BAG27 Sep 2011 09:15
A.G. BARR p.l.c., the soft drinks Group which produces and markets some of the U.K.'s leading brands, including IRN-BRU, Rubicon and Strathmore water, announces its interim results for the 6 months ended 30 July 2011.
Key Points
· Total turnover increased by 4% to £124.0m (2010: £119.2m); quarter two revenue increasing by 5.1%
· Profit on ordinary activities before tax, excluding exceptional items, was marginally ahead of prior year at £16.2m (2010: £16.0m)
· Basic earnings per share, excluding exceptional items, increased by 6.9% to 32.44p (2010:30.35p)
· Free cash flow in the period was £9.7m
· Net debt reduced to £15.2m; annualised net debt/EBITDA <0.4 times
· Key brands IRN-BRU, Barr, Rubicon and KA collectively grew 6.0%
· Intention to invest in increased production capacity in the south of the U.K.
· Interim dividend of 7.30p per share (2010: 6.75p), an increase of 8.1% on the prior year