Trading Statement

COMPASS GROUP TRADING UPDATE: CONTINUED STRONG PERFORMANCE EXPECTED Compass Group PLC will issue its Preliminary Results for the year ended 30 September 2002 on 3 December 2002. Prior to its close period, the Company today issues the following scheduled trading update. Michael J. Bailey, Chief Executive, said: 'At our Preliminary Results in December 2001, we noted that the global economic environment had become more uncertain with general activity slowing in a number of countries. However, we stated that we remained confident that Compass Group would continue to perform well and to achieve organic turnover growth within our target 6-9% range, although growth would probably be towards the bottom of the range reflecting more difficult trading conditions. We also expected like for like margin growth for 2002. 'I am pleased to confirm that we are on track to achieve our goals as we expect organic turnover growth for the year to be at least 6% together with a like for like margin increase. We also expect to deliver significant improvement in free cash flow, generating some £300m in the current financial year. This strong performance is due to the continued commitment of our employees, the successful implementation of our unique business model, which is focused on delivering foodservice and vending through sector-specific subsidiaries and the use of our portfolio of foodservice brands. 'I am also delighted to announce today our agreement to acquire a majority stake in Onama S.p.A. for £80m which will give us a market leading position in Italy, Continental Europe's third largest foodservice market. This will be the most significant acquisition to be made by the Group in the 2003 financial year.' Organic Turnover Growth Compass Group has continued to grow its like for like turnover in the second half of the year and expects full year organic turnover growth to be at least 6%. Full year like for like turnover growth for the UK division is expected to be 5%, in the Continental Europe and rest of the world division it is expected to be 7% and in the North America division it is also expected to be 7%. Trading in the second half of the year has been more challenging in a number of countries due to a range of macro-economic factors including recession pressures, lower growth in airports and flat rail passenger numbers in the UK. Helping to offset these pressures has been a continuation of the Group's first half momentum in new business gains and a contract retention rate that remains above 95%. Margin Growth The Group's like for like margin for the full year is expected to have moved forward by between 20 and 30 basis points. Margin growth within the UK business has benefited from continuing merger synergies. Profit Before Tax Profit before tax for the full year remains in line with management expectations. Free Cash Flow Free cash flow (after net capital expenditure) for the full year is likely to be some £300m. Like for Like Growth Net growth in each of the divisions continues to be strong reinforcing the significant growth potential in contract foodservice, particularly in healthcare and education, as the trend to outsourcing and further consolidation of the industry continue. Today Compass Group announces that Orange PCS Limited, one of the UK's leading mobile phone networks, has awarded Eurest a renewed three-year contract with an annual turnover of £4.5m. Eurest will provide catering to over 10,000 Orange employees at 11 sites. In addition Orange has recently awarded its national vending contract to another Compass Group company, Vendepac, and awarded a new 3-year contract to Eurest Denmark for their Danish offices. New contracts signed recently include: * North America: The Group's US Healthcare business has gained 95 new contracts in the year. These include a 5-year agreement with The University of Texas Medical Branch Galveston with annual turnover of $3m and a 5-year agreement with The Fountains Retirement Communities, Inc. with over $14m annual turnover. Bon Appétit has secured a 5-year, $2.5m management fee contract with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the country's top universities. New education contract wins for Chartwells include a 10 year, $2m contract at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, and a 10-year contract at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, valued at $6m a year. Eurest has also signed a 5-year agreement with Herman Miller, Inc. in Michigan with annual revenues of $5m and, in partnership with Canteen Vending, a 10-year extension to its existing partnership with Bradley University in Illinois with annual revenues of $3.5m. Additionally, Canteen has won a three-year contract with AutoNation, the largest auto retailer in the US, to provide vending service at 215 locations throughout the country. * UK: Medirest has been awarded a five-year contract by Basildon and Thurrock General at its two hospitals in Essex worth £2m in annual turnover. Scolarest has been awarded a new three-year contract by Sandwell Borough Council worth £4m in annual turnover to prepare 16,000 meals a day for 120 schools in the borough. The company has also been awarded a new 5-year contract by Brighton & Hove City Council worth £2m in annual turnover. * Continental Europe & Rest of World: numerous new contracts have been won throughout the division, most notably: * + France: Eurest has won three new contracts with Bouygues Offshore, Le Paris Opera Garnier and La Poste with a combined annual turnover of Euro 3m. + Spain: The Group has made significant advances in the Spanish healthcare market winning 29 contracts with residential homes for the elderly during the year. + Scandinavia: SSP Sweden has negotiated a two and a half-year extension of its onboard services contract with SJ (Swedish Rail) totalling £ 23.5m a year and won a new seven-year contract with Luleå Airport with an annual turnover of £1.25m. + Romania: Eurest has won a major new contract with Renault Dacia in Pitesi with annual revenues of £2m. + Brazil: Eurest have won the contract for four Volkswagen sites with annual sales of US$8.4m and Canteen Vending has won the contract to install 230 Ritazza machines in Shell's forecourt convenience stores throughout the country. Eurest have also regained the contract for three Ford factories in Sao Paolo with annual revenues of $2.5m. 2002: Acquisitions & Disposals Japan Japan is the world's second largest foodservice market with an estimated £21bn of annual turnover. In January 2002, the Group acquired 80% of Seiyo Food Systems Inc. for £194m plus assumed net debt of £131m in order to strengthen its position in the market. Since completing the transaction, Seiyo has disposed of 120 loss-making CASA high street restaurants for £28m and reduced its shareholding in the fast food operator Yoshinoya D&C from 24.7% to 20.2% generating proceeds of £31m. In August 2002, the Group's joint venture partner in Japan, Itochu Corporation, expanded its existing relationship with Compass Group in Japan through an investment in the Group's business. Compass Group and Itochu have also agreed to integrate their existing joint venture into the wider Compass Group business in Japan to be operated with Seiyo. As a result Itochu will hold a 20% stake in the Group's business in Japan. These transactions will generate net proceeds of £46m of which £42m has been received in the current financial year. The Group has made significant progress in creating a clear business structure for the Group in Japan, culminating in the delisting of the Seiyo business which is expected to take place in October 2002. The management are now looking forward to implementing the Group's business model in the Japanese market and to deliver margin growth. Other During the year the Group has made a number of other in-fill acquisitions for a total consideration of some £375m, including the acquisition of Restorama, Rail Gourmet and parts of Gourmet Nova from Swissair Group, Louis Catering in Continental Europe and the acquisitions of Bon Appétit, Vendlink and Cara Healthcare in North America. 2003: Acquisitions & Disposals Italy Today Compass Group is delighted to announce its agreement to acquire a majority stake in Onama S.p.A, based in Milan, Italy. The consideration for the 60% stake acquired, which will be payable in cash on completion is Euro 127m (£ 80m). The transaction is expected to complete at the end of this calendar year. Onama provides some 90 million meals annually from 600 catering facilities principally across Italy, employing 10,000 people, and had turnover of Euro 446m (£282m) for the year ended 31st December 2001. Net debt at that date was Euro 42m (£27m). Compass Group's existing operation in Italy will be merged with Onama to give the Group a market leading position in Continental Europe's third largest foodservice market. As the largest company in the Italian contract catering market, Onama's management expertise and its national network provides a quality platform to ensure the Group will be well-placed to bid for business in all sectors of this growing foodservice market. Clients include Olivetti and Pirelli. Onama will be the most significant acquisition to be made by the Group in the 2003 financial year and management reiterates its expectation that acquisitions that it will make in the year will not exceed £200m in total. Travelodge and Little Chef In June 2002, following a strategic review, the Group announced that it was to pursue the possible disposal of Little Chef and Travelodge through an auction process. This process is going well with considerable levels of interest and we will provide an update to shareholders at the time of our Preliminary Results announcement. Outlook The Group remains committed to its strategy of focusing on the foodservice and vending markets, delivering solid organic growth, continued margin improvement, strong free cash flow generation and improving return on capital employed. The Group is well placed to respond to recessionary pressures through its purchasing power, flexibility in cost structure and proactive approach to protecting its margin. It will also continue to benefit from its market-leading position in the expanding £240bn foodservice market and looks forward with confidence to the future growth of the business. With recently gained contracts which are being mobilised, a strong pipeline of potential new business and the expected continuation of a 95% plus contract retention rate, management believe that the company can continue to deliver a broadly similar level of organic turnover growth and margin improvement in 2003. Ends Teleconference An investors teleconference will start at 9.30am (BST) on Friday 27th September 2002. To participate in the teleconference call dial: +44 (0)20 8240 8242. A replay of the call will be available for 5 working days (until 4 October) by dialling +44 (0)20 8288 4459, passcode: 895222. Enquiries: Compass Group PLC 01932 573000 Michael J Bailey, Chief Executive Andrew Lynch, Finance Director Brunswick 020 7404 5959 Timothy Grey / Pamela Small Notes: 1. Compass Group is the world's largest foodservice company employing over 365,000 people in 96 countries and with annual revenues in excess of £10bn. Compass Group provides foodservice for clients including major employers, educational establishments, hospitals, leisure venues, retail locations and at major airports and stations throughout the USA, Europe, and developing markets in Asia and South America. It operates through sector-specific subsidiaries such as Eurest, the world's largest specialist in providing foodservice to business and industry clients, and Select Service Partner, the European market leader in foodservice at airport restaurants and rail stations. Further information on the Group can be found at www.compass-group.com 2. Japan: Itochu Corp. is a leading trading company in Japan with sales of over ¥13 trillion. Itochu trades worldwide in food products, textiles, machinery, building supplies, manufacturing industries, IT industries. 3. Translation Rates: The Group has decided not to hedge exchange rates for the profit and loss account translation of its overseas results. Accordingly, with effect from the year ending 30th September 2003 the Group will use average exchange rates for the year to translate its foreign currency denominated results.
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