The total dividend for the year will be 9.76p, up 2.7% year-on-year. The proposed final dividend for the year of 5.56p per share will, subject to shareholder approval at the Annual General Meeting on 23 April 2020, be paid on 27 April 2020 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 20 March 2020.
Other financial highlights include:
Solid UK & Ireland performance:
o UK like-for-like sales excluding splits up 3.7% (1.9% including splits)
o Ireland like-for-like sales excluding splits up 3.0% (1.5% including splits)
Underlying UK & Ireland EBIT of £102.4m, up 1.4%
Underlying PBT excludes net non-underlying charges of £23.7m, largely relating to previously announced corporate store impairment of £18.7m and contribution to eCommerce fund of £7.1m
Net Debt £232.6m, 1.99x Net Debt/EBITDA on a continuing basis and 2.28x including discontinued operations EBITDA
