22nd May 2007 07:03
Mitchells & Butlers PLC22 May 2007 22 May 2007 MITCHELLS & BUTLERS PLC INTERIM RESULTS (For the 28 weeks ended 14 April 2007) FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS HY 2007 HY 2006 Growth £m £m ------------------------- --------- --------- ---------Revenue 995 887 12.2%------------------------- --------- --------- ---------EBITDA 230 207 11.1%------------------------- --------- --------- ---------Operating Profit 161 143 12.6%------------------------- --------- --------- ---------Profit before tax 89 91 (2.2)%------------------------- --------- --------- ---------Earnings per share before exceptionals 14.8p 12.8p 15.6%------------------------- --------- --------- ---------Earnings per share after exceptionals 17.4p 13.6p 27.9%------------------------- --------- --------- ---------Interim dividend 4.25p 3.65p 16.4%------------------------- --------- --------- ---------Note: EBITDA, operating profit and profit before tax are all stated beforeexceptional items BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS - Good sales growth: same outlet like-for-like sales up 3.6% for 32 weeks to 12 May 2007(1)- Average weekly sales per managed pub up 7.6% to £18.3k- Strong market share gains: same outlet food sales up 5.5%(2), drink up 3.2%(2)- Integration of Acquired Sites(3) on track: over half (126) converted with initial sales uplifts already above 25%- Net retail operating margin excluding Acquired Sites(3) up by 1.1 percentage points to 17.2%- Actively exploring 50:50 joint venture on majority of property assets (1) Includes entire Easter trading in both periods being compared (2) 32 weeks to 12 May 2007 (3) The "Acquired Sites" are the 239 pub restaurant sites acquired from Whitbread plc on 21 July 2006. Commenting on the results, Tim Clarke, Chief Executive said: "These strong results, with EPS up 15.6%, reflect our leadership position in thegrowing eating-out market and significant gains in our drinks market share. Ouraverage weekly sales per managed pub are up by 7.6%, with a strong underlyingmargin performance. We are now serving almost 100 million meals a year. We aresuccessfully converting the pubs purchased from Whitbread last year and are wellon track to deliver the targets set out at the time of the acquisition. Weremain confident in our future growth prospects." DIVIDENDS In line with our commitment to progressive growth in dividends, an interimdividend of 4.25p per share, an increase of 16.4%, will be paid on 29 June 2007to shareholders on the register on 1 June 2007. A special dividend of £1 per share (£486m) was paid to shareholders at thebeginning of this financial year on 25 October 2006 following the refinancingcompleted on 15 September 2006. This was accompanied by a 34 for 41 shareconsolidation to enable continuing share price comparability. CURRENT TRADING Revenue in the sixteen weeks, since the AGM trading statement to 12 May 2007,has shown good growth with same outlet like-for-like sales 3.2% ahead of lastyear, 1.9% ahead on an uninvested basis. Overall trading is in line with theBoard's expectations. 16 weeks to 12 May 2007* 32 weeks to 12 May 2007*Same outlet like-for-like sales Residential 3.7% 4.1%High Street 3.1% 2.9%Total** 3.2% 3.6% Uninvested like-for-like sales Residential 2.1% 2.3%High Street 2.3% 2.2%Total** 1.9% 2.1%* Includes entire Easter period in both years being compared and excludes theAcquired Sites** Includes Hollywood Bowl Our estate in the residential areas accounting for 75% of managed pub sales,continues to generate strong growth with same outlet like-for-like sales up 4.1%for the 32 weeks to 12 May. Within this, our Locals pubs have performed verystrongly, especially in food, which together with our high levels of amenity andgood value for money are attracting a wider customer base and sizeable drinksmarket share gains. Our pub restaurants have continued to grow like-for-likesales, albeit at a slower rate than last year, partly reflecting signs that thesuccessive rises in interest rates have been having some effect on the spendingpatterns of mid-market consumers, as well as some increased competition in thepub food market ahead of the smoking ban. In the High Street segment, accounting for 25% of sales, same outletlike-for-like sales growth has strengthened with an increase of 2.9% for the 32weeks to 12 May. This has been driven by buoyant trading in central London and astrong performance by our Town Pubs and Bars outside London, particularly infood, whilst trading in our late night venues has also seen a good recovery withpositive same outlet like-for-like sales growth since Christmas. Further strong efficiency gains are being generated and productivity, measuredby staff contribution per hour, is up by 4.6%. On the purchasing front, theincrease in the cost of goods index has been held to 1%, significantly belowinflation and further process efficiencies have been made in the overhead. Allof these factors have contributed to the strong uplift in net operating marginwhich is up 1.1 percentage points to 17.2%, excluding the Acquired Sites. PROGRESS ON ACQUIRED SITES We have made excellent progress with our conversion of the 239 Acquired Sites.We currently have over half the estate converted, with 126 pubs reopened andoperating under our formats. Initial sales uplifts are already above 25%, withfurther subsequent sales build-ups expected over the next two years. We arecurrently on site with a further 23 projects. The sales and operating profitcontribution from the Acquired Sites for the first half were £87m and £4mrespectively, net of closure and pre-opening costs of £10m. With a further £5m of closure and pre-opening costs expected in the second half,the acquisition will, as stated at the time, be marginally dilutive to earningsin the current financial year. Our success to date in converting the sitesunderpins our confidence in the value creation from this acquisition. PREPARATIONS FOR SMOKING BAN In Scotland, which represents 5% of the estate, our experience of over a year ofthe smoking ban has shown that large, high quality pubs, with the ability toserve good quality meals at high volumes with attractive prices, can benefitfrom the ban. Our same outlet like-for-like sales to 12 May 2007 are cumulatively ahead sincethe ban by 1.8%, with food up 7.4% and drinks down 0.4%. We have seen a markedupturn in trading since the winter months with like-for-like sales up 3.2% inthe last 16 weeks. In Wales, which represents 4% of the estate, it is too early to draw any firmconclusions, however the first seven weeks of the ban have seen like-for-likesales growth of 2.5%, a modest slowdown on the previous trend. We continue to prepare our businesses in England for the ban on 1 July byenhancing their food, soft drinks and coffee offers, improving amenity levelsand providing high quality external areas. In those uninvested pubs where we arenow non-smoking, there have been very limited adverse effects. In total we nowhave over 340 non-smoking sites in England, including recent conversions,representing almost 20% of the estate. Overall we aim both to attract new usersand retain existing customers. We believe we are well placed to minimise any first year slow-down in salesgrowth post the ban and, thereafter, believe the ban will accelerate the mediumterm growth prospects of the business. RELEASING ADDITIONAL VALUE FROM THE ESTATE The Board has undertaken a thorough review of the options available to createadditional value from our property portfolio. Three core beliefs, have shapedour decision making process: •enduring shareholder reward is our corporate priority, delivered through day to day operational excellence, combined with a pragmatic harvesting of favourable debt and property market conditions when appropriate; •property ownership and freehold appreciation is an intrinsic part of our integrated business model providing the firm foundations on which to deliver attractive returns and operational stability in both the short and longer term; and •the business model should provide continued incentive to invest in consumer amenity in order to preserve competitive advantage and generate sustainable profit growth with capital appreciation. We have taken expert advice on the market rent that all our existing freeholdand long leasehold properties could support on a typical lease, which would beapproximately £270m per annum. In this context we have rigorously tested a variety of options, ranging frompreservation of the status quo to full separation, all against three criteria: •the quantum of the value potential against the existing share price, taking into account the costs of execution; •the certainty of achieving that value in the short term; and •the sustainability of the new business model and the scope to create yet more value for shareholders in the future. The Board is clear that the market for REITs is as yet insufficiently developedto provide shareholders with certainty of material and sustainable valueenhancement by adopting such a structure today. We will continue to review thisposition over time with shareholder value remaining at the top of our agenda. We have concluded therefore, that the most appropriate solution lies in securingvalue for up to 50 percent of our property interests through a partnershipstructure. This would crystallise a substantial proportion of our property valueon historically attractive yields, whilst enabling us to preserve the integrityof the existing, proven business model. To that end we have conducted a wide-ranging and competitive process with anumber of major UK property companies and private investors in pursuit of themost favourable terms for shareholders. As announced on 21 May, we are exploringthe possibility of a 50:50 joint venture covering the majority of our propertyassets with R20, the investment vehicle of Robert Tchenguiz, which has emergedas the most competitive bidder at this time. There can be no certainty that anytransaction will be forthcoming, with significant work still required before asuccessful conclusion can be reached. A further announcement will be made in duecourse as appropriate. OUTLOOK Mitchells & Butlers is generating accelerated drinks market share gains and hasbuilt the leading position in the eating-out market. Our value and volumemarketing strategy leaves us competitively well placed to withstand the impactof the successive rises in interest rates and the inflationary pressures onconsumer spending. The breadth of our estate and format portfolio is a key advantage. Oursubstantial presence in local pubs generating rapid food sales growth and inpremium formats trading strongly in Central London and other affluent,economically buoyant areas is largely offsetting the current slowdown in ourmore mid-market pub restaurant formats. Our development of enhanced food offers and investment in high amenity standardswill enable us to take advantage of the opportunities arising from the smokingban to attract new users as well as retain existing customers. Our rapid progress in the conversion of the Acquired Sites is incurringsignificant closure and pre-opening costs estimated at £15m this year, but willlead to a good profits advance from these sites next year. We also expect tocontinue to generate high returns from our large pipeline of investments in thecore estate. We are continuing to generate significant productivity and purchasing gains,whilst the external cost pressures of recent years appear to be easing. The Board remains confident in future prospects, generating shareholder valuefrom both profits growth and the directly related capital appreciation of ourlicensed property. For further information please contact: Investor Relations:Erik Castenskiold 0121 498 4907 Media:Kathryn Holland 0121 498 4526James Murgatroyd (Finsbury Group) 0207 251 3801 There will be a presentation for analysts and investors at 9.30am at the MerrillLynch Financial Centre, 100 Newgate St, London EC1. A live webcast of thepresentation will be available on www.mbplc.com Notes for editors: - Mitchells & Butlers owns and operates around 2,000 high quality pubs in prime locations nationwide. The Group's predominantly freehold, managed estate is biased towards large pubs in residential locations. With around 3% of the pubs in the UK, Mitchells & Butlers has 10% of industry sales, and average weekly sales per pub of over three times the industry average.- Same outlet (invested) like-for-like sales include the sales performance for the comparable period in the prior year of all managed pubs that were trading for the two periods being compared. 83% of the estate is included in this measure.- Uninvested like-for-like sales include the sales performance for the comparable period in the prior year of those managed pubs that have not received expansionary investment of more than £30,000 in the two periods being compared. 75% of the estate is included in this measure. Interim Operating and Financial Review This review provides a commentary on the performance of the Mitchells & Butlersgroup for the 28 weeks ended 14 April 2007 and compares it with the equivalenthalf year period in 2006. To remove the distortions of the timing of Easter, alllike-for-like, comparisons are made on a 32 weeks basis unless stated. CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REVIEW OF THE MARKET & STRATEGY Mitchells & Butlers has delivered a further period of strong trading performancegenerating 12.6% growth in operating profits to £161 million before exceptionalitems. Our leadership of the growing, informal, eating out market and strongdrinks market share gains have enabled us to generate like-for-like sales growthof 3.6%. We have made further efficiency gains with net retail operatingmargins, excluding the Acquired Sites, rising by 1.1 percentage points in thefirst half to 17.2%. Earnings per share before exceptional items of 14.8p for the period are 15.6%ahead of last year. This reflects the strong trading performance and thereduction in shares in issue following the share buybacks last year and theshare consolidation that accompanied the special dividend at the beginning ofthis financial year. As a result of this good performance we are pleased toannounce an interim dividend of 4.25p per share, an increase of 16.4%. THE MARKET Our sales volumes have continued to outperform the market in all key productcategories. Market growth rates have remained strong in food and soft drinkswhilst the volume declines in the on-trade beer market have continued. These trends have resulted from a changing pub usage to a wider but less regularcustomer base, driven both by an increase in the availability and quality of pubfood and by social and lifestyle changes. The eating out market is continuing to grow at 4%(1) per annum in real terms,with pubs taking a disproportionate share of this growth as the pub'sinformality and value for money nature appeals to more frequent and less formaloccasions. This is particularly the case for local pubs that serve high qualityfood at attractive prices. This trend, together with the forthcoming ban inEngland on smoking in public places from July 2007, is resulting in an increasein the number of pubs that offer food and an improvement in the quality of foodavailable. Mitchells & Butlers is particularly well placed to capitalise on thistrend and, as a result, our same outlet like-for-like food volumes grew by 6%during the first half. Our unit scale enables us to serve high volumes of food generating productivitybenefits; our corporate scale allows us to source efficiently and to offer highquality, varied menus at value price points; and our pubs are well maintainedproviding a pleasant environment in which to eat. While overall on-trade market growth in wines and soft drinks has slowed, withunchanged volumes in the period, Mitchells & Butlers has made furthersignificant market share gains with volume growth of 2%(2) in these categories. In contrast to the strong growth in food sales, the on-trade beer market hascontinued to decline, being down over 4%(3) in the period, offset a little bystrong growth in cider. However, Mitchells & Butlers has been able to grow beerand cider volumes by just over 1% in the period. The structural decline in themarket is being exacerbated by the widening price gap between the on-trade andsupermarkets (the off-trade) and in particular by on-trade price inflation ofover 4% during the period. MITCHELLS & BUTLERS STRATEGY FOR GROWTH The results achieved in the first half of this year are a further testament tothe success of Mitchells & Butlers' customer-driven pub retailing strategy andleave us in a strong position for the rest of the year. We have made goodprogress against each of our strategic aims to: Lead the-value-for money casual dining market Same outlet like-for-like food sales increased by 5.5% during the period throughour emphasis on amenity, service and value. Our Local Pubs businesses, EmberInns, Sizzling Pub Co, Metro Professionals and Community pubs delivered aparticularly strong performance, capitalising on the growth in informal valuefor money eating out. This is a particularly pleasing performance given ourfocus on improving their food offers and capabilities in the run up to thesmoking ban in July. Food still only accounts for 21% of sales in this part ofthe estate highlighting the significant opportunity that remains to develop ourfood reputation further. The emphasis within our Pub Restaurants has been on converting to our brands andformats the 239 sites that we acquired in July last year, (the "AcquiredSites"). We have now converted 126 sites generating sales uplifts above 25%.This acquisition has accelerated the repositioning of the Mitchells & Butlerspub estate towards food. As we complete the conversions, food will account forsome 40% of the company's sales mix and around 60% of our total sales willresult from an eating out occasion. Overall, our average retail prices in food remained broadly unchanged, partlyreflecting the rapid growth in good value meals in Pubs & Bars. Generate significant drinks market share gains Same outlet like-for-like drinks sales increased by 3.2% in the period againstthe background of a significant decline in the on-trade beer market. We continueto develop the range of beers that we offer and improve serve quality andpresentation through appropriate glassware and investment in glycol coolingsystems. We have been following a similar strategy in wine, soft drinks andcoffee, extending our ranges by stocking new premium products, offering goodvalue, own label products and enhancing the serve quality. In wine, own labelhas grown to over 30% of wine sales and we now have draught dispense in some 500pubs, improving the serve consistency. In soft drinks, we have been extendingthe range of fresh juices, cordials and mineral waters. We are also installingbranded coffee offers in over 1,000 pubs. Overall drinks prices rose by 3.5%, partly driven by mix changes and trading upto new premium products. These increases are less than the average for theon-trade and have further widened the value gap with the competition. Increasing the inclusive appeal of the pub through high levels of amenity andservice During the period we invested £135m of capital expenditure maintaining andupgrading our pubs, including £49m on converting the Acquired Sites. As a resultof this strategy, the amenity gap between our pubs and the majority of the pubsin the UK is widening significantly, further improving our overall valueproposition relative to the rest of the on-trade. Deliver a profitable, integrated food and drinks offer Whilst eating out is increasingly the reason that customers visit a Mitchells &Butlers pub, combining higher growth, lower margin food sales with higher margindrinks sales is key to maximising overall profitability. Our aim is to addincremental food sales which can be delivered at low marginal cost with anattractive drop-through to profit. Extract volume driven efficiencies Extracting maximum benefit from growing volumes across the business has beencritical to our success in offsetting the additional £4m of external costs thatwe have incurred in the period. We have maintained our gross margins broadly inline with last year, both offsetting the negative mix impact of the fastergrowth of food and wine as well as the cost of more premium products. We havealso generated further volume-driven purchasing gains with the cost of goodsindex held significantly below inflation. We have driven further process efficiencies in the overhead infrastructure,thereby leveraging our scale economies during a period of business expansion;which has resulted in an extra overhead of only £2m to service approximately£200m of Acquired Site sales. We have generated further employee productivitygains through servicing the additional volumes sold with low incremental labourcost. Our principal measure of productivity, contribution per staff hour (salesless wages divided by hours worked), increased by a further 4.6% in the periodfor the core estate; this is the strongest increase we have yet achieved. As aresult, our net operating margin overall is flat compared with last year despitethe dilution from the closure of the Acquired Sites for conversion andpre-opening costs of £10m. Excluding the Acquired Sites, net operating marginimproved by 1.1 percentage points on last year to 17.2%. Extend the skill base of operational excellence throughout the estate The skills and experience of our operating teams provide a critical competitiveadvantage for us in delivering good service efficiently. It is through thisexperience that we have been able to establish industry leading practices inareas such as staff training, deployment and scheduling. These have enabled usto realise significant productivity gains and maintain our pub employment costratio below 24% of sales excluding the Acquired Sites, despite a furtherincrease of 5.9% in the National Minimum Wage from last October. Proactively manage the estate to maximise value Mitchells & Butlers' strategy is to maximise the value of each individual pubthat we own by applying the trading format that is most appropriate to the localmarket. During the half year, in addition to the development of the AcquiredSites, we completed 37 conversions and 9 growth projects to change the customeroffer or increase the trading area of the site. We are generating a pre-taxincremental return of 19% on our expansionary investment over the last twoyears, excluding the Acquired Sites. We have successfully converted 126 of the 239 Acquired Sites, achieving averagesales uplifts of over 25%. We are on site with a further 23 projects and we areon track to complete the conversions by Easter 2008, ahead of our originalplans. We continue to be confident of meeting our targets for sales and profituplifts from these sites and the value creation from this acquisition.We achieved £131m of disposal proceeds in the half year, including the sale of102 pubs to Trust Inns in October, taking advantage of the buoyancy in theproperty market to crystallise the value of smaller freehold pubs, which areworth more to a third party than their trading value to Mitchells & Butlers. Wecurrently expect to generate of the order of £20m from further disposal proceedsduring the balance of the year. Grow profits and capture asset appreciation to benefit shareholders The success of our operational strategy to grow sales and profits has enhancedthe value of our property. In October, we returned £486m to shareholders bymeans of a Special Dividend of £1 per share, crystallising for shareholders partof the incremental value identified in August last year by the £5.5bn valuationof the estate. KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Mitchells & Butlers implements and monitors its performance against its strategyprincipally through four key performance indicators ("KPIs"). The performance inthe first half is as follows: 1. Same outlet like-for-like sales growth - Mitchells & Butlers' operational and marketing plans have delivered strong and consistent like-for-like sales growth of 3.6% in the half year. 2. EPS growth - Mitchells & Butlers' strong trading performance, together with the share repurchases in FY2006 and the share consolidation that accompanied the special dividend earlier this year have generated growth in Earnings per Share of 15.6% before exceptional items this period. 3. CROCCE in excess of WACC - Mitchells & Butlers aims to maximise the difference between the post-tax Cash Return on Cash Capital Employed ("CROCCE") and its Weighted Average Cost of Capital ("WACC"), a key measure of value creation. A CROCCE of 10.5% after tax was achieved in the 12 months to 14 April 2007, around 4 percentage points ahead of our estimated WACC reflecting the good operating performance supported by our efficient use of the balance sheet. 4. Incremental return on expansionary capital - Our track record in this area has remained strong during the period. Pre-tax returns of 19% are being achieved on the expansionary capital projects carried out over the last two years. This measure excludes the recently Acquired Sites due to the relatively short period of ownership and post conversion trading, making it more difficult to estimate seasonal patterns and annualised returns. The basis of KPI calculation is included within the 2006 annual report andaccounts. FINANCIAL REVIEW Total revenue for the half year was £995m up 12.2% on last year reflecting theinclusion of the Acquired Sites, as well as strong like-for-like sales growth inboth Residential and High Street areas, with further significant market sharegains. Same outlet food and drink sales were up 5.5% and 3.3% respectively with averageretail prices of food and drink up 2.0%, reflecting both price increases on somestandard products as well as the mix impact from more premium products andcustomer offers. Our pricing strategy remains focused on value for money and wehave continued to widen the overall price gap between our products and ourcompetitors who have on average increased prices above inflation. The overall cost of goods increased by less than the rate of inflationreflecting the purchasing benefit of our volume strategy more than offsettingthe price increases seen in certain commodity products. Overall gross marginswere broadly maintained, as our purchasing gains helped to offset the cost ofmore premium products and the faster growth of the lower margin food and winecategories, which now account for over 40% of retail sales. Good profit conversion of incremental sales enabled us to offset £4m ofadditional regulatory costs. In particular, further employee productivitybenefits were achieved allowing us to maintain our pub employment cost ratiobelow 24% of sales, despite the increase in the National Minimum Wage. We nowexpect external cost increases for the year as a whole to be approximately £8m. As anticipated, the one off cost of closure for conversion and pre-openingexpenses for the 126 Acquired Sites converted during the period had an impact onoverall net retail margins. In total, these costs amounted to £10m in the firsthalf and we estimate a further £5m in the second half of the year as more sitesare converted. Despite these additional costs, the net retail operating marginwas in line with the first half last year at 16.1% reflecting the benefit of ourvolume strategy. We invested £135m in the estate during the period, with £60m spent onmaintaining the high levels of amenity in the pubs and in the continuingdevelopment and evolution of our brands and formats. The balance of £75m wasspent on expansionary projects, with £49m spent on the Acquired Sites. Three newpubs were opened, and 37 pubs were converted to one of our brands or formatsfrom the core estate to uplift their sales and profits. Including disposalproceeds of £131m, and £7m of acquisition costs for the Acquired Sites, netcapital investment during the period was £11m. As a result of our progress on all fronts, operating profit before exceptionalitems was £161m, up 12.6% on last year. Pubs & Bars H1 07 GrowthRevenue £515m +1.4%Operating profit* £92m +7.0%Same outlet like-for-like sales** +5.1%Uninvested like-for-like sales** +3.4% * Before exceptional items** 32 weeks to 12 May to include Easter trading in both periods being compared. Revenue in the Pubs & Bars division was up 1.4% reflecting strong like-for-likesales growth of 5.1% offset by the impact of disposals last year and at thebeginning of the period. At the end of the period there were 1,147 managed pubsin the Division following the disposal of 68 pubs, 1 new individual pub, 2transfers to business franchise and 23 pubs transferred from the Restaurantsdivision. There were on average 1,154 pubs trading during the period. Good growth in the Division's drinks sales, as a result of the widening gapbetween our amenity, product range and value for money and that of ourcompetitors, has led to market share gains, with a particularly strongperformance from those businesses in residential areas. This increase is againsta background of on-going decline in the on-trade beer market. Food sales were up 16%, driven by growth in our residential pubs, notably,Sizzling Pub Co, Ember Inns and Metropolitan Professionals, as well as by ourTown Pubs and the central London estate. This sales uplift has been generated byour focus on developing quality and range on the menu as well as increasing ourkitchen skills and capabilities. Same outlet machines sales were only marginally down reflecting an improvedtrajectory with the use of some new machine models following the increase instakes and prizes. A total of 32 conversions were completed, including 16 Acquired Sitespredominantly to residential brands and formats such as Sizzling Pub Co, EmberInns and the Metropolitan Professionals format. The Acquired Sites which, postconversion, were open for a relatively short period and include closure andpre-opening costs, contributed £4m of revenue and no profit in the period.As a result of the strong sales performance and tight cost controls, Pubs & Barsprofits were up 7.0% in the period and net margin was one percentage pointhigher at 17.9%. Excluding the contribution from major disposals in thecomparative period, underlying profits were up 15.0%. Restaurants H1 07 GrowthRevenue £478m +26.1%Operating profit* £68m +19.3%Same outlet like-for-like sales** +1.6%Uninvested like-for-like sales** +0.4% * Before exceptional items** Excluding Acquired Sites and for 32 weeks to 12 May to include Easter trading in both periods being compared. Total revenue in the Restaurants division was up 26.1% including £83m from theAcquired Sites. At the end of the period there were 805 managed pubs in theDivision, including 2 new individual pubs, the disposal of 6 pubs, and 23 pubstransferred to Pub & Bars. There were on average 778 pubs trading during theperiod. The focus of the Division in the period has been on the conversion of theAcquired Sites to capture as quickly as possible the targeted sales uplifts. Allthe Acquired Sites are included within the Restaurants division unless the siteis converted to a Pubs & Bars brand or format and transferred, once opened, tothe Pubs & Bars Division. The vast majority of the Acquired Sites contributionwas therefore in the Restaurant Division with first half sales and operatingprofit of £83m and £4m respectively. The modest profit contribution from thesesites reflects a sales decline of 11% pre-conversion and the inevitabledisruption from the intensive conversion programme, resulting in pre-opening andclosure costs of £10m. Same outlet like-for-like sales for the RestaurantDivision grew by 1.6%. The Restaurants division's focus on food sales growth together with theassociated drinks sales has resulted in operating profit before exceptionalitems of £68m. This is 19.3% above last year, including the contribution of £4mfrom the Acquired Sites. As expected, the dilution from the significant closureand pre-opening costs of the Acquired Sites was felt particularly inRestaurants, leaving operating margins at 14.2% down 0.8% percentage point onlast year. Excluding the Acquired Sites, operating margin would be 16.2%, up 1.2percentage points on last year. Standard Commercial Property Developments (SCPD) SCPD aims to maximise the value of the Group's surplus properties which aresuitable for development. Due to the nature of this activity and the smallnumber of developments ongoing at any one time, revenue and profit can fluctuatefrom period to period. In the first half, SCPD contributed £2m of sales and £1mof operating profit. Exceptional items Exceptional items are those which are separately identified by virtue of theirsize or incidence so as to allow a better understanding of the underlyingtrading performance of the Group. Exceptional items are generally those which donot form part of the core operations of the Group. As a result, the Boardfocuses on "pre-exceptional" performance measures in order to compare underlyingperformance. Exceptional items in the first half include £20m of profits on disposal ofproperties, primarily due to the sale of 102 pubs to Trust Inns, and £4m inrespect of integration costs on the Acquired Sites. Net of tax, exceptionalprofits were £11m. Finance Costs and Revenue Finance costs were £82m for the period, £22m higher than the prior year. Thisreflects the higher average net debt during the period, largely as a result ofthe £486m special dividend paid in October. Finance Revenue of £3m was achieved and net income from pensions was £7m. Taxation The tax charge for the period was £28m before exceptional items. This is aneffective rate of 31% of profit before tax, consistent with last year. Earnings per share Earnings per share were 14.8p before exceptional items, 15.6% ahead of lastyear. In addition to the growth in operating profit, earnings per share havebenefited from the share buyback programme last year and the share consolidationaccompanying the special dividend this year. Dividends and returns to shareholders In line with our commitment to progressive growth in dividends, an interimdividend of 4.25p per share, an increase of 16.4%, will be paid on 29 June 2007to Shareholders on the register on 1 June 2006. A special dividend of £1 per share (£486m) was paid to shareholders at thebeginning of this financial year on 25 October 2006 following the refinancingcompleted on 15 September 2006. This was accompanied by a 34 for 41 shareconsolidation to enable continuing share price comparability. Cash flow and net debt Cashflow from operations was £189m before exceptional items but after additionalpension contributions of £40m. Net capital expenditure was £11m consisting of£135m of capital investment and £7m of acquisition costs, offset by £131m ofdisposal proceeds. After net interest, tax, dividends and share repurchases but before exceptionalrefinancing and integration costs, the total cash outflow for the half year was£452m, including the £486m Special Dividend paid in October. Net debt at the half year was £2,533m. Share price and market capitalisation At 14 April 2007 the share price was 794p compared with 589.5p at the start ofthe financial year, an increase of 35%. The Company was a member of the FTSE 250index for the period with a market capitalisation of approximately £3.2bn at theend of the first half. Following the strong growth in the share price, theCompany joined the FTSE 100 index on 20 April 2007. Treasury management The financial risks faced by the Group are identified and managed by a centralTreasury department. The activities of the Treasury function are carried out inaccordance with Board approved policies and are subject to regular audit. Thedepartment does not operate as a profit centre. At 14 April 2007, the Group's net debt of £2,533m consisted of the securitiseddebt of £2,388m, drawings against the medium term facility of £185m, derivativeshedging balance sheet debt, other loan notes and finance lease obligationstogether totalling £55m, offset by investments of £95m. Pensions On an IAS 19 basis, the Group's pensions schemes showed a surplus of £49m (£34mafter tax) at 14 April 2007 compared with a £99m deficit (£67m deficit aftertax) at 30 September 2006. The move to surplus reflects the benefit of £40m ofadditional pension contributions paid in the period, together with improvedinvestment returns and higher bond yields used to discount future liabilities. Further contributions of £20m were also committed for FY 2008 at the time of thespecial dividend. A full actuarial valuation of the pension schemes is currentlyunderway and the conclusions will be published with the annual results of theCompany. The valuation process will include, among other things, a review of theassumptions on increasing life expectancy for the schemes, to ensure that theyreflect the most up-to-date views on this subject. GROUP INCOME STATEMENTfor the 28 weeks ended 14 April 2007 2007 2006 2006 28 weeks 28 weeks 52 weeks ---------------- ---------------- ---------------- Before Before Before exceptional exceptional exceptional items* Total items* Total items* Total £m £m £m £m £m £m -------- ------- -------- ------- -------- ------- Revenue (Note 2) 995 995 887 887 1,720 1,720 Operating costs beforedepreciation and amortisation (765) (769) (680) (680) (1,290) (1,297) Profit arising onproperty-related items - 20 - 2 - 23 -------- ------- -------- ------- -------- ------- EBITDA ** 230 246 207 209 430 446 Depreciation andamortisation (69) (69) (64) (64) (121) (121) -------- ------- -------- ------- -------- ------- Operating profit 161 177 143 145 309 325(Note 2) Finance costs (82) (82) (60) (60) (118) (122) Finance revenue 3 3 4 4 9 9 Net finance incomefrom pensions (Note 14) 7 7 4 4 8 8 -------- ------- -------- ------- -------- ------- Profit before tax 89 105 91 93 208 220 Tax expense (Note 4) (28) (33) (28) (26) (64) (25) -------- ------- -------- ------- -------- ------- Profit for the period 61 72 63 67 144 195 ======== ======= ======== ======= ======== ======= Earnings perordinaryshare (Note 5): Basic 14.8p 17.4p 12.8p 13.6p 29.3p 39.7pDiluted 14.4p 16.9p 12.5p 13.3p 28.6p 38.8p ======== ======= ======== ======= ======== ======= * Exceptional items are explained in Note 1 and analysed in Note 3.** Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation. All activities relate to continuing operations. GROUP STATEMENT OF RECOGNISED INCOME AND EXPENSEfor the 28 weeks ended 14 April 2007 2007 2006 2006 28 weeks 28 weeks 52 weeks £m £m £m ------- ------- ------- Gains/(losses) on cash flow hedges taken to equity 58 10 (22) Actuarial gains on defined benefit pension schemes 103 59 27(Note 14) Tax on items recognised directly in equity (32) (15) 11 Tax credit/(charge) relating to movement in unrealised gains dueto previous revaluations - 14 (4) ------- ------- ------- Income recognised directly in equity 129 68 12 Transfers to the income statement: On cash flow hedges 12 - 16 Tax on items transferred from equity (4) - (5) ------- ------- -------Net income recognised directly in equity 137 68 23 Profit for the period 72 67 195 ------- ------- ------- Total recognised income and expense for the period attributable to equity holders of the parent 209 135 218 ======= ======= ======= GROUP BALANCE SHEET14 April 2007 2007 2006 2006 14 April 15 April 30 SeptemberASSETS £m £m £m -------- -------- ---------- Goodwill and other intangible assets 20 23 22Property, plant and equipment (Note 6) 3,922 3,472 3,867Lease premiums 11 15 13Pension surplus (Note 14) 49 - -Derivative financial instruments 31 - -Deferred tax asset 34 - 68 -------- -------- ---------- Total non-current assets 4,067 3,510 3,970 -------- -------- ---------- Inventories 42 41 42Trade and other receivables 83 78 81Derivative financial instruments 6 - -Cash and cash equivalents (Note 11) 94 145 375Other cash deposits 1 1 - -------- -------- ---------- Total current assets 226 265 498 -------- -------- ---------- Non-current assets held for sale 7 6 88 -------- -------- ---------- Total assets 4,300 3,781 4,556 -------- -------- ----------LIABILITIES Borrowings (240) (40) (41)Derivative financial instruments (1) (5) (7)Trade and other payables (259) (233) (251)Current tax liabilities (21) (44) (22) -------- -------- ---------- Total current liabilities (521) (322) (321) -------- -------- ---------- Borrowings (2,349) (1,761) (2,375)Derivative financial instruments (41) (31) (55)Pension liabilities (Note 14) - (70) (99)Deferred tax liabilities (441) (344) (418)Provisions (3) (4) (3) -------- -------- ---------- Total non-current liabilities (2,834) (2,210) (2,950) -------- -------- ---------- Total liabilities (3,355) (2,532) (3,271) -------- -------- ---------- Net assets (Note 7) 945 1,249 1,285 ======== ======== ==========EQUITY Called up share capital 34 35 34Share premium account 14 14 14Capital redemption reserve 3 2 3Own shares held (17) (6) (12)Hedging reserve 20 (17) (30)Translation reserve 6 6 6Retained earnings 885 1,215 1,270 -------- -------- ---------- Total equity (Note 8) 945 1,249 1,285 ======== ======== ========== GROUP CASH FLOW STATEMENTfor the 28 weeks ended 14 April 2007 2007 2006 2006 28 weeks 28 weeks 52 weeks £m £m £m ------- ------- ------- Cash flow from operations (Note 10) 196 202 430 Net interest paid (71) (51) (107)Tax paid (13) (35) (48) ------- ------- ------- Net cash from operating activities 112 116 275 ------- ------- ------- Investing activitiesPurchases of property, plant and equipment (134) (95) (179)Acquisition of Whitbread pub restaurant sites (7) - (489)Purchases of intangibles (computer software) (1) (1) (3)Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 131 17 88(Transfers to)/proceeds from cash deposits with a maturity of greater than three months (1) - 1Defence costs - - (4) ------- ------- ------- Net cash used in investing activities (12) (79) (586) ------- ------- ------- Financing activitiesPurchase of own shares (46) (41) (76)Proceeds on release of own shares held 10 6 12Repayment of principal in respect of securitised debt (19) (18) (460)Proceeds from other loans 198 - -Proceeds from issue of securitised debt - - 1,078Expenditure associated with refinancing (3) - (10)Repayment of principal in respect of other loans - - (1)Dividends paid (521) (38) (56) ------- ------- ------- Net cash used in financing activities (381) (91) 487 ------- ------- ------- Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents (281) (54) 176(Note 12) Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period 375 199 199 ------- ------- ------- Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period 94 145 375 ======= ======= ======= Cash and cash equivalents are defined in Note 11. NOTES TO THE INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1 GENERAL INFORMATION Basis of preparation and accounting policies The interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union (EU) and comply with International Accounting Standard (IAS) 34 'Interim Financial Reporting'. They have been prepared on a consistent basis using the accounting policies set out in the Annual Report and Financial Statements 2006 and should be read in conjunction with this document. Details of these accounting policies can also be accessed within the investors section of the Group's website at www.mbplc.com/IFRS. The interim financial statements are unaudited and do not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. They were approved by a duly appointed and authorised Committee of the Board of Directors on 21 May 2007. The financial information for the year ended 30 September 2006 is extracted from the annual accounts for the year ended 30 September 2006, which have been delivered to the Registrar. The auditors' report on the annual accounts for the year ended 30 September 2006 was unqualified, and did not include an emphasis of matter reference or any statement required under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The auditors have carried out a review of the financial information in accordance with the guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/4 issued by the Auditing Practices Board. Exceptional items In addition to presenting information on an IFRS basis, MAB also presents information that excludes exceptional items. This information is disclosed to allow a better understanding of the underlying trading performance of the Group and is consistent with MAB's internal management reporting. Exceptional items, which include profits and losses on the disposal of properties, are identified by virtue of either their size or incidence so as to facilitate comparison with prior periods and to assess underlying trends in financial performance. Exchange rates The results of overseas operations have been translated into sterling at the weighted average euro rate of exchange for the period of £1=€1.49 (2006 28 weeks, £1=€1.46; 52 weeks, £1=€1.46). Euro and US dollar denominated assets and liabilities have been translated into sterling at the relevant rate of exchange at the balance sheet date of £1=€1.47 (15 April 2006, £1=€1.45; 30 September 2006, £1=€1.47) and £1=$1.98 (15 April 2006, £1=$1.75; 30 September 2006, £1=$1.87) respectively. 2 SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS The Group's primary reporting format is by business segment. 2007 2006 2006 28 weeks 28 weeks 52 weeks £m £m £m ------- ------- -------Revenue Pubs & Bars 515 508 958 Restaurants 478 379 762 ------- ------- ------- Retail 993 887 1,720 SCPD 2 - - ------- ------- ------- Total revenue 995 887 1,720 ======= ======= ======= Operating profit Pubs & Bars 92 86 179 Restaurants 68 57 130 ------- ------- ------- Retail 160 143 309 SCPD 1 - - ------- ------- ------- Operating profit before exceptional items 161 143 309 Exceptional items (Note 3) 16 2 16 ------- ------- ------- Operating profit 177 145 325 ======= ======= ======= After the allocation of exceptional items (where these can be attributed to a segment), the segmental profits are Pubs & Bars £111m (2006 28 weeks, £88m; 52 weeks, £202m), Restaurants £65m (2006 28 weeks, £57m; 52 weeks, £130m), SCPD £1m (2006 28 weeks, £nil; 52 weeks, £nil) and unallocated £nil (2006 28 weeks, £nil; 52 weeks, £(7)m). 3 EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS 2007 2006 2006 28 weeks 28 weeks 52 weeks Notes £m £m £m -------- -------- -------- Operating exceptional itemsDefence costs a - - (4)Refinancing costs b - - (3)Integration costs c (4) - - -------- -------- -------- (4) - (7) Profits on disposal of properties 27 2 41Losses on disposal of properties (6) - (14)Fair value adjustments on classification ofnon-current assets held for sale d (1) - (4) -------- -------- -------- Profit arising on property-related items 20 2 23 Total operating exceptional items 16 2 16Exceptional finance costs b - - (4) -------- -------- -------- Total exceptional items before tax 16 2 12Tax (charge)/credit relating to above items (5) 2 (1)Exceptional tax released in respect of prioryears - - 40 -------- -------- -------- (5) 2 39 -------- -------- -------- Total exceptional items after tax 11 4 51 ======== ======== ======== a Costs associated with evaluation (between March and May 2006) of the R20 approach to acquire the share capital of Mitchells & Butlers plc and its subsidiaries.b Expenses incurred in relation to the refinancing of the Group's securitised debt. Exceptional finance costs represent accelerated amortisation of capitalised transaction costs relating to secured loan notes repaid as part of the refinancing.c Costs associated with the integration of the 239 pub restaurant sites acquired from Whitbread on 21 July 2006.d Adjustments to the carrying value of property, plant and equipment, prior to transferring these to assets held for sale, where the expected net sale proceeds are less than the book value. All exceptional items relate to continuing operations. 4 TAX EXPENSE 2007 2006 2006 28 weeks 28 weeks 52 weeks £m £m £m ------- ------- ------- UK corporation tax 19 23 16 Deferred tax 14 3 9 ------- ------- ------- 33 26 25 ======= ======= ======= Further analysed as tax relating to: Profit before exceptional items 28 28 64 Exceptional items (Note 3) 5 (2) (39) ------- ------- ------- 33 26 25 ======= ======= ======= Tax has been calculated using an estimated annual effective tax rate of 31%(2006 28 weeks, 31%; 52 weeks actual, 31%) on profit before tax and exceptionalitems. It is noted that a proposed change in the rate of corporation tax from 30% to28% was announced in the Chancellor's Budget on 21 March 2007. Proposed changesin the way corporation tax is calculated (including Capital Allowances andIndustrial Building Allowances) were also announced. These changes, which areexpected to be enacted before the Company's financial year end, may impact theannual effective tax rate. 5 EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic earnings per share have been calculated by dividing the profit for the financial period by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period, excluding own shares held in treasury and by employee share trusts. For diluted earnings per share, the weighted average number of ordinary shares is adjusted to assume conversion of all potentially dilutive ordinary shares. Earnings per ordinary share amounts are presented before exceptional items (see Note 3) in order to allow a better understanding of the underlying trading performance of the Group. Profit Basic Diluted EPS EPS pence per pence per ordinary ordinary £m share share ------- ------- -------28 weeks ended 14 April 2007:Profit for the period 72 17.4p 16.9pExceptional items, net of tax (11) (2.6)p (2.5)p ------- ------- ------- Profit before exceptional items 61 14.8p 14.4p ======= ======= =======28 weeks ended 15 April 2006:Profit for the period 67 13.6p 13.3pExceptional items, net of tax (4) (0.8)p (0.8)p ------- ------- ------- Profit before exceptional items 63 12.8p 12.5p ======= ======= =======52 weeks ended 30 September 2006:Profit for the period 195 39.7p 38.8pExceptional items, net of tax (51) (10.4)p (10.2)p ------- ------- ------- Profit before exceptional items 144 29.3p 28.6p ======= ======= ======= The weighted average number of ordinary shares used in the calculations above are as follows: 2007 2006 2006 28 weeks 28 weeks 52 weeks m m m ------- ------- ------- For basic EPS calculations 413 494 491 Effect of dilutive potential ordinary shares:Contingently issuable shares 7 4 7Other share options 5 5 5 ------- ------- ------- For diluted EPS calculations 425 503 503 ======= ======= ======= 6 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT 2007 2006 2006 28 weeks 28 weeks 52 weeks £m £m £m ------- ------- -------- At beginning of period 3,867 3,447 3,447 Additions 140 96 684 Disposals (17) (13) (66) Depreciation provided during the period (66) (59) (114) Movement in assets held for sale (2) 1 (84) ------- ------- -------- At end of period 3,922 3,472 3,867 ======= ======= ======== Property, plant and equipment is accounted for under the cost model but includes the results of previous property revaluations as permitted by the IFRS transition rules. The amount of revaluation in excess of the original cash cost of the assets to the Group (or formerly as a division of Six Continents PLC) included in the carrying value at 14 April 2007 was £671m (15 April 2006, £715m; 30 September 2006, £702m). At 14 April 2007, amounts contracted for but not provided in the financial statements for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment were £36m (15 April 2006, £29m; 30 September 2006, £28m). 7 NET ASSETS 2007 2006 2006 14 April 15 April 30 September £m £m £m -------- -------- ---------- Pubs & Bars 1,925 1,965 2,040 Restaurants 1,881 1,416 1,808 -------- -------- ---------- Retail 3,806 3,381 3,848 SCPD 17 17 18 -------- -------- ---------- Segmental net assets 3,823 3,398 3,866 Net debt (2,533) (1,666) (2,067) Other unallocated net liabilities (345) (483) (514) -------- -------- ---------- Net assets 945 1,249 1,285 ======== ======== ========== 8 CHANGE IN EQUITY 2007 2006 2006 28 weeks 28 weeks 52 weeks £m £m £m ------- ------- -------- Opening equity 1,285 1,183 1,183 Repurchase and cancellation - - (58) Total recognised income and expense 209 135 218 Dividends (Note 9) (521) (38) (56) Purchase of own shares (42) (41) (22) Proceeds on release of own shares held 10 6 12 Credit in respect of share remuneration 4 4 8 ------- ------- -------- Closing equity 945 1,249 1,285 ======= ======= ======== Own shares held by the Group represent the shares in the Company held intreasury ('treasury shares') and by the employee share trusts. During the financial period, the Company acquired 1,033,000 shares at a cost of£7.4m and released 305,008 shares to employees on the exercise of share optionsfor a total consideration of £0.4m. The 1,246,010 shares held in treasury at 14April 2007 had a market value of £9.9m (1 October 2006 518,018 shares held witha market value of £3.1m). The aggregate nominal value of the treasury sharesheld at 14 April 2007 was £88,259. During the financial period, the employee share trusts acquired 4,908,500 sharesat a cost of £34.5m and released 5,491,066 shares to employees on the exerciseof options and other share awards for a total consideration of £9.2m. The1,627,058 shares held by the trusts at 14 April 2007 had a market value of£12.9m (1 October 2006 2,209,624 shares held with a market value of £13.0m). 9 DIVIDENDS 2007 2006 2006 28 weeks 28 weeks 52 weeks £m £m £m ------- ------- --------Amounts paid and recognised in equity In respect of the 53 weeks ended 1 October 2005:- Final dividend of 7.55p per share - 38 38 In respect of the 52 weeks ended 30 September 2006:- Interim dividend of 3.65p per share - - 18- Final dividend of 8.60p per share 35 - - In respect of the 52 weeks ending 29 September 2007- Interim dividend of 100.00p per share 486 - - ------- ------- -------- 521 38 56 ======= ======= ========Proposed interim dividend of 4.25p (2006 3.65p)per share for the 28 weeks ended 14 April 2007 17 18 ======= ======= The proposed interim dividend for the 28 weeks ended 14 April 2007 was approved by the Board on 21 May 2007 and did not therefore qualify for recognition in the financial statements at 14 April 2007. 10 CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS 2007 2006 2006 28 weeks 28 weeks 52 weeks £m £m £m ------- ------- ------- Operating profit 177 145 325 Adjustments for: Exceptional items (16) (2) (16)Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 66 59 114Amortisation of intangibles (computer software) 3 4 7Amortisation of lease premiums - 1 -Cost charged in respect of share remuneration 4 4 8Defined benefit pension cost less regular cashcontributions 2 2 3 ------- ------- ------- Operating cash flow before exceptional items,movements in working capital and additional pension contributions 236 213 441 Movements in working capital: Increase in inventories - (2) (3)(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables (13) (1) 7Increase in trade and other payables 17 12 6Movement in provisions - - (1)Additional pension contributions (40) (20) (20) ------- ------- ------- Cash flow from operations before exceptionalitems 200 202 430 Integration costs paid (4) - - ------- ------- ------- Cash flow from operations 196 202 430 ======= ======= ======= 11 ANALYSIS OF NET DEBT 2007 2006 2006 14 April 15 April 30 September £m £m £m ------- ------- --------- Cash and cash equivalents (see below) 94 145 375 Cash deposits with a maturity of greater thanthree months 1 1 - Securitised debt (see below) (2,388) (1,797) (2,413) Derivatives hedging balance sheet debt* (39) (11) (26) Loan notes (2) (2) (2) Other loans and finance leases (199) (2) (1) ------- ------- --------- (2,533) (1,666) (2,067) ======= ======= ========= * Represents the element of the fair value of currency swaps hedging the balance sheet value of the Group's dollar denominated loan notes. Cash and cash equivalentsCash and cash equivalents (which are presented as a single class of assets onthe face of the balance sheet) comprise cash at bank and in hand plus cashdeposits with a maturity of three months or less. Securitised debtOn 13 November 2003, a group company, Mitchells & Butlers Finance plc, issued£1,900m of secured loan notes in connection with the securitisation of themajority of the Group's UK pubs and restaurants business owned by Mitchells &Butlers Retail Limited. The funds raised were mainly used to repay existing bankborrowings of £1,243m, pay issue costs of £23m and return £501m to shareholdersby way of a special dividend. On 15 September 2006 Mitchells & Butlers Finance plc completed the issue of£655m of further secured loan notes. These were issued under substantially thesame terms as the original securitisation in November 2003. The funds raisedwere mainly used to return £486m to shareholders by way of a special dividendand to provide long-term funding for the Whitbread pub restaurant sitesacquired. As part of the issue, the original A1 and A3 loan note tranches(totalling £450m) were repaid and reissued as A1N and A3N loan notes to takeadvantage of reduced market rates. The overall cash interest rate payable on the debt is fixed at 5.7% after takingaccount of interest rate hedging and monoline insurance costs. The notes aresecured on the majority of the pubs and pub restaurants of Mitchells & ButlersRetail Limited and their future income streams. Other borrowingsOn 28 September 2006, Mitchells & Butlers plc signed a £300m facility agreement,available for three years, for general business purposes. At 14 April 2007,£185m was drawn under the facility and forms part of the 'Other loans andfinance leases' balance within the analysis of net debt (see above). Thefacility is governed by various covenants, representations, undertakings, eventsof default and guarantees relating to those parts of the Group held outside ofthe securitisation described above. Interest is payable on the facility at LIBOR plus an applicable margincalculated with reference to levels of Group Net Debt:EBITDA. The carrying value of the secured loan notes at 14 April 2007, which excludesthe impact of derivatives, is analysed as follows: 2007 2006 2006 14 April 15 April 30 September £m £m £m ------- ------- --------- Principal outstanding at beginning of period 2,429 1,824 1,824Further loan note issue - - 1,078Principal repaid during the period (19) (18) (460)Exchange on translation of dollar loan notes (13) 2 (13) ------- ------- --------- Principal outstanding at end of period 2,397 1,808 2,429 Deferred issue costs (20) (19) (21)Accrued interest 11 8 5 ------- ------- --------- Carrying value at end of period 2,388 1,797 2,413 ======= ======= ========= 12 MOVEMENT IN NET DEBT 2007 2006 2006 14 April 15 April 30 September £m £m £m ------- ------- --------- Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cashequivalents (281) (54) 176 Add back cash flows in respect of othercomponents of net debt: Transfers to/(proceeds from) deposits with amaturity of greater than three months 1 - (1) (Proceeds from)/repayment of principal in respectof other loans and finance leases (198) - 1 Repayment of principal in respect of securitised debt 19 18 460 Proceeds of issue of securitised debt - - (1,078) ------- ------- ---------Increase in net debt arising from cash flows('Net cash flow' per Note 13) (459) (36) (442) Non-cash movements (7) (5) - ------- ------- --------- Increase in net debt (466) (41) (442) Opening net debt (2,067) (1,625) (1,625) ------- ------- --------- Closing net debt (2,533) (1,666) (2,067) ======= ======= ========= 13 NET CASH FLOW 2007 2006 2006 28 weeks 28 weeks 52 weeks £m £m £m ------- ------- ------- Operating profit before exceptional items 161 143 309 Depreciation and amortisation 69 64 121 ------- ------- ------- EBITDA* 230 207 430 Working capital movement 4 9 9 Other non-cash items 6 6 11 Additional pension contributions (40) (20) (20) ------- ------- -------Cash flow from operations before exceptionalitems 200 202 430 Net capital expenditure ** (11) (79) (583) ------- ------- ------- Cash flow from operations before exceptionalitems and after net capital expenditure 189 123 (153) Integration costs paid (4) - - ------- ------- -------Cash flow from operations after net capitalexpenditure 185 123 (153) Net interest paid (71) (51) (107) Tax paid (13) (35) (48) Dividends paid (521) (38) (56) Purchase of own shares (46) (41) (76) Proceeds on release of own shares held 10 6 12 Defence costs - - (4) Expenditure associated with refinancing (3) - (10) ------- ------- ------- Net cash flow (Note 12) (459) (36) (442) ======= ======= ======= * Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and exceptional items.* Comprises purchases of property, plant and equipment and intangibles less* proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment. 14 PENSIONS Amounts recognised in the Group income statement in respect of the Group's defined benefit and defined contribution arrangements are as follows: 2007 2006 2006 28 weeks 28 weeks 52 weeks £m £m £m ------- ------- ------- Operating profitCurrent service cost (defined benefit plans) (7) (8) (14)Current service cost (defined contribution plans) (1) - (1) ------- ------- ------- Operating profit charge (8) (8) (15) ------- ------- ------- Finance incomeExpected return on pension scheme assets 41 37 69Interest on pension scheme liabilities (34) (33) (61) ------- ------- ------- Net finance income 7 4 8 ------- ------- ------- Total charge (1) (4) (7) ======= ======= ======= Pension liabilities are analysed as follows: 2007 2006 2006 14 April 15 April 30 September £m £m £m ------- ------- --------- Fair value of scheme assets 1,281 1,171 1,182Present value of scheme liabilities (1,232) (1,241) (1,281) ------- ------- --------- Surplus/(deficit) in the schemes recognised as anasset/(liability) in the balance sheet 49 (70) (99) ======= ======= ========= Associated deferred tax (liability)/asset (15) 23 32 ======= ======= ========= Movements in the scheme deficits are analysed as follows: 2007 2006 2006 28 weeks 28 weeks 52 weeks £m £m £m ------- ------- ------- At beginning of period (99) (151) (151)Charge in the Group income statement (definedbenefit plans) - (4) (6)Contributions paid 45 26 31Actuarial gains 103 59 27 ------- ------- ------- At end of period 49 (70) (99) ======= ======= ======= 15 CONTINGENT LIABILITIES The Company has given indemnities in respect of the disposal of certain companies previously within the Six Continents group. It is the view of the Directors that, other than to the extent that liabilities have been provided for in these financial statements, such indemnities are not expected to result in financial loss to the Group. - ends - INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO MITCHELLS & BUTLERS PLC Introduction We have been instructed by the Company to review the financial information for the 28 weeks ended 14 April 2007 which comprises the Group income statement, Group statement of recognised income and expense, Group balance sheet, Group cash flow statement and the related Notes 1 to 15. We have read the other information contained in the interim report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the financial information. This report is made solely to the Company in accordance with guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/4 'Review of interim financial information' issued by the Auditing Practices Board. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company, for our work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have formed. Directors' responsibilities The interim report, including the financial information contained therein, is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the Directors. The Directors are responsible for preparing the interim report in accordance with the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority which require that the accounting policies and presentation applied to the interim figures should be consistent with those applied in preparing the preceding annual accounts except where any changes, and the reasons for them, are disclosed. Review work performed We conducted our review in accordance with guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/4 'Review of interim financial information' issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A review consists principally of making enquiries of management and applying analytical procedures to the financial information and underlying financial data, and based thereon, assessing whether the accounting policies have been applied. A review excludes audit procedures such as tests of controls and verification of assets, liabilities and transactions. It is substantially less in scope than an audit performed in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) and therefore provides a lower level of assurance than an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion on the financial information. Review conclusion On the basis of our review we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial information as presented for the 28 weeks ended 14 April 2007. Ernst & Young LLP London 21 May 2007 --------------------------(1) Office for National Statistics(2) AC Nielsen(3) British Beer and Pub Association This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
Mitchells & Butlers