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WTB Whitbread Plc

3,043.00
15.00 (0.50%)
26 Apr 2024 - Closed
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Whitbread Plc LSE:WTB London Ordinary Share GB00B1KJJ408 ORD 76 122/153P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  15.00 0.50% 3,043.00 3,039.00 3,042.00 3,060.00 3,021.00 3,046.00 799,215 16:35:23
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Hotels And Motels 2.64B 278.8M 1.4465 21.03 5.86B

Whitbread PLC Whitbread Preliminary Results (2864W)

26/04/2016 7:01am

UK Regulatory


Whitbread (LSE:WTB)
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RNS Number : 2864W

Whitbread PLC

26 April 2016

26 April 2016

GOOD GROWTH IN REVENUE, PROFIT AND DIVIDEND

Whitbread PLC results for the 53 week financial year to 3 March 2016

 
 Financial Highlights            2015/16    2014/15   Change 
 Total revenue (GBPm)            2,921.8    2,608.1    12.0% 
 Underlying profit(1) before 
  tax (GBPm)                       546.3      488.1    11.9% 
 Hotels and Restaurants 
  underlying operating profit 
  (GBPm)                           446.9      401.4    11.3% 
 Costa underlying operating 
  profit (GBPm)                    153.5      132.5    15.8% 
 Profit for the year               387.3      366.1     5.8% 
 Underlying basic EPS(1) 
  (pence)                         238.65     213.67    11.7% 
 Total basic EPS (pence)          215.66     204.81     5.3% 
 Full year dividend (pence)        90.35      82.15    10.0% 
 
   --   Group total sales growth of 12.0% and like for like sales(2) growth of 3.0% 
   --   Premier Inn total sales growth of 12.9% and like for like sales up 4.2% 
   --   Costa total sales growth of 15.9%, system sales up 15.3% and UK like for like sales up 2.9% 

-- Group return on capital(3) of 15.3% (2014/15: 15.7%) includes investments in future hotel openings

-- Strong cash generated from operations of GBP782.2 million which funded capital investment(4) of GBP724.9 million

   --   Strong balance sheet with year-end net debt of GBP909.8 million (2014/15: GBP583.2 million) 

Richard Baker, Chairman, said:

"With another good set of results, that continue to show the strength of Whitbread's brands, the Board is pleased to announce an increase in the full year dividend of 10%.

This is a very exciting time for the Company; with our recent senior appointments, we now have a refreshed leadership team, and I am delighted it is being led by Alison Brittain as CEO, to take us on the journey to building a bigger as well as a better Whitbread."

Alison Brittain, Chief Executive, said:

"Whitbread has had another successful year with good growth in sales of 12.0% and underlying earnings per share increasing by 11.7%, once again demonstrating the strength of our businesses. We propose a final dividend of 61.85 pence per share, which would deliver an increase in the full year dividend of 10%.

Both Premier Inn and Costa benefit from attractive market growth opportunities and we will continue to capitalise on these by developing our network and brand strength as we fulfil our ambitions to reach c.85,000 UK hotel rooms and c.GBP2.5 billion system sales in Costa, by 2020.

The world around us is shifting, with rising customer expectations, an evolving competitor landscape, rapid technological developments and changing cost structures. In responding to this change, I am especially keen to reinforce our relentless focus on our customers and on innovation to develop our brand propositions ensuring we stay ahead and become more productive.

I have identified three key strategic themes to develop our business: grow and innovate in our core UK businesses; focus on our strengths to grow internationally; and build the capability and infrastructure to support long-term growth. This strategy will enable us to deliver our significant growth ambitions, grow earnings and dividends, maintain good returns on capital and create further value for our shareholders.

Whilst it is only six weeks into our new financial year we remain confident of making good progress this year."

Note: 2015/16 is reported as 53 weeks to 3 March 2016 and information throughout this announcement is on that basis unless stated otherwise. The comparative period for 2014/15 was 52 weeks to 26 February 2015.

 
 
 For further information contact: 
 Whitbread 
 Nicholas Cadbury, Group Finance             +44 (0) 20 
  Director                                    7806 5491 
                                             +44 (0) 1582 
 Anna Glover, Director of Communications      844 244 
  Joanne Russell, Director of                 +44 (0) 1582 
  Investor Relations                          888 633 
 
 
 Tulchan 
                                            + 44 (0) 20 
 David Allchurch                             7353 4200 
 

For photographs and videos, please visit the corporate media library:

www.whitbreadimages.co.uk

A presentation for analysts will be held at Nomura, 1 Angel Lane, Upper Thames Street, London, EC4R 3AB. The presentation is at 9.30 am and a live webcast of the presentation will be available on the investors' section of the website at: http://www.whitbread.co.uk/investors

CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REVIEW

Introduction

Whitbread has made good financial and operational progress this year. Our financial success is based on another year of strong growth in our two leading brands, Premier Inn, the UK's best economy hotel brand(5) , and Costa, the UK's favourite coffee shop chain(6) . Behind these two strong brands lies our Customer Heartbeat model, which puts our customers at the centre of everything we do.

Critical to our success are our 50,000 team members, who do a great job in delivering a consistently good experience to the 27 million customers who visit Whitbread's outlets every month. I would like to thank them for their continuing commitment and for their contribution to Whitbread's success.

Financial and operational performance

Whitbread had another good year in 2015/16, with a 12.0% growth in total revenue to GBP2.9 billion, an 11.9% growth in underlying profit before tax to GBP546.3 million and, with the proposed final dividend, an increase in the full year dividend of 10.0%.

Hotels & Restaurants underlying operating profit was up 11.3% to GBP446.9 million. Premier Inn grew total sales by 12.9%, like for like sales by 4.2%, total revpar by 3.1% and the number of rooms available by 9.8%, with a record 5,461 new UK rooms opened in the year. Total occupancy remained high as we finished the year at 80.9%. Restaurants grew total sales by 3.5%, like for like sales by 0.8%, ahead of its competitors(7) , and opened four net new sites.

Costa's underlying operating profit was up 15.8% to GBP153.5 million, with total sales growth of 15.9%. This was driven by UK like for like sales growth of 2.9%, 197 net new stores worldwide and 924 net new Costa Express machines.

Our good profit growth delivered strong cash from operations of GBP782.2 million, up 9.5%. A strong operational cash flow supports our capital investment programme, as we maintain our market leading position through re-investment in our estate and by delivering organic growth to reach our milestones. Our total cash capital investment for 2015/16, including business combinations, was GBP724.9 million and we expect to invest a similar amount this financial year.

Our disciplined financial management enabled us to deliver a good return on our investments of 15.3% in 2015/16.

The Board recommends a final dividend of 61.85 pence per share, making a total dividend for the year of 90.35 pence per share, an increase of 10.0%. The final dividend will be paid on 1 July 2016 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 27 May 2016.

It is only six weeks into our new financial year. However, indications are that Costa UK has had a good start to the year and Premier Inn is growing share in a flat market. However, trading comparators have been impacted by the early timing of Easter and we will have a much better view on 21 June when we present our first quarter trading statement. We remain confident of making good progress this year.

Strategic focus

Whitbread's success has been built on its unique brand strengths, significant structural market opportunities and disciplined capital management. This has enabled profitable growth over a sustained period, which in turn has delivered strong shareholder value.

Significant structural market opportunities

Premier Inn and Costa both continue to benefit from significant structural market opportunities. The budget hotel market is continuing to grow as the independent sector declines, and there is an increasing demand for great coffee. Whitbread continues to be uniquely positioned to capitalise on both of these growing segments which provides us with confidence that we will achieve our ambitious 2020 milestones of c.85,000 Premier Inn UK rooms and c.GBP2.5 billion of systems sales for Costa.

Brand strength

At Premier Inn, we deliver a market leading experience for business and leisure customers alike. We offer customers the widest choice of locations in the UK, the best value for money and, by continually investing in our sites and our teams, a great product in the market place. This drives brand loyalty and high occupancy of over 80%, meaning that our hotels are regularly full.

At Costa, we offer customers a great cup of coffee in a warm and welcoming environment and, with the widest choice of locations, we are responding to increasing customer demand for coffee anytime, anywhere.

Disciplined capital management

Whitbread has maintained a disciplined approach to capital management, with a well-funded, strong balance sheet and a keen focus on returns. This has enabled the Board to set out a clear strategy for profitable growth, including the 2020 milestones.

Long-term growth and shareholder value

The environment in which we operate is evolving and we must evolve with it. Customers are demanding more, both in terms of the traditional service offering and in terms of a digital experience. In addition, the competitor environment, cost structures and skills requirements are changing shape. In order to continue to deliver sustainable shareholder value in the longer term, it is important that we meet the challenges of this evolving environment. We must retain our core strengths, but we must also sharpen our customer focus and enhance our brands with new propositions to ensure that they remain market leading in the eye of the customer. We must also build new capabilities to strengthen the business and deliver an efficient platform from which to grow.

(MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires

April 26, 2016 02:01 ET (06:01 GMT)

We have identified three key strategic themes, which will ensure that our brands get not only bigger, but better:

1. Grow and innovate in our core UK businesses;

2. Focus on our strengths to grow internationally; and

3. Build capability and infrastructure to support long-term growth.

1. Grow and innovate in our core UK businesses

Premier Inn UK

The structural growth opportunities in the hotel market remain strong and provide confidence in our c.85,000 room milestone. In reaching this conclusion we have reviewed and retested our view of the UK hotel market by catchment and reflected the structural shift from independents to branded hotels. We expect the UK hotel market to grow from c.700,000 rooms today to c.740,000 rooms in 2020, with the branded budget hotels growing from 24% to 29% of the total market. We have assumed that hotel demand grows over the cycle in line with GDP growth at just over 2% and, for the first time, we have adjusted our forecasts to reflect an estimate of the share any market disruptors might gain. This new network plan indicates that we have clear headroom to grow our business and gives us confidence that the current milestones are appropriate.

Our network strength gives customers the greatest choice of locations and we offer the best value for money through our continuous focus on the quality and consistency of our product and service. These in turn result in a high occupancy of 80.9%, which means our hotels are regularly full, with 86% of bookings direct through our Premier Inn website.

Network strength

In 2015/16, we opened 40 new hotels taking the total number in the UK to 737, around 200 more than our nearest competitor. This network coverage is core to getting customers closer to their destination, a key consideration for both leisure and business customers.

Growth opportunities

With nearly 65,000 rooms today and a committed net pipeline of around 12,700 rooms we are making good progress towards achieving our 2020 ambition for c.85,000 UK rooms. Furthermore, we are not compromising on long-term returns, with returns for our committed UK pipeline by 2020 similar to those achieved today and growing as the hotels mature.

London remains a strong opportunity for us and, over the past three years, we have grown our rooms by 11.7% CAGR to over 11,000, and total sales by nearly GBP100 million to GBP260 million, while maintaining occupancy at around 86%. Our share of the London hotel market remains relatively low at 7% and, with a committed pipeline of c.5,400 rooms, we are on track to grow our London estate to 18,000-20,000 rooms by 2020.

'hub by Premier Inn' is our exciting new compact city centre hotel concept. It allows us to grow profitably in city centre locations with high property costs and to deliver a good return on capital, whilst offering customers great value, high quality rooms in great locations.

We now have four hub hotels open at St. Martin's Lane (November 2014), Tower Bridge (December 2015) and Brick Lane (February 2016) in London, and Royal Mile (February 2016) in Edinburgh. Our hub hotel in St Martin's Lane has now been open for over a year and guest feedback has been extremely positive with a Trip Advisor score of 4.5 and high occupancy. Although it is early days, the other three have begun on a similarly positive note.

The regional hotel market also continues to offer good growth opportunities, through both existing and new catchment areas. Our unique freehold backing provides us with a significant opportunity from our low risk, good returning hotel extensions programme, which represents some 39% of our future regional growth.

Delivering a consistent quality product

We want Premier Inn to be at the forefront of our customers' minds when choosing a hotel, so it is important that we continue to invest in our existing hotels to improve our customer experience and reinforce our competitive position. Our consistency drives customer loyalty and enables us to have a revpar premium to our direct competitors.

Value for money

We prioritise high occupancy and value for money to build long-term customer loyalty. This approach has resulted in Premier Inn growing its occupancy by 5.1% pts since 2011/12 to 80.9%, compared to a 1.6% pts increase in the midscale and economy market to 78.6%. This focus has been evidenced by consistently high YouGov value for money scores.

Direct digital distribution

The benefit of offering a consistent quality room and value for money, combined with a good website, has enabled us to grow our direct digital distribution from 69% in 2011/12 to 86% in 2015/16. Through this we are able to provide a better service to our customers, offering them the lowest price channel along with the most comprehensive information regarding their stay. At the same time we benefit from a low cost booking channel and receiving greater customer insight.

Food and beverage offering for Premier Inn customers

We have recently completed a thorough review of the importance of our restaurants and the value that they create for Premier Inn. The key findings are as follows:

-- Breakfast and dinner form a vital part of our customer offering and it is clear that their provision produces higher occupancy.

-- Through our unique joint site model we are able to control the customer journey, guaranteeing the consistency of our product and service. This generates higher guest scores and, critically, results in higher hotel revpar and profitability.

-- In addition, our joint site model produces operating and capital efficiencies and so delivers better returns than both our hotels adjoining co-located third-party restaurants and our solus sites.

There are also a number of additional benefits to our joint site model, these include the ability to exploit our freehold sites for extensions or site redevelopment and gain access to smaller markets through the improved total site returns when including the branded restaurant.

We continue to make good progress in rejuvenating our restaurant brands and have converted 62 sites to the new Beefeater brand proposition to date. Furthermore, we have recently launched a contemporary Beefeater in Birmingham in March this year, Beefeater Bar + Block, serving all day breakfast, lunch and dinner. This small format, new joint site model is designed to improve returns versus those of our solus sites in city and town centres and although early days, has already received great customer feedback.

Costa

UK Retail

Costa UK Retail has delivered another good performance, with UK retail sales growing by 15.7% and like for like sales in UK equity stores increasing by 2.9%.

Over the past two decades the UK coffee shop market has seen unprecedented growth and, according to coffee experts Allegra Strategies, UK branded chains' outlets have grown at around 6% CAGR over 2008-2014, with further growth expected over the next few years. Nevertheless, UK coffee consumption remains relatively low in comparison to many other developed countries.

While coffee venues continue to act as social and community hubs, customers' demands are evolving. Convenience and coffee quality remain essential but customers are becoming more sophisticated with fresher food, faster service, better loyalty schemes and a greater digital experience becoming increasingly important to drive customer satisfaction and grow revenue.

As the UK's favourite coffee shop, Costa is well placed to capitalise on future market opportunities as we plan to grow to around 2,500 stores by 2020, largely underpinned by more diversified channel growth.

Our new Costa Fresco concept (launched in December 2015), is centred on fresh and healthy food and will provide a platform for us to broaden our food range and quality credentials.

Our 'fast format' Costa Pronto facilitates coffee on-the-go and is based on our ability to offer fast, friendly service in city locations where speed is of the essence.

We are also planning to further expand our food range to offer customers fresher, healthier options, and to introduce new tills and ovens to increase our speed of service. We will build on the taste of our great Mocha Italia coffee and continuously improve our coffee credentials so we can respond to customers' increasing demands for quality coffee anytime, anywhere. This includes plans to expand our coffee range through the launch of single origin coffee and new brewing techniques.

Costa Enterprises

Costa Enterprises had a very successful year, growing system sales by 14.4% and installing 924 net new Costa Express machines, giving a total of 5,216 at year-end. We plan to install around a further 1,000 machines in 2016/17. This puts us well on track to achieve our target of c.8,000 machines by 2020 as we expand into new growth channels internationally and in the UK.

2. Focus on our strengths to grow internationally

Premier Inn International

In the Middle East we continue to see long-term growth through our successful, profitable joint venture. In India and South East Asia, although there is opportunity for growth, the market remains operationally challenging and we will assess the opportunities over the coming year.

Premier Inn Germany

We believe Germany provides an exciting growth opportunity for Premier Inn with a hotel market that is nearly a third larger than the UK. It has a fragmented competitor set and a high percentage of independents which are in gradual decline.

Our first hotel opened in Frankfurt in February this year and the feedback has been excellent. We have a committed pipeline of three more hotels with the aim of having six to eight hotels open by 2020.

We are looking to commit capital of some GBP60-100 million per annum over the next three years to gather pace in what we perceive as an attractive market for Premier Inn, and will continue to look for further opportunities to test the market more quickly.

Costa EMEI

(MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires

April 26, 2016 02:01 ET (06:01 GMT)

We have a strong and profitable franchise business with a total of 696 stores across 24 countries. Our franchise business has grown rapidly over a number of years and we have learnt a lot about what makes a successful business model, whether that be via the partnership model, logistics, localisation or customer demographic. We intend to focus on growing our position in the best of these markets and will not be afraid to withdraw from markets where there is a structural issue. This will allow us to focus our resources and people on the markets where there is an opportunity for us to grow profitably and win market share.

Our equity business in Poland has made good progress following the re-branding of the estate to Costa with the stores delivering positive like for like sales growth, and we anticipate this business will return to profitability in 2017.

It is still early days for Costa France and we continue to focus on developing both our equity and franchise stores in key locations.

Costa Asia

China remains an exciting opportunity for the Group. We have targeted around 700 stores by 2020, underpinned by the growing coffee shop culture and status of western coffee brands as aspirational. We have a new and experienced management team with a strong focus on retail and an ambition to enhance our brand awareness through investing in new store formats, offering better and more local food and beverage propositions and also enhancing our digital capability. During the year we opened 39 net new stores in China giving us a total of 383 stores across 30 cities. As we move forward we have decided to focus on disciplined profitable growth across 15 major cities.

3. Build capability and infrastructure to support long-term growth

In order to build bigger and better brands that maintain their market leadership positions we need to develop the capability and platform from which we operate. This will enable us to grow effectively towards our milestones and beyond.

To achieve this we will need to invest across both brands in a number of common areas: teams, IT infrastructure, digital and productivity and efficiency.

Teams

We must employ, train and retain the best teams in higher labour cost environments, providing them with the optimum technology to do their jobs, so we can continue to differentiate our customer proposition through great service. We will also continue to build on our core international capabilities and the quality and skills of our local teams.

IT infrastructure

We will upgrade our systems infrastructure to give us greater resilience as we grow, build faster networks, introduce better data analytic tools to improve insight and upgrade systems such as our tills and finance applications. We will also look to build IT supplier partnerships to support us in developing new customer propositions and to get the right technology and service for our customers and teams at the best price.

Digital

As our customers' demand for a greater digital experience accelerates, we will improve our engagement with them by bringing more digital capabilities in-house so that we can work in a faster, more agile way, developing and continually enhancing our websites and loyalty platforms.

Productivity and efficiency

Alongside our investment plans we will also move productivity and efficiency up the agenda. Through investing in our infrastructure and systems we can build a better and more efficient platform for the future, with greater automation of processes including dynamic hotel pricing, product management and better labour management tools, to ensure our teams can deliver great service in the most efficient way. We can see opportunities in procurement across the Group by simplifying our operations, being smarter at refurbishments and focusing our restaurant offering through fewer brands. Finally, supply chain and logistics efficiencies will be reviewed given the size and scale of the business today and in the future.

To help us achieve this there will be a GBP15 million net P&L investment in 2016/17 across Whitbread.

Good Together

At Whitbread we have some of the UK's favourite and most trusted hospitality brands. Keeping abreast of, or indeed ahead of, the trends and concerns which are important to our customers and communities is vital, whether that be how we look after our colleagues, how we protect the environment or how we support our communities. As one of the UK's largest companies, we have the responsibility and the opportunity to act as a force for good. This is not just the right thing to do, it is vital if we are to build a sustainable business for shareholders in the long-term.

We are committed to creating a great place to work and ensuring our 50,000 team members have development opportunities that will help them realise their potential. We invest around GBP12 million annually in skills and development programmes including our WISE programme (Whitbread Investing in Skills and Employment) which is focused on supporting young people and those not in education, employment or training, into work.

We welcome the introduction of the new National Living Wage; indeed, in Costa we implemented it six months in advance of the Government's launch date. In Costa and Premier Inn we have taken the decision to pay the new wage to all employees (including apprentices), regardless of whether they are over or under 25 years old.

In April 2015 we set out ambitious 2020 targets for our Good Together programme and we are making good progress towards achieving them. Our teams are raising millions of pounds for our chosen charities of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity and the Costa Foundation, helping to improve the lives of children in the UK and coffee growing communities around the world. We are also leading the hospitality industry in our innovative work to build sustainable buildings, so that as we grow we manage our environmental footprint. A good example is Costa's new Eco Pod store in Telford which is the UK's first zero energy coffee shop.

Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants

 
                                     2015/16   2014/15 
--------------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 Premier Inn revenue          GBPm   1,260.1   1,116.4   12.9% 
--------------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 Restaurants revenue          GBPm     561.9     542.8    3.5% 
--------------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 Total revenue                GBPm   1,822.0   1,659.2    9.8% 
--------------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 Premier Inn like for 
  like sales*                    %       4.2       9.1 
--------------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 Premier Inn rooms 
  UK (no.)                            64,599    59,138    9.2% 
----------------------------------  --------  --------  ------ 
 Premier Inn like for 
  like revpar growth 
  **                             %       2.6       8.0 
--------------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 Premier Inn occupancy 
  (total)**                      %      80.9      81.3 
--------------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 Restaurants like for 
  like sales*                    %       0.8       2.1 
--------------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 Restaurants like for 
  like covers growth             %       1.1       0.4 
--------------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 Underlying operating 
  profit                      GBPm     446.9     401.4   11.3% 
--------------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 Profit before tax            GBPm     439.6     405.0    8.5% 
--------------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 WHR Return on capital***        %      12.9      13.5 
--------------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 

* UK & Ireland only and pre-IFRIC 13

** UK & Ireland only

*** Includes investment in future hotel openings

Costa

 
                                 2015/16   2014/15 
----------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 System sales *           GBPm   1,612.8   1,398.7   15.3% 
----------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 Revenue                  GBPm   1,103.2     951.9   15.9% 
----------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 Like for like sales 
  (UK)*                      %       2.9       6.0 
----------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 UK stores (no.)                   2,034     1,931    5.3% 
------------------------------  --------  --------  ------ 
 International stores 
  (no.)                            1,243     1,149    8.2% 
------------------------------  --------  --------  ------ 
 Underlying operating 
  profit                  GBPm     153.5     132.5   15.8% 
----------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 Profit before tax        GBPm     137.1     125.4    9.3% 
----------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 Return on capital           %      49.9      46.3 
----------------------  ------  --------  --------  ------ 
 

*System sales and like for like sales exclude inter-segment and are pre-IFRIC 13.

FINANCE DIRECTOR'S REVIEW

Whitbread has continued its good financial performance, with total revenue up 12.0% to GBP2,921.8 million, underlying profit before tax up 11.9% to GBP546.3 million, cash generated from operations of GBP782.2 million and underlying basic earnings per share up 11.7%. Profit before tax, after exceptional and non underlying adjustments was GBP487.7 million, up 5.2%.

2015/16 is reported as 53 weeks to 3 March 2016, the comparative period for 2014/15 is 52 weeks to 26 February 2015. To aid comparison, we have shown the year on year percentage change both as reported and on a 52 weeks basis, to 25 February 2016.

(MORE TO FOLLOW) Dow Jones Newswires

April 26, 2016 02:01 ET (06:01 GMT)

Revenue

 
 Revenue by business       2015/16   2014/15   Change         Change 
  segment                                                    52 week 
  (GBPm)                                                 comparative 
------------------------  --------  --------  -------  ------------- 
 Hotels and Restaurants    1,822.0   1,659.2     9.8%           7.8% 
------------------------  --------  --------  -------  ------------- 
 Costa                     1,103.2     951.9    15.9%          14.0% 
------------------------  --------  --------  -------  ------------- 
 Less: inter-segment         (3.4)     (3.0) 
------------------------  --------  --------  -------  ------------- 
 Revenue                   2,921.8   2,608.1    12.0%          10.1% 
------------------------  --------  --------  -------  ------------- 
 

Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants

Hotels and Restaurants revenue rose to GBP1,822.0 million, up 9.8%.

Premier Inn grew its market share through new hotel openings and good like for like sales growth in the UK, with total sales growth of 12.9% to GBP1,260.1 million. In the UK, we opened 40 new hotels with 5,461 new rooms, increasing our number of rooms to 64,599 and rooms available by 9.8%. Like for like sales grew by 4.2% driven by an increase in the like for like revenue per available room of 2.6%, benefitting from the good performance in the Regions, and additional revenue from hotel extensions.

Restaurants total sales grew by 3.5% and like for like sales grew by 0.8%. Four net new restaurants were opened during the year.

Costa

Costa's revenue grew by 15.9% to GBP1,103.2 million. Costa's UK sales grew to GBP975.9 million, up 16.3%, with retail like for like sales increasing by 2.9% and 103 net new coffee shops. International sales grew to GBP127.3 million, up 12.7% (13.7% in constant currency) with 94 net new stores. Costa Express performed well with 924 net coffee machines installed taking the total to 5,216, of which 492 are overseas.

Profit

 
  (GBPm)                        2015/16   2014/15    Change         Change 
                                                                   52 week 
                                                               comparative 
-----------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ------------- 
 Hotels & Restaurants 
  - UK & Ireland                  451.5     406.6     11.0%           8.3% 
-----------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ------------- 
 Hotels & Restaurants 
  - International                 (4.6)     (5.2)     11.5%          11.5% 
-----------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ------------- 
 Totals Hotels & Restaurants      446.9     401.4     11.3%           8.6% 
-----------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ------------- 
 Costa - UK                       151.0     131.4     14.9%          12.5% 
-----------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ------------- 
 Costa - International              2.5       1.1 
-----------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ------------- 
 Costa                            153.5     132.5     15.8%          13.3% 
-----------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ------------- 
 Profit from operations           600.4     533.9     12.5%           9.8% 
-----------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ------------- 
 Central costs                   (31.6)    (29.5)    (7.1)%         (6.4)% 
-----------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ------------- 
 Underlying operating 
  profit                          568.8     504.4     12.8%          10.0% 
-----------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ------------- 
 Interest                        (22.5)    (16.3)   (38.0)%        (36.2)% 
-----------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ------------- 
 Underlying profit before 
  tax                             546.3     488.1     11.9%           9.1% 
-----------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ------------- 
 Exceptional items and 
  non underlying adjustments     (58.6)    (24.3) 
-----------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ------------- 
 Profit before tax                487.7     463.8    5.2%         2.2% 
-----------------------------  --------  --------  --------  ------------- 
 
 
 Profit impact of 53(rd)     GBPm 
  week 
--------------------------  ----- 
 Hotels and Restaurants      11.0 
--------------------------  ----- 
 Costa                        3.4 
--------------------------  ----- 
 Underlying profit before 
  tax                        13.9 
--------------------------  ----- 
 

Whitbread's underlying profit before tax was up 11.9% to GBP546.3 million. Underlying profit before tax excludes the pension interest charge, amortisation of acquired intangibles and exceptional items.

Hotels and Restaurants profits grew to GBP446.9 million up 11.3%, with UK profits of GBP451.5 million, up 11.0%. Margins improved from 24.2% to 24.5% in 2015/16, principally driven by like for like sales growth, partially offset by inflation and investment in our teams and systems. Rent costs increased, ahead of sales growth, by 14.8% to GBP123.4 million (2014/15: GBP107.5 million), reflecting the higher mix of leasehold properties.

We continue to improve our customer propositions and develop the capabilities and platform to support future growth. During 2015/16, we increased the number of full room refurbishments to around 3,700 rooms, completed the roll out of our 'best ever' bed and installed around 2,000 air-conditioning units. We increased our revenue investment in technology and process improvements to enable us to grow our digital capabilities and evolve our systems. This continued improvement in our products and capabilities will amount to an approximate GBP9 million net incremental revenue spend in 2016/17.

International hotel losses reduced to GBP4.6 million (2014/15: loss of GBP5.2 million), with our Middle East hotels continuing to be profitable in a more challenging market, whilst India has seen good like for like growth, albeit from a low base. We continue our investment in building our South East Asia operation and opened our first hotels in Thailand and Indonesia.

Costa's good performance was led by the UK, where profits increased 14.9% to GBP151.0 million, with good growth in our UK retail business and continued strong growth from Costa Express. Costa International made a profit of GBP2.5 million (2014/15: profit GBP1.1 million) with a good performance in our international franchise business and in our mature stores in China, partially offset by start-up investments in Costa Express in Canada and Costa retail in China and France.

In Costa, as with Hotels and Restaurants, we are investing in our future growth, building the platforms of our international businesses and ensuring the continued success of our core UK business. In 2015/16, we completed the re-branding of our Polish stores from Coffeeheaven to Costa and this year, we will continue to invest in our international and digital talent capabilities, new store formats with the launch of Fresco and Pronto, and in food and beverage innovation. We are investing in our systems, customer loyalty through the Costa Pay & Collect trial, and our new Roastery, to ensure we can meet future capacity requirements to deliver great coffee to our customers worldwide. These revenue investments will amount to approximately GBP6 million net incremental spend in 2016/17.

Profit before tax was GBP487.7 million (2014/15: GBP463.8 million), up 5.2% and after taxation, statutory profit for the year was GBP387.3 million, up 5.8% on last year.

Exceptional items

Exceptional items and non underlying adjustments for the year, including tax related adjustments, amounted to a charge of GBP42.9 million (2014/15: a charge of GBP17.1 million).

This year's exceptional items primarily relate to an increased provision for onerous leases on historically disposed businesses (GBP14.7 million), accelerated amortisation on IT intangibles where there is no future economic benefit arising from these assets (GBP10.1 million) and charges for the closure and impairment of loss making Costa stores principally in China and Europe (GBP11.6 million). This is offset by a tax credit of GBP13.0 million due to the change in the tax rate from 20.0% to 18.0%.

Non underlying adjustments also include amortisation of acquired intangibles (GBP4.3 million) and the IAS 19 income statement charge for pension finance cost (GBP17.2 million).

Full details are set out in note 5 to the financial statements.

Interest

The underlying interest charge for the year was higher than last year at GBP22.5 million (2014/15: GBP16.3 million) due to a higher mix of fixed rate debt following the GBP450 million bond issue in May and higher average net debt as a result of the increase in capital expenditure. Whilst we have a balanced interest rate policy concerning the fixed to variable proportions, the Group decided to take advantage of the low interest rate environment at the time of the bond issue. The bias towards fixed interest rate debt with 89% fixed at year-end will continue for the short-term.

The effective interest rate on average net debt increased from 4.3% to 4.7%.

The total interest cost including exceptional and non underlying interest costs, was GBP40.4 million (2014/15: GBP37.1 million) including the IAS 19 pension finance charge of GBP17.2 million (2014/15: GBP21.6 million).

Taxation

Underlying tax for the year amounted to GBP116.1 million at an effective tax rate of 21.3% (2014/15: 21.5%). Full details are set out in note 6 to the financial statements.

Earnings per share

Underlying basic earnings per share for the year were 238.65 pence, up 11.7% on last year, and underlying diluted earnings per share for the year were 236.82 pence, up 11.9% on last year. Full details are set out in note 7 to the financial statements.

Dividend

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The recommended final dividend is 61.85 pence, an increase on last year of 8.6%, making the total dividend for the year 90.35 pence, a growth of 10.0%. With the final dividend, we will offer our shareholders the option to participate in a dividend reinvestment plan. Full details are set out in note 8 to the financial statements.

Net debt and free cash

The principal movements in net debt are as follows:

 
 GBPm                              2015/16   2014/15 
--------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Cash generated from operations      782.2     714.2 
--------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Productive improvement and 
  maintenance capital*             (214.8)   (175.7) 
--------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Operating cash flow after 
  maintenance capital                567.4     538.5 
--------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Interest                           (25.0)    (18.3) 
--------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Tax                                (85.1)    (82.8) 
--------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Pensions                           (84.3)    (81.4) 
--------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Dividends                         (155.1)   (130.6) 
--------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Other                              (34.4)    (27.4) 
--------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Cash flow before expansionary 
  capital                            183.5     198.0 
--------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Expansionary capital*             (510.1)   (389.6) 
--------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Net cashflow                      (326.6)   (191.6) 
--------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Net debt brought forward          (583.2)   (391.6) 
--------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Net debt carried forward          (909.8)   (583.2) 
--------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 
 *Total capital expenditure          724.9     565.3 
--------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

Cash generated from operations was strong at GBP782.2 million, an increase of 9.5% on last year.

Total capital expenditure, including business combinations, rose to GBP724.9 million (2014/15: GBP565.3 million). This resulted from our continued investment in our hotel room pipeline including freehold property purchases, along with further investments in our existing estate and IT systems. Within this, there were also investments and business combinations of GBP9.1 million for our hotel acquisition of Pattaya in South East Asia.

Pension payments totalled GBP84.3 million; these payments are in line with our agreed schedule of contributions which was based on the last triennial review in March 2014.

Dividend payments amounted to GBP155.1 million (2014/15: GBP130.6 million), the increase in this year's dividend payments is consistent with the Group's basic earnings per share growth.

Corporation tax paid in the year was GBP85.1 million (2014/15: GBP82.8 million).

We maintained our adjusted net debt to EBITDAR ratio (see financial status and funding) with net debt as at 3 March 2016 of GBP909.8 million (2014/15: GBP583.2 million).

Capital expenditure

On an accruals basis, the Group's capital expenditure, including business combinations, was GBP751.8 million (2014/15: GBP567.5 million). The Group's cash capital expenditure was GBP724.9 million (2014/15: GBP565.3 million), including business combinations. Capital expenditure is split between expansionary (which includes the acquisition and development of properties) and product improvement and maintenance.

Hotels and Restaurants cash capital expenditure was GBP622.3 million (2014/15: GBP483.1 million), with expansionary expenditure increasing to GBP455.2 million (2014/15: GBP333.3 million) as we opened a record number of rooms and maintained our gross pipeline at c.13,900 rooms (net 12,700 rooms), including c.5,400 in London. Within this, we acquired GBP209.6 million of freehold property (2014/15: GBP191.8 million) and now our freehold pipeline is at 52% of the total pipeline compared to 41% at the end of 2014/15. Premier Inn Germany accounted for GBP61.6 million of expansionary capital as Frankfurt opened in February 2016 and we exchanged on two further sites in Munich and Leipzig. Product improvement and maintenance cash expenditure in Hotels and Restaurants was GBP167.1 million (2014/15: GBP149.8 million). This was an increase on the previous year as we stepped up the number of full refurbishments, and increased the investment in our hotels technology infrastructure and in our systems.

Costa cash capital expenditure was GBP102.6 million (2014/15: GBP82.0 million) with GBP54.9 million on expansionary capital as we opened 197 new coffee shops and installed 924 net new Costa Express machines. Costa product improvement and maintenance expenditure was GBP47.7 million (2014/15: GBP25.9 million), the majority of which was spent on re-imaging 139 Costa stores and on investment in our systems and our new Roastery.

In 2016/17, we expect our gross cash capital expenditure to be around GBP700 million and around GBP550-600 million net of the proceeds of around GBP100-150 million from sale and lease back transactions. Hotels and Restaurants spend is expected to be c.GBP560 million, with around 4,000 to 4,500 room openings, and the higher freehold and extensions pipeline mix maintained. Within this, we expect to spend c.GBP60 million acquiring German hotel sites to add to our pipeline, following the opening of our first hotel in Frankfurt in February. Hotels and Restaurants product improvement and maintenance investment will be maintained, as we continue to improve our customer experience and competitive edge and continue to improve our digital and systems capabilities. Costa cash capital expenditure will increase by c.GBP40 million to around GBP140 million. Included within this is c.GBP25 million that we expect to spend on our new Roastery and c.GBP45 million on refurbishments and product improvement. Costa is planning to open around 230 -250 coffee shops and to install c.1,000 Costa Express machines.

In addition to capital expenditure, our leasehold commitments increased by GBP64.0 million to GBP2,896.7 million with Hotel and Restaurants at GBP2,567.6 million (2014/15: GBP2,464.1 million) and Costa GBP282.0 million, (2014/15: GBP283.8 million).

Return on capital

Return on capital is a prime focus for Whitbread. In the year, the Group's return on capital of 15.3% (2014/15: 15.7%) delivered a good premium to our cost of capital. Costa's returns were up 3.6% pts to 49.9% and Hotels and Restaurants returns were strong at 12.9%. Hotels and Restaurants returns were down 0.6% pts on last year due to the increased investment in freehold developments for future hotel openings in the UK and Germany. Excluding this investment returns in Hotels and Restaurants would have been 1.5% pts higher at 14.4%.

Pension

As at 3 March 2016, there was an IAS 19 pension deficit of GBP288.1 million (2014/15: GBP553.8 million). The main movements during the year were the payments of the pension contributions of GBP84.3 million and an increase in the discount rate from 3.30% to 3.70%.

The 2014 triennial funding valuation and recovery plan agreed in the prior year maintains the schedule of Company contributions agreed in the 2011 recovery plan up to 2018 and extends the contributions to 2022. The recovery plan schedule of Company contributions are GBP70 million in 2016, GBP80 million per annum for 2017 to 2021 and GBP7.6 million in 2022. The payments will be accelerated by up to GBP5 million per year where increases in ordinary dividends exceed RPI. The annual payment previously paid in August will be phased across the year in equal monthly payments.

The Company also makes payments of c.GBP9-10 million per year into the pension fund through the Scottish Partnership arrangements.

Financial Status and funding

Whitbread aims to maintain its financial position and capital structure consistent with retaining its investment grade debt status. To this end, we work within the financial framework of net debt to EBITDAR (pension and lease adjusted) of less than 3.5 times. The net debt to EBITDAR for 2015/16 was 3.1 times, providing us with comfortable headroom on our debt facilities.

The Group has sufficient facilities to finance our short and medium-term requirements with total committed facilities of c.GBP1.7 billion, compared to net debt as at 3 March 2016 of GBP909.8 million. On top of the existing US Private Placement loans of GBP258 million (at the hedged rate), and as announced in May 2015, we issued a GBP450 million bond with a coupon of 3.375% and a maturity of October 2025. In addition, in September 2015 Whitbread renegotiated the terms and tenure of its syndicated bank revolving credit facility ("RCF") with both existing and new banking partners. The revised RCF gives a total available credit of GBP950 million and runs until September 2020 with the option of two one-year extensions potentially taking the facility to September 2022.

Going concern

A combination of the strong operating cash flows generated by the business and the significant headroom on its credit facilities supports the directors' view that the Group has sufficient funds available for it to meet its foreseeable working capital requirements. The directors have concluded that the going concern basis remains appropriate.

Trading updates

We will be changing the regularity with which we provide market updates, moving to two trading statements in addition to the Interim and Preliminary announcements. The first update will be in June for 13 weeks of trading with the Interim results in October remaining as previously announced. There will be an update in January for the third quarter extended to 44 weeks to include the key December trading period and the full year announcement in April.

Post balance sheet events

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A final dividend of 61.85p per share (2014/15: 56.95p) amounting to a total of GBP112.4 million was declared by the Board on 25 April 2016.

Notes

(1) Underlying profit and underlying EPS

Underlying profit excluding amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional items and the impact of the pension finance cost as accounted for under IAS 19. Underlying basic EPS represents the basic earnings per share based on the above underlying profit definition and the tax thereon.

(2) Like for like sales stated pre-IFRIC 13 adjustment for Premier Inn - UK and Ireland, Costa and Restaurants - UK.

(3) Return on capital is the return on invested capital which is calculated by dividing the underlying profit before interest and tax for the year by net assets at the balance sheet date adding back debt, taxation liabilities and the pension deficit.

(4) Including investments in business combinations.

(5) British Travel Awards 2015

(6) Allegra

(7) Coffer Peach benchmark pub restaurants outside of the M25

Consolidated income statement

Year ended 3 March 2016

 
                                                    Year to        Year to 
                                                    3 March    26 February 
                                                       2016           2015 
                                          Notes        GBPm           GBPm 
---------------------------------------  ------  ---------- 
 
 Revenue                                    4       2,921.8        2,608.1 
 Operating costs                                  (2,397.9)      (2,110.6) 
                                                 ----------  ------------- 
 Operating profit                                     523.9          497.5 
 
 Share of profit from joint ventures                    3.3            2.6 
 Share of profit from associate                         0.9            0.8 
                                                 ----------  ------------- 
 
 Operating profit of the Group, 
  joint ventures and associate                        528.1          500.9 
 
 Finance costs                                       (41.2)         (39.4) 
 Finance revenue                                        0.8            2.3 
                                                 ----------  ------------- 
 Profit before tax                          4         487.7          463.8 
 
 Analysed as: 
 Underlying profit before tax               4         546.3          488.1 
  Exceptional items and non underlying 
   adjustments                              5        (58.6)         (24.3) 
 Profit before tax                                    487.7          463.8 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  ------------- 
 
 Tax expense                                        (100.4)         (97.7) 
 
 Analysed as: 
  Underlying tax expense                    6       (116.1)        (104.9) 
  Tax on exceptional items and 
   non underlying adjustments               5          15.7            7.2 
                                                 ----------  ------------- 
 Tax expense                                6       (100.4)         (97.7) 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  ------------- 
 
 Profit for the year                                  387.3          366.1 
                                                 ----------  ------------- 
 
 Attributable to: 
   Parent shareholders                                391.2          370.1 
   Non-controlling interest                           (3.9)          (4.0) 
                                                 ----------  ------------- 
                                                      387.3          366.1 
                                                 ----------  ------------- 
 
 
                                                    Year to 
                                      Year to   26 February 
                                 3 March 2016          2015 
Earnings per share (Note 7)             pence         pence 
------------------------------  -------------  ------------ 
Earnings per share 
Basic                                  215.66        204.81 
Diluted                                214.00        202.79 
Underlying earnings per share 
Basic                                  238.65        213.67 
Diluted                                236.82        211.56 
 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

Year ended 3 March 2016

 
                                                                    Year to 
                                                      Year to   26 February 
                                                 3 March 2016          2015 
                                         Notes           GBPm          GBPm 
---------------------------------------  -----  -------------  ------------ 
 
Profit for the year                                     387.3         366.1 
 
Items that will not be reclassified 
 to the income statement: 
Re-measurement gain/ (loss) on 
 defined benefit pension scheme                         201.6        (76.3) 
Current tax on pensions                    6             14.7          15.4 
Deferred tax on pensions                   6           (55.4)           0.8 
Deferred tax: change in rate 
 of corporation tax on pensions            6            (0.7)             - 
                                                -------------  ------------ 
                                                        160.2        (60.1) 
Items that may be reclassified 
 subsequently to the income statement: 
Net gain / (loss) on cash flow 
 hedges                                                   6.5         (3.0) 
Current tax on cash flow hedges            6            (0.9)             - 
Deferred tax on cash flow hedges           6            (0.4)           0.6 
Deferred tax: change in rate 
 of corporation tax on cash flow 
 hedges                                    6            (0.1)             - 
                                                -------------  ------------ 
                                                          5.1         (2.4) 
 
Exchange differences on translation 
 of foreign operations                                    7.1           1.7 
 
Other comprehensive income/ (loss) 
 for the year, net of tax                               172.4        (60.8) 
 
Total comprehensive income for 
 the year, net of tax                                   559.7         305.3 
                                                -------------  ------------ 
 
Attributable to: 
 Parent shareholders                                    563.5         309.3 
 Non-controlling interest                               (3.8)         (4.0) 
                                                -------------  ------------ 
                                                        559.7         305.3 
                                                -------------  ------------ 
 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

Year ended 3 March 2016

 
 
 
 
                                         Capital                 Currency 
                    Share     Share   redemption   Retained   translation       Other             Non-controlling     Total 
                  capital   premium      reserve   earnings       reserve    reserves     Total          interest    equity 
                     GBPm      GBPm         GBPm       GBPm          GBPm        GBPm      GBPm              GBPm      GBPm 
---------------  --------  --------  -----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  --------  ----------------  -------- 
 At 27 February 
  2014              149.6      56.2         12.3    3,644.5         (3.1)   (2,086.0)   1,773.5               9.5   1,783.0 
 
 Profit for 
  the year              -         -            -      370.1             -           -     370.1             (4.0)     366.1 
 Other 
  comprehensive 
  loss                  -         -            -     (59.5)           1.7       (3.0)    (60.8)                 -    (60.8) 
                 --------  --------  -----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  --------  ----------------  -------- 
 Total 
  comprehensive 
  income                -         -            -      310.6           1.7       (3.0)     309.3             (4.0)     305.3 
 
 Ordinary 
  shares 
  issued              0.2       3.0            -          -             -           -       3.2                 -       3.2 
 Loss on ESOT 
  shares issued         -         -            -      (8.1)             -         8.1         -                 -         - 
 Accrued 
  share-based 
  payments              -         -            -       13.5             -           -      13.5                 -      13.5 
 Tax on 
  share-based 
  payments              -         -            -        3.1             -           -       3.1                 -       3.1 
 Equity 
  dividends             -         -            -    (130.6)             -           -   (130.6)                 -   (130.6) 
 Additions              -         -            -          -             -           -         -               0.4       0.4 
                 --------  --------  -----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  --------  ----------------  -------- 
 At 26 February 
  2015              149.8      59.2         12.3    3,833.0         (1.4)   (2,080.9)   1,972.0               5.9   1,977.9 
                 --------  --------  -----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  --------  ----------------  -------- 
 
 Profit for 
  the year              -         -            -      391.2             -           -     391.2             (3.9)     387.3 
 Other 
  comprehensive 
  income                -         -            -      158.8           7.0         6.5     172.3               0.1     172.4 
                 --------  --------  -----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  --------  ----------------  -------- 
 Total 
  comprehensive 
  income                -         -            -      550.0           7.0         6.5     563.5             (3.8)     559.7 
 

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 Ordinary 
  shares 
  issued              0.2       3.4            -          -             -           -       3.6                 -       3.6 
 Loss on ESOT 
  shares issued         -         -            -      (6.7)             -         6.7         -                 -         - 
 Accrued 
  share-based 
  payments              -         -            -       17.3             -           -      17.3                 -      17.3 
 Tax rate 
  change 
  on historical 
  revaluation           -         -            -        1.3             -           -       1.3                 -       1.3 
 Equity 
  dividends             -         -            -    (155.1)             -           -   (155.1)                 -   (155.1) 
 At 3 March 
  2016              150.0      62.6         12.3    4,239.8           5.6   (2,067.7)   2,402.6               2.1   2,404.7 
                 --------  --------  -----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  --------  ----------------  -------- 
 

Consolidated balance sheet

At 3 March 2016

 
                                                  3 March   26 February 
                                                     2016          2015 
                                        Notes        GBPm          GBPm 
--------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ------------ 
ASSETS 
Non-current assets 
Intangible assets                                   258.1         248.1 
Property, plant and equipment                     3,831.0       3,278.4 
Investment in joint ventures                         39.5          30.3 
Investment in associate                                 -           2.0 
Derivative financial instruments                     21.6           2.2 
Trade and other receivables                           7.7           7.3 
                                                  4,157.9       3,568.3 
Current assets 
Inventories                                          44.8          37.1 
Derivative financial instruments                      3.2           1.2 
Trade and other receivables                         140.0         124.0 
Cash and cash equivalents                 9          57.1           2.1 
                                               ----------  ------------ 
                                                    245.1         164.4 
 
Assets held for sale                                  2.3           1.1 
 
Total assets                                      4,405.3       3,733.8 
 
LIABILITIES 
Current liabilities 
Financial liabilities                     9          94.0          73.1 
Provisions                                           14.7           6.7 
Derivative financial instruments                      4.4           4.8 
Income tax liabilities                    6          41.2          35.4 
Trade and other payables                            538.2         464.1 
                                               ----------  ------------ 
                                                    692.5         584.1 
 
Non-current liabilities 
Financial liabilities                     9         872.9         512.2 
Provisions                                           22.7          27.8 
Derivative financial instruments                      9.6          13.8 
Deferred income tax liabilities           6          94.7          43.7 
Pension liability                                   288.1         553.8 
Trade and other payables                             20.1          20.5 
                                               ----------  ------------ 
                                                  1,308.1       1,171.8 
 
Total liabilities                                 2,000.6       1,755.9 
 
Net assets                                        2,404.7       1,977.9 
                                               ----------  ------------ 
 
EQUITY 
Share capital                                       150.0         149.8 
Share premium                                        62.6          59.2 
Capital redemption reserve                           12.3          12.3 
Retained earnings                                 4,239.8       3,833.0 
Currency translation reserve                          5.6         (1.4) 
Other reserves                                  (2,067.7)     (2,080.9) 
                                               ----------  ------------ 
Equity attributable to equity holders 
 of the parent                                    2,402.6       1,972.0 
 
Non-controlling interest                              2.1           5.9 
 
Total equity                                      2,404.7       1,977.9 
                                               ----------  ------------ 
 
 
   Alison Brittain       Nicholas Cadbury 
   Chief Executive      Finance Director 

25 April 2016

Consolidated cash flow statement

Year ended 3 March 2016

 
                                                      Year to       Year to 
                                                      3 March   26 February 
                                                         2016          2015 
                                              Notes      GBPm          GBPm 
--------------------------------------------  -----  --------  ------------ 
Profit for the year                                     387.3         366.1 
Adjustments for: 
  Taxation charged on total operations          6       100.4          97.7 
  Net finance cost                                       40.4          37.1 
  Total income from joint ventures                      (3.3)         (2.6) 
  Total income from associate                           (0.9)         (0.8) 
  Loss on disposal of property, plant 
   and equipment and property reversions        5        20.9           3.3 
  Depreciation and amortisation                         197.6         168.4 
  Impairment of property, plant and 
   equipment                                    5         5.4         (3.4) 
  Share-based payments                                   17.3          13.5 
  Other non-cash items                                    5.6           7.9 
                                                     --------  ------------ 
Cash generated from operations before 
 working capital changes                                770.7         687.2 
 
Increase in inventories                                 (7.6)         (6.6) 
Increase in trade and other receivables                (15.2)         (7.4) 
Increase in trade and other payables                     34.3          41.0 
                                                     --------  ------------ 
Cash generated from operations                          782.2         714.2 
 
Payments against provisions                            (15.1)        (12.3) 
Pension payments                                       (84.3)        (81.4) 
Interest paid                                          (25.6)        (18.6) 
Interest received                                         0.6           0.3 
Corporation taxes paid                                 (85.1)        (82.8) 
                                                     --------  ------------ 
Net cash flows from operating activities                572.7         519.4 
 
Cash flows from investing activities 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment       4     (680.3)       (518.5) 
Purchase of intangible assets                   4      (35.4)        (27.3) 
Costs from disposal of property, plant 
 and equipment                                          (0.2)         (0.1) 
Business combinations, net of cash 
 acquired                                               (9.2)        (19.5) 
Capital contributions and loans to 
 joint ventures                                         (3.0)         (0.6) 
Dividends from associate                                  0.8           0.8 
                                                     --------  ------------ 
Net cash flows from investing activities              (727.3)       (565.2) 
 
Cash flows from financing activities 
Proceeds from issue of share capital                      3.6           3.2 
Increase in short-term borrowings               9        20.8          71.2 
Proceeds from long-term borrowings              9       445.2             - 
(Repayments of)/ increases in long-term 
 borrowings                                     9     (101.9)          63.9 
Renegotiation costs of long-term borrowings     9       (3.6)         (0.4) 
Dividends paid                                  8     (155.1)       (130.6) 
                                                     --------  ------------ 
Net cash flows from financing activities                209.0           7.3 
 
Net increase/ (decrease) in cash and 
 cash equivalents                               9        54.4        (38.5) 
Opening cash and cash equivalents               9         2.1          41.4 
Foreign exchange differences                    9         0.6         (0.8) 
                                                     --------  ------------ 
Closing cash and cash equivalents 
 shown within current assets on the 
 balance sheet                                  9        57.1           2.1 
                                                     --------  ------------ 
 

Notes to the accounts

1. Basis of accounting and preparation

The consolidated financial statements and preliminary announcement of Whitbread PLC for the year ended 3 March 2016 were authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 25 April 2016.

The financial year represents the 53 weeks to 3 March 2016 (prior financial year: 52 weeks to 26 February 2015).

The financial information included in this preliminary statement of results does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 435 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Act"). The financial information for the year ended 3 March 2016 has been extracted from the statutory accounts on which an unqualified audit opinion has been issued. Statutory accounts for the year ended 3 March 2016 will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's Annual General Meeting.

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The statutory accounts for the year ended 26 February 2015, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies, and the Auditors of the Company made a report thereon under Chapter 3 of part 16 of the Act. That report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under sections 498 (2) or (3) of the Act.

The consolidated financial statements of Whitbread PLC, and all its subsidiaries, have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted for use in the European Union and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.

2. Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the accounts of Whitbread PLC, and all its subsidiaries, together with the Group's share of the net assets and results of joint ventures and associate incorporated using the equity method of accounting. These are adjusted, where appropriate, to conform to Group accounting policies. The financial statements of significant trading subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting year as the parent Company except for Yueda Costa (Shanghai) Food & Beverage Management Company Limited which has a year-end of 31 December as per Chinese legislation.

A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the Group. Control is the power to direct the relevant activities of the subsidiary which significantly affect the subsidiary's return, so as to have rights to the variable return from its activities.

Apart from the acquisition of Whitbread Group PLC by Whitbread PLC in 2000/01, which was accounted for using merger accounting, acquisitions by the Group are accounted for under the acquisition method and any goodwill arising is capitalised as an intangible asset. The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated financial statements from, or up to, the date that control passes respectively. All intra-Group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation. Unrealised losses are also eliminated, unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.

3. Accounting policies

The accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are consistent with those followed in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 26 February 2015 except for the adoption of new standards and interpretations applicable as of 27 February 2015.

The Group has adopted the following standards and interpretations which have been assessed as having no financial impact or disclosure requirements at this time:

   --      The IASB's annual improvement process, 2010-2012; 
   --      The IASB's annual improvement process, 2011-2013; 
   --      IFRIC Interpretation 21 Levies (IFRIC 21); and 
   --      IAS 19 Defined Benefit Plans: Employee Contributions - Amendment to IAS 19. 

Non underlying performance measures

To monitor the financial performance of the Group, certain items are excluded from the profit measure. This measure is called "underlying" and represents the business performance excluding items that the directors consider could distort the understanding of the performance or the comparability between periods. The face of the income statement presents underlying profit before tax and reconciles this to profit before tax as required to be presented under the applicable accounting standards.

Underlying earnings per share is calculated having adjusted profit after tax on the same basis. The term underlying profit is not defined under IFRSs and may not be comparable with similarly titled profit measures reported by other companies. It is not intended to be a substitute for, or superior to, statutory measurements of profit. The adjustments made to reported profit in the consolidated income statement, in order to present an underlying performance measure, include:

Exceptional items

The Group includes in non underlying performance measures those items which are exceptional by virtue of their size or incidence so as to allow a better understanding of the underlying trading performance of the Group. The Group includes within exceptional items the profit or loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment, property reversions and other onerous leases, profit or loss on the sale of a business, impairment and exceptional interest and tax;

IAS 19 income statement finance charge/credit for defined benefit pension schemes

Underlying profit excludes the finance cost/revenue element of IAS 19 as this does not relate to the Group's ongoing activities as the schemes are closed to future accrual;

Amortisation charge on acquired intangible assets

Underlying profit excludes the amortisation charge on acquired intangible assets as this relates to transactions outside of the underlying business; and

Taxation

The tax impact of the items above and the impact of tax rate changes are also excluded in arriving at underlying earnings.

4. Segment information

For management purposes, the Group is organised into two strategic business units (Hotels & Restaurants and Costa) based upon their different products and services:

   --      Hotels & Restaurants provide services in relation to accommodation and food; and 

-- Costa generates income from the operation of its branded, owned and franchised coffee outlets.

The UK and International Hotels & Restaurants segments have been aggregated on the grounds that the International segment is immaterial.

Management monitors the operating results of its strategic business units separately for the purpose of making decisions about allocating resources and assessing performance. Segment performance is measured based on underlying operating profit. Included within the unallocated and elimination columns in the tables below are the costs of running the public company. The unallocated assets and liabilities are cash and debt balances (held and controlled by the central treasury function), taxation, pensions, certain property, plant and equipment, centrally held provisions and central working capital balances.

Inter-segment revenue is from Costa to the Hotels & Restaurants segment and is eliminated on consolidation. Transactions are entered into on an arm's length basis in a manner similar to transactions with third parties.

The following tables present revenue and profit information and certain asset and liability information regarding business operating segments for the years ended 3 March 2016 and 26 February 2015.

 
                                                                     Unallocated 
                                                    Hotels                   and       Total 
                                                         & 
                                               Restaurants    Costa  elimination  operations 
Year to 3 March 2016                                  GBPm     GBPm         GBPm        GBPm 
---------------------------------------------  -----------  -------  -----------  ---------- 
Revenue 
Underlying revenue from external 
 customers                                         1,822.0  1,099.8            -     2,921.8 
Inter-segment revenue                                    -      3.4        (3.4)           - 
Total revenue                                      1,822.0  1,103.2        (3.4)     2,921.8 
 
Underlying operating profit                          446.9    153.5       (31.6)       568.8 
Underlying interest                                      -        -       (22.5)      (22.5) 
                                               -----------  -------  -----------  ---------- 
Underlying profit before tax                         446.9    153.5       (54.1)       546.3 
Exceptional items and non underlying 
 adjustments (Note 5): 
  Amortisation of acquired intangibles                   -    (4.3)            -       (4.3) 
  IAS 19 income statement charge 
   for pension finance cost                              -        -       (17.2)      (17.2) 
  Net loss on disposal of property, 
   plant and equipment and property 
   reversions                                        (0.4)    (5.5)       (15.0)      (20.9) 
  Intangible assets accelerated amortisation         (7.2)    (0.9)        (2.0)      (10.1) 
  Impairment                                         (1.7)    (6.0)            -       (7.7) 
  Impairment reversal                                  2.0      0.3            -         2.3 
  Exceptional interest                                   -        -        (0.7)       (0.7) 
                                               -----------  -------  -----------  ---------- 
Profit before tax                                    439.6    137.1       (89.0)       487.7 
Tax expense (Note 6)                                                                 (100.4) 
                                                                                  ---------- 
Profit for the year                                                                    387.3 
                                                                                  ---------- 
 
Assets and liabilities 
Segment assets                                     3,842.2    444.4            -     4,286.6 
Unallocated assets                                       -        -        118.7       118.7 
                                               -----------  -------  -----------  ---------- 
Total assets                                       3,842.2    444.4        118.7     4,405.3 
                                               -----------  -------  -----------  ---------- 
 
Segment liabilities                                (366.4)  (136.8)            -     (503.2) 
Unallocated liabilities                                  -        -    (1,497.4)   (1,497.4) 
                                               -----------  -------  -----------  ---------- 
Total liabilities                                  (366.4)  (136.8)    (1,497.4)   (2,000.6) 
                                               -----------  -------  -----------  ---------- 
 

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Net assets                                         3,475.8    307.6    (1,378.7)     2,404.7 
                                               -----------  -------  -----------  ---------- 
 
Other segment information 
 
Share of profit from joint ventures                    3.3        -            -         3.3 
Share of profit from associate                         0.9        -            -         0.9 
 
Investment in joint ventures and 
 associate                                            36.3      3.2            -        39.5 
 
Total property rent                                  123.4    111.2          0.1       234.7 
 
Capital expenditure: 
Property, plant and equipment - 
 cash basis                                          581.0     99.3            -       680.3 
Property, plant and equipment - 
 accruals basis                                      604.6    102.6            -       707.2 
Intangible assets                                     32.2      3.2            -        35.4 
 
Depreciation - underlying                          (112.0)   (59.4)            -     (171.4) 
Amortisation - underlying                            (9.0)    (2.7)        (0.1)      (11.8) 
 
 
 
                                                               Unallocated 
                                              Hotels                   and       Total 
                                                   & 
                                         Restaurants    Costa  elimination  operations 
Year to 26 February 2015                        GBPm     GBPm         GBPm        GBPm 
---------------------------------------  -----------  -------  -----------  ---------- 
Revenue 
Underlying revenue from external 
 customers                                   1,659.2    948.9            -     2,608.1 
Inter-segment revenue                              -      3.0        (3.0)           - 
Total revenue                                1,659.2    951.9        (3.0)     2,608.1 
 
Underlying operating profit                    401.4    132.5       (29.5)       504.4 
Underlying interest                                -        -       (16.3)      (16.3) 
                                         -----------  -------  -----------  ---------- 
Underlying profit before tax                   401.4    132.5       (45.8)       488.1 
Exceptional items and non underlying 
 adjustments (Note 5): 
  Amortisation of acquired intangibles             -    (2.5)            -       (2.5) 
  IAS 19 income statement charge 
   for pension finance cost                        -        -       (21.6)      (21.6) 
  Net loss on disposal of property, 
   plant and equipment and property 
   reversions                                  (0.5)    (2.8)            -       (3.3) 
  Impairment                                   (2.9)    (2.3)            -       (5.2) 
  Impairment reversal                            8.1      0.5            -         8.6 
  Share of impairment in fixed assets 
   in joint venture                            (1.1)        -            -       (1.1) 
  Exceptional interest                             -        -          0.8         0.8 
                                         -----------  -------  -----------  ---------- 
Profit before tax                              405.0    125.4       (66.6)       463.8 
Tax expense (Note 6)                                                            (97.7) 
                                                                            ---------- 
Profit for the year                                                              366.1 
                                                                            ---------- 
 
Assets and liabilities 
Segment assets                               3,293.0    395.8            -     3,688.8 
Unallocated assets                                 -        -         45.0        45.0 
                                         -----------  -------  -----------  ---------- 
Total assets                                 3,293.0    395.8         45.0     3,733.8 
                                         -----------  -------  -----------  ---------- 
 
Segment liabilities                          (308.7)  (109.7)            -     (418.4) 
Unallocated liabilities                            -        -    (1,337.5)   (1,337.5) 
                                         -----------  -------  -----------  ---------- 
Total liabilities                            (308.7)  (109.7)    (1,337.5)   (1,755.9) 
                                         -----------  -------  -----------  ---------- 
 
Net assets                                   2,984.3    286.1    (1,292.5)     1,977.9 
                                         -----------  -------  -----------  ---------- 
 
Other segment information 
 
Share of profit from joint ventures              2.6        -            -         2.6 
Share of profit from associate                   0.8        -            -         0.8 
 
Investment in joint ventures and 
 associate                                      29.3      3.0            -        32.3 
 
Total property rent                            107.5    101.0          0.2       208.7 
 
Capital expenditure: 
Property, plant and equipment - 
 cash basis                                    451.1     67.4            -       518.5 
Property, plant and equipment - 
 accruals basis                                449.5     71.2            -       520.7 
Intangible assets                               22.7      4.4          0.2        27.3 
 
Depreciation - underlying                    (102.3)   (53.4)            -     (155.7) 
Amortisation - underlying                      (7.5)    (2.0)        (0.7)      (10.2) 
 
 
 Revenues from external customers           2015/16   2014/15 
  are split geographically as follows:         GBPm      GBPm 
---------------------------------------    --------  -------- 
 United Kingdom*                            2,822.4   2,519.8 
 Non United Kingdom                            99.4      88.3 
                                           --------  -------- 
                                            2,921.8   2,608.1 
 

* United Kingdom revenue is revenue where the source of the supply is the United Kingdom. This includes Costa franchise income invoiced from the UK.

 
 Non-current assets** are split         2016      2015 
  geographically as follows:            GBPm      GBPm 
--------------------------------    --------  -------- 
 United Kingdom                      3,973.1   3,477.1 
 Non United Kingdom                    163.2      89.0 
                                    --------  -------- 
                                     4,136.3   3,566.1 
 

** Non-current assets exclude derivative financial instruments

5. Exceptional items and non underlying adjustments

 
                                                    2015/16   2014/15 
                                                       GBPm      GBPm 
-------------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Exceptional items before tax and interest: 
 
  Operating costs 
    Net loss on disposal of property, 
     plant and equipment and property reversions 
     (a)                                             (20.9)     (3.3) 
    Intangible assets accelerated amortisation       (10.1)         - 
     (b) 
    Impairment of property, plant and 
     equipment                                        (7.7)     (5.2) 
    Impairment reversal                                 2.3       8.6 
  Exceptional operating costs                        (36.4)       0.1 
 
  Share of impairment in fixed assets 
   in joint venture (c)                                   -     (1.1) 
 
  Exceptional items before interest 
   and tax                                           (36.4)     (1.0) 
 
  Exceptional interest: 
  Interest on exceptional tax (d)                         -       1.6 
  Unwinding of discount rate on provisions 
   (e)                                                (0.7)     (0.8) 
                                                   --------  -------- 
                                                      (0.7)       0.8 
 
  Exceptional items before tax                       (37.1)     (0.2) 
                                                   --------  -------- 
 
 Non underlying adjustments made to 
  underlying profit before tax to arrive 
  at reported profit before tax: 
  Amortisation of acquired intangibles                (4.3)     (2.5) 
  IAS 19 income statement charge for 
   pension finance cost                              (17.2)    (21.6) 
                                                   --------  -------- 
                                                     (21.5)    (24.1) 
                                                   --------  -------- 
 
 Items included in reported profit before 
  tax, but excluded in arriving at underlying 
  profit before tax                                  (58.6)    (24.3) 
                                                   --------  -------- 
 
 
                                           2015/16   2014/15 
                                              GBPm      GBPm 
----------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Tax adjustments included in reported 
  profit after tax, but excluded from 
  underlying profit after tax: 
  Tax on exceptional items                   (1.5)       0.4 
  Exceptional tax items - tax base cost      (0.1)       2.0 
  Deferred tax relating to UK tax rate        13.0         - 
   change (f) 
  Tax on non underlying adjustments            4.3       4.8 
                                              15.7       7.2 
                                          --------  -------- 
 

(a) The Group is currently negotiating terms on a number of properties with onerous leases, which reverted to the Group in prior years under privity of contracts, and as a consequence has increased the provision by GBP14.7m to reflect those expected terms. The balance relates to other onerous leases in France of GBP1.4m and Poland of GBP0.8m and minor disposals in the year of GBP4.0m.

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(b) Following a review of IT software and technology assets during the year, additional amortisation of GBP10.1m has been recognised in the income statement in respect of systems for which there is now no future economic benefit.

(c) Share of impairment of fixed assets in the Gulf joint venture

(d) Interest calculated and settled on closure of prior tax periods

(e) The interest arising from the unwinding of the discount rate within provisions is included in exceptional interest, reflecting the exceptional nature of the provisions created.

(f) Impact of the reduction in the main rate of UK corporation tax to 19% from 1 April 2017 and to 18% from 1 April 2020.

6. Taxation

 
 
                                              2015/16     2014/15 
 Consolidated income statement                   GBPm        GBPm 
-----------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 Current tax: 
  Current tax expense                           116.1       110.3 
  Adjustments in respect of previous 
   periods                                      (8.0)       (6.2) 
                                           ----------  ---------- 
                                                108.1       104.1 
 Deferred tax: 
  Origination and reversal of temporary 
   differences                                  (2.9)       (6.3) 
  Adjustments in respect of previous 
   periods                                        8.2       (0.1) 
  Change in UK tax rate to 18%                 (13.0)           - 
                                                (7.7)       (6.4) 
                                           ----------  ---------- 
 Tax reported in the consolidated income 
  statement                                     100.4        97.7 
                                           ----------  ---------- 
 
 
 Consolidated statement of comprehensive     2015/16   2014/15 
  income                                        GBPm      GBPm 
------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Current tax: 
  Cash flow hedges                               0.9         - 
  Pensions                                    (14.7)    (15.4) 
 Deferred tax: 
  Cash flow hedges                               0.4     (0.6) 
  Pensions                                      55.4     (0.8) 
  Change in UK tax rate to 18% - pensions        0.7         - 
  Change in UK tax rate to 18% - cash 
   flow hedges                                   0.1         - 
                                            --------  -------- 
 Tax reported in other comprehensive 
  income                                        42.8    (16.8) 
                                            --------  -------- 
 

A reconciliation of the tax charge applicable to underlying profit before tax and profit before tax at the statutory tax rate, to the actual tax charge at the Group's effective tax rate, for the years ended 3 March 2016 and 26 February 2015 respectively is as follows:

 
 
                                            2015/16                 2014/15 
--------------------------------- 
                                         Tax on                  Tax on 
                                     underlying    Tax on    underlying          Tax 
                                         profit    profit        profit    on profit 
                                           GBPm      GBPm          GBPm         GBPm 
---------------------------------  ------------  --------  ------------  ----------- 
 Profit before tax as reported 
  in the consolidated income 
  statement                               546.3     487.7         488.1        463.8 
 
 Tax at current UK tax rate 
  of 20.08% (2014/15: 21.17%)             109.7      98.0         103.3         98.2 
 Effect of different tax rates 
  and unrecognised losses in 
  overseas companies                        3.5       5.1           4.6          5.2 
 Effect of joint ventures and 
  associate                               (0.9)     (0.9)         (1.0)        (0.8) 
 Expenditure not allowable                  4.0      11.0           2.0          1.4 
 Adjustments to current tax 
  expense in respect of previous 
  years                                   (8.0)     (8.0)         (4.5)        (6.2) 
 Adjustments to deferred tax 
  expense in respect of previous 
  years                                     7.8       8.2           0.5        (0.1) 
 Impact of change of tax rate 
  on deferred tax balance                     -    (13.0)             -            - 
                                   ------------  --------  ------------  ----------- 
 Tax expense reported in the 
  consolidated income statement           116.1     100.4         104.9         97.7 
                                   ------------  --------  ------------  ----------- 
 
 

Current tax liability

The corporation tax balance is a liability of GBP41.2m (2015: liability of GBP35.4m).

Deferred tax

Deferred tax relates to the following:

 
                                                Consolidated         Consolidated 
                                                balance sheet       income statement 
                                  ----------------------------  --------------------- 
                                           2016           2015     2015/16    2014/15 
                                           GBPm           GBPm        GBPm       GBPm 
--------------------------------  -------------  -------------  ----------  --------- 
 Deferred tax liabilities 
 Accelerated capital allowances            48.7           52.0       (3.3)      (0.3) 
 Rolled over gains and property 
  revaluations                             73.3           82.6       (8.0)      (3.3) 
                                  -------------  ------------- 
 Gross deferred tax liabilities           122.0          134.6 
 
 Deferred tax assets 
 Pensions                                (28.7)         (82.6)       (2.2)      (3.1) 
 Other                                      1.4          (8.3)         5.8        0.3 
                                  -------------  ------------- 
 Gross deferred tax assets               (27.3)         (90.9) 
                                                                ----------  --------- 
 Deferred tax expense                                                (7.7)      (6.4) 
                                  -------------  -------------  ----------  --------- 
 Net deferred tax liability                94.7           43.7 
                                  -------------  ------------- 
 

Total deferred tax liabilities relating to disposals during the year was GBPnil (2015: GBPnil).

The Group has incurred overseas tax losses which, subject to any local restrictions, can be carried forward and offset against future taxable profits in the companies in which they arose. The Group carries out an annual assessment of the recoverability of these losses and does not think it appropriate at this stage to recognise any deferred tax asset. If the Group were to recognise these deferred tax assets in their entirety, profits would increase by GBP10.7m (2015: GBP10.0m), of which, the share attributable to the parent shareholders is GBP8.9m (2015: GBP7.8m).

At 3 March 2016, there was no recognised deferred tax liability (2015: GBPnil) for taxes that would be payable on any unremitted earnings, as all such amounts are permanently reinvested or, where they are not, there are no corporation tax consequences of such companies paying dividends to parent companies.

Tax relief on total interest capitalised amounts to GBP2.0m (2015: GBP0.8m).

Factors affecting the tax charge for future years

The Finance (No 2) Act 2015 reduced the main rate of UK corporation tax to 19% from 1 April 2017 and to 18% from 1 April 2020. The effect of the new rate is a reduction of the deferred tax liability by a net GBP13.5m, comprising a credit of GBP13.0m to the income statement, a charge of GBP0.8m to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, and a reserves movement of GBP1.3m. In his Budget of 16 March 2016, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced an additional 1% reduction in the main rate of UK corporation tax to 17% with effect from 1 April 2020. This change had not been substantively enacted at the balance sheet date and consequently is not included in these financial statements. The effect of the proposed reduction would be to reduce the net deferred tax liability by GBP6.9m. The rate changes will also impact the amount of the future cash tax payments to be made by the Group.

7. Earnings per share

The basic earnings per share figures (EPS) are calculated by dividing the net profit for the year attributable to ordinary shareholders, therefore before non-controlling interests, by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year after deducting treasury shares and shares held by an independently managed employee share ownership trust (ESOT).

The diluted earnings per share figures allow for the dilutive effect of the conversion into ordinary shares of the weighted average number of options outstanding during the year. Where the average share price for the year is lower than the option price the options become anti-dilutive and are excluded from the calculation. The number of such options was nil (2015: nil).

The numbers of shares used for the earnings per share calculations are as follows:

 
                                               2015/16    2014/15 
                                               million    million 
-------------------------------------------  ---------  --------- 
 Basic weighted average number of ordinary 
  shares                                         181.4      180.7 
 Effect of dilution - share options                1.4        1.8 
                                             ---------  --------- 
 Diluted weighted average number of 
  ordinary shares                                182.8      182.5 
                                             ---------  --------- 
 

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The total number of shares in issue at the year-end, as used in the calculation of the basic weighted average number of ordinary shares, was 195.2m, less 12.6m treasury shares held by Whitbread PLC and 0.9m held by the ESOT (2015: 195.0m, less 13.3m treasury shares held by Whitbread PLC and 0.6m held by the ESOT).

The profits used for the earnings per share calculations are as follows:

 
                                                2015/16   2014/15 
                                                   GBPm      GBPm 
 Profit for the year attributable to 
  parent shareholders                             391.2     370.1 
 Exceptional items and non underlying 
  adjustments - gross                              58.6      24.3 
 Exceptional items and non underlying 
  adjustments - taxation                         (15.7)     (7.2) 
 Exceptional items and non underlying 
  adjustments - non-controlling interest          (1.2)     (1.1) 
                                               --------  -------- 
 Underlying profit for the year attributable 
  to parent shareholders                          432.9     386.1 
 
 
                                            2015/16   2014/15 
                                              pence     pence 
 Basic on profit for the year                215.66    204.81 
 Exceptional items and non underlying 
  adjustments - gross                         32.30     13.45 
 Exceptional items and non underlying 
  adjustments - taxation                     (8.65)    (3.98) 
 Exceptional items and non underlying 
  adjustments - non-controlling interest     (0.66)    (0.61) 
                                           --------  -------- 
 Basic on underlying profit for the 
  year                                       238.65    213.67 
 
 Diluted on profit for the year              214.00    202.79 
 Diluted on underlying profit for the 
  year                                       236.82    211.56 
 

8. Dividends paid and proposed

 
                                               2015/16        2014/15 
                                             Pence          Pence 
                                               per            per 
                                             share   GBPm   share   GBPm 
------------------------------------------  ------  -----  ------  ----- 
Final dividend relating to the 
 prior year                                  56.95  103.4   47.00   85.1 
Paid in the year                                    103.4           85.1 
 
Interim dividend for the current 
 year                                        28.50   51.7   25.20   45.5 
Paid in the year                                     51.7           45.5 
 
Total equity dividends paid in 
 the year                                           155.1          130.6 
 
Dividends on other shares: 
            B share dividend                  0.80      -    0.70      - 
            C share dividend                  0.80      -    0.70      - 
                                                    -----          ----- 
                                                        -              - 
 
Total dividends paid                                155.1          130.6 
 
Proposed for approval at Annual 
 General Meeting: 
    Final equity dividend for the current 
     year                                    61.85  112.4   56.95  103.1 
 

9. Movements in cash and net debt

 
 
 
                                                                                    Fair 
                                                                                   value     Amortisation 
Year ended 3 March         26 February            Cost     Cash    Foreign   adjustments      of premiums      3 March 
 2016                             2015   of borrowings     flow   exchange      to loans    and discounts         2016 
                                  GBPm            GBPm     GBPm       GBPm          GBPm             GBPm         GBPm 
-------------------------  -----------  --------------  -------  ---------  ------------  ---------------  ----------- 
 
Cash at bank and 
 in hand                           1.9                                                                            57.0 
Short-term deposits                0.2                                                                             0.1 
Overdrafts                           -                                                                               - 
                           -----------                                                                     ----------- 
Cash and cash equivalents          2.1               -     54.4        0.6             -                -         57.1 
 
Short-term bank 
 borrowings                     (71.2)               -   (20.8)          -             -                -       (92.0) 
Loan capital under 
 one year                        (1.9)                                                                           (2.0) 
Loan capital over 
 one year                      (512.2)                                                                         (872.9) 
                           -----------                                                                     ----------- 
Total loan capital             (514.1)             3.6  (343.3)     (14.1)         (5.1)            (1.9)      (874.9) 
                           -----------  --------------  -------  ---------  ------------  ---------------  ----------- 
Net debt                       (583.2)             3.6  (309.7)     (13.5)         (5.1)            (1.9)      (909.8) 
                           -----------  --------------  -------  ---------  ------------  ---------------  ----------- 
 
 
 
                                                                                    Fair 
                                                                                   value     Amortisation 
Year ended 26 February     27 February            Cost     Cash    Foreign   adjustments      of premiums  26 February 
 2015                             2014   of borrowings     flow   exchange      to loans    and discounts         2015 
                                  GBPm            GBPm     GBPm       GBPm          GBPm             GBPm         GBPm 
-------------------------  -----------  --------------  -------  ---------  ------------  ---------------  ----------- 
 
Cash at bank and 
 in hand                          41.3                                                                             1.9 
Short-term deposits                0.1                                                                             0.2 
Overdrafts                           -                                                                               - 
                           -----------                                                                     ----------- 
Cash and cash equivalents         41.4               -   (38.5)      (0.8)             -                -          2.1 
 
Short-term bank 
 borrowings                          -               -   (71.2)          -             -                -       (71.2) 
Loan capital under 
 one year                            -                                                                           (1.9) 
Loan capital over 
 one year                      (433.0)                                                                         (512.2) 
                           -----------                                                                     ----------- 
Total loan capital             (433.0)             0.4   (63.9)     (12.3)         (3.9)            (1.4)      (514.1) 
                           -----------  --------------  -------  ---------  ------------  ---------------  ----------- 
Net debt                       (391.6)             0.4  (173.6)     (13.1)         (3.9)            (1.4)      (583.2) 
                           -----------  --------------  -------  ---------  ------------  ---------------  ----------- 
 

Net debt includes US$ denominated loan notes of US$325.0m (2015: US$325.0m) retranslated to GBP233.8m (2015: GBP214.6m). These notes have been hedged using cross-currency swaps. At maturity, GBP208.3m (2015: GBP208.3m) will be repaid taking into account the cross-currency swaps. If the impact of these hedges is taken into account, reported net debt would be GBP884.3m (2015: GBP576.9m).

10. Events after the balance sheet date

A final dividend of 61.85p per share (2015: 56.95p) amounting to a dividend of GBP112.4m (2015: GBP103.1m) was recommended by the directors at their meeting on 25 April 2016. A dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP) alternative will be offered. These financial statements do not reflect this dividend payable.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

FR AKPDQDBKBDQB

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 26, 2016 02:01 ET (06:01 GMT)

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