The Board is proposing a final dividend of 22.10 pence per share (2018: 18.17 pence per share). Added to the interim dividend of 9.50 pence per share, this brings the total dividend for the financial year ended 30 June 2019 to 31.60 per share, representing 23.9% growth over the previous year.
Subject to shareholder approval at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 18 October 2019, the final dividend will be paid on 15 November 2019 to shareholders on the Register at 25 October 2019. The shares will become ex-dividend on 24 October 2019.
Other financial highlights include:
Revenue growth of 17.5% to £481.8 million.
Underlying operating profit growth of 27.3% to £127.4 million.
Underlying EBIT margin expansion of 200 bps to 26.4%.
Underlying diluted EPS increased by 16.6% to 90.01 pence.
Reported operating profit growth of 13.5%.
