"I am delighted to report that the first 365 days in the transformation of Thomas Cook have been a great success. Our underlying EBIT for the year ended 30 September 2013 is up £86 million to £263 million, a rise of 49% compared with the previous year, putting our business back on a firm trajectory of profitable growth. We've taken out more cost more quickly than originally planned. The balance sheet has been strengthened; the £1.6 billion recapitalisation has been completed, maturities extended and we have almost halved our net debt. Finally and significantly, operational cash flow is gathering momentum.
Yet the implementation of our strategy for sustainable profitable growth has only just begun. With our systemised approach to business, our products, people and processes and our powerful unified brand, we are confident of delivering significantly more. Reflecting this, we are increasing three of our key 2015 targets: new product revenue, Wave 1 cost out and profit improvement and cash conversion. In addition, we are delighted to announce a new Wave 2 cost out and profit improvement target to be delivered by 2018, which will be of the same magnitude as wave 1. Totally committed to our continuing transformation, I look forward to Thomas Cook delivering even more value in the years to come."
Harriet Green, Group Chief Executive
Year ended 30 September 2013 compared with year ended 30 September 2012 (underlying):
· Encouraging profitable growth with revenue of £9,315 million (2012: £9,195 million), up £120 million, an increase of 1.3%, due to pricing, yield improvements and the effect of foreign exchange offsetting a managed reduction in committed capacity
· EBIT of £263 million (2012: £177 million), up £86 million, an increase of 48.6%, reflecting the benefits of disciplined capacity management, cost out and profit improvement initiatives
· EBIT margin rose by 90 basis points to 2.8% (2012: 1.9%)
· Underlying earnings per share improved significantly to 5.0p (2012: 0.6p)
· Free cash flow increased by £156 million to £53 million (2012: (£103)million) due to improved organic cash generation from the Group's operations
Stronger balance sheet
30 September 2013 compared with 30 September 2012:
· Net debt reduced by £367 million to £421 million (2012: £788 million), with £73 million of the reduction due to improved operational cash flow
· Credit ratings improved: Fitch "B" with positive outlook (2012: "B-" with stable outlook) and Standard & Poor's "B" with stable outlook (2012: "B-" with negative outlook) |