If approved by shareholders at the AGM on 7 May 2020, the final dividend of 11.19p per ordinary share will be paid on 12 May 2020 to those shareholders registered on 24 April 2020.
Other financial highlights include:
Record Group profit, with statutory operating profit of £242.3 million, up 12.5%.
Free cash flow beat expectations at £178.7 million, despite increased investment.
Gearing of 2.4x (2018: 2.3x); or down 0.2x on a like-for-like basis:
o £214 million of the increase in net debt is attributable to IFRS 16.
ROCE is flat at 12.4%, post-IFRS 16; or up 80 bps on a like-for-like basis.
