Financial Highlights
Total sales £4.8bn, +1.5%
Booker like-for-like sales (excluding Makro) +2.3%. Non tobacco sales (excluding Makro) +2.9% and tobacco sales +1.1%
Operating profit £140.3m, +17% (pre prior year £3.4m net exceptional credit relating to Makro acquisition)
Profit after tax (post exceptionals) £117.7m, +12%
Basic earnings per share up 0.67 pence to 6.73 pence
Net cash £147.0m (2014: £149.6m)
Final dividend of 3.14p, taking the total dividend to 3.66 pence per share, an increase of 14%
Proposed return of capital of 3.50 pence per share
Operational Highlights
Our plan to Focus, Drive and Broaden Booker Group continues to make progress
Customer satisfaction continued to improve
Makro turnaround is on track
Internet sales up 12% to £874m
Booker Direct, Ritter Courivaud, Classic and Chef Direct continue to make good progress
Premier our symbol group and Family Shopper our local discount format had a strong year
Sales in India are on track
We have refined the Group structure to improve choice, prices and service to all our customers
Return of Capital
In July 2012 Booker Group plc issued £124m of shareholder equity to acquire Makro in the UK. Following the successful integration of Makro into the Group and a period of strong cash generation, the Board implemented a capital return to shareholders of 3.50 pence per ordinary share (at a cost of approximately £61m) in July 2014. Given the continued successful development of the Group, the Board is proposing a second capital return to shareholders of 3.50 pence per ordinary share (at a cost of approximately £62m, based on the current issued share capital of the company). It is again proposed that this is achieved by the issue of a new class of "B" shares which shareholders will be able to redeem for cash. The return of capital requires the approval of shareholders, which will be sought at the Annual General Meeting on 8 July 2015. Further details of the proposed return of capital will be set out in a circular to shareholders which will accompany the notice convening this year's Annual General Meeting.
We currently anticipate returning a similar amount to shareholders in July 2016 and will provide an update on this at the 2016 Final Results announcement in May 2016 in light of circumstances prevailing at that time.
