawn committed facilities of  £400m (2019: £400m) and  deposited cash of  £455m
(2019: £140m), giving overall liquidity headroom of £855m.

The Group's credit rating, issued  by Standard and Poor's,  was maintained at BB+ negative  watch following its review  in
April 2020. In November 2020, Fitch Ratings assigned the Group an investment grade rating of BBB- with stable outlook.

                                        Building a sustainable business framework

During the year, despite the challenges of the pandemic, the Group made good progress on its broader Environmental, Social
and Governance agenda, ensuring  that Travis Perkins continues  to enhance its reputation  as a responsible employer  with
both strategy and policies driven by well established core values.

The Group developed and launched a new Code of Conduct during the year, and implemented new policies and minimum standards
to support the Group's businesses on matters  including diversity and inclusion, people development, sustainable  products
and services, and responsible sourcing.

Travis Perkins has set the objective of being  Net Zero for carbon by 2035 for Scope  1 and 2 emissions, and by June  2021
the Group will set a  target for reducing Scope 3  indirect emissions in the creation  and use of products throughout  the
supply chain.

Staying close to colleagues in a year where physical distancing was essential has been one of the Group's top  priorities,
and weekly "check-in" surveys, with over 35,000 responses during  the year, have given clear and timely insight to  enable
support and training to be directed to colleagues that needed it most, particularly around mental health.

The Group has significantly enhanced its family leave policies, as well as ensuring that our frontline colleagues received
pay increases and recognition of  their great work with  the Merchanting and Plumbing &  Heating businesses both now  real
living wage employers.

The Group continues to invest heavily in its apprenticeship  programmes, taking on 783 apprentices in 2020 with plans  for
an additional 1,000  in 2021.  The TP  Women, LGBTQ+  and BAME  networks are  also now  active with  sponsorship from  the
leadership team. All  of these changes  will support further  improvements in building  a more diverse  workforce for  the
future.

                                            Principal risks and uncertainties

The risk environment in which the Group operates does not remain static. The coronavirus pandemic has required an  ongoing
and agile assessment  of risks, uncertainties  and issues, adjusting  to the development  of Covid-19 in  real time.   The
pandemic and its wider economic effects continue to bring uncertainty to our operations and the delivery of our  strategic
objectives.  Even with a mass vaccination programme, this uncertainty is likely to persist.

During the year, the  Directors have regularly  reviewed the Group's principal  risks.  Whilst a  number of the  principal
risks faced by the business remain aligned to those listed on  pages 40 to 51 of the 2019 Annual Report and Accounts,  the
Board has made the following key changes to the principal risk set in 2020:

  • Pandemic risk, specifically  in relation  to Covid-19,  is recognised  as a  new principal  risk due  to the  inherent
    associated uncertainty.
  • Environmental, social, and governance ("ESG") matters have been added as a principal risk as the Group recognises  its
    impact and potential influence on the environment, the construction industry and wider society.
  • Brexit is no longer considered to be a principal  risk.  Management prepared for, and will continue to implement,  the
    required changes to customs procedures, product  standards and the recruitment of  EU citizens, which remain the  more
    significant areas of Brexit impact for the Group.
  • The risks in relation to Portfolio Management and Capital Allocation have been combined.

Accordingly the  2020 Annual  Report and  Accounts will  report risks  under the  following captions:  market  conditions,
pandemic, changing customer  & competitor  landscape, supplier  risks, portfolio  management, change  management, ESG,  IT
systems & infrastructure, cyber threat & data security, people, health, safety & wellbeing and legal compliance.

In relation to the principal risks brought forward from 2019,  the Board considers the risk trend to now be increasing  in
relation to market conditions, supplier risks and the changing customer & competitor landscape.  All other risk trends are
unchanged.

                                              Consolidated income statement

For the year ended 31 December 2020

 

£m                                                        2020    2019
Revenue                                                6,157.5 6,955.7
Adjusted operating profit (note 6)                       226.7   441.5
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets               (9.2)   (9.0)
Adjusting items - operating (note 7)                   (140.4) (200.4)
Operating profit (note 6)                                 77.1   232.1
Adjusting items - remeasurement of associates (note 7)       -    40.3
Share of associates' results                               0.5   (4.3)
Interest on lease liabilities                           (59.0)  (57.0)
Finance costs (note 10)                                 (37.2)  (35.2)
Finance income (note 10)                                  10.9     4.9
(Loss) / profit before tax                               (7.7)   180.8
Adjusting items - deferred tax (note 7)                  (6.4)  (27.1)
Other tax (note 11)                                      (7.8)  (30.9)
Total tax                                               (14.2)  (58.0)
(Loss) / profit for the year                            (21.9)   122.8

 

Attributable to:                      
Owners of the Company     (22.4) 121.1
Non-controlling interests    0.5   1.7
                          (21.9) 122.8

 

(Loss)/earnings per ordinary share (note 12a):             
Basic                                          (8.8p) 48.9p
Diluted                                        (8.8p) 48.4p

 

All results relate to continuing operations. The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 

                                      Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

For the year ended 31 December 2020

 

£m                                                                    2020   2019
(Loss) / profit for the year                                        (21.9)  122.8
Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss:
Actuarial gain / (loss) on defined benefit pension schemes           113.1 (43.0)
Income tax relating to other comprehensive income                   (22.2)    8.3
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss:                  
Foreign exchange differences on retranslation of foreign operations  (2.0)    3.2
Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year net of tax             88.9 (31.5)
Total comprehensive income for the year                               67.0   91.3

 

All other comprehensive income is attributable to the owners of the Company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                Consolidated balance sheet

As at 31 December 2020

 

£m                                                      2020    2019
Assets                                                              
Non-current assets                                                  
Goodwill                                             1,358.5 1,359.1
Other intangible assets                                312.0   332.6
Property, plant and equipment                          830.4   882.0
Right-of-use assets                                  1,145.5 1,276.8
Interest in associates                                     -     1.9
Investments                                              9.2     6.7
Retirement benefit asset                               178.4    57.5
Total non-current assets                             3,834.0 3,916.6
Current assets                                                      
Inventories                                            840.7   937.8
Trade and other receivables                            892.7 1,239.7
Tax debtor                                               6.5       -
Cash and cash equivalents                              505.6   207.9
Total current assets                                 2,245.5 2,385.4
Assets of disposal group classified as held for sale       -   138.0
Total assets                                         6,079.5 6,440.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                             

                                           Consolidated balance sheet continued

As at 31 December 2020

 

£m                                                           2020    2019
Equity and liabilities                                                   
Capital and reserves                                                     
Issued share capital                                         25.2    25.2
Share premium account                                       545.6   545.6
Merger reserve                                              326.5   326.5
Revaluation reserve                                          14.3    14.5
Own shares                                                 (39.5)  (50.8)
Foreign exchange reserve                                      1.2     3.2
Other reserve                                                   -   (4.1)
Retained earnings                                         1,840.5 1,722.6
Equity attributable to the owners of the Company          2,713.8 2,582.7
Non-controlling interests                                       -     4.4
Total equity                                              2,713.8 2,587.1
Non-current liabilities                                                  
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings                       575.7   583.3
Lease liabilities                                         1,168.3 1,253.6
Deferred tax liabilities                                     77.2    62.7
Retirement benefit liability                                    -     4.9
Long-term provisions                                         21.9     8.0
Total non-current liabilities                             1,843.1 1,912.5
Current Liabilities                                                      
Lease liabilities                                           158.8   158.7
Derivative and other financial instruments                    1.6     2.5
Trade and other payables                                  1,304.2 1,613.9
Tax liabilities                                                 -    13.4
Short-term provisions                                        58.0    60.4
Total current liabilities                                 1,522.6 1,848.9
Total liabilities                                         3,365.7 3,761.4
Liabilities of disposal Group classified as held for sale       -    91.5
Total equity and liabilities                              6,079.5 6,440.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                       Consolidated statement of changes in equity

For the year ended 31 December 2019

 

                                                           Foreign                  Total equity
£m               Share   Share  Merger  Revaluation  Own   exchange Other Retained     before      Non-controlling  Total
                capital premium reserve   reserve   shares reserve        earnings non-controlling    interest     equity
                                                                                      interest
At 1 January     25.2    545.4   326.5     14.7     (47.8)    -     (5.6) 1,847.5      2,705.9          11.8       2,717.7
2019
Impact of the
change in          -       -       -         -        -       -       -   (106.1)      (106.1)            -        (106.1)
accounting
policy
Adjusted
balance at 1     25.2    545.4   326.5     14.7     (47.8)    -     (5.6) 1,741.4      2,559.8          11.8       2,611.6
January 2019
Profit for the     -       -       -         -        -       -       -    121.1        121.1            1.7        122.8
year
Other
comprehensive
income for the     -       -       -         -        -      3.2      -    (34.7)      (31.5)             -        (31.5)
period net of
tax
Total
comprehensive      -       -       -         -        -      3.2      -     86.4        89.6             1.7        91.3
income for the
year
Dividends paid     -       -       -         -        -       -       -   (116.2)      (116.2)            -        (116.2)
Dividend
equivalent         -       -       -         -        -       -       -    (0.1)        (0.1)             -         (0.1)
payments
Issue of share     -      0.2      -         -        -       -       -      -           0.2              -          0.2
capital
Purchase of own    -       -       -         -      (7.7)     -       -      -          (7.7)             -         (7.7)
shares
Adjustments in
respect of         -       -       -       (0.2)      -       -       -     0.2           -               -           -
revalued fixed
assets
Arising on         -       -       -         -        -       -       -    (11.9)      (11.9)           (9.1)      (21.0)
acquisition
Equity-settled
share-based        -       -       -         -        -       -       -     23.0        23.0              -         23.0
payments
Tax on
equity-settled     -       -       -         -        -       -       -     4.5          4.5              -          4.5
share-based
payments
Option on
non-controlling    -       -       -         -        -       -      1.5     -           1.5              -          1.5
interest
Own shares         -       -       -         -       4.7      -       -    (4.7)          -               -           -
movement
At 31 December   25.2    545.6   326.5     14.5     (50.8)   3.2    (4.1) 1,722.6      2,582.7           4.4       2,587.1
2019
Loss for the       -       -       -         -        -       -       -    (22.4)      (22.4)            0.5       (21.9)
year
Other
comprehensive
(loss)/income      -       -       -         -        -     (2.0)     -     90.9        88.9              -         88.9
for the period
net of tax
Total
Comprehensive      -       -       -         -        -     (2.0)     -     68.5        66.5             0.5        67.0
(loss)/ income
for the year
Sale of own        -       -       -         -       6.4      -       -      -           6.4              -          6.4
shares
Option on
non-controlling    -       -       -         -        -       -       -     4.9          4.9            (4.9)         -
interest
Adjustments in
respect of         -       -       -       (0.2)      -       -       -     0.2           -               -           -
revalued fixed
assets
Exercise of
options over       -       -       -         -        -       -      4.1   (4.1)          -               -           -
non-controlling
interests
Adjustments in
respect of         -       -       -         -        -       -       -     40.3        40.3              -         40.3
leases
Equity-settled
share-based        -       -       -         -        -       -       -     15.6        15.6              -         15.6
payments
Tax on
equity-settled     -       -       -         -        -       -       -    (1.7)        (1.7)             -         (1.7)
share-based
payments
Other tax          -       -       -         -        -       -       -    (0.9)        (0.9)             -         (0.9)
Own shares         -       -       -         -       4.9      -       -    (4.9)          -               -           -
movement
At 31 December   25.2    545.6   326.5     14.3     (39.5)   1.2      -   1,840.5      2,713.8            -        2,713.8
2020

 

 

                                             Consolidated cash flow statement

For the year ended 31 December 2020

£m                                                                 2020    2019
Cash flows from operating activities                                           
Adjusted operating profit                                         226.7   441.5
Adjustments for:                                                               
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment                      89.6    97.5
Depreciation of right-of-use assets*                              171.7   174.3
Lease terminations and impairments*                                   -     2.2
Amortisation and impairment of internally-generated intangibles    16.6    23.5
Share-based payments                                               15.6    19.9
Foreign exchange                                                    2.0     4.1
Other non-cash movements                                              -     4.2
Gain on disposal of subsidiaries                                  (3.2)       -
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment                (11.5)  (20.6)
Purchase of toolhire assets                                       (6.4)   (9.2)
Adjusted operating cash flows                                     501.1   737.4
Decrease/(increase) in inventories                                 97.1 (104.2)
Decrease in receivables                                           481.0    12.5
Decrease in payables                                            (383.6)  (36.4)

Decrease in supplier financing arrangements                           -   (0.1)
Payments in respect of adjusting items                           (65.2)  (90.0)
Pension payments in excess of the income statement charge        (11.5)   (9.9)
Cash generated from operations                                    618.9   509.1
Interest paid                                                    (29.5)  (27.0)
Interest on lease liabilities                                    (59.0)  (57.0)

Debt arrangement fees                                                 -   (2.9)
Current income taxes paid                                        (44.5)  (52.9)
Net cash from operating activities                                485.9   369.4
Cash flows from investing activities                                           
Interest received                                                   1.3     0.8
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment              64.2    82.0
Development of computer software                                  (5.4)   (8.4)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment                      (121.5) (125.2)
Interest in associates                                                -  (20.6)
Acquisition of businesses                                             -  (23.0)
Disposal of business                                               53.7       -
Net cash used in investing activities                             (7.7)  (94.4)
Cash flows from financing activities                                           
Proceeds from the issue of share capital                              -     0.2
Bank facility fee                                                 (2.9)       -
Sale/purchase of own shares                                         6.4   (7.7)
Repayment of lease liabilities                                  (163.1) (175.6)
Payments to pension scheme                                        (3.4)   (3.4)
Dividends paid                                                        - (116.2)
Purchase of non-controlling interest                              (6.0)  (19.8)
Bond issue                                                        248.5       -
Repayment of bond                                               (260.0)       -
Draw down of bank facilities                                      400.0       -
Repayment of borrowings                                         (400.0)       -
Net cash from financing activities                              (180.5) (322.5)
Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents            297.7  (47.5)
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January                            207.9   255.4
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December                          505.6   207.9

 

 

 

 

                                                          Notes

 

 1. The Group's principal accounting policies are set out in the 2020 Annual Report & Accounts, which is available from 2
    March 2021 on the Company's website www.travisperkinsplc.co.uk.

 2. The Board suspended the proposal final dividend payment of 33.0 pence per ordinary share in respect of the year ended
    31 December 2019 due to the impact of Covid-19. The Directors do not recommend a final dividend in respect of the year
    ended 31 December 2020.
 3. The financial information set out in this statement does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts for the years
    ended 31 December 2020 or 31 December 2019, but is derived from those accounts. Statutory accounts for 2019 have been
    delivered to the Registrar of Companies and those for 2020 will be delivered in due course. The auditor has reported
    on those accounts: their reports were (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include a reference to any matters to which the
    auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their reports and (iii) did not contain a statements
    under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006. The audit of the statutory accounts for the year ended 31
    December 2020 is now complete. Whilst the financial information included in this announcement has been computed in
    accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") this announcement does not itself contain
    sufficient information to comply with IFRS.
 4. This announcement was approved by the Board of Directors on 1 March 2021.
 5. It is intended to post the Annual Report & Accounts to shareholders on 24 March 2021 and to hold the Annual General
    Meeting on 27 April 2021. Copies of the annual report prepared in accordance with IFRS will be available from the
    Company Secretary, Travis Perkins plc, Lodge Way House, Lodge Way, Harlestone Road, Northampton NN5 7UG from 24 March
    2021 or is available on the Group's website at  2 www.travisperkinsplc.com.

 

6. Profit

  a. Operating profit

£m                                                       2020      2019

                                                                   
Revenue                                               6,157.5   6,955.7
Cost of sales                                       (4,326.2) (4,921.1)
Gross profit                                          1,831.3   2,034.6
Selling and distribution costs                      (1,387.2) (1,475.9)
Administrative expenses                               (387.0)   (353.6)
Profit on disposal of properties                         11.5      20.6
Other operating income                                    8.5       6.4
Operating profit                                         77.1     232.1
Adjusting items                                         140.4     200.4
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets                9.2       9.0
Adjusted operating profit                               226.7     441.5
Profit on disposal of properties                       (11.5)    (20.6)
Adjusted operating profit before property disposals     215.2     420.9

 

Other operating income consists of rents receivable.

 

  ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ b. Adjusted profit ‬‬‬‬

£m                                                  2020   2019
(Loss) / profit before tax                         (7.7)  180.8
Adjusting items (note 7)                           140.4  160.1
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets           9.2    9.0
Adjusted profit before tax                         141.9  349.9
Total tax                                         (14.2) (58.0)
Tax on adjusting items                            (27.0) (36.3)
Adjusting items - deferred tax                       6.4   27.1
Tax on amortisation of acquired intangible assets  (1.7)  (1.6)
Adjusted profit after tax                          105.4  281.1

 

Adjusted profit excludes adjusting items and amortisation of acquired intangible assets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Adjusting items

£m                                                        2020   2019
Adjusting items - operating                                          
Branch closures and restructuring                        120.9      -
Wickes separation and demerger costs                      11.1   11.7
Wickes store impairment                                   12.6      -
IT-related settlement and impairment charge              (4.2)  107.6
Plumbing & Heating separation and disposal process           -   46.5
Supply chain and restructuring costs                         -   21.5
Closure of business                                          -   13.1
                                                         140.4  200.4
Adjusting items - business acquisitions                              
Fair value gain on the acquisition of Toolstation Europe     - (40.3)
                                                             - (40.3)
Adjusting items - tax                                                
Deferred tax rate change                                   6.4      -
Rollover relief deferred tax                                 -   27.1
                                                           6.4   27.1
                                                         146.8  187.2

      Branch closures and restructuring

In response to Covid-19 and an expectation of reduced sales volumes in 2020 and 2021, and in response to changing customer
requirements and a shift to delivered sales, in June 2020 the Group commenced a significant programme of branch closures
and the restructuring of distribution, administrative and sales functions.

This will result in the closure of around 190 branches across the overall branch estate, representing approximately 10% of
the Group's network. The branch closures are concentrated in the merchant businesses and in particular on small branches
in the Travis Perkins General Merchant and on branches in the Plumbing and Heating contracts businesses. In total, the
Group reduced the number of roles by around 2,500 or approximately 9% of the workforce. Costs recognised in relation to
these closures are as follows:

  • £66.4m of property costs arising on the closure of branches and office locations, including a £26.5m impairment charge
    in respect of right-of-use assets
  • £27.2m of redundancy and other restructuring costs
  • £13.3m of fixed asset impairments
  • £14.0m of inventory provisions in respect of closed branches and associated restructuring

      Wickes separation and demerger

The Group incurred costs preparing to demerge the Wickes business. This was paused in March 2020 given the uncertainty of
the impact of coronavirus and volatility in the equity market and the demerger is now expected to complete in April 2021.
The costs disclosed as adjusting consist of:

  • £7.6m of costs related to the separation of IT functions from the Group
  • £3.5m of professional service fees incurred in preparation for the demerger

      Wickes store impairment

An impairment charge of £12.6m was recognised in respect of five Wickes stores where the impacts of coronavirus have made
it more challenging to implement the performance improvement plans necessary to generate cash flows that support the
stores' value-in-use. The remaining lease term was used as the remaining useful life. The impairment has been recognised
against the right-of-use assets associated with these stores, which are the only material assets.

IT-related impairment charge

The gain of £4.2m is the result of the full and final settlement of claims in relation to the cancelled replacement of the
Group's merchant ERP system.

Deferred tax rate change

The tax charge includes an adjusting charge of £6.4m arising from the increase in the rate of UK corporation tax effective
on 1 April 2020 from 17% to 19%.

      2019

The following items were disclosed as adjusting in 2019:

  • An impairment charge of £107.6m after the previous programme to develop a replacement ERP for the Merchant businesses
    was halted
  • Costs of £46.5m incurred in relation to separation of the Plumbing & Heating business from the Group's central IT
    infrastructure and support functions to enable the business to operate autonomously and support any future disposal
  • £11.7m of Wickes separation and demerger costs were disclosed as adjusting following the Group's announcement of its
    intention to demerge the Wickes business
  • Restructuring costs of £21.5m relating to cost reduction activities in the supply chain and support centre of the
    merchant business, including the costs of closure of the Group's range centre and timber network
  • Losses recognised following the closure of the Built business in April 2019
  • A fair value gain on the acquisition of Toolstation Europe of £40.3m following the remeasurement of the investment at
    fair value
  • A deferred tax charge of £27.1m following the Group's change in property strategy and therefore its assessment of its
    ability to use rollover relief indefinitely on capital gains in 2019

8. Business segments

The operating segments are identified on the basis of internal reports about components of the Group that are regularly
reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM"), which is considered to be the Board, to assess performance and
allocate capital. The Group has four operating segments:

  • Merchanting
  • Retail
  • Toolstation
  • Plumbing & Heating

These segments reflect the Group's organisation around differences in products (general building versus plumbing &
heating), customers (trade versus consumer) and price and range flexibility (fixed range and fixed price versus variable
and variable range).

All operating segments sell building materials to a wide range of customers, none of which are dominant, and operate
almost exclusively in the United Kingdom. The information previously reported under the business segments note has been
restated to reflect the new operating segments.

Segment result represents the result of each segment without allocation of certain central costs, finance income and costs
and tax. Unallocated segment assets and liabilities comprise financial instruments, current and deferred tax, cash and
borrowings and pension scheme assets and liabilities.

   

8. Business segments continued

   a. Segment information

                                                                          2020                                      
                                                            Retail
£m                                           Merchanting           Toolstation Plumbing & Heating Unallocated Consolidated
                                                                  
Revenue                                          3,064.8   1,391.2       632.7            1,068.8           -      6,157.7
Segment result                                      65.7      51.1         4.3              (1.0)      (43.0)         77.1
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets           6.2         -         2.4                0.6           -          9.2
Adjusting items                                     89.1      26.9         0.9               20.8         2.7        140.4
Adjusted segment result                            161.0      78.0         7.6               20.4      (40.3)        226.7
Less property profits                              (9.2)     (0.9)           -              (1.4)           -       (11.5)
Adjusted segment result excluding property         151.8      77.1         7.6               19.0      (40.3)        215.2
profits
Adjusted segment margin                             5.3%      5.6%        1.2%               1.9%           -         3.7%
Adjusted segment margin excluding property          5.0%      5.5%        1.2%               1.8%           -         3.5%
profits
Average capital employed                         2,084.4   1,325.2       430.1              379.8      (70.7)      4,148.8
Segment assets                                    2583.5   1,609.2       567.5              579.6       739.7      6,079.5
Segment liabilities                              (963.5) (1,086.1)     (271.2)            (355.0)     (689.9)    (3,365.7)
Consolidated net assets                          1,620.0     523.1       296.3              224.6        49.8      2,713.8
Capital expenditure                                 68.4      17.0        17.1                4.6        26.2        133.3
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets           6.2         -         2.4                0.6           -          9.2
Depreciation and amortisation of software           65.5      26.1         5.5                6.6         2.5        106.2

 

 

 

 

8. Business segments continued

   a. Segment information continued

                                                                          2019                                      
                                             Merchanting Retail
£m                                                                 Toolstation Plumbing & Heating Unallocated Consolidated
                                                          
Revenue                                          3,703.4   1,342.4       445.1            1,464.8           -      6,955.7
Segment result                                     275.4      85.0        22.0                3.7     (154.0)        232.1
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets           6.1         -         2.6                0.3           -          9.0
Adjusting items                                     23.5      11.6           -               45.4       119.9        200.4
Adjusted segment result                            305.0      96.6        24.6               49.4      (34.1)        441.5
Less property profits                             (20.7)         -           -              (1.0)         1.1       (20.6)
Adjusted segment result excluding property         284.3      96.6        24.6               48.4      (33.0)        420.9
profits
Adjusted segment margin                             8.2%      7.2%        5.5%               3.4%           -         6.3%
Adjusted segment margin excluding property          7.7%      7.2%        5.5%               3.3%           -         6.1%
profits
Average capital employed                         2,058.7   1,347.3       430.9              367.2      (68.1)      4,135.9
Segment assets                                   3,037.3   1,705.5       552.4              860.2       284.6      6,440.0
Segment liabilities                            (1,224.6) (1,134.7)     (241.0)            (528.7)     (723.9)    (3,852.9)
Consolidated net assets                          1,812.7     570.8       311.4              331.5     (439.3)      2,587.1
Capital expenditure                                 89.0      23.8        13.2               15.8         1.0        142.8
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets           6.1         -         2.6                0.3           -          9.0
Depreciation and amortisation of software           67.4      27.8         4.3                8.0         9.4        116.9

 ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

9. Pension schemes

£m                                                                                   2020    2019
At 1 January actuarial asset                                                         52.6    81.2
Additional liability recognised for minimum funding requirements                        -       -
                                                                                     52.6    81.2
Current service costs and administrative expenses charged to the income statement   (1.6)   (1.4)
Past service costs                                                                      -       -
Net interest income                                                                   1.1     2.4
Contributions from sponsoring companies                                              13.0    13.4
Foreign exchange                                                                      0.1       -
Return on plan assets (excluding amounts included in net interest)                  193.3   161.8
Actuarial (loss)/gain arising from changes in demographic assumptions                60.5   (1.2)
Actuarial loss arising from changes in financial assumptions                      (163.5) (209.8)
Actuarial gain arising from experience adjustments                                   22.9     6.2
Gross pension asset at 31 December                                                  178.4    52.6
Deferred tax asset                                                                 (33.9)   (8.9)
Net pension asset at 31 December                                                    144.5    43.7

 

10. Net finance costs

 

£m                                                       2020   2019
Interest on bank loans and overdrafts                   (3.1)  (2.0)
Interest on bonds                                      (19.5) (21.0)
Accelerated interest on repayment of 2014 bond         (10.0)      -
Unwinding of discounts - property provisions            (0.2)  (0.2)
Unwinding of discounts - pension SPV loan               (2.1)  (2.2)
Issue costs of bank loans*                              (2.3)  (2.9)
Other interest                                              -  (2.3)
Net loss on remeasurement of foreign exchange               -  (3.3)
Net loss on remeasurement of derivatives at fair value      -  (1.3)
Finance costs before lease interest                    (37.2) (35.2)
Interest on lease liabilities                          (59.0) (57.0)
Finance costs                                          (96.2) (92.2)
                                                                    
Net gain on remeasurement of derivatives at fair value    1.4      -
Net gain on remeasurement of foreign exchange             6.4      -
Other finance income - pension scheme                     1.1    2.4
Interest receivable                                       2.0    2.5
Finance income                                           10.9    4.9
Net finance costs                                      (85.3) (87.3)

 

The charge caused by the unwinding of discounts relates to the property provisions and the pension scheme SPV loan.

 

11. Tax

£m                            2020   2019
Current tax:                             
   Current year               24.1   44.0
   Prior year                  0.3  (3.1)
Total current tax             24.4   40.9
Deferred tax:                            
   Current year              (9.2) (12.1)
   Prior year                (1.0)   29.2
Total deferred tax          (10.2)   17.1
Total tax charge / (credit)   14.2   58.0

 

 

12. Earnings per share

  a. Basic and diluted earnings per share

£m                                                                                               2020        2019
Earnings for the purposes of earnings per share                                                (21.9)       121.1
Weighted average number of shares for the purposes of basic earnings per share            248,566,317 247,957,050
Dilutive effect of share options on potential ordinary shares                                       -   2,293,525
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of diluted earnings per share 248,566,317 250,250,575
(Loss) / earnings per share                                                                    (8.8)p       48.9p
Diluted (loss) / earnings per share                                                            (8.8)p       48.4p

 

382,770 share options (2019: 1,878,458 share options) had an exercise price in excess of the average market value of the
shares during the year. As a result, these share options were excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share.
Share options that would be anti-dilutive due to the Group generating a loss have also been excluded from the calculation.

 

  b. Adjusted earnings per share

Adjusted earnings per share are calculated by excluding the effect of the exceptional items and amortisation acquired
intangible assets from earnings.

 

£m                                                  2020   2019
Earnings for the purposes of earnings per share   (21.9)  121.1
Adjusting items                                    140.4  160.1
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets           9.2    9.0
Tax on adjusting items                            (27.0) (36.3)
Adjusting deferred tax                               6.4   27.1
Tax on amortisation of acquired intangible assets  (1.7)  (1.6)
Adjusted earnings                                  105.4  279.4
Adjusted earnings per share                        42.4p 112.7p
Adjusted diluted earnings per share                42.4p 111.6p

 

 

13. Dividends

Amounts were recognised in the financial statements as distributions to equity shareholders as follows:

 

£m                                                                                                       2020  2019
Final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2019 of 31.50 pence (2018: 31.50 pence) per ordinary share    -  78.2
Interim dividend for the year ended 31 December 2020 of nil pence (2019: 15.50 pence) per ordinary share    -  38.0
Total dividend recognised during the year                                                                   - 116.2

 

The dividends for 2020 and for 2019 were as follows:

 

Pence                       2020 2019
Interim paid                   - 15.5
Final proposed                 -    -
Total dividend for the year    - 15.5

 

The Board suspended the proposal final dividend payment of 33.0  pence per ordinary share in respect of the year ended  31
December 2019 due to the impact of Covid-19. The Directors do not recommend a final dividend in respect of the year  ended
31 December 2020.

 

14. Free cash flow

£m                                                                 2020   2019*
Adjusted operating profit                                         226.7   441.5
Less: Profit on disposal of properties                           (11.5)  (20.6)
Adjusted operating profit excluding property profit               215.2   420.9
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment                      89.6    97.5
Amortisation and impairment of internally generated intangibles    16.6    23.5
Share-based payments                                               15.6    19.9
Movement on working capital                                       194.5 (128.7)
Other net interest paid                                          (28.2)  (26.2)
Interest on lease liabilities                                    (59.0)  (57.0)
Income tax paid                                                  (44.5)  (52.9)
Capital expenditure excluding freehold purchase                 (107.7) (120.9)
Disposal of plant and equipment                                    11.9    19.4
Free cash flow                                                    304.0   195.5

15. Net debt

   a. Covenant net debt

Following the implementation  of IFRS 16  - Leases, the  Group has  started reporting covenant  net debt, a  new KPI  that
matches the definition  of net debt  in the  Group's banking and  bond covenants.  The Group has  stopped reporting  lease
adjusted net debt as the implementation of  IFRS 16 - Leases means that the  effect of leases is already reflected in  net
debt.

£m                                                      2020      2019
 Cash and cash equivalents                             505.6     207.9
 Non-current interest bearing loans and borrowings   (575.7)   (583.3)
 Non-current lease liabilities                     (1,168.3) (1,253.6)
 Current lease liabilities                           (158.8)   (158.7)
Net debt                                           (1,397.2) (1,787.7)
Less: Liability to pension scheme                       30.1      31.5
Less: Lease liabilities                              1,327.1   1,412.3
Covenant net debt                                     (40.0)   (343.9)

 

   b. Movement in net debt

 

£m                       Cash and cash Leases     Term loan and revolving credit     Sterling bonds  Liability to   Total
                          equivalents                 facility and loan notes                       pension scheme
At 1 January 2019              (255.4)    21.0                                 (1.4)          556.6           32.8   353.6
Recognition of lease                 - 1,566.9                                     -              -              - 1,566.9
liability
Cash flow                         47.5 (232.6)                                 (2.9)              -          (3.4) (191.4)
Finance charges movement             -       -                                   2.2            0.7              -     2.9
Amortisation of swap                 -       -                                     -          (3.4)              -   (3.4)
cancellation receipt
Discount unwind on                   -
liability to pension                         -                                     -              -            2.1     2.1
scheme                                
Discount unwind on lease             -    57.0                                     -              -              -    57.0
liability
At 1 January 2020              (207.9) 1,412.3                                 (2.1)          553.9           31.5 1,787.7
Additions to leases                  -    99.3                                     -              -              -    99.3
Disposals of leases                  -  (21.4)                                     -              -              -  (21.4)
Cash flow                      (297.7) (222.1)                                 (0.5)              -          (3.4) (523.7)
Finance charges movement             -       -                                   0.6          (0.5)              -     0.1
Amortisation of swap                 -       -                                     -          (5.8)              -   (5.8)
cancellation receipt
Discount unwind on                   -
liability to pension                         -                                     -              -            2.0     2.0
scheme                                
Discount unwind on lease             -    59.0                                     -              -              -    59.0
liability
31 December 2020               (505.6) 1,327.1                                 (2.0)          547.6           30.1 1,397.2

 

16. Return on capital ratios

Group return on capital employed is calculated as follows:

£m                                                                        2020    2019
Operating profit                                                          77.1   232.1
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets                                 9.2     9.0
Adjusting items                                                          140.4   200.4
Adjusted operating profit                                                226.7   441.5
                                                                                      
Opening net assets                                                     2,587.1 2,611.6
Net pension surplus                                                     (43.7)  (65.8)
Net debt, including opening adjustment for change in accounting policy 1,787.7 1,876.9
Opening capital employed                                               4,331.1 4,422.7
                                                                                      
Closing net assets                                                     2,713.8 2,587.1
Net pension surplus                                                    (144.5)  (43.7)
Net debt                                                               1,397.2 1,787.7
Closing capital employed                                               3,966.5 4,331.1
Average capital employed                                               4,148.8 4,376.9

 

Group return on capital employed is calculated as follows:

 

£m                            2020    2019
Adjusted operating profit    226.7   441.5
Average capital employed   4,148.8 4,376.9
Return on capital employed    5.5%   10.1%

 

 

17. Net debt to adjusted EBITDA

 

£m                               2020    2019
Operating profit                 77.1   232.1
Depreciation and amortisation   287.1   300.2
EBITDA                          364.2   532.3
Adjusting operating items       140.4   200.4
Share of associates' results      0.5   (4.3)
Adjusted EBITDA                 505.1   728.4
Net debt                      1,397.2 1,787.7
Net debt to adjusted EBITDA      2.8x    2.5x

 

 

 

 

18. Revenue reconciliation and like-for-like sales

The Group has changed its internal reporting structure and  as a result has changed the definition of operating  segments.
The segmental information for revenue and like-for-like sales has been restated to reflect the new operating segments.

 

£m                         Merchanting  Retail Toolstation Plumbing & Heating   Total
2019 revenue                   3,703.4 1,342.4       445.1            1,464.8 6,955.7
Network change                 (193.1)  (20.7)       (1.7)            (268.0) (483.5)
Trading days                      14.1     3.6         1.2                4.8    23.7
2019 like-for-like revenue     3,524.4 1,325.3       444.6            1,201.6 6,495.9
Like-for-like change           (494.0)    65.9        98.8            (135.1) (464.4)
Network change                    34.4       -        89.3                2.3   126.0
2020 revenue                   3,064.8 1,391.2       632.7            1,068.8 6,157.5
Like-for-like revenue (%)      (14.0%)    5.0%       22.2%            (11.2%)  (7.1%)

 

Like-for-like sales  are a  measure  of underlying  sales performance  for  two successive  periods. Branches  and  stores
contribute to like-for-like sales once they have been trading  for more than 12 months. Revenue included in  like-for-like
is for the equivalent times in both years being compared,  including changes to the number of trading days. When  branches
close, revenue is excluded from the prior year figures for the months equivalent to the post-closure period in the current
year.

 

 

19. Business combinations

 

a) Disposal of Primaflow F&P

On 31 January 2020 the Group sold the Primaflow F&P wholesale business for cash consideration of £50.1m, generating profit
on disposal of £1.8m. As a result of this transaction, £2.9m of goodwill was derecognised by the Group.

As this business did not represent a separate major line  of business or geographical area of operations, it has not  been
shown as a discontinued operation in the income statement. The revenue of £27.9m and adjusted operating profit of £0.7m in
the period to  31 January  2020 are presented   in the  Group's financial  statements as part  of the  Plumbing &  Heating
segment.

 

b) Disposal of Tile Giant Ltd

On 30 September 2020 the Group sold Tile Giant Limited for a total consideration of £6.1m generating profit on disposal of
£1.4m. Total consideration consists of cash consideration of £3.3m and loan notes of £2.8m.

As this business did not represent a  separate major line of business or geographical  area of operations it has not  been
shown as a discontinued operation in the income statement. The  revenue of £31.0m and adjusted operating loss of £0.2m  in
the period to 30 September 2020 are presented in the Group's financial statements as part of the Retail segment.

 

c) Acquisition of The Underfloor Heating Store Limited

On 30 October  2020 the Group  acquired an additional  10% of  the issued share  capital of the  Underfloor Heating  Store
Limited for cash consideration  of £6.0m. The Group  now owns 100% of  the issued share capital  of this subsidiary. As  a
result of this transaction, the amount of non-controlling interest recognised in the Group's equity was reduced by £2.8m.

 

d) Acquisition of TFS Holdings Limited

On 17 December 2020  the Group acquired  an additional 10%  of the issued share  capital of the  TFS Holdings Limited  for
consideration of £1.9m.  The Group now  owns 100% of  the issued share  capital of this  subsidiary. As a  result of  this
transaction, the amount of non-controlling interest recognised in the Group's equity was reduced by £1.6m.

 

 

19. Business combinations (continued)

 

e) Acquisition of Toolstation Europe Ltd in 2019

On 30 September 2019 the Group  acquired an additional 49.5% of the  ordinary share capital of Toolstation Europe  Limited
for transferred cash consideration of £21.9m,  giving the Group a controlling 97.1%  share of the business. In  accordance
with the requirements of the acquisition accounting method,  the existing 47.5% investment in associate was remeasured  to
fair value. This fair value was calculated  based on the amount paid for the  additional 49% acquired, creating a gain  of
£40.3m that was credited to the consolidated income statement as an adjusting item (see note 3).

 

Consideration and assets and liabilities acquired

The consideration was as follows:

                                                       £m
Consideration transferred: cash paid                   21.9
Fair value of pre-existing equity investment           21.0
Settlement of pre-existing loans and preference shares 66.7
Total consideration                                    109.6

 

Fair values ascribed to the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired and the goodwill recognised were:

                                                    £m
Property, plant and equipment (note 9)              8.4
Intangible assets - trade name (note 8)             16.8
Intangible assets - customer relationships (note 8) 3.4
Deferred tax liability (note 16)                    (1.5)
Right-of-use assets (note 10)                       14.9
Inventory                                           14.3
Trade and other receivables                         4.0
Cash                                                1.4
Trade and other payables                            (9.1)
Lease liabilities (note 10)                         (14.9)
Net identifiable assets acquired                    37.7
Less: non-controlling interest                      (0.6)
Goodwill (note 8)                                   72.0
Net assets acquired                                 109.1

 

The goodwill recognised is principally made up  of the value of the assembled workforce  and the value to be derived  from
recently-opened stores that have not yet reached maturity. It will not be deductible for tax purposes.

 

Measurement of non-controlling interest

The Group has elected to recognise the non-controlling  interest in Toolstation Europe Limited at its proportionate  share
of the acquired identifiable assets and liabilities.

 

 

19. Business combinations (continued)

 

e) Acquisition of Toolstation Europe Ltd in 2019 (continued)

 

Outflow of cash to acquire subsidiary, net of cash acquired:

                                           £m
Cash consideration                         21.9
Less: cash acquired                        (1.4)
Net outflow of cash - investing activities 20.5

 

f) Other business combinations and investment activity in 2019

On 2 January 2019 the Group acquired the remaining 25%  of the issued share capital of National Shower Spares Limited  for
cash consideration of £1.3m. National Shower Spares Limited is now a wholly-owned subsidiary.

 

On 15 January 2019 the Group acquired the trade and  assets of Ambient Electrical Limited, an online retailer of  electric
underfloor heating products, for cash consideration of £1.0m, generating goodwill of £0.8m.

 

On 17 May 2019 the Group acquired  an additional 35% of the issued share  capital of the Underfloor Heating Store  Limited
for cash consideration of £18.5m. This took the Group's ownership  to 90% of the issued share capital of this  subsidiary.
As a result of this transaction,  the amount of non-controlling interest recognised  in the Group's equity was reduced  by
£6.8m.

 

══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════

   ISIN:           GB0007739609
   Category Code:  FR
   TIDM:           TPK
   LEI Code:       2138001I27OUBAF22K83
   OAM Categories: 1.1. Annual financial and audit reports
   Sequence No.:   94578
   EQS News ID:    1172224


    
   End of Announcement EQS News Service

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