J.D. Wetherspoon PLC

Earnings Release • Mar 20, 2020

National Storage Mechanism | Additional information You don't have Javascript enabled. For full functionality this page requires javascript to be enabled. RNS Number : 8959G Wetherspoon (JD) PLC 20 March 2020 20 March 2020 J D WETHERSPOON PLC PRELIMINARY RESULTS (For the 26 weeks ended 26 January 2020) FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Before exceptional items (pre-IFRS 16) Revenue £933.0m (2019: £889.6m) +4.9% Like-for-like sales +5.0% Profit before tax £57.9m (2019: £50.3m) Operating profit £76.6m (2019: £63.5m) Earnings per share (including shares held in trust) 43.3p (2019: 37.4p) +15.2% +20.6% +15.8% Free cash flow per share 46.7p (2019: 67.9p) -31.2% Interim dividend cancelled (2019: 4.0p) Before exceptional items (post-IFRS 16) IFRS 16 did not apply in the previous financial year, so no comparison is included. Profit before tax £51.6m. PBT is lower because IFRS 16 assumes that the 'right to occupy' leasehold property for the term of the lease is an 'asset', which is approximately equivalent in value to future rental payments due - in this case estimated at £579m. It also assumed a liability in respect of future rental payments ('lease liabilities') of £584m. The depreciation charge has increased by £24m as a result of the amortisation of the new 'asset' over the remaining term of the leases. A notional interest charge (which will never be paid and is an accounting fiction) has also been assumed in respect of the liability of £584m of future rental payments. The IFRS 16 definition of PBT has not declined at the same amount as the increased depreciation and interest because the rent that was actually paid in the period (with some adjustments) has not been charged to the income statement. In other words, IFRS 16 has, broadly speaking, substituted actual rental payments for a complex system of notional payments or charges. Operating profit £80.8m. The Operating profit is £4.2m higher under IFRS 16 because the rental charge of about £28m (which represents the actual rent paid) has been substituted for a depreciation charge of £24m. Earnings per share (including shares held in trust) 38.5p After exceptional items (pre-IFRS 16) Profit before tax £42.0m (2019: £48.6m) Operating profit £76.6m (2019: £63.5m) -13.7% +20.6% Earnings per share (including shares held in trust) 29.8p (2019: 36.0p) -17.2% After exceptional items (post-IFRS 16) Profit before tax £35.7m Operating profit £80.8m Earnings per share (including shares held in trust) 25.0p Exceptional items, which totalled £15.9m resulted in a cash inflow of £2m. Commenting on the results, Tim Martin, the Chairman of J D Wetherspoon plc, said: "As recently reported, in the six weeks to 8 March 2020, like-for-like sales increased by 3.2% and total sales by 2.9%. In the following week, to 15 March, sales declined by 4.5%. In the early part of the current week, following the Prime Minister's advice to avoid pubs, sales have declined at a significantly higher rate. "It is obviously very difficult to predict, in these circumstances, how events will unfold in future weeks and months, but we now anticipate profits being below market expectations, so long as the current health scare continues. As a result of this uncertainty, it is impossible to provide realistic guidance on our performance in the remainder of the financial year. "The company has decided to delay most capital projects and to reduce expenditure, where possible, including the cancellation of the interim dividend. As a result of these actions, combined with the Government's proposals on business rates relief and credit guarantee facilities, the company believes it has sufficient liquidity to maintain operations at a substantially lower level of sales. "As many companies and commentators have noted, the current health crisis places the hospitality industry, in particular, under great pressure. Wetherspoon, like our peers, will be working closely with all parties, including employees, banks, landlords and suppliers, in order to emerge from the situation in the best shape." Enquiries: John Hutson Chief Executive Officer 01923 477777 Ben Whitley Finance Director 01923 477777 Eddie Gershon Company spokesman 07956 392234 Photographs are available at: newscast.co.uk Notes to editors 1. J D Wetherspoon owns and operates pubs throughout the UK and Ireland. The Company aims to provide customers with good-quality food and drink, served by well-trained and friendly staff, at reasonable prices. The pubs are individually designed and the Company aims to maintain them in excellent condition. 2. Visit our website jdwetherspoon.com 3. This announcement has been prepared solely to provide additional information to the shareholders of J D Wetherspoon, in order to meet the requirements of the UK Listing Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules. It should not be relied on by any other party, for other purposes. Forward-looking statements have been made by the directors in good faith using information available up until the date that they approved this statement. Forward-looking statements should be regarded with caution because of inherent uncertainties in economic trends and business risks. 4. The annual report and financial statements 2019 has been published on the Company's website on 13 September 2019. 5. The current financial year comprises 52 trading weeks to 26 July 2020. 6. The next trading update will be issued on 13 May 2020. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT AND OPERATING REVIEW In the 26 weeks ended 26 January 2020, like-for-like sales increased by 5.0%, with total sales increasing by 4.9% to £933.0m (2019: £889.6m). Like-for-like bar sales increased by 4.2% (2019: 5.9%), food by 5.6% (2019: 7.1%) and fruit/slot machines by 20.3% (2019: 5.7%). Like-for-like hotel room sales decreased by 1.3% (2019: increased by 0.3%). Bar sales were 60.0% of total sales, food 36.1%, fruit/slot machines 2.8% and rooms 1.1%. Pre-IFRS 16 operating profit increased by 20.6% to £76.6m (2019: £63.5m). The operating margin was 8.2% (2019: 7.1%). Profit before tax and exceptional items increased by 15.2% to £57.9m (2019: £50.3m). Higher sales, higher gross profit and lower property costs contributed to the increase, offsetting higher wages, repairs and taxes. Earnings per share, including shares held in trust by the employee share scheme, and before exceptional items, increased by 15.8% to 43.3p (2019: 37.4p). As illustrated in the table in the tax section below, the company paid taxes of £402.8m in the period under review (2019: £375.6m), which is 31.9% higher than five years ago. Net interest was covered 4.1 times by profit before interest, tax and exceptional items (2019: 4.0 times). Total capital investment was £128.5m in the period (2019: £95.5m). £70.7m was spent on freehold reversions of properties where Wetherspoon was the tenant (2019: £55.7m), £34.1m on 'reinvestment' in existing pubs (2019: £24.9m) and £23.7m on new pub openings and pub extensions (2019: £14.8m). Exceptional items totalled £15.9m (2019: £1.6m) and resulted in a cash inflow of £2m. £6.4m has been charged in respect of the disposal of 6 pubs in the period and in respect of a number of future disposals and aborted transactions. Following a review, an exceptional charge of £9.5m has been made, reflecting a revised view of the future value of IT projects. Free cash flow, after capital investment of £34.5m in existing pubs (2019: £26.1m), £9.3m for share purchases for employees (2019: £9.0m) and payments of tax and interest, was £49.0m (2019: £71.7m). Free cash flow per share decreased by 31.2% to 46.7p (2019: 67.9p). The decrease was due mainly to the timing of supplier payments, an earlier payment of corporation tax and increased reinvestment. Dividends In view of current uncertainty, the board has decided to cancel the interim dividend (2019: £4.2m). Corporation tax We expect the overall corporation tax charge for the financial year, including current and deferred taxation, to be approximately 21.6%, on a pre-IFRS 16 basis, before exceptional items (2019: 21.4%). As in previous years, the company's tax rate is higher than the standard UK tax rate, owing mainly to depreciation which is not eligible for tax relief. Comment on IFRS 16 I believe the IFRS 16 is confusing and misleading. Common sense suggests that rent should be regarded as a cost in the income statement. Instead, a complex formula disregards actual rent paid and substitutes a notional asset (the 'right to occupy'), which attracts a depreciation charge, and a notional interest charge based on the total rental liability for the lease term, even though the great majority of the rental liability does not crystallise, in almost all cases, for many years. Part of the purpose may be to equate rent with debt. However, for companies like Wetherspoon at least, rent bears almost no resemblance to debt. Debt is invariably for a fixed term and the full amount is repayable at the end of the term. Debt therefore carries a refinancing risk. In contrast, Wetherspoon leases, for example, carry no refinancing risk - there is just a liability to pay the rent when it falls due. Of course leases carry a great risk- as so many restaurant companies and retailers have unfortunately demonstrated. However, it does not make sense to treat future liabilities in this way - why not treat future business rates or VAT liabilities in this way, if it's appropriate for rent? The most important criticism of IFRS 16 is that the complexity it creates means that it will only be understood by experts - in general, good for the experts, but bad for business efficiency, shareholders and the public. Share buybacks During the half year, 419,741 shares (0.40% of the share capital) were repurchased by the company for cancellation, at a cost of £6.5m, an average cost per share of 1,523p (2019: £Nil). Financing As at 26 January 2020, the company's net debt, including bank borrowings and finance leases, but excluding derivatives, was £804.5m, an increase of £67.5m, compared with that of the previous year end (2019: £737.0m). The net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio was 3.54 times at the period end (28 July 2019: 3.36 times). On 20 August 2019, the company entered into a new seven-year private placement agreement, which extends its total facilities, excluding finance leases, from £895m to £993m. As previously stated, it is intended that the company's net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio will be around 3.5 times for the foreseeable future. The ratio might rise for a temporary period, if there were, for example, a sudden deterioration in trading, in which instance the company would seek to reduce the level in a timely manner. Insofar as it is possible to generalise, the board believes that debt levels of between 0 and 2 times EBITDA are a sensible long - term benchmark. A higher level of debt may be justifiable - at times when interest rates are low and other factors are favourable. Property During the period, we opened one new pub and disposed of six, bringing the number open at the period end to 874. The company is also redeveloping a number of successful pubs, usually adding extra interior customer space, a garden, staff rooms and, in some cases, hotel rooms. Recent examples include the Prior John in Bridlington, the Sirhowy in Blackwood and the Blue Bell in Scunthorpe. Following a review of our estate, we placed around 130 pubs on the market in the last few years, most of which have now been sold. 10 years ago our freehold/leasehold split was 41.3/58.7%. As a result of investment in the course of the last few years in 'freehold reversions', the split was 63.6/36.4% at the period end. UK taxes and regulation Pubs and restaurants pay proportionally far higher levels of UK tax than do supermarkets. The main disparity relates to VAT (value added tax), since supermarkets pay no VAT in respect of their food sales, whereas pubs pay 20%, enabling supermarkets to subsidise their alcoholic drinks prices. Pubs also pay approximately 18p per pint in respect of business rates, while supermarkets pay less than 2p per pint. In addition, the government has, in recent years, introduced both a 'late-night levy' and additional fruit/slot machine taxes, further reducing the competitive position of pubs in relation to supermarkets. The tax disparity with supermarkets is unfair. Pubs create significantly more jobs and more taxes per pint or per meal than do supermarkets and it does not make social or economic sense for the UK tax régime to favour supermarkets. We acknowledge the need for companies to pay a reasonable level of tax, but hope that legislators will make prompt progress in creating a level playing field for all businesses which sell similar products. The taxes paid by Wetherspoon in the period under review were as follows: First half 2020 2019 (estimate - UK only) £m £m VAT 182.5 175.5 Alcohol duty 89.4 86.1 PAYE and NIC 62.2 59.0 Business rates 29.0 28.7 Corporation tax 21.5 8.5 Fruit/slot machine duty 6.5 5.5 Climate change levy 5.1 5.1 Stamp duty 3.6 2.6 Sugar tax 1.4 1.5 Fuel duty 1.1 1.1 Premises licences and TV licences 0.4 0.4 Carbon tax - 0.4 TOTAL TAX 402.7 375.6 Tax per pub (£000) 462.0 427.3 Tax as % of sales 43.2% 42.2% Pre-exceptional profit after tax 45.4 39.5 Profit after tax as % of sales 4.9% 4.4% Further progress As previously highlighted, the company's philosophy is to try continuously to upgrade as many areas of the business as possible. The Food Standards Agency, in association with local authorities, regularly inspects licensed and other food businesses in the UK and awards marks from zero to five, according to the standards it finds. Currently, 97.1% of our pubs have obtained the maximum five rating (2019: 97.6%), under the FSA scheme, with 99.1% of pubs receiving a rating of four or above (2019: 99.5%). This record reflects extremely hard work by our central catering, audit and operations team, as well as by the excellent teams in our pubs. We have again been recognised, for the 17th year in a row, as a 'Top Employer UK' by the Top Employers Institute, in association with the Guardian newspaper. A pub company is only as good as its employees - and Wetherspoon recognises this through its bonus and training schemes. We paid £23m in respect of bonuses and free shares to employees in the period (2019: £21m), of which 98% was paid to staff below board level and 88% was paid to staff working in our pubs. In addition, the company runs a government-approved apprenticeship scheme and participates in a professional management diploma and degree course, in conjunction with Leeds Beckett University. Corporate governance In our trading update of 22 January, I commented on corporate governance as follows: "In an important high court case involving Wetherspoon, the judge said that he would assume written statements by witnesses were true, unless contradicted by barristers in cross-examination. "This sensible principle of justice is also implicit in the 'comply or explain' provisions of corporate governance guidelines (the 'code'). "Comply or explain must mean that the code envisaged flexibility and did not advocate a 'one-type-suits-all' approach. "If shareholders say nothing in response to company explanations, which have been made in order to comply with the code, it is reasonable to assume their assent. "However, in reality, detailed explanations are ignored by many fund managers and their corporate governance advisers - comply or explain has been corrupted to mean 'comply or be humiliated in public and voted off the board' - a risk which most NEDs are understandably reluctant to take. "A likely reason for ignoring explanations, in defiance of the code, is that it's simpler and cheaper to apply arbitrary standards such as the 'nine-year rule'- rather than engaging with companies and considering their explanations. "Corporate governance adviser PIRC, for example, advertises for temporary staff for the company results' "season", and it appears to demand a blanket nine-year rule, almost irrespective of explanations. "In effect, PIRC purports to impose its own version of the code on companies, with no qualifications, or remit, for that approach. "In a further illustration of how the code operates in practise, Wetherspoon's largest shareholder, Columbia Threadneedle (CT), withdrew support for two of our long-serving NEDs for non-compliance with the 'nine-year rule', with no advance warning or discussion, shortly before our 2018 AGM. "CT unilaterally took this action, in spite of detailed explanations in the preceding years in our annual reports. "CT and fellow shareholder Blackrock's OWN boards however, very sensibly, do not observe the nine-year rule - both laud 'independent' NEDs with longer tenure than nine years. "In other words, one rule for CT and Blackrock - and another for UK PLC. "These issues were reviewed in some detail in our November 2019 trading statement (appendix 1). It would be beneficial if all shareholders could read this appendix. It is not boilerplate and the future of companies like Wetherspoon, and many others, is seriously undermined by the operation of the current code. "As in previous years, there has been no objection or critique whatsoever, in writing or in person, from any shareholder, individual or organisation, of the points raised in our November review. "It is an unfortunate reflection on complacency in the City and among unaccountable 'rule-makers' that institutions like Columbia Threadneedle, Blackrock - and corporate governance adviser PIRC - have not felt the need to issue a proper or detailed response to the serious issues raised by Wetherspoon. "The main consequence of the current governance system is short-termist and inexperienced boards, which have minimal representation from executives and the workforce - the people who are best placed to understand and run the business. "These factors are obviously damaging for customers, employees and the economy - as well as for shareholders. "The UK, of course, needs a sensible system of corporate governance. However, the current system is remote, counterproductive and inflexible, which are also the characteristics of many major shareholding institutions and their advisers." Current trading and outlook As recently reported, in the six weeks to 8 March 2020, like-for-like sales increased by 3.2% and total sales by 2.9%. In the following week, to 15 March, sales declined by 4.5%. In the early part of the current week, following the Prime Minister's advice to avoid pubs, sales have declined at a significantly higher rate. It is obviously very difficult to predict, in these circumstances, how events will unfold in future weeks and months, but we now anticipate profits being below market expectations, so long as the current health scare continues. As a result of this uncertainty, it is impossible to provide realistic guidance on our performance in the remainder of the financial year. The company has decided to delay most capital projects and to reduce expenditure, where possible, including the cancellation of the interim dividend. As a result of these actions, combined with the Government's proposals on business rates relief and credit guarantee facilities, the company believes it has sufficient liquidity to maintain operations at a substantially lower level of sales. As many companies and commentators have noted, the current health crisis places the hospitality industry, in particular, under great pressure. Wetherspoon, like our peers, will be working closely with all parties, including employees, banks, landlords and suppliers, in order to emerge from the situation in the best shape. Tim Martin Chairman 19 March 2020 Appendix 1 - Corporate Governance (and guaranteed eventual destruction), Extract from JD Wetherspoon Q1 trading update, 13 November 2019 Commenting on corporate governance issues, the Chairman of Wetherspoon, Tim Martin, said: "While acknowledging the need for a sensible system of corporate governance (CG), I have, for many years, expressed the urgent need for modification of the CG code, summarised in our 2019 annual report. "There can be little doubt that the current system has directly led to the failure or chronic underperformance of many businesses, including banks, supermarkets, and pubs. "It has also led to the creation of long and almost unreadable annual reports, full of jargon, clichés and platitudes - which confuse more than they enlighten. "I believe by vesting so much power in non-executive directors (NEDs), the system is also disenfranchising executives and the workforce - the people who have real expertise and are the cornerstone of business success. "Another tectonic fault is that the institutions and advisers which oversee the code, as described below, do not themselves adhere to the rules they impose on others. "The vast gap between the technocrats who make the rules and commercial reality is illustrated by the 2016 CG code, which refers to shareholders 64 times, employees three times and customers not at all. "In contrast, commercial reality, which should be reflected in the code, is encapsulated in Sam Walton's Walmart mantra - "Who's number one? THE CUSTOMER!" "A core problem is that CG institutionalises short-termism, inexperience and navel-gazing. "'Independent' non-executive directors (NEDS), who work part time, are limited by the code to nine years' service and stay, on average, for just over four years. "It is also common practise for there to be only two executive directors, the most senior of whom, the CEO, averages only about five years' - managements and workers are thus absurdly underrepresented. "A cursory glance at the board compositions of major UK PLCs underlines the issues. "Tesco, for example, which has 450,000 employees and is the UK's largest supermarket group, has only two executive directors, with total service of about nine years and 11 NEDs with total service of 38 years. The overall average, including NEDs and executives, is only 3.7 years. "This sort of corporate structure is mirrored in banks, retailers and pubs - where long-term performance, over recent decades, has usually veered between poor and catastrophic. "Adherence to a tick-box culture means, for example, that there are no NEDS on the boards of major UK banks (HSBC/RBS/Barclays/Lloyds) who have any personal experience of the last banking crisis at their company - when it is clear that inexperienced boards were a major factor in that crisis. "In contrast, non-compliant companies like Wetherspoon (average tenure 15 years), Fullers' (10 years), Dart Group (12 years) and Berkshire Hathaway (19 years) have often fared far better, with experienced boards, long-term shareholders and a long-term view. "Compliance with CG guidelines increases the risk of failure - companies like Northern Rock, HBOS, Carillion, Thomas Cook and Mothercare were compliant with the code, but had shockingly low levels of experience (around 4 years per director) and executive representation. "Stefano Bonini and others (Harvard Law School Forum, June 2017) highlighted this problem and correctly said that "long-tenured directors … decrease the likelihood of corporate scandals ... (and) ... accumulate information and knowledge." "A Noddy-in-Toyland aspect of the current farce, as indicated above, is that the 'comply or explain' principle, which underlies the code, is not observed, in practise, by many 'enforcers' - ie institutions or their corporate advisers. "'Comply or explain' means that advisers and investors have an obligation to weigh up explanations for non-observance of the guidelines. "However, in reality, many never do - including, it seems, governance advisers such as PIRC. "For example, Wetherspoon's largest institutional shareholder, Columbia Threadneedle (CT), without any advance notice to the Company, did not support the re-election of two of our long-serving directors at last year's AGM - in spite of our repeated explanations in annual reports. "As a result, three of our four NEDs felt compelled to offer their resignations - inevitably destabilising the company in the process. "Yet CT's owner is Ameriprise (a US company), two of whose independent NEDs have themselves exceeded the nine-year rule. "The Ameriprise chairman also breaches the nine-year rule - and combines the roles of chairman and CEO, a further breach of UK guidelines. "In this context, the fact that CT is a US company is irrelevant. It has decided that one rule applies to itself, but that another should apply to Wetherspoon. "In addition, US shareholder, Blackrock did not support Wetherspoon's long serving NEDs last year, but they also have directors who exceed the 9-year rule on their board. "Not all institutions behave like CT and Blackrock. Two of our largest shareholders strongly support Wetherspoon's approach as illustrated in letters written to the company. Common sense does exist, in small pockets, in the City. "Indeed, in thousands of meetings with shareholders in the last 27 years, I and my colleagues have almost never been asked about corporate governance - although the guidelines are clearly the predominating factors in PLC board composition - and at AGMs. "The tick-box malaise, to which only strong-willed contrarians - and those with no financial interest in the perpetuation of the current system - are immune, is particularly rife at CG advisers. "For example, the CG adviser PIRC recommends its clients to vote against my own re-election as chairman of Wetherspoon on the basis, inter alia, that I have been chairman for more than nine years (a milestone I hit in 1992). "Amazingly, while advising Wetherspoon that it should have four or five 'independent' NEDS, the hypocritical PIRC has, itself, just one on its own board - someone whose only apparent employment experience has been at a local authority. "However, PIRC's own website misleadingly says that it adopted, in 1988, "a private company structure with…executive directors and a board of non-executives drawn from the founding pension funds and public figures" - a structure that clearly no longer applies today. "Furthermore, the founder of PIRC, Alan MacDougall who still sits on his own board after 33 years (but seems to believe I shouldn't be on mine), has no relevant PLC experience having, according to his LinkedIn profile, a "BA Sociaology (sic) 2:2 - Social policy and Soviet Studies" and work experience at the National Union of Mineworkers and the Greater London Council. "MacDougall has questionable personable judgement, referring to himself on his Twitter account as a "governance expert" and an "ex-Eurocommunist". In my opinion, many people equate communism with fascism, since millions of Europeans perished or were imprisoned under its yoke. "It is perhaps a concern that PIRC has a low rating of 2.6 on the employment website Glassdoor, and appears to rely on inexperienced and temporary workers to analyse complex company reports for corporate governance purposes. "In summary, my view is the UK CG system is up the spout - and is itself a threat to listed companies - and therefore to the UK economy. "By institutionalising inexperience, the code guarantees the eventual destruction of the culture or 'DNA' of successful companies - and culture has 'strategy' (with which the code is obsessed) for breakfast, as respected management philosopher Peter Drucker has said. "Board structures should probably more closely resemble the successful Fullers - a chairman with 41 years' experience at the company, combined with directors with extensive executive experience and long-term loyalty. "In addition, genuine observance of 'comply or explain', rather than current lip service, should be mandatory. One-size-fits-all does not work in the real world. "Board composition à la Fullers can't guarantee future corporate success - but rigid compliance with current CG guidelines will almost certainly guarantee eventual mediocrity or failure. "City regulators and lawmakers should make haste. Even Wetherspoon, a medium-sized company, has 42,000 employees, 13,000 of whom are shareholders, and it contributes about one pound in every thousand of UK taxes (£764 million in 2019) - it's not in anyone's interest to kill a golden goose. "But, perhaps above all, no sensible business, looking to the long term and genuinely apprised of the reality of the CG system, would float on the London stock market today - who wants to guarantee eventual destruction, after all?" PRE-IFRS 16 INCOME STATEMENT for the 26 weeks ended 26 January 2020 J D Wetherspoon plc, company number: 1709784 Notes Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Audited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended ended ended ended 26 January 26 January 27 January 27 January 28 July 28 July 2020 2020 2019 2019 2019 2019 Before After Before After Before After exceptional exceptional exceptional exceptional exceptional exceptional items items items items items items £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Revenue 1 933,021 933,021 889,606 889,606 1,818,793 1,818,793 Operating costs (856,461) (856,461) (826,135) (826,135) (1,686,876) (1,686,876) Operating profit 2 76,560 76,560 63,471 63,471 131,917 131,917 Property (losses)/gains 3 (172) (172) 3,772 3,772 5,599 5,599 Property (losses) - exceptional 3 (15,948) (1,651) (7,040) Profit before interest and tax 76,388 60,440 67,243 65,592 137,516 130,476 Finance income 6 41 41 26 26 41 41 Finance costs 6 (18,508) (18,508) (16,993) (16,993) (35,098) (35,098) Profit before tax 57,921 41,973 50,276 48,625 102,459 95,419 Income tax expense 7 (12,487) (12,487) (10,776) (10,776) (22,830) (22,830) Income tax expense - exceptional 7 1,801 99 188 Profit before IFRS 16 45,434 31,287 39,500 37,948 79,629 72,777 Earnings per ordinary share (p) - Basic[1] 8 44.3 30.5 38.3 36.8 77.2 70.6 - Diluted[2] 8 43.3 29.8 37.4 36.0 75.5 69.0 RECONCILIATION TO THE STATUTORY PROFIT for the 26 weeks ended 26 January 2020 Notes Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Audited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended ended ended ended 26 January 26 January 27 January 27 January 28 July 28 July 2020 2020 2019 2019 2019 2019 Before After Before After Before After exceptional exceptional exceptional exceptional exceptional exceptional items items items items items items £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Profit before IFRS 16 45,434 31,287 39,500 37,948 79,629 72,777 Operating costs 28,443 28,443 - - - - Amortisation of right-of-use assets 25 (24,425) (24,425) - - - - Lease premium amortisation 192 192 - - - - Disposal of leases 3 347 347 - - - - Finance costs 6 (11,078) (11,078) - - - - Finance income 6 225 225 - - - - Income tax expense 7 1,189 1,189 - - - - Profit for the period 40,327 26,180 39,500 37,948 79,629 72,777 [1] Calculated excluding shares held in trust. [2] Calculated using issued share capital which includes shares held in trust. PRE-IFRS 16 CASH FLOW STATEMENT for the 26 weeks ended 26 January 2020 J D Wetherspoon plc, company number: 1709784 Notes Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Audited Audited cash flow free cash cash flow free cash cash flow free cash Flow[1] Flow[1] Flow[1] 26 weeks 26 weeks 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended ended ended ended 26 January 26 January 27 January 27 January 28 July 28 July 2020 2020 2019 2019 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Cash flows from operating activities Cash generated from operations 9 131,546 131,546 133,232 133,232 227,176 227,176 Interest received 40 40 20 20 33 33 Interest paid (17,027) (17,027) (17,556) (17,556) (33,957) (33,957) Corporation tax paid (21,480) (21,480) (8,539) (8,539) (19,661) (19,661) Net cash flow from operating activities 93,079 93,079 107,157 107,157 173,591 173,591 Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of property, plant and equipment (32,764) (32,764) (22,672) (22,672) (47,398) (47,398) Purchase of intangible assets (1,768) (1,768) (3,413) (3,413) (6,923) (6,923) Investment in new pubs and pub extensions (34,773) (15,214) (26,778) Freehold reversions and investment properties (70,633) (51,902) (77,207) Lease premiums paid - (93) (451) Proceeds of sale of property, plant and equipment 4,160 5,818 9,319 Net cash flow from investing activities (135,778) (34,532) (87,476) (26,085) (149,438) (54,321) Cash flows from financing activities Equity dividends paid 11 (8,371) (8,435) (12,652) Purchase of own shares for cancellation 28 (6,455) - (5,399) Purchase of own shares for share-based payments (9,260) (9,260) (8,960) (8,960) (16,004) (16,004) Loan issue cost 10 (321) (321) (462) (462) (6,268) (6,268) Advances under private placement 10 98,000 - - Repayment of bank loans 10 (25,000) (38,863) (13,865) Advances under finance lease 10 - 12,000 12,000 Finance lease principal payments 10 (1,431) (698) (2,106) Net cash flow from financing activities 47,162 (9,581) (45,418) (9,422) (44,294) (22,272) Net change in cash and cash equivalents 10 4,463 (25,737) (20,141) Opening cash and cash equivalents 19 42,950 63,091 63,091 Closing cash and cash equivalents 19 47,413 37,354 42,950 Free cash flow 8 48,966 71,650 96,998 Free cash flow per ordinary share 8 46.7p 67.9p 92.0p [1] Free cash flow is a measure not required by accounting standards; a definition is provided in our accounting policies. PRE-IFRS 16 BALANCE SHEET as at 26 January 2020 J D Wetherspoon plc, company number: 1709784 Notes Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 13 1,458,531 1,356,259 1,384,971 Intangible assets 12 12,378 23,313 23,070 Investment property 14 11,572 7,467 5,531 Other non-current assets 7,696 7,849 7,888 Derivative financial instruments 23 - 11,420 321 Deferred tax assets 7 9,706 4,088 8,342 Total non-current assets 1,499,883 1,410,396 1,430,123 Current assets Assets held for sale 18 350 3,383 3,146 Inventories 16 23,453 22,769 23,717 Receivables 27,544 24,335 21,903 Cash and cash equivalents 19 47,413 37,354 42,950 Total current assets 98,760 87,841 91,716 Total assets 1,598,643 1,498,237 1,521,839 Current liabilities Borrowings 21 (3,286) (3,207) (3,287) Trade and other payables (314,831) (320,501) (308,326) Current income tax liabilities (1,275) (11,164) (10,986) Provisions (3,116) (5,499) (4,072) Total current liabilities (322,508) (340,371) (326,671) Non-current liabilities Borrowings 21 (848,654) (758,112) (776,683) Derivative financial instruments 23 (57,096) (35,465) (49,393) Deferred tax liabilities 7 (38,212) (38,506) (39,416) Provisions (1,659) (2,453) (1,934) Other liabilities (10,607) (11,235) (10,930) Total non-current liabilities (956,228) (845,771) (878,356) Net assets 319,907 312,095 316,812 Shareholders' equity Share capital 28 2,094 2,110 2,102 Share premium account 143,294 143,294 143,294 Capital redemption reserve 2,337 2,321 2,329 Hedging reserve (47,390) (19,957) (40,730) Currency translation reserve 1,603 3,697 5,370 Retained earnings 217,969 180,630 204,447 Total shareholders' equity 319,907 312,095 316,812 INCOME STATEMENT for the 26 weeks ended 26 January 2020 J D Wetherspoon plc, company number: 1709784 Notes Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Audited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended ended ended ended 26 January 26 January 27 January 27 January 28 July 28 July 2020 2020 2019 2019 2019 2019 Before After Before After Before After exceptional exceptional exceptional exceptional exceptional exceptional items items items items items items £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Revenue 1 933,021 933,021 889,606 889,606 1,818,793 1,818,793 Operating costs (852,251) (852,251) (826,135) (826,135) (1,686,876) (1,686,876) Operating profit 2 80,770 80,770 63,471 63,471 131,917 131,917 Property gains 3 175 175 3,772 3,772 5,599 5,599 Property losses - exceptional 3 (15,948) (1,651) (7,040) Profit before interest and tax 80,945 64,997 67,243 65,592 137,516 130,476 Finance income 6 266 266 26 26 41 41 Finance costs 6 (29,586) (29,586) (16,993) (16,993) (35,098) (35,098) Profit before tax 51,625 35,677 50,276 48,625 102,459 95,419 Income tax expense 7 (11,298) (11,298) (10,776) (10,776) (22,830) (22,830) Income tax expense - exceptional 7 1,801 99 188 Profit for the period 40,327 26,180 39,500 37,948 79,629 72,777 Earnings per ordinary share (p) - Basic[1] 8 39.3 25.5 38.3 36.8 77.2 70.6 - Diluted[2] 8 38.5 25.0 37.4 36.0 75.5 69.0 STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME for the 26 weeks ended 26 January 2020 Notes Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Items which will be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: Interest-rate swaps: gain taken to other comprehensive income 23 (8,024) 64 (24,963) Tax on items taken directly to other comprehensive income 7 1,364 (11) 4,243 Currency translation differences (3,109) (1,122) 181 Net gain recognised directly in other comprehensive income (9,769) (1,069) (20,539) Profit for the period 26,180 37,948 72,777 Total comprehensive income for the period 16,411 36,879 52,238 [1] Calculated excluding shares held in trust. [2] Calculated using issued share capital which includes shares held in trust. CASHFLOW STATEMENT for the 26 weeks ended 26 January 2020 J D Wetherspoon plc, company number: 1709784 Notes Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Audited Audited cash flow free cash cash flow free cash cash flow free cash flow[1] flow[1] flow[1] 26 weeks 26 weeks 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended ended ended ended 26 January 26 January 27 January 27 January 28 July 28 July 2020 2020 2019 2019 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Cash flows from operating activities Cash generated from operations 9 160,036 160,036 133,232 133,232 227,176 227,176 Interest received 40 40 20 20 33 33 Interest paid (17,027) (17,027) (17,556) (17,556) (33,957) (33,957) Corporation tax paid (21,480) (21,480) (8,539) (8,539) (19,661) (19,661) Lease interest (9,134) (9,134) - - - - Net cash flow from operating activities 112,435 112,435 107,157 107,157 173,591 173,591 Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of property, plant and equipment (32,764) (32,764) (22,672) (22,672) (47,398) (47,398) Purchase of intangible assets2 (1,768) (1,768) (3,413) (3,413) (6,923) (6,923) Investment in new pubs and pub extensions (34,773) (15,214) (26,778) Freehold reversions and investment properties (70,633) (51,902) (77,207) Lease premiums paid - (93) (451) Proceeds of sale of property, plant and equipment 4,160 5,818 9,319 Net cash flow from investing activities (135,778) (34,532) (87,476) (26,085) (149,438) (54,321) Cash flows from financing activities Equity dividends paid 11 (8,371) (8,435) (12,652) Purchase of own shares for cancellation 28 (6,455) - (5,399) Purchase of own shares for share-based payments (9,260) (9,260) (8,960) (8,960) (16,004) (16,004) Loan issue cost 10 (321) (321) (462) (462) (6,268) (6,268) Advances under private placement 10 98,000 - - Repayment of bank loans 10 (25,000) (38,863) (13,865) Advances under finance lease 10 - 12,000 12,000 Lease principal payments 25 (19,912) (19,912) - - - - Lease principal receipts 25 556 556 - - - - Finance lease principal payments 10 (1,431) (698) (2,106) Net cash flow from financing activities 27,806 (28,937) (45,418) (9,422) (44,294) (22,272) Net change in cash and cash equivalents 10 4,463 (25,737) (20,141) Opening cash and cash equivalents 19 42,950 63,091 63,091 Closing cash and cash equivalents 19 47,413 37,354 42,950 Free cash flow 8 48,966 71,650 96,998 Free cash flow per ordinary share 8 46.7p 67.9p 92.0p [1] Free cash flow is a measure not required by accounting standards; a definition is provided in our accounting policies. [2] Within reinvestment in business and IT projects, £733,000 were intangible assets (2019: £1,952,000), with the remaining balance being related equipment. BALANCE SHEET as at 26 January 2020 J D Wetherspoon plc, company number: 1709784 Notes Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment 13 1,458,531 1,356,259 1,384,971 Intangible assets 12 12,378 23,313 23,070 Investment property 14 11,572 7,467 5,531 Other non-current assets 15 - 7,849 7,888 Right-of-use assets 25 579,175 - - Derivative financial instruments 23 - 11,420 321 Deferred tax assets 7 9,706 4,088 8,342 Lease assets 25 11,319 - - Total non-current assets 2,082,681 1,410,396 1,430,123 Current assets Lease assets 25 1,561 - - Assets held for sale 18 350 3,383 3,146 Inventories 16 23,453 22,769 23,717 Receivables 17 22,391 24,335 21,903 Cash and cash equivalents 19 47,413 37,354 42,950 Total current assets 95,168 87,841 91,716 Total assets 2,177,849 1,498,237 1,521,839 Current liabilities Borrowings 21 (3,286) (3,207) (3,287) Trade and other payables 20 (315,773) (320,501) (308,326) Current income tax liabilities (86) (11,164) (10,986) Provisions 22 (3,116) (5,499) (4,072) Lease liabilities 25 (59,328) - - Total current liabilities (381,589) (340,371) (326,671) Non-current liabilities Borrowings 21 (848,654) (758,112) (776,683) Derivative financial instruments 23 (57,096) (35,465) (49,393) Deferred tax liabilities 7 (38,212) (38,506) (39,416) Provisions 22 - (2,453) (1,934) Other liabilities 24 - (11,235) (10,930) Lease liabilities 25 (537,498) - - Total non-current liabilities (1,481,460) (845,771) (878,356) Net assets 314,800 312,095 316,812 Shareholders' equity Share capital 28 2,094 2,110 2,102 Share premium account 143,294 143,294 143,294 Capital redemption reserve 2,337 2,321 2,329 Hedging reserve (47,390) (19,957) (40,730) Currency translation reserve 1,603 3,697 5,370 Retained earnings 212,862 180,630 204,447 Total shareholders' equity 314,800 312,095 316,812 The financial statements, on pages 11 to 30, approved by the board of directors and authorised for issue on 19 March 2020, are signed on its behalf by: John Hutson Ben Whitley Director Director STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY J D Wetherspoon plc, company number: 1709784 Notes Share Share Capital Hedging Currency Retained Total capital premium redemption reserve translation earnings account reserve reserve £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 At 29 July 2018 2,110 143,294 2,321 (20,010) 4,767 154,080 286,562 Total comprehensive income 53 (1,070) 37,896 36,879 Profit for the period 37,948 37,948 Interest-rate swaps: cash flow hedges 23 64 64 Tax on items taken directly to comprehensive income 7 (11) (11) Currency translation differences (1,070) (52) (1,122) Share-based payment charges 5,651 5,651 Tax on share-based payment 7 398 398 Purchase of own shares for share-based payments (8,960) (8,960) Dividends 11 (8,435) (8,435) At 27 January 2019 2,110 143,294 2,321 (19,957) 3,697 180,630 312,095 Total comprehensive income (20,773) 1,673 34,459 15,359 Profit for the period 34,829 34,829 Interest-rate swaps: cash flow hedges 23 (25,027) (25,027) Tax on items taken directly to comprehensive income 7 4,254 4,254 Currency translation differences 1,673 (370) 1,303 Purchase of own shares for cancellation (8) 8 (5,399) (5,399) Share-based payment charges 5,907 5,907 Tax on share-based payment 7 111 111 Purchase of own shares for share-based payments (7,044) (7,044) Dividends 11 (4,217) (4,217) At 28 July 2019 2,102 143,294 2,329 (40,730) 5,370 204,447 316,812 Total comprehensive income (6,660) (3,767) 26,838 16,411 Profit for the period 26,180 26,180 Interest-rate swaps: cash flow hedges 23 (8,024) (8,024) Tax on items taken directly to comprehensive income 7 1,364 1,364 Currency translation differences (3,767) 658 (3,109) Purchase of own shares for cancellation (8) 8 (6,455) (6,455) Share-based payment charges 5,543 5,543 Tax on share-based payment 7 120 120 Purchase of own shares for share-based payments (9,260) (9,260) Dividends 11 (8,371) (8,371) At 26 January 2020 2,094 143,294 2,337 (47,390) 1,603 212,862 314,800 The currency translation reserve contains the accumulated currency gains and losses on the long-term financing and balance sheet translation of the overseas branch. The currency translation difference reported in retained earnings is the restatement of the opening reserves in the overseas branch at the current period end's currency exchange rate. As at 26 January 2020, the company had distributable reserves of £167.1m. NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1. Revenue Revenue disclosed in the income statement is analysed as follows: Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Bar 559,426 538,082 1,094,001 Food 337,241 319,015 656,955 Slot/fruit machines 26,080 21,981 46,404 Hotel 9,468 9,596 19,699 Other 806 932 1,734 933,021 889,606 1,818,793 2. Operating profit - analysis of costs by nature This is stated after charging/(crediting): Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Concession rental payments - 14,737 32,086 Minimum operating lease payments - 20,271 38,241 Variable concession rental payments 4,293 - - Short leases 108 - - Repairs and maintenance 46,112 35,937 76,879 Net rent receivable (841) (678) (1,545) Share-based payments (note 5) 5,543 5,651 11,558 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (note 13) 37,718 36,825 73,779 Amortisation of intangible assets (note 12) 1,925 3,847 7,634 Depreciation of investment properties (note 14) 34 27 55 Amortisation of right-of-use assets (note 25) 24,425 - - Amortisation of other non-current assets (note 15) - 169 343 Analysis of continuing operations Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Revenue 933,021 889,606 1,818,793 Cost of sales (828,189) (802,911) (1,639,378) Gross profit 104,832 86,695 179,415 Administration costs (24,062) (23,224) (47,498) Operating profit after exceptional items 80,770 63,471 131,917 Included within cost of sales is £325.9m (2019: £315.3m) relating to cost of inventory recognised as expense. 3. Property gains and losses Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Non-exceptional property (gains)/losses Disposal of fixed assets (90) (3,634) (4,650) Additional costs of disposal 217 196 230 Disposal of leases (347) - - Other property gains 45 (334) (1,179) (175) (3,772) (5,599) Exceptional property losses (note 4) Disposal of fixed assets 3,003 16 1,015 Additional costs of disposal 619 306 568 Impairment of property, plant and equipment 2,786 806 3,550 Impairment of intangible assets 9,540 - - Impairment of other non-current assets - - 145 Onerous lease provision - 523 1,762 15,948 1,651 7,040 Total property losses 15,773 (2,121) 1,441 The gain of £347,000 relates to the purchase of the freeholds of former leasehold sites. As a result, the right-of-use asset and lease liability are derecognised. Under IFRS 16, the purchasing of freehold results in a gain, as the income statement is charged in advance of the cash payments. Without this gain, a non-exceptional loss of £172,000 would have been reported. 4. Exceptional items Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Exceptional property losses Disposal programme Loss on disposal of pubs 3,622 322 1,583 Impairment of property plant and equipment 1,496 806 1,298 Impairment of other non-current assets - - 93 Onerous lease provision - 158 1,134 5,118 1,286 4,108 Other property losses Impairment of property, plant and equipment 1,290 - 2,252 Impairment of intangible assets 9,540 - - Impairment of other non-current assets - - 52 Onerous lease provision - 365 628 10,830 365 2,932 Total exceptional property losses 15,948 1,651 7,040 Exceptional tax Tax effect on exceptional items (note 7) (1,801) (99) (188) (1,801) (99) (188) Total exceptional items 14,147 1,552 6,852 Disposal programme The company has offered several of its sites for sale. During the half year, a further six (2019: two) sites had been disposed of and one (2019: two) was classified as held for sale. In the table above, the costs classified as loss on disposal are the losses on sold sites and associated costs to sale. Other property losses The company has reviewed its approach to capitalising costs in the early stages of a pub's development. In future, some initial costs will be expensed to the income statement. The property impairment charge of £1,290,000 relates to similar costs held on the balance sheet at the start of the year. During the period, the company reviewed its accounting for the development and implementation of information systems. As a result of this review, it is the company's assessment that it will not achieve the future economic benefit from some of these assets which it had previously anticipated. The impairment charge of £9,540,000 reduces the useful economic life of these assets to reflect the company's view of future economic benefits which will be achieved. The exceptional items listed above have generated a net cash inflow of £2,041,000 (2019: outflow of £694,000). 5. Employee benefits expenses Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Wages and salaries 299,199 275,829 568,758 Social Security costs 18,077 17,280 35,783 Other pension costs 4,324 3,001 6,912 Share-based payments 5,543 5,651 11,558 327,143 301,761 623,011 The totals below relate to the monthly average number of employees during the period, not the total number of employees at the end of the year (including directors on a service contract). Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 Number Number Number Full-time equivalents Managerial/administration 4,594 4,419 4,442 Hourly paid staff 21,647 20,825 21,035 26,241 25,244 25,477 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 Number Number Number Total employees Managerial/administration 4,687 4,518 4,541 Hourly paid staff 38,517 36,863 37,358 43,204 41,381 41,899 The shares awarded as part of the share schemes are based on the cash value of the bonuses at the date of the awards. These awards vest over three years - with their cost spread over their three-year life. The share-based payment charge above represents the annual cost of bonuses awarded over the past three years. All awards are settled in equity. The company operates two share-based compensation plans. In both schemes, the fair values of the shares granted are determined by reference to the share price at the date of the award. The shares vest at a £Nil exercise price - and there are no market-based conditions to the shares which affect their ability to vest. Share-based payments Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 Shares awarded during the year (shares) 568,821 802,069 1,390,290 Average price of shares awarded (pence) 1,542 1,303 1,313 Market value of shares vested during the year (£000) 9,774 14,199 17,173 Total liability of the share-based payments scheme (£000) 14,999 14,570 16,259 6. Finance income and costs Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Finance costs Interest payable on bank loans and overdrafts 9,738 10,504 21,089 Amortisation of bank loan issue costs (note 10) 722 58 925 Interest payable on swaps 6,561 6,287 12,705 Interest payable on obligations under finance leases 207 144 379 Interest payable on private placement 1,280 - - Finance costs excluding lease interest 18,508 16,993 35,098 Interest payable on leases 11,078 - - Total finance costs 29,586 16,993 35,098 Bank interest receivable (41) (26) (41) Lease interest receivable (225) - - Total finance income (266) (26) (41) The finance costs in the income statement were covered 2.8 times by earnings before interest, tax and exceptional items. On a pre-IFRS 16 basis, the finance costs in the income statement were covered 4.1 times (2019: 4.0 times) by earnings before interest, tax and exceptional items. 7. Income tax expense (a) Tax on profit on ordinary activities At the balance sheet date, the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK was scheduled to change from 19.0% to 17.0%, with effect from 1 April 2020. Accordingly, the company's profits for this accounting period are taxed at the weighted average rate of 18.33% (2019: 19.00%). On 11 March 2020, the chancellor presented the UK budget announcement and confirmed that the rate of corporation tax would remain at 19% from 1 April 2020. This is expected to be substantively enacted by the year-end balance sheet date. As a result of this post balance sheet announcement, the prevailing tax rate used to calculate the income and deferred tax liabilities for the year ended 26 July 2020 will be 19%, instead of 18.33% used in the half-year results. Furthermore, the deferred tax balances will be recalculated at the year end to 19%; it is anticipated that this will result in a rate-change adjustment of approximately £3.4m. Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Income tax before exceptional items Current income tax: Current income tax charge 13,556 11,802 23,406 Current income tax - impact of IFRS 16 (1,189) - - Previous period adjustment (18) (415) (922) Total current income tax 12,349 11,387 22,484 Deferred tax: Temporary differences (1,051) (452) 2,174 Previous period adjustment - (159) (1,828) Total deferred tax (1,051) (611) 346 Total tax expense before exceptional items 11,298 10,776 22,830 Exceptional income tax Current income tax: Current income tax charge (1,509) (99) (273) Total current income tax (1,509) (99) (273) Deferred tax: Temporary differences (292) - 85 Total deferred tax (292) - 85 Total exceptional income tax (1,801) (99) (188) Tax charge in the income statement 9,497 10,677 22,642 Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 Taken through equity £000 £000 £000 Current tax on share-based payment (259) (536) (514) Deferred tax on share-based payment 139 138 5 Tax credit (120) (398) (509) Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 Taken through comprehensive income £000 £000 £000 Deferred tax on swaps (1,364) 11 (4,243) The impact on the tax charge of the introduction of IFRS 16 is shown in the table above. There was no impact on deferred tax, as all amounts resulting for the adoption of IFRS charged to the income statement were fully allowable. 7. Income tax expense (continued) (b) Reconciliation of the total tax charge The taxation charge for the 26 weeks ended 26 January 2020 is based on the pre-exceptional profit before tax of £51.6m and the estimated effective tax rate before exceptional items for the 26 weeks ended 26 January 2020 of 21.9% (2019: 21.4%). This comprises a pre-exceptional current tax rate of 23.9% (2019: 22.6%) and a pre-exceptional deferred tax credit of 2.0% (2019: 1.2%). The UK standard weighted average tax rate for the period is 18.33% (2019: 19.00%). The current tax rate is higher than the UK standard weighted average tax rate owing mainly to depreciation which is not eligible for tax relief. Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Profit before income tax 51,625 50,276 102,459 Profit multiplied by the UK standard rate of 9,463 9,552 19,467 corporation tax of 18.33% (2019: 19.00%) Abortive acquisition costs and disposals 95 77 85 Other disallowables (357) 167 384 Other allowable deductions (33) (24) (111) Capital gains - effects of reliefs 150 695 (380) Non-qualifying depreciation 1,442 731 2,487 Deduction for shares and SIPs 41 43 (449) Remeasurement of other balance sheet items (23) (47) (71) Unrecognised losses in overseas companies 539 155 557 Unrecognised losses capital losses - - 3,611 Previous year adjustment - current tax (19) (414) (922) Previous year adjustment - deferred tax - (159) (1,828) Total tax expense before exceptional items 11,298 10,776 22,830 Exceptional profit before income tax (15,948) (1,651) (7,040) Profit multiplied by the UK standard rate of (2,923) (314) (1,337) corporation tax of 18.33% (2019: 19.00%) Other disallowables 555 61 183 Capital gains - effects of reliefs - - 85 Non-qualifying depreciation 567 154 881 Total tax expense on exceptional items (1,801) (99) (188) Total tax expense reported in the income statement 9,497 10,677 22,642 7. Income tax expense (continued) (c) Deferred tax The deferred tax in the balance sheet is as follows: Deferred tax liabilities Accelerated tax Other Total depreciation temporary differences £000 £000 £000 At 28 July 2019 36,799 4,255 41,054 Previous year movement posted to the income statement - - - Movement during year posted to the income statement (1,778) (3) (1,781) Impact of tax rate change posted to the income statement - - - At 26 January 2020 35,021 4,252 39,273 Deferred tax assets Share Interest-rate Total based swaps payments £000 £000 £000 At 28 July 2019 1,638 8,342 9,980 Previous year movement posted to the income statement - - - Movement during year posted to the income statement (438) - (438) Movement during year posted to comprehensive income - 1,364 1,364 Movement during year posted to equity (139) - (139) At 26 January 2020 1,061 9,706 10,767 Deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset as follows: Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Deferred tax liabilities 39,273 43,246 41,054 Offset against deferred tax assets (1,061) (4,740) (1,638) Deferred tax liabilities 38,212 38,506 39,416 Deferred tax assets 10,767 8,828 9,980 Offset against deferred tax liabilities (1,061) (4,740) (1,638) Deferred tax asset 9,706 4,088 8,342 As at 26 January 2020, the company had a potential deferred tax asset of £3.9m relating to capital losses. A deferred tax asset has not been recognised, as there is not sufficient certainty of recovery. 8. Earnings and free cash flow per share (a) Weighted average number of shares Earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of shares in issue of 104,810,288 (2019: 105,501,035), including those held in trust in respect of employee share schemes. Earnings per share, calculated on this basis, are usually referred to as 'diluted', since all of the shares in issue are included. Accounting standards refer to 'basic earnings' per share - these exclude those shares held in trust in respect of employee share schemes. Weighted average number of shares Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 Shares in issue (used for diluted EPS) 104,810,288 105,501,035 105,439,345 Shares held in trust (2,143,674) (2,248,342) (2,313,464) Shares in issue less shares held in trust (used for basic EPS) 102,666,614 103,252,693 103,125,881 The weighted average number of shares held in trust for employee share schemes has been adjusted to exclude those shares which have vested, yet remain in trust. (b) Earnings per share 26 weeks ended 26 January 2020 unaudited Profit Basic EPS Diluted EPS £000 pence pence Earnings before IFRS 16 31,287 30.5 29.8 Impact of IFRS 16 (5,107) (5.0) (4.8) Earnings (profit after tax) 26,180 25.5 25.0 Exclude effect of exceptional items after tax 14,147 13.8 13.5 Earnings before exceptional items 40,327 39.3 38.5 Impact of IFRS 16 5,107 5.0 4.8 Earnings before exceptional items and IFRS 16 45,434 44.3 43.3 Exclude effect of property gains/(losses) 172 0.1 0.2 Underlying earnings before exceptional items 45,606 44.4 43.5 26 weeks ended 27 January 2019 unaudited Profit Basic EPS Diluted EPS £000 pence pence Earnings (profit after tax) 37,948 36.8 36.0 Exclude effect of exceptional items after tax 1,552 1.5 1.4 Earnings before exceptional items 39,500 38.3 37.4 Exclude effect of property gains/(losses) (3,772) (3.7) (3.5) Underlying earnings before exceptional items 35,728 34.6 33.9 52 weeks ended 28 July 2019 audited Profit Basic EPS Diluted EPS £000 pence pence Earnings (profit after tax) 72,777 70.6 69.0 Exclude effect of exceptional items after tax 6,852 6.6 6.5 Earnings before exceptional items 79,629 77.2 75.5 Exclude effect of property gains/(losses) (5,599) (5.4) (5.3) Underlying earnings before exceptional items 74,030 71.8 70.2 8. Earnings and free cash flow per share (c) Free cash flow per share The calculation of free cash flow per share is based on the net cash generated by business activities and available for investment in new pub developments and extensions to current pubs, after funding interest, corporation tax, all other reinvestment in pubs open at the start of the period and the purchase of own shares under the employee Share Incentive Plan ('free cash flow'). It is calculated before taking account of proceeds from property disposals, inflows and outflows of financing from outside sources and dividend payments and is based on the weighted average number of shares in issue, including those held in trust in respect of the employee share schemes. Free cash Basic free Diluted free flow cash flow cash flow per share per share £000 pence pence 26 weeks ended 26 January 2020 48,966 47.7 46.7 26 weeks ended 27 January 2019 71,650 69.4 67.9 52 weeks ended 28 July 2019 96,998 94.1 92.0 (d) Owners' earnings per share Owners' earnings measure the earnings attributable to shareholders from current activities, adjusted for significant non-cash items and one-off items. Owners' earnings are calculated as profit before tax, exceptional items, depreciation and amortisation, lease interest and property gains and losses less reinvestment in current properties, payment of operating leases and cash tax. Cash tax is defined as the current year's current tax charge. 26 weeks ended 26 January 2020 unaudited Owners' Basic Diluted Earnings Owners' EPS Owners' EPS £000 pence pence Profit before tax and exceptional items (income statement) 51,625 50.3 49.3 Exclude depreciation and amortisation (note 2) 64,102 62.4 61.2 Exclude lease interest (note 6) 10,853 10.6 10.4 Less cash reinvestment in current properties (29,350) (28.6) (28.0) Exclude property gains and losses (note 3) (175) (0.2) (0.2) Less lease interest (9,134) (8.9) (8.7) Less lease principal payment (19,356) (18.9) (18.6) Less cash tax (note 7) (12,367) (12.0) (11.8) Owners' earnings 56,198 54.7 53.6 26 weeks ended 27 January 2019 unaudited Owners' Basic Diluted Earnings Owners' EPS Owners' EPS £000 pence pence Profit before tax and exceptional items (income statement) 50,276 48.7 47.7 Exclude depreciation and amortisation (note 2) 40,868 39.6 38.7 Less cash reinvestment in current properties (24,919) (24.1) (23.6) Exclude property gains and losses (note 3) (3,772) (3.7) (3.5) Less cash tax (note 7) (11,802) (11.4) (11.3) Owners' earnings 50,651 49.1 48.0 52 weeks ended 28 July 2019 audited Owners' Basic Diluted Earnings Owners' EPS Owners' EPS £000 pence pence Profit before tax and exceptional items (income statement) 102,459 99.4 97.2 Exclude depreciation and amortisation (note 2) 81,811 79.3 77.6 Less cash reinvestment in current properties (55,239) (53.6) (52.4) Exclude property gains and losses (note 3) (5,599) (5.4) (5.3) Less cash tax (note 7) (23,406) (22.7) (22.2) Owners' earnings 100,026 97.0 94.9 8. Earnings and free cash flow per share (continued) Analysis of additions by type Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 Reinvestment in existing pubs 34,124 24,919 55,239 Investment in new pubs and pub extensions 23,679 14,934 35,172 Freehold reversions and investment properties 70,732 55,653 77,207 128,535 95,506 167,618 Analysis of additions by category Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 Property, plant and equipment (note 13) 121,687 93,032 161,242 Intangible assets (note 12) 773 2,381 5,925 Investment properties (note 14) 6,075 - - Other non-current assets (note 15) - 93 451 128,535 95,506 167,618 (e) Operating profit per share Operating Basic operating Diluted operating profit profit per share profit per share £000 pence pence 26 weeks ended 26 January 2020 76,560 74.6 73.0 26 weeks ended 27 January 2019 63,471 61.5 60.2 52 weeks ended 28 July 2019 131,917 127.9 125.1 Operating profit in the table above excludes the impact of IFRS 16. 9. Cash generated from operations Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended ended 26 January 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 £000 Profit for the period 31,287 26,180 37,948 72,777 Adjusted for: Tax (note 7) 10,686 9,497 10,677 22,642 Share-based charges (note 2) 5,543 5,543 5,651 11,558 Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment (note 3) 2,913 2,913 (3,618) (3,635) Disposal of capitalised leases (note 3) - (347) - - Net onerous lease provision (note 3) - - 523 1,762 Net impairment charge (note 3) 12,326 12,326 806 3,695 Interest receivable (note 6) (41) (41) (26) (41) Interest payable (note 6) 17,786 17,786 16,935 34,173 Lease interest receivable (note 6) - (225) - - Lease interest payable (note 6) - 11,078 - - Amortisation of bank loan issue costs (note 6) 722 722 58 925 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (note 13) 37,718 37,718 36,825 73,779 Amortisation of intangible assets (note 12) 1,925 1,925 3,847 7,634 Depreciation on investment properties (note 14) 34 34 27 55 Amortisation of other non-current assets (note 15) 192 - 169 343 Aborted properties costs 33 33 407 430 Amortisation of right-of-use assets (note 25) - 24,425 - - 121,124 149,567 110,229 226,097 Change in inventories 264 264 531 (417) Change in receivables (5,801) (6,341) (1,206) 1,228 Change in payables 15,959 16,546 23,678 268 Cash flow from operating activities 131,546 160,036 133,232 227,176 This column shows the cash generated from operations as it would have been reported, before the introduction for IFRS 16. The amount of £131,546,000 shown is presented at the start of the pre-IFRS 16 cash flow presented within the primary statements. The difference of £28,490,000 between the cash flow from operating activities of £160,036,000 and the pre-IFRS 16 number of £131,546,000 is formed from the net payments on leases accounted for under IFRS 16, as disclosed in note 25 of payments made of £29,232,000, less payments received of £742,000. These payments are deducted on the cash flow statement, resulting in a change in cash and cash equivalents and free cash flow being the same before and after the introduction of IFRS 16. 10. Analysis of change in net debt 28 July IFRS Cash Non-cash 26 January 2019 migration flows movement 2020 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Borrowings Cash in hand 42,950 - 4,463 - 47,413 Finance lease creditor - due before one year (3,287) - 1,431 (1,430) (3,286) Current net borrowings 39,663 - 5,894 (1,430) 44,127 Bank loans - due after one year (770,076) - 25,000 (702) (745,778) Finance lease creditor - due after one year (6,607) - - 1,430 (5,177) Private placement - due after one year - - (97,679) (20) (97,699) Non-current net borrowings (776,683) - (72,679) 708 (848,654) Net debt (737,020) - (66,785) (722) (804,527) Derivatives Interest-rate swaps asset - due after one year 321 - - (321) - Interest-rate swaps liability - due after one year (49,393) - - (7,703) (57,096) Total derivatives (49,072) - - (8,024) (57,096) Net debt after derivatives (786,092) - (66,785) (8,746) (861,623) Operating leases Operating lease assets - due before one year - 1,583 (556) 534 1,561 Operating lease assets - due after one year - 11,853 - (534) 11,319 Operating lease obligations - due before one year - (61,252) 19,912 (17,988) (59,328) Operating lease obligations - due after one year - (570,052) - 32,554 (537,498) Net lease liabilities - (617,868) 19,356 14,566 (583,946) Net debt after derivatives and lease liabilities (786,092) (617,868) (47,429) 5,820 (1,445,569) The cash movement on the private placement is disclosed in the cash flow statement as an advance under private placement of £98,000,000 and a cash payment of loan issue costs of £321,000. Non-cash movements The non-cash movement in bank loans and the private placement relate to the amortisation of loan issue costs. The amortised charge for the year of £722,000 is disclosed in note 6. These are upfront payments made to obtain new borrowings. These costs are charged to the income statement over the expected life of the loan. The movement in interest-rate swaps relates to the change in the 'mark to market' valuations for the year. The migration movement of £617,868,000 is the recognition of the lease liability of £631,304,000 and the lease asset of £13,436,000 on adoption of IFRS 16. These amounts are disclosed in note 25. The non-cash movement in lease liabilities is analysed in the table below. Non-cash movement in net lease liabilities Unaudited 26 January 2020 £000 Recognition of new leases (note 25) (27,361) Remeasurements of existing leases (note 25) 77 Disposals of lease (note 25) 41,656 Exchange differences (note 25) 194 Non-cash movement in net lease liabilities 14,566 10. Net debt (continued) The table below calculated a ratio between net debt, being borrowings less cash and cash equivalents, and earnings before interest, tax and deprecation (EBITDA). The numbers in this table are all before the effect of IFRS 16. Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Profit before tax (income statement) 57,921 50,276 102,459 Interest (note 6) 18,467 16,967 35,057 Depreciation and amortisation (note 2) 39,869 40,868 81,811 Earnings before interest, tax and depreciation (EBITDA) 116,257 108,111 219,327 Rolling EBITDA Last full year 219,327 214,496 - Last half year (108,111) (114,100) - Rolling earnings before interest, tax and depreciation (EBITDA) 227,473 208,507 219,327 Net debt/EBITDA 3.54 3.47 3.36 11. Dividends paid and proposed Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 weeks 26 weeks 52 weeks ended ended ended 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Paid in the period 2018 final dividend - 8,435 8,435 2019 interim dividend - - 4,217 2019 final dividend 8,371 - - 8,371 8,435 12,652 Dividends in respect of the period Interim dividend - 4,217 4,217 Final dividend - - 8,371 - 4,217 12,614 Dividend per share - 4p 12p Dividend cover 3.1 4.5 5.8 Dividend cover is calculated as profit after tax and exceptional items over dividend paid. 12. Intangible assets Computer Assets Total software and under development construction £000 £000 £000 Cost: At 29 July 2018 66,944 1,799 68,743 Additions 658 1,723 2,381 Transfers 165 (165) - At 27 January 2019 67,767 3,357 71,124 Additions 1,075 2,469 3,544 Transfers 1,397 (1,397) - Disposals (22) - (22) At 28 July 2019 70,217 4,429 74,646 Additions 7 766 773 Transfers 3,857 (3,857) - At 26 January 2020 74,081 1,338 75,419 Accumulated amortisation and impairment: At 29 July 2018 (43,964) - (43,964) Provided during the period (3,847) - (3,847) At 27 January 2019 (47,811) - (47,811) Provided during the period (3,787) - (3,787) Disposals 22 - 22 At 28 July 2019 (51,576) - (51,576) Provided during the period (1,925) - (1,925) Impairment loss (note 4) (9,540) - (9,540) At 26 January 2020 (63,041) - (63,041) Net book amount at 26 January 2020 11,040 1,338 12,378 Net book amount at 28 July 2019 18,641 4,429 23,070 Net book amount at 27 January 2019 19,956 3,357 23,313 Net book amount at 29 July 2018 22,980 1,799 24,779 The majority of intangible assets relates to computer software and software development. Examples include the development costs of our SAP accounting system, our Wisdom property-maintenance system and the Wetherspoon app. 13. Property, plant and equipment Freehold and Short- Equipment, Assets Total long-leasehold leasehold fixtures under property property and fittings construction £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Cost: At 29 July 2018 1,110,875 356,160 617,800 54,202 2,139,037 Additions 40,278 1,602 14,438 36,714 93,032 Transfers 18,461 1,034 5,107 (24,602) - Exchange differences (367) (68) (137) (595) (1,167) Transfer to held for sale (5,450) - (600) - (6,050) Disposals (2,122) (1,975) (1,754) - (5,851) Reclassification 17,641 (17,641) - - - At 27 January 2019 1,179,316 339,112 634,854 65,719 2,219,001 Additions 35,269 827 23,776 8,338 68,210 Transfer from investment properties 1,984 - - - 1,984 Transfers 5,228 458 209 (5,895) - Exchange differences 593 90 227 889 1,799 Transfer to held for sale 374 - (210) - 164 Disposals (5,483) (1,437) (2,595) - (9,515) Reclassification 11,891 (11,891) - - - At 28 July 2019 1,229,172 327,159 656,261 69,051 2,281,643 Additions 64,215 480 15,650 41,342 121,687 Transfers 18,826 636 5,963 (25,425) - Exchange differences (1,426) (148) (424) (1,608) (3,606) Transfer to held for sale (1,335) - (458) - (1,793) Disposals (4,677) (3,828) (4,492) - (12,997) Reclassification 24,914 (24,914) - - - At 26 January 2020 1,329,689 299,385 672,500 83,360 2,384,934 Accumulated depreciation and impairment: At 29 July 2018 (222,037) (184,575) (426,352) - (832,964) Provided during the period (9,058) (6,019) (21,748) - (36,825) Exchange differences 39 - 41 - 80 Impairment loss - (545) (261) - (806) Transfer to held for sale 2,067 - 600 - 2,667 Disposals 1,459 2,000 1,647 - 5,106 Reclassification (10,308) 10,308 - - - At 27 January 2019 (237,838) (178,831) (446,073) - (862,742) Provided during the period (9,213) (5,714) (22,027) - (36,954) Transfer from investment properties (76) - - - (76) Exchange differences (84) (18) (158) - (260) Impairment loss (1,326) (859) (559) - (2,744) Transfer to held for sale (4) - 77 - 73 Disposals 2,189 1,497 2,345 - 6,031 Reclassification (7,473) 7,473 - - - At 28 July 2019 (253,825) (176,452) (466,395) - (896,672) Provided during the period (9,697) (5,501) (22,520) - (37,718) Exchange differences 122 (40) 178 - 260 Impairment loss (495) (682) (1,609) - (2,786) Transfer to held for sale 1,028 - 415 - 1,443 Disposals 1,030 3,841 4,199 - 9,070 Reclassification (14,860) 14,860 - - - At 26 January 2020 (276,697) (163,974) (485,732) - (926,403) Net book amount at 26 January 2020 1,052,992 135,411 186,768 83,360 1,458,531 Net book amount at 28 July 2019 975,347 150,707 189,866 69,051 1,384,971 Net book amount at 27 January 2019 941,478 160,281 188,781 65,719 1,356,259 Net book amount at 29 July 2018 888,838 171,585 191,448 54,202 1,306,073 14. Investment property The company owns three (2019: two) freehold property with existing tenants - and these assets have been classified as investment properties. Last year, the company started developing one of its investment properties into a pub. The property was transferred to property, plant and equipment. During this year, the company has purchased a further two investment properties. £000 Cost: At 29 July 2018 7,751 At 27 January 2019 7,751 Transfer to property, plant and equipment (1,984) At 28 July 2019 5,767 Additions 6,075 At 26 January 2020 11,842 Accumulated depreciation and impairment: At 29 July 2018 (257) Provided during the period (27) At 27 January 2019 (284) Provided during the period (28) Transfer to property, plant and equipment 76 At 28 July 2019 (236) Provided during the period (34) At 26 January 2020 (270) Net book amount at 26 January 2020 11,572 Net book amount at 28 July 2019 5,531 Net book amount at 27 January 2019 7,467 Net book amount at 29 July 2018 7,494 Rental income received in the period from the current investment properties was £326,000 (2019: £157,000). Operating costs, excluding depreciation, incurred in relation to these properties amounted to £2,000 (2019: £4,000). In the opinion of the directors, the fair value of the investment properties is approximately £18,000,000. 15. Other non-current assets £000 Cost: At 29 July 2018 12,727 Additions 93 At 27 January 2019 12,820 Additions 358 Disposals (75) At 28 July 2019 13,103 Transferred to right-of-use assets (13,103) At 26 January 2020 - Accumulated amortisation and impairment: At 29 July 2018 (4,802) Provided during the period (169) At 27 January 2019 (4,971) Provided during the period (174) Impairment loss (145) Disposals 75 At 28 July 2019 (5,215) Transferred to right-of-use assets 5,215 At 26 January 2020 - Net book amount at 26 January 2020 - Net book amount at 28 July 2019 7,888 Net book amount at 27 January 2019 7,849 Net book amount at 29 July 2018 7,925 Other non-current assets are leases premiums, paid on leasehold properties. Please see note 25 for all IFRS 16 migration adjustments. 16. Inventories Bar, food and non-consumable stock held at our pubs and national distribution centre. Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Goods for resale at cost 23,453 22,769 23,717 17. Receivables This category relates to situations in which third parties owe the company money. Examples include rebates from suppliers and overpayments of certain taxes. Prepayments relate to payments which have been made in respect of liabilities after the period's end. Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Other receivables 1,810 1,054 1,135 Receivables loss allowance - (22) (8) Accrued income 1,777 1,593 2,327 Prepayments 18,804 21,710 18,449 22,391 24,335 21,903 Accrued income relates to discounts which are calculated based on certain products being delivered at an agreed rate per item. Credit risk Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Due from suppliers - not due 1,451 996 898 Due from suppliers - overdue 359 58 237 1,810 1,054 1,135 Credit risk is the risk that a counterparty does not settle its financial obligation with the company. At the year end, the company has assessed the credit risk on amounts due from suppliers, based on historic experience, meaning that the expected lifetime credit loss was £Nil. Cash and cash equivalents are also subject to the impairment requirements of IFRS 9 - the identified impairment loss was immaterial. 18. Assets held for sale These relate to situations in which the company has exchanged contracts to sell a property, but the transaction is not yet complete. As at 26 January 2020, one site was classified as held for sale (2019: two). Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Property, plant and equipment 350 3,383 3,146 19. Cash and cash equivalents Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Cash and cash equivalents 47,413 37,354 42,950 Cash at bank earns interest at floating rates, based on daily bank deposit rates. 20. Trade and other payables This category relates to money owed by the company to suppliers and the government. Accruals refer to allowances made by the company for future anticipated payments to suppliers and other creditors. Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Trade payables 165,309 202,514 162,070 Other payables 27,362 18,073 18,056 Other tax and Social Security 55,398 53,266 62,081 Accruals and deferred income 67,704 46,648 66,119 315,773 320,501 308,326 21. Borrowings Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Current (due within one year) Other Finance lease obligations 3,286 3,207 3,287 Total current borrowings 3,286 3,207 3,287 Non-current (due after one year) Bank loans Variable-rate facility 750,000 750,000 775,000 Unamortised bank loan issue costs (4,222) 17 (4,924) 745,778 750,017 770,076 Private placement Fixed-rate facility 98,000 - - Unamortised private placement issue costs (301) - - 97,699 - - Other Finance lease obligations 5,177 8,095 6,607 Total non-current borrowings 848,654 758,112 776,683 22. Provisions Legal claims Onerous lease Total £000 £000 £000 At 28 July 2019 3,523 2,483 6,006 Charged to the income statement: - Transferred to right-of-use assets (note 25) - (2,483) (2,483) - Additional charges 1,053 - 1,053 - Unused amounts reversed (496) - (496) - Used during year (964) - (964) At 26 January 2020 3,116 - 3,116 Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Current 3,116 5,499 4,072 Non-current - 2,453 1,934 Total provisions 3,116 7,952 6,006 Legal claims The amounts represent a provision for ongoing legal claims brought against the company by customers and employees in the normal course of business. Owing to the nature of the business, we expect to have a continuous provision for outstanding employee and public liability claims. All claim provisions are considered current and are not, therefore, discounted to take into account the passage of time. Onerous lease The amounts represent a provision for future rent payments on sites which are not expected to generate sufficient profits. Also included are provisions on any sublet properties for which rent is not fully recovered. These provisions are expected to be utilised over a period of up to 22 years and are discounted to take into account the passage of time. These amounts were transferred into the right-of-use assets created on migration to IFRS 16. 23. Financial instruments The table below analyses the company's financial liabilities in relevant maturity groupings, based on the remaining period at the balance sheet date to the contractual maturity date. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows. Maturity profile of financial liabilities Within More than 1 year 1-2 years 2-3 years 3-4 years 4-5 years 5 years Total £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 At 26 January 2020 Bank loans 20,310 20,310 20,310 770,317 - - 831,248 Private placement 2,920 2,920 2,920 2,920 2,920 103,841 118,443 Trade and other payables 260,375 - - - - - 260,375 Derivatives 13,141 10,120 6,929 5,113 3,017 17,332 55,653 Finance lease obligations 3,286 3,286 2,465 - - - 9,037 Within More than 1 year 1-2 years 2-3 years 3-4 years 4-5 years 5 years Total £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 At 28 July 2019 Bank loans 20,039 20,039 20,039 20,039 786,726 - 866,882 Trade and other payables 246,245 - - - - - 246,245 Derivatives 13,089 13,089 6,962 6,877 3,052 18,651 61,720 Finance lease obligations 3,287 3,287 3,287 819 - - 10,680 On 20 August 2019, the company authorised the issue and sale of £98m aggregate principal amount of its Senior Secured Notes due 20 August 2026; this extends its total facilities, excluding finance leases, from £895m to £993m. At the balance sheet date, the company had loan facilities of £993m (2019: £895m) as detailed below: n Secured revolving-loan facility of £875m o Matures January 2024 o 14 participating lenders n Private placement of £98m o Matures August 2026 o The purchase of loan notes split among five participants n Overdraft facility of £20m The company has hedged its interest-rate liabilities to its banks by swapping the floating-rate debt into fixed-rate debt which has fixed £770m of these borrowings at rates of between 0.61% and 3.84%. The effective weighted average interest rate of the swap agreements used during the year is 2.82% (2019: 2.88%), fixed for a weighted average period of 4.6 years (2019: 4.8 years). In addition, the company has entered into forward-starting interest-rate swaps as detailed in the table below. Weighted average by swap period: From To Total swap value £m Weighted average interest % 02/07/2018 29/07/2021 770 2.42 30/07/2021 30/07/2023 770 1.61 31/07/2023 30/07/2026 770 1.10 31/07/2026 30/06/2028 770 1.33 01/07/2028 29/03/2029 770 1.32 At the balance sheet date, £750m (2019: £750m) was drawn down under the £875m unsecured-term revolving-loan facility. The amounts drawn under this agreement can be varied, depending on the requirements of the business. In future, it is expected that the draw-down required by the company will be more than £770m for the duration of the interest-rate swaps detailed above. 23. Financial instruments (continued) Capital risk management The company's capital structure comprises shareholders' equity and loans. The objective of capital management is to ensure that the company is able to continue as a going concern and provide shareholders with returns on their investment, while managing risk. The company does not have a specific measure for managing capital structure; instead, the company plans its capital requirements and manages its loans, dividends and share buybacks accordingly. The company measures loans using a ratio of net debt to EBITDA which was 3.54 times (2019: 3.47 times) at the period end. Financial risks associated with financial instruments, including credit risk and liquidity risk, are discussed in the annual report 2019 in section 2 on page 49. Fair value of financial assets and liabilities IFRS 7 requires disclosure of fair value measurements by level, using the following fair value measurement hierarchy: n Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1) n Inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 which are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly (level 2) n Inputs for the asset or liability which are not based on observable market data (level 3) The fair value of the interest-rate swaps is considered to be level 2. All other financial assets and liabilities are measured in the balance sheet at amortised cost - and their valuation is also considered to be level 2. Interest-rate and currency risks of financial liabilities An analysis of the interest-rate profile of financial liabilities, after taking account of all interest-rate swaps, is set out in the following table. Interest-rate and currency risks of financial liabilities Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Analysis of interest-rate profile of financial liabilities Bank loans Floating rate due after one year - - 76 Fixed rate due after one year 745,778 750,017 770,000 745,778 750,017 770,076 Finance lease obligation Fixed rate due in one year 3,286 3,207 3,287 Fixed rate due after one year 5,177 8,095 6,607 8,463 11,302 9,894 Private placement Fixed rate due after one year 97,699 - - 97,699 - 851,940 761,319 779,970 The floating-rate borrowings are interest-bearing borrowings at rates based on LIBOR, fixed for periods of up to one month. The fixed-rate loan is that element of the company's borrowings which has been fixed with interest-rate swaps. 23. Financial instruments (continued) Fair values In some cases, payments which are due to be made in the future by the company or due to be received by the company have to be given a fair value. The table below highlights any differences between book value and fair value of financial instruments. Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Audited Audited 26 January 26 January 27 January 27 January 28 July 28 July 2020 2020 2019 2019 2019 2019 Book value Fair value Book value Fair value Book value Fair value £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Financial assets at amortised cost Cash and cash equivalents 47,413 47,413 37,354 37,354 42,950 42,950 Operating lease assets 12,880 12,955 - - - - Receivables 1,810 1,810 1,032 1,032 1,127 1,127 62,103 62,178 38,386 38,386 44,077 44,077 Financial liabilities at amortised cost Trade and other payables (260,375) (260,375) (267,235) (267,235) (246,245) (246,245) Finance lease obligations (8,463) (8,478) (11,302) (11,600) (9,894) (9,915) Operating lease obligations (596,826) (606,018) - - - - Private placement (97,699) (99,457) - - - - Borrowings (745,778) (746,554) (750,017) (749,150) (770,076) (771,093) (1,709,141) (1,720,882) (1,028,554) (1,027,985) (1,026,215) (1,027,253) Derivatives - cash flow hedges Non-current derivative financial asset - - 11,420 11,420 321 321 Non-current derivative financial liability (57,096) (57,096) (35,465) (35,465) (49,393) (49,393) (57,096) (57,096) (24,045) (24,045) (49,072) (49,072) The fair value of derivatives has been calculated by discounting all future cash flows by the market yield curve at the balance sheet date. The fair value of borrowings has been calculated by discounting the expected future cash flows at the year end's prevailing interest rates. Obligations under finance leases The minimum lease payments under finance leases fall due as follows: Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Within one year 3,286 3,207 3,287 In the second to fifth year, inclusive 5,751 9,116 7,393 9,037 12,323 10,680 Less future finance charges (574) (1,021) (786) Present value of lease obligations 8,463 11,302 9,894 Less amount due for settlement within one year (3,286) (3,207) (3,287) Amount due for settlement during the second to fifth year, inclusive 5,177 8,095 6,607 All finance lease obligations are in respect of various equipment used in the business. No escalation clauses are included in the agreements. 23. Financial instruments (continued) Interest - rate swaps At 26 January 2020, the company had fixed-rate swaps designated as hedges of floating-rate borrowings. The floating-rate borrowings are interest-bearing borrowings at rates based on LIBOR, fixed for periods of up to one month. Loss/(gain) on Deferred Charged interest-rate tax to equity swaps £000 £000 £000 As at 27 January 2019 24,045 (4,088) 19,957 Change in fair value posted to comprehensive income 25,027 - 25,027 Deferred tax posted to comprehensive income - (4,254) (4,254) As at 28 July 2019 49,072 (8,342) 40,730 Change in fair value posted to comprehensive income 8,024 - 8,024 Deferred tax posted to comprehensive income - (1,364) (1,364) As at 26 January 2020 57,096 (9,706) 47,390 No ineffectiveness arose during the period (2019: £Nil). Amounts charged to the profit and loss account in relation to interest-rate swaps are charged to finance costs - see note 6. Interest-rate hedges The company's interest-rate swap agreements are in place as protection against future changes in borrowing costs. Under these agreements, the company pays a fixed interest charge and receives variable interest income which matches the variable interest payments made on the company's borrowings. There is an economic relationship among the company's revolving-loan facility, the hedged item and the company's interest-rate swaps, the hedging instruments, where the company pays a floating interest charge on the loan and receives a floating interest-rate credit on the interest-rate swap. The interest-rate swap agreement allows the company to receive a floating interest-rate credit and requires the company to pay an agreed fixed interest charge. The company has established a hedging ratio of 1:1 between the interest-rate swaps and the company's floating-rate borrowings, meaning that floating interest rates paid should be identical to the amounts received for a given amount of borrowings. These hedges could be ineffective, if the: n period over which the borrowings were drawn were changed. This could result in the borrowings being made at a different floating rate than the interest-rate swap. n gross amount of borrowings were less than the value swapped. n impact of LIBOR reform were to cause a mismatch between the interest rate of the swaps and that of the company's debt. The company tests hedge effectiveness prospectively using the hypothetical derivative method and compares the changes in the fair value of the hedging instrument with those in the fair value of the hedged item attributable to the hedged risk. Interest rate sensitivity During the 26 weeks ended 26 January 2020, if the interest rates on UK-denominated borrowings had been 1% higher, with all other variables constant, pre-tax profit for the year would have been increased by £146,000 and equity increased by £67,386,000. The movement in equity arises from a change in the 'mark to market' valuation of the interest-rate swaps into which the company has entered, calculated by a 1% shift of the market yield curve. The company considers that a 1% movement in interest rates represents a reasonable sensitivity to potential changes. However, this analysis is for illustrative purposes only. 24. Other liabilities Unaudited Unaudited Audited 26 January 27 January 28 July 2020 2019 2019 £000 £000 £000 Operating lease incentives - 11,235 10,930 Included in other liabilities were lease incentives on leases where the lessor retains substantially all of the risks and benefits of ownership of the asset. The lease incentives were recognised as a reduction in rent over the lease term and shown as a liability on the balance sheet. These amounts now form part of the right-of-use assets, please see note 25. 25. Leases About 36% of the company's pubs are leasehold. New leases are normally for 30 years, with a break clause after 15 years. Most leases have upwards-only rent reviews, based on open-market rental at the time of review, but most new pub leases have an uplift in rent which is fixed at the start of the lease. (a) Right-of-use assets The table below shows the movements in the company's right-of-use assets. £000 Cost: Recognition of assets 617,837 Additions 27,361 Remeasurement (77) Exchange differences (216) Disposals (41,886) At 26 January 2020 603,019 Accumulated depreciation and impairment: Provided during the period (24,425) Exchange differences 4 Disposals 577 At 26 January 2020 (23,844) Net book amount at 26 January 2020 579,175 25. Leases (continued) (b) Lease maturity profile The tables below analyse the company's lease liabilities and assets in relevant maturity groupings, based on the remaining period at the balance sheet date to the end of the lease. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows. The impact of discounting reconciles these amounts to the values disclosed in the balance sheet. Lease liabilities maturity profile Unaudited Unaudited 26 January 28 July 2020 2019 £000 £000 Within one year 59,328 61,252 Between one and two years 58,597 61,177 Between two and three years 55,965 58,523 Between three and four years 55,074 57,050 Between four and five years 54,623 56,400 After five years 506,892 541,916 Lease commitments payable 790,479 836,318 Discounting lease liability (193,653) (205,014) Lease liability 596,826 631,304 Lease assets maturity profile Unaudited Unaudited 26 January 28 July 2020 2019 £000 £000 Within one year 1,561 1,583 Between one and two years 1,501 1,545 Between two and three years 1,413 1,448 Between three and four years 1,258 1,391 Between four and five years 1,110 1,125 After five years 8,850 9,338 15,693 16,430 Discounting lease asset (2,813) (2,994) Lease asset 12,880 13,436 The comparative numbers disclosed above are those included in the migration note in the 2019 annual report. 25. Leases (continued) (c) Lease liability The tables below show the movements in the period of the lease liability and the lease asset. Lease liability Unaudited 26 January 2020 £000 At 28 July 2019 - Recognition of liability 631,304 Additions 27,361 Remeasurements of leases (77) Disposals (41,656) Exchange differences (194) Lease liabilities before payments 616,738 Interest due 9,320 Payments made (29,232) Net principal repayments (19,912) At 26 January 2020 596,826 Future rental payments, up to the end of the lease, are capitalised, including any agreed increases. Future rent payments could change as a result of open-market rent reviews or options being exercised to terminate a lease early. Any changes in the minimum unavoidable lease payments will be included as a remeasurement of the lease liability. Leases with lease terms of less than one year are not capitalised. Lease assets Unaudited 26 January 2020 £000 At 28 July 2019 - Recognition of asset 13,436 Lease assets before payments 13,436 Interest due 186 Payments made (742) Net principal repayments (556) At 26 January 2020 12,880 The company has sublet several of its leases which have been capitalised above, with lease assets being the capitalised future rent receivables from sublet sites. The interest payable and receivable shown in the tables above is the interest element of the payments made and received in the period. These amounts differ from the lease interest charged/credited to the income statement in the period - see note 6. The amounts charged/credited to the income statement in the period will also include amounts due, but not paid, in the period. The incremental borrowing rate applied to lease liabilities and assets was 2.7-3.9%, depending on the lease's length. 25. Leases (continued) (d) IFRS 16 migration IFRS 16 Leases This standard replaces IAS 17 Leases and is effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019. The standard was adopted by the company on 29 July 2019. When the new standard became effective, the company recognised, on the balance sheet, a right-of-use asset and a lease liability for future lease payments, in respect of all leases, excluding those with terms less than 12 months and those for low-value assets. Lessor accounting remains similar to the previous standard. The lessor continues to classify leases as finance or operating leases, depending on whether the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the lessee. Some of the company's sublet properties were classified as finance leases under the new standard, as the risks and rewards of ownership of the IFRS 16 right-of-use asset was transferred to the lessee, whereas, under IAS 17, there was no asset recognised in the accounts; as a result, the leases were treated as operating leases. Transition On 29 July 2019, the company adopted the standard using the modified retrospective approach. The new standard allows, on a lease-by-lease basis, for the value of the right-of-use assets to be determined as if the lease had started on the date of transition or the start date of the lease. This choice does not affect the recognised lease liability, but does affect the value of the asset. Valuing on the day of transition results in a right-of-use asset of broadly the same value as the lease liability. Valuing at the start date of the lease results in a lower asset value at transition, reflecting the amortisation which would have been charged on the asset between the start of the lease and the date of transition. The reduction in the asset value would be offset by a reduction in distributable reserves on the balance sheet. The company has chosen to value all leases on the date of transition. The company has elected to use the following practical exemptions in transitioning to IFRS 16: n The application of a single discount rate to a portfolio of leases with reasonably similar characteristics n The use of existing onerous lease provisions, rather than preforming an impairment review on right-of-use assets n The use of hindsight in determining the lease term Balance sheet On 29 July 2019, the company recognised a right-of-use asset of £618m, a lease liability of £631m and a finance lease asset of £14m, related to sublet sites. The right-of-use assets comprise the net lease liability of £617m, rent prepayments of £14m, operating lease incentives of £11m and onerous leases of £2m. There was no adjustment to retained earnings. As at 28 July 2019, the company had contractual operating lease commitments payable of £836m and contractual operating lease commitments receivable of £23m. A reconciliation to the transition value is provided below. Income statement The total profit and loss charge over the life of a lease will remain unchanged under IFRS 16, but the new standard will change the pattern of how the expense is recognised in the income statement, over time, with more costs recognised in the early years of a lease and fewer in its later years. The expense will be recognised as a depreciation and interest charge replacing the operating expenses under IAS 17. In the 2019 annual report, the company estimated that, for the year ending 26 July 2020, EBITDA will have increased by £58m and operating profit by £8m. Finance costs are expected to increase by £22m, resulting in a decrease in profit before tax of £14m. These estimates are based on the leaseholds held at year end and will be affected by the company purchasing the freehold interest in its leasehold sites. Tax impact on changes to the income statement The IFRS 16 depreciation and interest expense will be deducted when calculating current tax. It is estimated, in the current financial year, that current tax will be reduced by £2m. The reduction in tax payments in the early years of a lease will be offset by higher tax payments in its later years. The company expects a small increase in the effective tax rate. This is due to disallowable expenses, which will remain unchanged, being a larger proportion of reduced profits. Cash flow statement On the application of IFRS 16, there will be no impact on cash flows, except in relation to tax payments. The presentation of cash flows will change. Cash flows from operating activities will increase, yet will be exactly offset by an increase in interest and lease principal payments. 25. Leases (continued) The table below shows the transition adjustments applied to the opening balance sheet for the year ending 26 July 2020. July 2019 IFRS 16 Re-stated £000 £000 £000 Other 1,422,235 - 1,422,235 Other non-current assets 7,888 (7,888) - Right-of-use assets - 617,837 617,837 Lease receivables - 11,853 11,853 Total non-current assets 1,430,123 621,802 2,051,925 Other current assets 69,813 - 69,813 Lease receivables - 1,583 1,583 Receivables 21,903 (5,693) 16,210 Total assets 1,521,839 617,692 2,139,531 Other current liabilities (326,671) 748 (325,923) Lease liabilities - (61,252) (61,252) Total current liabilities (326,671) (60,504) (387,175) Other non-current liabilities (865,492) - (865,492) Lease liabilities - (570,052) (570,052) Provisions (1,934) 1,934 - Other liabilities (10,930) 10,930 - Total liabilities (1,205,027) (617,692) (1,822,719) Net assets 316,812 - 316,812 Equity 316,812 - 316,812 Reconciliation to lease commitments The table below shows a reconciliation between the operating lease commitments (as disclosed in the 2019 annual report in note 25) and the lease liability and assets to be recognised under IFRS 16. 2019 £000 Lease commitments, payable 836,318 Discounting lease liability (205,014) Lease liability recognised 631,304 2019 £000 Lease commitments, receivable 22,857 Leases not capitalised (6,427) Discounting lease asset (2,994) Lease asset recognised 13,436 25. Leases (continued) Recognition of right-of-use assets The table below shows how the value of the right-of-use asset was calculated on migration. Unaudited 26 January 2020 £000 Recognition of leases Lease receivables (note 25) (13,436) Lease liabilities (note 25) 631,304 Non-current assets Other non-current assets (note 15) 7,888 Current assets Rent prepayments (note 17) 5,693 Current liabilities Rent payables (note 20) (199) Onerous lease creditor less than one year (note 22) (549) Non-current liabilities Other non-current liabilities (note 24) (10,930) Onerous lease creditor more than one year (note 22) (1,934) Right-of-use assets 617,837 Determining the right-of-use asset Lease liabilities and assets were calculated by discounting future unavoidable rental payments and rents receivable for any of those sites which had been sublet. To the value of the lease liabilities and assets were added all balance sheet items held in relation to these leases. These included lease premiums paid, disclosed as other non-current assets, prepaid and accrued rental charges, the onerous lease provision and lease incentives, disclosed as other non-current liabilities. Lease terminology Before the introduction of IFRS 16, leases in a lessee's accounts were defined as finance leases and operating leases. Although this distinction no longer exists within IFRS 16, the distinction has been maintained in the narrative description of leases within the company's accounts, so that the impact of the new standard can be clearly seen. 26. Capital commitments At 26 January 2020, the company had £28.2m (July 2019: £37.9m) of capital commitments, relating to the purchase of 10 (July 2019: 16) sites, for which no provision had been made, in respect of property, plant and equipment. The company had some other sites in the property pipeline; however, any legal commitment is contingent on planning and licensing. Therefore, there are no commitments at the balance sheet date. 27. Related-party disclosures J D Wetherspoon is the owner of the share capital of the following companies: Company name Country of incorporation Ownership Status J D Wetherspoon (Scot) Limited Scotland Wholly owned Dormant J D Wetherspoon Property Holdings Limited England Wholly owned Dormant Moon and Spoon Limited England Wholly owned Dormant Moon and Stars Limited England Wholly owned Dormant Moon on the Hill Limited England Wholly owned Dormant Moorsom & Co Limited England Wholly owned Dormant Sylvan Moon Limited England Wholly owned Dormant Checkline House (Head Lease) Limited Wales Wholly owned Dormant All of these companies are dormant and contain no assets or liabilities and are, therefore, immaterial. As a result, consolidated accounts have not been produced. The company has an overseas branch located in the Republic of Ireland. 28. Share capital Number of Share shares capital 000s £000 Balance at 29 July 2018 (audited) 105,501 2,110 Closing balance at 27 January 2019 (unaudited) 105,501 2,110 Repurchase of shares (403) (8) Balance at 28 July 2019 (audited) 105,098 2,102 Repurchase of shares (420) (8) Closing balance at 26 January 2020 (unaudited) 104,678 2,094 The balance classified as share capital represents proceeds arising on issue of the company's equity share capital, comprising 2p ordinary shares and the cancellation of shares repurchased by the company. The total authorised number of 2p ordinary shares is 500,000,000 (2019: 500,000,000). All issued shares are fully paid. In the period, there were no proceeds from the issue of shares (2019: £Nil). During the period, 419,741 shares were repurchased by the company for cancellation, representing approximately 0.40% of the issued share capital, at a cost of £6.5m, including stamp duty, representing an average cost per share of 1,523p. The capital redemption reserve increased owing to the repurchase of a number of shares in the period. While the memorandum and articles of association allow for preferred, deferred or special rights to attach to ordinary shares, no shares carried such rights at the balance sheet date. 29. Events after the balance sheet date On 11 March 2020, the chancellor presented the UK budget announcement and confirmed that the rate of corporation tax would remain at 19% from 1 April 2020. This is expected to be substantively enacted by the year-end balance sheet date. As a result of this post balance sheet announcement, the prevailing tax rate used to calculate the income and deferred tax liabilities for the year ended 26 July 2020 will be 19%, instead of 18.33% used in the half-year results. Furthermore, the deferred tax balances will be recalculated at the year end to 19%; it is anticipated that this will result in a rate-change adjustment of approximately £3.4m. For information on COVID-19, please see note 31. 30. General information J D Wetherspoon plc is a public limited company, incorporated and domiciled in England and Wales. Its registered office address is: Wetherspoon House, Central Park, Reeds Crescent, Watford, WD24 4QL. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange. This condensed half-yearly financial information was approved for issue by the board on 19 March 2020. This interim report does not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of Sections 434 and 435 of the Companies Act 2006. Statutory accounts for the year ended 28 July 2019 were approved by the board of directors on 12 September 2019 and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors on those accounts was unqualified, did not contain an emphasis-of-matter paragraph or any statement under Sections 498 to 502 of the Companies Act 2006. The advent of the COVID-19 virus supersedes the principal risks and uncertainties as set out in the financial statements for the 52 weeks ended 28 July 2019, pages 48 and 49, and will remain the most significant risk facing the company in the next six months, please see note 31. 31. Basis of preparation This condensed half-yearly financial information of J D Wetherspoon plc (the 'Company'), which is abridged and unaudited, has been prepared in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority and with International Accounting Standards (IAS) 34, Interim Financial Reporting, as adopted by the European Union. This interim report should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements for the 52 weeks ended 28 July 2019 which were prepared in accordance with IFRSs, as adopted by the European Union. The directors have made enquiries into the adequacy of the Company's financial resources, through a review of the Company's budget and medium-term financial plan, including capital expenditure plans and cash flow forecasts. Material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt regarding the Company's ability to trade as a going concern has resulted from the impact of the COVID-19 virus on the economy and the hospitality industry. The directors have considered the impact on the company, including the possibility of temporary closure. The directors are satisfied that the Company will not breach its borrowing covenants during a temporary closure. If the closure is prolonged, the Company would consider whether to take further actions at that time. In that respect, the directors have considered the comments of the Bank of England on 17 March 2020 in which it said that the "CCFF (a new funding facility) will provide funding to businesses by purchasing commercial paper of up to 1 year maturity, issued by firms making a material contribution to the UK economy. It will help businesses across a range of sectors to pay wages and suppliers, even while experiencing severe disruption to cashflows". The directors have also taken account of the suspension of business rates for 12 months from April 2020, which will result in a saving by the Company of over £50m. As a result, the directors have satisfied themselves that the Company will continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going-concern basis in preparing the Company's financial statements. The financial information for the 52 weeks ended 28 July 2019 is extracted from the statutory accounts of the Company for that year. The interim results for the 26 weeks ended 26 January 2020 and the comparatives for 27 January 2019 are unaudited, yet have been reviewed by the independent auditors. A copy of the review report is included at the end of this report. 32. Accounting policies With the exception of tax and IFRS 16, which has been implemented in these financial statements, the accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the interim report are consistent with those applied in the preparation of the Company's annual report for the year ended 28 July 2019 - and the same methods of computation and presentation are used. Income tax Taxes on income in the interim periods are accrued using the tax rate which would be applicable to expected total annual earnings. Changes in standards At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, certain new standards and amendments to existing standards have been published which are not yet effective and have not been adopted early by the Company. Information on those expected to be relevant to the financial statements is provided below: n Conceptual framework for Financial Reporting n Amendments to IFRS 3: Definition of a Business n Amendments to IAS 1 and IAS 8: Definition of a Material n Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39 and IFRS 7: Interest Rate Benchmark Reform n IFRS 17 Insurance contacts IFRS 16 Leases is effective for accounting periods starting on or after 1 January 2019, replacing IAS 17 Leases. The impact of this change is disclosed in note 25 of these accounts. Other standards which are not expected to have a material impact are shown below: n Amendments to IFRS 9: Prepayment Features with Negative Consideration n Amendments to IAS 28: Long-Term Interest in Associates and Joint Ventures n Amendments to IAS 19: Plan Amendment, Curtailment or Settlement n Annual Improvement to IFRS 2015-2017 Cycle n IFRIC Interpretation 23: Uncertainty Over Income Tax Treatments This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. END IR DDGDXRBBDGGC