PRESS RELEASE
31 JULY 2020
2020 Current rates |
2020 Constant rates |
Change vs 2019 Current rates |
Change vs 2019 Constant rates |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
KEY NON-FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS1 | ||||
Cigarette and THP volume share | - | - | +50 bps | - |
Cigarette and THP value share | - | - | +20 bps | - |
Non-Combustibles consumers | 11.6m | - | +1.1m | - |
KEY FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS IFRS |
||||
Revenue | £12,271m | - | +0.8% | - |
Profit from operations | £5,097m | - | +16.4% | - |
Operating margin | 41.5% | - | +550 bps | - |
Effective tax rate | 23.0% | - | -210 bps | - |
Basic earnings per share (EPS) | 151.2p | - | +22.7% | - |
Diluted EPS | 150.7p | - | +22.7% | - |
Net cash generated from operating activities | £3,484m | - | +52.3% | - |
Cash conversion | 68% | - | +1,600 bps | - |
Borrowings | £50,461m | - | +0.3% | - |
Non-GAAP: | ||||
Adjusted revenue | £12,271m | £12,434m | +1.1% | +2.4% |
Adjusted profit from operations | £5,368m | £5,379m | +3.1% | +3.3% |
Adjusted operating margin | 43.7% | 43.3% | +80 bps | +40 bps |
Underlying tax rate | 25.0% | 24.9% | -160 bps | -170 bps |
Adjusted diluted EPS | 157.8p | 159.1p | +5.7% | +6.6% |
Adjusted cash generated from operations (ACGFO) | £2,806m | £2,719m | +91% | +85% |
Operating cash conversion | 80% | - | +1,400 bps | - |
Adjusted net debt | £44,237m | - | -2.8% | - |
The use of non-GAAP measures, including adjusting items and constant currencies, are further discussed on pages 59 to 64 of the full announcement, with reconciliations from the most comparable IFRS measure provided.
"The business is performing well in difficult circumstances as our continued focus on our three key priorities2 has enabled us to rapidly adapt to the current environment.
I would like to thank our staff, customers, partners and suppliers for working tirelessly through this difficult period. We expect the coming months to bring continued uncertainty. Nevertheless, we will continue to invest in accelerating our strategy. Building on our excellent momentum, we are confident that we will exit this crisis as a stronger and better business”
This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements, including “forward-looking” statements made within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “could,” “may,” “would,” “should,” “intend,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “positioned,” “strategy,” “outlook”, “target” and similar expressions. These include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or current expectations concerning, amongst other things, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth, strategies and the economic and business circumstances occurring from time to time in the countries and markets in which the Group operates, including the projected future financial and operating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In particular, these forward-looking statements include, among other statements, statements regarding the BAT Group’s future financial performance, planned product launches and future regulatory developments, as well as: (i) certain statements in the Sustainability and COVID-19 section (pages 5 to 7); (ii) certain statements in the Financial Performance Review section (pages 10 to 13); (iii) certain statements in the Category Performance Review section (pages 14 to 17); (iv) certain statements in the Regional Review section (pages 18 to 23); (v) certain statements under the headings “Update on investigations into Misconduct Allegations”, “Update on Quebec Class Action and CCAA” and “Going Concern” (pages 25 and 27); (vi) certain statements in the Notes to the Interim Financial Statements section (pages 37 to 54), including the Liquidity and Contingent Liabilities and Financial Commitments sections; (vii) certain statements in the Other Information section (pages 55 to 66), including the Non-GAAP Measures section and under the heading “Dividends”; and (viii) certain statements in the Chief Executive introduction (pages 1 to 2).
All such forward-looking statements involve estimates and assumptions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual future financial condition, performance and results to differ materially from the plans, goals, expectations and results expressed in the forward-looking statements and other financial and/or statistical data within this announcement. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements are uncertainties related to the following: the impact of competition from illicit trade; the impact of adverse domestic or international legislation and regulation; changes in domestic or international tax laws and rates and the impact of an unfavourable ruling by a tax authority in a disputed area; adverse litigation and dispute outcomes and the effect of such outcomes on the Group’s financial condition; changes or differences in domestic or international economic or political conditions; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic; adverse decisions by domestic or international regulatory bodies; the impact of market size reduction and consumer down-trading; translational and transactional foreign exchange rate exposure; the impact of serious injury, illness or death in the workplace; the ability to maintain credit ratings and to fund the business under the current capital structure; the inability to develop, commercialise and rollout New Categories; and changes in the market position, businesses, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the Group.
It is believed that the expectations reflected in this announcement are reasonable but they may be affected by a wide range of variables that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated. Past performance is no guide to future performance and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser. The forward-looking statements reflect knowledge and information available at the date of preparation of this announcement and the Group undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
No statement in this communication is intended to be a profit forecast and no statement in this communication should be interpreted to mean that earnings per share of BAT for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per share of BAT.
Additional information concerning these and other factors can be found in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the Annual Report on Form 20-F filed on 26 March 2020 and Current Reports on Form 6-K, which may be obtained free of charge at the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov, and the Company’s Annual Reports, which may be obtained free of charge from the British American Tobacco website www.bat.com.
Paul McCrory
Secretary
30 July 2020
Media Centre
+44 (0) 20 7845 2888 (24 hours) | @BATplc
Investor Relations
Victoria Buxton: +44 (0)20 7845 2012
John Harney: +44 (0)20 7845 1263