Financial Highlights
· Adjusted profit before tax1 up 4% to £23.8 million (2016/17: £22.8 million)
· Adjusted earnings per share2 up 5% to 34.22p (2016/17: 32.44p)
· Revenue up 6% to £209.3 million (2016/17: £197.6 million)
· EBITDA3 up 4% to £37.6 million (2016/17: £36.3 million)
· Interim dividend up 4% to 7.55p (2016/17: 7.25p)
· Pro-forma net debt to EBITDA4 at 2.8 times (2016/17: 3.0 times)
Operational Indicators
· Managed Pubs and Hotels outperformed the market, with like for like sales growing by 3.6% and a rise in like for like accommodation sales of 8.2%
· Tenanted Inns like for like profit increased 3%, with 11 pubs sold and average EBITDA per pub rising 7%
· Total beer and cider volumes for The Fuller's Beer Company rose 1% against a flat UK market
Strategy Update
· Continued programme of investing in our estate to maintain our premium position and offer a first-class customer experience
· Addition of a further four bedrooms to the estate during the first half, with 14 more since the period end
· Pipeline of four managed sites
· Progression of strategic plan for our Tenanted Inns to grow this part of the business and benefit both Fuller's and our Tenants
· Rebranded and increased marketing investment in London Pride to reinforce the quality and authenticity of our core brand
· Investment in our central IT and back office systems, and improvements to our digital footprint, starting to deliver benefits across the business
Current Trading and Outlook
· Managed Pubs and Hotels like for like sales up by 3.7% for 33 weeks
· Tenanted Inns like for like profit rose 2% for 33 weeks
· Total beer and cider volumes increased 1% for 33 weeks
· Acquired The Manor near Christchurch, a freehold pub with 10 bedrooms
· Two new sites in key transport locations – Euston (The Signal Box) and Liverpool Street (The Parcel Office) – due to open in 2018
· Continued focus on investing in our people, our brands and our estate to deliver our strategic vision
· Well-invested, balanced business well-placed to mitigate continued headwinds.