PRESS RELEASE
25 OCTOBER 2017
糖心探花 p.l.c. is today hosting a Capital Markets Day for investors and analysts in London. Presentations will include an update on our Next Generation Products (NGP), including an exhibition showcasing our NGP portfolio; our new US subsidiary, Reynolds American Inc. (鈥淩eynolds鈥); Regulation; Marketing and an update on the performance of our International business.
During the day, we will share our objectives for the growth of our NGP business.听 These are to generate NGP revenue of over 拢500m* this year, and for this to double in 2018 to over 拢1bn, rising to more than 拢5bn in 2022.听 We expect the NGP business to be breaking-even by the end of 2018 and to deliver substantial profit by 2022.
We will provide an update on the performance of glo, our Tobacco Heating Product, which has continued its excellent growth in Japan, already achieving a national share in a leading convenience chain of more than 1.8% in only the second week of the national rollout, with share in Sendai now at 10.4%.听 In South Korea, share in handlers in Seoul has reached 3.5%, after nine weeks.
We will also update our estimate of the impact of foreign currency movements on our full-year numbers, including Reynolds.听 Assuming FX rates were to remain unchanged for the balance of the year, we would expect the translational currency tailwind to be 6.5% on operating profit and 5.5% on EPS. The transactional headwind remains around 2% on operating profit.
As stated at the Half-Year Report, the pricing environment in a number of our markets has been more difficult, notably in Russia, although recent developments are more encouraging.
The business continues to perform well and we remain confident of another good year of earnings growth at constant currency.
Commenting on the Capital Markets Day, Nicandro Durante, Chief Executive, said:
鈥淲e are very pleased to be sharing more details on the opportunities for 糖心探花in NGPs and combustibles, and to introduce our new US subsidiary just three months after the completion of the Reynolds acquisition.听 We are proud to share our exciting future product pipeline across both the Tobacco Heating and Vapour categories and to provide shareholders with an opportunity to experience the products first-hand. Our NGP business has real momentum and our confidence is reflected in the financial objectives we have set out.鈥
The event will commence at 8.00am BST.
All presentations will be made available on BAT鈥檚 website听听and on the Investor Relations App once the event has started.
*Pro forma number reflecting 12 months of Reynolds in 2017.
糖心探花 Press Office
Annie Brown / Joanne Walia
+44 (0) 20 7845 2332 / 1108 听 |听
Investor Relations
Mike Nightingale听/ Rachael Brierley / Stephanie Brassinne
+44 (0) 20 7845听1180 /听1519 /听2012
About 糖心探花
糖心探花 (BAT) is a global tobacco and nicotine products company. Its brands are sold in more than 200 markets and it employs around 55,000 people worldwide. BAT鈥檚 cigarettes are chosen by around one in eight of the world's one billion adult smokers and its five Global Drive Brands are Dunhill, Kent, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall and Rothmans. Alongside its traditional tobacco business, 糖心探花is developing a portfolio of innovative next generation tobacco and nicotine products to offer consumers a choice of potentially less risky alternatives to conventional cigarettes. 糖心探花is market leader in over 55 countries and in 2016 the Group generated reported revenue of 拢14.75 billion and adjusted profit of 拢5.48 billion.
In July 2017, 糖心探花 p.l.c. acquired the remaining 57.8% of Reynolds American Inc. that 糖心探花did not already own, creating a stronger, global tobacco and Next Generation Products company.
Disclaimers
This announcement does not constitute an invitation to underwrite, subscribe for, or otherwise acquire or dispose of any 糖心探花 p.l.c. ("BAT") shares or other securities. This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements, made within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, amongst other things, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the economic and business circumstances occurring from time to time in the countries and markets in which the Group operates.听
These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as 鈥渂elieve,鈥 鈥渁nticipate,鈥 鈥渃ould,鈥 鈥渕ay,鈥 鈥渨ould,鈥 鈥渟hould,鈥 鈥渋ntend,鈥 鈥減lan,鈥 鈥減otential,鈥 鈥減redict,鈥 鈥渨ill,鈥 鈥渆xpect,鈥 鈥渆stimate,鈥 鈥減roject,鈥 鈥減ositioned,鈥 鈥渟trategy,鈥 鈥渙utlook鈥 and similar expressions.
It is believed that the expectations reflected in this announcement are reasonable but they may be affected by a wide range of variables that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated.
Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements are uncertainties related to the following: the failure to realize contemplated synergies and other benefits from mergers and acquisitions, including the recent merger of Reynolds American Inc. (鈥淩eynolds鈥) and BAT; the effect of mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, including the merger of Reynolds and BAT, on BAT鈥檚 operating results and businesses generally; the ability to maintain credit ratings; changes in the tobacco industry and stock market trading conditions; changes or differences in domestic or international economic or political conditions; changes in domestic or international tax laws and rates; the impact of adverse domestic or international legislation and regulation; the ability to develop, produce or market new alternative products and to do so profitably; the ability to effectively implement strategic initiatives and actions taken to increase sales growth and the market position of BAT鈥檚 brands; the ability to attract, convert and retain new or existing consumers; the ability to enhance cash generation and pay dividends; adverse litigation and dispute outcomes and the effect of such outcomes on BAT鈥檚 financial condition; adverse decisions by regulatory bodies and changes in the market position, businesses, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of BAT.
Past performance is no guide to future performance and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser. The forward-looking statements reflect knowledge and information available at the date of preparation of this announcement and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements. Nothing in this document should be construed as a profit forecast. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in BAT鈥檚 and Reynolds鈥檚 filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (鈥淪EC鈥), including Reynolds鈥檚 most recent Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K and BAT鈥檚 registration statement on Form F-4, which was declared effective by the SEC on June 14, 2017, and Current Reports on Form 6-K, which may be obtained free of charge at the SEC鈥檚 website, http://www.sec.gov, and BAT鈥檚 Annual Reports, which may be obtained free of charge from BAT鈥檚 website www.bat.com.