6th Jun 2013 11:44
For Immediate Release
6 June 2013
Booker Group plc ('Booker' or 'the Group')
Annual Report and Accounts
Notice of Annual General Meeting
Booker Group plc has today issued to its shareholders, its Annual Report and Accounts for the Group for the 52 week period ended 29 March 2013, along with Notice of Annual General Meeting ('AGM') and associated proxy forms to shareholders. The AGM will be held at Booker Branch Wimbledon, Endeavour Way, Durnsley Road, London SW19 8PL on 10 July 2013 at 11 a.m.
Copies of the Notice of AGM and the Annual Report and Accounts for the Group for the 52 week period ended 29 March 2013 (the "Annual Report and Accounts") are available on its website www.bookergroup.com.
Copies of these documents have been submitted to the National Storage Mechanism and they will shortly be available for inspection at http://www.hemscott.com/nsm.do
The Group announced its preliminary results for the 52 weeks ended 29 March 2013 on 23 May 2013. The Group today provides the following additional regulated information, in relation to the Annual Report and Accounts, in full unedited text as required to be made public under the Disclosure and Transparency Rules. This announcement should be read together with the preliminary results announcement.
A condensed set of financial statements were attached to the Group's preliminary results announcement which included an indication of important events that occurred during the year. The Annual Report and Accounts also contains information regarding the Group's principal risks and uncertainties, related party transactions and a responsibility statement relating to its content; an extract of this information is provided below as is required under the Disclosure and Transparency Rules.
Risks and Uncertainties
The list below sets out the most significant risks to the achievement of the Group's business goals. The list does not include all risks that the Group faces and it does not list the risks in any order of priority.
Economic environment
The economy is expected to remain difficult in the year ahead with the public reducing their levels of discretionary spend. Customers will seek to obtain "best" value from products and the Group aims to provide a wide range of products that meet this requirement.
Competition
The industry is extremely competitive with the market being served by numerous competitors, ranging from national multiple retailers to regional independent wholesalers. The Group competes by closely monitoring the activities of competitors and ensuring it continues to improve the choice, price and service to its customers.
Regulation
The Group operates in an environment governed by strict regulations to ensure the safety and protection of customers, shareholders, staff and other stakeholders and the operation of an open and competitive market. These regulations include food hygiene, health and safety, data protection, the rules of the London Stock Exchange and competition law. In all cases, the Board takes its responsibilities very seriously, and recognises that any breach of regulation could cause reputational and financial damage to the Group.
Product quality and safety
The quality and safety of our products is of critical importance and any failure in this regard would affect the confidence of our customers in us. We work with our suppliers to ensure the integrity of the products supplied. Food hygiene practices are taken very seriously throughout the Group, and are monitored both through internal audit procedures and by external bodies such as environmental health departments. We have well prepared procedures for crisis management in order to act quickly when required. We are aware that if we fail or are perceived to have failed, to deliver to our customers' satisfaction the expected standards of quality and safety in our products their loyalty to us could be impacted. This in turn could adversely impact on our market share and our financial results.
Employee engagement and retention
The continued success of the Group relies heavily on the investment in the training and development of our employees. The Group's employment policies, remuneration and benefits packages are designed to be competitive, as well as providing colleagues with fulfilling career opportunities. The Group continually engages with colleagues across the business to ensure that we keep strengthening our team at every level.
Supplier credit
Availability of supplier credit is essential for the Group's financial performance. Any reduction in the availability of supplier credit could adversely impact the Group. The Group regularly meets key credit insurers to ensure that they have an up to date view of the Group's financial position.
Financial and treasury
The Group's financial results may be subject to volatility arising from movements in commodity prices, foreign currencies, interest rates and the availability of sources of funding.
Pensions
The Group operates a closed defined benefit scheme, where judgements are required to determine the assumptions for investment returns, future salary and pension increases, member longevity and discount rate. There is a risk of underestimating this liability. The risk is mitigated by agreeing appropriate investment policies with the Trustee and closely monitoring the funding position with the Trustee. Both the Company and the Trustee take advice from independent qualified actuaries.
Information technology (IT)
The Group is exposed to the risk that the IT systems upon which it relies fail. The Group has appropriate controls in place to mitigate the risk of systems failure, including systems back up procedures and disaster recovery plans, and also has appropriate virus protection and network security controls.
Related party transactions
During the year, there were no transactions or balances between the Group and its key management personnel or members of their close family apart from:
§ the Group purchases stock from Molson Coors Brewing Co (UK) Ltd - Karan Bilimoria is the Chairman of the Cobra Beer Partnership Ltd, a joint venture with Molson Coors Brewing Co (UK) Ltd;
§ the Group purchases stock from C&C Group plc, of which Stewart Gilliland is a Non-Executive Director;
§ the Group purchases stock from Boparan Holdings Ltd, of which Andrew Cripps is a Non-Executive Director; and
§ the Group sells stock to Food & Fuel Ltd, of which Karen Jones is the Chairman.
All transactions with related parties involve the normal supply of goods and are priced on an arm's length basis.
Makro is a related party, on the basis that it is not consolidated at the period end. At the period end, Makro was owed £5.6m (shown within Trade and other payables) from the Group which comprises:
§ £8.8m of cash advanced from Makro; and
§ £3.2m of competition fees recharged to Makro
Directors' responsibility statement
The directors, as at the date of the Annual Report and Accounts, confirm that to the best of their knowledge:
§ the group and parent company financial statements, prepared in accordance with the applicable set of accounting standards, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole; and
§ the Directors' Report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the issuer and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face.
For more information contact:
Tulchan Communications (PR Adviser to Booker Group plc)
020 7353 4200
Susanna Voyle
Related Shares:
Booker Group