Financial highlights
Revenue of the ongoing businesses 5.2% ahead of last year including like-for-like growth of 3.2%.
Gross margin of the ongoing businesses of 28.2%, 0.4% ahead of last year.
Trading profit of the ongoing businesses £360 million, 8.8% ahead of last year.
Headline earnings per share of 91.4 pence, 15.3% ahead of last year.
Continued good cash generation with net debt of £927 million (2013: £871 million) after ordinary and special dividend payments of £476 million over the last year.
Proposed interim dividend of 27.5 pence per share, 25.0% ahead of last year, including a rebasing of 15% reflecting the Group's strong and sustainable cash flows.
