Trading Statement

Britvic plc 04 April 2006 4 April 2006 Britvic plc ('Britvic') pre-half year close period Trading Update As part of the Company's ongoing reporting calendar, Britvic today releases its pre-half year close period Trading Update for the twenty four weeks to 19 March 2006. This announcement includes H1 2005 IFRS pro-forma adjusted numbers. In line with our statement on March 2, our guidance remains that if, as we anticipate, the soft drinks market shows recovery over the balance of the year when the majority of our sales are made, we continue to be confident of delivering earnings within the range of current market expectations. The consumer trend towards 'better for you' that was evident in our performance in the 8 weeks of trading post Christmas has continued into March. As a consequence we have yet to see a recovery in the total carbonates market but there are signs that the rate of decline in sales of full sugar carbonates, the most affected category, is stabilising. The overall stills market continues to show growth. In the twenty four weeks to 19 March 2006, a quieter time of the year for trading, branded revenue was down by 3.4% compared with the same period last year, with stills up 1.3% and carbonates down 7.3%. This performance is in part explained by trading in the last four weeks which has been heavily influenced by the timing of the important Easter period, falling three weeks later this year than last, the unseasonably cold weather and recent structural changes in the customer base. Against a marginally negative pricing backdrop and lower volumes, first half net margins have been further affected by the previously highlighted increases in input and energy costs. While overhead savings initiatives have helped to offset some of this impact, we still expect first half EBIT margins to be down by around one percentage point on last year. Paul Moody, CEO of Britvic plc commented: 'We continue to focus on driving revenue through core brand activity, successful new product launches and increasing our average realised price. Alongside this we are concentrating on reducing costs, with a full year target of at least £10m, improving our cash position and reducing working capital. We continue to maintain a strong market share performance in many of our key categories and look forward to a stronger second half.' The Company's next update to the market will be with its Interim Results for the twenty eight weeks to 16 April 2006 on 25 May 2006. Britvic will be hosting an investor day tomorrow focused on the Soft Drinks Category Report, and the Business Transformation and Product Value Optimisation programmes. No new trading information will be disclosed and the presentation used at the event will be posted on our website. For further information please contact: Investors: John Gibney/ Jo Guano 01245 504 330 Media: Conor McClafferty/ Jonathan Glass (Brunswick) 0207 404 5959 There will be a conference call today at 8.00am for investors and analysts with Paul Moody (Chief Executive) and John Gibney (Finance Director) and a further conference call at 2.30pm (9.30am Eastern Standard Time) today primarily for US investors and analysts. There will be an opportunity on both calls to ask questions. A recording of both calls will be available for seven days. To access these calls please dial the relevant number below and use the access number. 8.00am call Access Number: +44 (0)20 8609 0205 Pin Number: 995324# 2.30pm call Access Number: +44 (0)20 8609 0205 Pin Number: 217348# Redial Number: +44 (0)20 8609 0289 Conference Reference: 141347 (8.00am call) 141350 (2.30pm call) Notes to editors Britvic is one of the two leading soft drinks businesses in Great Britain. The Company is the largest supplier of still soft drinks, the faster growing category in the soft drinks market, and the number two supplier of carbonates. Britvic plc's broad portfolio of leading brands includes established names with high brand recognition such as Robinsons and Tango and highly successful innovations such as J20 and Fruit Shoot. Included within the portfolio are the Pepsi and 7UP brands, which Britvic produces, markets, sells and distributes under its exclusive appointment from PepsiCo which runs until December 2023. This brand and product portfolio enables Britvic to target and satisfy a wide range of consumer demands in all major soft drinks categories, via all available routes to market. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements This announcement includes statements that are forward-looking in nature. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Appendix 1 -2005 H1 unaudited proforma accounts 28 weeks ended 17 April 2005 Proforma £ millions Revenue 343.1 Cost of Sales -130.0 --------- Gross Profit 213.0 Selling and distribution costs -121.2 Administration Expenses -69.6 --------- Profit from continuing operations before tax and finance costs/income 22.2 --------- Profit from continuing operations before exceptional items, 23.1 Tax and finance costs/income Exceptional operating items -0.9 --------- Profit from continuing operations before tax and finance costs/income 22.2 Finance costs -9.0 Finance income 0.2 --------- Profit before tax 13.4 Taxation: UK -4.3 --------- Profit for the year 9.1 --------- Appendix 2 - Supplementary information re H1 2005 IFRS proforma adjusted numbers H1 05 Reported Private Water H1 05 Adjusted Label Adjustments (£m unless otherwise stated) ---------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Volume (million litres) Stills 234.0 (20.8) 213.1 Carbonates 448.0 448.0 International 17.3 17.3 --------- --------- Total 699.2 (20.8) 678.4 Turnover Stills 156.8 (1.6) 155.2 Carbonates 175.6 175.6 International 10.7 10.7 --------- --------- Total 343.1 (1.6) 341.5 Brand Contribution Stills 75.2 (0.4) 74.8 Carbonates 71.8 71.0 International 3.2 4.0 --------- --------- Total 150.2 (0.4) 149.8 Non brand A&P -5.0 -5.0 Fixed Supply Chain -36.3 -36.3 Selling Costs -48.8 -48.8 Overhead and other costs -37.0 -37.0 EBIT 23.1 (0.4) 22.7 Interest -8.8 -8.8 Profit before exceptionals 14.3 (0.4) 13.9 Exceptionals -0.9 -0.9 Profit Before Tax 13.4 (0.4) 13.0 Tax -4.3 -4.3 Profit After Tax 9.1 (0.4) 8.7 Profit after tax pre exceptional 10.0 (0.4) 9.6 NB. Private Label Water Adjustment removes the impact of the own label water business with grocery retailers acquired following the acquisition of Ben Shaw's water business. This business has subsequently been discontinued This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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