Financial information
Results for the half year ended July 2009
Progress in the first half has been better than expected and the business has proved itself resilient in the face of a weak consumer environment. Sales and operating margins were ahead of last year in both Retail and Directory. Financial highlights are as follows:
- Group revenues increase to £1,512m
- Group operating profit increases to £199m
- Earnings per share rise to 68.2p
- Cash inflow of £114m
- Net debt reduced to £514m, ample debt facilities of £1bn
- Interim dividend increased by 1p to 19p
