Financial highlights
− Total Group revenue of £17,324 million including £2,100 million from discontinued operations and trading profit of £1,122 million including £63 million from discontinued operations.
− Revenue in the ongoing businesses was 8.6% ahead of last year at constant exchange rates and trading profit of £1,032 million was 8.7% ahead of last year at constant exchange rates.
− Gross margin of the ongoing businesses was 28.9%, 0.4% ahead of last year.
− Strong cash flow conversion. Net debt of £534 million at 31 July 2017.
− Proposed final dividend of 73.33p, bringing the total for the year to 110p, 10% ahead of last year.
− Share buyback of £500 million announced today.
Operating highlights
− US revenue growth of 10.4% at constant exchange rates including 7.1% on a like-for-like basis and continued market share gains.
− Good US residential and commercial markets, improved industrial markets in the second half.
− UK transformation continuing, trading profit stable in difficult markets.
− E-commerce revenue of £3 billion, now 20% of Group revenue.
− Completed 11 bolt-on acquisitions for total consideration of £292 million with five further acquisitions since year end.
− Nordics disposal progressing as planned.
− Group name changed on 31 July 2017 and presentational currency to US dollars from 1 August 2017.
