Sodexo: Solid revenue growth in Fiscal 2019
Issy-les-Moulineaux, November 7, 2019 - Sodexo (NYSE Euronext Paris FR 0000121220-OTC: SDXAY). At the Board of Directors meeting held on November 6, 2019 and chaired by Sophie Bellon, the Board closed the Consolidated and Company accounts for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2019.
Financial performance for Fiscal 2019
(in millions of euro) | FISCAL 2019 (ENDED AUGUST 31, 2019) | FISCAL 2018 (ENDED AUGUST 31, 2018) | DIFFERENCE | DIFFERENCE CONSTANT RATES |
Revenue | 21,954 | 20,407 | +7.6% | +6.2% |
Organic growth | +3.6% | +1.6% | ||
UNDERLYING OPERATING PROFIT | 1,200 | 1,128 | +6.4% | +6.0% |
UNDERLYING OPERATING PROFIT MARGIN | 5.5% | 5.5% | = | = |
Other operating expenses | (141) | (131) | ||
OPERATING PROFIT | 1,059 | 997 | +7.7% | +7.3% |
Net financial expense | (100) | (90) | ||
Effective tax rate | 29.0% | 27.1% | ||
GROUP NET PROFIT | 665 | 651 | +2.2% | +1.7% |
EPS (in euro) | 4.56 | 4.40 | +3.6% | |
UNDERLYING NET PROFIT | 765 | 706 | +8.3% | +7.8% |
UNDERLYING EPS (in euro) | 5.25 | 4.77 | +10.1% | |
Proposed dividend per share (in euro) | 2.902 | 2.75 | +5.5% | |
Net Capital expenditure / Revenue | 1.9% | 1.4% | ||
Cash conversion | 136% | 165% | ||
Debt Ratio | 0.9 | 1.0 |
Commenting on the performance of the year, Sodexo CEO Denis Machuel said:
“Our Focus on Growth strategic agenda is working with revenue growth exceeding our expectations in nearly all regions, particularly in North America. This year we have invested in sales, marketing, training, digital and IT, reinvesting productivity gains for the greatest impact to structure solid and recurring top line growth. We have also enhanced execution on certain large contracts and our targeting and signing discipline is improving. Renewed management vigor at all levels coupled with some key recruitments have helped to positively evolve our culture and further embed discipline throughout the organization.
Although our global retention and development KPIs are not where we would like them to be, I am convinced that we are on the right path to better growth over the next few years.”
Highlights of the period
At the next Shareholders meeting, on the recommendation of the Nominating Committee, the Board will propose, as independent Directors:
In addition, the Board offers its sincere thanks for their tremendous contributions to the Board to:
Should these appointments and renewals be approved by shareholders at the General meeting on January 21, 2020, the Board would be composed of 12 members, including 2 employee representatives. Amongst the 10 elected members, 7 are independent, 6 are female and the average age is 55 years old.
Outlook
The Focus on Growth strategic agenda has delivered growth of more than 3% this year. There are many action plans around the group with initiatives to enhance quality of new and renewed contracts, operational efficiency and growth.
For Fiscal 2020, while growth in North America remains challenging as the Healthcare contract losses fall out of revenues and with net new business being only neutral in Education, growth in all other areas and segments should continue to accelerate.
This year also benefits from two major sports events in Japan, with the Rugby World Cup in the first quarter and the 2020 Summer Olympics in the fourth quarter.
The Group is continuing to identify new Fit for the Future initiatives to generate SG&A savings. This will complement the operational productivity coming through due to more discipline and STEP implementation. These savings will continue to be reinvested in accelerating growth.
As a result, for Fiscal 2020 the Group is expecting:
Mid-term, the Group aims to deliver market leading profitable growth. Current Group investments, activity mix and geographic presence provide us with the opportunities to capture this growth. Sodexo is capable of accelerating organic growth over the years to come while ensuring a sustainable and inclusive business model.
As organic growth increases, growth investments will be kept under control, so that the effects of enhanced discipline and efficiency gains will feed margin expansion.
Denis Machuel and the Board extend their sincere thanks to the 470,000 employees who have each in their own way, contributed to the improved financial performance in Fiscal 2019 while at the same time making the quality of life of others part of their daily work.
Conference call
Sodexo will hold a conference call (in English) today at 9:00 a.m. (Paris time), 8:00 a.m. (London time) to comment on its results for Fiscal 2019. Those who wish to connect from the UK may dial +44 2071 928 000 or from France + 33 1 76 70 07 94, or from the USA +1 631-510-7495, followed by the passcode 52 72 754.
The press release, presentation and webcast will be available on the Group website www.sodexo.com in both the "Latest News" section and the "Finance - Financial Results" section.
Fiscal 2020 financial calendar
Publication of Universal Registration Document | November 21, 2019 |
1st quarter revenues | January 9, 2020 |
Fiscal 2019 Annual Shareholders' Meeting | January 21, 2020 |
Dividend ex-date | January 30, 2020 |
Dividend record date | January 31, 2020 |
Dividend payment date | February 3, 2020 |
1st half results | April 9, 2020 |
Nine-month revenues | July 7, 2020 |
Fiscal 2020 Annual results | October 29, 2020 |
Fiscal 2020 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting | January 12, 2021 |
About Sodexo
Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the global leader in services that improve Quality of Life, an essential factor in individual and organizational performance. Operating in 67 countries, Sodexo serves 100 million consumers each day through its unique combination of On-site Services, Benefits and Rewards Services and Personal and Home Services. Sodexo provides clients an integrated offering developed over more than 50 years of experience: from foodservices, reception, maintenance and cleaning, to facilities and equipment management; from services and programs fostering employees’ engagement to solutions that simplify and optimize their mobility and expenses management, to in-home assistance, child care centers and concierge services. Sodexo’s success and performance are founded on its independence, its sustainable business model and its ability to continuously develop and engage its 470,000 employees throughout the world.
Sodexo is included in the CAC 40, FTSE 4 Good and DJSI indices.
Key figures (as of August 31, 2019) 22.0 billion euro in consolidated revenues 470,000 employees 19th largest private employer worldwide 67 countries 100 million consumers served daily 14,7 billion euro in market capitalization (as of November 6, 2019) |
Contacts
Analysts and Investors | Press |
Virginia Jeanson Tel: +33 1 57 75 80 56 virginia.jeanson@sodexo.com | Mathieu Scaravetti Tel: +33 6 28 62 21 91 mathieu.scaravetti@sodexo.com |
FINANCIAL REPORT
FISCAL 2019
Fiscal year ended August 31, 2019
FISCAL 2019 ACTIVITY REPORT
FISCAL 2019 YEAR HIGHLIGHTS
Focus on Growth
The Group’s strategic agenda Focus on Growth has oriented the actions to generate productivity, by enhancing operational efficiency, to free up the means to continue to invest in growth by being more client and consumer centric. There has been a focused effort to put food back into the heart of everything we do. We are reinforcing discipline into our organization, by nurturing talent with new training, a new performance development framework Aspire, and considerable management changes, particularly in North America.
Anchoring corporate responsibility is exemplified by the launch in Fiscal 2019 of a global focus on food waste, with the program Waste-Watch, powered by Leanpath, to be deployed in 3,000 sites by the end of Fiscal 2020.
The STEP project, Sodexo’s performance management framework, is expected to focus management on the operational KPIs. The deployment is progressing in line with plan. The standardized cloud-based dashboard including 21 operational KPIs, with cost of worked hour, spend per consumer or food costs for example, went live in September 2019, for certain segments, in six countries and is expected to be available on 7,500 sites by February 2020.
Enhanced discipline across the Group
The reignition of growth in Fiscal 2019 has been accompanied by signs of renewed discipline in the organization.
This is demonstrated by the following elements:
Growth investments financed by productivity
In line with the strategic agenda, productivity gains are being achieved. Onsite, clear signs of better control of food costs and labor management are coming through, although some of this has been offset by continued wage inflation, particularly in North America. Offsite, the results of the Fit for the Future program to streamline, standardize and mutualize SG&A costs are also helping to reduce costs.
This productivity has been reinvested back into the business. The key focus has been to accelerate growth, not just on a short-term basis, but also on a medium and long-term basis. The increase in investments in Onsite Services has been directed towards widening and improving our digital offers, data management, IT upgrade, improving and digitalizing sales and marketing. In Benefits and Rewards, the focus has been on transforming the organization with a new sales model, digital marketing, data management optimization, innovative payment solutions, enhancing the platforms and infrastructures for the digital solutions of the traditional benefits business.
FISCAL 2019 PERFORMANCE
Consolidated income statement
(in millions of euro) | FISCAL 2019 (ENDED AUGUST 31, 2019) | FISCAL 2018 (ENDED AUGUST 31, 2018) | DIFFERENCE | DIFFERENCE CONSTANT RATES |
Revenue | 21,954 | 20,407 | +7.6% | +6.2% |
Organic growth | +3.6% | +1.6% | ||
UNDERLYING OPERATING PROFIT | 1,200 | 1,128 | +6.4% | +6.0% |
UNDERLYING OPERATING PROFIT MARGIN | 5.5% | 5.5% | = | = |
Other operating expenses | (141) | (131) | ||
OPERATING PROFIT | 1,059 | 997 | +6.2% | +5.8% |
Net financial expense | (100) | (90) | ||
Effective tax rate | 29.0% | 27.1% | ||
GROUP NET PROFIT | 665 | 651 | +2.2% | +1.7% |
EPS (in euro) | 4.56 | 4.40 | +3.6% | |
UNDERLYING NET PROFIT | 765 | 706 | +8.3% | +7.8% |
UNDERLYING EPS (in euro) | 5.25 | 4.77 | +10.1% |
Currency effect
Exchange rate fluctuations do not generate operational risks, because each subsidiary bills its revenues and incurs its expenses in the same currency. However, given the weight of the Benefit & Rewards business in Brazil, and the high level of the margins relative to the Group, when the Brazilian Real declines against the euro, it has a negative effect on the underlying operating margin due to a change in the mix of margins. Conversely, when the Brazilian Real improves, Group margins increase.
1€= | AVERAGE RATE FY 19 | AVERAGE RATE FY 18 | AVERAGE RATE FY 19 VS. FY18 | CLOSING RATE FY 19 AT 31/08/2019 | CLOSING RATE FY18 AT. 31/08/18 | CLOSING RATE 31/08/19 VS. 31/08/18 |
U.S. DOLLAR | 1.134 | 1.193 | +5.2% | 1.104 | 1.165 | +5.6% |
POUND STERLING | 0.885 | 0.884 | -0.1% | 0.906 | 0.897 | -0.9% |
BRAZILIAN REAL | 4.384 | 4.075 | -7.0% | 4.588 | 4.859 | +5.9% |
Sodexo operates in 67 countries. The percentage of total revenues and underlying operating profit denominated in the main currencies are as follows:
(FY19) | % OF REVENUES | % OF UNDERLYING OPERATING PROFIT |
U.S. DOLLAR | 42% | 48% |
EURO | 25% | 3% |
UK POUND STERLING | 9% | 10% |
BRAZILIAN REAL | 5% | 20% |
The currency effect is determined by applying the previous year’s average exchange rates to the current year figures except in hyper-inflationary economies where all figures are converted at the latest closing rate for both periods when the impact is significant.
As a result, for the calculation of organic growth of the On-site Services activities in Argentina, Peso figures for Fiscal 2019 and Fiscal 2018 have been converted at the exchange rate of 1€ = 63.975 ARS vs 44.302 ARS for Fiscal 2018.
Starting Fiscal 2019 Venezuela is accounted for using the equity method. Consequently, Venezuela is no longer included in revenue.
Revenues
Revenues by activity
REVENUES BY SEGMENT (in millions of euro) | FY2019 | FY2018 | RESTATED ORGANIC GROWTH | ORGANIC GROWTH | EXTERNAL GROWTH | CURRENCY EFFECT | TOTAL GROWTH | |
Business & Administrations | 11,577 | 10,938 | +3.5% | +1.9% | +3.5% | +0.4% | +5.8% | |
Healthcare & Seniors | 5,210 | 4,768 | +2.1% | +5.5% | +1.0% | +2.8% | +9.3% | |
Education | 4,280 | 3,855 | +4.6% | +4.7% | +2.5% | +3.9% | +11.0% | |
On-site Services | 21,067 | 19,561 | +3.3% | +3.3% | +2.7% | +1.7% | +7.7% | |
Benefits & Rewards Services | 892 | 850 | +8.5% | +8.5% | +0.1% | -3.7% | +4.9% | |
Elimination | -4 | -4 | ||||||
TOTAL GROUPE | 21,954 | 20,407 | +3.6% | +3.6% | +2.6% | +1.5% | +7.6% |
Fiscal 2019 consolidated revenues totaled 22 billion euro, up +7.6% year-on-year. This growth is the result of organic growth of +3.6%, a contribution from acquisitions of +2.6%, with in particular the full year impact of the Centerplate acquisition, and positive currency movements for +1.5%, helped by the strength of the US dollar more than offsetting the weakness in the Brazilian Real.
On-site Services
On-site Services organic revenue growth was +3.3% in Fiscal 2019, the highest rate of growth achieved in the last 7 years. All regions and segments contributed to this growth.
The Fiscal 2019 KPIs were mixed: net new business was neutral with Development at 6.3%, compensating for Retention at 93.3%. Comparable site sales growth was strong at +3.1%.
Retention was 93.3% in Fiscal 2019, down 50 bps relative to Fiscal 2018. Excluding a large contract exit in Healthcare North America, where profitability was inadequate, retention would have been up 10bps. This large contract will terminate in the first quarter of Fiscal 2020.
The primary focus of the new Healthcare management team in North America is to return to operational excellence on existing contracts and improving productivity, and where this is impossible closing the contract.
At 6.3%, the development rate was down 50 bps. This reflects a more active selection process to identify the contracts where the Group believes it can add value to the client while generating good margins. The Corporate Services strategy to improve the mix of signatures between large global accounts which ramp-up over years and small local accounts which ramp-up rapidly is also having an impact. In Healthcare, the new management team is regenerating the pipeline. In Sports & Leisure, as expected, development was low, due to the successful and substantial renewals program in North America which mobilized the teams. All other regions and segments have improved their development rates and Sodexo was chosen recently to manage hospitality for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan. The contribution of the Rugby World Cup and the Olympics will add around 100bps to comparable unit growth in Fiscal 2020.
Comparable site sales growth of +3,1% is up 50 bps relative to Fiscal 2018, reflecting a combination of more inflation pass-through and solid cross-selling, offset somewhat by a net negative impact from the IFRS 15 implementation of about 20bps.
In Fiscal 2019, food services organic growth improved, while non-food services continue to perform well with high single-digit growth. Non-food services represent 34% of On-site Services revenue.
On-site Services Revenues by Region
REVENUES BY REGION (In millions of euro) | FY2019 | FY2018 | RESTATED ORGANIC GROWTH |
North America | 9,572 | 8,707 | +1.8% |
Europe | 8,129 | 7,690 | +3.2% |
Africa, Asia, Australia, Latam, Middle East | 3,366 | 3,163 | +7.9% |
ONSITE SERVICES TOTAL | 21,067 | 19,561 | +3.3% |
Outside North America, representing 55% of On-site Services revenue, organic growth was +4.6%.
Brexit: In June 2016, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. Sodexo has been present in the United Kingdom since 1988 and has around 35,000 employees there today. The Group’s business should not be materially impacted by the United Kingdom leaving the European Union. The Group is a local player, working with local suppliers and employees, and very often for Government authorities and Government services. Action plans have been put in place to limit the impact of a hard or no deal Brexit on food prices and availability. We have noticed a slowdown in new business opportunities even though same site sales growth and retention remain solid. Of course, growth in activity will remain dependent upon growth in GDP and employment in the country. |
Business & Administrations
Revenues
REVENUES BY REGION (In millions of euro) | FY2019 | FY2018 | RESTATED ORGANIC GROWTH |
North America | 3,263 | 2,822 | +1.9% |
Europe | 5,371 | 5,313 | +2.5% |
Africa, Asia, Australia, Latam, Middle East | 2,942 | 2,804 | +6.8% |
BUSINESS & ADMINISTRATIONS TOTAL | 11,577 | 10,938 | +3.5% |
Fiscal 2019 Business & Administrations revenues totaled 11.6 billion euro, with organic growth of +3.5%.
In North America organic growth was up +1.9% reflecting strong growth in Corporate Services, driven by same site sales growth, new contracts and solid retention, compensating weaker organic growth in other segments. Government & Agencies same site sales growth was impacted negatively by the renewal of the US Marines Corp contract, although the trend is improving progressively quarter by quarter, as the new contract ramps-up. In Sports & Leisure, organic growth was negative due to the exit of some less profitable contracts. The very substantial and successful contract renewal program this year mobilized the sales teams, resulting in low levels of new development. Energy & Resources remains volatile, quarter by quarter, and impacted by a tough comparable base in the first quarter due to a large one-off project in Fiscal 2018.
In Europe, sales were up +2.5% organically. Corporate Services continued to generate solid growth due to cross-selling, an easier comparative base in Benelux, and strong growth in southern and eastern Europe. Summer tourism in Paris was better than expected partially compensating a contract loss in France. Government & Agencies improved quarter by quarter during the year. Energy & Resources turned positive in the second half.
In Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America, Middle East organic revenue growth remains strong at +6.8% for the year, reflecting strong growth in same site sales and new business in Corporate Services in all regions, progressive improvement quarter by quarter in Energy & Resources growth, and a successful Pan-American Games in August in Peru.
Healthcare & Seniors
REVENUES BY REGION (In millions of euro) | FY2019 | FY2018 | RESTATED ORGANIC GROWTH |
North America | 3,211 | 3,001 | +1.5% |
Europe | 1,678 | 1,493 | +0.9% |
Africa, Asia, Australia, Latam, Middle East | 321 | 274 | +17.4% |
HEALTHCARE & SENIORS TOTAL | 5,210 | 4,768 | +2.1% |
Healthcare & Seniors revenues amounted to 5.2 billion euro, up +2.1% organically.
In North America, organic growth was +1.5%. The renewed management team is focused on improving execution and productivity, generating more cross-selling on existing contracts, passing through inflation and putting more discipline into the sales process. Retention was impacted this year due to the loss of several contracts and one large contract exit for which profitability has been an issue. These contracts started to fall out of revenues in the fourth quarter but will continue to do so in the first half of Fiscal 2020. Development has also been slow due to a much more selective process, impacting the pipeline of opportunities. However, the contracts signed are more robust. Seniors organic growth improved progressively quarter by quarter, after the loss of a significant contract in the first quarter.
In Europe, organic growth was +0.9%. The slow market dynamic in both Hospitals and Seniors and the resulting negative net new business in most countries has hampered growth. On the other hand, same site sales growth was strong, particularly in northern Europe. The pipeline is showing signs of improvement, particularly in the UK.
In Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America, Middle East organic revenue growth has remained strong all year, at +17.4% despite the comparable base becoming more and more challenging quarter after quarter. The growth reflects new contract startups in Brazil and Asia, as clients seek to benefit from the transfer of the Group’s expertise, and particularly strong same site sales growth across the regions. The development rate has slowed down slightly during the year but remains well over the average for the segment.
Education
REVENUES BY REGION (In millions of euro) | FY2019 | FY2018 | ORGANIC GROWTH |
North America | 3,098 | 2,884 | +2.2% |
Europe | 1,079 | 885 | +12.0% |
Africa, Asia, Australia, Latam, Middle East | 102 | 86 | +12.3% |
EDUCATION TOTAL | 4,280 | 3,855 | +4.7% |
Revenues in Education were 4.3 billion euro, up +4.7% organically.
North America was up +2.2%, or +3.6% excluding the IFRS 15 impact4. While net new business from last year was neutral, same site sales growth has been solid, helped by inflation pass-through, some impact from extra working days, and solid summer works. The selling season in Fiscal 2019 remained broadly neutral, with higher retention but lower development.
In Europe, organic growth was +12%. This strong performance is driven by solid prior year contract wins in the UK and the start-up in January of the new School contract in the Yvelines department, the biggest School contract ever signed in France, combining both food and facilities management services.
In Africa, Asia, Australia, Latin America, and the Middle East, organic growth was +12.3%, despite an ever higher comparable base, resulting from the opening of several new School and University contracts in China, Singapore and India.
Benefits and Rewards Services
Benefits & Rewards Services revenue amounted to 892 million euro, up +4.9%. Currencies had a negative impact of -3.7%, due principally to the weakness of the Brazilian real and the Turkish lira. The scope change was negligible. Organic growth in revenues was strong at +8.5%, with a very strong first nine months, and then a slowing down against a higher comparable base in the fourth quarter.
REVENUES BY ACTIVITY (In millions of euro) | FY2019 | FY2018 | ORGANIC GROWTH |
Employee benefits | 709 | 677 | +9.4% |
Diversification services* | 183 | 173 | +5.0% |
BENEFITS & REWARDS SERVICES | 892 | 850 | +8.5% |
*Including Incentive & Recognition, Mobility & Expenses and Public Benefits
Employee Benefit revenues were up +9.4% organically, compared to organic growth in issue volume (13.5 billion euro) of +7.1%. In Brazil, growth was strong in the first half, slowing down in the second due to the strong comparable base and economic environment which became progressively more difficult. Growth was strong in Europe.
Services Diversification was up +5% organically, or +18.7% excluding some portfolio rationalization in Incentive & Recognition, resulting from strong double-digit growth in Mobility & Expense and rapid development in Corporate Health & Wellness offers.
REVENUES BY NATURE (In millions of euro) | FY2019 | FY2018 | ORGANIC GROWTH |
Operating Revenues | 818 | 777 | +8.4% |
Financial Revenues | 74 | 73 | +9.1% |
BENEFITS & REWARDS SERVICES | 892 | 850 | +8.5% |
Operating revenues were up +8.4%, with solid growth in western Europe, double digit growth in eastern and southern Europe and strong growth in Latin America. Financial revenues were up +9.1% as a result of continued volume growth across the regions this year and an increase in interest rates in Turkey, Czech Republic and Romania, where we also had an exceptionally high float due to exceptionally high issuance at the end of the previous fiscal year. Growth was slower in the fourth quarter due to the decline in Brazilian interest rates.
REVENUES BY REGION (in millions of euro) | FY2019 | FY2018 | ORGANIC GROWTH |
Europe, Asia and USA | 508 | 473 | +8.6% |
Latin America | 384 | 377 | +8.3% |
BENEFITS & REWARDS SERVICES | 892 | 850 | +8.5% |
In Europe, Asia and USA, organic growth in revenues remains strong at +8.6%. This performance is due to a solid performance in western Europe, double-digit growth in eastern and southern Europe, and Turkey. Rydoo, the end-to-end travel and expense management system is growing very strongly as are the Corporate Health and Wellness offers.
Organic growth in Latin America was +8.3% reflects strong growth in activity in the first half of the year, following on from the strong pick-up in Brazil in the third quarter of Fiscal 2018. Growth slowed down in the fourth quarter due to the higher comparable base. Momentum in Mexico remained good and growth in Chile was strong.
Underlying operating profit
Fiscal 2019 Underlying operating profit amounted to 1.2 billion euro, up +6.4%, or +6% excluding the currency effect. Underlying operating margin was 5.5%, stable relative to the previous year, on current and constant exchange rates. The On-site Services margin was stable at 5% and the Benefits & Rewards Services margin at 31% was up 20 bps, or +110 bps, excluding the currency mix effect of the weakness of the Brazilian Real.
(in millions of euro) | UNDERLYING OPERATING PROFIT FISCAL 2019 | DIFFERENCE | DIFFERENCE (EXCLUDING CURRENCY EFFECT) | UNDERLYING OPERATING PROFIT MARGIN FISCAL 2019 | DIFFERENCE MARGIN | DIFFERENCE IN MARGIN (EXCLUDING CURRENCY MIX EFFECT) |
Business & Administrations | 487 | +8.0% | +7.1% | 4.2% | + 0 bps | + 0 bps |
Healthcare & Seniors | 342 | +9.6% | +6.3% | 6.6% | + 30 bps | + 20 bps |
Education | 220 | -1,4% | -5.7% | 5.1% | - 70 bps | - 70 bps |
ON-SITE SERVICES | 1,049 | +6.4% | +3.9% | 5.0% | + 0 bps | + 0 bps |
BENEFITS & REWARDS SERVICES | 276 | +5.7% | +12.7% | 31.0% | + 20 bps | + 110 bps |
Corporate expenses & Intragroup eliminations | (126) | -4.7% | -4.1% | |||
UNDERLYING OPERATING PROFIT | 1,200 | +6.4% | +6.0% | 5.5% | + 0 bps | + 0 bps |
In On-site Services, underlying operating profit was up 6.4%, or 3.9% excluding the currency impact. Margin was stable. The performance by segment, excluding the currency effect, is as follows:
In Benefits & Rewards Services, underlying operating profit and margin were up respectively
+12.7% and +110 bps, excluding currency impacts. This is due to the strong recovery in volumes and a relative stabilization of interest rates in Brazil, despite weakness in the last quarter. Investments are continuing, to implement the digital transformation of the organization.
Group net profit
Other operating income and expenses were 141 million euro versus 131 million euro in the previous year. Restructuring costs reached 46 million euro compared to 42 million euro in the previous year. While amortization and depreciation of acquired intangible assets were up against the previous year linked principally to the ongoing effects of the Centerplate acquisition and some intangibles impairment, this was nearly compensated by lower acquisition costs and net gains from the sale of subsidiaries, linked to the exit of some countries.
(in millions of euro) | FISCAL 2019 | FISCAL 2018 |
Other operating income | 11 | 10 |
Gains related to consolidation scope changes | 9 | 3 |
Gains on changes of post-employment benefits | 1 | - |
Other | 1 | 7 |
Other operating expenses | (152) | (141) |
Restructuring and rationalization costs | (46) | (42) |
Acquisition-related costs | (11) | (15) |
Losses related to consolidation scope changes | - | (18) |
Losses on changes of post-employment benefits | (4) | - |
Amortization and impairment of acquired intangible assets | (85) | (52) |
Impairment of non-current assets | - | - |
Other | (6) | (14) |
Other Operating income and expenses | (141) | (131) |
As a result, the Operating Profit was 1,059 million euro, up +6.2%.
Net financial expenses increased by 10 million euro, to 100 million euros essentially due to the absence of the exceptional interest payment from the French State on the dividend tax reimbursement of 7 million euro last year. The remainder is due to higher debt resulting from the acquisition of Centerplate in January 2018 and the share buy-backs last year and the related refinancing. A new 9-year sterling bond was issued in June 2019, partially offsetting a repayment of a tranche from the 2014 USPP in March 2019. Though they have reduced the Group’s short-term funding from commercial paper at negative interest rates, these operations have ensured that the average debt maturity remains over 5 years and provided a hedge for sterling cashflow. The blended cost of debt was 2.6% as of August 31, 2019, compared to 2.5% at the end of Fiscal 2018.
The effective tax rate returned to a more normal level at 29.0% after the exceptional 27.1% in Fiscal Year 2018 which benefited from a positive one-off in France from the reimbursement of the 3% contribution on distributed dividends over the period 2013-2017. It now fully reflects the positive impact of the tax rate reduction in the USA.
The share of profit of other companies consolidated by the equity method was 4 million euro. Profit attributed to non-controlling interests was 21 million euro, after 13 million euro in the previous year due notably to the contribution from the joint venture managing the Rugby World Cup.
As a result, Group net profit was 665 million euro, up +2.2%. Underlying net profit amounted to 765 million euro, up +8.3%, or +7.8% excluding the currency impact, adjusted for Other operating income and expenses at a normalized tax rate.
Earnings per share
Hinweis: ARIVA.DE veröffentlicht in dieser Rubrik Analysen, Kolumnen und Nachrichten aus verschiedenen Quellen. Die ARIVA.DE AG ist nicht verantwortlich für Inhalte, die erkennbar von Dritten in den „News“-Bereich dieser Webseite eingestellt worden sind, und macht sich diese nicht zu Eigen. Diese Inhalte sind insbesondere durch eine entsprechende „von“-Kennzeichnung unterhalb der Artikelüberschrift und/oder durch den Link „Um den vollständigen Artikel zu lesen, klicken Sie bitte hier.“ erkennbar; verantwortlich für diese Inhalte ist allein der genannte Dritte.