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REG-Travis Perkins Travis Perkinsplc: Full year results for the year to 31 December 2023

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Travis Perkins (TPK)
Travis Perkinsplc: Full year results for the year to 31 December 2023

05-March-2024 / 07:00 GMT/BST

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                                               5 March 2024

                                                     

 Dissemination of a Regulatory Announcement that contains inside information according to REGULATION (EU)
                                            No 596/2014 (MAR)

 

  Travis Perkins plc, a leading partner to the construction industry, announces its unaudited full year
                                 results for the year to 31 December 2023

 

A challenging year in weak market conditions; driving actions to support profit recovery and enhance cash
                                                generation

Protecting market position in challenging conditions

  • Progressive downturn in new build housing and private domestic RMI markets leading to Group revenue
    (2.7)% lower than prior year
  • Combination of lower volumes, overhead cost inflation and rapid commodity price deflation in H2
    resulted in full year adjusted operating profit of £180m (2022: £295m)
  • Invested to protect and build market positions with market share gains in both Toolstation and Travis
    Perkins General Merchant

Transforming the operating model to build a stronger business

  • Step change reduction in non-branch cost base delivered with £35m annualised savings
  • Working on a plan for a potential exit of Toolstation France; strategic review of options for
    Toolstation Benelux
  • Optimising Benchmarx branch network with focus on integrated offer within destination General Merchant
    branches and profitable standalones
  • Continued rationalisation of legacy Toolstation UK supply chain, following successful opening of the
    new Pineham distribution centre
  • Delivering profit enhancements through simplification of Group structures, lowering supply chain costs
    and harnessing benefits from new technology
  • Operating profit of £110m (2022: £285m) reflects trading performance and adjusting items of £60m
    recognised in 2023 (of which around £16m is cash) related to impairments in Toolstation France and
    Benchmarx, together with restructuring actions

Enhancing cash generation to support future capital allocation

  • Reduced capital expenditure requirements in near term; £80m guidance for 2024
  • Review of working capital opportunities underway
  • Refinancing completed, supporting robust balance sheet; no funding maturities before 2026
  • In line with the Board’s policy, 2023 proposed full year dividend of 18.0 pence per share (2022: 39.0
    pence per share)

£m (unless otherwise stated) Note 2023  2022   Change
Revenue                       6   4,862 4,995  (2.7)%
Adjusted operating profit¹    7    180   295  (39.0)%
Adjusted earnings per share¹ 14b  45.7p 94.6p (51.7)%
Return on capital employed¹   17  6.3%  10.8% (4.5)ppt
Net debt / adjusted EBITDA¹   18  2.6x  1.8x   (0.8)x
Ordinary dividend per share   13  18.0p 39.0p (53.8)%
Operating profit              7    110   285  (61.4)%
Profit after tax                   38    192  (80.2)%
Basic earnings per share          18.1p 90.8p (80.1)%

 

(1) Alternative performance measures are used to describe the Group’s performance. Details of calculations
can be found in the notes listed.

 

Nick Roberts, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

“Ongoing economic challenges have significantly impacted our trading performance, driven by weakness in
the new build housing and domestic RMI sectors, and compounded by deflationary pressures on commodity
products. Faced with these challenges, we have invested to protect and build our leading market
positions. 

With market conditions expected to remain a headwind through 2024, the business is fully focused on
improving profitability and enhancing cash generation. We have successfully acted to optimise our cost
base and are actively addressing the impact of our loss-making businesses. We are also accelerating
changes to our operating model, leveraging our scale to create a simpler, more efficient business. This
will be achieved by simplifying our operational structures, consolidating our supply chain, creating
shared procurement capability, and embedding new technology.

While the timing of recovery in our end markets is uncertain, the long-term growth drivers of our industry
remain robust. The proactive steps we are taking to rebuild profitability and strengthen our balance sheet
will create a more resilient business and, together with our strong customer relationships and
differentiated offer, will see the Group well positioned to emerge stronger when markets recover.”

Analyst Presentation

Management are hosting a results presentation at 8.15am. For details of the event please contact the
Travis Perkins Investor Relations team as below. The presentation will also be available via a listen-only
webcast - please register at the following link:

https://travis-perkins-2023-full-year-results.open-exchange.net/

Enquiries:

Travis Perkins                     FGS Global
Matt Worster                       Faeth Birch / Jenny Davey / James Gray
+44 (0) 7990 088548                +44 (0) 207 251 3801
matt.worster@travisperkins.co.uk   TravisPerkins@fgsglobal.com
                                    

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 5th March 2024, 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

2023 was a challenging year for the Group as a combination of macroeconomic uncertainty, progressively
weakening end market demand, sharp deflation on commodity products in the second half and overhead
inflation made business planning difficult, weighing heavily on the Group’s earnings performance during
the year. Reflecting the expectation of continued challenging market conditions, management’s primary
focus is now to drive efficiencies through the transformation of the Group’s operating model and
prioritise capital allocation to support the recovery of profitability and reduction of leverage in the
medium term.

2023 Performance

The Group delivered revenue of £4,862m, down (2.7)% versus 2022. The decline in revenue was driven by the
Merchanting businesses with rising interest rates leading to a significant reduction in new build housing
activity. A lack of secondary housing transactions, coupled with weak consumer confidence and pressure on
household finances, resulted in the domestic RMI market also remaining subdued. Toolstation saw good
revenue growth in both the UK and Europe with maturity benefits being realised and further market share
gains.

Adjusted operating profit of £180m was £(115)m, or (39.0)%, lower than in 2022 with the prior year
reported adjusted operating profit also including a £15m restructuring charge. Around £(64)m of the profit
decline resulted from lower sales volumes whilst approximately £(24)m was attributable to lower gross
margins, with deflation on timber products in the second half a significant contributory factor.

Although the Group delivered overhead savings in 2023 of around £35m, the remaining profit reduction was
due to these savings being more than offset by overhead increases. The majority of these increases related
to inflation, primarily on salaries, and included an £8m cost-of-living payment in January 2023. The
increase in overheads also included £(20)m investment in Toolstation, primarily in the new distribution
centres at Pineham (UK) and Rotterdam (Netherlands and Belgium) plus the ongoing expansion of the European
network.

Transformation of the Group’s operating model

Given the significant impact of the macroeconomic environment on the Group’s profitability, and with
uncertainty remaining as to the timing and speed of recovery in the Group’s key end markets, management
has commenced further significant actions which will transform the business for the future.

The first phase of this review, completed in the fourth quarter, will deliver further cost savings of
around £35m in 2024, primarily from a reduction in central and regional headcount and the closure of the
Toolstation Bridgwater distribution centre.

The next phase commenced in February 2024 with 39 standalone Benchmarx branches closed as part of a review
of the strategy of the business. The focus is now on optimising the profitability of the remaining
standalone branches and growing the network through integrated solutions in new General Merchant branches
which provide a lower cost model with a convenient customer journey.

In March 2024 the Group announced the proposed closure of the Toolstation Daventry distribution centre
which represents the next stage of supply chain consolidation within Toolstation UK.

Work to deliver further structural efficiencies will continue over the medium term and be focused on the
following areas:

  • Supply chain consolidation - reviewing and optimising the Group's supply chain to deliver greater
    economies of scale and efficiencies
  • Technology enablement - driving benefits from new technology starting with the implementation of a new
    Oracle finance system to improve processes, data, and control
  • Simplifying our structures - streamlining the interactions between businesses to enhance the customer
    experience
  • Shared procurement capability - consolidating separate procurement functions across businesses to
    harness the buying power of the Group’s combined scale

Adjusting items

 

There were £60m of adjusting items in the year (2022: nil) as set out below:

                              £m
Restructuring charge          17
Benchmarx branch closures     10
Toolstation France impairment 33
Total                         60

 

The restructuring charge relates primarily to severance payments made as a result of headcount reductions
in Q4 2023, the majority of these roles being in central functions or regional sales and support teams.
Also included in the charge are the costs related to the closure of the Toolstation UK Bridgwater
distribution centre and other supply chain restructuring activity.

The charge associated with the Benchmarx branch closures related to fixed asset impairments and property
closure costs.

The Toolstation France impairment charge relates to the write-down of goodwill, property and right-of-use
assets under IAS36.

Capital structure and shareholder returns

The Group has previously set a medium-term leverage target of 1.5x – 2.0x net debt / adjusted EBITDA (on
an IFRS 16 basis), this target range being consistent with the maintenance of investment grade credit
metrics. The Group’s balance sheet remains robust with the refinancing of the 2023 bond completed during
the year and the renewal of the revolving credit facility of £375m (see “Funding” section for more
details) providing adequate liquidity for its future plans.

However, with net debt / adjusted EBITDA rising to 2.6x at the year-end, management has set out the
following medium-term capital allocation priorities:

  • Maintaining an investment grade credit rating by returning leverage to the target range as soon as
    possible
  • A disciplined approach to capital allocation, focused on maintaining asset quality and sources of
    competitive advantage
  • Improving working capital management and an ongoing review of loss-making activities
  • An attractive and sustainable dividend

Taking into account all of these factors, for 2023 the Board is recommending a final dividend of 5.5 pence
per share (2022: 26.5 pence per share) to give a full year dividend of 18.0 pence per share (2022: 39.0
pence per share), in line with the Group’s previously communicated policy.

The commitment to lowering leverage will result in a planned reduction in capital expenditure to £80m in
2024 (compared to medium-term guidance of £125m). Property activity will continue in order to enhance the
quality of the Group’s branch network but with the objective of generating a cash surplus from property
transactions in the year.

Outlook

A recovery in the UK construction sector is unlikely to gather any momentum before the UK general election
is concluded with the Group’s customers, large and small, inevitably waiting to see if there is a
post-election government stimulus package for the sector and also seeking clarity on the future direction
of interest rates.

Mindful of these challenges, management is planning for another year of weak demand, with overhead and
cash management actions supporting financial performance. Lead indicators and customer feedback will be
closely monitored to inform further actions during the year. Pricing benefit is expected to be minimal in
2024 with lower timber pricing rolling over into H1 and limited manufacturer increases.

Whilst it is still early in the trading year, the Group has seen a continuation of the weak trading
environment experienced in the second half of 2023. Accordingly, management's best estimate at this stage
is that FY24 adjusted operating profit will be in the range of £160m to £180m, inclusive of around £10m of
property profits and around £(20)m of losses in Toolstation France.

Technical guidance

The Group’s technical guidance for 2024 is as follows:

  • Expected ETR of around 29% on UK generated profits
  • Base Capital expenditure of around £80m
  • Property profits of around £10m

 

Segmental performance

Merchanting

                           2023    2022    Change
Revenue                   £4,036m £4,220m  (4.4)%
Adjusted operating profit  £212m   £314m  (32.5)%
Adjusted operating margin  5.3%    7.4%   (210)bps
ROCE                        9%      15%    (6)ppt
Branch network              769     767      2

 

Note - all figures above exclude property profits

 

The Merchanting segment had a challenging year with revenue down by (4.4)% and adjusted operating profit
reduced by (32.5)% to £212m, reflecting the high operational gearing of the Merchant businesses. Revenue
decline was consistent although the drivers moved significantly through the year with pricing starting off
at elevated levels due to the rollover of 2022 increases before falling away rapidly. Deflation on
commodity products, notably timber, became a major factor in the H2 with overall pricing turning negative,
having been +9% in Q1. By contrast, volumes started the year weakly, driven by a reduction in new build
housing activity, before levelling off in H2 as comparatives eased and actions on pricing delivered market
share gains in the General Merchant.

Throughout a difficult year, the Merchant businesses remained focused on meeting customers’ needs, notably
in the second half when pricing was adjusted to reflect the weak demand environment and ensure that
existing customers were retained alongside winning new work. There was continued progress on the
development of digital capability and increased penetration of higher margin, value-added services,
particularly Hire which delivered revenue growth of 6%

The private domestic RMI market, the Merchant segment's largest end market which is primarily serviced by
the Group’s General Merchant business, remained depressed throughout the year. Pressures on household
finances, the significant rise in the costs of building materials and labour and the rise in the cost of
borrowing have all contributed to lower levels of activity in the renovation and improvement market.

The private domestic new-build market, primarily serviced by Keyline, CCF and Staircraft working with
national and regional housebuilders, was significantly impacted by the economic turmoil in autumn 2022
with activity down by around one-fifth in the year. This reduction in activity has weighed heavily on the
performance of all three businesses with each deriving at least half of their revenue from this customer
base in normal market conditions.

The Merchant segment’s other end markets - commercial, industrial and public sector - which represent
around half of the segment’s revenue, remained relatively stable, supported by long-term projects. This
stability was reflected in a more resilient performance in BSS, which derives the majority of its revenue
from these sectors, and in the Group’s Managed Services business where revenue increased by 5% as the
business continues to benefit from its tailored proposition to partner with social housing providers.

Adjusted operating margin reduced by (210)bps as a result of lower gross margins and high levels of
operational gearing in the Merchant businesses. Overhead inflation, mainly driven by payroll costs,
remained elevated with underlying inflation of around 5%. Cost actions and volume related savings of
around £35m in 2023 mitigated the overall cost increase to around 1% for the year.

 

Toolstation

 

                                    2023   2022  Change
Revenue                            £826m  £775m   6.6%
Like-for-like growth                4.0%  (3.7)%     
Adjusted operating profit - UK      £23m   £21m   9.5%
Adjusted operating profit - Europe £(37)m £(30)m (23.3)%
Adjusted operating profit - Total  £(14)m £(9)m  (55.6)%
Adjusted operating margin          (1.7)% (1.2)% (50)bps
ROCE                                (2)%   (2)%     -
Store network (UK)                  570    563      7
Store network (Benelux)             119    113      6
Store network (France)               51     45      6

 

Note - all figures above exclude property profits

Toolstation made good progress during the year with 6.6% sales growth demonstrating the businesses’
ability to win share in difficult markets.

In the UK, where sales grew by 5.3%, network expansion was limited in the year to a net seven new stores
reflecting a combination of market outlook, significant investment in the network in recent years and
management focus on the opening of the new distribution facility in Pineham, Northamptonshire. Pineham
opened in Q3 with 500,000 square feet of capacity and semi-automation technology providing distribution
capability as the business grows over the next decade. As a result of Pineham coming on-line, the
Bridgwater distribution centre was closed in Q2 2023. A further review of the retail distribution network
proposed closing the Daventry distribution centre which was announced in Q1.

UK adjusted operating profit grew by 9.5% to £23m which included around £13m of higher operating costs
related to start-up and dual running costs at Pineham. Management expects to recover these costs over the
next three years as supply chain efficiencies come through.

In September the Toolstation UK management team set out their vision for the future of the business at a
Capital Markets Update with the ambition to grow revenue to £1bn by 2027 with operating margin increasing
to around 8% through scale efficiencies and margin enhancement opportunities. The materials from the event
can be accessed via the following link:

https://www.travisperkinsplc.co.uk/investors/results-reports-and-presentations/?year=2023

 

 

Toolstation Europe

 

France

 

Toolstation France delivered sales growth of 29% in the year but losses increased to £(18)m as six new
stores were added alongside further investment in infrastructure.

 

Despite some positive progress in the past year, the business in France faces long-term challenges which
significantly increase the time and investment needed to achieve profitability. These challenges include:

 

  • Building brand awareness
  • Serving the trade in a less populated region
  • Ongoing weak end-market demand

 

Taking these factors into consideration, and with forecast losses expected to increase to £(20)m in 2024,
management has concluded that the investment required to reach profitability is no longer sustainable and
today confirms that it is working on a plan for a potential exit of the business. Any decision would be
subject to a prior consultation process with the relevant employee representatives.

 

Benelux

 

Although sales grew by 11%, performance overall in Benelux in 2023 was significantly below management
expectations with a loss of £(19)m in the year (2022: £(15)m). The increase in losses was a result of weak
gross margins, cost inflation and the additional costs of the second distribution centre alongside six new
stores.

 

Management expects losses to narrow to around £(12)m in 2024 in Benelux and now anticipates that the
Netherlands business will reach break-even point, on an annual basis, by 2025 with Belgium forecast to
break-even by 2028. With end-market conditions expected to remain challenging in the near term and the
extended period to reach profitability, management has commenced a strategic review of both businesses and
will provide a further update as soon as the review is concluded.

Property

The Group generated property profits of £15m in the year, with £67m of cash proceeds. The main transaction
in the year was the sale-and-leaseback of seven sites in March 2023 for £23m.

The Group continued with its policy of reinvesting freehold sale proceeds with the purchase of a 6.25 acre
industrial site in Selsdon, near Croydon for £22m the major purchase during the year.

 

Building for the future

The Group made good progress towards its ambitious carbon reduction targets, as detailed below:

  • Reduction of 7% in absolute Scope 1 & 2 carbon, now 33% below the 2020 target baseline
  • Scope 3 carbon reduced by 3% in 2023, now 6% below the 2020 target baseline. The ratio of Scope 3
    carbon emissions to revenue has improved by 28% against the 2020 baseline
  • 11% of revenue in 2023 was from products for which the Group now holds Environmental Product
    Declarations, enabling the provision of product-level carbon reports to customers to help them in
    calculating and managing their own carbon.
  • The Group is switching up to 1,100 forklift trucks from diesel to electric by mid-2024 in a
    multi-million pound investment that is one of the largest change programmes of its kind. Once
    complete, it is estimated that this change will reduce the Group’s Scope 1 carbon emissions by 6,600
    tonnes per annum.

Recognising the importance of leading change in the construction industry, the Group became a partner of
the National Retrofit Hub, with representation on all its working groups, helping to shape retrofit
planning for the UK. According to market estimates, the need to retrofit around 30 million UK properties
in the next fifteen years could require investment of over £300 billion. The Group was also ranked in the
top 8% of companies globally by CDP for its engagement with suppliers on climate change.

Developing a skilled workforce is key to the Group being able to deliver the expertise and service
required to remain close to our customers In 2023 a total of 414 colleagues and industry partners
graduated in apprenticeships facilitated by LEAP, the Group’s Early Careers and Apprenticeship provider.
The 1,000th apprentice graduated through the programme run by the Group in 2023, a major milestone on the
journey towards 10,000 graduated apprentices by 2030. The Group was awarded a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating across
all aspects of its Apprenticeship programme.

CEO Nick Roberts became the Construction Leadership Council (“CLC”) Industry Sponsor for People and
Skills, to support delivery of the agreed workstreams and energise colleagues, attract diverse talent,
enhance skills for the future and ensure policy development addresses the sector’s business requirement.

Travis Perkins plc is a founding member of The Construction Inclusion Coalition (‘CIC’), which was
established by CEOs at leading organisations, including Aliaxis, Baxi, Bradfords, Highbourne Group,
Ibstock, Knauf, Wavin, Wolseley, the Builders Merchants Federation and the National Merchant Buying
Society, to raise standards on equity, diversity and inclusion, with an immediate focus on gender
representation.

 

Financial Performance

Revenue analysis

The Merchanting business saw consistently challenging trading conditions across the year, although the
drivers of performance varied significantly. At the start of the year price inflation remained high,
largely driven by the rollover of 2022 increases. By contrast, volumes were weak, particularly in the new
house building sector following the impact of the “mini-budget” in late 2022.

From May onward, a sharp decline in the price of commodity products, notably on timber, saw the overall
basket of goods move into deflation as price reductions were passed on to customers. Volumes stabilised in
the second half as comparatives eased and more competitive pricing delivered market share gains in the
General Merchant.

Toolstation also gained market share across the year in both the UK and Europe with volume growth despite
a declining market and robust pricing. Maturity benefits from the investment in the store network and
customer proposition continue to come through.

  Volume, price and mix analysis

 

                                             Merchanting Toolstation Group
Price and mix                                   1.3%        5.4%      1.9%
Like-for-like volume                           (5.7)%      (1.4)%    (5.0)%
Like-for-like revenue growth                   (4.4)%       4.0%     (3.1)%
Network changes and acquisitions / disposals   (0.4)%       2.3%      0.0%
Trading days                                    0.4%        0.3%      0.4%
Total revenue growth                           (4.4)%       6.6%     (2.7)%

 

   

  Quarterly revenue analysis

 

               Total Revenue Like-for-like revenue
                2023   2022     2023       2022
            Q1 (3.2)% 17.9%    (4.2)%     15.3%
            Q2 (5.6)%  9.2%    (5.2)%      8.5%
            H1 (4.5)% 13.3%    (4.8)%     11.7%
Merchanting Q3 (3.4)% 11.5%    (2.9)%      8.7%
            Q4 (5.1)%  4.7%    (5.2)%      2.3%
            H2 (4.2)%  7.3%    (4.1)%      5.6%
            FY (4.4)% 10.3%    (4.4)%      8.7%
            Q1  8.6%  (6.0)%    4.6%     (11.9)%
            Q2  9.7%  (3.2)%    7.2%      (9.2)%
            H1  9.0%  (4.6)%    5.9%     (10.6)%
Toolstation Q3  7.3%   6.1%     4.4%       0.2%
            Q4  1.1%  12.7%     0.0%       7.2%
            H2  4.1%   8.9%     2.2%       3.7%
            FY  6.6%   1.9%     4.0%      (3.7)%
            Q1 (1.5)% 13.6%    (2.9)%     10.5%
            Q2 (3.3)%  7.1%    (3.3)%      5.6%
            H1 (2.5)% 10.3%    (3.2)%      7.9%
Total Group Q3 (1.8)% 10.7%    (1.8)%      7.4%
            Q4 (4.0)%  6.0%    (4.3)%      3.1%
            H2 (2.9)%  7.5%    (3.0)%      5.3%
            FY (2.7)%  8.9%    (3.1)%      6.6%

 

 

Operating profit

 

£m                                         2023 2022 Change
Merchanting                                212  314  (32.5)%
Toolstation                                (14) (9)  (55.6)%
Property                                    15   25  (40.0)%
Unallocated costs                          (33) (35)  5.7%
Adjusted operating profit                  180  295  (39.0)%
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets (10) (10)     
Adjusting items                            (60)  -       
Operating profit                           110  285      

 

Finance charge

Net finance charges were in line with prior year at £40m (see note 10 for details).

Taxation

The tax charge before adjusting items was £44m (2022: £55m) giving an adjusted effective tax rate
(adjusted ‘ETR’) of 31.5% (standard rate: 23.5%, 2022 actual: 21.7%). The adjusted ETR rate is
substantially higher than the standard rate due to the effect of expenses not deductible for tax purposes,
the largest item being unutilised overseas losses.

The statutory tax charge for 2023 was £32m (2022: £53m) giving an effective tax rate of 45.6% (2022:
21.6%). This is higher than the adjusted ETR as a result of the tax effect of the impairment of goodwill.

Earnings per share

The Group reported a total profit after tax of £38m (2022: £192m) resulting in basic earnings per share of
18.1 pence (2022: 90.8 pence). Diluted earnings per share were 17.8 pence (2022: 89.2 pence).

Adjusted profit after tax was £96m (2022: £200m) resulting in adjusted earnings per share (note 14) of
45.7 pence (2022: 94.6 pence). Diluted adjusted earnings per share were 45.0 pence (2022: 92.9 pence).

 

 

Cash flow and balance sheet

Free cash flow

£m                                                         2023  2022  Change
Group adjusted operating profit excluding property profits  165   270  (105)
Depreciation of PPE and other non-cash movements            100   97     3
Change in working capital                                  (22)  (76)    54
Net interest paid (excluding lease interest)               (25)  (17)   (8)
Interest on lease liabilities                              (26)  (21)   (5)
Tax paid                                                   (41)  (58)    17
Adjusted operating cash flow                                151   195   (44)
Capital investments                                                     
Capex excluding freehold transactions                      (109) (110)   1
Proceeds from disposals excluding freehold transactions      2    10    (8)
Free cash flow before freehold transactions                 44    95    (51)

The Group delivered free cash flow conversion of 81% in the year (2022: 67%). Working capital increased
year on year driven by a reduction in other creditors. Trade debtors and payables reduced in line with
volumes and revenue across the Group whilst stock remained flat.

Capital investment

 

£m                        2023 2022
Strategic                  51   75
Maintenance                52   28
IT                         6    7
Base capital expenditure  109  110
                                
Freehold property          33   38
Gross capital expenditure 142  148
Disposals                 (68) (23)
Net capital expenditure    74  125

 

Base capital expenditure in cash terms was in line with prior year and below the Group’s medium-term
guidance (of £125m per annum), reflecting the weaker demand outlook.

Strategic capex was £(24)m lower than prior year, reflecting a significant slowdown in the Toolstation
store rollout in both the UK and Europe, with new 23 stores in 2023 compared to 70 in 2022, and the spend
on Toolstation distribution capacity in the prior year.

Maintenance capex increased by £24m, principally as a result of overdue fleet replacement.

 

Uses of free cash flow

 

£m                                           2023  2022  Change
Free cash flow                                44    95    (51)
Investments in freehold property             (33)  (38)    5
Disposal proceeds from freehold transactions  67    12     55
Dividends paid                               (82)  (82)    -
Net purchase / sale of own shares              -   (172)  172
Cash payments on adjusting items             (11)   (7)   (4)
Drawdown of borrowings                        100   75     25
Repayment of bonds                           (180) (120)  (60)
Other                                          3     -     3
Change in cash / cash equivalents            (92)  (237)    

 

Cash and cash equivalents reduced by £(92)m in the year primarily as a result of financing activity. The
remaining 2023 bond (£180m) was repaid during the year, being largely replaced with £100m of US private
placement notes (details below).

In 2022, the Group repurchased £120m of bonds early via a tender offer as part of the ongoing management
of its debt maturity profile, these bonds being partly replaced by a £75m term loan. The Group also
completed a £240m share buyback programme in 2022 to return the proceeds of the sale of the Plumbing &
Heating division in 2021.

Net debt and funding

                                            31 Dec 2023 31 Dec 2022 Change  Covenant
Net debt                                       £922m       £819m    £(103)m     
Net debt / adjusted EBITDA                     2.6x        1.8x     (0.8)x   <4.0x
Net debt excluding leases                      £314m       £279m    £(35)m      
Net debt excluding leases / adjusted EBITDA    0.9x        0.8x     (0.1)x      

 Note - All covenant metrics measured post IFRS16

Overall net debt increased by £103m of which £68m related to increased lease commitments. The higher lease
commitments were principally a result of the Group investing in a new Toolstation UK distribution centre,
a new manufacturing facility for Staircraft and the sale-and-leaseback package of seven sites completed in
March 2023.

Funding

As at 31 December 2023, the Group’s committed funding of £800m comprised:

  • £250m guaranteed notes due February 2026, listed on the London Stock Exchange
  • £75m bilateral bank loan due August 2027
  • A revolving credit facility of £375m, refinanced in November 2023 and maturing in November 2028
  • £100m of US private placement notes, maturing in equal tranches in August 2029, August 2030 and August
    2031

As at 31 December 2023, the Group had undrawn committed facilities of £375m (2022: £400m) and deposited
cash of £102m (2022: £194m), giving overall liquidity headroom of £492m (2022: £594m).

 

The Group’s credit rating from Fitch Ratings was affirmed at BBB-, albeit on negative watch, following a
review in October 2023.

 

Principal risks and uncertainties

Maintaining a dynamic and effective risk management process is central to the successful delivery of the
Group’s strategic objectives and building resilience, as the Group manages the impacts of a challenging
external environment, an evolving risk landscape and continued uncertainty. The Group takes a balanced
approach to manage risks in a proactive, efficient and effective way, targeted at the most significant
risks, particularly where there is a low tolerance for risk or uncertainty.

 

The Group’s principal risks are regularly reviewed and reassessed through a process that considers both
internal and external factors. No principal risks have been added or removed in the latest risk review
and, although all risks and associated mitigations have evolved over the past year, the overarching trends
and inherent risk levels are assessed to be broadly consistent year-on-year. As set out in the half year
results, the Board no longer considers the risk trend in relation to supply chain resilience to be
increasing albeit the inherent risk remains high. The Group has a good track record of navigating through
supply challenges and its well established programme of stock monitoring, supplier engagement and
independent testing helps to ensure a continuous supply of quality materials. All other risk trends are
unchanged.

 

Accordingly, the 2023 Annual Report and Accounts will report risks under the following captions: long-term
market trends, macroeconomic volatility, supply chain resilience, managing change, climate change & carbon
reduction, cyber threat & data security, health, safety & wellbeing, legal compliance and critical asset
failure.

 

The Group seeks to capture emerging risks that do not currently present a significant risk but which may
have the potential to adversely impact its operations in the future and these are also regularly
considered and monitored by the Directors. The potential for an escalation of the war in Ukraine continues
to be monitored as an emerging risk. The Group continues to ensure compliance with sanctions and that
timber purchases are from certified sources and exclude timber from Russia or Belarus. In the event that
hostilities escalate in Europe, sourcing and supply could be impacted,so the situation is closely
monitored. More generally, the Group is exposed to geopolitical risks across its supply chain, including
the direct sourcing operation in China. The Board is watchful of developments in the Middle East and how
unrest in the region may create further macroeconomic uncertainty and impact trade relations. There are no
other emerging risks considered significant enough to report at this time.

 

Consolidated income statement

 

For the year ended 31 December 2023

£m                                                                   Notes    2023     2022
Revenue                                                                6   4,861.9  4,994.8
Gross profit                                                               1,305.1  1,384.7
Charge for impairment losses for trade receivables                          (16.8)   (11.0)
Selling and distribution                                                   (835.0)  (805.4)
Administrative expenses – other                                            (297.1)  (314.0)
Profit on disposal of properties                                              15.1     25.3
Other operating income                                                         9.1     15.7
Adjusted operating profit                                                    180.4    295.3
Administrative expenses – adjusting items                              8    (60.0)        –
Administrative expenses – amortisation of acquired intangible assets        (10.5)   (10.5)
Operating profit                                                       7     109.9    284.8
Interest on lease liabilities                                         10    (26.2)   (21.5)
Other finance costs                                                   10    (25.8)   (27.5)
Finance income                                                        10      12.1      9.2
Profit before tax                                                             70.0    245.0
Tax                                                                   11    (31.9)   (52.8)
Profit for the year                                                           38.1    192.2

 

Total profit for the year is all attributable to the owners of the Company.

 

Earnings per ordinary share:

                                    Notes    2023  2022
Adjusted basic earnings per share    14     45.7p 94.6p
Adjusted diluted earnings per share  14     45.0p 92.9p
Basic                                14     18.1p 90.8p
Diluted                              14     17.8p 89.2p

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

For the year ended 31 December 2023

£m                                                                   Notes   2023    2022
Profit for the year                                                          38.1   192.2
Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss:                     
Actuarial loss on defined benefit pension schemes                     12   (41.0) (145.3)
Income tax relating to other comprehensive income                            10.2    36.3
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss:                          
Foreign exchange differences on retranslation of foreign operations         (1.2)     5.5
Fair value (loss) / gain on cash flow hedges                                (1.4)     4.3
Deferred tax on cash flow hedges                                              0.4   (1.1)
Total other comprehensive loss for the year net of tax                     (33.0) (100.3)
Total comprehensive income for the year                                       5.1    91.9

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated balance sheet

As at 31 December 2023

 

£m                                                   Notes    2023    2022
Assets                                                                    
Non-current assets                                                        
Goodwill                                                     847.9   859.0
Other intangible assets                                       99.9   115.9
Property, plant and equipment                                848.4   847.3
Right-of-use assets                                          530.4   451.7
Long-term prepayments and other receivables                   14.2    17.2
Deferred tax asset                                            18.0    15.0
Derivative financial instruments                               2.9     4.3
Retirement benefit asset                                12   100.6   135.9
Total non-current assets                                   2,462.3 2,446.3
Current assets                                                            
Inventories                                                  727.6   727.8
Trade and other receivables                                  689.6   725.9
Tax debtor                                                    14.5     0.7
Cash and cash equivalents, excluding bank overdrafts         131.5   235.7
Total current assets                                       1,563.2 1,690.1
Total assets                                               4,025.5 4,136.4
Equity and liabilities                                                    
Capital and reserves                                                      
Issued share capital                                          23.8    23.8
Share premium account                                        545.6   545.6
Cash flow hedge reserve                                        2.9     4.3
Merger reserve                                               326.5   326.5
Revaluation reserve                                           10.8    12.1
Own shares                                                  (14.1)  (34.3)
Foreign exchange reserve                                       8.4     9.6
Other reserves                                                 1.4     1.4
Retained earnings                                          1,135.0 1,213.2
Total equity                                               2,040.3 2,102.2
Non-current liabilities                                                   
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings                        445.1   349.1
Lease liabilities                                            518.8   438.3
Deferred tax liabilities                                      92.8    96.0
Long-term provisions                                           3.8     4.9
Total non-current liabilities                              1,060.5   888.3
Current liabilities                                                       
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings                            –   192.5
Lease liabilities                                             89.6    74.3
Derivative financial instruments                               0.4     0.2
Trade and other payables                                     795.4   852.4
Short-term provisions                                         39.3    26.5
Total current liabilities                                    924.7 1,145.9
Total liabilities                                          1,985.2 2,034.2
Total equity and liabilities                               4,025.5 4,136.4

 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

 

For the year ended 31 December 2023

                                  Cash         Revaluation      Own    Own  Foreign
£m               Share   Share    flow  Merger             shares - shares exchange Other Retained   Total
               capital premium   hedge reserve     reserve treasury - ESOT  reserve       earnings  equity
                               reserve
At 1 January      25.2   545.6       –   326.5        10.5   (53.8)  (7.6)      4.1     –  1,387.3 2,237.8
2022
Profit for the       –       –       –       –           –        –      –        –     –    192.2   192.2
year
Other
comprehensive
income for the       –       –     4.3       –           –        –      –      5.5     –  (110.1) (100.3)
year net of
tax
Total
comprehensive        –       –     4.3       –           –        –      –      5.5     –     82.1    91.9
income for the
year
Dividends paid       –       –       –       –           –        –      –        –     –   (81.7)  (81.7)
Adjustments in
respect of           –       –       –       –       (1.1)        –      –        –     –      1.1       –
revalued fixed
assets
Shares
purchased in         –       –       –       –           –  (125.5) (46.6)        –     –        – (172.1)
share buyback
Sale of own          –       –       –       –           –        –    3.8        –     –        –     3.8
shares
Own shares           –       –       –       –           –        –   16.1        –     –   (16.1)       –
movement
Cancelled        (1.4)       –       –       –           –    179.3      –        –   1.4  (179.3)       –
shares
Equity-settled
share-based          –       –       –       –           –        –      –        –     –     14.7    14.7
payments net
of tax
Tax on
revalued             –       –       –       –         2.7        –      –        –     –      5.1     7.8
assets
At 1 January      23.8   545.6     4.3   326.5        12.1        – (34.3)      9.6   1.4  1,213.2 2,102.2
2023
Profit for the       –       –       –       –           –        –      –        –     –     38.1    38.1
year
Other
comprehensive
income for the       –       –   (1.4)       –           –        –      –    (1.2)     –   (30.4)  (33.0)
year net of
tax
Total
comprehensive        –       –   (1.4)       –           –        –      –    (1.2)     –      7.7     5.1
income for the
year
Dividends paid       –       –       –       –           –        –      –        –     –   (82.1)  (82.1)
Adjustments in
respect of           –       –       –       –       (1.3)        –      –        –     –      1.3       –
revalued fixed
assets
Own shares           –       –       –       –           –        –   20.2        –     –   (20.2)       –
movement
Equity-settled
share-based          –       –       –       –           –        –      –        –     –     14.6    14.6
payments net
of tax
Tax on
revalued             –       –       –       –           –        –      –        –     –      0.5     0.5
assets
At 31 December    23.8   545.6     2.9   326.5        10.8        – (14.1)      8.4   1.4  1,135.0 2,040.3
2023

 

 

Consolidated cash flow statement

For the year ended 31 December 2023

£m                                                                2023    2022
Cash flows from operating activities                                          
Operating profit                                                 109.9   284.8
Adjustments for:                                                              
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment                     80.3    73.6
Depreciation of right-of-use assets                               91.1    79.0
Amortisation of other intangibles                                  4.6     6.5
Amortisation of acquisition-related intangibles                   10.5    10.5
Share-based payments                                              14.6    17.0
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment               (15.1)  (25.3)
Purchase of tool hire assets                                     (7.8)   (8.9)
Decrease / (increase) in inventories                               0.2   (3.4)
Decrease / (increase) in receivables                              36.3  (19.2)
(Decrease) in payables                                          (58.7)  (53.9)
Adjusting items payments less than / (greater than) the charge    49.5   (7.2)
Cash generated from operations                                   315.4   353.5
Interest paid and debt arrangement fees                         (31.0)  (18.3)
Interest on lease liabilities                                   (26.2)  (21.5)
Income taxes paid                                               (40.6)  (57.6)
Net cash from operating activities                               217.6   256.1
                                                                              
Cash flows from investing activities                                          
Interest received                                                  6.0     1.4
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment             69.1    22.5
Purchase/development of computer software                        (2.9)   (7.0)
Purchases of land and buildings                                 (33.2)  (38.0)
Purchases of other property, plant and equipment                (97.9)  (94.1)
Net cash outflow from investing activities                      (58.9) (115.2)
                                                                              
Cash flows from financing activities                                          
Shares purchased in share buyback                                    – (172.1)
Sale of own shares                                                   –     3.8
Repayment of lease liabilities                                  (84.5)  (78.8)
Payments to pension scheme                                       (3.8)   (3.7)
Dividends paid                                                  (82.1)  (81.7)
Drawdown of borrowings                                           100.0    75.0
Repayment of bonds                                             (180.0) (120.0)
Net cash used in financing activities                          (250.4) (377.5)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents                       (91.7) (236.6)
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January                           223.2   459.8
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December (note 22)               131.5   223.2

 

 

Notes

 

 1. The Group’s principal accounting policies are set out in the 2022 Annual Report & Accounts, which is
    available on the Company’s website  1 www.travisperkinsplc.co.uk. All accounting policies have been
    applied consistently in 2023. 
 2. The Directors are recommending a final dividend of 5.5p in respect of the year ended 31 December 2023
    (2022: 26.5p). The dividend will be paid on 9 May 2024 to shareholders on the register at the close of
    business on 2 April 2024. The Company's shares will go ex-dividend on 28 March 2024. The Company
    operates a Dividend Reinvestment Plan, elections for which must be received by the Company's registrar
    by 5.30pm on 17 April 2024.
 3. The financial information set out above does not constitute the Group's statutory accounts for the
    years ended 31 December 2022 or 2023. The financial information for 2022 is derived from the statutory
    accounts for the year ended 31 December 2022 which have been delivered to the registrar of companies.
    The auditor has reported on the 2022 accounts; their report was (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include
    a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying
    their report and (iii) did not contain a statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act
    2006. The statutory accounts for 2023 will be finalised on the basis of the financial information
    presented by the Directors in this preliminary announcement and will be delivered to the Registrar of
    Companies in due course.
 4. This announcement was approved by the Board of Directors on 4 March 2024.
 5. It is intended to post the Annual Report & Accounts to shareholders on 20 March 2024 and to hold the
    Annual General Meeting on 22 April 2024. 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 18 March 2024 and will be available on the Group’s website
    at  2 www.travisperkinsplc.co.uk.

6.         Revenue reconciliation and like-for like sales

 

£m                           Merchanting Toolstation   Total
2022 revenue                     4,219.8       775.0 4,994.8
Network change                    (52.0)       (2.7)  (54.7)
Trading days                        20.2         2.3    22.5
2022 like-for-like revenue       4,188.0       774.6 4,962.6
Like-for-like change             (185.5)        30.9 (154.6)
2023 like-for-like revenue       4,002.5       805.5 4,808.0
Network change                      33.3        20.6    53.9
2023 revenue                     4,035.8       826.1 4,861.9
Like-for-like revenue growth      (4.4%)        4.0%  (3.1%)
Total revenue growth              (4.4%)        6.6%  (2.7%)

 

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.

7.         Profit

  a.  Operating profit

                                                         2023      2022
Revenue                                               4,861.9   4,994.8
Cost of sales                                       (3,556.8) (3,610.1)
Gross profit                                          1,305.1   1,384.7
Selling and distribution                              (851.8)   (816.4)
Administrative expenses                               (367.6)   (324.5)
Profit on disposal of properties                         15.1      25.3
Other operating income                                    9.1      15.7
Operating profit                                        109.9     284.8
Adjusted operating profit                               180.4     295.3
Adjusted operating profit before property disposals     165.3     270.0

There are no gains or losses on the disposal of property, plant and equipment except for the profit on
disposal of properties of £15.1m (2022: £25.3m).

   

  b.  Adjusted profit

£m                                                  2023   2022
Profit before tax                                   70.0  245.0
Adjusting items (note 8)                            60.0      –
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets          10.5   10.5
Adjusted profit before tax                         140.5  255.5
Total tax                                         (31.9) (52.8)
Tax on adjusting items                             (9.7)      –
Tax on amortisation of acquired intangible assets  (2.6)  (2.6)
Adjusted profit after tax                           96.3  200.1

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

 

 

8.         Adjusting items

£m                             2023 2022
Restructuring                  16.8    –
Benchmarx branch closures      10.1    –
Toolstation France impairments 33.1    –
                               60.0    –

Restructuring

As part of the Group’s strategy of simplifying how its businesses interact with each other and in response
to the continued weakness in the construction market, the Group has commenced the restructuring of
distribution, administrative and sales functions. The first steps in this programme were completed in 2023
with associated costs as follows:

  • £5.4m of property and fixed asset impairment costs
  • £11.4m of redundancy and other people costs

Benchmarx branch closures

A charge of £10.1m has been recognised in respect of the impairment of right-of-use assets and tangible
fixed assets and the recognition of property-related provisions for 39 standalone Benchmarx branches.
These branches were closed after the balance sheet date in February 2024.

Toolstation France impairment

Following a change in strategy, a charge of £33.1m was recognised as a result of the impairment review of
the Toolstation France cash-generating unit. This charge consists of a £14.4m impairment of right-of-use
assets, a £7.2m impairment of tangible fixed assets, a £9.6m impairment of goodwill and a £1.9m impairment
of other intangible fixed assets.

9.         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.

 

Segment result represents the result of each segment without allocation of certain central costs, finance
costs and tax. Adjusted segment result is the result of each segment before adjusting items, the
amortisation of acquired intangible assets and property profits. Unallocated segment assets and
liabilities comprise financial instruments, current and deferred tax, cash, borrowings and pension scheme
assets and liabilities.

 

Both operating segments sell building materials to a wide range of customers, none of which are dominant,
and operate almost exclusively in the United Kingdom.

 

 

                                                                             2023
£m                                                     Merchanting Toolstation Unallocated Consolidated
Revenue                                                    4,035.8       826.1           –      4,861.9
Operating profit                                             198.9      (55.6)      (33.4)        109.9
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets                     7.6         2.9                     10.5
Adjusting items                                               20.9        38.3         0.8         60.0
Adjusted operating profit                                    227.4      (14.4)      (32.6)        180.4
Less property profits                                       (15.1)           –           –       (15.1)
Adjusted operating profit excluding property profits         212.3      (14.4)      (32.6)        165.3
Adjusted operating margin                                     5.6%      (1.7%)           –         3.7%
Average capital employed                                   2,262.9       612.9     (202.0)      2,673.8
Segment assets                                             2,943.0       764.6       317.5      4,025.1
Segment liabilities                                      (1,070.6)     (375.1)     (539.5)    (1,985.2)
Consolidated net assets                                    1,872.8       389.5     (222.0)      2,040.3
Capital expenditure                                          123.4        19.1           –        142.5
Capital expenditure excluding property                        89.5        19.1           –        108.6
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets                     7.6         2.9           –         10.5
Depreciation of fixed assets and software amortisation        67.8        17.1           –         84.9
Depreciation of right-of-use assets                           56.8        34.3           –         91.1

 

 

 

 

                                                                             2022
£m                                                     Merchanting Toolstation Unallocated Consolidated
Revenue                                                    4,219.8       775.0           –      4,994.8
Operating profit                                             331.3      (11.8)      (34.7)        284.8
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets                     7.6         2.9           –         10.5
Adjusted operating profit                                    338.9       (8.9)      (34.7)        295.3
Less property profits                                       (25.3)           –           –       (25.3)
Adjusted operating profit excluding property profits         313.6       (8.9)      (34.7)        270.0
Adjusted operating margin                                     7.4%      (1.1%)           –         5.9%
Average capital employed                                   2,181.3       572.9      (83.4)      2,670.8
Segment assets                                             2,959.1       743.8       433.6      4,136.5
Segment liabilities                                      (1,083.3)     (309.4)     (641.6)    (2,034.3)
Consolidated net assets                                    1,875.8       434.4     (208.0)      2,102.2
Capital expenditure                                           91.6        49.9           –        141.5
Capital expenditure excluding property                        60.1        49.9           –        110.0
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets                     7.6         2.9           –         10.5
Depreciation of fixed assets and software amortisation        65.6        14.6           –         80.2
Depreciation of right-of-use assets                           49.5        29.5           –         79.0

   

 

10.     Net finance costs

£m                                                       2023   2022
Items in the nature of interest:                                    
Interest on bonds and other loans                      (20.6) (22.8)
Interest on bank facilities and overdrafts              (1.5)  (0.8)
Pension scheme SPV interest                             (1.7)  (1.7)
Other finance costs:                                                
Amortisation of issue costs of bank loans               (1.5)  (1.5)
Unwinding of discounts – property provisions            (0.1)  (0.4)
Remeasurement:                                                      
Net loss on remeasurement of derivatives at fair value  (0.2)  (0.3)
Loss on remeasurement of foreign exchange               (0.2)      -
Finance costs before lease interest                    (25.8) (27.5)
Interest on lease liabilities - property               (25.3) (21.2)
Interest on lease liabilities - equipment               (0.9)  (0.3)
Finance costs                                          (52.0) (49.0)
                                                                    
Items in the nature of interest:                                    
Interest receivable                                       5.7    1.8
Remeasurement:                                                      
Net gain on remeasurement of foreign exchange               –    2.1
Other finance income – pension scheme                     6.4    5.3
Finance income                                           12.1    9.2
Net finance costs                                      (39.9) (39.8)

11.     Tax

£m                  2023  2022
Current tax:                  
 Current year       33.0  56.2
 Prior year        (6.1)   1.4
Total current tax   26.9  57.6
Deferred tax:                 
 Current year      (1.4) (2.5)
 Prior year          6.4 (2.3)
Total deferred tax   5.0 (4.8)
Total tax charge    31.9  52.8

12.     Pension schemes

                                              2023                                   2022
£m                            Gross assets Gross obligations  Net   Gross assets Gross obligations   Net
Gross pension asset as at 1        1,097.4           (961.5)  135.9      1,742.2         (1,466.4)   275.8
January
Amounts recognised in income:                                                                             
Current service costs and            (2.3)                 –  (2.3)        (1.5)             (0.2)   (1.7)
administration expenses
Interest income / (interest           51.5            (45.1)    6.4         33.4            (28.1)     5.3
cost)
Other movements:                                                                                          
Contributions from sponsoring          1.4                 –    1.4          1.5                 –     1.5
companies
Foreign exchange                       0.2             (0.1)    0.1          0.8             (0.5)     0.3
Benefits paid                       (44.1)              44.1      –       (50.4)              50.4       –
Amounts recognised in other                                                                               
comprehensive income:
Return on plan assets
(excluding amounts included          (7.2)                 –  (7.2)      (628.6)                 _ (628.6)
in net interest)
Actuarial loss arising from
changes in demographic                   –               8.6    8.6            _               7.5     7.5
assumptions
Actuarial gain arising from
changes in financial                     –            (20.4) (20.4)            _             550.6   550.6
assumptions
Actuarial gain arising from              –            (21.9) (21.9)            _            (74.8)  (74.8)
experience adjustments
Gross pension asset as at 31       1,096.9           (996.3)  100.6      1,097.4           (961.5)   135.9
December

13.     Dividends

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

£m                                                                                               2023 2022
Final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2022 of 26.5 pence (2021: 26.0 pence) per ordinary 55.8 55.5
share
Interim dividend for the year ended 31 December 2023 of 12.5 pence (2022: 12.5 pence) per        26.3 26.2
ordinary share
Total dividend recognised during the year                                                        82.1 81.7

 

The Directors are recommending a final dividend of 5.5p in respect of the year ended 31 December 2023. The
anticipated cash payment in respect of the proposed final dividend is £11.7m.

14.     Earnings per share

  a.  Basic and diluted earnings per share

 

£m                                                                                        2023        2022
Profit attributable to the owners of the parent                                           38.1       192.2
Weighted average number of shares for the purposes of basic earnings per share     210,530,726 211,630,413
Dilutive effect of share options on potential ordinary shares                        3,616,786   3,789,212
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of diluted earnings    214,147,512 215,419,625
per share
Earnings per share                                                                       18.1p       90.8p
Diluted earnings per share                                                               17.8p       89.2p

 

A total of 620,310 share options (2022: 528,262 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.

 

  b.  Adjusted earnings per share

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

£m                                                 2023  2022
Earnings for the purposes of earnings per share    38.1 192.2
Adjusting items                                    60.0     –
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets         10.5  10.5
Tax on adjusting items                            (9.7)     –
Tax on amortisation of acquired intangible assets (2.6) (2.6)
Earnings for adjusted earnings per share           96.3 200.1
Adjusted earnings per share                       45.7p 94.6p
Adjusted diluted earnings per share               45.0p 92.9p

 

15.     Net debt

                                   Cash and cash                   Senior unsecured   Liability to
£m                        equivalents, including  Leases Term loan            notes pension scheme   Total
                                       overdraft
At 1 January 2022                        (459.8)   489.2     (1.5)            548.2           28.5   604.6
Additions to leases                            –   114.7         –                –              –   114.7
Disposals of leases                            –  (12.5)         –                –              –  (12.5)
Cash flow                                  236.6 (100.3)      75.0          (120.0)          (3.7)    87.6
Finance charges and fees                       –       –     (0.1)              0.8              -     0.7
Discount unwind on
liability to pension                           –       –         –                –            1.9     1.9
scheme
Discount unwind on lease                       –    21.5         –                –              -    21.5
liabilities
At 1 January 2023                        (223.2)   512.6      73.4            429.0           26.7   818.5
Additions to leases                            –   185.5         –                –              –   185.5
Disposals of leases                            –   (5.2)         –                –              –   (5.2)
Cash flow                                   91.7 (110.7)         –           (80.0)          (3.7) (102.7)
Finance charges and fees                       –       –     (1.9)                –              –   (1.9)
Discount unwind on
liability to pension                           –       –         –                –            1.6     1.6
scheme
Discount unwind on lease                       –    26.2         –                –              –    26.2
liabilities
31 December 2023                         (131.5)   608.4      71.5            349.0           24.6   922.0
Less: lease liability                                                                              (608.4)
Net debt before leases                                                                               313.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16. Cash flow metrics

  a. Free cash flow

£m                                                                 2023    2022
Adjusted operating profit                                         180.4   295.3
Less: Profit on disposal of properties                           (15.1)  (25.3)
Adjusted operating profit excluding property profit               165.3   270.0
Share-based payments                                               14.6    17.0
Other net interest paid                                          (25.0)  (16.9)
Interest on lease liabilities                                    (26.2)  (21.5)
Income tax paid                                                  (40.6)  (57.6)
Movement on working capital                                      (22.2)  (76.5)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment                      80.3    73.6
Amortisation and impairment of internally-generated intangibles     4.6     6.5
Capital expenditure excluding freehold purchases                (108.6) (110.0)
Disposal of plant and equipment                                     2.0    10.1
Free cash flow                                                     44.2    94.7

 

  b. Cash conversion

£m                                                                 2023    2022
Adjusted operating profit excluding property profit               165.3   270.0
Movement on working capital                                      (22.2)  (76.5)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment                      80.3    73.6
Amortisation and impairment of internally-generated intangibles     4.6     6.5
Share-based payments                                               14.6    17.0
Capital expenditure excluding freehold purchases                (108.6) (110.0)
Adjusted free cash flow for cash conversion                       134.0   181.6
Cash conversion                                                     81%     67%

 

17. Return on capital employed

Group return on capital employed is calculated as follows:

£m                                            2023     2022
Operating profit                             109.9    284.8
Amortisation of acquired intangible assets    10.5     10.5
Adjusting items                               60.0        -
Adjusted operating profit                    180.4    295.3
                                                           
Opening net assets                         2,102.2  2,237.8
Net pension surplus                        (102.0)  (207.0)
Net debt                                     818.5    604.6
Opening capital employed                   2,818.7  2,635.4
Closing net assets                         2,040.3  2,102.2
Net pension surplus                         (75.5)  (102.0)
Net debt                                     922.0    818.5
Closing capital employed                   2,886.8  2,818.7
Average capital employed                   2,852.8 g2,727.1

 

Group return on capital employed is calculated as follows:

 

£m                            2023    2022
Adjusted operating profit    180.4   295.3
Average capital employed   2,852.8 2,727.1
Return on capital employed    6.3%   10.8%

18. Net debt to adjusted EBITDA

£m                             2023  2022
Operating profit              109.9 284.8
Depreciation and amortisation 186.5 169.6
Adjusting operating items      60.0     –
Adjusted EBITDA               356.4 454.4
Net debt                      922.0 818.5
Net debt to adjusted EBITDA    2.6x  1.8x

 

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Dissemination of a Regulatory Announcement, transmitted by EQS Group.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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   ISIN:           GB00BK9RKT01
   Category Code:  ACS
   TIDM:           TPK
   LEI Code:       2138001I27OUBAF22K83
   OAM Categories: 1.1. Annual financial and audit reports
   Sequence No.:   307532
   EQS News ID:    1851099


    
   End of Announcement EQS News Service

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