PRESS RELEASE
28 FEBRUARY 2019
Key financials
听 | 2018 Current rates |
2018 Constant rates |
Change vs 2017 Current rates |
Change vs 2017 Constant rates |
---|---|---|---|---|
Revenue | 拢24,492尘 | - | +25.2% | - |
Profit from operations | 拢9,313尘 | - | +45.2% | - |
Basic earnings per share (EPS) | 264.0p | - | -85.6% | - |
Diluted EPS | 263.2p | - | -85.6% | - |
Net cash generated from operating activities | 拢10,295尘 | - | +92.5% | - |
Borrowings | 拢47,509尘 | - | -3.9% | - |
Dividend per share | 203.0p | - | +4.0% | - |
Non-GAAP: | ||||
Adjusted revenue on a representative basis* | 拢24,312尘 | 拢25,760尘 | -2.3% | +3.5% |
Adjusted profit from operations on a representative basis* | 拢10,347尘 | 拢10,924尘 | -1.5% | +4.0% |
Adjusted diluted EPS | 296.7p | 315.5p | +5.2% | +11.8% |
Adjusted cash generated from operations | 拢8,071尘 | 拢8,476尘 | +146% | +158% |
Adjusted net debt | 拢43,407尘 | - | -2.7% | - |
The use of non-GAAP measures, including adjusting items and constant currencies, are further discussed on pages 45 to 46 of the full announcement, with reconciliations from the most comparable IFRS measure provided.
* Representative basis 鈥 see page 3 of the full announcement听for explanation of this metric. All variances above are against equivalent 2017 information for the year ended 31 December 2017, revised for the impact of IFRS 15.
鈥溙切奶交╬erformed well in 2018, exceeding our target of high single figure adjusted constant currency EPS growth, whilst continuing to invest in long-term sustainable returns. The full year effect of the RAI acquisition and a translational foreign exchange headwind of approximately 6% (on revenue and profit from operations) and 7% (on EPS) distorted the Group鈥檚 results. On an adjusted, constant currency, representative basis, this was a strong performance across the business, with:
We recognise that the proposed potential regulatory changes in the US have created some investor uncertainty.听 We have a long experience of managing regulatory developments, a track record of delivering strong growth while investing for the future and an established multi-category approach. I am confident that my successor, Jack Bowles, will continue to deliver a similar level of sustainable long-term returns as we accelerate our Transforming Tobacco agenda. Looking into 2019 we are confident of another year of high single figure adjusted constant currency earnings growth and this confidence is reflected in our Board鈥檚 proposal to increase the dividend by 4%鈥.
听
The decision by the Quebec Court of Appeal, with regards to the 2015 award of CAD$15.6 billion (approximately 拢9 billion) against a Group subsidiary (Imperial Tobacco Canada 鈥 ITCAN) and others, of which ITCAN鈥檚 share was CAD$10.4 billion (approximately 拢6 billion) in relation to the Quebec Class Action is due to be released on 1 March 2019. See pages 19 and 42 of the full announcement for additional details.
1 - Key Market offtake share, as independently measured by retail audit agencies (including Nielsen), shipment share estimates, and share of retail for the US business, based upon latest available validated data.
2 - The Group鈥檚 Key Markets represent over 80% of the Group鈥檚 cigarette volume.
3听- For the purposes of assessing the Group鈥檚 ability to service its borrowings, the Group provides the ratio of adjusted net debt to adjusted EBITDA calculation. Adjusted net debt is net debt excluding the impact of the purchase price allocation adjustments (2018: 拢944 million, 2017: 拢947 million).
* Source: Internal estimates
Forward looking statements
This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements, including 鈥渇orward-looking鈥 statements made within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 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, 鈥渢arget鈥 and similar expressions. These include statements 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. In particular, among other statements: (i) certain statements in the Regional Review section (pages 9 to 12 of the full announcement); (ii) certain statements in the Borrowings and Adjusted Net Debt section (pages 15 to 17 of the full announcement); (iii) certain statements in the Notes to the Financial Statements section (pages 29 to 42 of the full announcement), including the Liquidity and Contingent Liabilities and Financial Commitments sections; (iv) certain statements in the Other Information section (pages 43 to 51 of the full announcement), including the Non-GAAP Measures section; and (v) certain statements in the Chief Executive introduction (page 1 of the full announcement).
All such forward-looking statements involve estimates and assumptions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual future financial condition, performance and results to differ materially from the plans, goals, expectations and results expressed in the forward-looking statements and other financial and/or statistical data within this announcement. 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 impact of competition from illicit trade; the impact of adverse domestic or international legislation and regulation; changes in domestic or international tax laws and rates; adverse litigation and dispute outcomes and the effect of such outcomes on the Group鈥檚 financial condition; changes or differences in domestic or international economic or political conditions; adverse decisions by domestic or international regulatory bodies; the impact of market size reduction and consumer down-trading; translational and transactional foreign exchange rate exposure; the impact of serious injury, illness or death in the workplace; the ability to maintain credit ratings and to fund the business under the current capital structure; the inability to develop, commercialise and roll-out Potentially Reduced-Risk Products; and changes in the market position, businesses, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the Group.
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. 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 Group undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
No statement in this communication is intended to be a profit forecast and no statement in this communication should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share of 糖心探花for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per share of BAT.
Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in the Company鈥檚 filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (鈥淪EC鈥), including the Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on 15 March 2018 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 the Company鈥檚 Annual Reports, which may be obtained free of charge from the 糖心探花 website www.bat.com.
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